Chapter 789 Marching into Milan
"Sir Dawson, how can you be sure that I have such ability?" Jacques asked rhetorically.
"If you can't help break the city, why do you want us to meet?"
Looking at Dawson's confident look, Jacques no longer pretended to be secretive, "Okay, then I won't hide anything from you anymore -" and then explained the reason why he was hiding in Milan.
"When the Earl invited the heads of the autonomous city-states to attend the meeting in Lavati, the leader of Engrechi was included. Later, in order to attack Milan in the later stage, I was ordered to take my family and the belongings of more than ten carriages to Milan, and took refuge as a refugee with Wendell Onisir, the son of the palace prime minister. I have been friends with him for many years, and he accepted me without hesitation. "
Jacques spread his hands, glanced around the hall, and then said: "The luxurious mansion you see now was given to me by him. Of course, as a businessman seeking asylum, I also gave him the five carts of belongings I brought with me."
Jacques spoke very calmly, as if he was telling someone else's story.
"Previously, I learned the news that the Milan court sent people to Rome and the Principality of Swabia to ask for help from Wendell Onisir. He drank a lot of wine that night and inadvertently revealed a lot of information he got from the palace dignitaries. You know, As the son of the palace prime minister, even though his father was imprisoned by the Earl, the status of the Onisir family in the palace was still unshakable."
Dawson, who was sitting aside, secretly admired the unknown strength of the humble guy in front of him.
"In addition, the thirty-odd caravan guards I brought with me were also used as soldiers to defend the city by the palace in the name of recruiting troops.
However, they can be at my disposal at any time." After saying that, Jacques stared at Dawson closely, wanting to see his reaction.
Dawson stood up slowly and took two steps forward, "What do you mean~"
Jacques suddenly stretched out his hand to stop him, "As long as you understand——
Dawson retreated. Returned to his seat.
"Except for Engrech, the other autonomous city-states had arranged their own caravan guards and private soldiers to sneak into the city more than a month ago, and almost all of them were forced by the palace and sent to the city wall."
Dawson was shocked when he heard this. He never expected that these big businessmen, who looked smart and capable on the surface, had such tricks behind their backs. Only now did he understand Art's true intention of arranging for the two to meet.
As Art's nail and intelligence "general manager" in Milan, Dawson naturally became the best choice to lead these caravan guards secretly planted in Milan. This is also the main reason why Jacques took the risk to invite him to the mansion to meet.
"Excuse me, Lord Jacques, how many people are there in these caravan guards?" Dawson continued to ask.
Jacques stretched out three fingers, "About three hundred people!"
"Three hundred people!" Dawson couldn't help but widen his eyes.
“That’s right! Three hundred people!” Jacques said proudly. "I have already sent people to get in touch with them. Once the count attacks Milan, we will work together inside and outside!"
Jacques raised his right hand and clenched his fist tightly. From his eyes, it was enough to see how deeply these merchants in Lombardy's autonomous city-states hated the court of Milan.
At first, hundreds of soldiers from the Palace Guard were ordered by the palace to go to Engrech to collect war taxes. Jacques's younger brother, who was also a businessman, was not only beaten to death by these soldiers, but also robbed his family of all their money.
The deeply hit Jacques made up his mind from then on to overthrow the rule of the Milan court. When the news came that Art summoned the heads of autonomous city-states to Lavati to discuss overthrowing the rule of Milan, he knew that the opportunity had come. So, with the belongings of more than ten carriages raised by the guild, he went to Milan to join the "friends" Wendell Onisil family on the grounds that the Engrechi merchants were hostile.
Because of the close friendship between the two parties, Wendell Onisir not only gave him this luxurious mansion near the monastery in the north of the city, but also often called Jacques to his residence, where he got to know many palace dignitaries.
Since the palace prime minister was banned by Artin, Wendel has repeatedly asked Duke Witote to redeem his father. However, due to the opposition of some ministers in the palace, Duke Witote was unable to make a decision for a while. Until a few days ago, news came from the Milan palace that Duke Witote had given up the decision to redeem the palace prime minister. At this point, Wendel, the eldest son of the Onisir family, also secretly started to fight back.
In order to redeem his father, he began to secretly send people to contact the northern earl -
However, in order to prevent leaks, Jacques, who had a good relationship with Wendel, did not know the secret.
Suddenly, the city of Milan was in a turbulent situation, and many forces began to compete secretly.」
It was not until late at night that Dawson left here and quietly returned to the small hotel near the church in the west of the city. At dawn the next day, a member of the task force disguised himself as a beggar with disabled legs and climbed out of the south city gate in a dignified manner amidst the roars of the soldiers guarding the city.
