The Rise of the European Emperor

For a moment, Louis XII planned to make a fake show, so he stayed in Milan and refused to leave. After all, the conquest of the Duchy of Milan went so smoothly this time, it made him feel like a dream.

It wasn't until John Lafite brought a few "children" that Louis XII's dream of comfort was awakened...

"Who are these people?"

John Laffey replied:

"Reporting to Your Majesty, this is the exiled noble from the Kingdom of Naples that I found for you..."

Previously, Louis XII and John Lafite discussed how to change their minds about entering the Kingdom of Naples after arriving in Italy. According to the instructions given by Marin, John Lafite put forward the strategy of "demand of public opinion".

The so-called "public opinion demand" is actually to find a few noble representatives to "petition" to Louis XII. Why a representative of the nobility? Because they are the "representatives of the people" in this era. As for ordinary people, they are not qualified to "represent the people".

In the beginning, John Lafite did not find a few exiled nobles from the former Kingdom of Naples. After all, the nobles of the Kingdom of Naples would choose other Italian states even if they went into exile. After all, I am not used to it in France. Not to mention the language problem, but the diet problem, those Italian nobles couldn't stand it.

In France at this time, the mainstream is still dark cuisine, and the cuisine is not at the same level as Italy. Even though the Fat Brothers were sent to the French royal palace and created a rudimentary version of "French cuisine", it has not yet become popular.

Therefore, even if the Italian nobles go into exile, they generally choose other states in the country. For example, you can live in exile in Rome, or you can go to Venice or Milan...

Coincidentally, originally, John Rafi couldn't find a suitable exiled noble from Naples to act as the "representative of public opinion", so he prepared a few low-level nobles who could speak Italian to pretend to be the "representative of public opinion" of the Kingdom of Naples.

Unexpectedly, after Ludovico Sforza escaped from the city of Milan, John Rafi actually found several exiled nobles from the former Kingdom of Naples in the city of Milan. It's no wonder that Milan is the largest city in Italy, and it's normal for a few Naples exiled nobles to be here.

This time, John Laffey didn't have to prepare a few counterfeit actors as actors. After all, it would be embarrassing for the majestic king of France to be found to be a fake. It would be reasonable to drive a few real nobles in exile from the Kingdom of Naples to act as "representatives of public opinion" and ask Louis XII to "send troops to save Naples"...

I fell into the hands of the French, and whether my life can be saved depends on the mood of others. Naturally, these exiled nobles from Naples dare not talk nonsense. Moreover, Louis XII promised that as long as they occupied the Kingdom of Naples, these "meritorious officials" would naturally be able to go back and continue to be nobles...

These former Naples nobles in exile were forced to flee the Kingdom of Naples because they could not get along with the Spanish officials who occupied the area. Now, it might be a good choice to take refuge in Louis XII...

So, in the early morning of the next day, in the square of Milan Cathedral, Louis XII received many celebrities in the city of Milan as if putting on a show.

Then, in the public, several Neapolitan aristocrats who had been arranged by John Lafite suddenly came out, knelt at the feet of Louis XII, weeping bitterly and begged Louis XII to send troops to "save" the people who were in "dire straits". The people of Naples...

According to the script designed by John Lafite (in fact, it was designed by Marin), Louis XII first pretended to be very hesitant, reluctantly, and shirked the "Auld Lang Syne" between France and Spain...

When Louis XII solemnly said "France and Spain have a long-lasting friendship", the nobles present almost vomited—can you save some face?

However, photographed by the powerful force of France, these people are all smiling, mmp in their hearts...

In the end, under the "repeated persuasion" of several nurses, Louis XII "reluctantly" agreed to send troops south to "save the people of Naples"...

...

After performing this disgusting scene, Louis XII hurriedly worried about the nobles,

Discuss together how to send troops.

After John Lafite thought about it, he said:

"After today's scene, the Spaniard's spies will definitely send the information back to the country. It is estimated that it will take several hundred fares from Milan to Barcelona (1 fare = 4 kilometers). First of all, we need to go through the south of France. But the south of France is all our people, and we will not give them a chance to change horses. Therefore, they usually take at least seven or eight days to send the news back. Then, they send troops and mobilize supplies...no It may not be possible in a month or two... We just need to go south quickly, the Spaniards should not be able to react."

"What if the Spaniards used carrier pigeons to deliver the news? That way the news could be delivered several days in advance..." asked a French nobleman.

