However, when Cyrano led a group of defeated soldiers and fled back to Fort Piroland, controlled by the Principality Army, he found that the place was deserted. Immediately afterwards, when he retreated to Langdong Castle, another important stronghold of the Principality Army, he found that only the old and weak were left and got the exact news.
Because the Turin Legion headquarters and directly affiliated corps stationed in the city of Mende in the hinterland of the Lozère province have been defeated. This also means that the Milanese army in the kingdom has only two regiments (7-8,000 men) left, thus losing its rear and temporary base camp; and becoming a lone army trapped in the middle.
Therefore, in a state of panic, after urgent consultations between the two regiment commanders from Pavia and Genoa, they decided to temporarily abandon the enemy facing Obuna City, and use all their strength to recapture Mango, which served as a temporary base camp and a logistics reserve. Decheng, consider your next plan.
Therefore, Cyrano hurriedly and slowly drove towards the province of Lozère, until he caught up with the lagging baggage train and some of the wounded in the afternoon of the next day. Only then did we know that on the way to the provincial capital of Mende, the principality army was frequently attacked and harassed, and had to get rid of the burden and advance with light equipment.
Then, when Cyrano worked tirelessly, he traced the various traces left behind by abandoned vehicles, dead donkeys and mules, and even scattered cavalry horses. When they finally arrived at the Langone Valley near Mande, they ran into the tail end of a great battle;
Sirano climbed up a treetop to watch, and saw that the valley in the distance was shrouded in dense fireworks, continuous bombardment from cannons, and the endless sounds of countless people and horses fighting. Then, as he waited for several hours before it got dark, he also saw soldiers who could escape in groups.
These soldiers, who had abandoned their armor and lacked weapons, were dragging the flags of the White Cross (Pavia) regiment on a red background covered with mud and dust, while running for their lives on the road that ran through the valley. It was not until Cyrano stopped several people for questioning that they realized they had been despicably ambushed by the enemy.
First, the enemies who harassed the two corps all the way were finally caught by the cavalry sent by the two corps commanders. Then, the enemy fought and fled all the way back to the valley, and they would also pursue them. The most urgent Genoese regiment was led into an ambush.
The Pavia Corps, which followed closely, also tried to rescue and respond; but they were never able to break through the enemy's temporary blockade set up on the hillside. Under the constant fire of cannons and cannons from a high position, the Pavia regiment, which took the initiative to attack from above, rushed to the low fortifications several times.
Then, under the opponent's counterattack, they suffered numerous casualties on the spot, their morale collapsed, and they retreated one after another; leaving only corpses all over the hillside. But at this time, the Genoese regiment, which was in panic and melee in the valley, finally recovered part of its morale and organization.
Relying on the elite Genoese crossbow-wielding sergeants, they used the large curved shields on their backs to form a new line of defense, and they fought and walked to accommodate more scattered soldiers. Therefore, while the Pavia Corps' offensive at the other end was intensifying, the Genoese Corps also successfully rushed to the middle of the valley.
As a result, the remnants of the Genoese Corps and the Pavia Corps who were rescuing from the outer circle also formed a pincer attack on the enemy's interception front. At the fiercest moment of the battle, they could already see each other's flags held high, and the shouts from behind a distance of the formation.
Therefore, the enemy's front, which was attacked from both sides, seemed to be unable to bear it; they began to abandon the cannons that fired hot fire, and retreated in groups towards the mountains and forests on both sides of the valley. However, when the two corps successfully merged together, they were ready to leave the battlefield to regroup and fight again.
Suddenly, the mutation reappeared, and the entire front exploded. A large number of soldiers from the regiment who rushed into the formation to seize the spoils were instantly submerged in the clouds of smoke and dust rising into the sky. The soldiers standing nearby were also knocked over by the rolling air waves and rolled down the hillside, dead and injured.
However, for the two corps that had just merged, the biggest losses were already in the front lines; those officers and sergeants who were specially selected to serve as the vanguard and lead the way. Therefore, when the enemy troops came from the inside of the valley, they bombarded them with artillery.
The Genoese regiment, which had been fighting for a long time and was tired, was the first to collapse; because their regimental commander and the flag were shot down by the rolling cannonballs. The Pavia Corps on the outside tried to concentrate all the cavalry to launch a counterattack along the valley, but also after the enemy's array and firearms failed.
The position of the corps commander at the rear was also attacked by a lightly armed enemy force that detoured from the mountain forest on the side; the scene fell into brief chaos and disorder. And even this brief moment of disorder caused the morale of the remaining Pavia soldiers to collapse.
Although there are still some Pavia sergeants who have experienced hundreds of battles or have been in battle for a long time, they try their best to shout and scold the defeated soldiers nearby; and gather them around to re-form one after another, who are familiar with each other and cooperate with each other tacitly. Regiment; but was submerged in the slowly advancing enemy formation.
