Chapter 926 The Belgian’s Struggle
I have to admit that Charles Rogier is a very astute person, and he is very good at finding the opponent's pain points.
However, what he did at this time was too rough. Although it was a blockbuster, it also made people feel annoying and even angry.
However, Charles Rogier finally succeeded with his excellent eloquence, but it also left hidden dangers for the future.
As for the issue of the chairman and deputy speaker being both Jewish, after all, there are millions of Jews living in Germany, so it is normal for this situation to happen.
Edvard Simson and Gabriel Riesel continued to serve as Speakers, but some people also freed themselves from the fanatical national sentiment and began to re-examine the Frankfurt National Assembly.
Others became radicals, eager to weed out those who were less than pure. Frankfurt National Assembly split again
At this time, the reinforcements that were supposed to arrive in Brussels had not even set off yet.
However, Leopold I and the Belgian resistance forces in Brussels did not know this. Leopold I's impression of the German Allied Forces still remained that of the extremely fast-moving army.
The German Allied Forces, led by Archduke Albrecht, attacked Leopold I at his doorstep just after he left home.
Leopold I was a great leader who had a knack for inspiring people.
Leopold I wore military uniform and walked on the front lines to make himself visible to as many people as possible. He tried to comfort every soldier and every uneasy volunteer he could.
At this time, the Principality of Belgium was dominated by hilly terrain. As for the Flanders Plains, it was already the territory of the Dutch, and the Ardennes was in the hands of the German Confederation.
Even though only the central hills were left, the Belgians still fought very tenaciously.
They knew very well that they could not confront the powerful French army head-on, but this was how the invading French army treated them during the Luxembourg crisis.
(For details, please refer to the previous article on the Luxembourg crisis.)
Armed with crude weapons, the Belgians fought in every possible and impossible place, including villages, farmlands, swamps, and even toilets.
However, the balance of victory and defeat will not tilt in favor of one side just because it fought harder. It is just that in a very short period of time, the Belgians suffered a lot of casualties and their defense line became precarious.
A heavy rain interrupted this bloody battle. Belgium lost most of its territory less than a week after the war started and could only retreat to the capital Brussels.
After the rain, the ground became muddy, which was beneficial to the defenders, but the soldiers of the Belgian army were exhausted. After being soaked by the rain, the corpses that had not been cleaned in time began to swell and exude a foul smell.
Behind the low wall were the wails of wounded soldiers and the whimpers of new recruits. If Brussels wasn't behind them and their home wasn't their home, these people would have fled long ago.
Accompanied by Charles Rogier, Leopold I came to the front line again. Walking in the mud was very uncomfortable, but he still tried to make his steps appear firm as much as possible.
He needs to show his best side to the soldiers so that they have the confidence to continue this disparity in strength.
Leopold I looked around, and there was deathly silence around him. The wounded and new soldiers also wanted to appear as strong as possible, because they knew that their king was not running away, but was fighting alongside them.
King Leopold I took a deep breath. He knew very well that wind and rain could not stop the French. The French were just licking their wounds, and they would soon attack again with greater speed.
This is just the calm before the storm, and the next battle is the moment that truly determines fate.
King Leopold I looked at the soldiers' dirt-covered faces full of anticipation. Although they could not even stand firmly, they still held onto their weapons.
He knew what he should do, so he took a deep breath and spoke.
"Warriors, I know you have sacrificed a lot. You are fighting here day and night for the country and your families. You are the pride of Belgium and the heroes in my heart."
The soldiers listened quietly, and the haze in the sky seemed to be being dispelled by a force.
Leopold I continued: "Now, the German Allied Forces are coming. This is a battle that tests our will and courage. But as long as we hold off the French, we will win!"
His voice was penetrating and really made the soldiers' blood boil.
But it's been a week, and they've been listening to it for a whole week.
What they need now is reinforcements, supplies, and rest.
But Leopold I couldn't give them these, so he could only continue.
"Warriors, you are not only defending Belgium now, but also defending freedom and democracy throughout Europe. This is a battle related to the future, and we cannot fail!"
"Your Majesty, where are the reinforcements? It's already the eighth day. The French are like locusts and they can't be killed."
A captain whose arm was cut off in half said tremblingly. He was undoubtedly a strong-willed person. An ordinary person would have fainted and died if he was injured so seriously, let alone take action.
However, even such a strong person has reached his limit. The gap between the Belgian army and the French army is all-round. Whether it is equipment, training, or even physical fitness, they are far inferior to the French.
These people can survive until now only because they have Brussels as their back, where they have their homes, their wives, children, and children.
But human physical strength is limited after all, and they have reached the edge of collapse.
King Leopold I approached the captain, looked him straight in the eyes, and spoke loudly in a firm tone.
"Reinforcements will come! I will wait for the arrival of reinforcements with you."
At this time, several gunshots broke the dull atmosphere. The French were preparing artillery fire before the attack.
Since it was an unequal war, the French artillery could attack the Belgian positions with impunity.
The French commander on the opposite side saw this weakness of the Belgians, so he kept moving the artillery units and wanted to shoot the cannons in the Belgians' faces.
Mounting bayonets on cannons is a typical Napoleonic method of combat, but it is still simple and effective decades later.
The assembly horn of the French camp kept ringing, and the French soldiers began to line up.
"The skirmishers come out!"
With the officer's order, the French skirmishers walked out of the queue. They would take the lead in conducting a tentative attack while harassing the defenders' defense lines.
As the Marseillaise was played again, the French queue began to enter the battlefield neatly.
On this day the Belgians recalled their fear of being dominated by the French.
At this time, the members of the National Assembly in Frankfurt were still arguing non-stop.