Chapter 794 Reinforcements
Friborg Fortress, Canton of Friborg.
In fact, Bishop Minofel did not command at the front line, but had been sitting in the center. Therefore, he didn't know exactly what was going on ahead. He only knew that the 50,000-strong army that had set out for the expedition had only 40,000 left at this time.
After that, he tried several times to break out from other directions, but the results were similar. However, after several disastrous defeats, the troops recovered, and Bishop Minofel's confidence was restored a lot.
At this time, he began to review his mistakes, but he did not expect that the enemy's Achilles heel was also himself. But he did not lose. As long as he defended the Taniguchi Fortress, he would be invincible.
On the other side of the battle, Lucerne.
Konstantin Sigvort, the state representative of the Orthodox Union, and Supreme Marshal Ulrich Sallis were pacing back and forth in the room. They originally wanted to implement Bishop Minofel's retreat strategy.
But at the beginning of the war, the situation was not optimistic.
The three states of the orthodox alliance rebelled immediately. Before that, they had defrauded a large number of weapons and supplies.
The rebellions in the three states of Aargau, St. Gallen, and Ticeno directly cut off the Orthodox Alliance's access to the outside world, and the main force of the Orthodox Alliance taken away by Bishop Minofel was trapped in Friborg, making the situation one-sided. tendency.
The supreme military and political commanders of the Orthodox Alliance were like two ants on a hot pot at this time. Archduke Karl was still conscientiously arranging his troops.
Konstantin Sigvort asked: "Archduke, when will the Austrian reinforcements arrive?"
This was a very spineless question, which made the adjutants around Archduke Karl despise him even more.
Archduke Karl has three lieutenants, one of whom is the family's captain of the guard, Sigismund, who is in his fifties and a veteran of the anti-French war.
There are two left. Among them, the guy with blond hair, blue eyes, tall figure, and a big beard, who wants to have the word "German Noble" carved on his forehead is called Heinrich Beaim, who is the 43rd Teresa Military Officer. A top student in the academy, he was given the position of colonel just after leaving school, which shows that the empire has high expectations for him.
Another rough-skinned, dark-skinned, and short officer named Tanner Armhold was not a regular officer, but was generally a wild man.
He represents the mercenaries under Franz, but he is also a strong man who chooses the best, otherwise he would not be able to get the approval of Archduke Karl to stay by his side.
"We are the reinforcements."
Archduke Karl finally spoke, but it disappointed Konstantin Sigwart and Ulrich Salis.
"Are you kidding me? Is it just them?"
"There are also my guards, temporarily recruited veterans, and mercenaries, a total of 5,314 people."
Archduke Karl answered seriously.
"Five thousand people?! But the Freedom Alliance has 130,000 troops!"
"Don't you still have a hundred thousand troops?"
"But" Ulrich Salis said with some embarrassment, "our main force has been surrounded by the Free Alliance army in Friborg. Now we can only rely on ourselves, and Aargau, St. Gallen, Titus The rebellion in the three Chernow states cut us off from the outside world..."
"What are you going to do? Hold on and wait for help?"
Archduke Karl asked, Konstantin Sigwart and Ulrich Salis looked at each other and nodded.
"Still waiting for help? Waiting to die?"
Heinrich Beaim finally couldn't stand it anymore. He didn't know how such a person became the commander-in-chief. Seeing the destruction of friendly forces, wouldn't it be his turn next?
"What do you think we should do?" Archduke Karl asked.
"Report! I think our army should attack the Canton of Bern with all its strength, force Dufour's main force to return for reinforcements, and then cooperate internally and externally to annihilate them on the wide plain outside Bern.
This can try to avoid the inability to deploy troops due to fighting in narrow mountainous areas. "
"What about the three rebellious states and other free states?" Ulrich Sallis asked. He also wanted to do the same, but the problem was that there were enemies everywhere, and once they left, there would be no way out.
"As long as we can annihilate Dufour's main force, these are not problems at all."
Heinrich Beaim said confidently.
In theory, this is indeed possible, but Dufour just can't stick to it? Or Bishop Minofel's troops refused to support, then those who were annihilated were not the Free Alliance's troops.
And the most important point is that the troops of the Orthodox Alliance are all new recruits, and their morale is extremely low and they cannot afford the huge cost of siege.
Generally speaking, this tactic is suitable for use when the strength and quality of the soldiers are superior, but now is obviously not the time.
Archduke Karl did not say anything, but named Tanner Amherd, a commander with a mercenary background.
"Your Majesty the Grand Duke, I feel very honored. However, I cannot agree with Major Irabem's opinion. I think our troops are too small, and it would be a drop in the bucket to support Bishop Minofel now.
It would be better to attack weakly defended states such as Aargau, Zurich, and Lagrus first. This would not only open up channels to the outside world, but also spread the flames of the Free Alliance, forcing Dufour to return to defense.
As long as Friborg can delay for a month or two, the Free Alliance will automatically collapse. "
Archduke Karl nodded and shook his head.
This approach is indeed feasible, but it is not a war of honor.
This is different from what Franz and himself want. The result may be that Austria will be stigmatized for killing innocent people, and the original goal will not be achieved, so his trip will be in vain.
Archduke Karl knew very well that this was his last battle, because he was already old and a little behind the times.
In fact, Franz also said another thing, that is, Friborg might not be able to last even a week.
The most fundamental problem is that the new soldiers temporarily recruited by the Orthodox Alliance cannot fight a siege at all.
If Friborg really can't hold on for even a week, then the troops going to attack Allgäu will be blocked under the city and attacked from both sides.
The result is of course needless to say.
Just then a French officer broke in.
This young man was wearing a French colonel's uniform. As soon as he entered the door, he raised his hands to show that he meant no harm.
But the two guards tied him up anyway.
"I am France, commander of the 19th Lyon Infantry Regiment, Charles Duchardt. I have been ordered to help you."
"The French? Weren't they all sent back home by the members of the Freedom Alliance? They also sent a batch of weapons to each other." Heinrich Belayim asked with a little doubt and a little sarcasm.
The Swiss have a very messy accent, so someone speaking German didn't attract Charles much attention.
"My men and I put on civilian clothes, hid our weapons in the firewood truck and sneaked in. I am here to help you on behalf of France. I have no ill intentions. I also have a personal letter from His Majesty on me."
After a brief identification, Archduke Karl believed the other party's words and also thought of a good idea to shift the blame.
"Colonel Charles Duchardt, I hope you can lead the French warriors to capture Ticeno and open a lifeline for us."