I'm the Dauphin in France

Chapter 839: War Prince

The soldiers were excitedly discussing the dishes for tonight's dinner when they suddenly heard short military bugle calls all around them.

This is a signal of enemy attack.

Then, the company commander hurried past the position with the flag bearer and drummer, and shouted, "Everyone, pick up your guns immediately, install the bulletproof inserts, and line up!

"Everyone cheer up, this should be the last attack of the Prussians today!"

The sergeant hurriedly urged everyone to prepare for battle, then looked at his pocket watch and said angrily: "These bastards are attacking at half past four. In this way, 'Miss Delvaux's Party' may have to go to other camps!"

The soldiers' eyes suddenly turned red.

Field dining cars cannot cook after dark because the firelight will become the best target indicator for enemy artillery.

The battle on their side would most likely continue until dark, and then the food truck would not be able to come.

Andre gritted his teeth and said, "Aim and shoot! We must drive the enemy back before dark!"

"Yes, if we fight hard enough, we should be able to make it in time for dinner."

"God bless you, Miss Delvaux's Party, don't leave..."

More than ten minutes later, thousands of Prussian skirmishers approached quickly from the south under the cover of artillery fire.

Behind them were more than 30 infantry charge columns.

However, the Prussians were surprised to find that the French troops southeast of Eschdorf were extremely fierce today. They seemed to be crazy and completely ignored the artillery fire and desperately poured bullets at them.

The Prussian army's frontal attack was immediately frustrated. However, due to their huge advantage in manpower, the encirclement troops on the east side quickly attacked again.

This is the terrifying aspect of the military advantage when fighting in large groups.

Generally speaking, 5 elite troops have a great chance of defeating 1 enemy troops, but when the size of the army expands to 5 people, it becomes very difficult to deal with 10 enemies.

This is not a simple question of proportion.

When 10 people are spread out on the battlefield, they will occupy an area several kilometers wide. A smaller side simply cannot cover such a large area, and because the battle line is too long, you can't even see the enemy in the distance.

After the battle begins, you can repel the enemies in the front, and then find that your flank has been surrounded without you knowing it.

This is also why the larger the scale of the battle, the more it tests the commander's ability - many times the commander needs to rely on experience and intuition to judge the whereabouts of the enemy in order to mobilize troops in advance to respond.

However, this time, as soon as the Prussian encirclement troops approached the French defense line, two French skirmisher battalions pushed them back with an extremely fierce counterattack, so that even the formation of the Prussian infantry behind them was disrupted.

The Prussians who were closer to the French army seemed to hear that the soldiers on the opposite side not only shouted "In the name of the Crown Prince" as usual, but also mixed in voices such as "For dinner" and "Beef stew".

In this way, the soldiers of the Eschdorf Line, whose "anger value" was full, repelled the Prussian attack in less than 5:30.

At this time, the setting sun was still barely hanging on the horizon.

Andre, Aurore and the others soon saw the smoke rising from "Miss Delvaux's Party" and immediately began to sing happily.

At the same time as the Prussian army launched the last wave of attacks, Massena finally saw the flag with the crown prince's emblem painted on it from afar on the north side of Eschdorf. He quickly signaled the military musicians to start playing, straightened his uniform, and quickly walked forward with his guards.

“Your Highness, I am very happy to see you here.” Massena stroked his chest and bowed in front of the prince’s horse. “It’s just that this place is too close to the enemy. It’s very dangerous. Do you think we should…”

Joseph jumped off his horse, threw the reins to Csaud, stepped on the fallen leaves, patted Massena, and signaled to the military band next to him: "I'm here to fight. Don't do this kind of pomp again in the future."

Massena had been serving in the old army before. He entered the Paris Police Academy for further studies after Joseph returned to France from Silesia. Therefore, he had never fought with Joseph and did not know Joseph's style and habits.

Massena nodded quickly and said, "Yes, Your Highness, I remember that. However, I still suggest that you go to Wiltz's headquarters, which is safer."

Joseph turned around and smiled, "The enemy is not in Wiltz. I say again, I'm here to fight. How can fighting be without danger?"

He was well aware of the importance of the Rhineland.

This is the key to the entire German region, and it is also the breakthrough point for the Allied Forces to attack France.

Whoever wins here between France and the anti-French alliance will have the absolute initiative in the entire war.

So he personally followed Lefebvre's Corps to Luxembourg. Even if he did not participate in commanding the battle, he could at least boost morale.

Massena had no choice but to follow and said respectfully: "With you leading France, we will surely win a glorious victory!"

Joseph didn't respond, but looked in the direction of the distant cannon fire: "Tell me the details of the battle."

"Yes, Your Highness." Massena also knew that the Crown Prince had led his army to fight in many battles, so he stopped trying to stop him and followed Joseph on his horse, saying,

"Our army's defense line has been stable from Eschdorf to Konstum. However, Ferdinand has assembled nearly 100,000 troops here, so the defense pressure is still very great.

"Fortunately, the Oudinot Corps defeated the armies of Thuringia and Lower Hesse in Neuerburg, otherwise there would be 1 more enemy troops here."

Joseph nodded slightly.

Massena's deployment was very correct. He did not defend the Luxembourg Fortress to death, but opened up a strategic space on the Ardennes Plateau, which gave Oudinot the opportunity to launch a surprise attack behind the enemy lines. Otherwise, even if the latter succeeded in the attack, he would be surrounded by the enemy.

Massena continued: "As for the Luxembourg Fortress, General Berthier led three regiments of the Royal First Infantry Division and the Champagne Corps, a total of 1 people to defend it.

"They are facing a coalition force of Hanover, Mainz, Trier and other countries, totaling more than 1 people. There shouldn't be any surprises."

When the Hanoverian uprising occurred in Brabant, the main force of the Hanoverian army had been crippled by Joseph. Currently, its combat effectiveness is basically at the same level as that of Lower Hesse, Thuringia and other countries.

As for small countries like Mainz, their military strength is even more insignificant.

So Luxembourg City is indeed not difficult to defend.

Joseph and Massena passed through the town of Eschdorf and could see the smoke of the front line in the distance.

He shook the reins to make the horse go faster, and said to Massena, "The problem of insufficient troops will soon be alleviated. I have brought you 3 reinforcements, and they should be here tomorrow."

"3 people?" Massena's eyes suddenly lit up and he asked excitedly, "You brought the entire Southern Netherlands Front! So, the Royal 6th Infantry Division is also among them?"

(End of this chapter)