Anning received the news of the King’s escape two days later, along with the outcome of that escape.
Louis XVI had already joined forces with General Bouillé at the border, which meant the King had successfully fled!
History had completely derailed.
Originally, Anning thought that Lafayette’s deployment would not affect the outcome of the King’s escape since it was the King’s own folly, traveling in a very luxurious super carriage and stopping everywhere just to stroll around, which ultimately led to his being discovered by the proactive revolutionary masses and stopped at the border.
Logically, this should have had nothing to do with Lafayette and should not have been impacted.
Yet now, the King’s escape had succeeded.
Could it be that the event of the King’s escape itself was influenced by many random factors affecting its success rate?
Despite the King having fled, Lafayette was still aggressively marching towards Conte’s side—perhaps Lafayette thought that the King had only run to General Bouillé’s side, who was after all his friend, so it was not a big deal.
On August 10, 1791, Anning received a scouting report that Lafayette’s vanguard was less than twenty kilometers from Conte.
So, Anning also led his army out to battle.
He brought his troops to the predetermined site for the decisive battle and set up camp nearby, then he and a group of officers waited beside the beech trees on the hilltop for Lafayette’s arrival.
"Look there!" Davout was the first to spot the enemy, pointing ahead, "Look, over there!"
Anning hurriedly lifted his binoculars and looked in the direction Davout was pointing.
Indeed, a troop flying the tricolor flag was appearing on the horizon.
Lazar Kano: "Judging by their appearance, they have indeed chosen to camp at the location we previously scouted."
Anning: "Bertier is a by-the-book man; he would choose the most textbook approach."
Anning then turned to Jean Lannes, who was exceptionally mixed in with the officers, and said, "The enemy is setting up camp, tonight is up to you. The instructional unit has been eating vitamin-rich vegetables since the enemy mobilized, all for today’s battle."
Lannes asked confusedly, "What are vitamins?"
Anning realized that he had let slip something out of place but brushed it off directly, "It’s not important, you won’t have night blindness tonight, I’m waiting for news of a successful sneak attack from you."
Lannes saluted, "Leave it to me, I guarantee the mission will be accomplished."
Davout: "The enemy’s cavalry is coming our way."
Actually, ever since Anning and his group had arrived at this location, they had seen the enemy’s cavalry more than once.
But the scouting Cavalry did not attack Anning’s well-prepared group, just glanced from a distance then left.
After all, Anning was accompanied by a battalion of soldiers who occupied barns, a mill, and the surrounding low stone walls, which were quite troublesome for small detachments of cavalry.
However, this time, the cavalry approaching them numbered about a battalion, appearing as a massive and mighty wave.
Anning turned and ordered the nearby Artillery, "Target the enemy Cavalry, fire!"
Then the Artillery assigned to the first brigade fired.
Six twelve-pound Infantry Guns spat out flames and smoke.
Napoleon: "This distance is too far; unless we’re incredibly lucky, we can’t hit anything."
Anning also saw the cannonballs falling far ahead of the enemy Cavalry, skipping across the wheat field like stones on water.
However, the bombardment was not without effect; the front row horses of the Cavalry seemed to be frightened, many restlessly tossing their heads.
The momentum of the cavalry advance came to a halt.
Soon enough, the cavalry who had been galloping towards us slowed down, eventually turning their horses around.
Davout: "Seeing we have Cannon, they’re not coming any closer. The person in command of that Cavalry unit is very cautious, indeed."
Napoleon: "Having Cannon, and moreover twelve-pounders, indicates that the supply train has arrived; this is not a hasty dispatch of a small garrison. The enemy’s objective for reconnaissance has been achieved; thus, turning back is also normal."
At that moment, Mrs. Oliver from the Cavalry and several Cavalry officers together rode up to the top of the hill.
"Our scouting parties have returned. Directly in front of us are Lafayette’s main forces," reported Oliver. "According to the flags, there are ten regiments ahead, with Lafayette’s own troops behind."
Anning: "Understood. It looks like the enemy will encamp entirely before us. Lana, after your troops have dinner, set out."
Lana saluted and then turned away to leave.
Anning: "Alright, Artillery cease fire! The smoke is almost obstructing our vision."
Napoleon: "Cease fire, quickly!"
By this time, the air was filled with the smell of gunpowder, and white smoke drifted forward with the wind.
Davout: "Marching at night without drumbeats, it’ll be good if we can reach the enemy’s camp."
Anning: "Have faith in them. Of course, we didn’t place our hopes for victory on a surprise attack. Even if the surprise fails, we will defeat the enemy on this little hill tomorrow."
After saying this, Anning turned to ask Lazar Kano: "What is this hill called?"
Cano: "It’s called Mill Mountain."
Anning: "Mill Mountain? That plain and straightforward?"
"Yes, I asked the locals. Some call it Old Tree Mountain, but most people refer to it as Mill Mountain."
Anning curled his lip. A great victory at Mill Mountain sounded on a par with "Minor Coal Mountain Great Victory."
That lacked any imposing presence.
Anning: "From today onwards, this hill will be called Dingjun Mountain."
Anning’s translation plug-in turned Dingjun Mountain into Latin, immediately giving it a much more dashing air.
Lazar Kano: "Alright, I’ll make a note of it on the map."
At this time, Lafayette had just entered his encampment site.
Marquis Roland galloped over on his horse and saluted Lafayette: "General, we’ve spotted a flag that appears to be Frost’s command flag, right on the small hill ahead!"
Lafayette immediately turned to look towards the hill in front.
Due to the distance, he could only barely make out the smoke rising from Cannon fire on the slope.
He took out his telescope, extended it to the fullest, and aimed it at the slope.
"Indeed there is a flag. So this is the battlefield Frost has chosen? Hmph, I must admire his courage, daring to face a battle in the open with such a disadvantage in troop numbers!" Lafayette said with disdain, "Back in the New Continent, even Cornwallis, with a lesser disadvantage, chose to hold a city. Tomorrow, this arrogant fellow will pay the price for his arrogance!"
Marquis Roland: "My Cavalry tried a charge, but the enemy immediately opened fire. It seems they are prepared to hold that Mill atop the hill."
Lafayette: "Let them hold it then! In the face of such troop superiority, a little geographical advantage won’t affect the progression of the war! Order the troops, tonight we feast!"