14. End of the Second Hundred Years War 1
By the ti the entire United Kingdom was suffering from asles in the aftermath of the Great Crash. Changes also began on the Iberian front.
The French, who finally found their base with the help of local intelligence, attacked and dealt a decisive blow to the Spanish resistance.
That day, Napoleon unleashed his rigid defenses and launched a full-scale attack on the Lines of Torres Vedras.
The corps of Joseph Bonaparte and Gabriel Suchet moved from Murcia to Mlaga. Jean-Baptiste Jourdans Corps marched from Galicia to Vigo.
Then Napoleon led his own army to Fort Badajoz where Arthur Wellesley was staying.
The Allies were surprised by this sudden attack and prepared to respond, but the French had already co close to them.
We have a good advance, maybe because weve eradicated the rats that nibbled on the wagons! Hahaha!
Michel Ney and the other marshals were happy to have broken the boring confrontation.
The soldiers who marched with confidence with the possibility of victory looked brave and powerful. They did not waste their ti during the break that did not have much fighting.
The corps, which raised its physical condition and discipline under Napoleons leadership with hard training and adequate rest, was showing off its supre discipline, even though it had long been off the battlefield. Confidence. They had confidence that they could win against any enemy.
Im sure we would be able to keep up with the Republics standing army.
Napoleon tried to hide his satisfaction while looking around. The French were about to cross a bridge on their way to Badajoz. Across the bridge, so cavalryn with white flags were waiting for Napoleon. There was a ssenger of the British army among them.
This is a letter from our commander-in-chief to His Majesty the Emperor of the Empire.
On his way to Badajoz, Napoleon received a letter written by Arthur Wellesley from the ssenger. In the interest and attention of many, he opened the letter and read it.
I greet Your Majesty the Emperor, the ruler of France.
It is the first ti that I am writing such a direct letter to Your Majesty, even though I have been facing France for a long ti. Please forgive if there is any awkwardness in manners and expressions.
It was a hard handwriting that felt rigid and strict. Napoleons gaze went down.
The long-running war is causing trials and suffering not only to the people of the Iberian Peninsula, but also to the citizens of Britain and France, and to the people of neighboring countries who have a supporting role in this war.
I am sure that this will do harm to the developed civil society, the state and nationalism that developed in the 19th century(omitted)
The frontier drawn by the Allied forces, including Fort Badajoz where Your Majesty troops are marching, is solid and did not miss your advance.
It cannot be denied that Your Majesty have superhuman military strength that will never be seen again in the history of war, but it is not enough to win in enemy territory, even if you had at least three tis the power.
The fortresses and fortifications ford by the blood and sweat of the Allies and their resentnt against France will remain unbroken by any odds. I hope that the brilliant Emperor of France will make the right decision with consideration for the subjects of the Empire.
Although he added long phrases, the content ant Dont suffer from our defense, and turn back now. At the provocation, Napoleon smirked and called Jean-Andoche Junot, who was in the rear.
Did you call, Your Majesty?
Read this. Its a letter from Wellesley.
Napoleon gave the letter to Junot. Junot read it carefully, spat out a low-pitched swear word and then spoke.
Hes making a clumsy excuse on the outside, but its really a lousy provocation. The more scared a wildcat feels, the louder it cries. Your Majesty, you dont have to pay any attention to this.
The main reason why I showed this letter to you is because you have exchanged many letters with Arthur Wellesley.
Napoleon understood that this was a psychological battle between top commanders. However, because he had mostly heard about Wellesleys tendency through rumors, he handed over the judgnt on the situation to Junot, who could be said to know Wellesley well. Junot thought for a mont and replied.
Theres certainly nothing strange about this letter. He is a mber of a high-ranking noble family in England, and he values manners and praises chivalry and gentlemans will. Ive never seen this kind of ugliness from him before.
Napoleon nodded. He also thought that it was far from Wellesleys usual disposition. He had a rough idea of what this ant.
His Excellency said that I should wait for Your Majesty the Emperors reply, staying here for a while
No, you dont have to.
Napoleon, smiling at the ssengers words, continued.
My reply will be shown on the battlefield.
One thing for sure was that he had no intention of following Wellesleys letter. Napoleon increased the speed of the corps. Arthur Wellesley was waiting at Fort Badajoz, looking forward to the final battle of this war.
===
Located between hills, Fort Badajoz stood like an outpost, blocking the French and Allied forces.
The coalition forces, which were densely deployed behind the fortress and on its side, were standing by with an optimal formation, completely blocking the entrance to the city of Badajoz.
It was a solid and strong fortress, with troops placed in the right way. If they attacked them like this, even a corps of elite soldiers would have to suffer enormous losses.
Advance!
The left wing of Napoleons Corps advanced to the sound of the military band. The coalition seed rather surprised by the French armys approaching head-on with such pace. Napoleon nodded quietly, and one of the officers who saw it sent a signal to the left wing.
Turn left!
The head of the procession turned.
And the battalions that followed in line with the lead turned together. As they headed for the fortress, the left wing exposed its right side when it turned south.
Once again, Napoleon looked through his telescope at the enemies on the fortress and behind it.
Ha, those idiots Tell them to speed up on the left!
I will follow your orders, Your Majesty!
