Chapter 633: France's Rapid Reaction Force
Led by a Baden officer, Lützke ascended the low hill, where representatives from Austria, Britain, Bavaria, and other nations had already gathered. A Baden major in full uniform stood addressing the group, gesturing toward the scene below.
"Gentlemen, this 'Resolute Will' joint military exercise is designed to simulate how France and Baden would respond to an attack on trade routes within our borders. It is not directed at any nation."
This statement, naturally prepared by Joseph, was merely being read by the officer.
The major gestured for soldiers to distribute telescopes to the diplomats before continuing:
"The exercise involves 1,800 soldiers from the Baden Royal Guard and 48,000 troops from the French Royal Guard.
"The two forces are divided into Blue and White armies and will conduct a week-long offensive and defensive drill in the Karlsruhe area. Scenarios include urban defense, encirclement and counterattacks, and pursuit operations."
Lützke's face darkened. It was clear that France had orchestrated this exercise to intimidate. Even the name—Resolute Will—was just shy of blatantly declaring, "France is displeased, and France is angry."
A fresh barrage of cannon fire rumbled from below, the concussive force sharp against Lützke's eardrums.
Raising his newly issued telescope, he surveyed the battlefield. Amid clouds of dust and smoke, soldiers in blue and white uniforms moved with impeccable precision, maneuvering and halting to deliver synchronized volleys.
Through the haze, White Army soldiers appeared, dragging dozens of cannons into position at incredible speed. Within moments, they were setting up artillery, with officers busily measuring distances and adjusting their aim.
In just three to four minutes, the cannons were loaded and aimed at the Blue Army's infantry formations, which stood mere yards away.
At that moment, Lützke felt his heart tighten as if he were about to witness a gruesome slaughter.
But before the White artillery could fire, over a thousand Blue Army cavalrymen suddenly surged forward from behind their infantry. Forming an arrowhead formation, they charged at breakneck speed toward the enemy artillery.
Simultaneously, Blue Army artillery appeared on a nearby hillside, unleashing a thunderous barrage that tore a hole through the White infantry's formation.
Yet the White infantry remained composed—rear ranks swiftly removed their fallen comrades and stepped forward to fill the gaps, leveling their muskets to return fire under the officers' orders.
Tens of thousands of soldiers, cannons, and warhorses clashed in the open fields below, the air thick with the cacophony of explosions, gunfire, and shouted commands.
For Lützke, who knew little about military tactics, the sheer speed, precision, and coordination of the French forces left an indelible impression. It was clear even to a layperson that this was a fearsome, elite army.
In reality, this was precisely the impression Berthier had intended to leave. Most of the assembled diplomats were similarly untrained in military affairs, so the exercise had been designed to appear as dramatic and intense as possible. Over 50,000 troops were packed into a confined area barely 4 kilometers across, clashing head-on in a chaotic, high-stakes spectacle that left the spectators awestruck.
At some point, Salzburg's representative, visibly irritated, muttered:
"These arrogant French… a mere few thousand troops, and they think they can frighten us into submission."
Nearby, Augsburg's delegate, Baron Heinemann, lowered his telescope and glanced at him with a meaningful smile.
"Viscount Schaun, haven't you noticed the most alarming aspect of this exercise?"
"What are you trying to say?"
Heinemann exhaled deeply.
"Do you recall when the proposal for Britain to join the Rhine-Seine Treaty was first introduced?"
"About a month ago—Count Friedrichs proposed it," Schaun replied without hesitation.
Heinemann nodded.
"This military exercise is clearly a response to that proposal. In other words, France assembled 50,000 troops and deployed them to the southern Rhine in just over 20 days."
Schaun stiffened, his face falling silent.
Lützke, too, furrowed his brows.
Salzburg had submitted the proposal over a month ago, and it had likely taken a week for the news to reach France. Even if France had immediately decided to conduct the exercise...
"They completed troop assembly in just over 20 days?" Lützke murmured.
Heinemann sighed again.
"No, Herr Lützke. If the French Royal Guard is involved, they likely assembled in just three or four days."
"What? That's impossible!"
"The French Royal Guard is stationed near Paris," Heinemann explained. "It takes at least 20 days to march from Paris to Karlsruhe. That leaves them only three or four days to assemble their forces."
Every representative turned to stare at him, shock etched into their faces.
The thought of assembling 50,000 troops—complete with cavalry, artillery, and logistical support—in just a few days was almost incomprehensible. The speed of mobilization, the efficiency of supply chains, and the coordination of French forces were terrifying to contemplate.
For comparison, Austria had taken over six weeks to muster 60,000 troops at the start of the Silesian War.
Of course, even with Joseph's reforms, it was unrealistic for the French Royal Guard to fully mobilize in three or four days. The apparent speed was a carefully executed illusion.
In reality, only 25,000 of the troops present were from the Royal Guard, and they had been assembled over a week. Traveling light, they had marched to Baden in 14 days.
The remaining 23,000 were regular troops from garrisons near Lorraine and Verdun, bringing supplies and taking nearly a month to prepare. During the exercise, these regular troops simply stood in formation, while the Royal Guard performed all the critical maneuvers.
From the hilltop, however, none of the diplomats could discern the difference. They believed France had deployed 50,000 elite troops from Paris to the Rhine in just over 20 days.
Over an hour later, as the "Resolute Will" exercise entered a scheduled break, the grim-faced representatives began returning to Karlsruhe Palace.
But the echoes of cannon fire lingered in their ears, making it nearly impossible to concentrate on trade negotiations.
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