The Rise of the European Emperor

The assembly of the 60,000 troops caused great movement. It can be said that the whole of France will act. Especially the assembly of materials, the movement is too big, and it needs to be mobilized from all over the country.

This is because France is still a traditional military system, that is, the fief system. Usually, the French standing army is more than 20,000 people. Most of them will also be stationed in Paris. If an army of 60,000 is dispatched, the fief knights and knight retinues from all the kingdom of France must be summoned. There is also the local infantry.

The so-called local infantry is actually the local security forces stationed in various places. Its positioning is similar to that of the police force of later generations. However, the use is much more than that of the police. For example, it is also responsible for collecting taxes and grain from the countryside. Of course, not all of these local troops belonged to the king, and many of them were thugs of local vassals. In Beihai State, there are similar troops, but relatively few. For example, the mounted police force used by Marin to patrol the countryside to avoid foreign infiltration is of this nature.

However, the infantry in these places can usually bully the common people, but in terms of combat effectiveness, I'm afraid they can't. Of course, it must be stronger than the conscripts composed of temporarily captured farmers. After all, these people are eagle dogs raised by the state, and they are still a little more fierce than ordinary people.

The North Sea State is not the same as France. Although Marin can also use tens of thousands of people, most of them are standing troops, belonging to several camps stationed in several places in the North Sea State. Once the war starts, they don't need to gather from across the country, they can just move as a whole. The only trouble is probably the logistics.

However, the logistics of Beihai State is different from that of France. The tens of thousands of logistics workers in France need to collect food from all over the country and transport it to the camp. Because Paris usually does not prepare so much military rations. Therefore, in order to meet the needs of the war, Louis XII ordered the deployment of strong men from all over the country to gather at designated locations with military rations.

The North Sea State is different, because Marin's food storage in Aurich can meet the food needs of the army. After all, the grain output of Beihai State is very high. In particular, the food production in East Frisia is enough for the army.

Therefore, once the war starts, Marin only needs to recruit tens of thousands of civilians on the spot in East Frisian Province. There is no need for them to transport food to concentrate, just bring someone over. Because, big cities like Aurich and Emden not only have enough food, but also have enough wheelbarrows for food transportation, tents and other materials. Now that the materials are in place, there is no need to recruit people from all over the country. As for France, since food has to be transported from all over the country anyway, it is better to recruit people from all over the country. Anyway, the food harvested from various places also needs to be transported by these strong people...

However, it is this difference that causes the movements of the two countries to start wars very differently. France is mobilizing the whole country, and it is difficult not to attract attention. Moreover, the total time-consuming will be very long.

Louis XII was very worried-when the French army was assembled, I am afraid the Spaniards would have been ready. There is a difference between a prepared Spanish army and an unprepared Spanish army. In particular, if they knew that the French were coming, the Spaniards would definitely prepare enough ammunition to defend the city. If the musketeers in the Spanish defenders on the top of the city have enough ammunition, it will be of great help to the defense of the city.

In this era, when European countries wage wars, in addition to the need to prepare food in advance, the same is true for gunpowder. Because Europe does not produce saltpeter, officials also need to stockpile gunpowder in advance before launching a war. Otherwise, fighting a battle is not enough. Therefore, Louis XII did not want the Spanish defenders in Naples to prepare in advance. In particular, I don't want them to prepare sufficient food and gunpowder in advance...

"What to do? How to make the Spaniards unprepared?" Louis XII was distressed.

Then, the new Baron Lafite, John Lafite, sent this information back to Aurich through the carrier pigeon...

"Hiding the actions of 60,000 troops and 8 playing civilians? Isn't this whimsical?" Marin was a little speechless. Even if it is the North Sea country that does not need to mobilize food from all over the country,

It is impossible to conceal such a large military operation. Unless, the enemy didn't realize that the other party was going to hit him...

"That's right, if Spain mistakenly thinks that the French are not targeting them, they won't be prepared!" In Marin's mind, the phrase "pointing to the east and hitting the west" appeared...

Pointing east to hit west and saying east to hit west actually mean the same thing. However, referring to the east and hitting the west is more proactive, it is a proactive attack, and the focus is on the word "fight". As for attacking east and west, it seems a little unassuming, and it is more used to confuse opponents. It is a tactical use, and it has the meaning of guerrilla warfare.

It is impossible for Louis XII to mobilize an army of 60,000 without telling the Spaniards. However, it can make Spain mistakenly think that the opponent is not targeting itself.

Therefore, Marin thought-if Louis XII used the excuse of using troops against Switzerland, could he hide it from Spain?

