Black Corporation: Joseon

Episode 1026 Alsace-Lorraine. (4)

Eventually, Maximilian I, fed up with the sluggish proceedings in the Imperial Diet, began to act on his own. A force composed of private armies from the Habsburg family and lords who supported the Habsburgs began moving towards Lorraine. But their march was not smooth.

Most of the lords along the route were uncooperative. It was natural for lords who believed in new religious sects, and lords who believed in Catholicism also often refused to cooperate.

-Because it was not decided by the Imperial Council, there is no obligation to support!

This was the reason they gave. Therefore, the army departing from the Habsburgs had to obtain food and other necessary items at their own expense.

“This is treason!”

Maximilian I, who received the report, shouted and became angry, but that was all. If he went one step further, he would turn the entire Imperial Assembly into an enemy, which was the worst possible outcome. And the Imperial Diet, including the seven electors, had already sent a warning to Maximilian I.

-There is no obligation to support military action that has not been agreed upon by Congress.

-No matter how emperor he is, he cannot force the lords.

“Damn it… the enemy was inside.”

Maximilian I gritted his teeth after reading the Imperial Diet’s notice. Maximilian I, who was re-reading the Imperial Diet’s notice with gritted teeth, let out a long sigh and looked at his subjects around him.

“Whoa. Look. This is the treatment the emperor of the Holy Roman Empire receives.”

All of his subjects bowed their heads in silence at the anger of Maximilian I, which was clearly evident in his words.

“Whoa~.”

After another long sigh, Maximilian I gave an order.

“A word to Count Tilly: ‘Win at all costs.’”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

The commander of the Habsburg army heading towards Lorraine was Count Tilly. He was a faithful Catholic and a loyalist to the Habsburg family. Maximilian I, who gave orders to Count Tilly, looked out the window and muttered.

“We must win this war. Only then can we overpower the arrogant bastards who run the Imperial Council.”

Maximilian I gritted his teeth as he thought of the nobles in the Imperial Council who were holding him back at every turn. Meanwhile, Count Tilly, who received Maximilian I’s order through a messenger, smiled bitterly.

“You have received a difficult order.”

The troops he currently leads are approximately 40,000, including cavalry and infantry artillery. Although it was a considerable force, the French army that entered Lorraine already numbered over 30,000 and was continuing to increase. The good news was that most of the French troops deployed were scattered across three regions in the Lorraine region.

There was a chance of victory if the scattered French troops were defeated individually before they regrouped. But this was by no means an easy operation. This was only possible through quick maneuver and concentration of firepower. However, looking at the current situation of the Habsburg army, this was close to impossible.

As mentioned earlier, there were very few people helping them. Count Tilly, who confirmed the order sent by Maximilian I, considered the situation of his allies, picked up a pen and began writing a letter. The summary of the letter to his lord Maximilian I was as follows.

-I am confident that I will win the first 1-2 battles. But after that, I am not confident.

-I will do my best to inflict damage on France. But we cannot be confident of victory.

-In the end, the final battle lies with diplomacy.

* * *

When the Habsburg army led by Count Tilly arrived in Lorraine, the French army already had more than 50,000 troops in Lorraine. However, the French army was distributed in Metz-Wirten (Börden) and Toul (Tuul). These areas were formerly bishoprics. And it was a place that would become French territory in the future.

-There is no need to scatter and shed blood needlessly to far away places.

-The Habsburg army has no choice but to come here anyway. why? Because we are here.

Although unnecessary dispersion of troops was avoided, the 15,000 to 20,000 troops per location were inferior to the advancing Habsburg army. France was well aware of this, but they did not expect that they would be defeated. This was because there was something learned from the empire during the last Italian war.

-Nowadays, street fighting is more popular than public election warfare.

-In the case of a rotation taking place in a wide open area, mobile warfare is impossible due to barbed wire and trenches. This kind of rotation must be won with firepower.

Although it had to pay a high price of enormous human casualties, France transformed itself into an imperial army faster than anyone else. Armed with a large number of artillery pieces and fire trucks and fire trucks, the French army showed great vigor despite being outnumbered.

-You might lose at least once. But even if they win, they won’t win!

And the battle that followed was similar to what Count Tilly and France expected, but proceeded differently. The first battle, fought at Metz, the easternmost of the bishoprics, was a fierce street battle. The Habsburg and French armies fought back and forth over who would own the bridges over the Moselle River that crossed the city of Metz.

In this urban battle, the French army’s secret weapon, a fire truck (submachine gun), shone. Although it was overwhelmingly smaller than a freight car, it was able to suppress the enemy by pouring bullets into it in a short period of time. However, the Habsburg army they were facing now was not the same Habsburg army that had defeated Venice in Italy.

It was the Habsburg army that was armed with long guns that were copies of Florentine long guns and wagons that were copies of military wagons, and used the method of ‘making roads with shells’ to deal with the French. In the end, after suffering heavy losses after a bloody battle that covered the roads and walls of Metz with blood, the French army had no choice but to retreat from Metz to Birten.

