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For both Bismarck and Napoleon, the 170,000 Rhine legions besieged in the fortress of Metz were the last bargaining chip. If Frederick Karl was able to force the other side to surrender, the Prussian First Army would be able to twitch nearly 100,000 troops and intensify the siege of Paris until the Provisional Government surrendered to them.

Everything went very well, Marshal Bazin of France showed signs of relenting, and Prince Frederick Karl carried out public opinion and psychological tactics unhurriedly, spreading rumors to the fortress of Metz that Paris had fallen, and soon these isolated armies would be dismantled one by one.

Today, however, an accident occurred, and as he was about to convey to Bazin again the terms of surrender of the Prussian army, he was reported that a hot air balloon was floating in the direction of the Metz fortress.

Prince Karl, who originally thought that the next victory was in his hands, suddenly changed his face.

The Prussian Second Army was a typical Junker noble group, the commander of the Guards was Prince Auguste of Wültenberg, the commander of the Twelfth Army was Crown Prince Albert of Saxony, and the former commander of the First Army was dismissed from his military post because he looked down on this group of Prussian magnates and was unwilling to obey the command of King Wilhelm I.

However, the "Prince of Blood" was not a brave fool, and after breaking Bazin's last breakthrough at the cost of nearly 10,000 casualties, he began to realize that iron and blood were not the best means, so he adopted a plan to temporarily besiege but not attack, and spread rumors to the fortress of Metz, telling the French army that Paris had surrendered and that there was no need for them to fight fearlessly.

Under the blow of rumors, it was not only the soldiers who were shaken, but even the top brass was bewitched. The emperor had already been besieged and annihilated by Sedan, and Bazin saw no need to continue the fight.

As soon as the Supreme Commander lost the idea of fighting, the whole force began to be in jeopardy.

However, when the hot air balloon appears over the Metz Fortress, Carl realizes that his efforts may be in vain. The Prussian army had no weapons to deal with the high-altitude hot air balloon, so they could only stare at him as he slowly drifted in the direction of the Metz fortress.

He never imagined that the other party would get in touch with the army besieging the Metz fortress in such a way.

"Uncle is already urging our Second Legion, he hopes to capture Metz as soon as possible, and move in the direction of Paris, but I have a bad feeling about that hot air balloon."

Frederick Carr expressed his concern, "I don't know what bad news Paris will bring us." ”

The crown prince of Saxony, who was the main force in the attack, put his saber on the table and expressed disdain for Karl's concerns. The war of almost half a month was enough for the Prussian Second Army Corps to have a capital to be proud of.

He said arrogantly, "Is His Excellency the Prince of Karl still worried that France has the will to resist?" ”

Karl shook his head and said, "If it's Bazin, I'm not worried. He was already a defeated army that had been demoralized, and it was only a matter of time before he surrendered. ”

"If things change, we need to start a battle against Metz, and time waits for no one. The XII Army had to force the Rhine Corps to its knees in the shortest possible time. We couldn't afford to lose the biggest chip in Metz because of a hot air balloon. ”

In line with Prince Karl's thoughts, there was also Stottwell, and the Rhine Army in the Metz fortress was a bargaining chip for the French counterattack in the future, and the stupid Bazin must not be allowed to fall completely to Prussia.

Once this army is lost, it is equivalent to Paris surrendering without a fight.

The defenders of Paris were now barely able to compete with the First Army, but if the Second Army was added, it would be completely encircled.

Paris is the political center of France, and it can only fight to the death, and definitely not take a step back.

Stottwell was invited into the conference hall next to the command war room, where all the top brass of the Rhine Regiment gathered and anxiously awaited the telegram from Paris.

In the small conference hall, everyone looked gloomily at Stottwell who walked in the door, and when Leboeuf saw him, he was subconsciously stunned. When he was Napoleon's military adjutant, he had a colleague relationship with Colonel Stowell, but he did not expect the two to meet under such circumstances.

"I am Stowell, sent by the French Provisional Government, and General Trochu is in charge of the fight against the Prussian army."

Bazin pursed the corners of his lips with obvious disdain when he heard Trochu's name.

Stockwell's unobtrusive Napoleon's secret order was handed over to Bazin, "This is a military order from the Provisional Government to General Bazin, and he ordered the Rhine Army to hold on, not to retreat or surrender." ”

Bazin opened the secret letter with a pale face, and suddenly became angry, he threw the envelope on the ground, and asked, "What is this?" Just to delay the Prussian offensive and use us as bait for sacrifice? ”

"If the fortress of Metz does not hold out, Paris will sacrifice more people."

Stockwell slowly narrowed his eyes and asked the other party, "Doesn't General Bazin know that military orders must be carried out?" ”

"So what is the matter with the military order, the Paris government has the right to execute the families of the high-ranking generals who dare to defect to the enemy? Intend to allow a reign of political terror to be imposed? ”

Stottwell explained to the unscrupulous marshals around him, "This is also to ensure the loyalty of all of you here to the Empire. ”

At this time, Leboeuf was also reading another secret letter from the Provisional Government, but this letter shocked him no less than hearing a military order not to take a step back.

He looked up and looked at Stottwell with a bloodless face. I wanted to speak, but I was stopped by the other party.

Stovwell just nodded at him.

Leboeuf took a deep breath, he did not know why Paris would give such an order.

Bazin, who was standing in front of Stowell, was still chattering, and he roared angrily, "Don't forget, now that the Rhine Legion is in my hands, the French Provisional Government should figure out this matter, we are the last elite of the 170,000, if the last elite of the 170,000 is gone." The Provisional Government is just waiting to be overthrown! ”

"General Bazin, are you planning to blackmail the Provisional Government?"

Stovwell asked with a smile, and the surprise question made the other party stunned, and then resumed his anger.

"So what?"

Stoverwell's appearance disrupted his overall plan, and if he didn't win everyone to his side, he would be the one who would be stripped of his military power by parachuting in the Provisional Government officials.

"It's nothing, I'm ready to sacrifice when I come here. We, the leaders of the government in Paris, are very dissatisfied with your cowardice, and he thinks that you are not worthy of being the commander-in-chief of France. ”

Then Stottwell asked an irrelevant sentence, "Marshal Leboeuf, do you support the decision of Paris?" ”

Leboeuf knew that now was the time to make his attitude clear, so he hurriedly said, "I support all the decisions of the Central Committee." ”

"Very good."

Stockwell shook off the words, took a step forward, and before everyone could react, he pulled out his revolver and aimed it at Bazin's forehead.

The sudden change overwhelmed everyone present.

Bazin's eyes widened, and the last thing he saw was the muzzle of a revolver and Stowell's calm, determined eyes.

The last words he shouted echoed in everyone's minds.

"His Majesty Napoleon has said that France will never spare a traitor!"