At this time, let us insert a small episode.
On February 26th, the envoy of the Holy Roman Empire paid the ransom to the French Army for Grand Duke Carl, and thus the Grand Duke was released today.
Of course, with a grand ceremony for the French Army’s deployment underway at the main gate of Sedan Fortress, Grand Duke Carl left through the fortress’s north gate with his entourage.
He deliberately circled to the route where the French troops were marching and stood on a high slope, watching the blue legions moving below.
"What a strange feeling, Mark," the Grand Duke called out to his old butler, "I clearly know that this army will strike a heavy blow to the armies of my homeland, yet I find myself hoping it brings rejuvenation to my homeland."
The old butler was shocked, "You mustn’t say such things when you return home, your brother is particularly sensitive to this matter right now."
Carl curled his lip: "I know, of course I won’t say it."
Then he muttered softly, "Perhaps this is why we cannot defeat France."
The old butler coughed, "I came here to pick you up, not to have you go back to be placed under house arrest. His Majesty has recently been very sensitive about these things; just recently, he has ordered the imperial police to shut down numerous newspapers in Vienna, and it’s likely that they will ban the publication of newspapers next."
Grand Duke Carl looked shocked, "Ban the publication of newspapers? That’s one of Granny’s achievements from her reforms!"
The enlightened reforms pursued by Carl’s grandmother Maria Theresa can be said to have given a great boost to the Habsburg family.
The butler sighed, "It’s precisely because they are Her Majesty Theresa’s reform achievements that they have encountered much resistance, and that’s why His Majesty finally gave up. But Your Highness, I beg you not to stir Your Highness’s fragile nerves again."
Carl: "Alright. Before I think about that, I must consider how to defeat the French Army in front of us. Mark, are you familiar with the terrain and the sentiments of the people along this route?"
The old butler: "I’m not familiar, but I know where to find those who are. After crossing the Rhein River, all the small sovereigns along the way speak German, and they won’t side with France."
"Alright then, lead the way."
Thus, Grand Duke Carl hurried across the Rhein River with his butler and a few personal servants, seeking refuge with a minor noble in Hesse.
On the morning of March 1st, as soon as Grand Duke Carl opened his eyes, he heard someone desperately banging on his room door.
He got up and opened the door to find the younger son of the small baron with whom he was staying – also called Franz – a common name in the German-speaking region.
Carl: "Franz, what’s happening?"
"The French Army has taken Stuttgart, and it’s the First Army with the Eagle Flag!"
Grand Duke Carl: "The First Army? That’s Napoleon’s troops! What about the rest of the French Army? If the First Army has reached Stuttgart, the other French forces should also have advanced to the vicinity of Stuttgart, right?"
Franz shook his head, "No news, I’ve asked the merchants coming from Hanover, they haven’t seen other French troops; it seems they’re still on the west bank of the Rhein River!"
Grand Duke Carl asked in confusion, "Are you sure?"
"I’m sure, ever since you arrived, I have been having my friends run around on horseback every day; there’s been no sight of the French Army."
Grand Duke Carl touched his chin, muttering softly, "Could it be that... Napoleon has overextended himself?"
During his confinement in Sedan, Grand Duke Carl had talked with Napoleon several times, gaining a certain impression of him, and was very aware of his enthusiasm for taking risks.
After brief thought, Grand Duke Carl slapped his thigh, "Quick, we must get to Alvizi’s headquarters. Do you know where Alvizi’s headquarters are?"
Franz shook his head, "No idea. How could we possibly know that?"
Grand Duke Carl scoffed, then changed his request, "Prepare the horses, the best ones, two for each man! I’ll pay for them at a fair price."
At that moment, Grand Duke Carl’s butler emerged from his own room, "What’s the matter, Your Highness?"
"A fleeting chance for victory has appeared, I must go and tell Alvizi!" said Grand Duke Carl, "His headquarters are likely in Munich or Augsburg!"
Butler Mark frowned, "Even if it’s the closer Augsburg, it will take us more than a day to get there; can we make it in time?"
Carl: "The key isn’t whether we make it in time, but whether we choose to go."
Franz: "I’ll come too! I know the way, I can guide you!"
At that moment, Franz’s father, the baron, appeared in the corridor, scolding sharply, "You can’t go! Remember, you are the son of a lord of Hesse, and we are not like the Habsburgs! Here, it might soon become the territory of France!"
Franz turned and protested, "Dad! The French will send us to the guillotine!"
"If it’s the current First Governor, he won’t. He’s very merciful; he even commuted the sentences of those who plotted against him to exile!" the baron replied, "And even if we lose our fiefdom, we still have our vineyard; even if we sell the land to the serfs, we can survive and transition into the new nobility as mentioned by the First Governor!"
Grand Duke Carl: "Your father is right; you don’t have to join our war. And the First Governor probably doesn’t want to enslave other nations; he merely wants to liberate you. It’s likely that a republic like France will be established in Hesse afterward."
"It’s a bit strange for me to say this," Grand Duke Carl interrupted Franz, "but getting mixed up with France isn’t all that bad. But I am different, I am a descendent of the Habsburg family, and it’s my duty to fight for the Habsburgs."
With that, Grand Duke Carl turned to the butler and said, "After preparing the horses, we’ll depart. Baron, thank you for your hospitality."
Meanwhile, at Alvizi’s command center located in Ulm, an important city on the banks of the Danube River.
Holding the latest intelligence report, Alvizi said, "The French Army has mobilized to Stuttgart, order all forces to strengthen the river defenses; we shall make the Danube River the French Army’s grave!"
The Commander of the Prussian forces, Brunswick, said, "I keep feeling that cunning Frost will take a detour from Hesse. He won’t force a crossing of the Danube River and confront us directly."
Alvizi: "Hmm, dispatch cavalry towards Hesse."
After speaking, he sighed, "We’ve also been bewitched by Frost; despite our forces having an advantage, we still don’t dare to attack him."
Brunswick also smiled wryly, "Indeed. But we can’t blame ourselves; the French Army is diabolically cunning. Who knows, they might actually be as Frost describes in his writings, a Citizen Army, a National Army, fundamentally different from the troops we currently command..."
Alvizi waved his hand dismissively, "Don’t listen to his bewitching words! What difference could there be? It’s merely that they have better treatment, more silver, hence the saying ’with great rewards come brave men.’ I say, we should also be offering gold to our troops."
"Then do it, if you have it," asked Brunswick.