Chapter 1203: Crisis on All Sides
Northern border of French Wallonia.
Major General Gaayar, commander of the Walloon garrison, lightly flicked his riding crop and said to Lefebvre beside him, "General, we could have gone straight to Nijmegen. Those Flemings will only hold us back."
"At least they can provide logistical supplies." Lefebvre gestured behind him. "And we do not even have an Engineer Battalion."
This time, he had brought only two Infantry regiments, so naturally no Engineer Battalion had been assigned. The Walloon Territorial Army had not established that branch either.
Two cavalry riders came galloping toward them and said to Lefebvre, "General, General Sean Hayes is outside Bray, waiting to receive us."
Lefebvre smiled. "He is still so skilled at navigating human relationships."
Gaayar curled his lip. "Just not at fighting wars."
Before long, bands lining both sides of the road began to play. Sean Hayes led a group of Flemish Republic generals forward to welcome them warmly. "Honorable General Lefebvre, how long has it been since we last met? I often tell them of your heroic exploits from those days."
"Four years, perhaps." Lefebvre nodded in return, then asked in some surprise, "Are you personally leading troops to the Netherlands with me?"
"No, no." Sean Hayes smiled awkwardly. "You know, there is far too much government business. General Taine will accompany you on the campaign. However, I have specially assembled three thousand of the finest National Guard soldiers for him."
He was now the President of Flanders, so naturally he would no longer lead troops into battle himself.
The moment he learned that the English Army had attacked the Netherlands, he immediately requested that France intervene—after occupying the Netherlands, England would surely press southward. When that happened, the Flemish Republic would return to Austrian rule.
As it