William led his army to Prussia east. Of course, William did not return directly to Brandenburg. Along the way, William also went to Cologne to meet Maximilian, and to the Main River area to convene a meeting of the Holy Roman Empire.
Previously, Maximilian was going to Vienna, and it was the news that Maximilian was going to Vienna to some extent stimulated Leopold II. It can be said that Leopold II's death also had a certain relationship with this matter. After Leopold II's death, Maximilian, who received the news, was originally planning to continue to go to Vienna. In Maximilian's view, he was kicked out of Vienna before Leopold II's lifetime, and now if Leopold II could rule over Vienna after his death, wouldn't he be revenge?
But then, with the dissuasion of the Prussian government, Maximilian changed his itinerary.
The reason why Maximilian was to persuade Maximilian to stop his trip to Vienna was, on the one hand, the Prussians did not want to further stimulate the Austrians. Although the Austrians were defeated at present, this defeat was unwilling to most Austrians. In four words, it is "a mistake not for war!"
Even though Tuha on the front line suffered a considerable loss at the hands of the Prussians, these losses were not the main reason for Austria's failure. Even if Austria goes all out, the number of victory or defeat is still 55.
In this way, even though Alexander had already entered Vienna, many Austrians were still unwilling to accept the new Austrian grand duke despite taking Alexander's military power. If Maximilian went to Vienna at this time, then even though Alexander was unwilling to accept Maximilian, it would definitely make more Austrians hate Alexander.
At present, the current situation in Austria is in the interests of Prussia. If Alexander's excited Austrians overturn it, it means that the armistice agreement signed between Prussia and Alexander is invalid, which is unacceptable to Prussia.
So no matter how much Maximilian wants to return to Vienna, the Prussian government will never let him do what he wants.
After William decided to withdraw his troops to return east, at William's instruction, the Prussian government also informed Maximilian that William was about to come to Cologne.
The reason why he wanted to go to Cologne was that William wanted to settle the heart of the Holy Roman Emperor. Although Maximilian was just a nominal imperial emperor, even his imperial emperor could be regarded as a puppet of the Prussians, no matter what, Prussia would give Maximilian relative respect.
After Cologne, William's next stop was set in Frankfurt, where he would hold an imperial princes meeting in Frankfurt, and with the military power of Prussia to defeat Austria and France, it was intimidated by the large and small princes in the Rhine River Basin and the Main River Basin.
At the end of June 1793, William visited Cologne, and there were only royal guards beside William. As for the Fourth and Sixth Divisions, they escorted the bodies and nameplate of the Prussian soldiers to Brandenburg as William ordered.
In Cologne, Maximilian held a grand triumphal ceremony for William. Nearly 100,000 residents in Cologne walked up to the street under the orders of Maximilian and arranged in neat formations on both sides of the street to welcome the Prussian army led by William into Cologne.
The city gate of Cologne was dressed up, and many beautiful girls stood above the city gate holding flower baskets, and flowers were placed on both sides of the main roads in Cologne. Maximilian and a group of Cologne's powerful men stood at the city gate of Cologne to welcome the arrival of William and his army.
When the Prussian army's flag appeared in sight, the large band that had long been arranged by the gate of Cologne immediately played triumphant songs.
The Prussian army was lined up in neat formations, and at the front were officers of the Prussian royal guards led by William.
"His Majesty William. Welcome to Cologne!"
When William and his party arrived less than 100 meters away from Maximilian, in order to show respect, William took the lead in getting off the horse. After William dismounted, the entire Prussian army marched there in an instant like a wall and remained motionless.
The strong killing aura came to his face to change Maximilian and the powerful people in Cologne.
Fortunately, after a while, Maximilian reacted and greeted William when he was still a distance away from him. After the two met, William bent down and bowed to Maximilian. After Maximilian saw William saluting, he was obviously flattered, so he said without waiting for William to speak.
In Maximilian's words, he did not treat William as his subordinate at all. The tone of his words completely regarded William as an existence at the same level as him. Seeing Maximilian so sensible, William also had a smile on his face.
