King's Landing in France

Thinking about it, An Ning went back to his manor this afternoon and assembled his artillery unit.

As soon as the team was assembled, Russell, the deputy he personally selected, asked, "Mr. Frost, I heard that you have been promoted to the commander of the army?"

An Ning: "Who said that?"

"This afternoon, an old farmer who went to the city to deliver food came back and told us that you have become the commander of the legion, commanding a big legion."

An Ning was speechless: "The commander of the legion gave me less than 2000 people. I drove almost 500 people, and there are more than 1000 left."

Russell: "That's also an army. Now the army under your command has expanded tenfold."

An Ning: "Shut up, don't say it as if it's a good thing. I think this is that Lafayette. Seeing that my reputation is too high, he deliberately deceived me. He asked me to bring such a small amount of troops to suppress Konta. Rebellion, it is clear that they want me to return home in defeat."

Russell was shocked: "Is that so?"

The reason why An Ning chose Russell as his deputy was mainly because he valued his honesty and honesty—to put it bluntly, he was a bit stupid.

This sergeant, promoted by An Ning himself, was originally a mason in the city of Paris, and he usually speaks a bit simple and honest.

An Ning: "In short, we went to counter the rebellion this time mainly to put on a show. Lafayette promised himself to lead the main force of the National Self-Defense Forces to counter the rebellion. Let's go to the front and scout the enemy's situation when we get to the position. Special main force is coming."

Baimeng Book

We won't fight until the main force comes - An Ning didn't say this part.

He paused for a moment, then changed the topic: "I have brought you together to do one thing. I am going to divide you into two parts. One part will continue to operate the artillery, and the other part will be promoted directly. Become a sergeant, and those who want to be promoted take a step forward."

Everyone looked at each other in blank dismay, at first no one moved forward.

An Ning: "Why, don't you all want to be promoted? The military salary will increase!"

Someone below said: "In my experience, things that usually look very good are often a trap."

"Okay," An Ning scratched her head, "I'll tell you the truth, the new troops assigned to me are a bunch of rabble, and they can't even stand in a basic formation. I need you to drill them hard. This is not an easy task. work, so I will raise your wages. If no one volunteers to be promoted, I will take the initiative to choose someone who I think is capable and competent to be promoted."

An Ning paused, then asked again, "Is there anyone who voluntarily promoted?"

Only a few people took the initiative to step forward.

An Ning: "Okay, you guys are all good! So I decided to promote you to sergeant directly! When you arrive in the army, as a sergeant, you will become company commanders."

The company commander should be a second lieutenant, but now there is a shortage of officers in the National Guard, so they can only be served by non-commissioned officers.

An Ning paused for a moment, then pointed at Russell: "You, Russell! You are still my adjutant, but because the troops under my command have expanded, it is not appropriate for you to be a sergeant. I will promote you to second lieutenant and continue to serve as my second lieutenant." Adjutant, and also the second commander of the entire army, if I die, you will be in command of the entire army."

Russell was shocked: "This...isn't it appropriate? The lieutenant is a master officer. I'm not used to being called a master."

An Ning: "No! We are the National Self-Defense Forces, and we uphold the principle of equality for everyone! Officers and soldiers are also equal! From now on, our soldiers will be called combatants, and officers will be called commanders. The two are equal. Soldiers only need to perform well. , can also become an officer!

"Russell, you are the first in my army to change from a soldier to an officer. You can be promoted because I think you have the ability! Don't let me down!"

Russell was completely moved: "Yes! I will definitely perform well!"

Immediately afterwards, An Ning named a series of names of activists he had an impression of, promoted them to sergeant, and asked them to recommend their friends to be promoted to sergeant.

After more than an hour of tossing, An Ning had a team of 100 non-commissioned officers. He led the team into the city and assigned it to his new unit.

※※※

In the headquarters of the National Guard, Lafayette's deputy entered his office, saluted, and then reported: "Frost promoted his small artillery unit to non-commissioned officers, and then brought them over to join the subordinates. to his unit. He also requested a corresponding number of non-commissioned officer rank marks from the command."

Lafayette frowned: "What the hell, he doesn't really expect to use those civilians to lead the army, does he? Then his army will collapse after the first round of gunfire!

"I have seen it before in the New World. At that time, there were a large number of militiamen in the U.S. army. These militiamen were not reliable at all. Once the red-clothed soldiers charged with bayonets, they would inevitably collapse.

"The militia is just a mob, even if you put them in a blue uniform.

"Not to mention that this group of militia is still led by 'non-commissioned officers' who are also civilians. What the army needs are well-trained non-commissioned officers and experienced officers!"

The adjutant shrugged: "Maybe Mr. Frost has another opinion."

