Life of Being a Crown Prince in France-Chapter 923 - 831 Active Defense

The Duke of Brunswick glanced at the report he received, and his face was full of surprise. He looked at the officer and asked, "Can you guarantee the accuracy of the intelligence?"

"Yes, Marshal," the latter nodded confidently. "Multiple sources from inside have sent the same message, and it has also been confirmed by the farmers in the Ardennes Heights."

"40,000 to 60,000 people?" The Duke of Brunswick frowned, "Wasn’t the French Army supposed to have abandoned Luxembourg and preparing to retreat to Verdun?"

He gestured to his attendant, "Bernhard, immediately summon all the senior officers for a meeting."

"Yes, sir!"

minutes later.

The second floor hall of the Alliance Command Center.

Blucher looked at the French Army’s deployment on the map and said loudly, "It is clear that the French still want to struggle a bit in Luxembourg. I don’t think they will launch a major offensive; they should mainly be harassing us and then retreat back to Verdun."

Staff officer Scharnhorst stood up cautiously and said, "General, I believe the French Army’s deployment could be quite threatening."

The Duke of Brunswick valued this newly rising staff officer and nodded, "Please elaborate on your assessment."

"Yes, Marshal," Scharnhorst bowed and continued, "The French objective should be our supply line.

"Their strategic intent is probably to rely on the Verdun Fortress to hold our forces, while continuously attacking our logistics along the Rhine River and simultaneously sending reinforcements to Verdun.

"When our supplies become short, we will have no choice but to retreat to Trier."

Colonel Graf Taunquen, standing by, added, "The Luxembourg Fortress is also not something that can be breached in just a few days. While our forces attack the fortress, these French forces will hit us from behind.

"Dividing forces for defense is a response strategy, but it severely slows down our offensive. Moreover, if the French Army breaks through somewhere, it poses a threat to the rear of our main forces."

The Duke of Brunswick tapped his pipe slowly and nodded, "Hence, we must first resolve the French forces on the Ardennes Plateau so that subsequent battles will not be dragged down."

Massena’s plan is indeed an open strategy.

Upon learning of the deployment of 50,000 French troops to their side, the Allied Forces cannot possibly remain indifferent. After all, their supply line would pass under the Ardennes Plateau.

Under such circumstances of holding a significant advantage, no commander would risk having their logistics supply cut off—steady and sure wins are preferable, why take risks?

Blucher pounded the table and shouted, "It’s just forty to fifty thousand French troops after all, and we can easily wipe them out, especially since they might not even know they’ve already been exposed.

"I think we can even simultaneously launch an attack on the Luxembourg Fortress."

Scharnhorst hurriedly said, "Before the Duke of York’s corps arrives, our troop advantage is not sufficient to fight on both the southern and northern fronts simultaneously."

He looked at the Duke of Brunswick and said, "Marshal, I recommend concentrating all forces to quickly eliminate the enemy on the Ardennes Plateau.

"As for the Luxembourg Fortress, it can be left to General Deenberg and his forces."

Deenberg was the commander of the Bavarian Army this time.

Launching a direct assault on a fortress is a thankless task that usually results in many casualties, making it perfect for the troops from Bavaria, Thuringia, and other states.

The Duke of Brunswick nodded in agreement, "Once the Duke of York arrives, it will allow us to encircle the French Army on the Ardennes Plateau.

"Now, let’s discuss the specifics of the operational deployment."

...

Ardennes Plateau.

On a silent morning at the north side of the Meuse River Valley, sudden bursts of military horn sounded, scaring several wild pigeons resting on cannon barrels into the air.

In the temporary camp of the French Army, a group of lethargically cleaning up their blankets soldiers all raised their heads in unison, eyes gleaming with excitement and anticipation, "Jesus, are we finally launching an attack? I’ve nearly grown moldy waiting in this damned place!"

"Ah ha, there’s a battle coming! I heard from the battalion staff that the Udino Corps set out the day before yesterday; they’re probably busy grooming with Prussian officers’ swords by now."

"The Italian Front Army trounced Melas with just a bunch of rookie soldiers..."

"I’ve heard that too, the Allied Forces were beaten so badly they cried for their mothers in less than two hours. I hope this time I’ll win a pair of nice leather boots..."

"Leroy, your ambition is smaller than a button," a sergeant smacked the soldier’s head, "Listen to me, shoot more Prussian bastards and earn yourself an Iris Medal. Wear it out, and pretty girls will swarm around you like ants to sugar."

As the sergeant was speaking, they saw their company commander sliding down the slope of the river valley and quickly ordered the soldiers to assemble.

The captain came in front of everyone, gave a couple of commands, and then said sternly, "Everyone proceed to the narrow area on the east side of the valley. Our task is to build breastworks."

The soldiers glanced at each other, and once the captain motioned for the sergeants to move out, someone asked loudly, "Captain Mas, aren’t we going to hit the Prussians? Why are we starting to defend?"

The captain replied solemnly, "Now the entire German military is concentrated here. We’ll be facing more than one hundred thousand enemies."

"But didn’t the Udino Corps..."

"Don’t envy them; there’s plenty of fighting for you here as well. Just hurry..."

West Bank of the Saar River.

Near a cluster of small trees, French engineers fixed the last few wooden planks onto the pontoons, creating a floating bridge across the river.

Udino ordered the skirmisher company to cross first and establish a defensive position on the other side of the river.

This location was seven or eight kilometers away from the actual crossing point, with hardly a soul in sight nearby, yet Udino remained exceedingly cautious.

By two o’clock in the afternoon, after the last rafts carrying cannon barrels were hauled ashore by over a dozen soldiers, the entire corps was standing within the territory of the Trielle Kingdom.

In truth, they were in a very perilous situation at this moment. If the Allied Forces discovered them and began a siege, the Saar River behind would block their retreat.

However, all the soldiers were extremely excited, as if this was the outskirts of Paris City, and what awaited them was not the Allied cannons but young maidens with bouquets.

Before nightfall, a few cavalry scouts dressed in the Rhine Province’s common dark grey coarse clothes returned, reporting to Udino, "Colonel, we learned from the farmers of Gailorstein that a force passed through there this morning, around ten thousand strong."

Udino immediately opened the map, estimated the distance, and said to several officers nearby, "We are in luck; the enemy must not have reached Neuerburg yet.

"Let the soldiers rest where they are, and we will launch an attack at dawn tomorrow!" novelbuddy.cσ๓