Since Emperor Taiji has sent troops to the grassland, time waits for no one, so a certain new emperor has also decided to do something, and cannot just sit back and wait for death under such a God-given opportunity.
Of course, it is not to send troops outside the pass to provoke Huang Taiji again, but to increase troops to suppress the Dabie Mountains.
The specific combat units involved four Donggong Guard brigades, plus the troops of Liu Guoneng and Li Wanqing, plus 30,000 Yulin troops, and 5,000 troops from Baoding and Shandong each, for a total of more than 100,000 troops.
Counting the previous troops of Sun Chuanting and Qin Liangyu, the total of the three additional troops has exceeded 160,000.
There are more than 90,000 garrison troops missing in the Jifu area. It doesn't matter if this news is sent to Huang Taiji after being heard carefully.
If Braid enters the pass again, a certain new emperor will most likely order the continuation of the strategy of fortifying the wall and clearing the field.
The Dutch fleet was different from the French fleet in its transportation mode. It used a continuous method to transport German mercenaries to the Ming Dynasty.
Almost thousands of mercenaries arrive in Ming Dynasty every month, and in a year, the total number can reach tens of thousands.
Through the European War Report entrusted by French Prime Minister Mazarin to the Marquis of Turenne, we learned that the French army won another battle last year.
The cause was three years ago, after the first batch of Ming weapons and ammunition arrived in France in 1642, the fifteenth year of Chongzhen.
Spies lurking in Paris reported this information, but King Philip, the controller of the Spanish Empire, scorned it.
The Ming Empire in the East just had an empire in the suffix of its name.
Otherwise, I would not sit back and watch the Ming people in the Philippines being slaughtered like pigs!
Richelieu did this simply to enhance the prestige he had just gathered by winning over a distant ally.
Prior to this, Louis de Bourbon, Count of Soissons, cousin of French King Louis XIII, fled to Sedan and used the local garrison to defeat the enemy troops who came to pursue him.
Later, this guy wanted to raise troops from now on, follow Cromwell's example, and push back Richelieu's control of France.
If you are lucky enough to kick that young and ignorant nephew down and become the king yourself, that would be even better!
However, after the rebellion, the local garrison in Sedan was far from enough to shake Richelieu's control of France.
Bourbon himself worked hard enough and led the rebels to defeat the counter-rebellion army again.
The result was unexpected. The counter-rebellion army was repulsed, but Bourbon was killed in the battle...
The rebels had no leader and did not want to really fight against Richelieu and the increasing number of counter-rebellion troops, so the matter could only be settled.
This was the last major thing that Richelieu could accomplish during his lifetime. Before Christmas of 1642, he died of illness.
His successor, Mazarin, led the French army under General Jean-Baptiste Boudes, Count of Gerbrint, and allied Swedish troops to defeat the Holy Roman Empire forces in the northern battlefield of Wolfenbüttel.
Afterwards, the enemy was defeated again in Kempten in the south, and he ordered to stop as soon as possible, temporarily retreat from the enemy's land, and temporarily return to the French mainland for repairs.
In this regard, Boudes, who had an impressive face (there was a large mole on the right cheek), was very reluctant, but after learning that Richelieu had died of illness, he could only withdraw his troops.
The French army, which had already won many battles, took the initiative to retreat, which puzzled Ferdinand III. However, he was relieved after hearing the news that Richelieu, his old enemy, had died of illness.
The emperor believed that his prayers when leading his army in battle must have had an effect, otherwise such a big turn of events would never have occurred.
In fact, many generals in the empire often complained that their emperor did nothing but pray when he was on military expedition...
Unlike his father Ferdinand II, who had many shortcomings, Ferdinand III still had certain advantages, such as settling accounts.
But at the end of the day, the emperor found that he had no money to pay military pay and had to continue to default!
Since Viscount Turenne, who was also talented in commanding, had gone to the Ming Empire, Mazarin, who had summoned many generals in Paris, ordered Boudes to be the commander-in-chief of the French front line.
In fact, there was another candidate, Louis de Bourbon, Duke of Enghien. Unlike his late uncle, Gaston, Duke of Orleans, Bourbon and his father both supported the royal family.
He had previously sided with Richelieu, but now he chose to continue supporting Mazarin.
There is just one small problem, that is, the Duke is too young and has little commanding experience.
On the battlefield, he wore a set of well-made white high-end clothing, a gorgeous hat with white feathers, and rode a white horse...
For the enemy, there may not be another such a conspicuous target!
