Wild North America 1846

Chapter 467 Pig teammates

General Mao Qi, the Chief of Staff of the Prussian Army, is indeed a famous general. He is very decisive and responsible. After being keenly aware of the preemptive fighter potential contained in General Chen Chuan's suggestion, he immediately made up his mind to put it into practice and immediately reported it to King William.

His Majesty.

Lingxuan the next day

After the fierce bombardment, the Elbe Corps took the lead in launching a fierce all-out attack, catching some state troops in the Austrian camp by surprise.

After a few hours of tight confrontation, the frontal enemy was defeated and fell into greater chaos.

The Elbe Corps took advantage of the situation and launched a series of fierce attacks, taking the lead in defeating the 25,000-man Saxon Army. In the next two days, it gained momentum and penetrated nearly 68 kilometers into the Kingdom of Hanover, one of the most powerful allies of the Austrian Empire. It defeated the enemy in person and abandoned their armor.

, one defeat after another.

The Elbe Corps took the lead, and a large number of troops marched into the Kingdom of Hanover, Hesse, Gasel, Saxony and other adjacent countries. The panic of defeat spread quickly, and the armies of various states collapsed under the fierce attack of the Prussian Army.

After the dreamy start that they had dreamed of, the Prussian Army General Staff Headquarters took advantage of the situation and immediately invested the main force of the First and Second Corps to expand and consolidate its current advantages. On a front of more than 250 kilometers, it fought against the Austrians.

The army fought fiercely, and the sound of gunfire resounded throughout the world.

The sudden outbreak of all-out war attracted the attention of all Europe.

Dresden, the capital of Saxony

The ruins of destroyed houses can be seen everywhere in the city, with wisps of smoke rising from the charred ruins of the walls, and corpses lying scattered in the ruins with no one to clean them up. It is a desolate scene after the war.

Richard followed General Chen Chuan, and a group of more than 10 people came here on horseback. There were more than a hundred heavily armed Prussian cavalry nearby to protect him along the way.

What you see

Many captive soldiers with gray heads and gray faces were escorted by Prussian soldiers in a long line and walked out of the city. Their temporary destination was a prisoner of war camp.

There were also two or three women in traditional German dresses, looking numbly as they searched for the bodies of their loved ones in the ruins. Their tears had dried up and their movements were as slow as wooden stakes.

Most of the suffering caused by the war has been borne by civilians.

Accompanying the high-level military delegation was Colonel Schmidt of the Prussian Army Staff Headquarters. He was also the top commander of this cavalry team of more than 100 people and was responsible for closely protecting the safety of the Tang Empire's military delegation.

The city in front of you, with its German national architectural style, is the capital of the Kingdom of Saxony. After four days of fierce fighting, it was finally captured and captured by the Elbe Corps.

This kingdom was destroyed, and the Grand Duke of Saxony and his wife and family fled to the Austrian Empire, becoming another destitute Grand Duke without a feudal kingdom.

This is the result of standing on the wrong team, losing everything in one go.

"Mr. Colonel, the military operation of the Elbe Corps went smoothly beyond my expectation. I would like to congratulate you." General Chen Chuan reined in his horse and said with emotion as he looked at the numerous buildings in the city.

Colonel Schmidt bowed on his horse and saluted, and replied with a respectful expression: "God bless, the German nation has been waiting for the day of reunification for too long. Thank you very much for your blessing, distinguished general, the Kingdom of Prussia is indeed on the right track.

on the road.”

"Mr. Colonel, according to the situation report, the First Corps has defeated the enemy in front of them and is approaching Dresden. How many days will it be expected to arrive?"

"Your Excellency General, for about 4 to 5 days, the artillery and baggage have greatly slowed down the marching speed."

"I have to say that your campaign organization is very good and impressive..." Admiral Chen Chuan did not hesitate to express his praises at this moment. He knew that these words would be reported intact and become the official official statement of the high-level military delegation of the Tang Empire.

evaluate.

Richard, who was disguised as a colonel, did not interrupt. This kind of occasion was not suitable for a senior assistant to speak. His eyes wandered around this European city with ancient history, and he felt firsthand the cruelty of European wars.

at the same time

He also felt the distinctive characteristics of European wars. There were many things that were completely different from North American wars, which gave him a completely novel feeling, and gradually overlapped with the traditional perception of Europe.

The strategic policy established by the Prussian army from the beginning was to defeat the main force of the Austrian army in the shortest possible time and clear its wings, thus establishing a firm advantageous position on the battlefield. It tried its best to avoid the war falling into a quagmire or stalemate, causing the situation to escape control.

middle.

