#836 - Active defense

Chapter 832 Active Defense

The Duke of Brunswick took the report and glanced at the officer with a look of surprise. He looked at the officer and said, "Can the accuracy of the intelligence be guaranteed?"

"Yes, Lord Marshal." The latter nodded confidently. "The same news was sent by many of our insiders and was confirmed by the farmers in Ardennes."

"40,000 to 60,000?" The Duke of Brunswick frowned, "Didn't the French army give up Luxembourg and prepare to retreat to Verdun?"

He raised his hand to signal to the attendant: "Bernhard, call all senior officers to meet immediately."

"Yes, lord!"

After 40 minutes.

Hall on the second floor of the coalition command.

Blüchel looked at the French deployment on the map and whispered: "It is obvious that the French still want to struggle in Luxembourg. I don't think they will carry out a large-scale attack, it should be mainly harassment, and then withdraw to Fan. Erdon. ”

Staff Officer Sharnhorst stood up and said carefully: "General, I think the deployment of the French army may be very threatening."

The Duke of Brunswick attached great importance to the newly rising staff officer and nodded: "Please tell me in detail about your judgment."

"Yes, sir, Marshal." Schánhorst bowed and continued, "The French should be the supply line for our army.

"Their strategic intention was probably to rely on the Verdun Fortress to hold our army, and then continue to raid our logistics supplies along the Rhine, while constantly adding troops to Verdun.

"When our supply shortage comes, we can only choose to return to Trier."

Colonel Graf Taonchien, who was standing aside, added: "The Luxembourg Fortress may not be able to be broken in a few days. When our army attacks the fortress, these French troops will attack us from behind.

"Although division of troops to resist is a strategy of response, it will seriously slow down our attack speed. At the same time, if the French make a breakthrough somewhere, it will pose a threat to the back of our main force."

The Duke of Brunswick knocked the pipe in his hand and nodded slowly: "So, we have to deal with the French army on the Ardennes first so that we can avoid being dragged down in the subsequent battle."

Massena's plan is to open up the plot.

After learning that 50,000 French troops were deployed by it, it was almost impossible for the coalition forces to remain indifferent. After all, their supply lines would pass under the Ardennes Plateau.

In the situation where you have a huge advantage, no general is willing to risk the logistical supply of his side being cut off - you can win by playing steadily, why take the risk?

Blüchel slapped the table and shouted, "It's just 40,000 to 50,000 French troops, we can destroy them immediately, especially if they may not know that they have been exposed.

"I think it's even possible to launch an attack on the Luxembourg Fortress at the same time."

Sharnhorst hurriedly said, "Before the Duke of York's legion arrived, our strength advantage was not enough to fight on both sides of the north and the south at the same time."

He looked at the Duke of Brunswick: "Mr. Marshal, I suggest that all forces should be concentrated and the enemies on the Ardennes should be wiped out as soon as possible.

"As for the Luxembourg Fortress, it can be handed over to General Dernberg and the others."

Dernberg was the commander of the Bavarian Legion this time.

Attacking the fortress is a very thankless errand. Usually, many people die, and they can be handed over to the armies of Bavaria, Thuringia and other states.

The Duke of Brunswick nodded in agreement: “After the arrival of the Duke of York, he can still form double-teams against the French troops on the Ardennes.

"So, let's discuss the specific combat deployment next."

…

Arden Plateau.

The sound of war horns suddenly appeared on the north side of the silent Meuse Valley in the early morning, and several wild pigeons squatting on the gun barrel were shocked and flew into the air.

In the temporary French camp, a group of soldiers who were listlessly packing blankets raised their heads in unison, their eyes leaping with excitement and excitement, "God, are you going to launch an attack? I'm almost staying in this ghost place and getting moldy. Now!”

"Ah, there is a war! I heard from the battalion's staff that the Udino Legion set out the day before yesterday. They are probably using the sword of the Prussian officer."

"The Italian military beat Melas with a group of new recruits..."

"I also heard that the coalition forces were beaten to cry and called their mother in less than two hours. I hope I can seize a pair of good leather boots this time..."

"Leno, your ambition is not as big as a button." A non-commissioned officer patted the soldier's head, "Listen to me, kill a few more Prussians and win you an Iris medal. Wear it, The beautiful girl will surround you like an ant that smells honey."

As the non-commissioned officer was talking, he saw their company commander sliding down the slope of the river valley and hurriedly ordered the soldiers to complete the team.

The captain came to everyone, shouted two commands, and then said with a stern face: "Everyone goes to the narrow area on the east side of the valley. Our mission is to pile up the chest wall."

No mistakes, one song, one post, one content, one reading!

The soldiers immediately looked at each other, and when the captain waved to the non-commissioned officers, someone asked loudly: "Captain Maas, aren't you going to beat the Prussians? Why are you going to start defending?"

The captain said with a serious expression: "Now that all German troops are concentrated here, we will face more than 100,000 enemy troops."

"But Udino Legion is not..."

"Don't envy them. There are a lot of battles for you here. Just hurry up..."

The west bank of the Saul River.

Near a small bush, French engineers fixed the last few wooden boards to the float, and a pontoon bridge appeared on the river.

Udino ordered the skirmish company to pass first and set up defensive positions across the river.

It is seven or eight kilometers away from the real ferry. There is no people nearby, but he is still very cautious.

At two o'clock in the afternoon, after the last few floating rafts carrying gun barrels were dragged ashore by more than a dozen soldiers, the entire legion was already standing in the territory of the Trier Kingdom.

To be honest, their situation is very dangerous at this time. If the coalition forces find them and start siege, the Sauer River behind them will block their retreat.

But at this time, every soldier was extremely excited, as if this was the outskirts of Paris. What awaited them was not the cannons of the coalition forces, but the girl holding a bouquet.

Before dark, several rangers dressed in dark gray cloth commonly found in the Rhineland rushed back and reported to Udino: "Sir, we found out from the Gerolstein farmers this morning One of them passed there and should be nearly 10,000 people.”

Udino immediately opened the map, estimated the distance, and said to several officers beside him: "We are lucky, the enemy should not have reached Fort Neuer.

"Let the soldiers rest on the spot and we will launch an attack tomorrow morning!"