On November 1, 1890, Archduke Albrecht and Leopold II held a historic meeting in Cologne, where the two sides conducted in-depth discussions on opposing France.
Fine, that was the official line. In truth, after the Luxembourg defensive line collapsed, Belgium's situation deteriorated along with it. Leopold II could no longer hold the situation together and had no choice but to flee into exile.
Holding Brussels to the bitter end was something one could only imagine. With Belgium's strength, it simply had no ability to withstand a fierce French assault.
Yet the situation had not reached the point of despair. Although the Luxembourg defensive line had collapsed, the German Confederation had suffered grievous losses, and Belgium was about to fall, none of that changed the fact that this Anti-French War had only just begun.
In essence, this war had been stirred up by France and Austria in their struggle for continental hegemony. Belgium and Germany had merely committed the crime of possessing jade.
Belgium's strategic position and the resources of the German Confederation's Rhineland were the root cause of their being dragged into it.
Belgium and Germany had suffered terribly, but Austria, the leading brother, still retained its strength. On the southern front, the Austrian army still held the advantage; on the African battlefield, Austria had the French pinned to the ground and trampled them.
It was merely because the Austrian army had failed to achieve a substantive breakthrough on the southern front, while the African battlefield drew little attention, that everyone had focused their gaze on Central Europe and felt that the French held the upper hand.
It had not yet come to the point where he had to risk his life. Leopold II was no reckless fool. After receiving Archduke Albrecht's assurance, he decisively chose a strategic withdrawal.
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