This core policy formulated by Bismarck, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Prussia, was thoroughly implemented by the Prussian army.

In order to defeat the enemy in the shortest possible time, the Prussian army itself suffered heavy casualties and paid a heavy price.

After a week of high-intensity combat, the Elbe Corps successively defeated the armies of Saxony, Hannover, Hesse and Gasel and other countries. It advanced all the way and won consecutive battles, but it paid a huge price of more than 5,400 casualties.

The total strength of the Corps is only about 56,000, with a reduction of nearly one-tenth.

At this moment

The Prussian Army's years of preparation efforts have yielded remarkable results. Worn weapons and equipment are continuously transported to the nearest station by train, and well-trained and replenished soldiers arrive at the same time to replenish the Elbe Corps with fresh blood.

In order to ensure that this sharp spearhead continued to break through, the Prussian Army Staff Headquarters even added several new battalions from the 2nd Corps, effectively guaranteeing the powerful attack momentum of the Elbe Corps.

on the other hand

When the armies of the German states, deeply imbued with the spirit of chivalry, encountered the overall attack of the Elbe Army, they did not adopt a more powerful defensive strategy of relying on solid fortresses, but took the initiative to launch a battle.

The Kingdom of Saxony's army, with a total strength of 25,000, together with 6,700 Hessian-German soldiers, abandoned their strong castles and stone wall defenses and fought head-on with the Elbe Corps in the mountainous and hilly areas.

Although this move is courageous, it is also foolish.

Yes

Troops from both sides of the war gathered on the battlefield. Frederick Augustus II, the monarch of the Kingdom of Saxony who inherited the aristocratic demeanor, came on a horse alone and requested to have a private conversation with General von Falkenstein, commander of the Prussian Elbe Corps.

, inviting the Prussian army to launch an attack first.

General von Falkenstein flatly refused and invited the Austrian army to take the lead in attacking the Prussian positions. After more than ten minutes of back and forth, the two sides decided to launch the attack at the same time, with no one left behind.

This sounds incredible, but it actually happened.

Since the Middle Ages in Europe, bravery and fearlessness have been the most commendable chivalry, while cowardice will be despised by the entire aristocratic society.

If a medieval feudal lord wanted to encourage his followers to fight to the death, he himself had to dare to charge forward, or at least be in the main army formation.

The Battle of Bouvines in 1214

King Philip Augustus of France and Emperor Otto IV of the Holy Roman Empire were respectively in the second line of the central army and were protected by personal soldiers. However, during the battle, both fell from their horses and were almost killed.

In an early battle with England's "Lion-Hearted King" Richard, King Philip of France was beaten into the river and almost killed.

The same is true for the British "Lion-Hearted King" Richard. He was one of the most outstanding monarchs in the history of Great Britain. He was well versed in the secrets of the coordination of infantry and crossbowmen. He repeatedly won the war against France and created a great reputation that made his enemies fearful.

.

But if you often walk by the river, how can you not get your feet wet?

During a siege in France, King Richard of England led his troops to attack bravely and fearlessly as usual, but was shot by an enemy crossbow and died a few days later.

This kind of reckless chivalry has a very wide influence in European aristocratic society. It is considered a cowardly and incompetent behavior to stay behind the defensive lines of castles and stone walls.

For the nobles who regard honor as their life, this is simply more unacceptable than death.

Knowing this history, it is not surprising that Frederick Augustus II, the monarch of the Kingdom of Saxony, did this novel thing.

There was no suspense in the ensuing battle. Under the intensive fire attack of the Prussian army, which was strong in fighting will and well-trained, the main force of the Austrian army (note; refers to the state army participating in the battle) suffered heavy casualties and soon collapsed.

Richard, who witnessed the whole process of the battle with his own eyes, was speechless. He could only say: "Courage is commendable, but it is too stupid."

Frederick Augustus II indeed proved his courage, but he lost his army and the Kingdom of Saxony, was driven to pieces by the Prussian pursuing troops, and fled all the way to the Austrian Empire.

In European aristocratic circles

There are countless grand dukes who have lost their feudal states. Only in the densely populated areas of the German states where the Prussian army is currently aggressively attacking, more than a dozen small and medium-sized states have been destroyed. A large number of dukes and counts have fled to Austria with their families.

