18th century total war

Chapter 252 Bullying the Weak and Afraid of the Hard

Prime Minister Godoy was not surprised to hear Carlos IV's complaint. If it hadn't been for Li Weiwei's addition, the armistice agreement between France and Spain would have been signed in Paris.

The Kingdom of Spain was awakened by Li Wei at this time. Even the Prussian-Austrian coalition forces were defeated. What reason do they have to continue to persist in the anti-French alliance?
The mainland of Prussia is far away from the French Republic, so there is no need to worry that Li Wei will hit Berlin unless Li Wei declares war on the whole of Europe.

Austria's homeland is farther away, and it still has a strong appeal in the Holy Roman Empire. Although Austria participated in the war on behalf of the Holy Roman Empire in this anti-French war, in fact, most of the states in the Holy Roman Empire did not send troops. The country did not even take a political position.

It can be said that the army sent by the Holy Roman Empire is just the main force of Austria plus some mercenaries from the German states.

This is completely different from fighting the entire Holy Roman Empire.

The states of the Holy Roman Empire are unwilling to participate in the war, but this does not mean that their combat effectiveness is weak. On the contrary, many states in Central Europe have followed the footsteps of the first industrial revolution in the United Kingdom. firm.

The absence of nationalism does not mean the absence of patriotism.

Of course, the patriotic sentiments of this era were generally tied to the idea of ​​loyalty to the emperor, so they were much different from the patriotic sentiments of later generations.

Both Vienna and Berlin don't have to worry about the military threat from France, so they can naturally continue to gather strength to prepare for war, but the Kingdom of Spain does not have this capital.

The first time Madrid fell to Livy's Black Dragon Army, it broke the backbone of the Spaniards, and even the proud Queen Louisa began to 'recognize reality'.

The destruction of the French Army this time scared the most capable troops in the Kingdom of Spain into running away in panic, without even giving them a chance to face the French Defense Forces...

These two 'scares' were enough for the Spanish cabinet to understand that they did not have the ability to fight against France.

Continuing to stand in the anti-French alliance is purely to make myself uncomfortable.

No one wants the capital of Madrid to be captured by the French army again!

Even though the city of Madrid has not yet recovered from the trauma of the war, even if it is breached, there is not much wealth to lose, but the political losses are immeasurable, especially for the royal prestige of Carlos IV and the ability of the Madrid cabinet government to govern blow.

Now the terms of the military alliance given by Li Wei have been regarded as a life-saving straw by the Madrid government headed by Prime Minister Godoy.

Without the military threat from France in the north, the Kingdom of Spain can truly stabilize.

It doesn't matter even if you offend the members of the Anti-French Alliance. After all, except for the British, no one in the Anti-French Alliance can reach the mainland of the Kingdom of Spain.

As for the pocket army of the British in the eyes of major European countries, it is okay to fight a dozen colonial wars, but it is better to sleep if you want to fight a European war.

If the British expand their army on a large scale, all the major powers in Europe will celebrate, because the financial resources of the UK are not enough to support the dual-power policy of the large navy and the continental army at the same time. If the British really had the financial resources, they would have joined the battle for European supremacy.

Once the British expand the army on a large scale, the benefits allocated to the navy will inevitably shrink. The navy is a big money eater and does not have enough military budget. Let alone building new ships, even the maintenance funds for old ships are stretched.

After all, the British have too many naval warships!

Without the Royal Navy, how would Britain maintain the colony on which the sun never sets?

Therefore, as long as the London government does not encounter a crisis of national annihilation, it will basically not expand the army on a large scale.

As for the expansion of the British Army during World War I and World War II, it was due to the productivity leap brought about by the second industrial revolution. Even so, the British Army at that time was not very strong on the European battlefield, and a large number of colonial troops were needed to supplement it. .

Many soldiers of the British Army in World War I and World War II were served by Indian Asan. The vast colony brought a large number of qualified soldiers to the British government, and at the same time lowered the average level of the British Army's overall combat power...

Because of this, the cabinet government of the Kingdom of Spain generally believes that as long as the hostility of the French government is dispelled, the Kingdom of Spain can continue to live a leisurely life.

