Right Hook Plan

Joseph looked at Dimoubin. "Though they speak French and are quite willing to cooperate with us, rashly sending troops into Southern Netherlands could easily provoke their resistance."

Wallonia was nominally still Austrian territory and had its own autonomous government. In this age when nationalism was gradually awakening, forcibly sending troops to control a foreign region would inevitably create all sorts of problems.

Back then, Napoleon had completely ignored the wishes of the local populace and liked to rule with the military's brute force. In the end, he had stirred up resentment across all Europe, driving nation after nation to stand against France.

Dimoubin frowned. "Your Highness, are we to hand Wallonia over to the Austrians?"

"Of course not." Joseph leaned back calmly against his chair. "We will wait for the Wallonia Chamber of Commerce to beg us to send troops. They may not like our army, but they hate the Austrian Army even more."

The Wallonia Chamber of Commerce was the local governing body.

Mirabeau turned his head and asked, "You mean we wait until the Austrian Army invades Wallonia before we act?"

"You could put it that way."

Mirabeau said anxiously, "But then the Austrian Army will severely damage our factories there!"

Joseph smiled and shook his head. "You should have faith in Wallonia's Police."

He then looked at Fouche. "The Intelligence Bureau needs to send people there to assist the Walloon Chamber of Commerce in handling unexpected developments. Next, let us discuss contingency plans for the situations that may arise..."

At around three in the afternoon, after the General Staff's collective deliberations, the operational plan for Southern Netherlands had roughly taken shape.

Berthier then began outlining the enemy's possible strategic deployments in other directions. "More than fifty thousand enemy troops have currently assembled at Geldern, mainly Prussians, along