Descending On France 1780
Chapter 348 - 341 Campaigning to the Rhein

Chapter 348: 341 Campaigning to the Rhein

News from Italy had also reached Vienna.

Emperor Franz II of the Holy Roman Empire slammed his desk in his working chamber: "What is going on! What on earth is happening! Weren’t there less than a hundred thousand men in the French Army in Italy? Just our Sardinian Kingdom’s army alone already numbers a hundred thousand!"

Imperial Chancellor Wilhelm replied, "It’s because the enemy has two generals in Italy, both of unparalleled military talent, personally appointed by Frost... That man has a knack for employing officers."

"Well, great! He appointed two generals, and now we can’t fight in Italy anymore, he still has seven corps commanders under him, should we just surrender?"

Wilhelm: "It might not be such a bad approach..."

"Bullshit! I can see it now, all of you are thinking of surrendering! How can we surrender? France is a republic, their slogan is to spread their ways throughout Europe!

"Don’t forget where you come from! Once the French arrive, you’ll be headed for the guillotine!"

Wilhelm: "No, it’s Robespierre who fancies the guillotine and he has been exiled. Now Frost, who prefers exile, is in power."

Schönbrunn Palace’s head steward chimed in: "Actually, the conditions on Elba Island are quite nice, scenic, plus you can eat fish every day..."

"Damn it!" Franz II interrupted the steward, "I am the Emperor of the Holy Roman, I will never surrender!"

The ministers looked at each other confused, but finally, Wilhelm spoke: "We can indeed continue to fight. At least when the battles are on our territory, we don’t have to worry about the self-formed National Guards popping up everywhere."

"Yes, when fighting on French soil, those self-formed National Guard units caused us a great deal of trouble. If we fight in German-speaking areas against the French Army, at least we can have an upright battle," said the young General Vilotel.

In the war against Frost, senior generals were defeated one after another, many feared Frost and were reluctant to confront him, thus young officers like Vilotel began to be valued.

Many of them looked down on Frost’s military achievements and dreamt of defeating Frost on the battlefield, gaining immense honor.

Vilotel was the representative of these ambitious young officers.

Obviously, he attributed the Austrian Army’s failures in France to the endless emergence of National Guard units.

However, there were also veterans present who had faced Frost in person.

Pence, for example, Von Wumze’s aide-de-camp.

Pence: "Don’t underestimate Frost, he’s the greatest general of our time, one misstep in battle and you’ll fall into his trap!"

Vilotel shook his head disdainfully, "Humph, I don’t think he’s as miraculous as you all make him out to be. I’ve studied all his campaigns, every single one! Indeed, many of his decisions are filled with genius imagination, but once you see through them, that’s all there is to it!"

Pence was about to retort when Franz interrupted them: "Enough! We’ll see who is the horse and who is the mule on the battlefield!

"No matter what you say, our total forces are four hundred thousand versus two hundred thousand, the advantage is ours!"

**

Also in Schönbrunn Palace.

Louis XVI was pacing anxiously.

"It seems that relying on the Holy Roman Empire’s strength we can’t be restored to France." He bemoaned despondently, "I should never have left France! At worst, remaining in France would’ve meant exile, better than being confined here."

His wife, Marie "the former" Queen, snapped angrily, "Are you blaming me for urging you to flee?"

Louis XVI turned abruptly, glancing at Marie, then softened, "I didn’t mean that, I’m just saying perhaps there was another option at the time.

"Besides, Frost is a good man, he even personally prevented them from hanging Louis XVII."

"Louis XVII is his mistress’s brother, are you?" Marie challenged.

Louis XVI was left speechless but after walking away a couple of steps, he retorted begrudgingly, "Then why didn’t you seduce Frost at a social event? If you had, there wouldn’t be a problem, right?"

Marie snorted, "I would never stoop to speak with a leatherworker’s son!"

"At this point, you can still talk that way! Did you know that even in Vienna, those who believe in Voltaire’s doctrine are on the rise? Didn’t you see it yesterday on our outing? Citizens of Vienna are starting to wear the liberty cap!

"If this continues, Vienna may follow in Paris’ footsteps. Your kind of talk will come back to haunt you!"

Marie grimaced, "My nephew is not a waste like you; he will crush those damned long-trousered rabble with soldiers. If you had captured and executed one person wearing a liberty cap back then, things wouldn’t have escalated to this!

"You should have used bayonets to solve the issue when you first convened the Third Estate! Look at the Jacobins, what did they do once in power? They sent those who opposed them straight to the guillotine!

"That guillotine was invented by you!"

Louis XVI: "It wasn’t my invention, I just improved it."

"That’s not important! If you had used the guillotine earlier, to kill everyone against you, we’d still be the King and Queen of France now!"

Louis XVI: "Enough, let’s not discuss the past. Let’s consider, if Frost really defeats Austria, what will we do then! When that time comes, your nephew will definitely be asked to send us back!"

Marie sneered, "What else to do? Just go back, as you said, Frost will most likely exile us. I think, after being exiled for a year or two, the Royalists’ influence will recover and they will welcome us back!"

Louis XVI hesitated, then walked to the window, looking at the sprouting plants outside, he sighed, "If only it were so."

**

On February 26, 1794, the spring air had already arrived at Sedan Fortress.

Anning chose this day to launch the army’s offensive into the Rhein region.

The French Army, full of high spirits, belted out the Hymn of Rome as they marched majestically out of the fortress.

Anning, mounted on his horse, stood on a hillside by the road, watching the unending troops pass by.

All the units that passed by him would cry out "Long live the First Governor!"

Napoleon rode up alongside Anning, laughing, "Listen to them cheer so joyfully!"

Anning replied, "I’d rather they cheer for the Republic."

"What difference does it make? In everyone’s mind, you are the Republic."

Anning shook his head, no comment.

Napoleon shrugged, "I’m returning to my unit now, salute to you, Commander!"

Saying so, he saluted, turned and rode back to his staff and soldiers.

Bertier commented, "This war, Napoleon’s performance is something to anticipate."

Anning nodded, "Indeed, we shall wait and see."