France would be the key to the war

"You want me to go and provide reinforcements?!" French Army commander Kellermann roared at the officer who had come to request help, pointing to the direction from which faint gunfire could be heard to the west. "There are over 7,000 enemies there, which is the total number of the Prussian Army in all of Liegnitz!"

"But, General..." The disheveled Orderly Officer glanced in that direction with surprise, then hurriedly explained, "General Wurmser has been subjected to heavy artillery fire, and more than 20,000 Prussian Army have suddenly appeared on the south side of the fortress."

"I'm sorry, I've also been attacked. Please report to General Wurmser, I really can't do anything about it."

The Orderly Officer urgently said, "Please at least send cavalry to provide support..."

Kellermann stated decisively, "Without cavalry to cover my flanks, my men will be cut to pieces and wiped out by the Prussia cavalry before we can retreat into Kregnitz."

"Eckardt, send someone to escort this Captain back."

"Carus, order Felix Regiment to set up a second line of defense at the edge of the forest over there. Have Dort's men withdraw in half an hour!"

"Yes, General!"

On the gentle slope south of the Liegnitz Fortress, 8 kilometers away, nearly 60 cannons, already positioned, spewed flames at the Austria had dared to approach.

General Wurmser never expected that his surprise attack would be met with a counter-surprise attack from the Prussia.

Under the intense fire of numerous artillery pieces, his vanguard was almost immediately scattered.

Just as he was hesitating whether to deploy his troops on the spot and engage the Prussia in a direct confrontation, a large number of the Prussian Army emerged from the low-lying area to the South and rushed towards him in neat line formations.

Caught off guard, the Austria were thrown into chaos. Fortunately, the Prussia, in order to increase concealment, positioned their troops inside the depression, giving Wurmser a temporary advantage in terrain.

Wurmser, a veteran of the Seven Years' War and the War of the Bavarian Succession, seized this only opportunity and ordered his elite Skirmisher Regiment to launch a counter-attack against the Prussia Infantry Line from their high ground.

At the same time, he ordered Naundorff's cavalry to circle around to the north, making it appear as if he was going to attack the Prussian Army Artillery positions at all costs.

General Driesen, commander of the Prussian Legnitz Front, soon received a report from scouts that ten Austrian cavalry squadrons, or 1,500 cavalrymen, were maneuvering toward the flank and rear of the gentle slope where the Prussian artillery was located. The terrain there was higher, almost level with the artillery positions. If the cavalry launched a charge from there, the Prussian artillery would be in danger.

He immediately frowned and weighed his options. Prince Heinrich's orders to him were to defend Liegnitz to the death, not to annihilate the Austrian Army.

He knew very well that he was currently facing only the Austria vanguard, and there was likely an additional Austria army of over 100,000 behind them.

If they lose the cannons, their 30,000 men have no chance of holding Liegnitz.

A moment later, General Drissen said to the Orderly Officer, "Order Jonas's cavalry to withdraw and intercept the enemy cavalry with all their might."

"Yes, General."

As orders were given from both sides, a thin green line sped northwest across the rolling hills of Liegnitz, cutting through the bushes and moving further and further away from the main Austria forces, like a group of assassins rushing headlong into the heart of the enemy.

Meanwhile, another thin, light blue line emerged from the South of the Austria, bypassing the main Austrian Army army and desperately rushing back to the high ground next to the Liegnitz Fortress.

If Wurmser were looking down from the air at this moment, he would surely break out in a cold sweat.

If that Prussia cavalry had suddenly charged out during his retreat, his main force would have been cut in two, and they would have had no chance of returning to Bohemia.

On the other side, the elite Austria Skirmisher Regiment began to scatter under the cover of the tall grass, charging toward the Prussia Infantry Line below the depression.

They were very experienced. Although they were in Skirmishers formation, they were able to use the drummer's drumbeats to prompt them to stand up from different positions and fire volleys, greatly increasing their killing efficiency.

Many of them were hunters from the Austria mountains, with exceptional marksmanship. Taking advantage of the range provided by the high ground, they "dug" many gaps in the Prussia infantry's line formation before the Prussian Infantry could retaliate.

However, in the age of Flintlock Gun, Infantry Line with inferior numbers was undoubtedly an unwise move.

Soon, the Prussia Infantry Line advanced into firing range, and with several volleys, a dense rain of bullets covered the Austrian Skirmishers ' hiding places.

Screams echoed from the overgrown grass on the gentle slope, followed by corpses rolling down into the depression, leaving indistinct streaks of blood on the green grass.