Even if the Spanish royal family needs a victory in a war to enhance their prestige, they can dispatch the [-] army that has just been tempered by the war to fight against the small and weak Portuguese Kingdom and complete the unification of the Spanish peninsula!

Of course, before announcing this plan, Prime Minister Godoy must first find out whether his king and queen have this need.

It would be the best outcome if we could avoid fighting.

The war spends too much money, and the government corruption problems exposed are also terrible...

"Your Majesty, if we can form a military alliance with France, we can withdraw all the troops stationed on the border, and there will be no more threats from the north.

This will play a very important role in stabilizing the domestic political situation!

Catalonia has been reduced to a white land due to the war at this time, and Barcelona has become a financial burden for the government due to the loss of a large number of people. For such a poor area, what if they are allowed to become independent?
The independence of Catalonia will not only allow Li Wei to dispel his concerns about us, but also get rid of a financial black hole area full of guerrillas, and the Kingdom of Spain can devote all its energy to domestic production recovery.

Your Majesty the king, you must first settle down when fighting against the outside world. "

The words of Prime Minister Godoy immediately made Carlos IV frown. Although Godoy did not say it clearly, Carlos IV knew that he was referring to the feudal nobles who appeared to seek independence due to the fall of the capital of Madrid.

These feudal aristocrats took advantage of the main force of the Spanish army to go north, but they were pursuing a fief independence policy in the rear, trying to build a country within a country, and formed a noble mutual aid alliance in private, as if they wanted to fight against the central government. look!
Although the Kingdom of Spain is still a typical feudal country, since the French sun king Louis XIV, the European autocratic monarchy system has become popular, and now it is the standard for whether a big country is strong or not.

Even a constitutional monarchy country like Britain has completed the centralization system, and the fiefs of local nobles have been compressed to the extreme. No matter how they are united, it is impossible to pose a threat to the London government.

Of course, the House of Lords controlled by the British nobles also made it unnecessary for them to fight against the central government.

The Kingdom of Spain was also trying gradually on the road of "reducing the vassal" and received some results, but a Franco-Spanish war ruined all the previous efforts.

Therefore, Prime Minister Godoy's proposal is still very necessary. The [-] army has been firmly controlled by the Madrid cabinet government after many battles. It can be said that the [-] army is now the "central army" of the Kingdom of Spain.

If they could be liberated from the northern border and moved to the interior of the Kingdom of Spain, the so-called mutual aid alliance of the nobles would disappear in an instant, and it would not be difficult to return to the pre-war political environment.

Moreover, the Catalonia region really has no occupational value at this time.

This pre-war rich land has now become a terrifying hedgehog. The massacre of the Spanish Army has spawned hordes of Catalan guerrillas. Almost every Catalan family Everyone is involved!

This made the occupation costs of the Spanish army increasing day by day.

The wealth looted from the Catalan region is fast being consumed.

However, it is wise to abandon the Catalonia region from a financial point of view, but from a political point of view, Carlos IV who abandons the Catalonia region is a national sinner, a lost city and land, and will be nailed to Spain On the pillar of historical shame!
No matter how stupid Carlos IV is, he still knows this truth.

"If I give up the Catalonia region, how will the local nobles and Spanish people view me (European kings all call themselves me, and my self-proclaimed meaning is the meaning translated from Chinese)?"

Carlos IV was also forced to do nothing. He had already lost the capital of Madrid once. If he recognized the independence of the Catalonia region on his homeland, what personal prestige would he still have?
Along with the Franco-Spanish War, French revolutionary ideas are pouring into Spain crazily. Even if the Spanish nobles will not rebel, who can guarantee that the Spanish people who are 'infected' by the French revolutionary ideas will revolutionize against this foolish king?
Carlos IV didn't want to walk on the guillotine like Louis XVI.

Since the beheading of Louis XVI, all European countries have regarded revolutionary ideas as a scourge, which can be seen from the powerful intervention of the monarchy governments in the grassroots newspaper industry.

"Your Majesty, we can use the interests of other regions to win over the hearts of local nobles, such as the Kingdom of Portugal.

