Chapter 956 Going first
Duchy of Alsace-Lorraine, temporary capital, Metz.
Thiers pushed the documents in front of him with his hand and stretched.
The previous high-ranking officials in the province of Alsace-Lorraine were undoubtedly mediocre people who only knew how to make money. The government affairs of the province were in a mess, and the accounts were even unclear.
What Louis Philippe handed him was a complete mess. The mountain of government affairs could not be dealt with at all, and many things were very confusing and unclear.
But at this time, Thiers was as full of energy as when he was young. Perhaps this is what it feels like to start from scratch.
After more than three months of hard work, the province of Alsace-Lorraine is finally on the right track.
The food crisis and economic crisis in the province were solved by relying on the smuggling trade with the German Confederation.
In addition to the coal and iron resources in Alsace-Lorraine, cotton, wood, and marble are all best-selling goods in Germany.
The widespread rivers provide convenient transportation, and everything is developing in a good direction.
At this time a senior official came in angrily. Mr. Mithras was a very capable man.
Thiers trusted and admired him very much, and wholeheartedly cultivated him as his successor, so as a senior, it was necessary to enlighten him.
However, before Thiers could speak, Mr. Mithras said with a livid face.
"The troops of the Second French Republic are coming!"
The relaxed smile on Thiers face immediately disappeared, replaced by panic and anger.
"Where are you?"
"It's past Nancy."
"Why, isn't that only less than fifty kilometers away?"
There was anger in Thiers' tone. He hated both the invading French army and those soldiers who passively resisted.
When Thiers was timid about the Egyptian issue, he ran away in Paris, and now he felt that he had to do something.
Tell the world that he, Louis-Adolphe Thiers, is no coward!
"How many days until they get here? Mr. Mithras."
"Your Excellency, Prime Minister, it will take five days at most, and you will be at the gates of Metz at the earliest tomorrow."
Mithra's face was still ashen, but he immediately got into working mode and swallowed all the complaints he wanted to make.
Mithras took out a map and spread it out on the table, using a pen to outline the location of the French army.
Thiers took a deep breath and said after reading it.
"Mr. Mithras, how many manpower do we have available now?"
"There are three thousand palace guards, and there are 1,500 gendarmerie in the city. In addition to the original 10,000 garrison outside the city, we also have 5,000 new soldiers."
Thiers nodded. At this time, the financial resources of the Duke of Orleans were already at their limit to support an army of less than 20,000 people near Metz.
"What about the rebels?"
(The rebels Thiers refers to are the armies of the Second French Republic.)
"The number of people is ominous. It is said to be 200,000, but in fact it is at least no less than 100,000. Since the rebels invaded from all directions at the same time, our people cannot judge the specific number of people."
"Damn it, didn't those cowards even put up a token resistance?"
"No, sir, the rebels may have been brought in by them."
Thiers' blood pressure rose again, but he could understand it, because the French army stationed in Alsace-Lorraine was very limited as a result of the previous crisis in Alsace-Lorraine.
At this time, most of the soldiers in the Dukedom of Orleans were temporarily recruited. Their loyalty was extremely limited, and their combat literacy and ability to control the situation were even worse.
"Strasbourg."
"What?"
"Everyone bring whatever they can and let's go to Strasbourg."
(Strasbourg has been introduced in detail in the previous article, so I won’t go into too much detail here. As long as it is clear that it is an important military city in the Alsace region and adjacent to the German region.)
"Why? We have the power of the two rivers. As long as we mobilize the people in the city to defend it for a few months, it is not a problem. Aren't the German coalition forces already prepared?"
"Mr. Mithras, have you ever experienced war firsthand?"
"Well"
"Do you know how cruel the battle to defend the city is?"
Mithras hesitated slightly and said.
"I'm not afraid of death!"
"What about your family?"
Mithras was silent, but insisted.
"As long as we guard the city of Metz, we have no chance. We are not far away from the German Allied Forces."
"But are we Germans?"
"no.."
"Do they want us to rule this land forever?"
"The person who rules here is the Duke of Orleans, and the legal principles of rule also come from the Duke's position."
Thiers shook his head.
"I tell you Mithras, the real power and power are soldiers and money. Without these, you can only be a puppet at best. We are retreating now to preserve the foundation of the Orleans Dynasty."
Mithras nodded. Defending the city might keep a good reputation and contain the main force of the French army, but it would inevitably lead to a fatal outcome.
The flame of the Orleans Dynasty on the European continent cannot be lost in their hands
"Okay! I will notify our people to prepare to evacuate."
"Who is the commander of the rebels?"
Thiers asked.
"Marshal Lamosilière."
"So not only the officials and soldiers have to evacuate, but the people also have to evacuate?"
"Why?" Mithras asked with some confusion. "The people will slow down our march."
"Lamosilière is not strict in his military affairs. His soldiers will surely rob the city after entering the city. And even if you notify the people, they may not follow us if they have families and businesses in the city."
"Then why should we inform them?"
"We are coming back! Lorraine belongs to France!"
"Okay! I'll do it after I make arrangements for my family!"
"Wait! Your family is leaving too."
"Why? They are all French."
"Does it matter whether you are French or German when soldiers plunder? In their eyes, you are all fat sheep."
Mithras felt a little uncomfortable, but still nodded.
I have to say that Thiers and Mithras are still very capable. They completed the mobilization in one day, and a mighty team set off the next day.
The local people actually don't care much about who is in power. They just find it ridiculous that the Duke of Orleans government ran away overnight.
Watching officials, soldiers, as well as businessmen and nobles bound to the Orleans family leave the city in embarrassment.
Many citizens came to watch the excitement. If Thiers hadn't specially left some people to maintain order in the city, the city would have fallen into chaos.
Headquarters of the Central Army of the Second French Republic.
Ramosirier was very depressed, and Henry Arsèna and Bellevue's early attacks completely disrupted his plan.
The strength of the Central Army is not yet in place, and it is too hasty to start a war now.
What's even more terrible is that no matter whether he wins or loses in this battle, he will have to bear the reputation of massacring civilians. I am afraid that he will never be able to become the prime minister in this life.
This was naturally planned by Bellevue early on. The academic Henry Arsène obviously posed no threat to him, so letting Lamosierier do this dirty work was to kill three birds with one stone.