Chapter 5: The Franco-Prussian War (1)

My daily routine had become almost monotonous. I would wake up in the morning, have breakfast, and then do some light exercise, such as riding a horse. After returning to my room, I would study as the Crown Prince. Although I had almost severed ties with my father, I was still the Crown Prince. Even if we had almost severed ties, it would have been a backlash against the person who had committed such a despicable act, so I remained the Crown Prince.

When it was time for lunch, I would eat and then receive visitors or engage in political activities. I would spend the afternoon planning various strategies to prepare for the war. By the time evening came, I would eat again. After dinner, I would read letters and reply to those that required a response.

A significant portion of my evening was devoted to replying to letters from Crown Prince Rudolf. They kept coming like spam, and I had to reply to each one, which was frustrating.

There were also many other tasks to handle.

The most pressing issue was the war, so I had to pay a lot of attention to weapons. Bringing the Maxim machine gun forward by about ten years was not easy. I ordered the creation of a Gatling-like weapon that used recoil to automatically load ammunition, and after much struggle, we finally managed to produce something similar.

Of course, there was no mass production system in place, and the preparation for mass production using a conveyor belt for simple tasks was progressing slowly.

However, time did not wait for me.

On July 13, 1870, the Ems Dispatch incident occurred.

Public opinion in both countries was overwhelmingly in favor of war. After all, it was a setup by Bismarck. On the other hand, discussions about France annexing Belgium leaked to the press. Due to Bismarck's machinations, Britain guaranteed Belgium's neutrality, and public opinion in Britain turned against France.

Austria-Hungary could not participate in the war due to its complex internal affairs, and the Russian Empire declared neutrality. Italy, on the other hand, supported Prussia and attacked the Papal States, which France had guaranteed independence for.

Ultimately, Napoleon III declared war on Prussia on July 19, 1870.

***

I'm going to lose it, I'm going to lose it, I'm going to lose it completely.

I couldn't oppose the war. If I did, I would be treated as a traitor.

The only thing I could do was publicly denounce the discussions about France annexing Belgium, saying I had never heard of them and that even if they were true, they would not benefit France. I hoped this would somewhat weaken Britain's anti-French sentiment, damn it.

Napoleon III, you really messed up the diplomacy. The fact that France was diplomatically isolated from the start proved that this war was already lost. I had stockpiled food and ammunition in the fortresses of Sedan and Metz, and I hoped the navy would listen to me as the Crown Prince.

However, the situation a month after the war began was no different from the original history. France struck first but failed to break through the border and was then invaded, leading to the encirclement of 130,000 French troops in the fortress of Metz. Attempts to rescue them by sending more troops resulted in piecemeal deployment and their subsequent defeat.

Napoleon III went to the front lines himself, leaving me to defend Paris.

"Your Highness, in the current situation..."

"The land war is the Emperor's responsibility. What we need to focus on is the navy. We are not ready, but neither is Prussia for a prolonged war!"

It had been less than two months since the war began.

"But if we follow Your Highness's orders, we won't have enough troops to protect the colonies..."

"Are the colonies more important, or the mainland?"

I snapped, and the generals quickly backed down.

"Prussia has only five ironclads, and the rest are small vessels. Mobilize the entire fleet to blockade all Prussian ports! Are the brave Frenchmen so afraid of five ironclads and a few small vessels that they can't blockade the ports?"

In the original history, if Prussia couldn't win on land, they would have starved to death due to the French naval blockade.

"No, Your Highness."

"Then do it! We will win even if we lose the colonies. How is the mobilization of the National Guard, volunteers, and naval infantry reserves going?"

Thinking about the troops that would collapse pointlessly in Sedan and Metz made my mouth bitter, but there was no other way.

"...Your Highness's orders are being carried out, but the progress is too slow."

I sighed inwardly.

'Of course, these pseudo-great powers.'

Of course, I didn't forget to show my anger outwardly.

"Why can't we do what those sauerkraut eaters can do?!"

There's nothing French people hate more than being told they can't do something compared to the Germans or the British. This would make them move more quickly out of pride.

Prussia's mobilization system was the most advanced in the world at the time. While France's system was certainly less advanced, the enemy was still formidable.

'Strengthen the defenses around Paris, and... damn, if I had been able to exercise military authority from the beginning...'

If I had, I would have eliminated 60% of these people long ago.

***

Fort Sedan, France.

"At least we have ammunition and food."

"His Highness the Crown Prince ordered us to stockpile these before the war, anticipating the need. We have plenty of these two."

However, there was nothing he could do about the soldiers' morale. The fortress commander then handed a wax-sealed letter to the Emperor.

"What is this?"

"He said to give it to you if you come to Sedan after the war starts."

Napoleon III looked puzzled as he examined the wax-sealed letter.

"That boy?"

Until just before the war, they had been completely estranged, and the Crown Prince had not sent a single letter. Only after the war started did he inform the Emperor that he would take charge of the rear while the Emperor was on the front lines. Had he written a letter to the Emperor before the war?

The Emperor took the letter.

"I understand, thank you."

***

-To His Majesty Emperor Napoleon III of France.

-If you are reading this letter, it means the situation has unfolded as I predicted, with Metz falling early and you being surrounded in Sedan. I hope you read this before it's too late. Now, read this letter carefully; it contains one of the few ways to save France.

-Engage in a delaying action as much as possible. Moltke will not be able to advance on Paris with 120,000 troops in his rear. Every day you hold out is another day Paris has to strengthen its defenses. Our navy will also blockade Prussia for longer, depleting their supplies faster. For this, I have stockpiled as much food and ammunition as possible in Sedan.

-Let me be clear: Wilhelm I will show you no mercy. Neither will I. The moment I hear of your surrender, I will declare you dead and ascend the throne to continue the resistance. Prussia's economic power is weaker than ours, and if we avoid a decisive defeat on land and strangle the North German Confederation with our navy, this war will be over. So, resist. If you don't, you will be the greatest coward, and so will your army.

-I and France will not recognize a man who has surrendered to the enemy as Emperor. If you feel wronged, come back to Paris. If you can break through the Prussian encirclement, that is. Surely, you can hold out with the food and ammunition I have provided. Prepare for a long siege.

-This is a personal note, but since this might be the last, I will be honest. Yes, I hated you for a while. I was angry at the man who drove another to his death and then ignored him, and at the man who refused to pray for him despite his wife's pleas. I still think you were cowardly in that matter. However, how you act after reading this letter will determine whether I see you as a despicable coward or at least a patriot. Of course, my opinion may not matter to you, and that is your freedom. But if I can call you father again after you lost all honor, I would be happy. That's all.

-Eugene, Crown Prince of the French Empire.