Chapter 470: Paris awaits the coming of the emperor (third update, please subscribe)
Just as Moltke had guessed, when the airship fleet stationed in Orleans learned that the expeditionary force had arrived at the port of Le Havre, it immediately sent two airships to join the main force.
Only two airships were sent out because...
"We must give the French and Prussians the illusion that we have run out of fuel and ammunition. Only then will the Prussians besiege Paris and the French ask us for help."
In an aristocratic manor on the outskirts of Le Havre, when Li Du told him his plan, Zhu Xianhai nodded slightly.
"That's right. What we need is not to defeat the Germans, but to help France get out of its current predicament and let the Second Empire survive!"
It should be said that he helped Napoleon III get rid of the current political crisis. The old guy fully demonstrated what it means to be "a weak person with a strong addiction to medicine" and became a typical example of "if one's virtue is not worthy of his position, there will be disaster."
How did Napoleon ascend to the throne?
It is a military victory again and again!
But what did Napoleon III have?
There is nothing else except the name of Bonaparte, and he ascended the throne with this name. This directly made his throne very unstable, and it can even be said that he could not withstand any setbacks - because Napoleon would not lose a battle.
If you are defeated...then abdicate!
"As for defeating the Prussians and seizing their land, these are the French's business. What is our purpose in this war? It is to help France overcome the current crisis and then get some rewards we need! After all, the lives of the South Chinese are precious, and France is not worth our risking our lives for!"
It is for this reason that after the siege of Sedan was lifted, the airship troops stopped their air support to the French army on the grounds that they had run out of ammunition. This is also why Paris is now surrounded by the Prussian army.
We only need to give the French certain assistance. After all, South China is not a savior. If the French want to win the war, they will ultimately have to rely on themselves. Of course, the South China army will still give them certain help on the battlefield.
Li Du naturally agreed with your majesty's point of view. After thinking about it, he said it confidently.
"Your Majesty, as long as we have enough 30mm shells and bombs, we should be able to break the siege of Paris."
In response to such a conceited answer, Zhu Xianhai just smiled.
"The airship seems to be flying in the sky, which gives it the advantage of being high above the enemy. However, this advantage is also a disadvantage. It cannot, at least not now, conquer everything. If the Prussians conceal their positions, then it will be difficult to find them in the air. In addition, the accuracy of bombing is also limited. Air strikes... are essentially about weakening the enemy as much as possible to reduce the pressure on ground combat."
Rely on air power to conquer everything?
This idea is good, but the reality is too cruel. Douhet's "The Command of the Air" praised airplanes and strategic bombing to the sky, but what is the reality? Humans' tolerance during war is far beyond his imagination.
But now we can give Europeans this illusion.
"The reason why we are so successful in using airships is that it was the first time that the airships were used on the battlefield. We caught the enemy by surprise. Since the enemy had no awareness of air defense, we took advantage of them."
"Your Majesty, during the bombing of Sedan this time, we discovered that the Prussians seemed to have made a small cannon specifically designed to deal with airships."
"Oh? Anti-aircraft guns?"
After thinking about it, Zhu Xianhai shook his head and said.
"Before the recovery machine was built, even if they made anti-aircraft guns, they would only be small cannons. It doesn't matter. We don't need to worry about it for the time being."
Use a recoil gun for air defense?
Are you kidding?
Zhu Xianhai didn't even bother to pay attention to the anti-aircraft gun, but went straight to the point.
"Be prepared. After the troops have rested for a week, they will launch an attack on the outskirts of Paris. My plan is to break the Prussian siege of Paris in two weeks."
…
Nanhua’s reinforcements are here!
Napoleon III, who was in the Louvre, was so excited that he almost cried when he received the news.
"Dear, we are saved, we are saved, Nanhua's army is here!"
Facing the Queen, Napoleon III showed his most vulnerable side. God can testify how he had spent the past days. He was tortured by illness and was shrouded in unprecedented panic.
When he was in Sedan, he was most worried about failure, and losing the throne after being captured. But even if he escaped to Paris, his life was not easy. Now he was more worried that the citizens in the city would become thugs. If a revolution broke out in Paris now, if he was sent to the guillotine like Louis XVI, then everything would be over!
Now, with the arrival of Nanhua reinforcements, he no longer needs to worry about these problems.
"My dear, they are coming. Soon, our dear nephew-in-law will lead his army to break the Prussian siege. Soon, Paris will return to its former peace. The Prussians will soon withdraw. Oh, and they have brought enough fuel and bombs. The airship will once again fly in the sky like an angel. It will appear in the sky of Paris and save us all like a savior..."
Looking at the emperor's expectant look, Eugenie couldn't help feeling a little annoyed. How could she be willing to marry this man at that time?
He had absolutely no awareness of being an emperor, and didn't even have the courage of a monarch.
This was not the first time she had noticed this, but she had not expected that he would be so cowardly. In fact, in history, when she learned that the emperor had surrendered in Sedan, she did not dare to believe the news at all. She once stubbornly believed that it was a rumor. She was more willing to believe that the emperor committed suicide.
As the queen, Eugenie took a deep breath and said to the emperor who was overjoyed.
"Your Majesty, now that the reinforcements have arrived, Paris will be relieved soon. At this time, you must go to the front line. As an emperor, you must fulfill your monarchical responsibilities! Only in this way can we overcome the current political crisis. Your Majesty, what you need is a victory that belongs to you and France!"
Although he knew that what the Queen said made sense, Napoleon III didn't want to go to the front line at all. He waved his hands and said.
"No, dear, you don't know. At the front, I even dreamed of death. It's not a place for people to stay. Only by staying here can I sleep peacefully."
Without waiting for him to continue, Eugenie spoke directly.
"You can indeed stay in the Louvre. You can stay here until those mobs rush in and put you in prison and send all of us to the guillotine. My God, you are the emperor. If you had half the courage of Emperor Napoleon, this war would not have ended like this..."
As she roared these words, Eugenie no longer ignored Napoleon III, and even looked at this coward with contempt.
He was just the name of Napoleon. Compared to him... Eugenie's mind emerged with another Oriental man, her nephew's husband, who was not only handsome, but also as brave and warlike as Napoleon.
Even if you had half his ability, Paris would not be surrounded.
"Your Majesty, you must go so that your son can inherit the throne! Otherwise, we will all die here! Even if we don't die today, we will die tomorrow. You will become another Louis XVI, and I will be Marie!"
Faced with his wife's pressure, Napoleon III said helplessly.
"Okay, dear, I will go, I will go to the front, but can you please..."
Seeing Eugenie's contemptuous look, he changed his words.
"I'm going to meet up with McMahon now. I really don't know when they will march towards Paris. Now the whole of Paris is waiting for his arrival."
"We should tell all Parisians about this news. Tell them... the Emperor of Nanhua is leading his most elite troops on the way to Paris, and their army will soon be able to defeat those Prussians!"
As the queen, Eugenie knew very well what Paris needed now. It needed good news, and of course she herself was looking forward to his arrival.
Now that he was about to come to Paris, Eugenie didn't mind having everyone share her inner joy.
He is coming!
He was on the way, and perhaps she would see him soon. Thinking of this, Eugenie could not help but feel a little excited...
(End of this chapter)
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