"Even if he uses carrier pigeons to deliver the news, so what? To mobilize supplies and troops, they cannot be transported by carrier pigeons. After all, the Spaniards will eventually lose their chance!" John Lafite shook his head.

Louis XII frowned and said:

"It's definitely too late for them to deploy troops, but I'm worried that they will send a batch of gunpowder and lead to the city of Naples first. With enough ammunition, the threat of the 2,500 musketeers in the city is still great..."

John Lafite nodded and said:

"That's right. So, if the Spaniards use carrier pigeons to convey the news, they can send the news back to the country within a day or two, but it still takes more than 20 days to transport soldiers and horses from the port of Barcelona to the city of Naples (the wind in the Mediterranean Sea is weak, and the ship can go fast. slow)……

In this way, as long as we reach the city of Naples within 20 days, we can prevent the defenders from receiving assistance..."

"20 days..." Louis XII frowned.

The land distance from Milan to Naples is estimated to be seven to eight hundred kilometers away. If you report the messenger, you will arrive in seven or eight days on a fast horse. However, there are tens of thousands of troops on the French side. After adding 220,000 Italian mercenaries, the army exceeded 80,000. Moreover, they brought too much luggage, including artillery.

With a large number of luggage, the marching speed will not be fast, and the overall march may not be able to walk 30 kilometers a day. It is estimated that it will take at least a month to walk from Milan to Naples. This is also because the Italian peninsula has the Roman Avenue built in the Roman Empire era. If there is no Roman road, it is estimated that it will take several months to walk based on the rugged terrain of the Apennine Peninsula.

If this is going for more than a month, then it's a mess. The Spaniards didn't say that the army could be in place, at least they could send a batch of ammunition supplies. Once the city of Naples replenishes the ammunition, it will be difficult...

"What should we do? We must prevent the defenders of Naples from getting ammunition supplies!" Louis XII said worriedly.

After John Lafite secretly read the "tips and tricks" given by Marin, he said with confidence:

"Your Majesty, I have a solution!"

"Tell me!"

"Divide 10,000 cavalry, take off the plate armor and horse armor, one man and three horses, and go south quickly, first arriving outside the city of Naples. As long as they arrive outside the city of Naples, then burn the docks at the port of Naples. In this way, the Spaniards will not be able to The ammunition supply has been sent to the city of Naples!"

"I object!" At this moment, a baron named Portman stood up. He retorted:

"Baron John, you may not understand the military. The 10,000 cavalry you said is theoretically feasible. However, you have never thought about the problem of food and grass for the 10,000 cavalry. Each of the 10,000 cavalry must bring at least two horses. And The daily grain required by each horse has reached the consumption of 5 soldiers. May I ask, how do you ensure the supply of grain and grass for 10,000 cavalry?"

Having said that, John Laffey smiled. Because, he was really prepared for this question...

Earlier, John Lafite encouraged Louis XII to buy a large tract of land in the ancient city of Pompeii near Mount Vesuvius for excavation of volcanic ash. Even, a private pier was built nearby for the delivery of volcanic ash.

Coincidentally, the ancient city of Pompeii is a little far south of Naples, only about 25 kilometers away. When the army went south to Italy, John Lafite arranged for people to transport several shipments of grain to the port of Marseilles and hide them near the ancient city of Pompeii.

If the 10,000 cavalry arrived outside the city of Naples, they could go to Pompey to get food first, and then besiege the city of Naples.

"What about the consumption of food on the way?" Baron Bowman asked.

"It's okay, it's on me!" John Lafite said confidently.

Because the main route of these ten thousand cavalry is under the control of the Papal State. And Marin had already said hello, and prepared several food supply points on the side of Emilia Avenue. As long as the French army brought gold coins, they could easily buy the food prepared by Marin.

The only trouble is the section of the road that enters the Kingdom of Naples after leaving the Papal State and crossing the border. After entering the Kingdom of Naples from the Papal State to the city of Naples, there is no way to replenish food and grass during that section of the road.

Fortunately, Naples is not too far from the border. If you put some food on the horses when you leave the Pope's country, you can still last for a day or two. When we get near the ancient city of Pompeii, we will be able to replenish enough food...

After worrying about running out of food and grass, Louis XII also breathed a sigh of relief. He selected 10,000 French cavalry, went into battle lightly, and marched south quickly. Their mission is to get to Naples as soon as possible. There is no need to siege the city, just destroy the port of Naples and prevent the Spaniards from sending in supplies...