Chapter 1429: Cavalry first
For a moment, Louis XII was planning to make a fake show, so he left in Milan. After all, the conquest of the Principality of Milan this time was too smooth, leaving him in his dreams.
It wasn't until John Rafi brought a few "childcare" that he awakened Louis XII's easy dream ...
"What are these people?"
John Rafi replied:
"Your Majesty, this is the" Aristocratic Exile of the Kingdom of Naples "..."
Earlier, Louis XII and John Rafi discussed how to change into the Kingdom of Naples after arriving in Italy. In accordance with the instructions given by Marin, John Rafi proposed a "request for public opinion".
The so-called "request for public opinion" is actually to find a few noble representatives to "petition" Louis XII. Why are noble representatives? Because in this era they are the "popular representatives". As for ordinary people, they are not qualified to "represent the people".
At the beginning, John Rafi did not find several nobles of the former Kingdom of Naples who were in exile abroad. After all, the nobles of the Kingdom of Naples, even in exile, will choose other Italian states. After all, you are not used to France. If you do n’t speak the language, it ’s the diet. Those Italian nobles ca n’t stand it.
At this time in France, the mainstream is still dark cuisine. Compared with Italy, the cuisine is not at the same level. Even though the fat brothers were sent to the French king ’s palace to produce the junior version of the “French Meal”, they have not yet become popular.
Therefore, even if the Italian nobility is in 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 Naples exile aristocrat to serve as a "representative of the public opinion". They all prepared several low-level aristocrats who could speak Italian and put on makeup as the "representative of the public opinion" of the Kingdom of Naples.
Unexpectedly, after Ludovico Forza fled the city of Milan, John Rafi actually found several former nobles of the Kingdom of Naples in exile in Milan. It is no wonder that Milan is the largest city in Italy, and it is normal for a few Naples in exile here.
This time, John Rafi will no longer need to be an actor with some of the original counterfeit goods. After all, if the king of France was found to be fraudulent, he would lose face. It is reasonable to drive several real exiled nobles of the Kingdom of Naples to act as "representatives of public opinion" and ask Louis XII to "send troops to save Naples".
He fell into the hands of the French, and Xiaomingbao couldn't help but see the mood of others. These Naples exile aristocrats naturally dare not talk nonsense. Moreover, Louis XII may be promised-as long as he occupied the Kingdom of Naples, these "servants" can naturally 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. Nowadays, surrendering to Louis XII may be a good choice ...
So, early the next morning, in the square of Milan Cathedral, Louis XII made a show, and received many celebrities in Milan.
Then, under the large audience, several Naples aristocratic nurseries arranged by John Rafi suddenly came out of the crowd, knelt at the foot of Louis XII, and wept bitterly to ask Louis XII to send troops to "rescue" in the "deep fire" The people of Naples ...
According to the script designed by John Rafi (in fact, designed by Marin), Louis XII first pretended to be very hesitant, reluctant, and also refrained from the "friendship between France and Spain for a long time" ...
When Louis XII said seriously, "France and Spain have a long friendship," the nobles present almost vomited-can they make a face?
However, the powerful force taken in France, these people are all grinning, mmp in their hearts ...
In the end, under the "repeated persuasion" of several child care providers, Louis XII "barely made it difficult" to agree to send troops to the south, "to save the people of Naples" ...
...
After performing this disgusting drama, Louis XII hurriedly rushed the nobles to discuss how to send troops.
After thinking about it, John Rafi said:
"After today ’s play, the Spanish spies must have sent the intelligence back home. It is estimated that a few hundred miles (1 fare = 4 kilometers) from Milan to Barcelona, even if the other party is fast, it can be on the land, the Spanish First of all, you need to pass through southern France. But southern France are all our people and will not give them the opportunity to change horses. Therefore, they usually have to take at least seven or eight days to send the news back. Then, they send troops and mobilize materials ... It's estimated that it won't be possible within a month or two ... as long as we go south quickly, the Spaniards should not be able to react. "
"What if the Spaniards use the pigeons to deliver the message? That way, the message can be sent to several days in advance ..." a French noble asked.
