Fox of France

In the waters near Ireland, the British failed to return several clipper ships one after another. But after losing a few ships, the British finally figured out what happened to them. It's just that the British can't replicate this Greek fire for the time being, so they can only suspend the interception of these French clipper ships.

On the other hand, the British diplomatic envoys began to run around throughout Europe, trying to organize a new round of anti-French alliance again.

Their first wooing target is naturally Austria. And at this time, Austria also felt that the last peace negotiation was too bad for itself, and... and the French also left a tail for themselves. The places where the French stayed, until now, the security is not very good. When the aristocrats go back to collect rent, the rent is half that of other places.

If it's just this area, the Austrians gritted their teeth and endured it. But the trouble is that guys in other areas are starting to follow suit and are asking for rent and interest cuts too - this is simply intolerable.

So even though the British are persecuting Catholics, and although the Pope has called on Catholics all over Europe to support the Irish brothers, in the eyes of the fake Roman emperor, the French are much worse than the British.

Of course, if the Austrian army just can't beat the French, then His Majesty the Emperor can only grit his teeth and endure it. But now, the Austrians have just made new advances in the military. In the last war, Austria has successfully imitated the Mini rifles and revolvers that made the Austrian army frightened. So when the emperor asked Archduke Karl, Can our army compete with the French army now?, Archduke Karl also gave this answer:

Your Majesty, the current situation is much better than it was then. But our infantry is still not as good as the French infantry. Compared with ours, the French infantry, especially their skirmishers, are stronger. And I believe that some After such a long time, their line infantry is not as undertrained as it was at the beginning of the last war. So I think that although we have weapons comparable to theirs, our infantry in general is still No match for the French infantry.

Of course, we are not without advantages. With new weapons our cavalry should be able to re-establish our advantage over France. But Your Majesty, even so, on the whole, France is still stronger than us. Austria will not be able to defeat France alone in the short term.

Well, what if Prussia is added?

That's not enough, said Grand Duke Karl. Unless the Russians are added. The war may not be in our favor.

So the emperor said to the British: Unless Prussia and Russia join in, it is impossible for Austria to join Britain and France to fight. Moreover, the Russians must send troops honestly, and don't just say what they did last time. They wanted to fight the French, but until the peace talks, the French army didn’t know what color the Russians’ uniforms were!”

So the British went to the Russians and Prussians.

Russia believes that this time it is very straightforward and expresses its willingness to teach the French together. This is because the great Queen has passed away, and the newly enthroned Majesty is not cunning enough. Secondly, it is also because the French are too heartless. , so sad to the Russians. They didn't look at how much Russia helped France drag Prussia and Austria before this, and how much it helped them. If it weren't for Russia's help, the white flag would have been flying over the city of Paris.

But those Frenchmen, all ungrateful bastards, sold those Poles all kinds of dangerous stuff. Those Poles use these things every day to play assassination or something. Although up to now, the number of people who have been assassinated is not particularly high, but the Russian nobles in Poland dare not hold balls casually-this, this is really unbearable.

Besides, Russia and France do not border each other, even if they send troops, if the situation is unfavorable, the worst is to stop fighting. The risks are also limited. Moreover, it is just right to take this opportunity to ask the British or the other two allies for some money and technology.

But it was not so easy to convince Prussia. The Russians are not worried about their own safety, but the Prussians are. Unlike the last time, after occupying the Rhine region, the French have already reached the gate of Prussia! It really started to fight, and if they couldn’t win—this is really not a small probability, what about Prussia’s swollen?

So the Russians just want money and technology, and Prussia first directly stated that we have always loved peace, and then said that it is okay for me to join. You British take Hanover first, and then we can talk about it. otherwise. In case of defeat, you British shrink your neck to the other side of the strait, what should we do?

However, if the British can take Hanover back from the French by themselves, is it still necessary to pull Prussia? Besides, where does Britain have the troops to do this at this time? Ireland is too busy!

