Chapter 335: Knowing the Limits
The electoral system of the Southern Netherlands Parliament provided the perfect opportunity for manipulation. Onck's conservative faction, previously suppressed by Vandernoot, leveraged the "heroic rescue" of General Witt's corps to return to the Parliament with newfound strength. It was clear that with the support of General Witt and the Southern Netherlands military, the conservatives now had the power to stand toe-to-toe with the liberals. Onck, naturally, would seek revenge for the previous marginalization.
All Joseph needed to do was to balance the two factions by offering some resources and stirring public opinion. This would ensure that the Southern Netherlands revolutionaries would become consumed by political infighting.
In later years, both in the United States and Europe, whenever political parties gained equal strength, they would fight fiercely, even without external provocation. And with newcomers to the electoral game like Vandernoot and Onck, the situation was bound to become even more volatile.
However, all this hinged on one condition: Austria, the common enemy that united the people of the Southern Netherlands, must no longer be a threat. To ensure this, the Imperial Guard still had a lot of roles to play.
...
"What? You mean pursuing Blücher?" General Leo, the Austrian commander in Luxembourg, nervously looked at Berthier and swallowed hard. He then looked to Lefebvre for help. "Do you think this is feasible?"
He desperately hoped that his old comrade, who had fought alongside him, would say something—anything—even if it was just to declare that his troops were utterly unfit for battle.
However, Lefebvre, with a stern expression, said loudly, "General Leo, I recall that His Majesty Emperor Joseph II ordered the recapture of the entire Southern Netherlands. Now that the Prussians and the Dutch rebels have just suffered a major defeat, this is the perfect time for you to pursue and reclaim lost territory."
Leo instinctively shook his head, thinking, That was your victory, not mine. What am I supposed to pursue?
Berthier exaggeratedly widened his eyes at Leo. "Are you afraid of battle? Or are you planning to disobey your Emperor's orders?"
"No! Of course not!" Leo was startled, immediately standing tall and shouting, "Long live His Majesty the Emperor! Even if it costs me my life, I will recapture the Southern Netherlands!"
"I knew it—you are Austria's bravest general." Berthier smiled and patted his shoulder. "Rest assured, France is declaring war on the Southern Netherlands rebels. If their army shows up, I will fight alongside you!"
Only after hearing that the French would assist did Leo finally breathe a little easier. He smiled and said, "I believe you must have already prepared the battle plans?"
Berthier nodded. "By noon tomorrow, you can launch an attack on the Prussian positions southeast of Liège."
"Tomorrow? Me?"
"Yes, the longer you delay, the stronger the Prussian defenses will become. I believe it's best to attack as soon as possible."
...
Joseph had done his best to keep the number of Prussian soldiers captured or killed under 4,000 to minimize the French presence, but the battle in Luxembourg still caused quite a stir across Europe.
Politicians across various countries were discussing the situation. Even though France and Austria had not officially allied and France had not declared war on Prussia, the current situation was undeniably moving toward a joint French-Austrian effort against Prussia.
In Potsdam, the administrative center of Prussia, at the Sanssouci Palace:
King Wilhelm II, dressed in full regalia, looked delightedly at the Hanoverian envoy before him. "I warmly welcome the Governor's suggestion to send reinforcements. How many troops is Hanover planning to send to Silesia? Oh, I will do my best to support them logistically."
The Hanoverian envoy bowed. "Your Majesty, the Governor will send an additional 30,000 troops as per your wishes. However, they will not only be deployed to Silesia but also to Luxembourg."
Wilhelm II's heart leaped with joy. Along with the 12,000 soldiers Hanover had already dispatched, there would be over 40,000 Hanoverians joining the war. This would have a huge impact on the situation in Silesia.
And he also noted the use of the word "Majesty," indicating that the British were highly interested in the war here. After all, the Electorate of Hanover was still ruled by the British king, making it practically a British enclave. With strong support from their British allies, Wilhelm II's chances of victory were significantly improved.
However, Luxembourg did not hold much interest for Prussia. Had it not been for the need to weaken Austria, Wilhelm would have already recalled the Southern Netherlands army. But the British seemed very concerned about Luxembourg—was it because of the French victory there, or did they have some commitment to the Dutch?
Pondering this, Wilhelm II said to the envoy, "You must understand that the core of the war lies in Silesia. If we can concentrate our forces to push back the Austrians and even penetrate Bohemia, then both the Southern Netherlands and Luxembourg could be easily taken by the Dutch."
"I will certainly convey your suggestion to the Governor." The envoy bowed slightly. "However, before Your Majesty makes a decision, 20,000 Hanoverian troops will continue to head to Luxembourg to assist General Blücher."
The British were not particularly concerned about the war in Silesia, not even as much as the Russians, as it was seen as an internal German matter. But in Luxembourg, with the French involved and its proximity to France, timely intervention was necessary.
If the French momentum was not curbed in time, the Southern Netherlands rebels alone would struggle to hold them back. If the French reached the mouth of the Rhine, it would severely impact British trade.
Thus, King George III quickly decided to commit Hanover's full strength to reinforce the Southern Netherlands. The British Parliament swiftly approved aid to the region.
At the same time, the Dutch would also send a few thousand troops to the Southern Netherlands. Although the Dutch were reluctant to confront the French, the dream of merging with the Southern Netherlands was their ultimate goal. Should the French attempt to occupy the Southern Netherlands, the Dutch, even at the risk of angering France, would defend their "ancestral land," especially with British backing.
In Vienna, at Schönbrunn Palace:
Joseph II was already exhausted by the protracted conflict in Silesia. Austria's finances were in dire straits, and he had invested heavily in reforms in recent years. If the war dragged on, Austria might collapse before Prussia did.
Fortunately, the morning brought news of the Prussian defeat in Luxembourg, allowing him a breath of relief amidst his anxiety.
Leopold II stood beside his bed, also smiling. "Your Majesty, the French stopped two miles outside of Liège. It seems our sister understands the importance of knowing her limits."
According to the political understanding between France and Austria, Luxembourg was a fair payment for French involvement, but the Southern Netherlands was off-limits to French ambitions. The French were demonstrating their adherence to this understanding through their actions.
(End of Chapter)
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