African Entrepreneurship Records

  Chapter 268 "Patriot" Canned Beef and Potatoes

  The public opinion in Europe on September 2 was relatively lively, because Napoleon III of France surrendered on this day. The news of Napoleon's surrender directly caused a sensation throughout Europe. After the Battle of Sedan, Napoleon III ordered the cessation of fighting.

  At the Battle of Sedan, the French army suffered 17,000 casualties and 21,000 were captured. The Prussians reported 2,300 killed, 5,000 wounded, and 700 captured or missing.

Newspapers from various countries rushed to report, and a few hours later, the newspapers in Vienna also followed suit and reported the results of the war. However, compared with the news of France's defeat, the people of the Austro-Hungarian Empire were obviously more interested in the progress of their own army, and everyone was anxiously waiting. The outcome of the war in Italy.

At this time, Grand Duke Albrecht commanded the imperial army to step on the second line of defense of the Italians and approach the city of Venice. The second line of defense in Italy was not as strong as the line of defense on the Isonzo River. Well, the terrain on the Italian side is relatively low, which provides convenience for the artillery of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, but this is the border between the two countries. After Italy annexed the Venice area, it built the Isonzo River defense line, and the second line of defense was completely temporary. Any cover can be relied upon.

Facing the attack of the Austro-Hungarian army, the second line of defense was quickly broken. In order to preserve the strength of the troops, the Italian commander had to order the troops to retreat to the city of Venice. The building resisted the Austro-Hungarian army.

  …

"You tell me why there is an Austro-Hungarian army in Rome? What do your intelligence agencies do? More than 10,000 people have not found it under your nose? If this army is not in Rome but Florence, how can we It’s not about being directly eliminated by the Austro-Hungarian Empire!” Emmanuel II asked his subordinates angrily.

   Just yesterday, Emmanuel II received the news that the attack on the Roman coalition failed. At that time, Emmanuel II was directly stunned! Does the Pope still have this combat power? Impossible, absolutely impossible!

   The good news is that the Pope's army is still weak. The bad news is that it was the Austro-Hungarian army that defeated Italy.

  The worse news is that at this moment the Austro-Hungarian Expeditionary Force is organizing troops to come to Florence, and at the same time the Papal State army is also attacking the Italian coastal defense forces on the east coast under the instruction of Lieutenant General Karl.

   This is not too difficult for the Papal State army, because the Austro-Hungarian Navy will cooperate with their actions. More than 30,000 Austro-Hungarian landing troops have already set off from Trieste, heading towards the east coast of Italy.

   Emmanuel II asked after suppressing his anger a little. "Now, is it too late for us to mobilize some of the troops we're heading to and return to Florence!"

   "This is very difficult! Because the main force is now in Venice, we can't get away, but we can think of a way from the French border troops, but I don't know if it will be too late."

   "Your Majesty, I think it would be a good idea for us to evacuate from Florence first, and return to Turin." Said a former official of the Sardinian Kingdom.

  Before the Kingdom of Italy, the capital of the Kingdom of Sardinia was Turin. After relying on Napoleon III to initially unify the Italian region last time, the new Kingdom of Italy set its capital in Florence.

"Idiot! Now the newspapers are reporting the failure of Rome's recovery. If we withdraw from Florence to Turin again, what will the people of the whole country think? What will the frontline soldiers think? If the capital cannot be defended, what can we do to resist the aggression of the Austro-Hungarian Empire?" who?" Emmanuel II scolded angrily.

Afterwards, Emmanuel II struggled for a long time, and said, "Let the border troops who are on guard against France return quickly and mobilize from Florence and the surrounding area immediately. I don't care what methods you use, at least a force of 50,000 people will be gathered." , the enemy from Rome must be kept out of Florence until reinforcements arrive."

  …

  France, Marseille.

"The failure on the front line is not terrible. Although the emperor surrendered, we French people will not surrender. As a patriot, I am willing to donate a batch of supplies to the government for free. I hope they will not compromise with Prussia..." Medie The Earl delivered his speech at the gate of the Marseille City Hall, expressing his position of defending the country.