The Spanish peninsula has been divided for too long, and it's time to unite.

At that time, all the Spanish nobles participating in the war can get a share of the Portuguese pie, and as long as His Majesty has a great victory over the Kingdom of Portugal, he will naturally become the king loved by the Spanish people again! "

Queen Luisa interrupted suddenly: "Can we defeat the Kingdom of Portugal?

The relationship between the Kingdom of Portugal and the London government is very good. If we attack the Kingdom of Portugal, the British will definitely support the Lisbon government. "

"Your Majesty, please rest assured.

The British only have a powerful navy. Can they still bring warships to land to fight us?
What's more, the Kingdom of Portugal is not worth the price the London government has to pay. The London government will not risk the Kingdom of Portugal to declare war on the Kingdom of Spain.

The Kingdom of Portugal alone has a population of just over 200 million, while our Kingdom of Spain has a population of over 1000 million.

The Kingdom of Portugal has a small army, while the Kingdom of Spain has [-] battle-hardened troops. It can also recruit some noble private soldiers and serf soldiers to participate in the battle. No matter from any aspect, the Kingdom of Portugal cannot be the Kingdom of Spain. opponent.

Moreover, we don’t need to completely destroy the Kingdom of Portugal. As long as we win the war and force the Lisbon government to cede land and pay compensation, His Majesty Carlos IV and Luisa can sit back and relax and recover the losses caused by the Franco-Spanish war. "

Carlos IV and Queen Luisa looked at each other, and both sides saw a definite decision in the other's eyes.

Yes, if you can't beat France, choose a weak opponent to regain national confidence. This method is reliable!
"Okay, but don't publicize the independence of the Catalan region. After signing the alliance treaty with the Li Wei government, find a reason to declare war on the Kingdom of Portugal. After winning the Kingdom of Portugal, publicize the independence of Catalonia. information."

Carlos IV was worried about domestic turmoil and ordered Prime Minister Godoy.

"As you will, my lord."

After the Kingdom of Spain agreed to the truce, Li Wei was not surprised. As long as the Spanish government was sensible, they would agree to the terms of the truce.

At least Levi felt that his request was not excessive at all!
In this way, the Aragon family and his government-in-exile who have been eating and drinking in France can finally return to Barcelona and continue to oppress the Catalan people.

This is not the most important thing. With the existence of the nail of the Kingdom of Catalonia, when Li Wei and the Kingdom of Spain are torn apart in the future, there will be a large group of leading parties to help.

Today, the Catalans and the Spaniards have a blood feud. Li Wei believes that the Catalans are very happy to help the French conquer the Kingdom of Spain and take revenge along the way.

However, the next show operation of the Kingdom of Spain caught Levi by surprise.

After the Kingdom of Spain withdrew all its troops, it immediately deployed troops on the border of the Kingdom of Portugal, and then requested to enter the territory of the Kingdom of Portugal for search on the grounds that a private was missing in Portugal.

Ordinary searches are fine. The Kingdom of Spain is going to send [-] troops to search for a lost private. Are the ministers of the Lisbon government out of their minds?
Isn't this an invasion?
That being the case, the Kingdom of Portugal was not polite, and directly refused and launched a war mobilization in the country.

It's a pity that the Spanish Army, which has been fighting all the time, is not a vegetarian. Even a group of pigs have been trained after fighting for so long. How can the Portuguese Army, which has been in peace for a long time, react?
The Royal Spanish Army directly marched towards the capital of Lisbon at the speed of one city a day with the momentum of Mount Tai, relying on its superiority in artillery and strength.

This caught the Kingdom of Portugal by surprise. Before they even had time to negotiate with the London government for help, they had to gather troops everywhere, even the militiamen, to resist the Spanish invasion.

As a result, the Royal Portuguese Army, which had no time to gather the national forces and recall the reserve veterans, was completely defeated by the Spanish Army in a day and night under various disadvantages.

When the news of the victory came back to Madrid, the Spanish people finally regained some national confidence. At the same time, the Madrid government also released the blockade on the news of Catalonia's independence.

(End of this chapter)