The Crown Prince of France - Chapter 49

Chapter 49: The Crown Prince’s Strategic Vision

A grand fountain refracted delightful rainbows under the sunlight.

Before Joseph could speak, André couldn’t restrain himself and asked, “Your Highness, I really want to know—how did you manage to make the Prussians retreat?”

Over the past few days, he often recalled the moment when, prepared to meet his end, the Prussian army suddenly withdrew.

Dubois was about to scold him for breaching etiquette but stopped when he heard the phrase “make the Prussians retreat.” Surprised, he asked, “Was the affair in the Netherlands truly orchestrated by Your Highness?”

Without any connections to the Davout family, Dubois had only heard rumors tying the Netherlands to the Crown Prince, but this was the first time he had definitive confirmation.

André nodded eagerly and looked expectantly at the Crown Prince.

Joseph smiled and said, “I can’t divulge all the details, but roughly speaking, I handed Wilhelmina over to the police in the Southern Netherlands and had them send her back to Prussia. Meanwhile, the Patriots escorted the Prince of Orange back to Amsterdam. Naturally, William II no longer had an excuse to interfere in the Netherlands.”

His simple explanation concealed a wealth of complexity—how Wilhelmina was located, how she was transported to the Southern Netherlands, and how she was returned to Prussia at just the right time to coincide with the battlefield events, all without making William II suspect France’s involvement.

André and Dubois exchanged glances, each seeing the astonishment and admiration in the other’s eyes. The Crown Prince’s maneuver was truly extraordinary! However, as the matter involved state secrets, they didn’t dare press further despite their burning curiosity.

The two then recounted the blood-soaked intensity of the Dutch battlefield, particularly on the final day when the Prussian offensive was ferocious. Among France’s 300 volunteers, over 40 were killed or wounded.

André sighed heavily as he recounted this, his expression grave. “The Prussian army is disciplined and highly trained. If the fighting had continued, I doubt the Dutch would have lasted until nightfall.”

Dubois nodded in agreement. “At present, Alexander is studying intelligence on Prussian military organization and training. According to his findings…”

He glanced at Joseph cautiously before continuing, “The combat effectiveness of the Prussian army surpasses that of the French army by at least one-third.”

Joseph knew this was no exaggeration. Prussia, once hailed as Europe’s foremost land force, had a highly comprehensive and rigorous military training system developed by the Junker aristocracy. Combined with the Germanic discipline and obedience, their strength remained formidable despite some decline.

He said solemnly, “France’s military system is too outdated and long overdue for comprehensive reform.”

Historically, the antiquated French army suffered numerous defeats on the battlefield. It wasn’t until Napoleon rose to prominence that the situation stabilized. Under his leadership, France carried out military reforms and eventually became a continental powerhouse.

Dubois immediately expressed agreement. “That’s true. Alexander and I have discussed this many times. We must adopt the Prussian model if we’re to face future challenges.”

“Adopt the Prussian model?” Joseph turned to him and shook his head slightly. “What we need to do is surpass the Prussian army, not merely imitate them.”

André and Dubois exchanged glances once more. “Then what reforms does Your Highness suggest for the army?” they asked.

This was something Joseph had contemplated before. Without hesitation, he replied, “The biggest issue with the French army is fragmentation. There’s no unified command, no standardized training, and the quality of equipment and personnel varies greatly. In large-scale battles, the assembled forces may appear substantial, but in truth, very few divisions are actually combat-ready…”

Since the topic of military reform had arisen, he elaborated, discussing the abolition of regional militias, the establishment of a national army under centralized command, increasing the number and training of non-commissioned officers, and developing new tactics.

André and Dubois listened with eyes widening further with every word. The Crown Prince, barely thirteen years old, already possessed such strategic foresight. In contrast, their years at military academy had merely taught them to parrot their predecessors, leaving them feeling as if they’d been operating without brains...

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