Leo quickly entered the office of the French Prince, bowing respectfully. Just as he was about to speak, Joseph looked at him with surprise and concern, exclaiming, "General Leo, what are you still doing in Clevo Town?"
"Uh?" Leo was taken aback, instinctively replying, "Shouldn't I be here?"
Joseph grabbed a docunt from his desk and handed it to him. "This is from our intelligence agents in the Netherlands, delivered last night. Hanover's 20,000-strong army has already left Brussels and is heading to Liège to reinforce Blücher."
Leo's heart tightened imdiately. He picked up the docunt and read it carefully, confirming the news that Carl II was indeed leading an army south, along with 4,000 Dutch 'volunteers.'
Joseph, with a tone of concern, added, "General, if those 24,000 troops join up with Blücher, your task of reclaiming the Southern Netherlands will beco nearly impossible."
Leo's face twitched. Facing nearly 40,000 troops from the Prussian-Hanoverian-Dutch alliance, reclaiming the Southern Netherlands would be out of the question; he would likely be driven back to Austria.
Seeing the worry in Leo's eyes, Joseph continued, "You are the 'cornerstone' who repelled Blücher and stabilized the situation in the Southern Netherlands. The Emperor even pulled significant forces from Silesia to support you. If you fail to fulfill the Emperor's trust, it will tarnish the reputation you've built."
To push Leo further, Joseph had previously exaggerated Leo's role in the battles against Prussian forces, portraying him as the main reason for Blücher's defeat in a letter to Emperor Joseph II.
Flattery is always effective. Although Leo knew these victories were largely due to the French army's efforts, he couldn't resist accepting the accolades that were handed to him. And so, he half-heartedly accepted the praise.
In Vienna, waves of rewards and accolades drowned him, with Emperor Joseph II even calling him the "cornerstone of the empire's western front"! But now, less than a month later, he was facing a daunting battle against tens of thousands of enemy troops.
Joseph, still feigning concern for Leo, leaned in and whispered, "General Leo, I greatly admire your bravery, so I must remind you of sothing. The importance of the Southern Netherlands to Austria cannot be overstated. If it's lost, soone will have to take the bla."
"Yes, the current situation is mainly due to General Wurmser's failures, which have caused the dire situation in the Southern Netherlands, but now he's an important commander in Silesia with strong political connections. It's unlikely the Emperor will bla him..."
Joseph's reference to "Uncle" was, of course, to Emperor Joseph II.
Leo's face grew even grimr. He fully understood the French Prince's warning: If he were defeated by the Prussian-Hanoverian alliance, the bla for losing the Southern Netherlands would fall squarely on him.
Not only would all the accolades of being the "cornerstone of the western front" disappear, but he might also spend the rest of his days in exile in Transylvania...
Suddenly feeling a chill, Leo anxiously looked at Joseph and said, "Your Highness, I actually ca to see you about this. I hope you can order Colonel Lefebvre to lead his regint in assisting in attacking Blücher's Prussian forces. If we can defeat them before Hanover's troops arrive, we can establish a defensive line from Namur to east of Brussels and confront Carl II."
"The Emperor will undoubtedly send more reinforcents afterward. If I can reclaim the Southern Netherlands, I will never forget your great help!"
Joseph, appearing troubled, spread his hands. "But, Uncle hasn't requested French assistance in attacking the Prussian forces. You know, if French soldiers enter the Southern Netherlands without his consent, Uncle might misunderstand..."
In Leo's mind, he could vividly imagine the grim prospect of being exiled due to military defeat. Desperately clinging to the last lifeline before him, he pleaded, "Your Highness, you just need to order Colonel Lefebvre to deploy his troops. I will explain everything to the Emperor!"
Joseph still shook his head. "Let's wait until Uncle agrees before we deploy any troops."
Leo quickly added, "Don't worry, I will ask General Wurmser and Count Kaunitz to help. I have so connections with them. The Emperor will surely agree to you assisting in reclaiming the Southern Netherlands."
A slight smile crossed Joseph's lips, though he continued to feign reluctance before finally nodding. "Alright, I can't just stand by and watch you struggle. But I believe that if you're going to launch an attack, it shouldn't be limited to just Blücher."
"What do you an?"
"If the Prussians hold their ground, it'll be difficult to take Liège before the Hanoverians arrive. It would be best if you could spare so forces to delay Carl II and the Dutch."
Leo felt a bitter taste in his mouth. He understood the logic, but with only 10,000 soldiers, even with the help of one and a half regints from the French, he barely had enough to engage Blücher. Where would he find extra troops to take on the Hanoverians?
Joseph, seemingly caught up in the conversation, casually remarked, "Speaking of the Dutch, France provided them with substantial support, yet now they stand with Hanover, effectively aligning with the British. If I get the chance, I'd certainly like to teach these ungrateful Dutch a lesson!"
Leo, suddenly excited, said, "Your Highness, there are 4,000 Dutch troops east of Brussels right now. This could be your chance to get even."
Joseph hesitated, appearing uncertain. "But if we do that, our troops might clash with them in the Brabant region."
"Don't worry, I will explain everything to the Emperor."
After so more feigned reluctance, Joseph finally nodded reluctantly. "Just make sure you tell Uncle this was your battle plan."
In fact, this was a strategy that Joseph and his General Staff had been developing for weeks—a plan to invade the Southern Netherlands, using Leo as a figurehead. The idea was for Leo's forces to engage the Prussians in Liège, while the French army would bypass Liège and strike deep into the heart of the Southern Netherlands.
By the ti Austria realized what was happening, Brussels would already be under French control, and Emperor Joseph II would have no grounds to complain. After all, the entire plan was crafted by Leo, and the French only entered the Southern Netherlands to assist and even helped fend off the Hanoverians and Dutch, quelling the rebellion. With such help, Austria would have to show so gratitude.
Leo eagerly nodded. "Yes, Your Highness, I won't let you down."
Inwardly, he was calculating his chances. If he managed to reclaim the Southern Netherlands with French help, as the mastermind behind the entire operation, he might even earn the rank of Field Marshal and potentially secure a place in Vienna's political center.
...
Southwest of Silesia.
Main battlefield near Legnica.
General Kellermann, commander of the French expeditionary forces in Silesia, glanced towards the distant sounds of cannon fire, slightly furrowing his brow. He then picked up a chess piece and placed it near the opponent's king. "As things stand, it looks like this will end in a stalemate."
(End of Chapter)
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