I Am the Crown Prince in France

Chapter 334 Wedge and means of disintegration

𝟼𝟿sʜᴜx.ɴᴇᴛ】

Encouraged by Deputy Chancellor Onck, the Southern Netherlands rebels began to launch a fierce attack on the French who surrounded General Witte.

Different from what they expected, the French army was almost defeated at the first touch. In less than 20 minutes, a huge gap appeared in the encirclement.

Witte apparently also noticed something strange. When he vaguely saw the flag of the National Army of the South Netherlands in the telescope, he was immediately ecstatic and ordered the officers around him to cheer up and break out with him.

Under attack from inside and outside, the Guards Corps led by Masson became increasingly "unable to withstand", and the soldiers near the Dutch Army fled with their heads in their hands.

In less than an hour, Witt joined forces with Major Akhter, who came for reinforcements.

General Witte glanced at the French who were retreating in embarrassment, stepped forward to hug Akhter, patted his back and said excitedly: "You came just in time, my dear friend! You just appeared suddenly on a cold snowy night. The first ray of dawn..."

The latter withdrew from his arms and signaled to Onk who was not far away: "General, in fact, Speaker Onk is the real dawn. It was he who bravely defied all opinions and brought us to save you."

"Wenk?" General Witte was startled. It was really difficult to associate that money-loving and irresponsible politician with bravery.

But Akhter should not lie to himself. Maybe all the bad things about Onk are just rumors. Thinking of this, Witte quickly straightened his military uniform, met Onk, and saluted with his chest carefully caressed: "You saved me and thousands of revolutionaries with your supreme courage. Please allow me to express my highest respect to you, and Sincerely grateful.”

Onk returned the favor with a smile, took the horse pulled by the guard, and motioned for General Witte to sit on it: "Now is not the time for small talk. I heard that the French defeated General Blücher, and they may send more troops here at any time. Let’s go back to Liege first.”

"You are right, the most important thing is to protect these revolutionaries." Witte got on his horse, found his staff in the crowd, and ordered the latter to assemble his troops and retreat toward Liege immediately.

However, the French soon rallied to catch up.

The soldiers of the Wit Army, whose morale had been shattered by the Guards Army's cavalry artillery before, did not dare to accept the challenge. Each one ran faster than the other. In addition, their training was extremely low, and the marching column soon showed signs of collapse.

While Witt was anxiously calming the soldiers loudly, Onk stood up again and expressed his willingness to lead a battalion to the rear.

More than 20 minutes later, the Masson Regiment of the Guards, which was in hot pursuit, exchanged fire with the more than 500 Dutch troops in front of them.

After the two sides fought for half an hour, one of Onk's confidants slipped away to a small forest not far from the battlefield and met a French officer there.

"Mr. Onk said, that's about it." The confidant said in French as if he saw an acquaintance, "The next battlefield is near the village of Eliviko. Please withdraw first."

The French officer nodded: "Okay, see you in Elivico Village."

He was about to turn around, but stopped again, stared at the other party with sharp eyes and said: "His Royal Highness the Crown Prince asked me to remind Mr. Wenke not to forget the agreement."

"Yes, yes. How could you forget this? Mr. Onk's reputation for trustworthiness is well known to everyone in Brussels."

"That's good."

Immediately, the French pursuers "could not withstand" the heroic soldiers of the Southern Netherlands commanded by Oncke and began to retreat.

Amid the roaring cheers of the soldiers, Onk began to lead his army to speed up to catch up with Witte's large army, and caught up with him before dark.

In the next two days, Onck took the initiative to move to the rear twice more, and miraculously drove away the pursuers with his inferior force, allowing the Witt Army to reach Liège safely.

When Witte's soldiers joined the South Dutchmen who came to greet them, Onck's name immediately spread throughout Liege.

The Dutch soldiers whom he saved from danger several times even gave him a nickname - Onk the Miracle Worker.

Then as the injured soldiers returned to Brussels to rest, this nickname, together with Unck's deeds, quickly became known to all the Southern Netherlands rebels.

In the Southern Netherlands Parliament held the next day, the conservative members who had almost no say in the past appeared to be full of energy and spoke a little louder. And their opinions are obviously more valued by other MPs.

This was all the political effect brought about by the conservative leader Henry Onk using his miraculous military performance to win huge support among the revolutionaries.

…

Northwestern Luxembourg, the town of Wincel.

When the Guards arrived, Blücher's army had already left for a day and a half.

In the building of the town trading center, Joseph was dictating a letter to his uncle Joseph II, while the clerk was recording it.

Suddenly, Eman walked over quickly and whispered: "Your Highness, Major Masson is back."

Joseph signaled the clerk to pause and said to Eman: "Please invite him in quickly."

After a moment, the major who was promoted from the Crown Prince's personal guard to the Guards Corps entered the room under the leadership of Eman, caressed his chest and saluted Joseph: "Your Highness, the mission has been successfully completed."

Joseph smiled and nodded: "You did a very good job."

"Thank you for your compliment." Masson added, "Your Highness, Henry Onk said that within three months at the earliest, the main force of the Southern Netherlands Army will gradually withdraw from the south of Brussels. But he said that this requires some convincing. Only a member of parliament can do it, so you still need to provide 500,000 livres for funding.”

"He really dares to ask for it." Joseph smiled and said to Emman, "Tell the Intelligence Bureau to bring 50,000 livres to Onk. Tell him to withdraw from Wallonia within two months."

The area south of Brussels is roughly the scope of Wallonia.

Ma Song said cautiously on the side: "Your Highness, if that Onk does not keep his promise..."

"He dare not." Joseph shook his head calmly, "He knows what the consequences will be if Van der Nott receives the news that he is cooperating with us."

Van der Nott is the leader of the liberals in the Southern Netherlands and Onk's political enemy. Historically, the liberals soon squeezed conservatives such as Onk out of parliament and began to monopolize power.

Joseph continued: "Even if Onk really breaks his promise, it doesn't matter. As long as he continues to exist in the Southern Netherlands Parliament, my goal will be achieved.

"This is the biggest weakness of the so-called electoral system. "

He knew very well that with the current enthusiasm of the Southern Netherlands rebels and the beginning signs of national awakening, it would be difficult for France to hold on to Wallonia.

Even if it occupied it by force, it would face uprisings caused by revolutionaries everywhere.

In that case, Wallonia would not only fail to bring benefits to France, but would become a serious bleeding point.

Therefore, it was necessary to disintegrate the parliament of the Southern Netherlands rebels, let them fall into internal friction, and then shift the attention of all revolutionaries to political struggles.