She changed Europe

Page 31

PS1: Sorry I was busy at noon today and forgot to update. The next update will be later.

Chapter 110 The Brandenburg Eagle and the Snows of Jutland: Capter 44 Heading to the Front (Please Subscribe and Vote)

Gisela, who was on a train from Frankfurt to Hamburg, had learned about the impending war from the Austro-Hungarian army stationed in Hamburg through the magical communication system in the train compartment. She would be participating in the war against the Kingdom of Denmark as a magical warrior accompanying the army. Everything was as Gisela had originally planned, and the war broke out at the end of 1868.

“Your Highness, you seem very worried.” Rita looked at Gisela with concern. It is said that negative emotions are the greatest enemy of a woman’s beauty, and Rita did not want her Highness to be upset by something bad and have her beauty affected.

In her opinion, all His Highness needed to do was maintain his beauty, while she, as his personal maid, had many more things to consider, such as protecting His Highness's "chastity" and "safety" from those wicked people who coveted His Highness's beauty.

"War is about to break out, the combined forces of Prussia and Austria against the Kingdom of Denmark." Of course, Gisela was unaware of her maid's ulterior motives, and simply watched the scenery passing by outside the carriage window with a calm expression.

"Dealing with Denmark? I thought it was something else!" Rita breathed a sigh of relief. After all, for Prussia and the Empire, dealing with the cricket-like Denmark was a very simple matter.

“Denmark is nothing to worry about.” Gisela suddenly became elegant, lifting Rita’s chin with her right hand and skillfully placing her left hand on the other’s cool and pretty face. Sure enough, the beauty’s face had an unexpectedly pleasant feel.

She is only concerned with the efficiency of the Luo family's execution after the meeting; as for the war, she only needs to participate.

"Your Highness...you...you mustn't..." Rita bit her lip, suppressing her surprise and joy. If they weren't in a public place, she would have loved to launch a swift attack, pinning His Highness to the ground while simultaneously wrestling with his fingertips...

Rita's show of weakness seemed to Gisela like a call to arms for her own manly counterattack, while Rita became shy because of her own bold actions. So Gisela escalated her "provocation" of Rita, "climbing up and down the slope" with her palms facing down.

"Rita, just how much do you like me?" Gisela asked playfully, as if she had everything under control. After all, it was impossible for a scoundrel with the appearance of a beautiful girl not to be lusting after Rita's body. But, it was still early, so she could just tease her maid first. She didn't believe Rita would actually do anything to her.

Sometimes men like to find that elusive sense of self-esteem in the smallest details, until Rita, as if she had made up her mind, suddenly narrowed her purple eyes. A voice in her heart seemed to be telling her, "This is His Highness's initiative, so it's not my fault for looking like this." Then she raised her hand, grabbed Gisela's wrist, and flipped her over, pinning her down on the seat.

"Your Highness, the world of adults is quite cruel!" Rita whispered softly, leaning close to Gisela's ear, her tone gentle and even a little seductive.

"Well……"

"ah……"

1868 January 12

As the sun pierced the horizon, shattering the darkness, tens of thousands of Prussian troops stationed south of the Ida River, led by Field Marshal Friedrich, swiftly crossed the river and entered the Schleswig and Holstein regions, capturing Kiel that afternoon without firing a shot.

Kiel, a town with a German majority, like most towns in the Schleswig region, did not view the Prussian-led German Confederation army as an aggressor. The local residents did not have strong resentment towards the Prussian army's arrival, but rather welcomed it.

At this time, in Copenhagen, the capital of Denmark, while politicians were busy with the necessary mobilization of the people, the commanders of the Danish garrison in Schleswig and Holstein submitted this unexpected report to the Prime Minister.

That very night, King Christian IX personally attended a cabinet meeting to discuss Denmark's next course of action.

“Please tell me, General Karl, didn’t you predict that the attack by Prussia and Austria would take place next spring? Then please give me an explanation for what exactly is going on.” The speaker was the young King Christian, and it was this same group of people who had assured him three days earlier, when he signed the new constitution, that the Danish army was capable of handling any external pressure.

"Your Majesty, our army still firmly controls the main strongholds in the Schleswig region. Today, we have only lost the planned city of Kiel."

"In the plan? Does the plan also include losing Aarhus, Aalborg, Kölling, and even our Copenhagen?" Unlike his predecessor, King Frederick, King Christian was seemingly weak, but deep down he was more resolute. As the newly enthroned king, he was eager to prove his strength as king, which was why he chose to sign the constitution at the beginning of his reign.

“Your Majesty, our current priority is to mobilize soldiers to reinforce the Dannevelk defenses.” General Karl may be mediocre, but he is by no means stupid.

