I'm the Dauphin in France

Chapter 442 Stubbornness and Conservatism

"Your Highness, what suggestions do your generals have for 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, then 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 the Franco-Austrian alliance."

"Respect the Franco-Austrian alliance."

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

"You stinking bitch!" The owner of the eyes gnashed his teeth and whispered, "I will make you and your French master pay the price!"

This man 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 was just released not long ago. He also paid 15 florins for this matter, which was almost all his wealth.

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

After cursing and swearing 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 young man.

He didn't know that Camelia would come, and he had no interest in attending the dance. He found a chance and slipped out of the hall.

……

Silesia.

Southwestern 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 Wilmser took the letter in surprise, quickly glanced through it, and immediately smiled disdainfully:
"Are they really crazy? They want to concentrate all their artillery in Ferhrabi?"

Nauendorf, who was standing by, took the letter and frowned immediately:
"Moving all the artillery 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 and even enter Königgrätz!"

Verhulaby was on the western side of the Prussian-Austrian front, while Königgrätz was an Austrian province adjacent to Silesia.

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

Prussia and Austria each deployed more than 200 cannons along the long battle line. In this situation, even the most courageous army, no matter how much casualties they suffered, would find it difficult to break through the other side's defense line.

This was absolutely acceptable to Prussia, which wanted to defend Silesia, but for Austria, the attacking party, this situation was a huge failure.

So after discussing with Berthier, he decided to gather the Austrian army's artillery scattered along a front line several dozen kilometers long and concentrate their forces to blast through the Prussian defense line.

After the Prussian army was "drilled" out of the way, the Guards Corps could take advantage of the roundabout way and break into the rear of Liegnitz, mobilizing the Prussian army to intercept. At this time, the Austrian main force could choose the area where the enemy's main force was transferred away, concentrate its forces 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 gathering 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 left their artillery defense line, the Franco-Austrian coalition would have the opportunity to strike at their effective forces. They could even use the method of "siege and attack" to draw out more Prussian troops.

Joseph was still very confident in the Guards Corps' ability to fight in close combat. As long as the gap in troop strength was not too large, the Guards Corps could quickly defeat any Prussian force.

Of course, this battle plan was too risky in the eyes of the Austrian military. After all, the thinking of an old-school officer like Lacy was still stuck in the Seven Years' War. He had not studied the battles in North Africa or the Southern Netherlands in detail in the past two years, so he would definitely come to the conclusion that the defense line could not be closed. Moreover, he was originally good at playing defensive battles, and the current situation was what he liked best.

three days later.

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

"So, what suggestions do you have now?"

At the Franco-Austrian military conference that just ended, Marshal Lacy completely rejected the combat 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 as to turn a blind eye to 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 and said, "I'm afraid this won't be easy. 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. Joseph II was currently only awake for one or two hours a day and was completely unable to speak.

"You mentioned prestige just now?" 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?"

"Yes."

Joseph nodded and thought:
"We must break the current deadlock. General Leaud is the only Austrian officer who is not influenced by Marshal Lacy."

Are you kidding? General Leo was a hero who turned the tide, recovered the Southern Netherlands, led his troops into Brussels, and drove Van der Noor to the Netherlands.

Of course, this was actually the result of Joseph's deliberate "star-making", but the Austrians, who were unaware of the inside story, had already worshipped him as the "Spear of the Southern Netherlands."

"But, Your Highness, Leo's command ability..." As an "old comrade" who has worked with Leo many times, Lefebvre knows his background very well. "To be honest, I'm afraid it will be difficult for him to take on any important tasks."

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

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

(End of this chapter)