The Austrian Skirmishers, numbering less than two regiments, fought and retreated, forcing the Prussia Infantry Line to constantly stop, regroup, and fire. On this gentle slope less than a kilometer long, they held off nearly ten thousand Prussian Army for more than an hour.

With the gap created by Naundorff's cavalry, Wurmser finally managed to withdraw his main force out of the range of Prussia Artillery, and then began an orderly retreat with alternating cover.

As dusk approached, Wurmser finally encountered Kellermann's French Army about ten kilometers from Kregnitz, which is the Austria border.

Only after entering the Camp built by the France did Wurmser feel somewhat relieved, and he hurriedly instructed his staff to tally the casualties.

A few hours later, a brief battle report was submitted to him. The report showed that approximately 16,000 Austria soldiers and 9,000 France had successfully withdrawn. As for the Bavarian Army on the west side, since no fighting occurred, they, along with the 5,000 Austrian Army, all returned safely.

With his main force still intact, Wurmser secretly breathed a sigh of relief. However, in this battle, his two most elite Skirmisher Regiment were almost completely wiped out, and his cavalry lost nearly four squadrons. Even General Naundorff was wounded.

Therefore, although the number of the Austrian Army lost was not too large, the impact on their combat effectiveness was quite serious.

The following day at noon, when the Austrian Army Commander-in-Chief Marshal Lacy, led his main force to the border of Liegnitz, they encountered the retreating Wurmser Army.

When he learned of the Austrian Army's crushing defeat the previous day, his face turned ashen.

According to his original plan, he could take Liegnitz by surprise attack tomorrow or the day after, and then march on Breslau, the capital of Silesia.

However, judging from the battle situation encountered by Wurmser, the Prussia were clearly well-prepared.

I'm likely facing a fierce, head-on battle...

When news of Liegnitz's crushing defeat reached Vienna, the entire city was in an uproar.

Countless Austria were instantly reminded of the painful memories of the three disastrous defeats in the Silesian Wars over the past few decades—a series of defeats that caused Austria to lose the entire rich Silesia region and thus become embroiled in a struggle with Prussia for control of Germany.

Coupled with the negative effects of Joseph II's previous reforms, Vienna Nobility and citizens took to the streets, resulting in large-scale protests.

Four or five thousand people surged toward the Schönbrunn Palace, chanting slogans all the way, "The frontline commander, Count Lacy, must be held accountable!"

"Reinforce our troops in Silesia! We cannot afford to suffer defeat again!"

"Replace the incompetent Lacy and put Marshal Loudon in command of the army!"

"Yes, only Marshal Loudon could defeat the Prussia..."

Meanwhile, the protesters also included a large number of voices expressing dissatisfaction with the Royal House. They blamed the crushing defeat on Joseph II's reforms, believing that the reforms had affected the morale of the army, and criticized the emperor for rashly launching a war against Prussia without adequate preparation.

Schönbrunn Palace.

Although the protesters were kept outside the Royal Palace Square by the guards, Joseph II could still faintly hear the noise coming from outside his window.

After a bout of coughing, the Holy Roman Emperor looked at Leopold II and State Minister Kaunitz, who stood solemnly beside his sickbed. "There's no need to disperse the protesters. Didn't you hear everyone saying they want to send reinforcements to Silesia? This might be an opportunity to unite the Austria."

Kaunitz tentatively asked, "Your Majesty, do you think we should give Marshal Lacy some pointers?"

What he called a reminder was actually a reprimand.

As an Ireland born in Saint Petersburg, Lacy was politically very pro -Russia. The pro-French Kaunitz frequently clashed with him.

Joseph II waved his hand. "Please draft an order to commend Marshal Lacy, whose rich experience prevented our army from suffering greater losses. Also, severely reprimand General Wurmser, whose poor command led to the defeat at Liegnitz."

Although he was seriously ill, he remained clear-headed and knew that he had to fully support the army's commander-in-chief at this time; otherwise, morale would be low and the battle would be lost.

Leopold II chimed in, "Your Majesty, it seems the Prussia are on guard. Perhaps we can appease the Hungarians; we can muster at least fifty or sixty thousand troops there."

Hungary enjoyed considerable independence under Austria rule, especially the Hungarian Nobility Group, which often banded together to oppose Vienna.

The reforms of Joseph II significantly impacted the power of the Hungary Nobility; in other words, Joseph II aimed to weaken them. Consequently, Hungary adopted a passive stance in the Silesia conflict, sending almost no troops to participate.