Schleswig was originally a region with a large German population, and the local residents' political stance was undoubtedly biased towards the German coalition forces. In times of war, instead of stubbornly holding onto these two territories with huge uncertainties, it would be better to use them as bait to buy time for the Danish army to mobilize.

"And Prime Minister Monrad, didn't you assure me where the support from Britain and Russia is? Where are those friendly nations from the last war?!"

"Your Majesty, they are just waiting for the right moment. As long as our Danish army puts up a strong resistance, I believe they will definitely step in to mediate, and this will be our lucky break." The Danish politicians are still basking in the glory of the first Schleswig victory, but they do not understand that a small country that relies on the power struggles of great powers to seek its interests will eventually be swallowed up by those same great powers.

“Very well, I don’t understand war, but I must tell you, Karl, you hold the lives of hundreds of thousands of Danish soldiers in your hands, and how many families are anxiously awaiting the outcome of this war.” Christian then stood up, sighed, and left the room.

He signed the constitution himself, and he is the only one who can bear the responsibility. As for the rest, he can leave it to his ministers.

“Yes, Your Majesty, Denmark will be reborn in this war! And you will become the greatest monarch in Danish history.” Karl bowed, humbly responding to the king’s admonition, while the ministers stood up to see the king off.

Copenhagen, shrouded in darkness, may now only be able to bring light to her.

PS1: This is the Second Schleswig War. Prussia did not defeat Denmark in the first war, so Denmark was not as weak as imagined.

Chapter 111 The Brandenburg Eagle and the Snows of Jutland: Capter 45 The War That Erupted (Seeking votes and subscriptions)

1869 January 1

As the New Year's bells rang, the Danish army, which had only been at war for a week, completely lost the entire Schleswig region. The defeated troops poured into the vicinity of Denmark's most important defensive line, Dannevelk, like refugees.

Andrew and Lawrence were just two ordinary soldiers among the countless defeated armies. Before the war, the two brothers were stationed near Flensburg.

Flensburg, as the third largest city in the Schleswig region after Kiel and Lübeck, became the main target of the Prussian army and was closely watched by the German allied forces.

The unit where the two brothers were stationed was suddenly attacked by the Prussian army. Their 32nd Infantry Battalion, with nearly 500 men, faced the attack of the Prussian Mage Legion, which was the pride of the country, and the Prussian 12th Infantry Brigade, an elite infantry brigade whose soldiers were equipped with an advanced rifle that was loaded from the rear. This rifle not only allowed them to fire from a prone position, but also gave them individual firepower that was far superior to that of the Danes.

In addition, the Prussians adopted a completely new coordinated offensive tactic, with magic armor advancing in front and easily tearing through their defenses with its excellent protection, followed by infantry attacking into their lines and completely dismantling their positions.

Without the protection of magical armor, the 32nd Infantry Battalion had to rely on its M1857 12-pound field guns and M1841 6-pound field guns to deal with the Prussian magical armor.

These two field guns are the later-famous Napoleonic guns. As the pinnacle of French muzzle-loading artillery technology, they have withstood the test of countless wars, serving as the backbone of the artillery for both the North and South during the Civil War several years earlier. Due to their affordability and ease of use, they are now also widely used in the Danish army.

In addition, the 6-pounder cannon can only penetrate the shield of the Prussian magic armor from the side, so it is not very efficient. But the 12-pounder cannon is different. With the 117mm caliber M1857 cannon, it can easily penetrate the shield of the magic armor and destroy the armor directly.

The Prussian army's magic-armored armor was primarily offensively specialized, allowing them to prioritize expending more magic energy—which wasted on deploying shields—on improving weapon performance. This contrasted sharply with the Austro-Hungarian Empire, whose Imperial Type IX armor prioritized defense over offense, boasting the toughest magic-armored shields in Europe. For ordinary armies, destroying it head-on required either larger caliber artillery or soldiers using explosives to breach the armor from below.

The weak point at the bottom of the armor is called the "Achilles' heel" by engineers. It is a difficult problem that no country can overcome in the development of magic armor, because the magic shield has never been able to protect against threats from below.

Of course, the battles between magical armors are another story altogether.

The 12-pounder artillery position where the two brothers were stationed became a key target area for the Prussian army. After the four cannons completed two salvos, they were attacked by several times more artillery fire from the Prussian army, including the magical cannons mounted on magical armor.

Magic-powered cannons don't have a caliber, as their power is determined by the amount of magic energy injected into them. Similarly, a single shot from a magic-powered cannon might be equivalent to the power of an M1841 cannon shot or an M1857 cannon shot. To control the power effectively, various countries incorporate the infusion of magic energy into weapons and equipment as part of their magic-powered warrior training.

