"Top Secret"
This is a handwritten letter written by Emperor Haojing to Jiexuan. It explains his views on the war in Europe and authorizes Jiexuan to attack Rome and even Switzerland when necessary!
Once Rome continues to maintain its current tough stance after the beginning of spring, Jiexuan can command the coalition forces to eliminate any resistance in the Apennine Peninsula, except for San Marino and Venice.
Due to past friendships, Rome could keep the city of Rome after the war. This was the only place. Other than that, all land and population would become spoils of war for the Ming Empire.
This is equivalent to paying compensation for ceding territory, but there is no need to write it clearly on paper. Since the interests of the Ming Empire have been harmed, a corresponding price must be paid.
In addition to the 20 brigades of Japanese troops and 10 brigades of Kimchi troops that have arrived, Zhu Cixiang will also prepare the same number of combat troops to achieve rotational operations just in case.
Sending only 100,000 Japanese troops and 50,000 Kimchi troops would definitely not satisfy the appetites of the top leaders of the two countries. The more troops they sent, the more silver coins they would get.
The second-rate Japanese general hopes to send 500,000 troops, and Kimchi's top brass is also willing to send at least 200,000 troops to help in the war. It is obvious that the natives of the Apennine Peninsula are treated like roasted sweet potatoes.
If possible, the Japanese country could even send one million troops. Anyway, the Ming Empire will bear the wages and logistics of the troops participating in the war. The daimyo are eager to be able to come out in full force!
As for the Ming Emperor, they could only complain that their troops could not join the war as early as possible. The scale of the war was too small and the duration was too short, which completely failed to reflect the true value of the Japanese soldiers...
Everyone knows that the Ming Empire is financially rich. The Ming Emperor is the richest man in the world. As long as you follow the Ming Emperor, you will make endless money.
The most important thing is that the Ming Emperor's credit record is extremely good. He has never defaulted on a single silver coin of wages, and all the troops who participated in the war praised the food he provided.
With delicious food and money to make, the lower-class ashigaru of the Japanese country were generally willing to follow the Ming Dynasty's army as mercenaries to fight overseas. No matter how hard life in the war zone was, it was not as hard as at home.
Whether to continue to increase troops depends entirely on the attitude of Rome. If the other side really chooses to give in and return to its territory after the coalition forces land on the Apennine Peninsula, then the second batch of reinforcements will probably not be needed.
On the contrary, I am afraid that a third batch or even a fourth batch will be prepared until Rome and its accomplice Switzerland are completely wiped out!
San Marino is not worth mentioning. Venice is the traditional ally of the Ming Empire in Europe.
The latter relied on the Ming Dynasty to survive in the cracks. Without the support of the Ming Dynasty, it would have been part of the Ottoman Empire.
As for Switzerland, for this kind of thing that is seeking death just like Denmark back then, Zhu Cixiang believes that it can be completely achieved!
Switzerland is mainly mountainous, and the wind is strong and fierce. Almost all the country has soldiers, which is very difficult to deal with.
However, the Ming Dynasty King's Division has a large number of helicopters, as well as Japanese and Kimchi troops that can serve as cannon fodder.
This was an effective means of dealing with mountain warfare and guerrilla warfare, as well as carpet bombing of major Swiss cities.
Originally, the western border of the Ming Dynasty did not border Switzerland, and was separated by Austria, which was annexed by the Ottomans.
But Ibrahim had agreed that the Ming army could pass through Austria and enter Switzerland during the war, which provided a convenient door.
Switzerland did not like Ming Dynasty, and coincidentally, Zhu Cixiang thought so too!
If you are willing to take chestnuts from the fire for Rome, I will let you know what will happen if you extend your claws beyond the boundary!
After the Ming Dynasty's army captured Sicily, the island became a good strategic springboard.
After several months of construction, the island's multiple airports can now accommodate approximately 5,000 combat aircraft.
Until the end of February, Rome's attitude had not changed, and there was not even a sign of softening.
Many newspapers in various European countries were encouraged by this, believing that the Western world finally had a country that could compete with the Ming Empire.
Rome is a country protected by heaven. If the Holy Roman Empire can repel the Ming Empire three times, then Rome can repel the Ming Empire ten, twenty, or even thirty times!
Some observers optimistically estimate that it would not take twenty times, even ten victories for Rome, before the Ming Empire would have to give up its aggressive intentions.
Rome is the orthodoxy of Europe and has undisputed sovereignty over every inch of land on the Apennine Peninsula. This is sacrosanct!
Regardless of the past, present or future, Rome's orthodox status is unshakable. It is not only the center of the Western world, but also the center of the world!
