King's Landing in France

Chapter 344 An Interlude
At this time, let us start with a small episode.

On February 2, the envoys of the Holy Roman Empire paid the ransom of Archduke Karl to the French army, so the Archduke was released today.

Of course, a grand French army expedition ceremony was being held at the main gate of the Sedan Fortress, so Grand Duke Karl left through the north gate of the fortress with his entourage.

He made a special detour to the French army's marching road, standing on a high slope and watching the blue army advancing below.

"It's a wonderful feeling, Mark." The Grand Duke called his old steward, "I know that this army will hit my motherland's army hard, but I hope 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."

Carl pouted: "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 to pick you up, not to pick you up and put you under house arrest. His Majesty is really sensitive to these things recently. Just recently, he has ordered the imperial police to seal up many newspapers in Vienna. Next Newspapers may be banned."

Grand Duke Karl looked shocked: "The newspaper is banned? This is one of the achievements of grandma's reform!"

The enlightened reforms carried out by Karl's grandmother Maria Theresa can be said to have given Habsburg a big sip.

The old housekeeper sighed: "It is precisely because it is the result of Her Majesty Teresa's reforms that she encountered great resistance, so she gave up. But Your Highness, please don't stimulate Your Highness's fragile nerves."

Carl: "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 conditions along the way?"

The old butler: "I'm not familiar with it, but I know where to find familiar people. After crossing the Rhine, the little princes along the way are all German-speaking, and it's impossible for them to head towards France."

"Okay, let's lead the way."

In this way, Archduke Karl led his steward and several personal servants, rushed all the way across the Rhine River, and defected to a small nobleman in Hesse.

On the morning of March 3, as soon as Archduke Karl opened his eyes, he heard someone knocking desperately on the door of his room.

He stood up and opened the door, and found outside was the second son of the little baron he was staying at, also named Franz—there were many people named Franz in the German-speaking area.

Carl: "Frantz, what's the matter?"

"The French army occupied Stuttgart, and the flag is the first army, flying the eagle flag!"

Grand Duke Karl: "The First Army? It's Napoleon's army! What about the other French troops? If the First Army reaches Stuttgart, the other French troops should also advance near Stuttgart, right?"

Franz shook his head: "No news. I asked the merchants from Hanover, but I didn't see any other French troops. They seem to be still on the west bank of the Rhine!"

Archduke Karl asked suspiciously: "Are you sure?"

"I'm sure, since you came, I have been letting my playmates run around every day, and I haven't seen the French army at all!"

Archduke Karl rubbed his chin and muttered softly, "Could it be that...Napoleon broke in?"

When he was under house arrest in Sedan, Grand Duke Karl talked with Napoleon many times, and he had a certain impression of this man, and he was very clear about his enthusiasm for adventure.

After a short thought, Grand Duke Karl patted his thigh: "Quick, we have to go to Alvinzi's headquarters, do you know where Alvinzi's headquarters is?"

Franz shook his head: "I don't know. It's impossible for us to know this kind of thing?"

Grand Duke Karl curled his lips, and changed his words: "Prepare horses, the best horses, two for each person! I will pay according to the price."

At this time, the butler of Grand Duke Karl also came out of his room: "What's the matter, Your Highness?"

"A fleet of warplanes has appeared, and I have to tell Alvinzi!" Archduke Karl said, "His headquarters is estimated to be in Munich or Augsburg!"

The housekeeper Mark frowned: "Even in Augsburg, which is a little closer, it will take us more than a day to run there. Is there enough time?"

Carl: "The key is not whether it is too late, but whether we should do it."

Franz: "I'll go too! I know the way, and I'll show you the way!"

At this time Franz's father, the baron, appeared in the corridor and snapped, "You can't go! Remember, you are the son of the lord of Hesse, which is different from Habsburg! Here, we only I'm afraid it will soon become a French territory!"

Franz turned his head and objected: "Father! The French will send us to the guillotine!"

"If it's the current First Consul, then it won't. He is very kind, and even sentenced the mastermind who assassinated himself to be exiled!" The baron replied, "And even if we lose our fief, we still have our own winery. , even if we sell all the land to serfs, we can still live and become the new nobles that the first consul said!"

Grand Duke Karl: "Your father is right, you don't want to join our war. And the First Consul should not want to enslave other peoples, he just wants to liberate you. A republic like France should be established in Hesse later."

Franz: "But..."

"Although it feels a bit strange for me to say this," Archduke Karl interrupted Franz, "it is not so bad to hang out with France. I am different. I am a heir of the Habsburg family and I have an obligation Fight for the Habsburgs."

As he spoke, Archduke Karl turned to the butler and said, "After the horses are ready, we will set off. Your Excellency the Baron, thank you for your hospitality."

**
At the same time, in the important city of Ulm on the Danube, Alvinzi's headquarters.

Alvinzi took the latest informant: "The French army has already moved to Stuttgart. Order all armies to strengthen the defense line along the river. We want to take the Danube, the burial place of the French army!"

Brunswick, commander-in-chief of the Prussian army, said: "I always feel that Frost, a cunning guy, will come around from Hessen. He will not forcefully cross the Danube to meet us head-on."

Alvinzi: "Well, send cavalry towards Hesse."

After finishing speaking, he sighed: "We are also bewildered with Frost. Even though our army has the upper hand, we still dare not attack him."

Brunswick also smiled bitterly: "Who says it's not. In fact, we can't blame us. The French army is very evil. Maybe it is really like what Frost said in the article. The citizen army, the national army, and our current army The army in hand is fundamentally different..."

Alvin Qi waved his hand: "Don't listen to his gossip! There is no difference, but the treatment is better and the money is more, so under the heavy reward, there must be brave men! If you want me to say, we should also give gold to the troops .”

"Then send it, do you have it?" Brunswick asked.

Alvin Zimmer was silent.

　Grass, the network was disconnected in the early morning, and now it's fine...

　　
　
(End of this chapter)