"I'm sorry to come to greet him personally. I'm flattered!"
He was flattered, but there was no expression of surprise on his face. Maximilian complained slightly, but obviously he didn't dare to say this to William in person.
"Where is it, His Majesty William led his army to wipe out the French army in the Netherlands, greatly increasing the morale and military power of our Holy Roman Empire. It is a blessing for the empire! It is not enough to show the merits when we go out of the city!"
Maximilian's posture was very low, but William was not complacent or even arrogant because of the posture Maximilian made.
"All this depends on the blessing of God and the blessing of His Majesty. What I do is only my duty!"
After saying that, William and Maximilian looked at each other and laughed.
"His Majesty William, please! Let the people of Cologne also see the regency of the empire!"
After saying that, under the service of the attendant, Maximilian and William also stepped on their horses and headed towards the inside of the Cologne gate. After William rode the horse, the entire Prussian army was like they came to life. The Prussian soldiers in each square formation tried their best to maintain their military appearance and eager to leave a Prussian invincible image in the hearts of the entire Cologne!
When William and Maximilian came to the gate of Cologne, the girls of Cologne on the gate shouted and threw down the petals in the basket in their hands. The petals all over the sky became William's embellishment at this moment.
Seeing the numerous Cologne people on both sides of the street, no matter whether these Cologne people came to greet William voluntarily or passively, at least William was quite satisfied with Maximilian's reception.
Behind William were the officers of the Royal Guards, and the cavalry in the Guards, and at the end were the infantry units. When the royal guards in grand dress appeared under the city of Cologne, screams suddenly sounded from the Cologne girl on the city gate.
The Prussian cavalry wearing bright white breastplates walked in front. The Prussian cavalry with gorgeous helmets on their heads were blooming with their gorgeous feathers like proud peacocks. Under the sunlight, the bodies of these cavalry were covered with layers of faint halos, just like God's Immortal Soldiers.
Behind these breastplate cavalry are Prussian light cavalry and lancer troops. Compared with breastplate cavalry, these light cavalry are undoubtedly much less in terms of highlights, but this does not prevent the Prussian cavalry from showing their majestic side. The resolute Prussian cavalry instantly killed a large number of eccentric girls on the gate of Cologne.
With cavalry in front, infantry is much inferior in comparison. However, infantry also has their characteristics, that is, under the command of the musical drums and drums in the military formation, the entire Prussian army was like one person. Although there were hundreds and thousands of people in the military formation, the footsteps on the ground were all sounded.
The rumbling military power made all the Cologne people who were fortunate to see undoubtedly took a breath of air. Compared with the cavalry in front, the bloody smell on these infantry was stronger and more shocking.
Of course, there are not so many places in Cologne to move into the entire Prussian royal guards. Therefore, except for the First Infantry Regiment of the Royal Guards who protected William with him, the rest of the troops will all be out of the city gate on the other side of Cologne after the triumphal ceremony and stationed in the military camp that Maximilian had already prepared outside the city.
After the triumphal ceremony, William and a group of middle-level and above officers from the royal guards gathered in the Cathedral of Cologne. The current Archbishop of Cologne, Luvid, the son of Maximilian, was holding a requiem ceremony for all the imperial soldiers who died in the war.
"May men respect your name as holy, may your kingdom come, may your will be done on earth as in heaven. For kingdom, authority, and glory are all yours, forever!"
After a prayer, everyone surrounded Maximilian and William and walked out of the Cologne Cathedral. Maximilian said affectionately to William:
"In order to welcome His Holy Deme William to Cologne, a grand welcome dinner will be held in Cologne tonight and you are welcome to attend!"
"Of course, how can I refuse His Majesty's delight!"
The two smiled and hugged, and then, led by a servant, William and his party left the church.
After William and his party walked away, someone rushed over to Maximilian and said:
"His Majesty the Emperor, it has been arranged, but the people below are a little worried..."
Although the man did not continue to say it, Maximilian's eyes glared at him and said softly:
"Those cowards, things have reached this point. If you don't seize this opportunity, then you might have to wait for the next time!"