The final outcome was predictable. In a concentrated barrage of fire, only six people, including the two of them, could stand up from the artillery position that had only a few dozen men.

However, Andrew and the Lawrence brothers did not choose to retreat. Instead, they joined their comrades and the soldiers who had retreated from the original defensive line, and then reorganized their defenses along the hillside of the artillery positions.

The remaining two hundred or so men relied on the terrain to repel several attacks by the Prussian army and destroyed several magical armors. Of course, they also suffered huge casualties. As dusk approached, even Andrew, a sergeant, was put in the position of temporary commander.

The initial force of over 500 men fought down to a mere 26. With their ammunition and supplies exhausted, they ultimately decided to decide by drawing lots, leaving half of them as bait while the rest headed north to join the main force on the Danneville defense line.

The two brothers were lucky enough to be among those who "left," which led to the scene described earlier.

"Brother! Are these all our defeated men?" Lauris asked the ragged, wounded man beside him.

"It seems our troops south of the defensive line are completely wiped out." Andrew wasn't an officer and couldn't possibly have any accurate intelligence about the war. He could only guess based on what he saw and hearsay. Among this mass of thousands of remnants were people from Husby, Gelting, Handwitt, Somt…

The Kingdom of Denmark had nearly 5 troops south of the defensive line, including garrison troops, field troops, and militia. Although many were temporarily mobilized to fill vacancies, the total number of Danish troops in the Schleswig region already accounted for nearly half of the Kingdom's pre-war military strength. While the Danish army was expanding at a morbid pace due to the incitement of politicians and the fervent influence of Danish supremacy, this enormous defeat was something the Danish people had to accept.

"What do we do next? To be precise, only 13 people from the 32nd Regiment who escaped with them are left. It can be said that the entire unit has been completely wiped out."

"We might be incorporated as reinforcements into the troops behind the Dannevelk Line." Although the Kingdom of Denmark was somewhat reckless, it did not go to the extent that some countries later severely punished retreating soldiers. After all, for Denmark, which was in a precarious situation, anyone willing to take up a gun, whether man or woman, was welcome to join the fight.

It's worth mentioning that in this world, whether it's the Magician Force or the regular army, all positions are open to women as long as you have the ability.

"The gate in front is open." Lawrence pointed to the tightly closed iron gate in front of him. Once inside, it would indeed be like going home again.

"Let's go quickly. Right now, I just want to lie down somewhere and get a good night's sleep." After several days of bloody fighting and fleeing, not only him, but perhaps most of the defeated Danish soldiers on the scene, had the same thought in their hearts.

In the harsh winter, amidst falling snowflakes and biting cold, the same Danish army presented two completely different scenes.

The soldiers on both sides of the road were covered in blood and wounds, their clothes tattered, their expressions exhausted, their eyes bloodshot, and their swaying bodies seemed about to collapse at any moment. But the soldiers in the middle of the road, not yet engaged in battle, were neatly dressed, their expressions content, their eyes bright and clear, radiating a sense of pride from within. Because they knew they were fighting for their country, for their nation.

Just like the timeless truth, "Dlce et decorm est pro patria mori." (To die for one's country is a sweet and right thing to do.)

Everything has changed over the past thousand years, but war has never changed.

PS1: Actually, when I was writing the last sentence, the first thing that came to mind was the opening monologue in Fallout.

PS2: Historically, the Second Sino-Prussian War was not this intense, but novels are based on life but are more dramatic than it is based on. Moreover, this war really changed the fate of several European countries, so I think it should be described in more detail.

Chapter 112 The Eagle of Brandenburg and the Snows of Jutland: Capter 46 Battle of Misonde (1)

January 15, 1869, Missonde village on the Danneville Line

After more than a week of rest and reorganization, the vanguard of the Prussian army successfully advanced to the vicinity of the village of Missonde. Once they crossed this defensive line, they would enter Danish territory on the Jutland Peninsula.

This would mean that the main force of the Kingdom of Denmark would face a fierce offensive from the German army, and this would become a life-or-death battle concerning the fate of the Kingdom of Denmark.

At this time, in the Prussian command post near the village of Missonde, a plan for the upcoming war was being developed under the organization of Field Marshal Friedrich.

In the few dozen days since the start of the war, the Danish army as a whole has given the Prussian commanders the impression of being backward and sluggish. Although the soldiers are tenacious in their fighting spirit, they are unable to organize an effective counterattack, let alone defend their positions. Moreover, they are severely lacking in equipment, especially heavy firepower, which is almost negligible.

