Chapter 839: Chapter 747: Chaos in the Southern Netherlands

As Napoleon headed south from Paris, a group of workers speaking Dutch huddled in a corner of a coal-crushing plant located in the southernmost part of Brussels, within the Walloon Region, whispering among themselves during lunchtime.

A middle-aged man with large pores glanced nervously at the distant supervisor and said anxiously:

“Why do we need guns? This wasn’t supposed to be so serious…”

“Are you scared?” said a tall young man beside him, gesturing around with the piece of bread in his hand.

“Do you want to keep being oppressed by those lapdogs of the French, just for your measly wages?

“If our plan succeeds, I guarantee you’ll take over this factory!”

The middle-aged man and several others nearby couldn’t help but swallow hard.

This coal-crushing plant was worth tens of thousands of francs, a sum large enough to make countless people risk their lives.

After a moment, an elderly man with a sharp face cautiously asked, “Mr. Marceau, can this really succeed?”

“Of course, without a doubt. Thousands of brothers across the Walloon Region will rise in response to us!”

The middle-aged man with rough skin frowned and said, “But there are also thousands of police officers in the Walloon Region.”

“What are you afraid of? We have guns.” The tall young man clenched his fist, “And the Austrian Government will send troops to support us.

“The Southern Netherlands belongs to us. Those French-speaking folks will be driven out of the Low Countries completely!”

He was a mid-level leader in the previous uprising in the Southern Netherlands. After spending several years in prison, he chose to cooperate with the Austrian Government.

This kind of inciting rebellion and discord was his forte.

The six or seven workers around him finally stopped hesitating and pledged to contact other Flemish workers once they returned and join the movement together.

Meanwhile, similar scenes unfolded in other factories and streets throughout the Walloon Region.

Over 120,000 people from the Flemish Region lived here.

Previously, they relied on income from Antwerp Port and tended to look down on the relatively impoverished people of the Walloon Region.

But now, the industrial growth of the Walloon Region was rapid, and its overall economic situation had surpassed that of the Flemish Region. The Flemish workers who had come here were, in turn, discriminated against by the Walloon people.

Their wages were also lower than those of French-speaking Walloons, which made it easy for them to feel resentful and, after a bit of agitation, cause trouble.

Of course, the scale of this unrest, along with the influx of weapons, was largely due to the influence of Austrian intelligence organizations working behind the scenes.

Ten days later.

Early in the morning, Marceau led sixty to seventy rioters to surround the town’s Chamber of Commerce building in Halle and demanded the town’s administrative committee surrender immediately.

Behind them, more and more Flemish people were arriving gradually to join the revolt.

However, even after they stormed into the Chamber of Commerce building, they encountered no resistance. Inside, only a few low-ranking clerks were present, while the high-ranking members of the Chamber seemed to have hidden themselves out of fear.

Meanwhile, in the northern part of the Walloon Region, large-scale riots broke out in locations like Wavre, Landen, and At.

Rioters quickly seized control of the Chambers of Commerce, which functioned as administrative institutions, and declared the areas part of the Flemish Region.

It wasn’t until two days later that the much-talked-about Walloon Region police finally appeared in the riot areas–but they merely kept their distance from the rioters and showed no intention of retaking the Chamber of Commerce buildings.

…

Southwestern Netherlands.

Middleburg.

Inside the Allied Low Countries Army Command, the Allied Forces’ Commander-in-Chief, Prince of Saxony-Coburg-Saalfeld, held a teacup calmly as he scrutinized the report from the officer delivering the news: “So you’re saying the Walloon police were completely powerless against the riots?”

“Yes, Marshal,” the officer nodded, “Currently, Wavre is at the center, and four northern cities are under control by Collins’ forces. They’re now plotting unrest–or rather, rebellion–in Namur.”

Henriks Collins was the mastermind behind the riots in the Walloon Region.

The Prince gestured to his advisor nearby, “What are the recent movements of the French Army?”

The advisor immediately replied, “The Treler Army arrived in Lille a week ago. Currently, there appear to be seven infantry regiments and part of an artillery force, totaling around 12,000 troops.”

The Prince nodded, took a deep breath of tea aroma, and smiled faintly, “The French can no longer provide timely support for the Walloon Region.”

The Allied Forces’ main contingent, over 25,000 strong, was already stationed in Northern Southern Netherlands at Antwerp, ready to mobilize. It would take less than two days to reach Brussels.

Reaching Namur would take only around five days.

In contrast, the French Army would need to travel more than 65 miles–or about 105 kilometers– from Lille to Brussels, which, accounting for preparation time, would take roughly a week.

Sitting on the opposite couch, Dutch Army Corps Commander Baron Paul Davydovitch reminded, “Your Highness, if I were the French, I’d abandon Brussels and head straight to Namur to mount a defense.”

“That’s fine,” replied the Prince confidently, “Our forces are still closer to Namur. Moreover, if the French arrive there before us, we’ll immediately shift to attacking Mons instead.”

Baron Davydovitch pondered briefly and nodded repeatedly.

Mons lies to the west of the Walloon Region, bordering French Lille. If the Allied Forces advance via Mons, they could attack the major French northwest stronghold of Lille.

So even if the French reached Namur ahead of time, they’d have to rush back to defend Lille.

The Allied Forces could then ambush them in the Charleroi area.

At such time, the French would be forced to rely on supplies from Luxembourg to the east, with a logistical line stretching over a hundred miles and constantly threatened by the Allied Forces’ Rhein Army.

He looked at the Prince and also broke into a smile: “Indeed, as you said, the French are left with no choice but to abandon the Southern Netherlands.”

“In fact, abandoning the Low Countries would be a very rational strategic decision for them,” said the Prince. “With their current troop numbers, holding Lille Fortress is the only way to ensure the northwest defensive line doesn’t collapse rapidly.”

His confidence was well-founded.

The Austrian Army’s Southern Netherlands Corps numbered around 25,000 soldiers, the Dutch Army had over 30,000 troops, and he commanded an additional British cavalry camp.

On the opposing side, the French Army had yet to gather even 20,000 soldiers.

If the French dared to enter the Southern Netherlands for combat, they’d quickly be annihilated by overwhelming Allied Forces.

The Prince set down his teacup and stood, addressing his advisor, “Send the Brussels Security Forces into the Walloon Region to quell the riots.

“If the Walloon Chamber of Commerce dares to expel them, General Radetsky will immediately move to support.”

Count Radetsky was the Austrian Army’s frontline commander.

The Prince then turned to the Dutch general, “General Davydovich, as soon as General Radetsky moves into the Walloon Region, he’ll head directly to Namur. You’ll need to seize control of the northern cities of the Walloon Region as quickly as possible and prepare to advance south toward Mons.”