The Terrifying French Artillery
Just as Hilde was confidently planning how to torture those despicable France Artillery, he was shocked to find that the cannons had started to move!
He glanced back instinctively and realized he had only run about 400 steps, which should have taken less than two minutes.
In other words, the France Artillery completed the mounting of the vehicles and began maneuvering in such a short time!
How is that possible?!
Seeing the France cannons retreating, his eyes nearly bloodshot, he gritted his teeth and shouted, "Speed up! We must stop those cannons!"
The France Horse Artillery had just fired at least nine rounds, inflicting hundreds of casualties on the Netherlands Army. If they were to escape, it would severely damage their morale.
In an instant, the six cavalry squadrons began to gallop at full speed, though not as fast as a charge, but already at the limit that the horses could withstand for this distance.
However, the France cannons moved extremely fast. Hilde estimated that they were almost at the trot speed of the cavalry.
Especially those long, pointed-roofed Carriage, which were almost weaving into the France Infantry Line.
When his cavalry finally reached the firing positions previously held by the French Army Horse Artillery, the cannons had already vanished without a trace.
Hilde's second-in-command, panting heavily, said, "These guys run faster than foxes..."
Hilde listened to the heavy breathing of the warhorses and cavalry beside him, his brows furrowing. The France had definitely misjudged the horses; no, they barely lassoed them before the cannons began to retreat.
He was naturally unaware that this was a new type of Horse Artillery equipment and combat mode that Joseph had brought to the Royal Guard Legion.
The cannons were never untied. When the Prussia cavalry were spotted approaching, the gunners would immediately spur their horses away. The soldiers on the cannons would use winches to bring the cannons closer to the horses, and finally use a push-and-hold buckle to secure the rear of the cannon carriage to the back of the coachman's seat.
As for the Ammunition wagons, they were even faster. They would push the Gunpowder boxes and Ammunition racks into the wagon, turn around, and drive off. The Ammunition wagons were located behind the cannons, very close to the horses, so there was almost no problem with harnessing them.
A well-designed Ammunition car could travel at almost the same speed as Public Carriage in the city.
This is also the source of the confidence that the Royal Guard Legion 'Horse Artillery dared to fire right in the enemy's face. In the Napoleon era, this tactic had another name: Artillery Group Close-Range Fire, commonly known as Bayonets on Cannons.
However, the Royal Guard Legion did not fully implement the close-range firing tactic just now; otherwise, they would have bombarded the Prussia cavalry head-on with Canister Shot. After all, this battle did not require them to fight so desperately.
In fact, Berthier would not have let the Horse Artillery show their skills if Joseph had not instructed him to take the Netherlands Infantry Line seriously.
Just as Hilde was filled with frustration, Guard beside her suddenly looked into the distance and said, "Sir, it looks like France cavalry."
Hilde listened intently and indeed heard faint sounds of horses' hooves coming from the east.
His heart tightened immediately. He had almost exhausted himself chasing the France Artillery who were running away at lightning speed. If they were to be ambushed by the France cavalry now, they would be no different from sitting ducks.
He hurriedly ordered two squadrons to stay behind to cover the rear, while the rest immediately withdrew to their Phalanx.
However, his warhorse merely trotted forward with its nostrils flared, while the sound of hooves behind it grew ever closer.
Finally, Hilde left behind cavalry to cover the rear and engaged the Royal Guard Legion in battle.
To be honest, the quality of the Royal Guard Legion cavalry was really inferior to that of the Prussia Junker Nobles soldiers. Half of them only learned horsemanship after entering the Paris Police Academy, and the cavalry recruited from the French Guard at that time had some experience.
But at this point, they were facing stationary targets that couldn't move. After a flanking charge, the Prussia cavalry lost their will to resist and dismounted to surrender.
Hilde turned around and saw this scene, cursing the France Artillery even more viciously. Then he saw those damned Horse Artillery circle behind the French Infantry and charge again from the west to a position less than 200 paces in front of the Netherlands Infantry Line, beginning to set up their cannons...
At the same time, the Infantry Line of the Royal Guard Legion were rapidly advancing.
No matter how fanatical the Southern Netherlands soldiers were, or how well the priests in the ranks could maintain morale, no one could prevent their morale from collapsing when faced with cannons spitting Grapeshot in their faces and being unable to effectively retaliate.
After nearly a thousand soldiers were killed by the French Army Horse Artillery, the first Infantry Line of Netherlands infantry began to fall into disarray. In fact, it was quite an achievement that they could withstand nearly 20 volleys of Grapeshot before starting to break down.
General Witt, seeing the situation of his own Infantry Line through his Telescope, hurriedly ordered the second line to advance, while at that moment the rhythmic drumming of the French Army Infantry be heard from the front lines.
Berthier timed the attack perfectly, ordering his Royal Guard Legion to advance in Column Infantry Line Netherlands infantry were rotating.
The roar of Prussia cannons immediately came from both sides of the hillside. Although they could only use Solid Shot due to the distance, it still posed a considerable threat to the Royal Guard Legion.
But soon, the Royal Guard Legion Horse Artillery moved to the flank of the Prussian Army Artillery positions on the east side and began a suppressive attack.
Left with no other option, the Prussia Artillery had to turn their guns around and return fire, which suddenly relieved the pressure on the Royal Guard Legion Infantry.
More than ten Infantry Column quickly advanced to within 30 paces of the Netherlands defenses—the enemy was retreating in panic, and this distance posed no danger whatsoever—and then expertly deployed into a line formation, unleashing a close-range volley at the Netherlands Army.
Before General Witt's second Infantry Line could advance, they heard a burst of gunfire from ahead, followed by their own routed soldiers running towards them.
The Netherlands had very little training time, and those retreating didn't know to move to the sides, while those advancing didn't know to create gaps to let the fleeing soldiers pass. As a result, the two sides were immediately crowded together.
Meanwhile, the Royal Guard Legion's Infantry Line had already appeared more than a hundred paces away.
Blücher was still discussing with his staff how to perfectly encircle the French Army when a communications soldier strode into the tent and handed him a roll of battle reports.
Blücher smiled when he saw Major Christel's seal on the Sealing Wax; it seemed that Diekirch had fallen. Thus, while he was defeating the French Army, Luxembourg might already be in Christel's hands.
He calmly unwrapped the scroll, but his face stiffened—it read that the town of Diekirch was heavily guarded by the French Army, making it impossible to attack; Christel had requested to return to rejoin the main force.
"The France still have troops stationed in Diekirch?" Blücher frowned and handed the note to his staff officer.
Before he could finish speaking, the tent was opened again, this time by a communications soldier whose face was covered in Powder Smoke and blood.
As the latter handed the battle report to Blücher, he said in a hoarse voice, "General, General Witt's defenses have been breached..."
"What?!" Blücher was shocked upon hearing this. He quickly unfolded the battle report and, sure enough, saw the news of the Netherlands Army's defeat, followed by Hilde's signature.