C2858 North Escape Sedan

The terrified French Emperor was forced to flee in a panic under the encirclement of Prussian army which was three times his size. The fact that the Mace City had failed meant that the Mann River's defense line was completely in the hands of the Prussian.

The two most important strategic locations in the north-east controlled by France. One of them was the Strasbourg, while the other was the Mann River's defense line.

At the moment, the Strasbourg was on the verge of collapse under the attack of the Prussian army, and the Mann River's defense line was completely broken due to the weak and incompetent French Emperor.

At this point, the northeastern part of France had completely broken off all communication with the central and southern part of the country. The support groups from the southern part of the country wanted to meet with the French Emperor, but instead, it had become an impossible task.

This was because the southern and central armies had to turn into attackers and do everything they could to attack the defensive positions of the Prussian.

What a comical sight. Despite being in France's own territory, the invaders and guardians had all switched roles!

The French Emperor and McMahon Army and the even further Ba Zan Army had already become two isolated islands in the seas of the northeastern Prussian army.

At the moment, French Emperor's eyes did not have the arrogance they used to have, but replacing it was the dejection of a dying old man.

Sitting on the war horse, he saw the hopeless scene in front of him. Enduring the torment of the stomachache, the skinny old man became even younger, riding on the horse like a skinny monkey.

In the village in front of them, countless soldiers were robbing the last of the villagers' rations. The villagers were crying and begging on the ground, but all they got in return was a sharp bang on the butt of their guns.

The girl screamed in despair. Even a fool could tell what was going on inside the room!

However, Napoleon III could no longer see all of this. Or perhaps, it could be said that he simply did not wish to see the army being able to maintain its formation even at this moment.

Many veterans who had experienced the Sedan War after the war recalled, "Back then, when the Mace City was defeated, even they themselves could not figure out why they were still fighting. Even though there was a chance for them to scatter, they still followed the Emperor!"

"Possibly... That's just a habit! "

Right, at this moment, French Emperor was completely relying on his habitual ability to control the army, because the entire army officers were still loyal to him, and those people were the military aristocrats promoted by Bonaparte Family.

They could only swear their loyalty to the French Emperor, because they knew very well that once the Republic of China was established, all the privileges of nobility would be abolished, and their own clan's three generations of hard work would become a joke.

If an army was stable, it would not cause too much trouble, and the ordinary soldiers below would rely more on the power of habit to maintain order.

The Bonaparte Family had very strong control over the French army. In the two empires built by his uncles and aunts, there had never been an army mutiny.

In addition to the clan's personal worship, the most important factor here was the elite policy implemented by France, which was the professional soldier system.

The military service system in France was completely different from that in Prussia. Prussia was a universal army, and the compulsory army was not something that could be separated between the civilian and the military.

Any healthy adult male would be required to undergo military training and perform a certain amount of military service before returning to the community to work at all levels of manpower in the event of a war.

At that time, the civilian reserve troops would be able to enter the battlefield in a steady stream!

To put it bluntly, this system relied on a sea of people to achieve victory, and it also relied heavily on the great productivity of the Industrial Revolution s. This was because only strong productivity could easily arm an army of millions.

On the other hand, the French were different. The Bonaparte Family had always believed in the elite army, which was a tradition left behind when the Great Emperor Napoleon swept across Europe.

The elite soldiers would always be the backbone of the army, and the good veterans' group would play an unimaginable role on the battlefield.

As a result, Fa Huangnapolunsanshi always had a army of a hundred thousand professional soldiers loyal only to him. They had enlisted as soldiers from a young age and fought alongside the French Emperor.

Some died in battle, some were disabled and had to leave the army. Most of the soldiers were paid well, and if nothing went wrong, they would be maintained until they retired.

Such a legion was basically unrelated to social life. They did not have to accept the chaotic thoughts outside the military camp, nor did they have to worry about where tomorrow's breakfast would be. All of their energy would be focused on training.

With such an elite and loyal army, the French Emperor would definitely be at ease in using them.

After years of living in the army camp, these soldiers had become accustomed to relying on orders. Even though the war had reached this point, no one held any hope of victory, they still chose to stay under the French Emperor's banner.

However, that was all they could do. Military discipline and the like were definitely not sustainable!

Napoleon chose to close his eyes and pretend that this kind of crime had never happened as he listened to the miserable cries of the girls by the side of the road.

It wasn't until the warhorse passed by the house that French Emperor opened his mouth and said, "McMahon … Try to send a telegram to Paris... Tell everyone that I want to stay in Sedan and wait for reinforcements! "

"Now is the time of the national war. I hope they put down their differences and resist the invasion of foreign enemies first!"

"As long as we can drive the enemy out of the country... I am willing to take the initiative to descend and renounce the throne! "

"Your Majesty …" The surrounding people cried out in grief.

"Let's do it this way …" "Send the telegram now!"

At this moment, a fast horse suddenly rushed over. "Reporting, sir …" Lance City was raided by enemy cavalry, and two trains carrying food and ammunition were intercepted … "

"At this point, the train can no longer move forward. They can only hold on to Lance and wait for reinforcements …"

The French Emperor waved his hand painfully. "Did you hear that? We no longer have a choice... "Just do as I said and send the telegram!"

"Command the army to gather as much food as possible …" I'm afraid we're going to be in Sedan for a long time … "

With the clear orders from French Emperor, the hundred thousand strong army started to rob the citizens recklessly. The entire Aden Province was filled with the smell of smoke and miasma.

It was like a plague of locusts in every part of the army. All the food and animals were taken away, and all the livestock were requisitioned by the army. For a moment, the province of Aden had become hell on earth.

The stable army, the veterans group that was restricted by the force of habit, and finally, the evil of humanity released by the robbery, the hundreds of thousands of defeated French soldiers all retreated into the Sedan stronghold.

On August 30, 1870, the French Emperor and his army finally retreated to Sedan Castle, and the flag of the French Emperor was raised from the central tower!