Joseph and Berthier exchanged glances. Although they didn't fully understand the situation, they spoke almost simultaneously:
"Your Highness, I recomnd launching the attack imdiately!" Joseph urged.
"I think we should coordinate with Captain Lacoste's forces for a full assault," Berthier quickly added, then bowed slightly, "Yes, Your Highness!"
Soon, the Imperial Guard's skirmishers began closing in on the village of Aughenay, while their cannons roared, tearing through the thin Hanoverian defensive lines.
Berthier glanced worriedly at Joseph and whispered, "Your Highness, could it be that the mounted artillery didn't manage to outflank them and the enemy reinforcents have already joined up with the rear guard?"
He frowned deeply, "Or worse, were they overwheld by the enemy reinforcents?"
Joseph shook his head thoughtfully, "At the very least, it's not the latter. Otherwise, they wouldn't be able to maintain such a fierce bombardnt. You ntioned earlier that there are dozens of cannons firing at the enemy."
Hearing this, Berthier relaxed a little, "You're right, at least they haven't suffered any major losses. Even if they couldn't stop the Hanoverian reinforcents, the fact that they're attacking Aughenay alongside us has put the enemy in a tough spot."
As they continued to discuss their concerns, a soldier covered in black soot, his body thick and sturdy, was led over by a guard.
Berthier imdiately recognized him, "You're Matthew, the ssenger from the mounted artillery, right?"
"Yes, General. Matthew Dubois," the ssenger replied, saluting. "The captain heard your cannons firing and sent to report that the mounted artillery and dragoons have successfully defeated the Hanoverian reinforcents heading to support their rear guard. Then, after capturing so prisoners, the captain learned that the enemy was fortifying Aughenay, so he decided to launch an attack on them."
Berthier paused for a second before a smile broke across his face, "Captain Lacoste is truly... ah, too brave! He's made a significant contribution to our victory!"
He then looked at Joseph and whispered, "He used to be a very cautious officer."
Joseph imdiately thought of a certain daring artillery officer and smirked, "Maybe one of his adventurous subordinates gave him the idea."
The Hanoverian forces in Aughenay clearly hadn't anticipated an attack from behind, and chaos quickly spread among them. Commander Major Schmidt shouted desperately, trying to rally his troops to the northern side to block the enemy, but it took him half an hour just to move less than three companies into position, as many of his n were still confused, not knowing whether to stay on the rooftops or abandon them for fear of being caught between the French forces advancing from the south and north.
In the north, the mounted artillery faced almost no resistance as they entered the village. Captain Lacoste ordered his n to haul their cannons to within a hundred paces of a few farmhouses occupied by Hanoverian soldiers and then blasted them to rubble. Witnessing this, the surrounding Hanoverian soldiers were terrified and hurriedly abandoned their positions, fearing they might end up buried under the collapsing buildings like their comrades.
To the south, Davout pointed to a burning farmhouse ahead and shouted to the ssenger, "The fire has broken their lines—everyone, follow , charge!"
Without hesitation, the drumrs and flag bearers carried out his orders. Under the rapid drumbeats, hundreds of Imperial Guard soldiers rushed through the flas licking at both sides of the farmhouse, even as their eyebrows, beards, and sotis their clothes caught fire. But there were indeed no Hanoverian soldiers left near that area.
Davout quickly had his n extinguish the flas on their bodies, reford the ranks, and imdiately launched a volley at the enemy's line. The gap widened, and more Imperial Guard soldiers surged into the village, shouting as they went.
Less than an hour later, soldiers from both the north and south t in the middle of the village, completing their pincer attack.
Shortly after, Major Schmidt, his hair singed and his uniform torn, was brought before Joseph by a captain. Upon learning of Joseph's identity, the Hanoverian officer courteously placed his hand over his chest and said, "I never expected the commander of this formidable army to be the young Prince of France. Your command skills have left a lasting impression on ."
Joseph nodded in acknowledgnt, "Well then, please tell , how much longer will it take for His Excellency Carl II to finish setting up his defenses?"
"I'm sorry, Your Highness, but out of loyalty to His Majesty the King, I cannot speak a word."
Joseph waved him off and looked at Berthier, whispering, "What can you tell about his family background?"
Berthier thought for a mont, then consulted with a nearby aide before replying, "Your Highness, Major Schmidt is from a prominent family in Verden. His grandfather was a lieutenant general under George II of Hanover."
Joseph nodded, smiling slightly. It seed the major ca from a wealthy family.
He gestured to a nearby guard, "Please have Major Schmidt provided with clean clothes and offer him so tea in my tent. Even an enemy deserves the respect due to a gentleman."
Just as Major Schmidt was about to express his gratitude, he heard the Prince continue, "As for the ransom, let's set it at 800,000 livres. That should reflect your noble status."
Schmidt nearly choked on his words—this was the first ti he'd ever heard of being "priced" on the spot after being captured. Eight hundred thousand livres—that was over three hundred thousand florins! Even if he sold everything he owned, he couldn't raise that kind of money!
"Your Highness, you can't..." He was about to bargain when he overheard the French prince whispering to a general, "Too much? No, no, I heard it's quite easy for high-ranking officers to get loans from British banks."
His protest died in his throat as a French officer politely escorted him to the tent...
anwhile, Carl II was asking his aides the sa question every half hour: "How much longer until the troops are fully assembled?"
This ti, instead of the usual status update, his aide, face pale, whispered, "Marshal, we've just received word that Aughenay village has fallen..."
Carl II felt the world spin around him. It had only been four hours, and the famously defensive Schmidt had already been defeated?!
This ant that only about three miles of open ground now separated the French from him.
He glanced at the map. His furthest unit was still over a mile and a half away. By the ti the French launched their attack, his forces might not even be fully assembled.
The worst part was that there was still no word from the rear guard, which was supposed to be bringing up the artillery.
Without artillery, even if he engaged the French head-on, he would only be setting his n up to be pumled.
He hesitated for a long mont, then called over a nearby officer and said loudly, "Sir Dill, you are now in command of the army."
(End of Chapter)
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