February 1, 1864.
The Prussian and Austrian allied forces arrived at the southern bank of the Eider River. Taking advantage of the dimness under the cover of night, the calm and winding Eider River was traversed silently by men and horses, shrouded in the rising mist over the river.
At the command headquarters of the German allied forces on the southern bank, all available boats were deployed, and the bridges controlled by the allies were hurriedly crossed over the icy Eider River.
Tens of thousands of troops, facing the narrow and calm Eider River, were marching with urgency, inevitably causing a noticeable commotion.
Even though the army was fully prepared before departure, such a large-scale movement of forces could still be observed by Danish scouts unless they were blind and deaf.
However, the Danes could only watch as everything unfolded. The allies had an absolute advantage in numbers, and with their forces spread across the narrow terrain of the Jutland Peninsula, it was overwhelming for a small nation like Denmark.
The Eider River's meandering and winding nature offered multiple landing points, making it hard to defend. The river, originating from the hills south of Kiel, had gentle flows and a not-too-wide surface, making it destined to be indefensible.
Unless the entire nation united to build a defense line stretching hundreds of miles along the Eider River, it was naturally impossible for a country with only a few million people like Denmark to achieve this in a short time.
Shortly after, the vanguard of the allied forces had already landed on the northern bank and started establishing positions along the coast.
The Danish army, for the moment, dared not take rash actions. They merely observed from a distance, while their reconnaissance cavalry roamed the periphery of the allied forces.
In such a tense situation, both sides kept a close watch on each other, maintaining a delicate balance.
The Danish military dared not slacken; while confronting the allied forces, they swiftly sent the message of the German allied forces crossing the Eider River back to the capital.
Awaiting government orders to take corresponding measures, being on the defensive and at a disadvantage, the Danish army dared not act on their own accord.
Exaggerate the problem as much as possible, convey the dangerous situation to the rear as much as possible, so that even if there are subsequent failures, the blame can be shifted onto the enemy.
It's not that the soldiers were lax, but the Germans were unscrupulous, with two rogue nations rallying a bunch of minions to attack us.
Even if I failed, it would still be the government's political failure. The enemy is so strong, yet you can't even rally allies to step forward. Just wait to step down!
The Danish government certainly couldn't sit idly by. The Foreign Ministry urgently contacted the British ambassador.
The Prime Minister personally led a delegation to seek help from the British ambassador, while the government dispatched envoys to Russia, France, and even Sweden.
Unfortunately, the envoys of various countries gave vague responses, although British support for Denmark was still clear. However, when it came to the issue of sending troops, the British stated they were awaiting domestic news, suggesting not to rush, as they believed the kingdom would soon respond.
February 2.
Prussia was the first to launch a tentative offensive against the Danish positions, attempting to flank the Danes.
...
Half an hour earlier
Winter on the Jutland Peninsula remained cold, with the biting wind brushing across the faces of soldiers gripping steel guns, the cold breath from their mouths instantly forming a white mist before their eyes.
An officer leading the team pulled out a pack of cigarettes from his pocket, the package stamped with the intricate emblem of "Cornflower," a trademark of Ernst Tobacco Factory.
Opening the paper lid of the cigarette pack, he pulled one out and stuck it in his mouth.
Casually, he retrieved a kerosene lighter from his pocket, huddled against the dirt wall in the trench, shielding the wind with one hand while flicking the flint wheel with the other. A burst of sparks flared up, instantly lighting the oil-soaked wick at the front.
The young officer, with his mouth to the flame, ignited the cigarette hanging from his lips. The tip of the cigarette began to glow with a flickering red light,
taking a deep drag, letting it flow through his throat, into his lungs, and then exhaling a large cloud of smoke with his breath.
The young officer felt refreshed, as if his inner anxiety had been alleviated. He began to calmly await the charge order.
...
With the headquarters giving the order, the Prussian troops began their attack. Led by officers, soldiers launched a charge towards the Danish defenses.
