I'm the Dauphin in France

Chapter 841 Morale
As the two were talking, the sound of gunfire ahead became clearer and clearer.

When Joseph raised his eyes, he saw a French artillery position spewing flames not far away, which means that it was less than 1 kilometer away from the front line of the battle.

Just at this moment, the sound of Allied artillery from the southeast began to gradually weaken, and after a while it stopped completely.

A long bugle call was heard from the French position, followed by the sound of bagpipes, which indicated that the enemy had retreated.

Joseph looked at the sky and signaled to Massena: "Let's go say hello to the soldiers at the front."

Massena hurriedly stopped him and said, "Your Highness, we really can't go any further. If you want to inspect the troops, I'll let the soldiers come here to meet you. Anyway, the enemy shouldn't attack again today."

He was really afraid that a cannonball would suddenly hit the crown prince, and then he would have no place to cry.

Joseph couldn't persuade him, so he pointed to the flat open space next to the artillery position and said, "That's it."

……

On the southeast side of Eschdorf, Orold took a deep breath of the aroma of stewed beef wafting from the direction of the battlefield dining car and couldn't help swallowing his saliva.

"Not ready yet?" He looked at his comrade beside him, "Actually, I think it's better to stew it for a little while longer, so the meat will be more chewy."

The sergeant came over and said with a smile, "Wait a little longer. I heard that the commander asked old Simon to add a dish of 'corn and egg' for us because we performed very well in the battle today."

Aurore swallowed again. "Great. I'm going to mix it with mashed potatoes..."

"Oh, you always like to make any delicious food look like feed," Andre teased, "Is it because you can't forget the days when you raised pigs?"

"Damn it, I told you not to mention raising pigs!"

As the two were bickering, the company commander came running over breathlessly, pointing to the rear and saying, "Quick! Gather together! The king, the crown prince is here!"

The soldiers were all stunned. Someone asked, "Are you saying that the Crown Prince is here?"

"Yes," the company commander waved his hand vigorously, "His Royal Highness is over there with the cannons, and the regiment commander said His Royal Highness wants to see us!"

The soldiers immediately cheered, "His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is here to see us!"

"Oh my God, His Highness is really here? Long live His Highness the Crown Prince!"

"Ahaha, it must be that our performance in beating up the Prussians today won His Highness's praise..."

"Stop talking so much, it's getting dark! Hurry up!"

Joseph was an idol in the hearts of all French soldiers, especially in the New Army. Almost every day, people would mention the victories that the Crown Prince had led them to win.

When the soldiers heard that the Crown Prince was coming to the front line to visit them in person, they were so excited that they forgot everything.

Everyone formed up as quickly as possible, and then ran towards the artillery position following the beat of the military drums.

Aurore passed by the battlefield dining car and could almost hear the bubbling sound of the broth in the pot, but he didn't even turn his head. He just complained to Andre: "Damn it, the Prussian guy punched a hole in my hat. Oh, God, why do I have to meet His Royal Highness the Crown Prince in this funny way?"

"I can ask for leave for you." The latter smiled evilly and pretended to raise his hand, "Sergeant, Aurore said he..."

Aurore hurriedly held down his arm and glared at him, "I swear, I'm going to duel with you when I get back, you bastard!"

Soon, their company arrived at the artillery position.

Seven or eight companies have already gathered here, and the soldiers are trying their best to hold their heads high, fearing that the prince will not be able to see them.

Joseph, wearing a hussar officer's uniform, sat on the wheel of a 12-pound cannon and waved to the soldiers with a smile: "Everyone relax, now is not the time for fighting." He jumped off the cannon, walked past the soldiers, and said loudly: "First, let me tell you the good news, I brought what everyone wants most.

“Oh, not brandy, and certainly not pretty girls.

"When you return to Paris, there will be no shortage of girls."

He gestured to the west: "I have brought reinforcements! Nearly 4 reinforcements!
"No need to take the enemy's shells in this damn place anymore. We will launch a counterattack soon! We will cross the Rhine and attack the Germans' homeland!"

Joseph clenched his fist and waved: "You will use the guns in your hands and the courage to destroy everything, so that the enemy will tremble when they hear "Glory and Victory"!
"Perhaps one day, when the children in Potsdam and Vienna cry and don't go to sleep, their mothers will sing this song to scare them."

The soldiers all laughed immediately.

Joseph suddenly noticed the bullet hole on Aurore's hat, stepped forward and took it off, nodded and said: "I like this 'medal', can you give it to me?"

The soldier breathed rapidly and nodded desperately: "Of course, Your Highness, of course, it's my honor!"

Joseph took off his hat and put it on his head: "Thank you. This is a return gift, I hope you like it."

He turned around and jumped onto the gun carriage, raised his bullet-hole-ridden hat and said, "Do you know what the Austrian newspapers say?

"They say 'the sun will set over France'.

"But I want to tell them that there are thousands of suns standing in front of me! You will use the brightest light to blind their eyes and illuminate the whole of France!"

Aurore felt his blood rushing to his head, and he waved his hands and shouted desperately: "Long live France! Long live His Royal Highness the Crown Prince!"

Immediately, there were shouts like a tsunami all around.

"Long live His Royal Highness the Crown Prince!"

"Burn those Germans!"

"For France, for His Royal Highness the Dauphin!"

"To Vienna!"

Massena's heart was also pounding as he looked at the soldiers whose heads were filled with excitement. He was extremely delighted at the terrifyingly high morale.

He believed that if His Royal Highness the Crown Prince ordered the soldiers to attack Vienna at this time, they would definitely rush across the Rhine without hesitation.

The next morning.

The Duke of Brunswick finished brushing his teeth, but suddenly realized something was wrong. He immediately frowned and asked his staff officer, "Where is my cannon? Why didn't I hear any cannon fire?"

The latter also went to ask the scout cavalry with a puzzled look on his face. After a moment, he rushed back and shouted: "Marshal, the French retreated overnight!"

The Duke of Brunswick suppressed his ecstasy and rushed to the front line to confirm. After seeing the empty French position through his telescope, he pretended to be calm and said to the messenger: "The French have persisted for several days longer than I expected. Order Blücher's Corps to pursue immediately!"

"Yes, Marshal."

The French army seemed to have lost its morale. After abandoning the Eschdorf Line, it continued to retreat to the vicinity of Budscheid the next day under the powerful offensive of the Prussian army.

The Duke of Brunswick came to the French position in Eschdorf, stepped on the flag fragments on the ground with satisfaction, and said to the herald: "Order to launch an attack from the direction of Kauttenbach at the same time. I will have dinner in Wirtz before the day after tomorrow."

At this moment, Scharnhorst walked over quickly, raised his hat to salute him, and then said carefully: "Marshal, I always feel that the recent performance of the French army is not normal..."

(End of this chapter)