Chapter 20: Napoleon's Ambition part 3
(The Battle of Dijon)
The Prussia and Germany got word of the defeat at Paris for the Burgundian-Dutch army. The two brothers looked at each other then at their leader, "Send up the lines we halt the French before they can even move!" The armies moved into Burgundy-Netherlands and started to take positions to halt the French movement.
Prussia, Germany, and Burgundy met at Dijon the capital of Burgundy-Netherlands. Their combined might equaled about 200,000 men strong. The capital was practically a fortress now and was ready to fight to the end.
The French troops could be seen marching toward Dijon, their numbers only ¾ of the army actually in the city. The German, Burgundian, and Dutch troops began to set up barriers preventing entry into the city.
The French troops set up artillery positions and began bombarding the city. "We will crush their numbers from a far and when we are on even grounds we will crush them!" The Artillery captain yelled.
Prussia to a force of skirmishers, mostly jaegers to try and draw the opposing force in to a trap. "Don't worry west I'm to awesome to be injured by some pathetic French cowards!" Prussia smiled and marched on toward the enemy with at least 10,000 skirmishers.
The French saw the German jaegers moving towards their lines and sent up their own skirmishers to hold them off. The French skirmishers moved up, but were in half the numbers as they weren't expecting much skirmishing in a city battle, more upfront confrontation is what they expected.
Prussia laughed as he saw the weaker skirmishing force, "All right my awesome contingent of men Lets show them what the German military can do!" The Germans yelled as they fired upon the French skirmishers, who had just entered range of their guns.
The French skirmishers fell rapidly hardly being able to fire under the quick fire of the German jaegers. Prussia being the fast of the firing group, taking down more people then that of the men around him, "Ha French, who knew they wouldn't retreat by now!" The Germans around laughed.
The French skirmishing troop was down with in several minuets and the jaegers moved forward to continue their plan to luere the enemy towards the city where they would have the advantage. "Lets get these un-awesome French down to Dijon!" Prussia yelled to the men as they began to back pedal as the enemy took the bait.
The French General was incompetent and didn't see the trap, he order the artillery to halt its attack as they moved towards the city. The marching of the French was not impeded by the constant fire and retreat of the jaegers towards the city.
Prussia's smirk grew wider as they neared the city. Germany and Burgundy had their men right behind the barriers ducked under them so it looked like there was know one in the front of the city just a line of barriers in between the buildings.
The French army was right next to the barriers when a huge line rose up and fired at the same time then ducked down allowing another line to fire, continuening down the alley ways tell they reached the end. After this they charged the remaining French troops.
The French General was terrified by this sneak attack, and was insulted and ritticueld by his own men after this obvious ambush. The French had fallen down to nothing more than 50,000 men and dropping as the combined forces of their enemies pushed them back further and further from the city.
The French had failed to take Dijon, just as the Burgundian-Dutch had failed to take Paris.
Round 2: The Imperial alliance.
(The Trump card)
Napoleon was fighting a war that was going no where against an enemy that can out last him years after his death and that of his successors and so on. Napoleon need another ally someone no one would expect and that would be able to sweep through his enemies. "Who would have the-" Napoleon stopped, "Russia." Was all he said.
Napoleon's plan had one flaw, Russia had insanely amazing relations with Byzantium, being the only other major Orthodox nation, they stuck together like glue. Byzantium's influence on Russia was amazingly high as well, but if he could convince the tsar that he would be able to gain more than what he would lose from not being friends with Byzantium he would be able to win this war.
The Emperor of Byzantium sighed he needed more, some one defend the rear incase the English get smart and cross the Persian's lands from India. "Who would be able-" He stopped, "Send a diplomat to Russia, its time to pull our trump card." The Byzantines and the Russians had always shared a great relationship, if not a little awkward at times.
The only flaw is that, Russia could take to much land and get greedy as has happened in misintupretations of the past. When the Rus took part of the Balkans themselves instead of giving the Byzantines the land is a good example of this. "Hopefully this will work." The Emperor sighed as the army continued to march, he had got word that another fight between the Burgundian-Dutch Army and the French was happening in the general area of where they were.
Authors Notes: Now tell me this Russia is obviously both sides Trump cards, but I'm conflicted on which side to give him to, On one hand giving it to the Major Three will increase their chances of success against the Imperial alliance ten fold, but Giving him to the Imperial Alliance makes much more sense, even if it would tip the scales to an easy victory for them. Who will get the Trump card you'll have to see.