With the soldiers of the Free Army rushing into the city of Avignon like a tide; the morale and fighting spirit of the royalist/royalist troops who had vowed to defeat the invading enemies and shed their blood under the city were like melting snow under the scorching sun. It quickly fell apart and was beyond control.
Therefore, when the last group of aristocratic armed forces retreated into the palace and cathedral and put up a stubborn resistance, under the roar of the cannons that were pushed up one after another, they begged and begged at the top of their lungs, raised the white flag, and sacrificed a number of their leaders who committed suicide. It's over.
The unexpected end of this battle also announced the demise of one of the most powerful armed factions among the many royal parties that once occupied the southern part of the kingdom; the White Legion that was rampant in the Provence region was destroyed. More than a hundred nobles, big and small, led by Count Angkian, were either dead or captured.
Even the private soldiers, tribes and retinues they brought with them were all killed or injured. Therefore, the remaining work is to follow-up and inspect their respective territories. The fall of Avignon also meant that the dominance of the province of Provence and the affiliated Grand Crown Territory changed hands.
It also brought about two other chain reactions. First of all, as the largest local force in the Maritime Province; the merchant alliance in the Port of Marseille; announced that it would accept the entry and management of the Free Army; and actively cooperated with the Free Army to take over the four counties and seventeen cities in the Maritime Province.
At the same time, they also donated five million pounds of grain and military expenses worth 850,000 ecu; as a reward for the Free Army allowing them to maintain the status quo of autonomy for business groups and guilds, and for providing follow-up armed protection. In addition, the FSA is also able to collect annual transaction taxes and customs duties.
Secondly, there are the garrison of Toulon Fortress and the Royal Navy, about 13,000 soldiers, sailors, craftsmen and other auxiliary personnel. They also announced that they would join the Free Army and accepted reorganization and deployment. This was also greatly enriched. The Free Army suffered a serious shortage of officers and non-commissioned officers.
After all, even most of them are second- and third-line garrison troops and naval combat teams. After all, they are the kingdom's army that is familiar with military disciplines and orthodox training; as long as they are slightly transformed and retrained, and broken up and promoted into various companies, they can be put to use quickly.
But the greater gain is in the city of Avignon itself, as the capital of the province of Provence and the water and land hub of the Greater Provence region; where the royal family's summer palace is located. It also hoarded a large amount of money, food and materials collected and collected by the royalists during the turmoil in the kingdom.
The food reserves used to hold on alone are enough to keep the hundreds of thousands of citizens in the city and the White Legion itself under a long siege for several years. And the taxes and tributes they have collected in nearby areas over the years have reached an outrageous 1.57 million Ecu.
Other collected materials such as bacon, wine, cloth, leather, grease, fuel, and iron ingots were piled up like mountains; not to mention the personal wealth and various personal wealth gathered in more than a hundred noble houses in the city. kind of industry is a considerable number.
Therefore, Jiang Tian even ordered the establishment of a temporary special court, which was slowly tortured and forced to find out where the captured nobles' property might be hidden. However, for the Free Army or Jiang Tian, something else is more valuable.
For example, in the city of Avignon, there is a royal high school, two church schools, a craftsman (apprentice) training center; a large grain and livestock trading market; and the royal library in the palace; Royal Iron Works and Naval Foundry.
Especially the last two are undoubtedly a timely help for the current Free Army, or a particularly important link; because of Avignon's location, transportation and mining costs in nearby areas can be obtained through seaports and water transportation, which is relatively low. Coal and iron ore.
Therefore, the royal family four generations ago established an ironworks there under the jurisdiction of the royal governor, which was able to provide 600,000 pounds of gray cast iron (not pure enough graphite iron) and a small amount of forged steel every month; A foundry was established to provide ordnance products for the Kingdom's navy.
Although, due to the massive expropriation by the royal party after occupying the provincial capital, most of them have been abandoned and vacant. But the space, facilities and manpower are all ready; as long as enough funds are invested, operations can be resumed, and even craftsmen can be recruited from Marseille.
Therefore, after a preliminary calculation of the current wealth and expected income, Jiang Tian announced that all soldiers would receive an additional month of military pay; soldiers with outstanding performance could receive three months' salary and other rewards; and soldiers who died in battle could also receive A full year's salary pension.
At the same time, it was announced that more soldiers would be recruited and replenished on the spot; many prisoners would be organized into forced labor teams to restart the mining and forestry operations near Avignon; corresponding iron-making technicians would be recruited from Marseille with high salaries, and hundreds of events would be held at the same time Public examination regardless of origin.
In fact, after the self-owned army conquered all the way, in every city and town it captured, all kinds of people came to defect; but there were not many suitable candidates among them; and those who knew how to read, write and simple Even fewer people calculate.
Among them are mainly former knights and country knights whose families have fallen into decline and bankruptcy, second sons, concubines and illegitimate children from small and medium-sized noble families who have no inheritance rights; former city officials who have been dismissed or dismissed, children of businessmen and some small traders, and even Some lowly priests.
Of course, this is also the norm in this era. Compared with the poor people who are busy working all day long to make a living, these groups have more or less opportunities to receive some education; and they also have the desire and demands to change their own destiny and future. It is also the class that the current Free Army can fight for.
Therefore, after a preliminary interview, a simple written test, and an oath-taking ceremony, they are designated as alternates, trainees, and temporary substitutes based on their expertise and tendencies. Becoming a civilian operative in the Free Army fills military organizations and local agencies.
Of course, there are inevitably mixed in all kinds of people with speculation, utilitarianism and other tendencies and purposes; therefore, for Jiang Tian, who is familiar with historical experience and lessons, this is just a question of whether to choose a solution or not. It's just a stopgap measure to be sorted out slowly.
Therefore, in addition to strengthening the corresponding internal supervision mechanism and improving the administrative structure, he also needs to build more schools; gradually replace these early-stage entrepreneurs with a re-educated broad source of students with a firmer stance and a stake in the future. Transition team.
Therefore, every time he occupied a city, he would try to take over the local churches or government-run or commercial schools, as well as paper mills, printing houses and other related industries. Then he would reorganize and deploy the teaching staff in different places, and arrange unified teaching materials; provide free food The dormitory attracted civilian children to enroll.
Although all of this is preliminary and there are always problems, as long as you can persist in investing; as time goes by and the control of the Free Army strengthens; and with a large enough base being continuously provided, there will always be a corresponding probability of producing better ones. Talents.
Therefore, whether it is Jiang Tian or the soldiers of the Free Army, after going through battles across several provinces, they can also repair and relax a little under relatively abundant material conditions. For example, come to the royal palace located in the north of the city to enjoy the open-air hot spring.