However, Hungary is indispensable if Austria is to unleash its full potential.

Joseph II weakly waved his hand again. "Nothing will satisfy them except the cancellation of the reforms. Send Baron Thugut to Paris to get our sister to increase her military strength; we can exchange it for Italy interests..."

Before he could finish speaking, the protesters outside the square suddenly erupted in a deafening roar, as if cold water had been poured into boiling oil.

Joseph II frowned and looked at Kaunitz: "What happened?"

The latter bowed slightly, quickly left the emperor's Bedroom, and returned ten minutes later with a grim face, bowing his head and saying, "Your Majesty, news has just come from Southern Netherlands that Blücher has led his army into Luxembourg. General Leo's forces were insufficient, and he suffered a crushing defeat three days ago. Now, the West Luxembourg is under Prussia control..."

Upon hearing this, Joseph II coughed violently, then suddenly swayed and collapsed onto the bed.

Leopold II was shocked and hurriedly called out to the royal physician waiting at the door, "Mr. Richter, His Majesty has fainted!"

After the royal physicians performed three bloodlettings on the Holy Roman Emperor and administered drugs containing opium, the pale-faced Joseph II finally awoke slowly at dusk.

Joseph II was too weak to sit up. After gathering his strength for half a minute, he said to Leopold II in a trembling voice, "Order Marshal Loudon to lead 20,000 soldiers to Luxembourg immediately as reinforcements."

The latter was immediately alarmed and hurriedly said, "Your Majesty, if we divide our forces now, the Silesia front may very well be left with insufficient troops..."

Joseph II, panting heavily, said with difficulty, "Marshal Lacy will find a way... Southern Netherlands must be saved."

Austria had been operating in the Southern Netherlands for decades, and holding it was far more advantageous than attacking Silesia. Moreover, Joseph II knew that the complete loss of the Southern Netherlands would severely damage morale in Silesia.

He paused for a moment before continuing, "Also, we should seek help from France and ask them to assist Marshal Loudon..."

This emperor of the empire worked diligently throughout his life to strengthen Austria's national power. He was full of ambition and prepared to reclaim Silesia, but he did not expect that the Prussia would risk leaving a large number of troops in the Southern Netherlands, which dealt a heavy blow to Austria.

Seeing that his brother was so weak he was almost fainting again, Leopold II quickly accepted the order and left.

He left the emperor's Bedroom and heard the protesters shouting again. He immediately frowned and gestured to the Guard Captain: "Go and disperse those people! His Majesty the Emperor needs to rest."

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

Austria Minister of Foreign Affairs Baron Thugut, carrying a letter signed by Joseph II, rushed day and night to Paris for help, only to encounter the Crown Prince of France in Lorraine —who was there inspecting the French Army about to depart for Austria.

Of course, Joseph was waiting here specifically for the Austria envoy.

Blücher was on the verge of conquering all of Luxembourg, at which point Austria would have no foothold in the Low Countries, and their His Majesty the Emperor would have no choice but to turn to France for help.

In the French Expeditionary Force Military Camp, Joseph looked at the anxious Baron Thugut: "You mean, His Majesty the Emperor is going to mobilize the Silesian Front Army to Luxembourg for reinforcements?"

"Yes, Your Highness." The Austria Minister of Foreign Affairs produced a letter from the Holy Roman Emperor. Although it was addressed to Queen Mary, it was perfectly acceptable for the Crown Prince of France. "His Majesty requests that France send additional troops to aid Luxembourg and provide logistical support from nearby locations."

Joseph took the letter, but frowned and shook his head. "If we send troops from Silesia now, Luxembourg will probably be occupied by the Prussia before they even reach the Southern Netherlands. Moreover, we will be in a situation where we are weak on both the Southern Netherlands and Silesia."

Tugut sighed, though he knew this was likely the case— General Leo of Luxembourg had less than 2,000 troops left and could not hold out for more than half a month.

Joseph's face was full of concern and sincerity. "Right now, there's probably only one way to save Luxembourg."

Tugut immediately raised his head. "You mean?"

"Our country's 20,000 troops, which we are preparing to send to Silesia, are right here in Verdun," Joseph said. "If they set off immediately, they can reach Luxembourg in three or four days and defend against Blücher's offensive."

"Austria, on the other hand, would not need to transfer troops from Silesia. This would turn the weakness in the Southern Netherlands and Silesia into an advantage on both fronts!"