   There was warm applause from around, and Earl Medina's remarks won a strong favor from the Marseille crowd.

  At the same time, a reporter from the Daily Marseilles quietly took pictures of this scene in the distance, and this photo will appear everywhere in France tomorrow, at least in the south of France.

   After performing in front of the public for so long, Count Medina could finally rest. He took out a towel and wiped the sweat from his forehead, when the officials of the city hall surrounded him.

   "Count Medina, thank you for your support, but it is a pity that we are also in a difficult situation. After all, the emperor has surrendered, and now we still have to wait for news from the central government, so these supplies may not be able to be disposed of temporarily." The mayor of Marseille said.

   "It doesn't matter. I understand your difficulties, but our soldiers are still on the front line. Sending these supplies is considered a support for them. They are all children of France anyway." Medina said.

   "If it is labor supplies, it is still possible. We will send these materials directly to the frontline soldiers in the name of the citizens of Marseilles, not in the name of the government."

   Count Medina’s patriot character is well built, and now his opinions are fully respected by the Marseille city government, which is psychological respect.

  As for supplies, they are French "national" brands of a German-French joint venture, mainly food and medicine, as well as some daily necessities.

  As a collaborator, the Earl of Medina also has a part of the shares, so it is necessary to make a name for these productions.

   For example, "Patriot" canned beef and potatoes, do you want to know more about it?

  …

  In the evening, Leopold, who had completed the task of leading the team, began to report the situation in Hechingen to Ernst.

"This time, the Heixingen brigade suffered more than 700 casualties, and the number of casualties reached 132. Because of the front line, we can only cremate their bodies on the spot. The ashes will be brought back with the troops, Your Majesty (King William I) asked if the Hechingen Brigade would consider participating in the next war."

After two battles, the Hechingen Brigade can be regarded as a powerful force in the European war, especially the Battle of David Wright, which was regarded as a relatively classic battle in the Franco-Prussian War. Higher professional ability, (Hechingen Brigade≧French Army≧Prussia>Bavaria>North German Federation>Württemberg>Baden) So William I was still very interested in this small number of troops.

   "Bring them back!" Ernst only replied to Leopold in the telegram.

   There is no need for the Hexingen Brigade to participate in the subsequent war. After all, the French emperor surrendered, and this war is actually over.

  The battle of Sedan was the first line, and the war between Germany and France changed from a just war of defending the country to a war of aggression, so Ernst did not want to participate.

Moreover, the purpose of training the Hexingen brigade has been achieved, and there is no need for them to make unnecessary sacrifices. As for the so-called "spoils" of the Franco-Prussian War, in fact, various states went to rich France to rob civilians. Ernst still has to look at that little wealth. No, there is another point that I don’t want the Hexingen Brigade and those national troops to learn badly. Once military discipline is broken, it will be complicated to correct it. The Hexingen Brigade will be the foundation of East Africa’s military transformation in the future.

  The Hehingen Bank has already made a fortune through the war bonds. Just after the Battle of Sedan, the London bond market was already overcrowded, and before the war, the Hehingen Consortium took a quarter of it at a low price.

   "Tom! Is there any open space near the castle?"

   "Your Highness, I'm afraid it's not easy to find. Apart from the mountains and forests, there are also some flat lands in the castle area."

   "Then clear out an open space halfway up the mountain. I want to bury the bones of those who died this time nearby. They all died for the Hohenzollern family," Ernst said.

   It is also good to be buried near Hohenzollernburg. The place is relatively remote. Except for the lonely Hohenzollernburg on the top of the mountain, there are no residents nearby, so there is no need to worry about someone disturbing the rest of the deceased.

   Ernst brought most of them from the Far East to Europe, and the rest were basically orphans in Europe. It can be said that the soldiers of the entire Hechingen Brigade were unaccompanied.

   They didn't have to participate in the Franco-Prussian War, but Ernst made a choice, and they followed suit, so Ernst also had to consider their funeral.

  (end of this chapter)