And General Leao, the bargaining chip in these proceedings, was on the verge of tears.
Back in the Southern Netherlands, he had managed to emerge victorious in battle after battle alongside General Lefebvre, which gave him the delusion that "I could do just as well on my own."
Now, facing the Prussians to the west, north, and east—with the Sudeten Mountains to the south—he had come to a clear realization of his own capabilities.
The enemy was not in any rush to attack, but instead stretched lines of infantry across every major thoroughfare, placing cannons on either flank, and positioned their Cavalry to move between the lines for support.
In the last five days, Leao had launched more than ten charges, all of which had been repelled.
At this moment, a heavy air of pessimism pervaded his corps; if not for his reputation as "the Netherlands Spears," morale might have collapsed already.
