Chapter 843: Chapter 751: Making Thorough Diplomatic Preparations

“Foolish! You sent soldiers charging blindly without any prior preparations?” Count Radetsky glared fiercely at Lieutenant Colonel Bu Saike. “And then they were routed by a group of police officers?”

Bu Saike lowered his head, muttering in his defense: “General, those police officers were highly trained militarily, especially in their firing speed…”

“Silence!” Count Radetsky roared, “You have utterly shamed the soldiers of the Empire!”

His anger was justified–Bu Saike had indeed been far too careless.

If Bu Saike had formed most of his soldiers into line formations and left only two to three hundred skirmishers to harass the enemy, the Walloon Police, lacking the confidence to face regular troops in battle, might have at least fought to a draw.

Instead, he had ordered all his troops to charge in skirmish formation. Against the concentrated firepower of the opposing infantry lines, they were predictably crushed.

Count Radetsky glanced at his pocket watch; the hour hand now pointed to 4 PM. It was clear they wouldn’t be able to reach Wavre today.

Moreover, time would have to be spent regrouping the routed units of Bu Saike’s corps.

He took a deep breath to calm himself and instructed the order officer, “Rally the troops. Tomorrow morning, the Krova Army will deal with those police officers.

“Additionally, report the situation here to His Highness the Prince of Coburg.”

“Yes, General!”

The next day.

Inspired by their victory the day before, the Walloon Police once again valiantly repelled the first assault of the Krova forces–this time, the latter didn’t take them lightly. They deployed three regiments in line formation to engage the police head-on, while sending three cavalry squadrons to harass the flanks.

Fortunately, the two six-pound cannons of the Walloon Police arrived on the battlefield the previous night, once again startling the Austrians.

Yes, the Walloon Police did have artillery units!

However, they had also suffered nearly 300 casualties in the prior battle.

When the Austrian Army prepared to launch a second assault, the Walloon District Chief of Police, relying on the lessons from the “Art of Command” he had studied earlier, ordered all officers to retreat into Wavre City.

No matter how well-trained they were, they were ultimately police officers tasked with maintaining law and order, lacking qualified military commanders.

And they were up against over ten thousand Austrian regular troops, supported by cavalry and artillery.

Still, their exceptional performance in the earlier engagement, coupled with the appearance of artillery, had made Count Radetsky wary.

He cautiously spent an entire day ordering the hussars to repeatedly scout Wavre, and after confirming that there were only about 3,000 police officers in the city, he decided to launch an offensive.

Southwest Walloon District.

Mons City.

Shevenemang, President of the Walloon Chamber of Commerce, glanced around at the seated council members, raising the newspaper in his hand and angrily exclaimed, “You must have all seen it already. The Flemish, colluding with the Austrian Government, intend to use military force to control Walloon!”

“Our police have heroically repelled them twice north of Wavre, but the Austrian Army’s numbers are overwhelming. The police cannot hold Wavre.”

The faces of all the council members grew somber as they listened to the president.

Shevenemang slammed the newspaper onto the table forcefully:

“The recent unrest in the Walloon District was also orchestrated by them. Fortunately, I received a warning from the French Government and redeployed the police to Wavre. Otherwise, even Mons might now be under Austrian control!”

Indeed, the French Intelligence Bureau had noticed a month and a half earlier that Dutch-speaking individuals in the Walloon District were conspiring to “stir up trouble.”

Joseph immediately realized that Austria was likely planning to take action against Walloon.

However, he refrained from interfering directly in Walloon’s affairs and instead proposed during a General Staff meeting that the Walloon Chamber of Commerce ignore the rioters and concentrate all police resources on defending against an Austrian incursion.

After weighing the options, Shevenemang accepted the French Intelligence Bureau’s suggestion, leading to the Walloon Police’s ambush of the Austrian Army.

Seeing the anger spread across the council members’ faces, Shevenemang raised his voice further:

“Now we have only one choice left: to ask France for assistance and request that they send troops to drive out the Austrians!”

The council members exchanged glances and murmurs filled the room.

An elderly member stood up and said, “Mr. Shevenemang, this will undermine Walloon’s status as a ‘demilitarized zone.'”

Someone echoed, “Yes, this could easily result in the French Army establishing military governance over Walloon.”

“The Chamber’s independence might also cease to exist.”

The Walloon Chamber of Commerce wielded substantial authority in the district, functioning akin to an independent local government, and naturally opposed any interference.

Shevenemang replied gravely, “The moment the Austrian Army entered Walloon, the so-called ‘demilitarized zone’ ceased to exist!”

He then gave a meaningful look at the opposing council members:

“Those Dutch-speaking and German-speaking individuals undoubtedly have their sights set on Walloon’s coal mines and factories.

“Let us not forget–we all speak French.”

The once-noisy hall fell silent at once.

The council members were owners of coal mines, ironworks, and similar enterprises in the Walloon District.

As the largest stakeholder in the region, the French Government was sure to protect their interests.

But if the Austrians, who were clearly interlopers, managed to take over, the chances of them seizing these assets were extraordinarily high.

Compared to Walloon’s “independent administrative rights,” their wealth mattered more to them.

Or rather, without money, administrative rights would soon be lost too.

After over ten seconds of silence, one council member raised his hand: “I agree to request the French Army’s entry into Walloon.”

Then someone else voiced their support, “I also approve.”

“Let the French come. The situation under Austrian rule in Walloon was much worse than it is now.”

“Indeed, the Flemish won’t let us live peacefully either. Only the French Army can change this predicament.”

About a quarter of the Chamber’s members were French nationals, and they all immediately backed the motion. Soon, dissenting voices were completely drowned out.

Shevenemang gestured for quiet and declared, “Then, let us proceed to a vote. Those in favor of seeking assistance from the French Government, raise your hand.”

Out of the 78 council members present in the hall, 75 raised their hands.

…

By noon that day, Joseph had already received, via the Sharp Signal Machine, the Walloon Chamber of Commerce’s request for France to send troops into Walloon.

Of course, the formal documentation was still en route, but this did not impede him from mobilizing forces.

Within just 40 minutes, the Southern Netherlands Army stationed in Lille began its march towards Wavre.

Simultaneously, the Royal Fourth Infantry Division in Artuwa set out on a forced march, heading north along the wooden rail tracks.

The combined total force reached 23,000 soldiers.

…

Upper Hesse.

Marburg.

Count Saigul, the assistant to the French Foreign Minister, was loudly condemning Austria before hundreds of nobles, accusing them of breaching agreements by deploying troops to the Walloon demilitarized zone and causing severe destruction there.

Suddenly, his assistant tiptoed up behind him and whispered a few words in his ear.

Saigul nodded, turned to the Hesse nobles, and waved his hand forcefully, declaring passionately, “The Walloon Chamber of Commerce formally requested the French Army to enter Walloon three days ago to protect their demilitarized status!”