Chapter 1489: Dispatching Troops

"Borrowing a path, we are prepared to split our forces into two routes and attack Prussia from the direction of Saxony," Douglas said in a deep voice.

General Weikeduo nodded.

He looked at the marching route traced out by Douglas's finger.

One route attacking from Hanover, one route attacking from Saxony.

A pincer attack on Berlin from both sides.

This plan was indeed not bad; the Prussian defensive strength in the city of Saxony was relatively weak.

The possibility of victory attacking from Saxony was very high.

However, the Hanover direction was not so simple; Hanover was currently taken over by the Longyan Army.

The Austrian Army had deeply witnessed the ferocity of the Longyan Army.

If the Holy Cross Army attacked from Hanover, there would be some difficulty.

"General Weikeduo need not worry about those Longyan people; our goal is to occupy Berlin, and even if the Longyan Army is powerful, they have no way to fight on multiple fronts."

Douglas said with a smile.

He pointed at Hanover again and said indifferently: "The Longyan Army has not been in Hanover for long; we only need to drag them down."

"Then the other armies will face the long-weakened Prussian Army; this war will surely be won."

General Weikeduo pondered for a moment, feeling that this plan was feasible, and he put forward his own view: "The plan is fine, but do not underestimate the power of the Longyan Army."

"Their terrifying marching ability is something we have already witnessed many times in Europe."

"And not only that, the Longyan Army's Cannon and their tactics—I believe no country in Europe can crush them."

"Or even drag them down."

Douglas did not refute him, only saying: "That is indeed true, but their grain and fodder are not abundant anymore, so let them drag themselves down."

Hearing this, General Weikeduo was startled.

He instantly understood what Douglas wanted to do; currently, the only ones who could provide military grain to this Longyan Army deep in the belly of the land were the civilians of these three cities.

There were also the garrisoned troops; the Longyan Army could plunder these troops, but it would come at a price.

General Weikeduo did not say anything more, only looked at him deeply, and then there was no more speech.

Douglas laughed once, then said: "General Weikeduo, when we came, the Pope asked me to tell you one thing."

"What?" General Weikeduo said in a deep voice.

"The Pope said that the position of Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire is only recognized by their Catholicism; it is only valid if he confers it."

The air suddenly fell silent, and General Weikeduo stared sharply at Douglas's smiling face.

The reason Austria started the war was because of the struggle for the throne of the Holy Roman Empire.

Frederick II, that outlier, claimed that Protestantism was the orthodox continuation of Christianity in the Holy Roman Empire.

He self-proclaimed that he was the orthodox royal family of the Holy Roman Empire.

The Theresa Family was the true ruler of the Holy Roman Empire, but they had never received the recognition of most European countries; as an elder in the family, how could General Weikeduo allow Frederick II to usurp the orthodoxy?

To be recognized by European countries as the orthodox status of the Theresa Family, they needed to obtain the approval of Catholicism.

They had to have most Europeans recognize the orthodox sect of Christianity: Catholicism!

The best clergyman of Catholicism, the representative of the Lord in the world—the Pope—must personally baptize and confer the title upon Teresa.

Only then could Teresa truly become the Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire.

So, upon hearing this, General Weikeduo suddenly became murderous.

After a few seconds, this monstrous murderous aura subsided, and General Weikeduo stared at these two people, saying coldly: "Our Austrian Army will absolutely coordinate with the Holy Cross Army in battle."

"The Austrian Army will intercept the Prussian troops in Xilixi."

Hearing this answer, Douglas smiled and nodded, raising

the wine glass in his hand: "Then let us celebrate the victory of the war in advance."

Douglas and Prince Soubise both raised their wine glasses, but General Weikeduo did not move his hand.

Yet there was not the slightest expression of displeasure on the faces of the two.

Austria sending troops was good news for them.

Ever since the Longyan Army occupied the ports of Austria, the Austrian Army had been kept in check.

Almost all the domestic garrison troops were in a standoff with Longyan.

Externally, the Austrian Army was attacking Prussia from Poland.

Now, making them send troops again was undoubtedly forcing the Austrian Army to abandon the suppression of the Longyan Army within the country.

As the main force fighting against Prussia, Austria had long since encountered all sorts of problems.

To maintain this war, Austria had already borrowed quite a lot from the Hungarian Nobles.

Although there were some anti-war voices domestically, years of major wars had caused Austrian civilians to gradually struggle to make ends meet; the once-wealthy Austria was weakening bit by bit.

If winter were to arrive this year, it is estimated that many Austrian citizens would starve to death on the streets.

But even so, these troops, Austria had to send.

All of this was the will of the Pope.

And ending the war as soon as possible was also beneficial to Austria.

It was just that during this period when domestic defenses were empty, the Longyan Army might do the things Austria least wanted to see.

The nearly six hundred thousand Longyan Army troops at the Austrian ports were no joke.

"General Weikeduo, then we shall take our leave first."

After draining the red wine in his glass, Douglas said indifferently.

"Go slowly."

Hearing these two extremely cold words, Douglas suddenly smiled; having walked to the door, he turned his head and laughed: "General Weikeduo, I have one more small request; you shouldn't refuse."

Prince Soubise glanced at him, signaling him not to say anything more.

Victor looked at him coldly.

"Tonight, I want to taste an Austrian woman."

"Get out!"

Douglas tactfully hurried away.

That night, a woman from Austria lay on Douglas's bed; she was quite attractive.

She was someone he had found on the streets of Vienna.

And that evening, after those two had left, General Weikeduo urgently convened a meeting.

The situation in Austria is now extremely dire.

If we were to mobilize troops to attack Xilixi now, the forces confronting the Longyan Army would be weakened too much.

Moreover, winter is fast approaching, and years of great war have already made the domestic situation in Austria increasingly severe.

As of this year, some Austrian residents still have no food to get through the winter, and this is not even the most terrifying part.

The most terrifying thing is that, because of the war, many Austrian families are lacking able-bodied men.

Although they have experienced the Industrial Revolution, women can also handle many job positions.

But labor-intensive work like felling trees and producing charcoal can only be done by men.

However, there are not many Austrian men left to do this work this year.

Large quantities of charcoal and coal are all being used to run the Factory.

The reserves of charcoal and coal will decrease sharply, and Austria may have nothing to burn to get through the winter this year.