At this time, let us first insert a small episode.
On February 26, the envoys of the Holy Roman Empire paid the ransom of Archduke Charles to the French army, and the Archduke was released today.
Of course, a grand French army departure ceremony was being held at the main entrance of the Sedan Fortress, so Archduke Karl and his entourage left through the north gate of the fortress.
He specially went around the road where the French army was advancing, and stood on a high slope watching the blue army advancing below.
"What a wonderful feeling, Mark." The Grand Duke called to his old butler, "I clearly know that this army will severely defeat the army of my motherland, but I hope that it will bring new life to my motherland."
The old housekeeper was shocked: "Don't say that when you return to China. Your brother is very sensitive to this now."
Karl curled his lips: "I know, of course I won't say it."
Then he muttered softly, "Maybe that's why we can't beat France."
The old butler coughed: "I came here specifically to pick you up, not to take you back to be put under house arrest. His Majesty has been really sensitive to these things recently. Just recently, he has ordered the imperial police to seal many newspapers in Vienna. What will happen next?
Newspapers may be banned."
Archduke Karl looked shocked: "Banning newspapers? This is one of the results of grandma's reforms!"
The enlightened reforms carried out by Karl's grandmother Maria Theresa can be said to have given Habsburg a new life.
The old housekeeper sighed: "It is precisely because it is the result of His Majesty Theresa's reforms that it encountered great resistance, so Your Majesty gave up. But Your Highness, please don't irritate Your Highness's fragile nerves anymore."
Karl: "Okay. Before thinking about this, I have to think about how to defeat the French army in front of me. Mark, are you familiar with the terrain and people's sentiments along the way?"
Old housekeeper: "I'm not familiar with it, but I know where to find familiar people. After crossing the Inn River, the small princes along the way all speak German. They can't be heading towards France."
"Okay then, lead the way."
In this way, Archduke Karl led his steward and several personal servants, crossed the Rhine River, and defected to a small nobleman in Hesse.
On the morning of March 1, as soon as Archduke Karl opened his eyes, he heard someone banging on the door of his room.
He stood up and opened the door, and found that outside was the second son of the young baron where he was staying, also named Franz. There were many people named Franz in the German-speaking area.
Karl: "Franz, what's wrong?"
"The French army has occupied Stuttgart, and the flag is that of the First Army, flying the eagle flag!"
Archduke Karl: "The First Army? It's Napoleon's army! Where are the other French armies? If the First Army reaches Stuttgart, the other French armies should have also advanced to the vicinity of Stuttgart, right?"
Franz shook his head: "There is no news. I asked the merchants from Hanover and I didn't see any other French troops. They seem to be coming to the west bank of the Inn River!"
Archduke Karl asked doubtfully: "Are you sure?"
"I'm sure that since you came, I have been letting my playmates go horse racing around every day, and I haven't seen the French army at all!"
Archduke Karl touched his chin and muttered softly: "Could it be that... Napoleon came in unexpectedly?"
When he was under house arrest in Sedan, Archduke Karl had many conversations with Napoleon, and he had a certain impression of this man and was very aware of his enthusiasm for adventure.
After a brief thought, Archduke Karl slapped his thigh: "Quick, we have to go to Alvinci's headquarters. Do you know where Alvinci's headquarters is?"
Franz shook his head: "I don't know. We can't know this kind of thing, right?"
Archduke Karl curled his lips and changed his words: "Prepare horses and ask for the best horses, two for each person! I will pay according to the price."
At this time, Archduke Karl's butler also came out of his room: "What's the matter, Your Highness?"
"The fleeting fighter plane has appeared, I have to tell Alvinzi!" Archduke Karl said, "His headquarters is probably in Munich or Augsburg!"
Mark, the butler, frowned: "Even if it's in nearby Augsburg, it would take us more than a day to get there. Is it too late?"
Karl: "The key is not whether it's too late, but whether we do it."
Franz: "I'll go too! I'm familiar with the road and will show you the way!"
At this time, Franz's father, the Baron, appeared in the corridor and yelled: "You can't go! Remember, you are the son of the lord of Hesse, which is different from the Habsburg! We here only
Iām afraid it will soon become a French territory!ā
Franz turned his head and objected: "Dad! The French will send us to the guillotine!"
"If it were the current First Consul, then not. He is so kind that he even sentenced the mastermind of his assassination to exile!" The Baron replied, "And even if we lose our fiefdom, we still have our own winery.
, even if we sell all the land to serfs, we can still live and transform into the new aristocracy that the First Consul mentioned!"
Archduke Karl: "Your father is right, you don't have to join our war. And the First Consul probably doesn't want to enslave other nations, he just wants to liberate you. A republic like France will be established in Hesse in the future."
Franz: "But..."
"Although I feel a little strange saying this," Archduke Karl interrupted Franz, "but hanging out with France is not that bad. But I am different. I am a heir of the Habsburg family, and I have an obligation.
Fight for Habsburg."
As he spoke, Archduke Karl turned to the butler and said: "After preparing the horses, we will set off. Your Excellency, Baron, thank you for your hospitality."
**
At the same time, in Ulm, an important city on the Danube River, Alvinzi's headquarters was located.
Alvinzi took the latest intelligence report: "The French army has moved to Stuttgart. Order all armies to strengthen the defense lines along the river. We will make the Danube the burial place of the French army!"
Braunschweig, the commander-in-chief of the Prussian army, said: "I always feel that Frost, this cunning guy, will bypass Hesse. He will not forcefully cross the Danube to confront us head-on."
Alvinzi: "Well, send the cavalry in the direction of Hesse."
After speaking, he sighed: "We were also stunned by the fight with Frost. Even though our army has the advantage, we still didn't dare to attack him."
Brunswick also smiled bitterly and said: "Who says it's not the case? In fact, you can't blame us. The French army is very evil. Maybe it is like what Frost said in his article. The citizen army, the national army, and we are now
The army in hand is fundamentally different..."
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Alvinqi waved his hand: "Don't listen to his monstrous words! What's the difference? It's just that the treatment is better and the money is more, so there must be brave men under the heavy reward! Let me tell you, we should also give gold to the troops