Breaking onto the scene momentarily appeared more difficult than Gneisenau had imagined due to the backlash in the Silesian Army caused by the unveiling of the plan to march north. Although it had long been contemplated, the staff had kept this idea so secret that its announcement caused incalculable surprise in every quarter. The boldness of the plan did not receive general approval. General Dideric Jacob Teyl van Seraskerken, the Dutch-born Russian war commissar attached to Blücher’s staff, provided surprising, vehement protest. Having emigrated to Münster after the 1794 French conquest of the Netherlands, Teyl had become close friends with Blücher, even being a house and table companion for years. For this reason, Tsar Alexander selected Teyl for the post on Blücher’s staff. In August, Blücher received him as an old friend. Müffling described him as “a brave man, but cautious in the extreme.” After Blücher issued orders at 7:00 P.M. on 25 September for the march down the Elbe, Teyl argued that the operation would violate the principles of the Reichenbach Plan and selfishly jeopardize the results of the entire campaign thus far. “He availed himself of his grandes entrées to the general,” maintained Müffling, “to make the most urgent remonstrance against allowing himself to be carried away by Gneisenau and me into such hazardous undertakings. Blücher answered: ‘Be quiet, old friend; everything has been maturely considered’.” Teyl continued his protest, insisting that Blücher solicit the opinion of the army’s generals. Blücher looked at him in astonishment. “I do not hold councils of war,” roared the hoary Prussian. “Colonel, the tsar, your master, sent you here to report to him, for which purpose I furnish you with all the necessary materials with the greatest readiness. When you protest against my published orders, you depart altogether from your instructions; you are not my appointed advisor! Therefore, I will not listen to you and I take my leave.” With that, Blücher walked out of the room.