At this time, the Duke of Norfolk's second major raid officially began after a period of preparation.

In addition to using 40,000 British troops, the Duke of Norfolk also used the same number of Irish security forces in this sweep. From the Duke of Norfolk's point of view, although these people's combat effectiveness is poor, even if there are 40,000 pigs, they still have the role of pigs, right?

For example, when opening a road ahead, let these people walk in front, clearing mines while walking; another example, setting fire to the village, entering the forest and entering the swamp; another example, let them deal with those who have not completed the training and are not yet armed. Rebel army (women and children). They are still useful.

Of course, using these people will also bring some troubles, such as the decrease in the confidentiality of the operation. The movement speed of the army has also been greatly reduced. After all, the Irish Security Forces cannot be compared with the British Army in terms of training.

But considering that after the first big raid, as long as those rebels of the United Irish Federation are not fools, it is impossible for them to commit the problem of paralysis again, so this operation, even if the 40,000 pigs are not used ——Ah, no, it's 40,000 Irish Security Forces, and it's unlikely to achieve the surprise effect like last time. And what needs these guys to do, as long as they have no conscience, they don't need too much training.

As for the possibility that the guerrillas could not be caught because of the slow action? This is not a problem. Although the priest has a donkey, the church does not have long legs. Even if those guerrillas and ordinary people ran away and hid, their villages could not escape. Even if their villages are all rammed earth thatched houses are worthless, and they don't feel bad if they burn them, the potatoes in their fields can't escape. Of course, the British army didn't have the time or energy to spoil the crops, but didn't they bring in forty thousand pigs? In terms of ruining the crops, is there a more efficient way than putting pigs directly into the crops?

Of course, pigs don't keep secrets. Especially some time ago, after the guerrillas attacked the Irish Security Forces, many pigs from the Irish Security Forces played the game of stepping on two boats. While mixing with the British, they secretly contacted the guerrillas, saying to them, Everyone is Irish, we are just messing around, and we don't really want to embarrass you, and even simply said, We It's in the British camp and the heart is in love.

In this way, this raid, at least in terms of strategy, has almost become a clear card. Before the British army was dispatched, the federation had already learned the time, strength, and target of the British army's upcoming sweep through the information it had obtained.

But even so, the pressure of this anti-sweep is still very high. It's like playing poker. The opponent's cards are so good that even if you open up the cards, you don't see any way to fight against them. Of course, the base areas were not unprepared during this period. At least, in terms of how to transfer the masses, the base areas adapted measures to local conditions and made various efforts.

For example, some villages near the hills dug hiding holes on the hills; some villages near the swamps opened safe passages and temporary shelters by nailing stakes in the swamps and laying boards. Place. Coupled with the support of intelligence, everyone in the federation can guarantee that in this sweep, the direct loss of lives of the masses and soldiers will be much smaller than the previous one.

But this did not make everyone feel at ease, because the first goal of the British raid was not for people, but for the agricultural production in the base area. Potatoes will soon enter the harvest season. If the British are allowed to run rampant in the base area at this time, agricultural production will be greatly damaged, and then the entire base area will fall into a man-made famine.

This dire prospect worried almost all members of the federation.

Some comrades hope that our comrades in France can bring us more food to ensure that there will be no famine in the base area in the future. But after a little calculation of the amount of food needed, everyone immediately understands that this hope How unrealistic.

Some comrades hope that our French comrades can organize a large army to land directly in Ireland and join us in defeating the British on the frontal battlefield. But we knew at Toulon that the shipping power from France to Ireland could not support a large army in regular operations.

So some comrades suggested to us, if we fight the British guys openly, it is better to die than to starve to death-of course this is not the way, our revolution is to make the Irish people live better, and Not to take everyone to die.

Just when everyone was at a loss, our friend, Comrade Joseph Bonaparte, after learning about the current situation, wrote us a letter. His letter was like a gust of wind, blowing away the dark clouds and thick clouds that stood in front of us. The fog suddenly revealed a golden road leading to victory.