Start 1861: I Just Inherited the Dutch Throne

"Therefore, due to Bismarck and William I's calculations against Napoleon III, it was extremely difficult for France to win."

William IV smiled and said: "So now everything is clear about your position as the French side and mine as the Prussian side, and the advantages and disadvantages of being in it?"

Mark Rudd had to admit that the new military theory used by William IV just now was very impressive.

According to His Majesty, in the future, the Dutch military must use both positive and negative forces to test the troops. The Dutch military needs to conduct more drills in peacetime and divide the Dutch military into imaginary enemies and friendly forces for drills.

In order to make the exercise more realistic, His Majesty requested the military to conduct exercises on the scale of the imaginary enemy in the Netherlands, including all weapons and equipment of the imaginary enemy.

This way you can gain more experience to deal with each other one day.

William IV didn't wait for the other party to finish digesting it, and said: "Because the mainland area is too small, small-scale exercises are enough, and this will not easily arouse the vigilance of the surrounding powers.

But in the Far East, there is no such taboo. Large-scale exercises at the army level or even the corps level can be carried out. They can be carried out in deserts or in mountains and forests, not to mention exercises at sea, and even three exercises can be carried out simultaneously. "

As William IV spoke in more detail, Chief of General Staff Mark Rudd seemed to see a bright path in front of him.

"If His Majesty does this, the Dutch military will definitely be the best in the world in the future. However, if it is not carried out locally, it may be difficult to intimidate countries that have ambitions towards the Netherlands. It seems that the effect will be difficult to reach those countries."

William IV gave Mark Rudd a serious look, "What do you want to say?"

"The Netherlands is too low-key and is easy to be underestimated. Although Prussia does not have much hostility towards us at the moment, at least on the surface, no one knows whether they will turn their guns against us after destroying the French Empire. "

William IV was shocked, but looked at Marka Lud calmly, waiting for his further explanation.

It seemed that he was encouraged by the attitude of William IV. Mark Rudd said: "In order to prevent William I of Prussia and Bismarck from taking risks, I had an idea from the exercise mentioned by His Majesty just now. I think we need to show it." Only with our strength can all parties understand that the Netherlands cannot be bullied.”

William IV showed a chatting smile. He was obviously very interested, so he asked: "How do people know that the Netherlands cannot be bullied?"

"Only force can convince them." Mark Rudd said firmly: "I suggest that when the war between the French Empire and Prussia reaches the second half, perhaps we can show our strength at the right time. Let Britain, Prussia, Austria and other countries not have any paranoid ideas about the Netherlands.”

"Bah bang bang," William IV praised, "It's a good idea, but it's not enough."

Seeing the curiosity on Mark Rudd's face, William IV said: "If that's all, then it doesn't seem to be shocking enough for them. Since it is necessary to increase the strength of the Netherlands' exhibition, then"

William IV showed his bright teeth and said proudly: "Then let's bring Sweden and Denmark together and conduct a maritime exercise around the eastern and northern parts of the North Sea. Since we want to suppress them, then let's use one of our secret weapons. A first-generation submarine force, of course, a first-generation submarine force."

Mark Rudd's eyes showed a compelling color at this time. Soldiers have been proud of promoting the country's strength since ancient times. Once the submarine is revealed, he knows that the Netherlands can guarantee peace for at least several decades. Because it took the Netherlands a full seven years to develop equipment and train submariners into an army.

This is because the Netherlands has had more sailors since ancient times. He dared to say that even if the UK needs to establish the same system, it will take at least the same time.

"By the time they established their submarine force, the Netherlands already had more advanced submarines."

William IV said: "What the Netherlands needs most right now is not the time to compete with them for hegemony. We need to recuperate and multiply the population. When this shortcoming is made up, it will be the time to let the birds fly. Okay. , please start preparing now. As for Sweden and Denmark, I will contact their two kingdoms later to facilitate this matter."

On August 14, 1869, the French Empire launched an attack on Prussia with three divisions in the Saarbrün area. However, they did not conduct any effective combat operations. They only conducted some small-scale contact battles with the enemy Prussian troops. As a result, Both sides are injured.

The international community couldn't help but notice it.

Even the Disraeli government of the British Empire, which was waging war in the Far East, could not help but turn its attention to Europe.

Disraeli even did more than call for an armistice between the two countries.

"We are all partners of the French Empire and the Kingdom of Prussia. I have a good relationship with my two colleagues, Prime Minister Olivier and Prime Minister Bismarck. Therefore, the relationship between the UK and these two countries has not been a big problem recently, so as the Prime Minister of the British Empire , I call on France and Prussia to stop the ongoing war and reduce the casualties on both sides."

However, France and Prussia, who had their own plans, did not get rid of him and continued to fight.

On August 16, 1869, Prussia immediately turned to the offensive and even crossed into the French Empire for the first time to fight a war.

This changed the atmosphere over Europe and dark clouds gathered.

The French army was at a disadvantage under the Prussian attack in the border area. It seemed that the war was developing in a direction they did not expect. However, they were proud and would admit defeat, so it became their fate to face the Prussian attack.

At the same time, on August 19, the Third Army of Crown Prince Frederick of Prussia in the south attacked Wissembourg, the French territory in the east, embedded in the Prussian border, with an army that was 10 times overwhelmingly different. The French army naturally faced it. Unfortunately, despite being outnumbered, Crown Prince Frederick of Prussia's Third Army defeated the French Seventh Army of Chalons at the Battle of Wissembourg, which General Douai deployed to guard the division there. The French army suffered more than 25% casualties. .

General Félix Douay was horrified by this, and the commander of the Chalon Army, Patrice McMahon, was furious and hurriedly ordered General Douai to push the other divisions of the Seventh Army eastward to defend the Prussian Third Army. The Legion's advance on French territory.

On August 18, 1869, General Douai, commander of the French Seventh Army, personally supervised the battle. On the Prussian side, Hartmann, commander of the Third Army of Bavaria and the Second Army led by Crown Prince Frederick, personally supervised the battle. On the battlefield, the Franco-Prussian forces fought again in Volta, with no winner or loser.

On August 20, 1869, the French heavy cavalry launched a brave charge with the intention of moving the war north. However, the Prussian army faced the French army this time, which was the 130,000 Prussian army of Prince Carl Friedrich, commander of the Prussian Second Army.

The two sides fought head-on and defeated more than they suffered. In the end, Prussia's 130,000 Prussian troops severely damaged the 40,000 French troops of McMahon's first army of Chalon's Army.

On the same day, General Frossard's 2nd Army under General Bazin's Metz Army was also defeated at Forbach by the 1st Prussian Army led by Commander Carl Friedrich von Steinmetz. The legions were repulsed with overwhelming numerical superiority, and France was finally forced to open the important pass, allowing Prussia to finally enter Lorraine.