"Gentlemen, I believe we should continue to rest and wait for the Austrian army in the southwest to join us. At this point, the Allied forces have become severely disjointed, and the pincer attack is simply unable to form a cohesive force." The speaker was none other than Army Chief of Staff Moltke, who at this moment was serving as Field Marshal Friedrich's adjutant.

"It's the Austrians again. Their sluggish pace will cause us to miss many opportunities. They are as bad as ever!" Many Prussian officers couldn't help but think to themselves. However, the Austrians' mediocre performance was actually a good thing for them. It meant that when a full-scale war broke out with Austria in the future, they could achieve victory at a lower cost.

Austria, or rather the Austro-Hungarian Empire, is undoubtedly the weakest of the great powers in continental Europe today.

"Outdated equipment and poor command—that's the Danish army right now. And as you generals have seen in recent battles, they've proven just how utterly vulnerable they are." Prince Karl waved his hand, his eyes filled with disdain for the Danish army.

“We currently have 30,000 men, and with reinforcements, we have nearly 100,000. Denmark has already lost half of its army, and now we have to deploy their few remaining troops on this 60-mile-long old city wall. Just imagine how many Danish defenders we will have left to face in a direct confrontation?” Prince Karl advocated for an immediate attack, a style of warfare that, like his fiery red hussar uniform, emphasized speed and ferocity.

“The general’s advantage is now in our hands, and Prime Minister Bismarck’s goal of having us occupy the Schleswig region has been achieved. In terms of diplomacy, this is equivalent to having obtained a bargaining chip, so there is no need to launch an attack rashly!” Moltke’s strategic vision was not limited by his military status and position because of his close relationship with Bismarck. This gave him a diplomatic sense that was lacking among Prussian soldiers of this era.

Field Marshal Friedrich closed his eyes. Both sides had valid points, and this was where the role of the military commander became apparent. Ultimately, the task of deciding the plan fell to him.

The old marshal raised his finger and pointed to a location on the map.

"This is the village of Misonde, where my army was defeated by the Danish army decades ago. Eight thousand against ten thousand." Such a defeat of being outnumbered is not a shameful thing for a soldier, but Friedrich did not think so.

"Although Prussia had hundreds of thousands of troops at the time, it needed to be wary of the Austrians, Russians, and French, and also avoid provoking the British. Eight thousand men was the limit that the kingdom could send." In fact, when the war broke out, Prussia was still experiencing internal strife.

"I left my army, lacking the cover of magical armor, directly exposed to Danish artillery fire and the vision of magical armor. As the army commander, I was completely unaware of this, and thus led my soldiers step by step into the encirclement of the Danish army." At this point, the old marshal clenched his fists, his eyes filled with regret and self-blame.

Moltke and Prince Karl knew the old marshal well. From the Napoleonic Wars onward, this soldier had dedicated everything to the country. In terms of military talent, he may not have been the most outstanding, but as a soldier, he was undoubtedly a role model for all Prussian generals.

"Half of the eight thousand men were lost, and the remaining troops fled back to Prussia. The rebellious Germans were also brutally suppressed by the Danish army. Finally, under diplomatic pressure, the kingdom ordered a halt to military operations in the Schleswig region." The First Schleswig War ended in Prussian defeat.

"The blood must not be shed in vain! This time, the Danish army must pay the price." Friedrich opened his eyes, and his aged face showed a vigor that was beyond his years.

"Tomorrow we will launch an attack on the Daneville defenses of the Kingdom of Denmark, and you will be in command of this operation." Friedrich turned his gaze to Prince Karl beside him, and at that moment he seemed to see his former self reflected in the prince's eyes. Those were the glorious days when he, as Marshal Blücher's cavalry commander, fought alongside the old marshal against the French enchantress.

"I will certainly live up to your mission." Prince Karl raised his hand and gave a standard Prussian military salute.

Moltke closed his eyes at this moment. Regardless of the circumstances, his plan had failed. However, he believed that with Bismarck's talent, dealing with any situation that followed would be no problem.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

At this time, in the village of Lek, located dozens of miles away from the Prussian vanguard, the village had been requisitioned by the Austro-Hungarian army as their command post, and the local residents had been forcibly relocated to the city of Bredeslett, thirty miles away.

Perhaps because it was late at night, most of the soldiers had already gone to bed early. However, a scene completely different from the tranquility outside was unfolding in a house in the village. Inside the room, two blonde young women were standing in a very ambiguous manner. The slightly taller one had pinned the slightly shorter one against the wall, and was restraining the girl against the wall in a very suggestive way.