"Hmph, he's just the son of a cobbler, he knows nothing about war! He won the Legion Service Medal because he saved Tollestel's daughter! There is no gold at all!" Lafayette said contemptuously, " This counter-insurgency will completely shatter all his honor and reveal his true colors! I have had enough, people always think that this cobbler's son has the same military talent as me!"

In fact, Andy Frost's military talent surpassed Lafayette's in the mouths of Parisian drunks.

The adjutant asked: "Then...does he need to approve his request for non-commissioned officer promotion?"

"How many non-commissioned officers will he promote?"

"60 corporals, 30 sergeants, 22 sergeants and a second lieutenant."

Lafayette frowned: "Where did he get a second lieutenant?"

"It seems to be his former adjutant, a mason promoted by him."

Lafayette was shocked: "Mason! What did he think of the army! He actually made a mason an officer! I can't wait to see his small army defeated!"

The adjutant asked suspiciously: "Uh...it's not up to us to suppress the rebellion..."

"The National Guard is not ready to come out in full force, we still have to maintain the law and order in Paris." Lafayette came to the window, "so before we dispatch, Mr. Frost can only figure out his own way."

※※※

At this time, An Ning was coming out of the barracks of the National Guard.

He had just stuffed the "non-commissioned officer" he had brought with him for several months into the unit that had just been assigned to him.

He actually has no idea how useful these people can be.

But at this time he has more urgent things to worry about.

The three armies went ahead without using food and grass.Compared with food and grass, An Ning has a more urgent problem to worry about: military pay.

Now the National Guard's military pay is paid with "finger coupons" issued by the National Assembly. Only patriots accept these coupons. Outside the big cities where patriots gather, people in the countryside don't recognize them.

Especially rebel areas like Konta.

An Ning wanted to use copper coins to pay for his troops.

At the same time, he also hoped that his troops could obtain some silver coins as military funds, so that they could sell food and supplies on the spot in the countryside.

You can't go to the rebel area and forcibly requisition food.

Wouldn't that be tantamount to pushing the people in the rebellious area to the opposite side?

In order to solve this problem, An Ning decided to go to the Duke of Orleans.

Chapter 089 What do you mean by losing money and losing your daughter?

It stands to reason that in this era, nobles should first send a servant to send a letter when they visit each other, but An Ning can't control that much, anyway, I am not a noble, so I go directly.

He returned to the Royal Palace with ease, and went straight to the main house.

The butler of the main house was also very knowledgeable, and immediately went to inform the Duke when he saw An Ning.

A moment later, An Ning saw the Duke himself in the Duke's study.

"Why are you here? I thought you were busy preparing to set off to suppress the bandits." The Duke greeted An Ning, gave An Ning a firm hug, and then whispered in a low voice, "I think Lafayette's respect for you Prestige seems to be very unconvinced, be careful of fraud."

An Ning smiled wryly, and said that I also knew about the fraud: "Your Excellency, I already knew about the fraud. Guess how many people Lafayette gave me?"

"How many?"

"There are less than [-] stragglers, and these people can't even walk in line. And the entire army has only [-] trained non-commissioned officers. These people will retreat after the first round of firing."

The Duke frowned: "Is this too obvious? You should protest to the Parliament and ask Lafayette to give you more troops."

"Lafayette would say we're just going to play for the main force."

"So what do you plan to do? Use this little force to fight the rebels to the death?" the Duke asked.

An Ning: "How is that possible. Of course, I will wait and see the situation when I get to the position. If Lafayette's troops don't come out, I will come back and file a complaint."

The Duke nodded: "Very well, I will also help you urge Lafayette to send troops. That's why you came today, right?"

"No," An Ning shook her head, "I'm here today for another matter. I hope His Excellency the Duke can sponsor a military fund."

The Duke frowned: "Sponsorship funds? Didn't Lafayette give you money?"

"Yes, but the coupons. In the rebel area, the coupons may not be easy to use. I need silver coins, crowns, and livres."

The Duke frowned and looked embarrassed: "Because of the revolution recently, my territory can't collect taxes..."

An Ning curled her lips. Sure enough, when money was involved, the Duke was not so easy to talk to.But this evasion is a bit too foolish.

It is true that the Duke cannot collect farmers' taxes, but he has mines and factories in his territory, and he has many business names in his hands.

Relying on the duke's face, the duke's business can obtain tariff reductions in many border territories, and it can make a net profit by transporting goods from southern ports such as Marseilles.

So it is absolutely impossible for the Duke of Orleans to have no money—it would be better to say that for a new bourgeoisie like him, the farmer's land tax is a small amount, and if you give it up, you will give it up.

It is precisely because of this that the Duke of Orleans pushed forward so vigorously when the decree was signed last August—for him, he only sacrificed a small profit in exchange for a great reputation, which is an unprecedented good thing.

