"...There are no kettles, dishes, stoves, etc. for the camp in the supply warehouse. Neither the military headquarters nor the division headquarters have ambulance equipment for me. As of August 7, a mule and horse carrier could not be found to carry the wounded... "
"...There has been a conflict on the border now. The enemy's wounded soldiers can receive good medical treatment, but we have no preparations for evacuation..."
"...The administrative department should really be responsible! I can find endless sausages but I can't find horse feed and bullets! Three days ago, my department was ordered to demolish a bridge, but my department couldn't find any*..."
This is a summary of telegrams sent by Queen Eugene’s Cavalry Battalion and other cavalry units. Everything written on it is shocking!
It is a pity that the emperor and the generals have become numb to the bad news. Commander Barico even said to the prince with a smile.
"Your Highness... This is what war is like. No one can launch a war at the most perfect time. War itself is full of uncertainties!"
"I admit that our logistical supply in France is a bit chaotic, but it is not fatal! I believe that our powerful soldiers can easily tear apart the enemy's defense line. As long as we penetrate the enemy's soft underbelly and enter the German border..."
Commander Barico looked at the French emperor flatteringly. Napoleon III smiled and said, "Yes, the highest state of war is to feed the enemy! That's what your great-uncle did back then. He expedition to Prussia and Tsarist Russia. If he had done it all by himself, Domestic supplies are pretty good!"
"Kill across the border and rob the Germans of supplies to fight this war. This is the only way!"
"But...but my uncle's expedition to Tsarist Russia failed after all? Wasn't it just because of the logistical failure?"
Prince Eugene really didn't open his eyes. He actually said such depressing words at this time. The French Emperor's eyes widened with anger at that time. "Nonsense! How dare you disturb the morale of our army when the army goes out?"
A low roar frightened everyone present and they did not dare to speak. The Crown Prince turned red and lowered his head, not daring to talk back. The situation suddenly became awkward.
Just when no one broke the silence, suddenly a fast horse galloped from the north, and the forward battalion sent the latest battle report.
"Reporting to Your Majesty! The largest conflict occurred at the Metz border yesterday. The enemy sent a large number of soldiers across the border to infiltrate us!"
Upon hearing this, Marshal Bazin hurriedly grabbed the telegram and sent it to the emperor. When Napoleon III read the telegram at a glance, his face was livid with anger!
He threw the telegram into his son's hand and said, "Look! Take a closer look! The enemy is already on my neck! You want me to retreat without fighting?"
The Crown Prince opened the telegram and saw the shocking boldface words above: "...Chinese infantry has penetrated the border on a large scale, with the number far exceeding 2,000 people..."
"More than ten large-scale bloody battles broke out in the Lorraine Forest! The heroic Imperial Cavalry Regiment was not afraid of casualties and attacks by the invaders, and the battle once turned into hand-to-hand combat!"
"After a fierce and bloody battle, our side gained prosperity. The enemy has been defeated. Our side suffered 634 casualties, while the local casualties were twice as many as ours..."
No one noticed that the frontline commander was cheating, because the French Emperor and these senior officials of the empire thought that they were the best in the world. The French army suffered more than 600 casualties, so the Chinese must also die at least 1,500!
Doubling the casualties is simply not enough. Such results must be reprimanded! The senior officials of the empire want three, four or even ten times the battle loss ratio!
But how did they know that in yesterday's conflict, the Chinese combat casualties totaled only more than 40 people, and only 11 of them died from serious injuries. The others were properly treated at the rear.
As soon as the crown prince saw this telegram, he knew it was over. No one could persuade his father now. Xiao Letian's Chinese ethnicity was a poisonous thorn in his father's heart. As soon as the Chinese appeared, he would no longer be rational!
"All the troops, speed up! Speed up!" The King of France roared angrily, turned over and climbed onto his horse.
"I've said it a long time ago! I've said it a long time ago that the enemy's main attack direction must be Metz, because only here is suitable for large corps to fight, and it is the closest to Paris!"
"How's it going? Sure enough, the Chinese showed up. Xiao Letian is an important ally of Bismarck. That old Prussian fox has received too much arms funding from the Chinese. They will definitely protect the safety of the Chinese!"
"As long as we can find out where the Chinese are, we can find the main attack direction of the Prussians! Order the army to advance quickly. We must feel the main battlefield of Metz tomorrow!"
"Let the vanguard don't have to wait for me! Once they encounter the enemy, they can immediately launch an attack!"
"Father! What if this is a trick by the Chinese? Let's wait until all the army arrives before starting the war! After all, we have 160,000 people here including reserves!"
"Move forward together and use the advantage of numbers, we will definitely win!"
"That's enough! You're too cowardly. You let your mother raise you without even the courage to be a warrior! Even if Old Moltke knows how to use surprise troops, don't I?"
"At this moment, the Atlantic Fleet has set off from the Brest military port! A total of six latest iron-clad battleships and a powerful fleet of twelve frigates have headed straight for the Prussian coast!"
"After the main fleet, there are ten gunboats guarding the 30,000-strong Marine Corps. Once an opportunity arises, they can send troops to attack Hamburg!"
"I will force Bismarck to change its strategy! Prussia without a navy is a cripple!"
"Kid, you still have a lot to learn!"
After speaking, Napoleon III rode his horse down the mound. When his horse appeared next to the official road, Napoleon's flag was raised in the rider's hand.
When the soldiers saw the emperor coming, they were all extremely excited and said, "Long live the Emperor! Long live France!"
Napoleon III galloped on horseback under the guard of the cavalry of the Praetorian Guard. The military uniform he wore was the same as the famous equestrian portrait of Napoleon I collected in the Louvre.
He is summoning spirits, using his uncle's reputation back then to boost morale!
"Long live the soldiers! Long live the victory!" The French Emperor waved his arms and galloped away beside the soldiers, in exchange for bursts of even more enthusiastic cheers.
Gradually, the prince on the mound could no longer see his father. He said without looking back, "Tell mother that this war may be very difficult and ask her to choose a special commissioner to go to the south of France to personally supervise the reserves!"
"I heard that Gambetta is very famous in the south? Let him go! Let him organize reserve soldiers for us!"
The crown prince's telegram was quickly sent back to the Tuileries Palace. The Queen of the Supervisory State in Paris couldn't help but shake her head when she saw her son's telegram. She also felt that her son was a little too cautious.
But think about it carefully, after all, this is the first time for my son to participate in politics, so we cannot refute his enthusiasm! She took a note and started writing on it.
"Send this note to the Duke of Montauban, and he will inform Gambetta! Go to the south to mobilize troops, this annoying republican, get as far away as possible!"
