Start 1861: I Just Inherited the Dutch Throne

9 o'clock in the morning on October 16, 1869.

French Empire, in Reims, east of Paris.

Among the lush green mountains and forests, thunderous cannon sounds would occasionally be heard, startling countless birds flying in the forest.

Hidden under the rush of greenery, there is a steep mountain. The huge gap at the bottom of the mountain looks like a valley from a distance.

On both sides of the valley, there are smooth stone walls that are steep and difficult to climb. The only way out is the only two-foot-wide exit. At this moment, the sound of horse hooves flew quickly through the lush forest, just as they were about to enter the entrance.

The figure on the mountain peak above the valley flashed out. Immediately, a low-level non-commissioned officer in French military uniform looked down at hundreds of French Guards soldiers and asked in a deep voice: "Who dares to break into His Majesty's temporary camp?"

"De Fay, commander of the 5th Army under Marshal McMahon at Sedanmi on the front line, requests an audience with Your Majesty on behalf of Marshal McMahon."

Although De Fay's face was full of anxiety, he looked at the Guardsmen in front and said sadly.

"People from Xia Long Legion? General, wait a moment."

Not long after that, De Fay met an old acquaintance in the military, Bourbaki, commander of the Guards of His Majesty Napoleon III.

"My old friend has returned to Reims at this time?" Bourbaki asked: "What's the important thing for me to see His Majesty at this time?

"Sedan was suddenly attacked by Prussian troops from three directions at 5 o'clock in the morning this morning. We estimate that the Prussian troops dispatched more than 150,000 people this time, while we only had 60,000 in Sedan, and they were still tired troops, Mike Marshal Ma Hong believes that the Prussian army is determined to win Sedan this time, and is resisting tenaciously at this time. At the same time, he asks your Majesty to support the front line."

As soon as these words came out, the hundreds of Guards soldiers and Bourbaki present suddenly looked shocked.

Did the Prussian army of 150,000 troops attack Sedan? Although they had already predicted this, they did not expect the Prussian army to be so impatient.

De Fay was also frightened by the Prussian army at this time.

He couldn't help but recall the words of Marshal McMahon before rushing back to Lance.

"Remember, if His Majesty doesn't have reinforcements this time, just stay in Reims. It's safer there than here. It won't be a big deal if France loses a Bazin and McMahon, but if it loses you mainstays, it won't matter. Commander, then the French Empire will really be over. Remember, come back if there are reinforcements. If there are no reinforcements, then you should find an opportunity to return to Paris, where you will be the best stage in the future."

Marshal Maucmahon, who was like his mentor and friend in the world, had the favor of reinventing him, so at this time, he still had this last glimmer of hope for the answer to Napoleon III.

I hope your Majesty will not disappoint me.

As he followed Bourbaki into the center of the camp, he prayed inwardly.

At the same time, he secretly made a decision. If Napoleon III chose to give up Sedan, he would definitely make Napoleon III regret it in the future.

When he met Napoleon III, De Fay found that Napoleon III was much older than half a year ago. He seemed to be more than 10 years older. The 61-year-old looked almost 70 years old.

For some reason, he found that the originally noble French Emperor Napoleon III was just an old man with higher power after he made that decision.

After a long time, a seemingly helpless and powerless voice asked:

"McMahon really thinks Sedan needs reinforcements?"

Asking the question, do you need reinforcements on the front line? Sound calm without anger?

De Faye's heart couldn't help but sink, and his hope seemed to be getting thinner.

He replied: "Yes, the enemy has 150,000 troops and we only have 60,000."

Napoleon III interrupted: "But we are defending, while the other side is attacking. Until now in history, the manpower lost by defending a city is at least half less than that of attacking."

De Faye raised his head and looked at the extremely old and wrinkled old face. He sneered in his heart and said indifferently: "But our soldiers have participated in many wars in a row. They are physically and mentally exhausted. Facing the Prussian army, which was recharging its strength and engaging in wheel-to-wheel warfare, our resistance has dropped to a terrifying level."

Napoleon III thought this was sophistry and said unceremoniously: "That is the problem of officers, how to boost morale and how to fight back invaders for the country. These are all learned in military school. As an old man in the French military, McMahon , doesn’t he understand and still needs me to teach him?”

De Faye's hope was instantly wiped out. He knew that this visit was in vain, and Napoleon III had no intention of supporting the front line.

De Fay asked bluntly: "Your Majesty, you mean that the city of Sedan on the front line can only fend for itself?"

Napoleon III seemed to be angry and turned around, leaving De Faye with a cold back, "Go back and tell McMahon and tell him to stay there. The entire eastern part of the country is currently in a military emergency and all troops are needed. In the northern Netherlands, It is also worrying. Tell him that when the 80,000 regular troops from the Far East return to the mainland, I will overwhelm them all in Sedan, and tell him to hold on for another 10 days."

De Fay smiled and then resolutely said: "Your order"

Then he performed a standard French salute and walked out heavily.

After seeing him leave, Bourbaki worriedly said to Napoleon III: "Your Majesty, Sedan is really not going to rescue? The Prussian Second Army and the First Army are attacking in the middle and north. Marshal McMahon has only 60,000 people and it is difficult for him to do so. Confrontation.

Moreover, from the attitude of De Faye just now, it seems that his loyalty to you has been shaken. After this person returns, will he let McMahon and his army become the next Marshal Bazan? "

It was okay if he didn't say it, but when he said it, Napoleon III's face softened and he became angry. That bitch Bazin actually surrendered to Prussia with 30,000 people, which made Napoleon III the laughing stock of Europe.

30,000 people. If these 30,000 troops support the Xia Long Army, it will not make him so short of troops now.

There are currently only 100,000 troops in Reims. If half of them are allocated to support McMahon, then the military power in his hands will become smaller. And in these troubled times of war, what is more reliable than having the army in his own hands.

He learned this from his uncle Napoleon I.

He said harshly: "We'll talk about Bazin later. At the moment, I have some last resort difficulties."

After finishing speaking, he confided a shocking news to Bourbaki: "The Dutch request to close the passage lent to the Kingdom of Prussia and the Duchy of Luxembourg is to let us give them the Mauritius Islands and Kerguelen Islands in the Indian Ocean."

Bourbaki said in shock and anger: "What, the Netherlands actually took advantage of the situation? We can't agree to them."

Napoleon III shook his head and said with a dissatisfied smile: "This news came this morning. Queen Eugenie has already called back to the Netherlands to agree, because the guys in the Paris Parliament and Charles and others all agreed to stabilize the Netherlands first. Now, it has been Someone was sent to Amsterdam, and Eugenie called to say that she was powerless to stop these nobles from thinking."

Bourbaki was stunned for a moment.