The war launched by the Ming Empire to steal the Kingdom of Naples was evil. As an invader, they would definitely suffer a complete defeat!
By then, violent storms, lightning and thunder, high temperature epidemics, mosquito bites, volcanic eruptions, huge waves and tsunamis will all come unexpectedly, completely burying these bloody and cruel invaders!
The evil Ming Empire has offended God, and the result waiting for it will be ruthless destruction!
Merciless destruction?
A certain emperor couldn't help but feel funny when he saw it. I will let you know what ruthless destruction means!
Every infantry brigade participating in the battle, whether Japanese or Kimchi, was equipped with one hundred 20-ton Type 7 tanks (the prototype was Type 3).
Thirty infantry brigades are equipped with a total of 3,000 Panzer VIII tanks, while the Ming army's four marine brigades and the army's two armored brigades, four mechanized brigades, and four infantry brigades are equipped with 2,080 tanks. tank.
Three hundred and sixty of them were Type IX heavy tanks (the prototype was the Panther), and the rest were all Type VIII medium tanks (the prototype was the Panzer IV).
Jiexuan originally planned to invest more ground troops and heavy equipment, but the terrain in the central and southern Apennine Peninsula was not conducive to large-scale armored operations.
The Army Aviation Force had its place. In addition to the Naval Aviation Force, Zhu Cixiang mobilized ten brigades of "Black Hawk" armed helicopters and thirty brigades of "Condor" utility helicopters for Jiexuan.
The total number of helicopters invested in this campaign exceeds 2,000, and more will be added in the future. There are also five special operations brigades and three cavalry brigades responsible for mountain operations, which is enough to ensure the leveling operations of ground forces.
As for the Air Force, the Tenth Air Force has rapidly expanded to include 22 fighter groups, 18 attack aircraft groups, 36 bomber groups, 12 transport aircraft groups, and has more than 6,000 combat aircraft.
The part that cannot be accommodated by the Sicily Airport has been transferred to the newly captured Sardinia. The island is no smaller than Sicily and is not as close to the Apennine Peninsula as Sicily, but the distance to the city of Rome is only half of the latter.
The size of the Ming Navy's Mediterranean fleet has not significantly expanded. After Rome refused to repent, the previous Japanese skins were no longer needed because the two sides had reached a critical state of severing diplomatic relations.
Even if France planned to help Rome and launch a sneak attack on the Ming Dynasty's Mediterranean fleet, Jiexuan was not too afraid. Any military action it dealt with would be within the strike range of its own naval aviation and air force fleets.
As long as Louis XIV was not a fool, he would not use the little wealth he had accumulated over decades to arm-wrestle with himself.
For Ming Dynasty, the main fleet of the French Navy was disposable, because once the loss was lost, it could not be quickly compensated.
Even if one's own fleet is completely lost, it can still be drawn from other fleets and the Mediterranean fleet can be reorganized within a month.
Moreover, the latest batch of capital ships will all be in service in another two years at most, by which time the Ming Navy will be able to regain its strength.
For France, the biggest problem is how to eliminate the Mediterranean Fleet of the Ming Navy protected by thousands of combat aircraft.
In Jiexuan's view, unless we open the sea valve, there is no solution at all!
With France's military technology, it seems that it has not yet manufactured a submarine and supporting torpedoes that can be used for combat.
In the world, only Daming has this technology, but it only maintains the level of research and development and will not show it off at all.
Submarines and torpedoes, like ballistic missiles, were the Ming Empire's trump card and would not be easily revealed to others.
Even if France and other countries know the principle but do not have the relevant technology, their project progress will definitely not be as good as that of Ming Dynasty.
The central and southern regions of the Apennine Peninsula have a typical Mediterranean climate, and it is not cold at all by early March.
This was a good time to land on the beach. Four Marine Corps brigades landed from Paola, Rosanoro, Taranto, and Brindisi, which was just enough to cut off the gap between the boot surface, the boot sole and the boot upper in one fell swoop. connect.
Given that Switzerland has sent troops to help Rome, it is still unknown whether Rome has received mercenary troops from other countries. There are great uncertainties in the northern battlefield.
Jiexuan decided to adopt the original horizontal push operation plan, which could eliminate the fish that slipped through the net to the greatest extent, ensure the safety of the rear, and not give the opponent a chance to take advantage of the loopholes.
The Marine Corps created a landing site at each landing point. After the beach landing was completed, other ground forces followed up. The armored brigades only landed in Paola and Brindisi.
There is no need to dispatch a large number of armored forces to the two landing sites in the Bay of Taranto. It is basically enough for the mechanized infantry brigade to perform the task.