If someone were to enter the house at this time, they would surely witness such a magnificent scene. However, no one would dare to enter the room at such a time, as the two most esteemed princesses of the empire, Princess Sophie and her sister Gisela, resided there.

"You're not my sister! Who are you? I don't remember her looking like this before." The girl who spoke was Princess Sophie, Gisela's older sister.

PS1: It's almost the weekend again.

Chapter 113 The Brandenburg Eagle and the Snows of Jutland: Capter 47 Sisters in Confrontation

"You're not my sister! Who are you? I don't remember her looking like this before." The girl who spoke was Princess Sophie, Gisela's older sister.

"Then, Your Highness, what kind of person am I in your eyes?" Gisela looked up at the girl in front of her who resembled Queen Elizabeth, Gisela's older sister.

If Gisela's appearance is seven parts similar to Sissi, then Sophie in front of us is nine parts similar. After all, when Gisela awakened to become a magic user, her appearance also changed slightly, becoming more reserved and inexplicably aloof, a quality typical of people from the East. Her features also softened a bit. But it is precisely this "Eastern" temperament that makes her more charming and alluring to some people with "malicious intentions".

After all, it is human nature to be fickle and easily bored, and European magic users ultimately share some similarities in appearance.

"You!" Perhaps angered by Gisela's somewhat cold way of speaking, Sophie placed one hand on Gisela's chest and used the other hand to slap off the hat on Gisela's head, then stared at the pair of fluffy fox ears on Gisela's head.

"So, Your Highness Sophie, what do you want to do?" Gisela's tone was icy, showing no emotion whatsoever when facing her sister, after all, she was far stronger than Sophie, who was only at the level of a magic user.

As for Gisela's personal emotions and memories, she didn't have any good feelings towards her sister who died young in history. After all, according to her own speculation, whoever is right is the most suspicious. The suspect who wanted to kill Gisela back then, besides her sister Sophie, was her grandmother, the Queen Mother of the Empire. And the Queen Mother was naturally after her brother Rudolf.

Gisela can be fond of anyone, but she really has no interest in her own siblings right now.

“I…” Sophie saw that Q*- N was her sister who was so unfamiliar to her, and for some reason, she felt a strange pain in her chest. She didn’t know how to say the words that were about to come out. It was as if everything had changed after her sister grew fox ears and a tail.

"Why are you distancing yourself from me, Gisela Louise Marie?" As if to vent her anger, Sophie suddenly raised her hand to grab the animal ears swaying on Gisela's head. The ears looked fluffy and felt nice to the touch. Combined with her sister's face, which was even more outstanding than her own, they should have been a beautiful thing. But to Sophie, these animal ears were more repulsive than Satan's horns. If she could, she would just want to tear those ears off.

She just wanted to find the little Gisela she knew before, not this stranger.

"Let go!" Gisela said coldly, shaking off Yi Lingba Si Si CP and slapping away Sophie's hands that were leaning towards her.

"If there's nothing else, I'm going to rest." Gisela's tone remained indifferent. She didn't care at all why this woman had called her here today and asked her such a foolish question.

Gisela had always heard from the palace how outstanding the eldest princess was, and she had always avoided and was wary of this potential rival. It wasn't until she met her nominal sister a few days ago that she had a more accurate impression of her. Apart from her appearance, she was quite disappointing in other aspects.

"Don't go!" Sophie tried to stop her sister, but because her body wasn't as healthy as she thought, she fell to the ground when she turned around.

After hearing the sound of an impact behind her, Gisela turned around helplessly and looked at her sister who had fallen to the ground.

The princess before her looked so endearing. "If you weren't my sister, I would definitely help you," Gisela told herself. In the struggle for the throne, kinship is hypocritical and meaningless. If one cannot be ruthless, one will never achieve great things.

Unfortunately, as a man, she couldn't bear to see the beautiful girl in such a sorry state.

"Sigh!" Gisela sighed softly, scratching her golden hair in a self-pitying manner. Even though she didn't care about Sophie, the pangs of conscience still made her uneasy, even if she ignored her.

"Did you take your medicine?" Gisela sighed, trying to help Princess Sophie, who had fallen to the ground, up.

"Are you really... still little Gisela?" Sophie's voice trembled slightly, whether from missing her medication or from being overwhelmed with sadness, she could hardly tell.

Whether I am or not, your sister can only be me now! Although Gisela wanted to say this, she couldn't. Seeing the sickly girl in front of her, whether it was Gisela's original emotional instinct or Lin Wei's own sympathy for the girl, she didn't choose to rudely deny the girl's question.

"What do you think, sister?" This was the first time Gisela had called Sophie "sister" in days; before this, she had always called her Princess Sophie or Her Highness Princess Sophie.