Since he was among the top few nobles, Bourbon could do whatever he wanted on the battlefield.
He was not as timid as the playboys, but instead led his troops to fight fiercely, but that was all.
In order to prevent the young master from continuing to stir up trouble on the battlefield, Mazarin had to withdraw him from the front line, which was nominally a strategic rest.
Because not only Budes couldn't stand this guy, but even the Swedish troops fighting side by side began to complain about this guy's idiotic behavior.
In his letter to Mazarin, he stated that the Duke's greatest contribution to the coalition forces was to do nothing!
It was just written more euphemistically, but Mazarin was not a fool and of course he understood the meaning.
For Mazarin, who had just turned forty but took over Richelieu's scepter, the next battle must not only win, but also achieve a great victory, so as to consolidate his status and authority in France.
Otherwise, those who oppose the royal family in various places will take the opportunity to stir up trouble and even cause chaos everywhere.
How can we achieve a big victory?
Of course we have to rely on the oriental weapons sent by Viscount Turenne!
Including that weapon that boosts morale and enables high-altitude reconnaissance - the airship!
After seeing the spectacular scene of the airship taking off, Budes completely understood the new prime minister's intentions.
Moreover, Viscount Turenne not only sent this weapon, but also grenades and mortars.
Especially the latter, which looks like a very simple iron barrel.
Budes didn't know why that guy from Turena sent the iron barrels all the way to the mainland.
I heard it is a very powerful artillery piece. If that guy Turena is really not drunk...
But after the Ming army gunner demonstrated the sight of twenty volleys to the count, Budes had a new understanding of this weapon.
As for the grenade, it is even simpler. It is simply a weapon that can break through the enemy's infantry square.
The manufacturing process of this kind of weapon is very easy, making it very suitable for mass production and installation into troops.
There is also a bayonet, which may seem ridiculous, but is very practical in actual combat. Combined with the iron breastplate, the offensive and defensive capabilities of the infantry have been greatly improved.
Something called a tank also caught the attention of Count Budes, which looked very much like the Hussite fort used by the Bohemian rebellion.
There is a turret on the roof of the vehicle, and a small Folan machine is installed. It is said that if there are a large number of them, they can withstand the charge of the cavalry, and can also clear the way and cover for the infantry to advance.
If all these weapons can be equipped on the elite French army who have experienced hundreds of battles, and play their due role, Boudes believes that the French army will reach the point of being invincible in the world.
But it takes time!
Yes, that was Mazarin's intention.
First, use the previous victory to buy time for the national troops to change their equipment.
Then……
Mazarin's initial strategy was to go north and then south, that is, let the French army move north first to defeat the Spanish army that threatened the security of Paris from the Spanish Netherlands.
However, if the French army were to move south, it would completely damage the Holy Roman Empire's army, making it lose the ability to fight again, and force it to sign a peace treaty.
Moreover, Mazarin has changed his established goal, not only to defeat these two old enemies of France, but also to seize their territory!
For the Spanish Empire, Mazarin wanted France to get the Spanish Netherlands.
For the Holy Roman Empire, Mazarin wanted the French army to completely occupy France-Conté west of Switzerland.
If possible, it would be best to grab the area west of the Rhine, but this is negotiable.
Mazarin believed that his old enemy would have to pay or cede territory. In short, he could not just sign an agreement and forget about it.
Of course, this is based on the French army's decisive victory on the battlefield, otherwise any extravagant hopes will be a pipe dream!
After hearing Mazarin's strategy, Count Boudes believed that to achieve this goal, at least one hundred thousand French troops needed to be rearmed.
If we copy the equipment of the Ming Empire troops, this will require at least 2,000 tanks, 1,000 mortars, 500,000 grenades, and corresponding ammunition.
Tanks are easy to say, they can be modified with carriages. Even if you borrow money from the nobles, you can pay off the debt through taxes and fees from the new territory after winning.
Mortars are easier to solve. If the blacksmiths couldn't even make iron barrels, they would have starved to death long ago.
As for grenades, half a million is a large amount.
But this kind of weapon is superior to its simple craftsmanship, and it is not difficult for workers in the arsenal to make it.
After solving these problems, according to the newly formulated combat plan, the French army will be in a strategic defense posture until July.
At the same time, the Swedish allies were notified of the situation, saying that the situation in France was unstable, that anti-royal forces were taking advantage of the death of former Prime Minister Richelieu, and that the main force needed to return.