"What if he uses the pigeons to convey the message? Mobilizing supplies and the army, he can't use the pigeons to transport. After all, the Spaniards will lose their opportunities!" John Rafi shook his head.
Louis XII frowned:
"They will definitely be too late to dispatch troops, but I am worried that they will first send a batch of gunpowder and lead to Naples City. With enough ammunition, the 2500 musketeers in the city are still very threatened ..."
John Rafi nodded and said:
"That's how it is calculated. If the Spaniards used carrier pigeons to send the news back to the country within a day or two, it would still take more than 20 days to transport soldiers and horses to Naples from the port of Barcelona slow)……
In this way, as long as we arrive under the city of Naples within 20 days, we can avoid the defenders getting assistance ... "
"20 days ..." Louis XII frowned.
The distance from Milan to Naples on land is estimated to be seven or eight hundred kilometers away, and if it is reported, it will be seven or eight days to ride a fast horse. However, there are tens of thousands of troops on the French side. After adding 220,000 Italian mercenaries, more than 80,000 troops. Moreover, it brought too much weight, including artillery.
With a large amount of weight, the march will not go fast, and the overall march will probably not reach less than 30 kilometers per day. Walking from Milan to Naples is estimated to take at least a month. This is because the Italian Peninsula has a Roman avenue built during the Roman Empire. If there is no Roman Boulevard, the rugged terrain of the Apennine Peninsula is estimated to take a few months.
If this is more than a month's walk, it's still gross. The Spaniards did not say that the army could be in place, at least they could send a batch of ammunition. Once the city of Naples is refilled with ammunition, it is not easy to get ...
"What should we do? We must prevent the defenders of the city of Naples from getting ammunition supplies!" Louis XII said worriedly.
After John Laffey secretly looked at Marin's "trick", he was confident:
"Your Majesty, you have a way!"
"Tell me!"
"Separate 10,000 cavalry, take off the plate armor and horse armor, one person and three horses, go south quickly, and then arrive outside the city of Naples. As long as you arrive outside the city of Naples, and then burn the pier of the port of Naples. In this way, the Spanish cannot Send ammunition supplies to Naples City! "
"I object!" At this time, a baron named Poman stood up. He retorted:
"Baron John, you may not understand the military. The 10,000 cavalry you said to go south is theoretically feasible. However, you have not thought about the food problem of the 10,000 cavalry. Each 10,000 cavalry must bring at least two horses. And The food required by each horse every day has reached the consumption of 5 soldiers. Excuse me, how do you ensure the supply of food for 10,000 cavalry? "
Speaking of which ~ www.wuxiaspot.com ~ John Rafi smiled. Because, he is really prepared for this problem ...
Earlier, John Rafi urged Louis XII to buy a large area of the ancient city of Pompeii near Mount Vesuvius for excavation of volcanic ash. Even a private dock was built nearby for the transportation of ash.
Coincidentally, Pompeii is just a little far south of Naples, only about 25 kilometers away. When the army went south to Italy, John Rafi arranged for people to go to the port of Marseille to transport several ships of food hidden near the ancient city of Pompeii.
If the 10,000 cavalry arrived outside Naples, they could go to Pompeii to get food first, and then besieged Naples.
"What about the consumption of food halfway?" Baron Bowman asked.
"It's no problem, it's all on me!" John Rafi said from himself.
Because the main journey of this 10,000 cavalry is under the control of the Papal State. And Marin had already greeted him, and prepared several food supply points along Emilia Boulevard. As long as the French army brought gold coins, they could easily buy the food prepared by Marin.
The only trouble is the part 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, and before reaching the city of Naples, there was no way to replenish grain and grass.
However, fortunately, the city of Naples is not too far from the border. If you leave the pope to cross the border and let the horses carry some food, you can still persist for a day or two. By the time near Pompeii, you can add enough food ...
After worrying about running out of grain and grain, Louis XII was relieved, selected 10,000 French cavalry, lightly put into battle, and quickly marched south. Their task was to rush outside Naples early. There is no need to siege, as long as the Port of Naples is destroyed and the Spaniard ’s supplies will not be sent in ...
