War Breaks Out Again

The war Meeting Room on the second floor of the Versailles Palace was put into use three years ago.

In the center of the Hall is an extremely detailed Europe Sand Table, with mountains, forests, and rivers clearly visible. Small red dots represent cities, and even strategically important towns are marked.

Because the red dots were so densely packed, there wasn't enough space to write the town's name next to it, so there was only a four-digit number there. Turning to look at the reference table on the east wall, you could find the specific city information by relying on the numbers.

Ropes crisscrossed the roof, allowing staff officers to pull on the ropes to move the legion's puppets to designated positions on the Sand Table. Magnets on the Sand Table would then attract the iron plates at the bottom of the puppets. Each Sand Table was 5 meters square, and a person's arm could only reach a small area at the edge, which was necessary for deployment and demonstration.

At this moment, Berthier's assistant, Lieutenant Colonel Jomini, pointed a long wooden stick towards northwestern Germany: "Based on intelligence from various sources, as well as the movement of the Prussian Army, they are very likely to invade Hesse from Eschwege."

He moved the wooden stick in his hand westward. "There is no defensible area between here and Kassel; the final battlefield will most likely be right outside the city of Kassel."

Duke of Broglie, the Minister of War standing in the front row, frowned slightly and whispered to Berthier beside him, "Have the Prussia gone mad? Why are they suddenly invading Hesse?"

Before the Chief of Staff could speak, the Director of Security Bureau Lavalette, answered for him, "You probably forgot that Count William is currently in Berlin. He can declare at any time that he does not recognize the Treaty of Kassel and request his in-laws' help to retake Kassel."

The Count William he referred to was William IX, the former King Hesse-Kassel. Hesse-Darmstadt, with the support of France...

After conquering the entire Hesse, William IX fled to Berlin, retaining only his Count title.

Hesse-Kassel and Prussia have a long history of intermarriage and close relations.

Duke of Broglie said coldly, "It seems necessary to teach those arrogant Prussia another lesson."

The current King of Hesse Ludwig X, has the backing of France, and invading Hesse is clearly a slap in the face to France.

As the Duke of Broglie was speaking, he suddenly remembered something. "Wait, the staff officer just said that the attack on Lavalette would proceed from Eschwege." He nodded. "Gotha will almost certainly grant the Prussia the right of military passage."

Gotha was one of the Thuringia states that were preserved in the Stuttgart Declaration. From Prussia to Hesse, one could travel via Brunswick to the north or Gotha to the east. Prussia chose the less forested East Line.

The security chief added, "This is not surprising; the Thuringian states are among the few that have not declared their secession from the Holy Roman Empire's Diet."

Lieutenant Colonel Jomini, standing beside the Sand Table, had already given a brief introduction to the Prussia troops assembled in the Halle area. He then pointed to the northwest side of Prussia, near the Baltic Sea: "Prussia has also assembled an army of 10,000 to 15,000 men in the Verden area."

"It is not yet certain whether their target is Oldenburg or the Schleswig region."

Lavalette whispered, "My report mentioned it must be Oldenburg. How could the United Kingdom possibly have Dan now?"

"Push the wheat to our side?"

Schleswig is a territory of Denmark bordering northwestern Prussia, Prussia has long claimed.

Oldenburg, on the other hand, was a small country on the northern coast of the European Continent, which Prussia could conquer with little effort.

Berthier nodded in agreement, saying, "Occupying Oldenburg would allow Berlin to extend its military presence into the Netherlands. This is exactly what the United Kingdom need."

Lieutenant Colonel Jomini paused for a moment, and just when everyone thought the Prussia Ministry of War had been explained, he suddenly strode to the center of the Sand Table and announced loudly, "Compared to the troop deployment on the west flank, the Prussia focus should clearly be on the South Line."

He pointed north to Saxony: "Pozztan has amassed at least 50,000 troops. Meanwhile, Austria might provide support from Erzgebirge."

Duke of Broglie roared, "He's gone mad! William is truly mad! What excuse will he use to invade Saxony this time?"

"Lusatia," Lavalette murmured, uttering a place name.

Lusatia is a region along the Oder River. According to the Treaty of Treaty of Hubertusburg, signed after the Seven Years' War, the Upper Oder River...

Lower Lusatia belonged to the Electorate of Saxony, but Steinau on the east coast belonged to Prussia.

This is equivalent to carving out an enclave within Saxony's controlled territory.

The two countries have been unable to reach a clear demarcation. Prussia has consistently claimed rights to the entire Oder River's riverbed, banks, and waterways.

Idu belonged to Prussia. Saxony only possessed the dry land on the west coast.

Furthermore, even logging, fishing, and timber transport on the west bank of the river were subject to Prussia control, because the treaty only stipulated that the land belonged to Saxony, without specifying the ownership of taxes or other related matters.

What was originally just a trivial border dispute turned into a military intervention by Prussia.

Lieutenant Colonel Jomini continued, "Mercuralist Austria is also transferring large numbers of troops to the banks of the Inn River."

Inn River forms the border between Austria and Bavaria, the Austrian Army's objective was self-evident.

"The Austrian Army might bypass the heavily defended Passau Fortress and instead attempt to cross the river from places like Kiefersfelden, Braunau, Mattighofen, and Schärding."

The total troop strength is approximately 70,000.

Before Duke of Broglie could ask any questions, Lavalette offered her own explanation. "Austria's excuse should be that Bavaria sheltered the Vienna Riots years ago and is still funding them today."

Well, if the Bavarians heard this, they would definitely cry foul.

Where would they get the spare money to fund the Austria rebels? On the contrary, the rebels would have to pay taxes to them if they wanted to sell some Gem and salt through Munich.

Jomini Lieutenant Colonel Jomini finished introducing the basic situation, Berthier stepped forward and summarized. "Currently, it seems that England Prussia Austria, and other countries intend to use small-scale wars to destabilize the core areas of North Rhine -Westphalia and Bavaria-Württemberg Core Area, thereby disrupting the Holy Trade Alliance."

"Normal operation."