If you are smarter and fight step by step based on the favorable terrain such as numerous castles, stone walls, and dangerous passes inherited from the German region since the Middle Ages, you will greatly delay the attack momentum of the Elbe Corps and drag the war into a long-term stalemate.

Probabilistic events.

Frederick Augustus II ruined his own kingdom and created a good situation in the early stages of the war in the Kingdom of Prussia.

at this point

This was an important point that the emperors and ministers of the Tang Empire ignored when considering the confrontation between the military forces of the two sides. It was also the most fatal point.

In the final analysis, Richard did not expect that these German princesses were so stupid.

It is obvious that the situation of winning without losing is guaranteed, but life and death fails. Who can I ask to explain this?

Maybe... this is a war with European characteristics, right?

Richard realized at this time;

If Bismarck, the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Prussia before the war, could even calculate this point and dared to use a force that was not superior to him, he would really be called a monster, and it would be admirable.

Under the guard of the cavalry, the group settled in a building in the city of Dresden that was less affected by the war. They planned to stay here for a few days and wait for the main force of the First Corps to converge.

After just washing up, General Chen Chuan hurried in. When he saw Richard, who was disguised as the colonel's adjutant, he snorted and said, "Viewing...Brother, please come here."

After saying that, he turned around and left.

Richard responded in a pretentious manner, put down the belt and sword he was organizing, and followed Admiral Chen Chuan away.

This performance was very surprising in the eyes of other officers. His Excellency the Vice-President was too polite to the colonel and adjutant, and even called him "Brother Guanjing". Can anyone be called "Brother" by His Excellency the Vice-President?

"Hey, do you know who Colonel Li Guanjing is? He seems quite mysterious."

"I'm not sure. We haven't worked together before. It's said that he used to serve in the headquarters in the United States, and he was an officer in a different corps than us."

"It seems like it has a great background, and His Excellency the Vice President also attaches great importance to it, right?"

"As a friend who has been in the military for many years, I would like to advise you: Don't pry around. We can't interfere with your superior's affairs. Just do your job diligently. By the way... try not to offend Colonel Li."

"Uh...well, I'm just a little curious."

"That's it for now, don't say any more."

"Uh-huh……"

The officers who were accompanying him did not take it to heart when they talked about Richard. After all, Admiral Chen Chuan did not dare to shout around him like he did to ordinary officers. His tone was full of respect, and you would have to be blind to not see it.

For example, in the sentence "Viewing... Brother...", the two words after Admiral Chen Chuan are as light as a mosquito's grunt, which is indeed a bit disrespectful.

Your Majesty the Emperor, you dare to call me "brother", are you crazy?

anyway

It was really difficult for Admiral Chen Chuan. Just a title made him feel like he was constipated. He had to try his best not to let others notice that he was strange. It was really not easy.

"What's the matter with being so anxious?" When they were alone together, Richard's expression became more casual. He walked in with his pockets in his pocket and closed the door behind him.

When General Chen Chuan saw His Majesty coming in, his originally straight waist bent down. With a flattering smile on his face, he stepped forward and offered a fine Cuban cigar with both hands.

When Richard took it, General Chen Chuan immediately took out a match and lit the fire, then lit the cigar diligently, and then reported the report;

"Brother Guanjing, the news just came from the southern battlefield. The army of the Kingdom of Italy was beaten hard by Austria and has been defeated. This has caused the current extremely favorable war situation to quickly slip into an unpredictable direction."

"Oh... what a pig teammate!" Richard said with a cigar in his mouth, shaking his head helplessly.

General Chen Chuan echoed, "Why not? Today's Prussian Army Staff Headquarters is overwhelmed by this unexpected situation. No one could have imagined that the Kingdom of Italy's army was so weak and was defeated by the Austrian army as soon as it launched an attack. This caused

The battlefield on the southern front is in a state of decay, and the Prussian army still needs to deploy precious troops to stabilize the battlefield on the southern front. It’s really a big deal.”

"In response to the worst case scenario, the Prussian army should have a response plan, right?" Richard took a puff of cigar and slowly exhaled it, then asked calmly.

The Germans also have a temperament that cares only about food and not about fighting. Their vision in selecting allies has always been unflattering. They have a long history of failing in this regard, and they will continue to suffer big losses in the future.

Compared with the cunning Britain and France, he is like a simple child.

No... I'm falling into the pit of Italy again.

But this is a big problem for the Kingdom of Prussia. The Tang Empire can just sit back and watch the fight between tigers and tigers. Only Europe can solve European affairs, and it is not the Tang Empire's turn to intervene in European affairs.

(End of chapter)