Therefore, the survivors who were able to break away from the battle and escape from this valley were only a few hundred people. However, they were lucky and unfortunate. They met Cyrano and more than a hundred Free Army soldiers brought by Cyrano, disguised as prisoners of the fleeing Principality Army.
It also announced that the three regiments of the Duchy of Milan and the Turin Army, one of the four main forces of the Northern Italian/Ciro coalition that invaded the kingdom, were destroyed. Coupled with the previously defeated Lombard army, the main threats now are Verona in the north and the Kingdom of Sardinia on the sea.
In this way, the Free Army rose step by step in the fight against the invasion, defeating/defeating at least 40,000 enemy troops in dozens of battles; acquiring more than 30,000 prisoners, seizing a large amount of property and food supplies, and also providing supplies for those who resumed work Mine factories provide a large amount of free labor.
In addition, although in the southern part of the kingdom, there are also some such as Tuscany, Ragusa, Dalmatia, Trento, Monferra, Le Saluzzo, Ferrara and Monad, etc., from The armies of the small and medium-sized vassals/autonomous city-states in northern Italy; but they are not enough to cause trouble.
Because they only have one or two regiments at most, and at least two or three companies, or even one company coming to make up the number. Under the general trend now controlled by the Free Army, they can no longer pull any tricks. It can even be said that they are the enemy of the whole world and cannot protect themselves...
After that, when the Free Army arrived one after another and completely took over the provincial capital, they quickly reorganized a number of crusade armies with Mound City as the center, and attacked non-stop in all directions. Continuously defeated, routed, exterminated, and surrendered the Milanese and Orthodox armies scattered throughout the province;
Therefore, when the Continental Highway/Roman Road running through the six counties of Lozère from north to south, as well as the cities, towns, villages and fortresses along it, all raised the Smiling Golden Sun Flag of the Free Army one after another; Jiang The Free Army under Ti's command also swelled to nearly 30,000 people (four regiments).
In addition to the original Second and Fourth Corps, which suffered very little losses, a large number of officers, non-commissioned officers, and veterans were transferred; the Sixth (Garrison) Corps was newly formed based on the Dole Provincial Garrison Regiment; The 7th (Supplementary) Corps was recruited and integrated locally in Zell.
In addition, one or two urban garrison regiments have been set up in most cities in the province; each town has added garrison squadrons/brigades. All this also means that several provinces in the southwest of the kingdom, including the remaining orthodox troops and other royalist armed forces, are cut off from the road north.
In other words, they no longer have a way to cross the central province/central plateau of the kingdom to get in touch with and support other royalists in the west and northwest; they also have no way to get support from the northern capital region, which nominally controls the country. The help of the Burgundian dynasty of half the country.
After all, these royalists/royalists scattered throughout the kingdom have been closely related to some powerful people in the capital city from the beginning; they are even secretly supported by some big nobles/bankers. Armed as a bargaining chip with the new dynasty.
Therefore, after all these chips scattered and ambushed in the local area have been eliminated by the Free Army, the big figures in the capital city of Seine who are trying to control the situation will eventually react and replace the foreign troops who have no basis for rule. , becoming the biggest threat to the Free Army.
In fact, in Jiang Tian's own memory, Seine City/Capital Region, the capital of the kingdom, is also the most prosperous, rich and densely populated place in the kingdom. Therefore, from the first generation of the Rose Dynasty to the fourth generation of the White Iris Dynasty, they all competed for succession here.
It has developed to the present capital region, with a population of one million, and has brought together the most beautiful things in the kingdom; the most fashionable discoveries, the most gorgeous manors, the most wealth and industry, and the best sensual enjoyment; It also concentrates the most evil and dark side;
In addition, the ancestors of the Lie Sun King implemented a policy called the Grand Tour, which forced all territorial nobles above the baron to take their families to the capital regularly to visit and purchase properties. As a result, many people, especially the younger generation, never want to go back after seeing the bustling sensuality of the capital.
There are even people who continue to give up their inheritance rights in rural territories or entrust tax collectors to manage them. And was sworn to be a subordinate of the royal family, a direct minister and attendant receiving annuity. As a result, it continuously absorbs resources and wealth from the local area, and at the same time creates an abnormal prosperity that is clearly distinguishable from the surrounding areas.
So in a sense, compared to the Holy Kingdom in the west, the Norman kingdoms in the north, the Northern Italian/Siro Allied Forces in the south, and even foreign countries such as Avars and the Hunnic Kingdom who mainly cross the border and loot in the northeast, Invaders; the big shots in the capital are the real source of unrest in the kingdom.
In other words, the aliens that Jiang Tian constantly discovered and eliminated along the way, as well as the many people who sheltered and supported them, basically pointed to these, including the former upper-class dignitaries of the kingdom or powerful noble leaders, or even It is an ancient family inheritance with a long history.
Therefore, when the Free Army regained the entire province of Lozère, they began to intensively plan and consider whether to continue sweeping the southwest provinces or launch a final blow/decisive battle against the Verona army north of the Dron province. At the same time, Jiang Tian also welcomed several groups of messengers and representatives...
