I'm the Dauphin in France

Chapter 363 Good news keeps coming (asking for monthly ticket)
On a high ground 2 kilometers away from the main force of the Hanoverian army, there was a small wooden table with two cups of hot tea on it.

Joseph picked up the unfilled cup, motioned to Berthier across the table, and then took a sip with satisfaction:
“There’s so much good news today.”

The latter smiled and nodded:

"Yes, Your Highness. I didn't expect that the Hanoverian artillerymen were so hasty that they even forgot to destroy the cannon.

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

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

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

Of course, they couldn't run faster than the Hussars.

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

As Berthier said, the Hanoverian soldiers were so panicked that they forgot even the basic operations of setting fire to the baggage and nailing down the gun ports.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Joseph looked at the map and saw that six regiments of Guards infantry were gathered in front and on the northeast side of the two-kilometer-long Hanoverian infantry line that stretched along the river valley. At the same time, more than a dozen cannons were bombarding them continuously on the high ground on the east side.

If the Hanoverian army were to deploy its troops as Berthier suggested, they would have no choice but to jump into the river in the south, and would basically be wiped out.

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, leaving 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 can't do without France.

Now that the Hanoverians had lost all their artillery, if their cavalry were also annihilated in large numbers, coupled with the heavy blow to their morale caused by this battle, they would pose almost no threat to the Guards Corps in the future.

Once all the "rewards" are received, you can eat them 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 herald to do so.

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

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

"Your Highness, just now the enemy commander General Dill sent someone to express his willingness to surrender." What?!

Joseph's face suddenly darkened.

Are you such a loser?! I won't even surround you. There's such a big gap on the northwest side, and you don't know how to run? You're going to make King George III lose face!
In fact, it was not all General Dill's fault. His main cavalry had just been chased into a valley and could not return. Without the cavalry's cover, he had no idea if he would be chased by the French cavalry if he turned around and fled.

After all, he was appointed in a time of crisis, and Charles II would be held 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 troops into letting down their guard!

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

"This..." Several officers looked at each other in surprise when they heard this.

Berthier was the first to react, and whispered in Joseph's ear:
"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 towards Brussels under the continued fierce attack of the Guards Corps.

After receiving the latest battle report, Joseph finally breathed a sigh of relief and ordered the cavalry, who had worked hard all 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 part of the Flemish region, which is not France's current strategic goal.

……

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

Ma Song smiled and shouted to the soldiers sitting on the ground.

He was answered with a powerful shout, "Yes!"

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

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

Masson nodded with satisfaction, said a few more words to boost morale, and was about to order the final attack on Bronckhorst. In the past few days, the Dutch had been cut into three parts by him, and more than 1 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 and were very easy to attack.

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

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

"Oh? Hanoverians?" Ma Song narrowed his eyes. According to the information sent by the General Staff, the main force of Hanover should be dozens of kilometers away in the east. How come an officer came here?
He hurriedly asked the hussar: "How many of them are there?"

"No more than 400 men, Captain."

Masson looked toward the southwest again, where there were nearly 2000 Dutch troops, and then toward the north, where a Hanoverian officer was approaching inexplicably.

Finally, his gaze stopped at the north.

(End of this chapter)