I'm the Dauphin in France

Chapter 798: The Battle of Brussels
More than 20 minutes later, Emang looked at the three pages of orders in his hand and sighed in his heart: I'm afraid that hundreds of signalmen will not have time to eat dinner today.

He was about to turn around and leave when Joseph suddenly remembered that Napoleon's report mentioned that the Milan Parliament voluntarily donated 200 million francs and some valuable works of art to his army.

"Voluntary donation?"

Joseph shook his head. He knew too well Napoleon's character in the occupied areas.

Although looting occupied areas was common practice in this era, few people did it as exaggerated as Napoleon did. Wherever he set foot, there was resentment from both the heavens and the people.

The 200 million francs were probably donated by the Milanese, who were persuaded to donate them by using cannons. Especially the famous paintings - who would be so idle as to donate these things to the army?

Joseph did not want the international situation in which France was besieged on all sides during the reign of Emperor Napoleon to repeat itself.

He even sent Odoric to keep an eye on him, but he didn't expect that Napoleon's talent for offending people was unstoppable.

Those who deserve rewards must be rewarded, and those who deserve punishment must be punished.

Joseph wrote a commendation to Napoleon and a secret document and handed them to Emand: "Please give these to the Duke of Broglie and ask him to send gendarmes to Italy to investigate. I have written very clearly what to do."

"Yes, Your Highness!"

Emand left, and soon Lefebvre knocked on the door and came in, saluted Joseph, and said, "Your Highness, American volunteers have just arrived in Uccle, there are more than 1300 of them."

"They are finally here." Joseph smiled and stood up, saying, "Please make arrangements. I will go to greet them personally."

Lefebvre was a little surprised: "Your Highness, with all due respect, these Americans do not have much combat effectiveness, you don't seem to need to take them so seriously..."

Joseph smiled and patted his arm: "No, they are like a rope that can drag the entire United States."

It should be said that this American army arrived at the right time, as they were right before them, fighting the British.

Half a month ago, just as the French army cleared the area around Brussels, the Duke of York led 2 British troops to Antwerp.

On the other hand, Francis II also transferred the Kleifart Corps from Gelden, plus a Prussian army, totaling more than 3 people, to join the remnants of Prince Coburg in Leuven.

At this time, not counting the Dutch army, the anti-French alliance had already assembled 6 troops around Brussels.

On Joseph's side, the French regular army had only 2 people, the newly joined Walloon Defense Force had 2 people, and the "surrendered" troops in the Flemish region had less than 1 people.

There were 4 troops in total. However, there were a large number of newly recruited Walloon soldiers among them, and the Flemish Legion was even less to be counted on, so only about 3 people could really fight.

Today, there are still 1 Dutch troops in Brussels, but their training level is very poor, and many of them have cooperated with the French army in the battle to overthrow William V, so their overall fighting will is relatively weak.

Joseph left 7 Walloon Defense Forces to continue the siege of Brussels, while he led the main force to confront the Anglo-Austrian-Prussian coalition forces south of Antwerp.

Antwerp, Mechelen.

On the high ground behind the coalition forces, Count Clefat used a telescope to observe the French positions in the distance and shouted: "Now is obviously a good opportunity to launch an attack. The French are not prepared for defense at all. I only saw a small number of stragglers wandering around their defense line.

"General Davidovich has asked for help many times. We must try our best to break through the French defense line, otherwise he may..."

The Duke of York glanced at him and said calmly, "If you hadn't fought with several thousand Walloon troops for five or six days, we would have started the attack long ago."

Klefat paused and looked up at the sky in embarrassment. When he came from Leuven, he was ambushed by the Walloon "police".

These Walloons were so ferocious that he had to temporarily retreat to Leuven and wait for the Prussian army to set out, only then was he able to repel the enemy.

The Duke of York also raised his telescope: "My cavalry has detected at least 3 French troops here. I must find out where they are deployed."

He was speaking when he suddenly stopped and said in a rare and urgent tone: "Damn it, who is that person?"

He turned his head and signaled to an officer not far away: "Lieutenant Colonel Swenson, I remember you fought in North America?"

"Yes, your highness. I only returned in 1783, and I have been there before that."

The Duke of York immediately pointed to the French positions in the distance and said: "Look at those flags. They look like Americans to me?"

Swenson only glanced through the telescope and frowned. "The 12th Infantry Regiment of the Continental Army and the Maryland Skirmishers... They are indeed Americans, Your Highness. I have fought against them."

Soon, thousands of American soldiers, under the cover of French cavalry, arrived in front of the British positions and lined up to provoke. Various English curses could be faintly heard.

At this moment, a British cavalry officer came to the Duke of York, pulled the reins, raised his hat and saluted, saying: "Your Highness, I have repeatedly confirmed that there is no trace of the enemy within 8 miles around."

The Duke of York looked at the ragged Americans in the distance and said grimly, "Send the order, prepare to launch a frontal attack."

Although he didn't know what the French were planning, as long as there was no ambush around, he could use his superior forces to defeat the enemy in one fell swoop!
The attack plan had been prepared long ago, and only a dozen minutes later, the two British infantry brigades on the front took the lead in moving.

More than 60 cannons accompanied the infantry lines and slowly moved forward. In order to carry these heavy equipment, the British army's marching speed was much slower, but now these cannons will bring them a huge advantage.

At the same time, the Prussian corps outflanked the French from the right wing.

They have a huge advantage in military strength, so they can stretch the line longer.

It would be so long that the French army could not reach it, and then they could turn inward and form a semi-encirclement with the British army in front.

The French defensive position was located on a high ground, which was somewhat disadvantageous to the attacker, but the Duke of York was confident that he could make up for this disadvantage with his superior military strength.

Moreover, the situation in Brussels was critical, so he had no choice but to launch a strong attack as soon as possible.

The American volunteers who had been so arrogant just now only had a brief contact with the British army and then immediately retreated to their own high ground.

They were used to carry out "mental attacks" and Joseph had no intention of letting them fight any tough battles.

The British infantry brigade's advancement speed was not very fast. They were waiting for the Prussian army on the flank to encircle them and then launch an attack at the same time.

Half an hour later, the French artillery roared first.

The shells flew from 1.3 kilometers away, with a shrill scream, and hit the British infantry line accurately.

In an instant, blood and flesh flew everywhere, broken limbs fell everywhere, and screams rang out one after another.

The Duke of York did not know that on the opposite high ground was the French Royal 1st Artillery Battalion.

The best artillery in all of Europe!
(End of this chapter)