The answer is yes, if Louis XII puts on the posture that "it is bound to help the Swiss beat the Habsburg family", the Spaniards will definitely believe it. After all, France and the Habsburgs did have deep grievances. At the beginning, France robbed a large piece of land in the Principality of Burgundy, even the capital Dijon. Therefore, the two families are absolutely irreconcilable feuds. It is no surprise that the French used troops against the Habsburgs.

However, Marin thought it was inappropriate to do so. Why? Because even if the Spaniards believed that Louis XII was going to fight the Habsburg family, they would not stand idly by, but would choose to prepare for battle and prepare to support the Habsburg family.

why? This is because Spain and the Habsburg family are strategic alliances. The two sides once signed an anti-French alliance, and, for this reason, also carried out a marriage. For example, Spain married Princess Juana (the crazy girl Juana) to the handsome king Philip, the son of Emperor Maximilian I, while the Spanish princess married Philip's sister, Margaret of Austria. Of course, Crown Prince Juan is now the king of the Kingdom of Castile, co-ruling Spain with his father Ferdinand II.

As an ally and a relative by marriage, if they learn that the French are going to attack the Habsburg family, the Spaniards will have to fulfill the covenant and gather troops to fight against France. In this way, most of the mission to confuse Spain has failed.

How can the Spaniards know that France has assembled a large army, but remain indifferent? Marin spread out the map of Europe, and when he saw the map of Italy, he smiled...

Because, he saw the Duchy of Milan in northern Italy...

The current duke of the Duchy of Milan is Ludovico Sforza, but there is a problem with the Duchy of Milan, that is-the legitimacy has been questioned.

The Sforza family is not the old ruling family of the Principality of Milan, but a newly rising nouveau riche family, somewhat similar to the Hoffman family.

At first, Ludovico Sforza's father, Francesco Sforza, was just a mercenary leader stationed in the Duchy of Milan. However, after the death of Visconti, the Duke of Milan, he had no children, so the Milanese declared the Duchy of Milan to be a republic. Then, Francesco Sforza, who held the military power in Milan, took the opportunity to control the newly established Republic of Milan. Because his wife, Bianca Visconti, was the illegitimate daughter of the Duke of Visconti, Francesco Sforza declared himself Duke of Milan on this basis.

However, the people of the Orleans family in France were not happy. Because Louis XII's grandmother, Valentina, was the real princess of the Visconti family, and was more qualified to inherit the Duchy of Milan than Visconti's illegitimate daughter, Bianca.

Therefore, Louis XII requested to inherit the Duke of Milan, and planned to drive away the "tyrant" of the Sforza family...

Originally, everything went well, and Louis XII invaded Italy with Charles VIII. Charles VIII ran to fight for the Kingdom of Naples, while Louis XII stayed in Milan, drove away Ludovico Sforza, and became Duke of Milan himself.

But with the outbreak of syphilis, the French army was defeated and returned to France. Therefore, Louis XII also ran back to France. Later, also inherited the throne of Charles VIII.

Originally, according to history, after Louis XII inherited the throne, he would conquer the Duchy of Milan and even capture Ludovico Sforza.

However, in this time and space, Ludovico Sforza was not defeated because of the appearance of Marin. France did seek to seize the Principality of Milan, but Marin gave Ludovico Sforza an idea to keep him alive and retreat to the Graubünden region of Switzerland, which was controlled by the Habsburg family at that time. Later, taking advantage of the opportunity of the departure of the main force of the French army, Ludovico Sforza regained the Principality of Milan. Now, Ludovico Sforza, who died in 1508 in history, is still alive...

However, Louis XII never seemed to give up his claim to the succession of the Duchy of Milan. Therefore, this time France sent troops to Italy, it seems that it can use the capture of the Duchy of Milan as an excuse...

Although the Duchy of Milan is an ally of the Habsburg family, they are not an ally of Spain. When Louis XII sent troops to attack the Duchy of Milan, the Habsburg family must be anxious, because Bianca Maria Sforza, the third wife of Maximilian I, was the princess of the Sforza family. Of course, Bianca Maria Sforza had died in 1510, but the two were still allies against France.

But this has nothing to do with Spain. The Spaniards and the Habsburg family are allies, but the allies of the allies may not be their own allies.

Therefore, if Louis XII used the attack on the Duchy of Milan as an excuse, Spain would certainly not have much reaction. Of course, Louis XII could not follow Charles VIII to seek the throne of Naples at the same time. Otherwise, the Spaniards must be impatient...

Therefore, Marin sent someone to use a carrier pigeon to send instructions to John Lafite-let him suggest that Louis XII gather troops under the pretext of "taking back the Duchy of Milan". However, thinking about the Kingdom of Naples must be denied for the time being. In this way, the Spaniards will not pay special attention to ...

After receiving Marin's secret letter, John Lafite immediately entered the palace and offered Louis XII the strategy of "pointing east and west"...