Chapter 441 Stubbornness and Conservatism

Chapter 442 Stubbornness and Conservatism

"Your Highness, what do your generals suggest about this plan?" Leopold II asked hesitantly.

Although he was not very proficient in military affairs, he had at least attended military school for two years, and the battle plan just mentioned by the French Crown Prince sounded too radical.

Joseph smiled and said, "My opinion is their opinion."

"Okay, I understand." Leopold II lowered his head and took a sip of wine, nodded, "I will seriously consider your plan and suggest that Marshal Lacy try to cooperate with you."

"We will surely win." Joseph raised his glass to indicate, "Cheers to the Franco-Austrian alliance."

"Cheers to the Franco-Austrian alliance."

Just as Joseph and the Crown Prince of Shinra were discussing the Silesia war, a pair of eyes in the corner of the ballroom were staring viciously at Camelia standing behind him.

"Smelly bitch!" The owner of the eyes gritted his teeth and whispered, "I will definitely make you and your French master pay the price!"

This person was Baron Walter, the cousin of Leopold II's wife. After the last false accusation, he was confined by his angry brother-in-law for more than a month, and he was just released not long ago. And he also paid 150,000 florins for this matter, which was almost all his wealth.

In fact, he could still tolerate all these, but he was ridiculed by his friends when he boasted to them that the girl could not escape from his palm, which made him angry and ashamed when he thought about it.

After cursing and insulting inwardly, he sat down dejectedly. All of Austria was counting on the French to help them make a breakthrough in Silesia. At this time, not to mention him, even his brother-in-law had to be polite to the boy.

He didn't know that Camelia would come, and he had no interest in attending the ball at this time, so he found an opportunity to slip out of the hall.

...

Silesia.

Southwest border of Liegnitz.

Marshal Lacy, the commander-in-chief of the Austrian army, handed the letter just sent from Vienna to the officer beside him and said with a gloomy face:

"The French don't understand what war is. And the crown prince asked me to cooperate with them!"

General Wurmser took the letter in surprise, quickly glanced through it, and immediately showed a disdainful smile:

"They are really crazy, they actually want to concentrate all the cannons in Ferhlabi?"

Nauendorf, who was standing aside, took the letter and frowned immediately:

"Moving all the cannons to the west will make our army lose its defense capability on a very long front. Before we launch an attack, the Prussians will break through our positions first and even enter Königgrätz!"

Ferhlabi is the west side of the Prussian and Austrian front. And Königgrätz is an Austrian province adjacent to Silesia.

Yes, according to Joseph's battle plan for Silesia, the first thing to do is to end the artillery confrontation between the Prussian and Austrian armies.

Both Prussia and Austria deployed more than 200 cannons on the long front. In this situation, no matter how brave the army is, no matter how much casualties it is determined to pay, it is difficult to break through the opponent's defense line.

This is absolutely acceptable for Prussia, which wants to defend Silesia. But for the attacking Austria, such a situation is a huge failure.

So after discussing with Berthier, he decided to gather the Austrian army's artillery scattered on the battle line of dozens of kilometers, and concentrate on blasting the Prussian defense line.

After "digging" a gap in the Prussian army, the Guards Corps can take advantage of the roundabout penetration, break into the rear of Liegnitz, and mobilize the Prussian army to intercept.

At this time, the Austrian main force can choose the area where the enemy's main force has been transferred away, concentrate troops to launch a surprise attack, and gnaw those artillery positions.

As for Nauendorf's worry that "the Prussians will attack first", not to mention that there will be a delay in intelligence collection on the Prussian side, even if they really take the initiative to attack, it is actually a good thing for Austria.

If the Prussian army leaves their artillery defense line, the Franco-Austrian coalition will have the opportunity to strike its living force. Even the method of "siege and attack" can be adopted to attract more Prussian troops.

Joseph is still very confident in the ability of the Guards Corps to fight contact warfare. As long as the difference in strength is not too large, the Guards Corps can quickly defeat any Prussian unit.

Of course, this battle plan is too risky in the eyes of the Austrian military. After all, the thinking of old-school officers like Lacy is still stuck in the Seven Years' War. They have not studied the battles in North Africa or the Southern Netherlands in the past two years in detail, so they will definitely come to the conclusion that the defense line cannot be closed. Moreover, he is good at fighting defensive battles, and the current situation is his favorite.

Three days later.

In the headquarters of the Austrian Silesian Front, Joseph looked at the officers of the General Staff helplessly:

"So, do you have any suggestions now?"

At the Franco-Austrian military meeting that just ended, Marshal Lacy completely denied the battle plan proposed by Joseph, and his attitude was very firm.

Lefebvre shook his head and said, "The Austrians are actually concentrating 100,000 troops to attack Karpacz."

"Unless Prussia is so slow to ignore the mobilization of tens of thousands of people, such an attack will only increase unnecessary casualties."

Someone suggested, "Or can we ask Vienna to put pressure on Lacy?"

Berthier sighed, "This may not be easy to do. Marshal Lacy has a very high prestige in the Austrian military. Unless His Majesty Joseph II gives an order in person, it will be difficult for others to command him."

Everyone was silent. In his current state, Joseph II is only awake for one or two hours a day and is completely unable to speak.

"Did you just mention prestige?" Joseph suddenly thought of something and looked at Berthier, "I think of a general who is very prestigious in the Austrian army."

"You mean General Leo?"

"That's right."

Joseph nodded and thought:

"The current deadlock must be broken. And General Leo is the only Austrian officer who is immune to the influence of Marshal Lacy."

Just kidding, General Leo was a hero who turned the tide and regained the Southern Netherlands, led his army into Brussels, and drove Van der Noort to the Netherlands.

Of course, this is actually the result of Joseph's deliberate "star-making", but the Austrians who do not know the inside story have already regarded him as the "Spear of the Southern Netherlands".

"But, Your Highness, Leo's commanding ability..." Lefebvre, as an "old comrade" who has cooperated with Leo many times, knows his details very well, "To be honest, I'm afraid it will be difficult to bear any heavy responsibility."

Joseph nodded and looked at the map on the table: "However, sometimes a general who cannot defeat the enemy also has his merits.

"As long as he is Austria's 'Spear of the Southern Netherlands,' I think he can stir up the deadlock in Silesia."