During this period, both Budes and Bourbon had to lead their troops to familiarize themselves with and master the essentials of new tactics. With new weapons and equipment, old tactics could no longer be used to defend the enemy.
Regarding this knowledge, the prince of the Ming Empire has already written a corresponding booklet. The two can learn all the contents from it and let their subordinates experiment.
After half a year of training, if it still doesn't work, either what the Ming Empire Crown Prince wrote does not meet the needs of the European continent, or it is false.
Bourbon is extremely curious about new things and learns much faster than Boudes, who is over forty.
Especially the tactics of infantry and tanks cooperating with frontal assault and cavalry outflanking, Bourbon believed that this was simply tailor-made for him.
Neither he nor his subordinates lacked the courage and courage to take the initiative to attack. What they lacked were weapons and tactics.
In order to appease this fanatical nobleman, Mazarin mobilized 30,000 troops and put Bourbon in charge.
The remaining about 70,000 troops who are about to be redressed and can fight in the field are all led by Count Budes.
Because that idiot Philip thought that the French offensive had disappeared, he ordered Marshal Francisco de Melo to lead nearly 30,000 Spanish troops to rush from the Spanish Netherlands to the hinterland of France, preferably to capture Paris.
This order itself was not wrong. Philip IV did not want to see the renovated French army defeat his own army again, and even forced himself to sign an alliance under the city.
Marshal Mero's army is not large in size, but the Flemish army is definitely the elite of the Spanish army. If Mazarin does not send Budes to fight, I am afraid that his side will be 70% to 80% sure of victory.
The southern border of the Spanish Netherlands is very close to Paris. The straight-line distance is only a few hundred kilometers. If you take into account the depth of the invasion of the Spanish army that launched the sudden attack, it is very close.
Allow the enemy to invade, and the enemy's target may be Paris!
Once the news spread, the entire Paris, including the nobility, and even the Queen Mother Anne and the young Louis XIV were frightened.
France had an army of 200,000 men. How could Mazarin be so careless not long after he became prime minister?
Mazarin had his own explanation for this, and it was very reasonable.
Use the method of luring the enemy deep into the plain area near Paris, which is just convenient for annihilation!
The specific blocking location is Senlis, just north of Paris, which is the only way from Paris to the Spanish Netherlands.
If Melo was not blind, he should take this road. This is the fastest way to enter Paris.
Using Paris as bait, Mazarin would never have dared to be so bold before.
But with the new weapons, this strategy was guaranteed by Budes himself.
Moreover, it is not only necessary to defeat the enemy, but also to severely damage the enemy's army!
Whether there are 30,000 enemies or 50,000 enemies, except for the fast enemy cavalry, Budes will leave all the two-legged ones behind!
The frontal assault was carried out by Bourbon's troops. The forward force consisted of 10,000 cuirassiers and musketeers, equipped with 500 tanks converted from horse-drawn carriages.
The second line consisted of 20,000 cuirassier musketeers, equipped with the same number of tanks.
The entire offensive formation is triangular, which facilitates a frontal attack into the invading enemy's formation.
Since there are no cavalry under his command, the tactic of outflanking cannot be used, and the only option is to use infantry and tank coordination.
Bourbon complained to Mazarin more than once about this, but the cavalry was all under the command of Budes, with the purpose of cutting off the Spanish's retreat.
Despite this, Bourbon faithfully implemented Prime Minister Mazarin's orders without compromise.
After all, if you can't even save Paris after your death, it will damage the honor of a nobleman who is famous for his loyalty and bravery!
On the morning of May 2, 1643, the French army and the Spanish army fought outside the city of Senlis.
The Western Army invested 4,000 cavalry and 25,000 infantry, supplemented by 60 cannons.
The French army invested 20,000 cavalry and 30,000 infantry, and the number of artillery...
Marshal Merlot, who had been going smoothly before, finally saw a scene that he would never forget. The first batch of French attacking troops did not form a formation, but advanced in a loose formation of skirmishers.
There is also a carriage in front of each small group of infantry. Although it is not pulled by horses, it is conceivable that this is driven entirely by human power.
The core combat unit of the Western Army was the infantry phalanx, each of 900 men, equipped with muskets and spears.
But no French cavalry troops have been found yet, so the spears are probably out of use.
Seeing this situation, the battle-hardened Marshal Mero immediately ordered the dispatch of cavalry units on both wings.
First use your own cavalry to crush the enemy's first batch of infantry, and then go up to cover them up when the enemy is defeated.
