CHAPTER 264: CHAPTER 253: PARTING ON BAD TERMS

According to Frederick’s deployment, Kilchbach’s Fifth Army and Heixinggen Brigade are mainly to prevent the French Rhine Corps from moving south to support the Chalon Corps.

Currently, Napoleon III himself began to concentrate forces, to prevent Prussia from cutting off McMahon from the Rhine Corps he commanded, causing them to be surrounded on both sides. He ordered the French Fifth Army to immediately move south to support Marshal McMahon’s forces.

...

"Your Highness Leopold, next you will be deployed in Valdovisang. I and the Fifth Army will hold Saverna. How about that?"

Although the Heixinggen Brigade is nominally at the same level as the Prussian army, Kilchbach does not think so. There is actually a two-level difference between the two. Although Leopold is of noble status, a member of the Hohenzollern family, the battlefield is not a theater stage where you can do as you please. Therefore, the main force should naturally be the larger Fifth Army. In fact, the Fifth Army, though a formal Prussian corps, is mostly composed of personnel from various countries of the North German Federation, excluding Prussia.

Leopold did not pay attention to Kilchbach and turned to find the location of Valdovisang on the map.

After a long time, he finally found the so-called Valdovisang, an inconspicuous small village located in the southeast corner of Saverna.

"This place will not do!" Leopold refuted.

"Although the Heixinggen Brigade is a temporarily organized unit composed of students who have never been on the battlefield, their military quality is not weak. We do not need your protection. Valdovisang, this small place, is too close to the rear. Even if you don’t trust us, you shouldn’t deploy the Heixinggen Brigade in a small village that is hard to find on the map!"

"Your Highness Leopold, it’s not that I don’t trust you. I am clear about your abilities. However, as you said, the Heixinggen Brigade has never been on the battlefield. To put it bluntly, I am not assured placing these student soldiers on the frontline. Also, I have observed your troops, and half of them do not have German or even European faces. Such a unit’s combat effectiveness might come in handy in overseas colonies, but this is Europe." Kilchbach said arrogantly.

"Kilchbach! Put away your arrogance. In fact, the Heixinggen Brigade belongs to the state army. I only follow the orders of Crown Prince William and the General Staff. You cannot order me around. As for the combat effectiveness of this force, I know better than you. I have also participated in the Second Schleswig War and the Prussia and Austria War. I don’t need you to judge my subordinates!"

"That’s really unfortunate. Since that’s the case, Your Highness Leopold! Where do you want to deploy your troops?" Kilchbach asked.

In his view, the so-called Heixinggen Brigade could not be entrusted with important tasks, but as Leopold said, he really couldn’t control him.

"Here, David Wright." Leopold pointed to a small town directly east of Saverna, with a road connecting David Wright to Saverna. This area is on the flank of Saverna, strategically second in importance only to Stanburg in the northeast of Saverna.

"If you are determined to do so, then go ahead! However, let me say in advance that when we engage the French military, we may not be able to cover this area."

"Hmph, no need for your cover, just make sure to hold Saverna. From what I know, the Fifth Army is just a temporarily organized Prussian unit. Many soldiers are farmers from places like Hamburg and Saxony who just put down their plows and were hastily summoned. The opponent, France, though small in number, consists of seasoned professional soldiers." Although Leopold was angry, he still reminded.

"Hahaha, I admit the combat power of the Fifth Army may be somewhat inferior to the French, but we are numerous and have favorable terrain. Moreover, there are many veteran Prussians in the army, and the new recruits from other states will quickly grow in the flames of war under Prussian leadership." Kilchbach laughed loudly.

"That better be the case!" Leopold left these words and walked away without looking back.

After Leopold left, Kilchbach immediately changed his demeanor. He sternly said to his subordinates, "What an ungrateful person, Robert!"

"Yes, General!"

"That Heixinggen Brigade truly lacks combat power. However, we cannot ignore Prince Leopold’s safety. You lead the Third Brigade to be stationed on the right of the Heixinggen Brigade at Vervisang. If they get into trouble, cover them and don’t let the defensive line break. Got it?"

"Yes, General!"

...

Leopold returned to the Heixinggen Brigade’s station with a somber expression. This Kilchbach was too arrogant. Actually, looking at both of their past records, Kilchbach’s command level is just average, on par with his own. He has the ability to organize military operations, but is miles away from being a famous general.

Originally, this Prussian-French war would not have seen his participation. After all, as one of the main figures in the Spanish throne incident, his efforts before the war were entirely focused on the Spanish throne struggle.

When France took action and the Spanish government backed off, he had no time to return to the Prussian army. If it weren’t for Ernst’s request, he would still be in Sigmaringen!

"Your Highness Leopold, who made you upset?" Heinrich asked when he saw that Leopold seemed in a poor mood.

"Do I look upset?"

"Yes... a little."

Leopold rubbed his face with his hands to relax his muscles before speaking: "It’s nothing big. I just had an unpleasant encounter with Kilchbach. Kilchbach is somewhat arrogant, but I didn’t indulge him."

"Yes, General Kilchbach?"

"Uh, how did he offend you!"

"Heh, he’s just a pig who rose with the kingdom’s reforms, riding on momentum, relying only on his seniority without outstanding abilities, and yet he dares look down on the Heixinggen Brigade. The Heixinggen Brigade is the most obedient troop I have ever led."

"Your Highness, no need to be angry. The Heixinggen Brigade indeed lacks the prestige of battle achievements, naturally failing to convince others. Although the name Heixinggen Military Academy sounds impressive, it isn’t widely known. Most of the students in my class came from crash-course programs and have already gone to Africa. This batch of Heixinggen Military Academy students, after two and a half years of training, is much stronger than my cohort. Perhaps from the perspective of training and professional knowledge alone, they surpass many Prussian veterans in systematic military training, but on the battlefield, people only remember the victors. Be it defamation or insults, only a victory will reveal whether the material is genuine or not."

"Heh, you don’t need to comfort me. Actually, at first, I wasn’t much better than Kilchbach. When Ernst handed the unit to me, my views were similar to Kilchbach’s. However, after leading the troop and spending time with them, I changed my mind. This unit, apart from lacking battlefield experience, is not behind the kingdom’s elite units in any other aspects. I’m not inexperienced with new recruits. In my opinion, the Heixinggen Brigade surpasses Kilchbach’s temporary conscripts by a long shot."

"So, Your Highness, we should focus on our task at hand, proving that the Heixinggen Brigade is not just for show but a modern and powerful light infantry unit."