A force slowly appeared on a low hill along the flank, flying the tricolour flag of the German Confederation (Empire).
"Break through the darkness of slavery (black), endure the blood-red slaughter (red), and win the dawn of freedom (gold)."
That was the meaning of the tricolour flag. Usually, though, the tricolour symbolized "liberty," "equality," "fraternity," and the Great Revolution.
In any case, this flag had little to do with the Empire. After Luxembourg rejoined the German Confederation, it had even painted a lion symbolizing the Kingdom of the Netherlands on its national flag, specifically to show that it had no intention of overthrowing everyone.
But enough digression. A third force had suddenly appeared on the battlefield, leaving Oudinot both astonished and furious.
His astonishment went without saying. The outcome had seemed all but decided, and then some unexpected interloper had burst onto the scene. How could he not be astonished?
He was furious because such a large army had suddenly appeared on the battlefield, yet not a single scout had reported it beforehand.
In truth, the reconnaissance unit couldn't really be blamed. A torrential rainstorm had just passed, and not long after it stopped, Oudinot had hurriedly led his troops into a decisive battle. They'd been helpless to do anything.
By contrast, the Belgians' morale soared. They didn't realize German reinforcements had arrived; the German Confederation (Empire) flag simply looked too much like the Belgian flag.
The Belgians could tell at a glance that their own people had arrived. They didn't care who exactly they were.
"Reinforcements are here!"
"Reinforcements are here!" (In a Belgian French dialect.)
Ordinarily, enemy reinforcements would first affect the officers. The soldiers would notice the change in their commanders' expressions and moods.
Soldiers were in the middle of the battlefield and couldn't see the whole