Life of Being a Crown Prince in France

The Austrian cavalry felt indifferent to the fact that they couldn’t understand English, but the British cavalry gentlemen immediately felt their blood boil.

Most of them were from noble families—when had they ever suffered such humiliation from these North American peasants?

Immediately, two furious cavalry company commanders glared with hostility and charged at the Americans with their sabers raised.

Seeing this, the other British cavalrymen cursed and followed suit. The British cavalry commander could not hold them back. The Americans’ crude insults rang in his ears, and even he couldn’t suppress his anger. He simply ordered a charge against the American infantry.

The Austrian cavalry were utterly dumbfounded.

Wasn’t the mission to annihilate the French artillery? What were these British folks trying to do?

The Austrian cavalry commander, realizing that his handful of men could not possibly break through the French Army guarding the cannons, hesitated for a moment before ordering his troops to retreat.

Indeed, British infantry were known for their discipline and resilience, but British cavalry were notoriously free-spirited and unruly.

Historically, the Duke of Wellington had complained more than once about how his cavalry often disregarded orders. Once they engaged in a charge, they couldn’t be called back, and there were multiple instances where their deep pursuit of enemies led to their annihilation within enemy territory.

Right now, the British cavalry vividly demonstrated their discipline—or lack thereof—with their actions.

Over 1,500 enraged cavalrymen charged furiously toward the American troops, who immediately retreated behind the slope.

Suddenly, the sound of military drums rang out, and Mula emerged from the side-rear of the British forces with 500 cavalry.

After a prolonged gallop, the British cavalry and their horses were exhausted. When attacked from behind, fear overtook them, and though they tried to organize a defense, they were powerless.

Add to this, artillery shells occasionally landed on the heads of the British cavalry from afar.

When Mula slashed down the first enemy, the British cavalry instantly collapsed.

Excited, Mula shouted as he pursued them, cutting down anyone in his path like a ravenous wolf chasing a flock of sheep.

The British horses had already expended too much stamina earlier, making escape difficult. Within moments, five to six hundred men were intercepted by Mula and dismounted to surrender directly.

The Duke of York, his face ashen, watched helplessly as the Allied artillery started to fall under French artillery fire before retreating anxiously. He angrily stabbed the ground with his cane.

In truth, even if his artillery reached the prearranged positions, it would hardly pose significant threats to the French forces.

After all, the reverse slope tactic was originally born to counter the terrifying artillery threats of Napoleon.

Soldiers deployed at the top of the slope could immediately turn around and take cover behind the slope when bombarded.

Even into the 21st century, this tactic remained an effective method for resisting artillery bombardments—guided shells struggled to hit enemies hiding behind the slope, let alone front-loaded smoothbore cannons.

Under the Duke of York’s command, the Allied infantry launched a forced assault, but they didn’t advance much farther than the previous attempt three days ago, being repelled by percussion-cap muskets from the top of the slope.

By afternoon, within the Alliance Command Center, the Duke of York furrowed his brows while staring at the senior officers silently lowering their heads. A deep sense of powerlessness surged in his heart.

He couldn’t understand why, despite holding a massive advantage in numbers, successive attacks failed to breach the French defenses and instead resulted in continuous losses on their side…

Sighing deeply, he threw out the words, “Three days from now, launch another attack,” before leaving the tent, brow furrowed.

As the Alliance forces remained helpless against Joseph’s reverse slope + thin white line formation, Major General Jia Yar was leading the Walloon Defense Army in wave after wave of assaults against Brussels.

The Walloon soldiers charged at the Dutch defensive line as if they’d been injected with adrenaline, their eyes bloodshot as they surged forward.

This was territory for the Walloon Region!

As long as Brussels was occupied, the entire Walloon Region’s economy would receive a huge boost.

Additionally, nearly every South Netherlander dreamed of settling in Brussels. Joseph had even promised his soldiers that anyone who earned military merits would receive real estate in Brussels as a reward.

How could the Walloon soldiers not go berserk trying to take the city?

On the other hand, the Dutch garrison displayed a spiritless demeanor.

Brussels was Austrian territory—what reason did this bunch of Dutch soldiers have to risk their lives here?

Moreover, the Flemish citizens in the city were far from cooperative.

William Weger van Tain had secretly convened influential Flemish politicians a month and a half earlier to advance the movement for Flemish independence from Austria.

These individuals wielded control over every facet of Brussels. Thanks to their efforts, Dutch garrison troops found their weapons stolen, their supplies delayed, and even their barracks set ablaze on occasion.

This only further eroded the Dutch soldiers’ morale.

If not for Davidoivich relying on his reputation to barely hold things together, the Dutch Army would have surrendered long ago.

Before long, news of the Anglo-German-Austrian Alliance Army’s defeat at Mechelen reached the city.

Strictly speaking, the Duke of York hadn’t truly lost—at worst, he faced an unfavorable situation and stalled positions.

But Flemish independence advocates twisted the facts in publications, spreading panic among Dutch soldiers.

Indeed, Brussels’ largest newspapers were all owned by members of the independence movement.

Even Davidoivich’s declaration of martial law in the city couldn’t quell the chaos.

Three days later at dawn, a dozen Brussels citizens took advantage of drowsy Dutch soldiers and secretly opened the eastern gates, allowing Jia Yar to lead his army into the city.

The battle was mostly over by midday.

Faced with a lack of will to resist, the Dutch Army suffered complete collapse. Aside from Davidoivich holding his ground near the eastern gates with his officers for a brief time, the Walloon Defense Army almost effortlessly seized control of the entire city.

…

Eastern Brussels.

Leuven.

Si Haike glanced at the thousands of troops behind him, feeling both apprehensive and exhilarated.

He’d never imagined that the Crown Prince of France would actually entrust him with commanding the Flemish Army Corps.

Oh, and the Crown Prince had promoted his military rank—Si Haike was now a Quasi-General.

Moreover, His Highness had promised him a vice-presidential or parliamentary speaker position once the Flemish Republic was established.

But his mood soon darkened.

He didn’t know the first thing about warfare—his previous Lieutenant Colonel rank had been bought with money.

How was he supposed to take Leuven?

True, there were only 2,000 Austrian garrison troops in the city compared to the 4,000 Flemish defector troops under his command, but he hadn’t even figured out where to start attacking.

Of course, Joseph hadn’t truly expected him to successfully conquer Leuven.

This was merely a “proof of loyalty” for him.

Joseph needed a compliant political faction within the future Flemish Republic. After all, Tain appeared to be someone with strong convictions and was unlikely to be easy to control.

Si Haike, however, was an ideal candidate—greedy, despicable, unscrupulous, and lacking any substantial base. He would be entirely reliant on Joseph’s support in the future.

As long as Si Haike led troops to fight a battle with the Austrians, regardless of victory or defeat, the enmity between the Flemish people and Austria would be cemented.

With Tain fanning the flames, Flemish independence would easily fall into place.

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