An Ning: "Your Excellency, although I'm just putting on a show this time, what if I get a good chance to wipe out the rebels in one fell swoop? Isn't this possibility worth your risky investment?"

"If your army is stronger, I'd like to give it a try." The Duke shook his head, "But you also said just now that it's just a mob. Naturally, I'm worried that my investment will be wasted."

An Ning: "You can't think that way. In fact, tomorrow you can announce that you have funded the counter-rebellion and gained great prestige. Now in the National Assembly, as a nobleman, you have less right to speak than Mirabeau. I don't think you should Do something to increase your influence in Parliament?"

When the Duke of Orleans heard Mirabeau's name, his face darkened.

Mirabeau was originally a writer supported by him, and he was mainly hired to write dirty stories about the queen. Unexpectedly, the miscellaneous fish raised by his subordinates are now flourishing in the parliament by relying on their flexible social skills. The Duke is of course unhappy up.

An Ning deliberately provokes the Duke by provoking Mirabeau, reminding the Duke not to miss this good opportunity to increase his reputation.

The Duke stood up, walked back and forth in the study twice, then pointed to An Ning and said, "I can only give you a one-time subsidy, [-] livres, all of which will be converted into silver coins, and there will be no more."

An Ning immediately saluted the Duke respectfully: "Thank you very much for your generosity."

Duke: "I'll write to the bank right now and ask them to prepare silver coins. Tomorrow...no, it should be the day after tomorrow. The silver coins will be delivered to your manor."

The Duke said "your manor" here. In fact, the manor where An Ning lives is also the property of the Duke. Thinking about it carefully, he is really trying to catch the Duke.

An Ning bowed to the Duke again: "I don't have any doubts, waiting for the silver coins to arrive."

Duke: "Well. By the way, have you eaten? If you haven't eaten, stay and eat together."

An Ning: "Sorry, I have another important thing to do tonight."

"What's important?" the Duke asked half-jokingly, "more important than having dinner with your benefactor?"

"I need cavalry, marching and fighting, without cavalry as reconnaissance cover is not enough, troops without cavalry are like blind men, it is easy to bump into the enemy and wipe them out."

An Ning paused for a moment, "Based on what the captain from Libreville who fled back said, they didn't have cavalry for reconnaissance. As a result, they ran into the rebels head-on, and were slaughtered in a hasty fight."

The Duke nodded: "Indeed, cavalry is very important. But as far as I know, the entire National Guard has no cavalry. Where are you going to get cavalry? Do you want it from the old army stationed in Verdun?"

What the duke said was indeed true. The cavalry is expensive, and it takes time to develop. So now the cavalry in France are all the old kingdom army, and the number of cavalry owned by the National Guard is zero.

Lafayette also thought about hiring the hussars of the Royal Army and turning them into cavalry troops of the National Guard.

But most of the hussars were Hungarians. They thought their employer was the king and looked down on the National Guard composed of old trousers.

As for the cavalry unit composed of the French, most of the cuirassiers are aristocratic lords, and most of the lancers are of noble origin. Although the dragoons are known as infantry fighting on horseback, most of them are either rich or noble.

The main skill of riding a horse, except for nomads, other ethnic groups is basically only the leisure class can play.

An Ning, a cobbler who can ride a horse, will attract a group of people who are inexplicably surprised.

In short, it is a bit difficult for this group of people to join the National Self-Defense Forces composed of trousers.

No wonder the Duke wondered where An Ning was looking for cavalry.

An Ning: "Indeed, there is probably no way to borrow the cavalry unit of the army. However, there is a cavalry unit. I think we can try to borrow it."

Duke: "Which cavalry unit?"

"Her Majesty's Imperial Guard Knights, those girls are also cavalry, if they are only used for reconnaissance missions, they should be enough. Don't you think His Majesty the King is willing to show his presence now?"

The Duke's mouth became O-shaped: "You mean Christina and the others? Sometimes I really think that you are quite whimsical, and you dare to think of anything."

An Ning: "Don't you think this is the most feasible way to obtain cavalry under the current circumstances?"

"The premise is that your majesty can really be persuaded by you..." The duke hesitated halfway through speaking, "Damn, your majesty must have been frightened to death when he saw you, so he didn't dare to say no. Since you are going to find your majesty, you should Hurry up and start, I wish you success... If you borrow cavalry, remember not to send my daughter to a dangerous place."

An Ning: "Don't worry, I won't really let a group of noble ladies go to charge. I can't afford any mistakes in this group of people's charge. Then, I will leave."

An Ning stood up, bowed to the Duke, and then walked backwards out of the room.

As soon as he left, the duke snorted, "Hmph, you're asking me for money and a daughter. You'd better remember your investment in suppressing my rebellion this time."

Chapter 090 All the cavalry of the noble lady, here we come!

An Ning rushed from the Royal Palace to the Du Yinlei Palace non-stop.