The Habsburg army was also in bad shape. The standard of military strategy was to pursue the retreating enemy and expand the battlefield, but the Habsburg army that occupied Metz did not have the stamina left to do so. Count Tilly focused on comforting the tired and injured troops and restoring their physical strength, and at the same time sent a letter to Maximilian I asking for help.

* * *

Count Tilly did not just sit around. First, Count Tilly strengthened security to block the exact situation of the Habsburg army from being known. Next, spies were sent out in all directions and they began to spread rumors throughout the Lorraine region.

-They say the French army suffered great damage in the city of Metz!

-They say the reason the emperor’s army stays in Metz is to prevent unnecessary bleeding!

-They say the imperial army will soon attack the area where the French army is staying again!

-The emperor promised to show mercy to France as long as they did not cooperate! They say this is the end of the conversation with the Imperial Council!

The rumors spread by spies shook the lords of Lorraine. It was clear that France suffered great losses and withdrew from Metz. It is said that the Habsburgs also suffered great losses, but it was unclear. Accordingly, the lords once again weighed their profits and losses.

-France is powerful, but the emperor is also powerful.

-Currently we are at odds with the Imperial Council, but the situation will change once an agreement is reached with the Imperial Council.

-then?

The lords of Lorraine, who had been calculating their profits and losses here and there, slowly began to move. First of all, Catholic lords began to actively support the Habsburg army. Soon, carts loaded with large quantities of food and medicine flocked to the city of Metz.

On the other hand, the lords who believed in the new sect began to withdraw one by one and express neutrality.

-If France wins, just hand over the bishopric as promised. If the emperor wins, you can ask for help from the Imperial Diet under the pretext of maintaining neutrality.

France, whose support was cut off due to the decision of the lords, had to bring supplies from home. After receiving this report, the Prime Minister reported it to Charles VIII and added:

“I will prepare for negotiations soon.”

“We’re not going to bend down and go in, are we?”

“no. Instead, I plan to harass the lords who only care about their opinions.”

“I will harass them for sure.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Meanwhile, Maximilian I, who had received Count Tilly’s report and request, was making a similar decision.

“I will provide the requested reinforcements. Please send it as quickly as possible. Also, supplies.”

“Yes.”

“And prepare for negotiations.”

“Yes, Your Majesty. Do you really intend to show mercy?”

“You never said that?”

“Still, I think it would be good for you to show mercy.”

“If you don’t want the same thing to happen again, you should set an example and show mercy.”

At least a few of the lords. While Maximilian I was planning to cut off his head, one of his subjects pointed out another problem:

“Then what will you do about Count Tilly? He carelessly mentioned His Majesty and spread false rumors. This is a serious sin.”

Maximilian I expressed doubt at the subject’s point.

“Count Tilly said that? “I’ve never heard anything like that before?”

“Ah…”

The subjects’ mouths fell silent at Maximilian I’s words. Rumors circulated as Maximilian I had said, but there was no clear evidence that Count Tilly himself had said those words. There was no evidence. Maximilian I had a stern look on his face and warned his subjects,

“You must not carelessly dishonor the general who is currently spreading propaganda on the front line.”

Maximilian I’s strong warning made the subjects think and think. He bowed.

“I will keep this in mind!”

This conversation also reached Count Tilly’s ears through several channels. Count Tilly, who heard the story, smiled bitterly.

“I heard the ‘poisoned chalice.’”

Now, France and its lords. Because they were getting good results against the Germans, Maximilian I had given it to them without question. It was certain that if they had bad results in the future or if they were criticized, it would add to this incident and lead to even worse results.

* * *

After the Battle of Metz, France and the Habsburgs The confrontation continued on the road from Metz to Birten and Toul. After three months of small-scale clashes in which both sides mobilized at most 2,300 troops, negotiations to end the war finally began. -Now France

. The illegally occupied area is the territory of our Holy Roman Empire! Move out immediately!

-What are you talking about? We were staying for the safe supply of iron ore and coal when we were unexpectedly attacked! It was a surprise attack without a declaration of war!

Two countries . The representatives of the two sides continued their fierce war of words, drawing parallel lines endlessly. Amid continued adjournment and adjournment, cursing and shouting, the representatives of both sides glared at each other and growled.

“Do you not realize that if this happens, it will be war again?”

“Aren’t we still at war anyway?”

“France is not afraid of our Holy Roman Empire!”

“Why us? If it looks that ridiculous, let’s get together again!”

While the two sides drew parallel lines, the nobles of the Imperial Council quietly moved.

-Let’s end here. If we end here, we will also try to maintain a good relationship with the emperor.

-It would be good if France could be greedy in moderation as well . So. If you continue, we will help the emperor with all our might. Through

the subtle mediation and warnings of the great nobles who controlled the Imperial Diet, the Habsburgs and France came to an agreement.