On March 1, 1738, the coalition forces headed by the Ming Dynasty King's Division began to land on a large scale in the southern part of the Apennine Peninsula.
Although there are still many guerrillas left on the two peninsulas, one in the south and one in the north, they plan to fight guerrillas on the peninsulas to contain the opponent's attack after the war begins.
However, they did not expect that the other party would target them at the beginning of the war...
Jiexuan's plan was to do nothing else in the first month of the war, but to concentrate on cleaning up the enemies on the two peninsulas in the rear. It was best to turn this place into a no-man's land to be completely at ease.
A total of twenty brigades of servant troops were deployed on the two peninsulas, and twenty-four brigades of helicopters were dispatched for coordinated operations. Even if a wild boar was found, it would be killed directly.
The southern Adriatic Sea, the Gulf of Taranto, the Ionian Sea, and the Tyrrhenian Sea are all under blockade, and no ship is allowed to dock without the consent of the Combined Fleet.
The ships passing by must accept routine inspections unconditionally. There is only one consequence for refusing inspections, and that is that all crew members will be fed to fish, and the combined fleet will not salvage any people who fell into the water...
If you can swim to the shore, then you are capable, otherwise just wait to become fish food!
Many officers and soldiers of the Japanese Army and the Kimchi Army had participated in the war against the Holy Roman Empire. Since the interval between the two wars was not very long, the actual combat experience they accumulated last time came in handy this time.
In contrast, the guerrillas in the hinterland of the peninsula were completely new recruits. Many of them had never even touched a gun before, and they responded to the call of the local wealthy gentry to join the army and join the war.
The guerrillas were simply unable to parry the air-ground raids launched by the coalition forces, not to mention their absolute disadvantage in terms of military strength.
As long as they light a fire and cook in the encirclement, they will be mercilessly attacked by the opponent's helicopters or attack aircraft, causing many people to suffer from stomach problems.
Because they were cut off from the north by the other side, the guerrillas had to fight in the mountainous areas and were unable to carry supplies in trucks. They only lasted less than half a month before they encountered a major problem with supplies.
What followed was that some people could no longer hold on and had to choose to surrender to the coalition forces. At the same time, in order to survive, they also provided the other side with a hiding place for the guerrillas, causing the guerrillas to become more passive.
Now, both those who surrendered and the guerrillas who continued to fight have realized how difficult it was for the guerrillas in Sicily before.
Facing the swarming enemies, they could not hold out for even twenty days. Facing the three-layer blockade, the number of people who successfully escaped from the encirclement can be described as single digits.
The vast majority of the guerrillas were wiped out in the encirclement, which was equivalent to repeating the mistake of Sicily, losing tens of thousands of troops at once.
The indigenous armed forces in the north of the two peninsulas, after finding out the strength and firepower of the main coalition forces, only dared to dispatch small groups of troops to harass the other side.
We dare not attack in a large scale at all, for fear that the other party will use its firepower advantage to cause heavy damage to our own side, which will be very detrimental to our future defense and counterattack.
Their response directly caused the guerrillas on the two peninsulas to become isolated and helpless, unable to even retreat from the sea, and eventually completely destroyed.
After clearing the peninsula, Jiexuan could finally order the coalition troops to advance north.
The Western Route troops advanced along the west coast with the goal of capturing Naples.
The Eastern Route troops advanced along the east coast with the goal of capturing Bari.
The most arduous task for the troops in the middle is to search the mountains. No hilltop can be missed.
Jiexuan was not afraid of the slow advance of the troops. He had plenty of time and patience this time, which was granted by Emperor Haojing.
To deal with the indigenous people on the Apennine Peninsula, you must be more patient than them. Only in this way can the peninsula be cleaned up.
The natives can't stand this tactic and can launch a suicide charge. If the charge fails, they can also choose to jump into the sea. No one will stop you!
All towns that resisted were razed to the ground.
Even if they surrender voluntarily, all the local indigenous people will have to be relocated.
The purpose of this is to expand the area of no man's land and prevent the occupied area from becoming the opponent's guerrilla zone.
Bari is the largest city and port in the southeast of the Kingdom of Naples. The local indigenous armed forces have gathered no less than 20,000 people here, preparing to hold on here.
But they encountered an unreasonable attack by the coalition forces. The fleet sailed to the offshore and directly used naval guns to bombard the city into ruins.
The coalition forces wanted to capture the city, but it would be unwise to send ground troops into street fighting.
As long as the city is turned into ruins, the bunkers that the defenders can rely on will be extremely limited.
If there is still stubborn resistance, bombers can also be dispatched to carry out carpet bombing of the city...
