The Rise of the European Emperor

Ludovico Sforza fled without a fight, which made Louis XII at a loss. However, if you think about it carefully, this situation is also very normal. Who the hell told the French to dispatch an army of 60,000? Is this scale good for the first time in history?

In the face of these 50,000 to 60,000 troops, let alone Ludovico Sforza, a mere Duke of Milan, even the Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian I would be afraid when he saw it.

If he hadn't had the experience of hiding in Mistel Valley last time, Ludovico Sforza might not have given up Milan so simply and fled. The experience of successfully escaping and coming back quickly gave Ludovico Sforza hope and decided to repeat the old trick.

After all, there is really no chance of winning against the 60,000 French army head-on...

Although the Principality of Milan also recruited 30,000 troops to prepare for resistance, that was on the premise that the opponent had only 30,000 troops. If it is an army of 60,000, sorry, Ludovico Sforza has no confidence. After all, the combat effectiveness of the French army has always been stronger than that of Italian mercenaries. The 60,000 French army can be used as 120,000 Italian mercenaries. How can Ludovico Sforza not be afraid?

Moreover, if the goal of the French is really the Principality of Milan, there is indeed no problem with Ludovico Sforza's choice. Aren't you a fool to be stubborn even though you know you're bound to lose?

However, under the circumstances that the French attacking the Duchy of Milan was a pretense, to abandon the city and flee is even more foolish than a fool...

The face of John Lafite, who followed Louis XII to Italy, turned black—Nimma, this is self-defeating! If I had known earlier, I would have sent someone to notify Ludovico Sforza first...

...

However, Ludovico Sforza did more than one absurd thing...

After abandoning the city of Milan and fleeing to the Mistel Valley camp in the direction of Switzerland, Ludovico Sforza suddenly discovered that the valley camp seemed unable to accommodate too many troops. Moreover, with an army of 30,000, the consumption of money and food is really huge. So, he actually dismissed 220,000 horses, leaving only 8,000 elites to stay in the Mistel Valley...

So, shortly after Louis XII reluctantly brought an army of 60,000 into Milan, he encountered 220,000 Italian mercenaries who came out of Mistel Valley with severance pay...

Louis XII was taken aback for a moment, and then became ecstatic. Then, he sent someone to call the leaders of the 220,000 Italian mercenaries, intending to hire them...

...

John Rafi was so angry that he almost jumped up and scolded his mother-Nimma, Ludovico Sforza, you pig, you lost the city of Milan for nothing, and you sent 220,000 troops to France for nothing, are you a pig?

Originally, the reason why Louis XII hesitated was because he was afraid that the strength of the French army would decline after the division of troops, making it difficult to successfully conquer the Kingdom of Naples. After all, in the Battle of Capitanata, the French were beaten by the Spaniards.

Moreover, this attack on the city of Naples was mainly a siege. In the art of war, it is said that "ten times encircle it", which means that to besiege a fortified city, it is best to need ten times as many troops.

Right now, the city of Naples has about 10,000 garrisons, which are relatively elite. In order to conquer Naples, Louis XII had to bring 60,000 troops to attack the city to ensure success.

Of course, the 20,000 French knights would definitely not be used for early sieges. Because, that would be a vain target for the musketeers of the Naples defenders.

Now, with 220,000 Italian mercenaries coming to their door, Louis XII laughed so hard that his mouth was crooked. why? Because he found the ideal siege cannon fodder...

Originally, Louis XII brought 40,000 infantry, and he wanted to use up the small gunpowder reserves in Naples. Now, with the presence of Italian mercenaries, he can also send a few fewer Frenchmen to die. As for the Italian mercenaries being killed by the muskets of the defenders? Louis XII will not feel bad when those Italians are dead...

Therefore, Ludovico Sforza's dismissal of the Italian mercenaries was even more stupid than his voluntary abandonment of the city of Milan. It was simply sending cannon fodder to Louis XII...

...

A mercenary is a mercenary,

That is a group of people who are open to money. This kind of person has no faith and only seeks profit. Therefore, the provisions protecting captured soldiers in the later Geneva Conventions do not apply to them. In future generations, if mercenaries are caught, no one will blame them for killing prisoners...

When Louis XII sent the big contract, the group of Italian mercenaries who had planned to help Milan fight against France signed the contract one after another. They don't know that they are just cannon fodder used by Louis XII to consume the bullets of the defenders of Naples...

Louis XII hired these 220,000 Italian mercenaries at no cost. The hired money was obtained after looting the city of Milan...

With a population of 100,000, Milan is the largest city in the Holy Roman Empire. Although Ludovico Sforza took all the money in the treasury when he withdrew, but, as the Duke of Milan, he was embarrassed to attack the merchants and workshop owners in Milan. After all, he still wants to come back to rule the local area in the future.

Unlike Louis XII, although he also wanted to become the ruler of the Duchy of Milan, but not now. Now, no one can stop his determination to capture the Kingdom of Naples. Therefore, without hesitation, he ordered his cronies to rob the whole city of Milan and hand over half of the money he had robbed. Then, half of the money handed over here was used to hire the 220,000 Italian mercenaries...

As for the money and food needed for these 220,000 mercenaries? One reason - grab it!

The Po River Plain where the city of Milan is located is the largest plain in Italy and the grain production center of Italy. Grabbing food here is so cool...

Speaking of which, Italy is such a sad place. Obviously, the latitude is low, and it is one of the warmest areas in Europe, with plenty of sunshine. This is a unique condition for crops that require sufficient photosynthesis and accumulated temperature. Sadly, this place in Italy is mainly mountainous. The entire Apennine Peninsula is obviously larger than the United Kingdom, but most of it is mountainous, and only a small part is coastal plains and valley plains, which can be used for agriculture. The Po River Plain in the north of the Apennine Peninsula is the main granary of Italy.

This may be nothing in modern times, but in ancient times when agriculture was the mainstay, it was simply the best treasure...

However, for now, the Po River Plain is not the best treasure land. The reason... the lack of volcanic ash here...

In this era, the Golden Basin in Sicily was the number one treasure in Italy. Because, there is no need to fertilize, and the crops can produce high yields. The Duran wheat used for pasta in later generations was mainly produced in the Golden Basin of Sicily in this era.

The Po River Plain in the Principality of Milan actually produces wheat, but due to the low level of management, the current output here is not high. Right now, the main thing here is to grow barley, which is easier to manage. In addition, some rye, which is stronger than wild grass, is also planted. Wheat is also grown, but the yield is generally not high. No way, Europeans do not know how to fertilize and are not good at field management, so the yield of wheat is very low. Only the valley plains of Sicily and the Kingdom of Naples, with their fertile volcanic ash soils, could yield high wheat yields.

Therefore, in the eyes of Louis XII—the Po River Plain in the Principality of Milan is certainly a good place, but compared with the volcanic ash in the Kingdom of Naples, it is still a lot worse. Not to mention anything else, just the Mount Vesuvius bought by the French secretly, so much volcanic ash can make the estate under the name of Louis XII produce a large area and high yield. Then, get a lot of money and food...

Louis XII is now very grateful to the stupid Ludovico Sforza, because this time Louis XII took the city of Milan without a single soldier. Moreover, 220,000 Italian mercenaries who could be used as cannon fodder were easily obtained. Therefore, now Louis XII is very grateful to Ludovico Sforza who sent him soldiers and money. Although most of the money and food were robbed, if Ludovico Sforza did not take the initiative to give up the city of Milan, the French army would not be able to enter the city to rob...