The French armys march in front of the fortress accelerated. After advancing for about 4 to 5 kiloters from the corps headquarters, the troops stood by and occupied the southern part of Fort Badajoz.
Then, the company reorganized its batteries with a complete formation. And Napoleons Corps was completely divided into two like this. The two parts took formation, surrounding the south and east of the city of Badajoz.
What about Massnas Corps?
He is almost there. It will take about an hour for him to deploy his troops.
Tell him to set up a camp north of the fortress and proceed with the operation as planned.
Yes, Your Majesty!
After speaking, Napoleon expressed his willingness to fight. He was determined not to end this confrontation with a simple siege.
There must be a storm in the island country across the sea by now.
Nevertheless, the descendants of proud pirates would not easily sign an armistice. Balloons could only pop when inflated. All they needed was a trigger and a shock.
And this would be the capture of Fort Badajoz, which was at the core of the Lines of Torres Vedras and was guarded by Arthur Wellesleys Corps.
Gentlen.
The eyes of the marshals and officers staying in command focused on him.
Its ti to end this long war.
News arrived that Massnas Corps had arrived north of Badajoz. Napoleon gave the order to attack.
The French tricolor flags began to fly as cannons rang out from the north, south and east.
===
The battle between the French to break down the defensive barrier and the Allies to stop it continued today as well.
Fearless warriors from both sides pushed themselves into the battlefield, where shells and bullets were pouring in, and struggled to put their flags on high grounds.
The dominance changed several tis a day. The body filled the fields, and blood colored the surrounding rivers red.
Desperate battles were taking place all over the battlefield, but the armies of both sides followed one unwritten rule. Do not aim guns and cannons at the ergency evacuation teams who imdiately ca to take care of injured soldiers.
The Allied and French forces were in the midst of a war in which only the heartless and cruel could survive, but they never touched the evacuation convoy.
Arthur Wellesley saw it as an effort made by the people not to lose their humanity and chivalry.
There is a hole in the wall surrounding the city, sir! At this rate, we may have to give up the city today or tomorrow
Arthur Wellesley had to soothe his bitter stomach at the words of the chief of staff. The situation got twisted when Massnas Corps, which had been advancing north to support Jourdans Corps, quickly turned around and took over the northern part of Badajoz.
The Allies were outnumbered and were attacked on three sides, making them at a structural disadvantage. If it had been only this much, Wellesley might have been able to block the French offensive with the power of his n.
However, the Frenchs current combat capabilities exceeded the expectations of Wellesley and the Allied officers.
They were not at this level when we faced them on the Arlanzn River. What kind of magic did he do!
Anyway, it was clear that the ti that they could hold out here was limited. One of the clever officers ca up with a bold suggestion.
The city can be recaptured at any ti as long as the fortress doesnt fall. The situation is not very good right now, so I think it would better to step down for a while.
The fortification of Fort Badajoz, known for its robustness, did not budge at all during this short siege.
Also, without much support, Wellesleys Corps could retreat to the city of vora, where the coalitions warehouses were located, get more n and enough supplies.
It would be a strategic retreat. Of course, they would have to give up this city until then, but under the circumstances, they could not find a better option.
Lets retreat. But we must co back and retake this place.
They would let the owner of the city surrounding the fort change. However, during that ti, Wellesleys troops would be able to regain strength to attack the French forces besieging the fortress.
Arthur Wellesleys decision was the best one to defend both his troops and his cause as the commander-in-chief of the Allied Forces against the French.
But the world was so cruel that it sotis made fun of humans with the mischief of fate. This ti, its target was the coalition forces led by Arthur Wellesley.
===
The fall of Badajoz! The shocking news of the war on the peninsula.
The door to Portugal opens wide. The Kingdoms Army is in the worst situation.
We cant continue this war anymore We need to negotiate a ceasefire as soon as possible
Arthur Wellesley wrote a post-war report, calling it a strategic retreat, but breaking news of the overall situation arrived much earlier on the mainland.
And the breaking news was enough to panic the entire court of Westminster as well as the citizens of London.
The collapse of the stock market and bankruptcy of businesses were causing despair and were paralyzing major industrial cities one after another.
Britains economy was struggling in great darkness, and it would take a long ti of patience to get through it. There was no ti or money for them to invest in a war that seed already over.
Stop the war on the peninsula that kills the young people of Britain!
We want to hold bread, not guns! The people are starving to death. What good is this war doing?
Abolish the inco tax imdiately and blow up the previous agreent! Wake up Westminster!
The citizens of London yearned for peace more intensely than ever. They took collective action, demanding an end to the war, the abolition of inco taxes (the taxes conducted to cover the cost of war), and the paynt of overdue wages.
If there is no ceasefire, we demand the resignation of the Cabinet!
They demonstrated in front of Westminster Palace, 10 Downing Street, and even St. Jas Palace (the palace of the British royal family).
So of the protesters did not hesitate to engage in violent confrontations with police officers or even pulled out swords. anwhile, a second shockwave hit the industrial economy of Britain.
Now that exports of tallurgical, shipbuilding and cotton industries plumted, nurous businesses went bankrupt, and were sold to securities companies and banks.
Britains economy once again faltered heavily, and citizens took to the streets, accusing the governnt and the royal family. So radical citizens even demanded a change of governnt.
Pri Minister Robert Jenkinson and the Tory mbers were cornered. In the end, they had only one choice.
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