Until he disappeared from people's sight, this pitiful-looking guy looked around. After confirming that there was no one around, he hurriedly got up from the ground and ran all the way south. It wasn't long before he escaped into the barren mountains and wild mountains -
In the south, the early morning bell woke up the sleeping people of Tila City.
However, before daybreak, the radiation soldiers coming and going from the city had already gone back and forth inside and outside the city many times. Fully loaded carriages carrying grain and supplies shuttled through the streets and drove slowly outside the north city gate. Since receiving the order from the Chinese Army to command the camp, the Heavy Transport Department, which is responsible for the legion's weight and material transportation, has been busy for two days and nights with more than a hundred troops and hundreds of servants. Various materials stored in the city's granaries and arsenals will be sent outside the north city gate to follow the army northward early tomorrow morning.
In addition, due to the relatively long journey to march north to Milan, and the addition of the 3,000 mercenary troops, the originally required supplies were more than double those before.
Hence, Art ordered the conscription of a large number of carriages and hundreds of horses in the city of Tirah, and temporarily gave them to the legions to transport supplies.
When the merchants in Tila City heard the news that the legion was going north, they all contributed money and supplies, sending a large amount of food, fruits, vegetables, drinks, and millions of pfennigs to the garrison camp outside the north gate. This is not only a little bit of their thoughts, but also a way to express their attitude.
At noon, eight thousand Provence soldiers led by Count Balian arrived at the temporary garrison camp outside the city on time. Following closely behind these soldiers were thousands of military servants and servants, as well as traders, camp prostitutes, and jugglers.
The already crowded Beicheng Gate suddenly became lively. After hearing the news, the vendors in Tila City rushed outside the north city gate in a swarm, enthusiastically selling their goods to these newly arrived customers.
According to the original plan, the eight thousand soldiers led by Balian were stationed in an open space northeast of the Welsh Legion camp. The camps of both sides were separated by trade roads and divided into two.
Immediately afterwards, marching tents were quickly set up in the open space, one next to the other. But compared with the neatly arranged military tents in the Welsh Legion camp, the camp built by the Provence soldiers was slightly rough. Although it's not messy, it's not neat either.
In less than half a day, the open space outside the North City Gate was filled with densely packed marching tents.
When night falls, Provençal soldiers wandering around can be seen everywhere in the streets and alleys of Tiara. The city's taverns, Moulin Rouge and various shops were almost entirely filled with Provençal soldiers.
The Welsh regiment soldiers who were originally stationed here are rarely seen today.
Of course, all this is the arrangement of Art, the new lord of Tira City. You must know that the number of soldiers in Provence far exceeds that of the Welsh Army. In addition, the reputation of Tira City is naturally enough to attract these soldiers who have their pockets filled with military rewards to spend some money.
At this time, Balian, as the commander of the eight thousand frontier army, gathered with Art and a group of high-ranking officers around the long table in the lord's mansion in the southwest corner, discussing the next march route ""...My lord, Count Balian, everyone, there are two routes to march northeast from the city of Tira to Milan. The nearest route will pass three military forts and two market towns along the way. According to the report from the sentinels we sent, most of the opponent's troops are concentrated in the two military forts near the city of Milan. Only about 500 people are concentrated in another military fort and two market towns, and all of them are light armored infantry. ”
After speaking, Odo, the deputy commander of the convoy, pointed the wooden stick in his hand at the arc-shaped marching route on the left side of the map.
"Compared with the former, this march route not only has no obstacles, but also has a flat terrain. The only disadvantage is that it takes one day longer than the previous route. In order to clear the obstacles around Milan and speed up the encirclement of the city of Milan, we believe that this march should be divided. Two routes, one to go around, and the other to clear out the stubborn forces along the way. When the two sides join forces, they will attack Milan with all their strength!"
"Okay!" As soon as Odo finished speaking, Balian punched the table, strongly agreeing with this arrangement.
"In that case, Count Balian, let's make a deal." Art on the side took over, "Tomorrow at noon, you will lead the troops to set off first and head to Milan along the western front. The Welsh Army will follow closely behind, from the front Break through the enemy's defenses and join forces with you under the city of Milan. By then, no matter how impregnable the city walls of Milan are, they will not be able to withstand the siege of our tens of thousands of troops!"
"Okay, it's a deal!"
"It's a deal!"
The two stretched out their right hands and held them tightly.
After confirming the marching route, Art arranged a rare meal for everyone present to comfort everyone in the fierce battle they were about to face.
On the second Thursday of March, tens of thousands of troops from the city of Tirah broke out of camp one after another and marched toward the northeast amidst the cheers of the people.