Amidst the roar of artillery fire, the battle-hardened Prussian soldiers steadily advanced forward, with no one daring to retreat.
Only assaulting and the firearms in their hands were the soldiers' reliance, seamlessly reloading, aiming, and firing.
Artillery fire intersected, creating one crater after another on the ground. Smoke of gunpowder filled the dust, with only the muzzle flashes of enemy shots guiding the path forward.
"Bang... Bang... Bang..."
Amid a barrage of intense gunfire and artillery, the Danes, relying on their fortifications and the terrain, successfully repelled the Prussian assault.
Although the Prussian soldiers were still attacking, the gunfire had evidently thinned out.
The first wave of attacking didn't achieve the desired results, with the assaulting troops suffering heavy casualties, yet they did not shatter the disciplined Prussian forces. As a probe, the rear command post decisively ordered the assault troops to orderly withdraw.
Thus ended the first clash between the Allies and Denmark. To the Danes, the Prussian barbarians were nothing extraordinary.
The Prussian rear commanders didn't mind; this was merely an appetizer, just the beginning! The rear artillery wasn't even in position yet; the previous attack was merely to test the mettle of the Danish army.
The Danes had some destructive power, but in the eyes of Prussian officers, it was far from enough.
The Prussians feared no hard battles, being the most militarily virtuous nation in Europe, what engagements hadn't they seen?
Besides, this was just Prussia probing alone; the German Confederation and the Austrian Empire hadn't even intervened yet!
The combined strength was several times that of the Danes, for the Prussian kingdom that had previously thrived in adversity when dealing with powerful nations such as France, Russia, and Austria.
To such a declined nation as Denmark, they paid little regard, and this favorable situation simply inflated their confidence without restraint.
The last time (First Schleswig War) Denmark managed victory largely by relying on international forces, but this time the Danish government, on the contrary, showed sluggishness politically.
They didn't timely connect with other European countries to rally support, like previously having Britain issue warnings against Prussia.
Now, the British hadn't taken significant action; as a naval power, it was impossible for them to boast on the continent alone.
As for France, though it could disrupt Prussia's plans, Bismarck had long mastered diplomatic games, exchanging other interests for the silence of Napoleon III's government.
The British had hoped to ally with Russia, but after the Crimean War where the British and French severely weakened Russia, the Russians naturally would not interfere in continental affairs at this time.
This left the British troubled, for it wasn't feasible for their navy to land and fight the Prussian savages tooth and nail!
Thus, the British could only provide verbal support to the Danes but showed no sincerity in sending troops.
Maintaining the balance of power on the European continent was Britain's national policy, and Denmark losing two duchies wouldn't significantly affect the continental situation.
At most, the Danes would retreat into the interior of the Jutland Peninsula, losing some land, and the failing Danes would inevitably further aggravate their hostility towards Prussia, standing even more firmly with the British, laying the groundwork for Britain's future maneuvers on the European continent during the next continental turmoil.
Of course, Britain had other cards to play, which far from met the requirements for war, and besides, the Danes hadn't yet exerted their full strength!
Despite being a small country, Denmark had a history of prosperity. Just in the last Schleswig War, they exhibited considerable strength.
The Danes controlled the Baltic Sea's outlets, enjoying a prime geographical location and thriving economy, even now supporting a considerable military force.
War is always filled with uncertainties. What if the Danes pull through? Moreover, before the war, the Danish government exhibited extraordinary confidence; otherwise, they wouldn't have been in their current predicament.
Although it's unclear where the Danish government derived their confidence (at least Ernst thought so). Yet, it didn't hinder the Danish government's sluggish performance in diplomacy.
Now Prussia, through forming alliances, stabilized most major powers and even drew in Austria and the German Confederation.
Without the pressure of diplomatic opinion, militarily, unless they suffer major setbacks, Schleswig and Holstein remain within reach. However, the premise is to deal with Austria post-war, but Bismarck was already more than prepared.