I Am the Crown Prince in France

Chapter 363 Good news continues (asking for monthly tickets)

On a high ground 2 kilometers away from the main force of the Hanoverian army, there is a small wooden table with two cups of hot tea on it.

Joseph picked up the cup without any additions, gestured to Berthier across the table, and then took a sip comfortably:

"There are so many good news today."

The latter smiled and nodded:

"Yes, Your Highness. I didn't expect that the Hanoverian artillery forgot to destroy the cannons in a hurry.

"We can even drag the 16 guns directly to the front of Hanover's defense line to double our firepower. "

Just now, the Guards Cavalry Battalion sent back news that they easily wiped out the rear of the Hanoverian army, which lacked infantry cover.

The Hanoverians obviously did not expect the French army to come so quickly, and they fled without any decent resistance.

Of course, they could not run faster than the Hussars.

In more than two hours, the Third Cavalry Battalion of the Guards captured more than 800 Hanoverian soldiers, seized all of their 16 cannons, and a large amount of logistical supplies.

As Berthier said, the Hanoverian soldiers were so panicked that they even forgot to set fire to the baggage and nail the gun ports.

The French cavalry drove more than 80 carts still harnessed to horses and returned to the camp happily.

As the two were talking, a staff officer walked over quickly, raised his hat and saluted:

"Your Highness, General, our army has broken through the left wing of the enemy's infantry line. "

Berthier showed a happy expression and turned to look through the telescope, but he found nothing because of the thick smoke on the battlefield. He had to turn back and lie on the map to identify the breakthrough location.

"It's here." The staff officer pointed to the north side of a small river.

"Great!" Berthier said excitedly, "If the two skirmisher companies on the right wing cooperate with the 10th Infantry Regiment to penetrate westward, we can form an encirclement of the enemy.

"Oh, let the cavalry artillery maneuver to the left side of the enemy's line and drive them south. We can ensure that all enemies are surrounded!"

Joseph looked at the map and saw that the front and northeast side of the Hanover infantry line, which was two kilometers long and spread along the river valley, gathered six regiments of the Guards Corps infantry. At the same time, more than a dozen cannons were bombarding them on the high ground on the east side.

If the troops were mobilized as Berthier said, the Hanover army would have no way out except jumping into the river in the south, and would basically be annihilated.

The staff officer was about to give an order to the herald, but heard His Royal Highness the Crown Prince say:

"No, please maintain the current situation. Order the troops to focus on destroying the enemy's cavalry and leave them room to retreat to Brussels."

Berthier looked at Joseph in surprise:

"Your Highness, this is a good opportunity to annihilate the enemy, why do you want to..."

"This is based on political considerations, General. I will explain it to you later." Although Joseph smiled, his tone was unquestionable, "Now, please do as I say."

Just kidding, this Hanoverian army is a treasure. As long as they are there, Austria trapped in Silesia cannot do without France.

Now that the Hanoverians have lost all their artillery, if the cavalry is also annihilated in large numbers, coupled with the heavy blow to their morale in this battle, they will hardly pose any threat to the Guards Corps in the future.

After receiving all the "rewards" that should be collected, they can be eaten at any time.

Berthier confirmed with Joseph again whether he really wanted to let the enemy go. After receiving a positive answer, although he was full of doubts, he still ordered the messenger to do so.

Today seemed destined to be a day to receive good news.

About an hour later, a messenger from the front line came to the temporary command post and excitedly reported to Joseph:

"Your Highness, just now the enemy commander General Diehl sent someone to express his willingness to surrender."

What? !

Joseph's face suddenly darkened.

Do you want to be so useless? ! I don't even surround you. Don't you know to run away with such a big gap on the northwest side? George III is going to lose face for you!

Actually, it can't be blamed entirely on General Diehl. Just now, his main cavalry was chased into a valley and couldn't come back. Without the cover of cavalry, he didn't know whether he would be chased by the French cavalry and collect heads after turning around and running away.

Anyway, he was ordered to do it in a critical situation, and Charles II would be responsible if he surrendered. So he chose the safest way to deal with it-surrender.

Joseph looked at the herald beside him and said in a deep voice:

"How could the brave and fearless Hanoverian army surrender?

"This must be their conspiracy to trick our army into relaxing its vigilance!

"Send that guy who pretended to surrender back and tell his commander that we will never be fooled!"

"This..." Several officers looked at each other in surprise.

Berthier was the first to react and leaned into Joseph's ear and said:

"Your Highness, is this also a 'political consideration'?"

"Yes."

Soon, General Dill, who had no way to surrender, had to take the risk of fleeing to Brussels under the continuous fierce attack of the Guards.

After receiving the latest report on the battle, Joseph finally breathed a sigh of relief, and ordered the cavalry, who had worked hard for a day, to rest on the spot, and the infantry to pursue cautiously and not to enter the suburbs of Brussels.

The city of Brussels is already the Flemish region, which is not France's current strategic goal.

...

"Young men, do you still have the energy to teach the Dutch a lesson?"

Masong smiled and shouted to the soldiers sitting on the ground.

In response, he was shouted with great momentum, "Yes!"

"Commander, this is much easier than the usual training."

"Enough for a quick march to Amsterdam! Haha!"

Masong nodded with satisfaction, and said a few more words to boost morale. He was about to order the final round of attack on Bronckhorst - in the past few days, the Dutch were cut into three pieces by him, and more than 1,400 people had been killed or captured. At this time, Bronckhorst was desperately rushing towards Brussels, trying to get the protection of the Hanoverians, but their ranks became extremely messy in a hurry, making them very easy to attack.

At this moment, a hussar came quickly and reported to Ma Song:

"Commander, we found a small group of Hanoverian troops near the dense forest on the north side. Judging from their clothes, there seem to be several high-ranking officers."

"Oh? Hanoverian?" Ma Song narrowed his eyes. According to the information sent by the staff, the main force of Hanoverian troops should be dozens of kilometers away to the east. How come officers came here?

He hurriedly asked the hussar: "How many people are there?"

"No more than 400, commander."

Ma Song looked to the southwest again, where there were nearly 2,000 Dutch troops, and looked to the north, where there were Hanoverian officers approaching inexplicably.

Finally, his eyes stopped at the north.