Charles II still looked puzzled, "But at present, there hasn't been any conflict between France's peasants and nobles."
The Marquess of Wellesley waved the spoon in his hand as though it were his sword, "Then we shall do something to disrupt their tranquility."
"We'll issue a land redemption policy on behalf of the French Government. I will initiate channels in Paris to proclaim to the nobility that the government intends to distribute land to the peasants at a very low price."
While speaking, the Marquess of Wellesley pointed at Vandernoot, "Your people, on the other hand, will tell the French peasants that the King has decided to have them pay the costs of supporting the nobility for hundreds of years.
"When both sides are extremely dissatisfied, you will join forces with the Liberals of France and lead the peasants in an uprising. France will undoubtedly be plunged into chaos!"
Vandernoot immediately nodded excitedly, then hesitated, "But, Your Lordship, the French Government will surely step forward to deny these claims."
Wellesley smiled, "In such a situation, unless they officially announce the land redemption plan, no denial will be believed by anyone.
"And at the moment, no redemption plan could possibly satisfy both the peasants and the nobility. Whichever side's interests the plan touches, we will support that side in causing trouble.
"What France can expect is nothing but a nation-wide chaos!"
South of Brussels, in the City of Namur.
Commander André Davout of Murat's Corps saw His Highness the Crown Prince coming to greet him from afar. He hastily dismounted, strode forward swiftly, and, taking off his hat, bowed respectfully:
"You look in good spirits, Your Highness. All over Luxembourg, they are talking about the battle where you defeated the Hanoverians. You have almost become the stuff of legends!"
"The victory belongs to every member of the Guard Corps." Joseph replied with a smile and a nod, and then patted his arm, "With Murat's Corps in Brussels, my mind is completely at ease. Let's go into the city first. You will have only three days to rest, and then you must proceed to the Town of Lully to be stationed."
"Murat's Corps is always at your service!" André responded loudly.
A few days ago, Joseph received a report from the Palace of Versailles that the British Foreign Minister would visit Paris in the middle of next month to consult on some important matters between the two countries.
Joseph guessed it must be the fires of war in India that burnt the British enough to seek peace. This was a matter of great importance, and it certainly could not be left to his mother to handle. So he decided to return to the country. Moreover, he could take the opportunity to communicate with his mother about France's major strategies to prevent situations like the last time the Russian Ambassador attempted to sign a secret treaty.
At present, the standoff at the Brussels front had entered "garbage time" - France was unwilling to attack, and Charles II's side was unable to advance - both sides fired a few cannon shots at each other every day and then both would withdraw their troops.
So even if he left the Southern Netherlands, there shouldn't be any problems here.
But to be on the safe side, he still transferred two regiments from Murat's Corps in Luxembourg. Although Murat's Corps wasn't as powerful as the Guard Corps, they were more than capable of dealing with the Hanoverian Army.
"How goes the battle near Liege?" Joseph looked at André, who rode alongside him.
"To put it mildly, it's rather dull." André spread his hands, "Lefevre complains every day about why we can't launch a surprise attack on the Prussians. On the Prussian side, they've built narrow breastworks along the border of Liege and Luneburg, and set up many cannons, but they also haven't attacked for a long time."
After learning that the Hanoverian Army had been defeated and that the battlefront had stabilized in the Brussels area, Blucher lost the will to continue the fight—he could perhaps defeat Leao's Austrian Army, but then his forces would be caught in a standoff with the French Army in Brussels. What he desired was to achieve glory in Silesia, not waste time in the Southern Netherlands!
However, some fools within Prussia, likely Morendo and his ilk, incessantly advised His Majesty the King, claiming that it would be "shameful" to accept being driven out of the Southern Netherlands by Austria.
In the end, he received an order from the King, instructing him to repel the Austrian Army near Luxembourg and to reinforce Brussels as soon as possible.
Blucher's troops, having previously been thrashed by the Guard Corps, were also low in morale and, after two failed attempts to attack Leao, lost the will to press on with their offensive.
Leao knew his own limitations and was even less willing to attack. Lefevre, following an order from Joseph, was forbidden from annihilating the Prussian Army on a large scale.
Thus, the battle near Liege also entered a period of "garbage time."
After receiving a detailed account of the situation along the Liege-Luxembourg line from Andre, Joseph finally let go of his concerns.
Early the next morning, he took a carriage back to Paris.
The rail transport from Luxembourg to Verdun had already begun construction. As for Verdun, wooden rails had already been laid previously during war preparations.
Leaving Verdun, half a day's journey by horse-drawn carriage brought one to the wooden rails linking Reims with Paris.
The entire trip took just over five days, nearly two of which were spent within the territory of the Southern Netherlands. Moreover, the ride on the wooden rails was extremely smooth, and upon arrival at the northern outskirts of Paris, Joseph felt none of the fatigue usually associated with long journeys and was immediately ready to attend to official matters at the Palace of Versailles.
Because he had not informed the Palace of Versailles in advance, there was no guard of honor to receive him.
Joseph's motorcade sped through the streets of Paris, where he could occasionally hear passersby discussing the French Army's recent two major victories. Suddenly, four or five children burst out from around a street corner, brandishing sticks and shouting "bang, bang," as they charged at another group of children.
Sitting across from Joseph in the carriage, Eman looked out the window and said to him:
"Your Highness, it seems that the most popular game among the children of Paris lately is this 'Crown Prince Battles the Prussians.' I read about it in a letter from my father. My younger brother is already 13 and still can't get enough of it."
He suddenly remembered that when the Crown Prince was 13, he was leading police reform and couldn't help feeling emotional.
"Perhaps he will grow up to be an excellent soldier," Joseph said with a smile, "and truly defeat the Prussian Army on the battlefield."
Eman hastened to reply, "Thank you for your encouragement, Your Highness. I will certainly urge him to work hard!"
The carriage soon entered the Palace of Versailles, and a court lady who saw Joseph's figure from the carriage window hurriedly picked up her skirt and ran towards Petit Trianon Palace, calling out to the Queen's maids:
"The Crown Prince has returned!"
Before the nobles could gather around, Joseph instructed the coachman to head directly to his mother's chamber.
After Queen Mary's affectionate inquiries that lasted over half an hour and having servants bring in the Imperial Chef's recently developed Netherlandish-flavored dessert, Joseph finally found an opportunity to broach official matters.