Life of Being a Crown Prince in France

More than 20 minutes later, Eman looked at the three full pages of orders in his hand and sighed inwardly: Today, I’m afraid there will be hundreds of signalmen who won’t have time to eat dinner.

He was just about to turn and leave when Joseph suddenly remembered that Napoleon’s report mentioned the Milan Council voluntarily donating 2 million francs to his army, along with some valuable artworks.

“Voluntary donation?”

Joseph shook his head, knowing too well Napoleon’s reputation in the occupied territories.

Although it was customary in this era to loot occupied territories, few did it as extravagantly as Napoleon. Wherever he went, he left outrage and resentment in his wake.

Most likely, this 2 million francs was “donated” by the Milan people under the persuasion of cannons. Especially those famous paintings, who would donate such things to an army?

Joseph had no desire to see the international situation of isolation France faced during Napoleon’s time reoccur.

He had even dispatched Audric specifically to keep an eye on him, but it seemed Napoleon’s talent for making enemies was unstoppable.

The deserving should be rewarded, and the guilty must be punished.

Joseph picked up a pen and wrote a commendation for Napoleon, along with a secret document, and handed them both to Eman: “Please deliver these to the Duke of Broglie, and have him send gendarmerie to Italy to investigate. The instructions are clearly written.”

“Yes, Your Highness!”

Eman departed, and soon Lefevre knocked and entered, saluting Joseph: “Your Highness, American volunteers have just arrived in Yukeler Town, numbering over 1,300.”

“They’ve finally arrived.” Joseph smiled, stood up, and said, “Please make arrangements, I wish to greet them personally.”

Lefevre was a bit surprised, “Your Highness, if I may speak frankly, these Americans have little combat capability, so it seems unnecessary to give them such attention…”

Joseph smiled and patted his arm, “No, they are like a rope that can pull the entire United States.”

One could say this American army came just in time, as there were British forces right there for them to fight.

Half a month ago, the French Army had just cleared the area around Brussels, and the Duke of York had led 20,000 British troops to Antwerp.

On the other side, Franz II had transferred the Klephate Corps from Gael, along with a Prussian army, totaling over 35,000, to join the remnants of Prince Coburg at Leuven.

At this time, not counting the Dutch Army, the Anti-French Alliance had already concentrated 63,000 troops around Brussels.

As for Joseph, he had 22,000 regular French troops, 13,000 newly added Walloon Defense Army men, and less than 5,000 “surrogate” troops from the Flemish Region.

Altogether, 40,000 troops. However, there were many newly recruited Walloon recruits, and the Flemish Army was not reliable, so only about 30,000 could truly fight.

Currently, there were still 14,000 Dutch troops in Brussels, but their training level was very poor, and quite a number of them had collaborated with the French Army during the battle that overthrew William V, so their overall combat enthusiasm was somewhat weak.

Joseph left 7,000 Walloon Defense Army troops to continue besieging Brussels, while he led the main force south of Antwerp, confronting the Anglo-Austrian-Prussian coalition.

Antwerp, Mechelen.

On the high ground behind the Allied Forces, Count Cléfart observed the distant French positions through his telescope, exclaiming, “Now is clearly a good opportunity to launch an attack. The French are not at all prepared to defend; I see only a few scattered soldiers wandering near their lines.

“General Davidoivich has already asked for reinforcements multiple times; we must try to break through the French lines, otherwise he could be in danger at any moment…”

The Duke of York glanced at him, saying calmly, “If you hadn’t spent five or six days tangled with those few thousand Walloon troops, we would have started the attack long ago.”

Cléfart paused immediately.

He had been ambushed by Walloon “police” on his way from the Leuven direction.

These Walloon forces were exceedingly fierce, forcing him to temporarily retreat to Leuven and wait for the Prussian army before successfully repelling them.

The Duke of York also raised his telescope, “My cavalry has scouted at least 30,000 French troops here, I must figure out their deployment.”

Just as he was speaking, he suddenly stopped, then using an unusually hurried tone, said, “Damn, who are those people?”

He turned and gestured to an officer not far away, “Lieutenant Colonel Svenson, I recall you have fought in North America?”

“Yes, Your Highness. I returned home in 1783, having been there before then.”

The Duke of York pointed towards the distant French positions, “Look at those flags; they seem like Americans?”

With just a glance through the telescope, Svenson furrowed his brow, “Continental Army 12th Infantry Regiment, and the Maryland Battalion… They are indeed Americans, Your Highness, I’ve fought against them.”

Soon, over a thousand American soldiers, under the cover of French cavalry, formed ranks in front of the British positions and began taunting, with various English curses faintly audible.

At that moment, a British cavalry officer approached the Duke of York, reined in his horse, raised his hat in salute, and said, “Your Highness, I have repeatedly confirmed there are no enemy traces within an 8-mile radius.”

The Duke of York looked at the ragged Americans in the distance, his face darkened, “Send orders, prepare for a frontal attack.”

Although he did not know what the French were plotting, as long as there were no hidden forces around, he could use his superior troops to crush them with one blow!

The attack plan had been prepared long ago; only a dozen minutes later, the two British infantry brigades at the front began to move first.

Over 60 cannons accompanied the infantry lines, slowly advancing. The British Army had to bring these heavy equipment, slowing their march significantly, but these cannons were set to give them a great advantage.

Meanwhile, the Prussian Corps began a flank maneuver on the French’s right side.

With their overwhelming numbers, they could extend the battle lines even longer.

Stretch long enough so that the French couldn’t cover the distance, then turn inward to form a semi-encirclement with the British in front.

The French defensive position was set on high ground, which was disadvantageous for the attackers, but the Duke of York was confident he could overcome this slight disadvantage with numerical superiority.

Moreover, given the critical situation in Brussels, he had no choice but to launch a strong attack quickly.

The previously arrogant American volunteers retreated to their high ground almost immediately after a slight skirmish with the British.

They were intended for “spiritual attack,” and Joseph had not prepared for them to fight any hard battles.

The advance of the British infantry brigade was not very fast; they waited for the Prussian Corps on the flank to complete their encirclement before attacking together.

Half an hour later, the French cannons roared first.

Cannonballs flew from 1.3 kilometers away, screaming piercingly and landing accurately on the British infantry lines.

In an instant, flesh and blood flew, shattered limbs fell everywhere, and cries of pain echoed endlessly.

The Duke of York was still unaware that on the opposite high ground was the French Royal First Artillery Battalion.

The most elite artillery in all of Europe!

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