NOVPUBLefevre hurriedly advised, "Your Highness, if we are delayed near Brussels, even for just half a month, the Austrian and Prussian reinforcements will arrive. Additionally, England has recently landed 20,000 troops in Utrecht."
Utrecht is a province in central Netherlands, only 140 kilometers from Brussels.
Meanwhile, Gai’erden is an important stronghold for Prussia on the west bank of the Rhine River, with seventy to eighty thousand troops stationed there. From there to Brussels is just over 170 kilometers. Further away, there are even more Allied Forces troops.
If Brussels is attacked by the French Army, the Allied Forces might mobilize a large number of troops to crush France’s Southern Netherlands Army.
At that point, the 20,000-plus troops here will certainly be unable to hold out.
Therefore, it is most consistent with the initial strategic deployment set by the General Staff to create a standoff with the enemy between Brussels and Wavre.
Joseph nodded, "You’re absolutely right. However, have you considered where the British forces in Utrecht would go if they don’t reinforce Brussels?"
"Uh, it should be Gai’erden, shouldn’t it?" Lefevre said.
"Exactly, but that would put General Bertier in a worse position."
Lefevre suddenly lit up, "I understand now, Your Highness, then the Rhine Army should launch the attack first. That way, we can pin down the enemy and prevent them from reinforcing Brussels."
Joseph shook his head and replied, "No, quite the opposite; Brussels is actually the side meant to pin down the enemy.
"We must create the opportunity for General Bertier to push the front line to the west bank of the Rhine River. Only then can our army obtain the greatest strategic advantage."
Lefevre continued his earnest appeals, "Your Highness, if the Southern Netherlands direction falls, the enemy can march south from Lille to directly threaten Paris...
"Perhaps you could first dispatch some forces from the Rhine Army to assist in defending the Southern Netherlands."
His concerns were not unwarranted.
The banks along the Rhine River are all composed of small German principalities. Although the French Army has occupied the west bank of the Rhine, to Austria and Prussia, the two main powers of the Anti-French Alliance, this is a loss they can still tolerate.
But if the Allied Forces seize Lille, Paris will face enormous danger.
"If we withdraw forces from General Bertier’s side, it will weaken our offensive on the Rhine front. In this way, neither side can achieve a decisive advantage."
Joseph pointed to the ground underfoot, "You seem to have forgotten, we can recruit troops directly here in the Walloon Region.
"This area has a large population, but large-scale recruitment has not yet taken place. Recruiting 10,000 soldiers shouldn’t be too difficult. Plus, with the Walloon Police Force, our total manpower here will reach approximately 40,000 soldiers."
Lefevre sighed, "Your Highness, even with 40,000 soldiers, I’m afraid it still won’t be enough. What’s more, the combat effectiveness of newly recruited troops is likely to be poor."
Joseph nodded, "If the enemy mobilizes more than 60,000 troops, I will consider withdrawing forces from Bertier’s side to support the Southern Netherlands.
"As for new recruits, as long as they are used wisely, they can make a significant impact."
Lefevre said, "Your Highness, forgive my bluntness, but defending against 60,000 troops with only 40,000 soldiers is still far too risky…"
Joseph smiled slightly, "Do you know the ’Reverse Slope Tactic’?"
Lefevre racked his brain trying to recall all the military courses he had taken but eventually shook his head and said, "Your Highness, I’ve never heard of that term."
"It’s a tactic that can help us defend the Southern Netherlands."
Joseph was referring to the "Reverse Slope Tactic," famously employed by the Duke of Wellington in history.
At Waterloo, Wellington relied on this tactic to repel Napoleon’s Old Guard and cavalry in successive waves, ultimately helping the British secure victory in the war.
At this point in history, the Duke of Wellington was still young and had not yet developed the Reverse Slope Tactic.
But Joseph boldly preempted him and laid claim to the "original patent."
He believed that all he needed was the right battlefield, and using 40,000 soldiers to hold off 60,000 Prussian and British troops would be entirely feasible.
After all, neither the British nor the Prussian forces currently had an attacking capability that could rival Napoleon’s Old Guard.
If even the Old Guard couldn’t break a defensive line, there was no way the enemy could manage.
What’s more, Joseph still had two of France’s most elite Royal Artillery Camp units under his command.
Deployed on strategic high grounds, these cannon placements could achieve defensive effects equivalent to over 10,000 infantrymen.
That evening, Joseph’s orders were sent to Lille, and through the Sharp Signal Machine, they were relayed to General Bertier stationed in Luxembourg.
The instructions were quite simple: Bertier was to temporarily slow down his offensive and create the illusion for the enemy that the French Army was no longer capable of advancing along the Rhine River front.
Once the enemy redirected their troops toward the Southern Netherlands, Bertier would seize the opportunity to concentrate his forces and take Trier, then encircle the strategically critical Koblenz Fortress in the midsection of the Rhine River.
The next day, at noon.
Joseph went to the artillery camp to have lunch with the soldiers.
As he passed several heavily guarded tents under escort by the Imperial Guard, the curtain of one of the tents was suddenly lifted from inside, and a middle-aged man with sparse eyebrows, small eyes, and slightly drooping cheeks stepped out.
Ignoring the rebukes from the surrounding soldiers, the man bowed deeply to Joseph and said loudly in heavily accented French, "Thank Jesus, I’ve seen your noble and valiant presence here, Your Highness the Crown Prince."
"Wait, wait, don’t push me! I just want to say a few words." He fended off the soldiers with his hands and continued to Joseph, "Your Highness, I am a Lieutenant Colonel of the Peren Infantry Group. I’ve always admired you greatly. I hope you can give me an opportunity to serve you…"
Joseph frowned as he glanced at his uniform—it was Austrian military attire.
Since he claimed to be part of the Peren Infantry Group, he was likely Flemish.
Joseph suddenly had an idea. Pulling on his reins, he turned and asked, "What is your name?"
"Toyan Frances Fan Sihaike, Your Highness, that’s my name."
Joseph nodded, "Lieutenant Colonel Si Haike, can you persuade the captured Austrian soldiers to follow my command?"
"Of course, absolutely!" Si Haike’s eyes gleamed with a perfectly timed servile expression, "They will be even more loyal to you than your own troops."
Joseph smiled and said to Lefevre beside him, "Please take him to the prisoner camp; perhaps we can recruit more Flemish soldiers…"
Just at that moment, a man stepped out from another nearby tent. He was dry-faced, extraordinarily tall, and appeared to be about 50 years old. Taking advantage of the soldiers’ distraction, he stormed forward and kicked Si Haike while cursing, "You despicable traitor! How dare you shamelessly betray the Southern Netherlands!"
Joseph ordered the soldiers to restrain the man, dismounted, and approached, asking, "And who are you?"
"I am the commander of the Antwerp Army Group, William Weger van Tain."
