“The British have also developed the caplock gun and bullet-proof inserts, which will make it difficult for us to achieve a significant exchange ratio.”
“But we will have weapons superior to the caplock gun, equipment more convenient than the Sharp Signal Tower, and tactics better than the ‘rear slope + white line’.
“We shall continue to innovate, and even if we become the ‘Lion’, we will not stagnate.”
Joseph spread his arms and said loudly, “I can assure you all, France will be as great as Rome! Let us welcome that day together!”
All the officers stood up simultaneously, their faces flushed with excitement, shouting desperately, “As great as Rome!”
“Long live France!”
The officers who had previously clamored to petition for Napoleon were now quiet.
They had achieved the rank of senior officers, and they were smart. The Crown Prince had made it very clear that France’s current goal is to amass national power, continue to enhance the army’s combat capability, and avoid getting into a biting match with other “stray dogs.”
Yet General Bonaparte’s previous actions would cause the country to continuously “suffer wounds and bleed.”
No wonder His Royal Highness was so angry.
However, His Royal Highness also mentioned being “as great as Rome,” which means France will not be confined to its current sphere of influence. This implies that General Bonaparte may still have the chance to command the army and serve the nation again.
When the officers’ emotions had calmed down, Joseph began to announce the list of promoted officers and then the general plan for the second military reform.
It was not until 9 PM that the hundreds of officers left the military academy auditorium with the Crown Prince.
Everyone returned directly to the camp or the officers’ quarters. The Paris Police Academy had no tradition of officer balls.
As soon as Joseph got into the carriage, he saw Bertier coming over with a standardized Signal Tower document, which should have been delivered by the Signal Tower during the meeting earlier.
“Speak in the carriage,” Joseph signaled to the Chief of Staff.
After a moment, the carriage started.
Inside the carriage, Bertier handed the document in his hand to Joseph, saying, “Your Highness, it is from Colonel Juno.
“Five days ago, he achieved a victory, killing and capturing thousands of enemy troops, among whom were at least 300 British soldiers.
“Colonel Juno requests reinforcement to Iberia.
“Based on his previous encounters with the Anglo-Portuguese Army, he judges that if 20,000 more troops are dispatched, Lisbon could be captured by the end of the year at the latest.”
Joseph glanced at the report and shook his head, “Our troops in Portugal cannot exceed 7,000 in size. That is only if the Spaniards falter and cannot support the situation.
“Remember, our goal is not to quickly occupy Portugal.”
“Yes, Your Highness.” Bertier nodded and considered before saying, “Your Highness, I know the current strategic focus is on domestic development, but if there is a chance to remove the British naval base in the Bay of Cadiz, it could partially break the maritime blockade on our nation. This would also improve trade income.”
The Bay of Cadiz is the sea area on the southwestern side of Europe.
If Britain loses its naval base here, they would have to deploy fleets from their homeland to blockade this location, which would greatly increase their consumption and decrease the blockade density significantly.
This would allow French merchant ships to enter the Atlantic Ocean via Spanish ports.
Joseph, however, shook his head, “You seem to be overly optimistic.
“Even if we capture Lisbon, Portugal will most likely not surrender. The British will continue to hold Porto and resupply it by sea.
“In the end, we would still have to return to tackle the fortress group at Torres Vedras.”
He had ample evidence for this statement.
Two to three hundred years ago, the Portuguese were ruled by Spain, and Spain treated them very harshly. The Portuguese remember this as a “perpetual disgrace,” and their will to resist Spain is very strong.
Historically, Napoleon’s Franco-Spanish Alliance occupied Lisbon, even causing the Portuguese Royal Family to flee to Brazil.
However, the Portuguese immediately launched a nationwide guerrilla war.
The British held Porto, where they built a fortress line stretching over 30 kilometers. The Franco-Spanish Alliance exhausted themselves attacking Porto, yet never completely controlled it.
Using Porto as a base, the British continuously supported the Portuguese guerrillas. The Portuguese Royal Family also funneled all colonial income into the war. Ultimately, the Franco-Spanish Alliance, harassed by the guerrillas, ran into supply issues and withdrew in embarrassment.
Joseph understood fully that he could not let France get too deeply entangled in Iberia.
The British are like a ferocious beast; the more you rush to kill it, the more likely you are to be bitten back.
Bertier was somewhat puzzled, “Your Highness, then should we just maintain a standoff with the Anglo-Portuguese Army at Coimbra?”
Joseph smiled and shook his head, “We Spaniards will maintain a standoff with them.
“And it won’t be a permanent standstill either.
“We need to gradually change the mindset of the Portuguese.”
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Portugal is a country full of contradictions and helplessness. In the historical years of the Portuguese, only the Age of Exploration was their highlight moment. Before that, they were ruled by various people: Romans, Visigoths, Muslims. Afterward, the country continued to decline and became a marginal role in Europe.
Prehistoric times
Actually, when talking about any country’s history, you have to mention the prehistoric times of that country’s region, even a forsaken place like Siberia requires a mention of prehistoric humans. This is because the most ancient prehistoric humans were scattered across the earth, and almost all continents show traces of early human activity (as long as the continents are connected). We know that the early Earth was not like today, and the current arrangement of continents and oceans is the result of millions of years of geological movement; many of the earliest continents were connected, such as America and Asia, and the indigenous peoples of America and the Eskimos originally migrated from Asia as prehistoric humans.
Marie Adélaïde de Bourbon (French: Marie-Adélaïde de Bourbon/de France; March 23, 1732 – February 27, 1800), daughter of King Louis XV of France and Queen Marie Leszczynska. As the King’s legitimate daughter, she was the Daughter of France. Until the death of her sister Marie Louise de Bourbon in 1733, she was known as the Comtesse de Toulouse (“the Fourth Lady”) and then known as the Comtesse de Beauvais (“the Third Lady”); from 1737 to 1755, she was known as Madame Adelaide; from 1755 to 1759 as the Lady; then from 1759 until her death, known again as Madame Adelaide. [1] From 1777 to 1792, Adelaide and her sister Sophie Philippine Elisabeth Justine de Bourbon held the Duchy of Lu. This duchy was established for them by their nephew, Louis XVI, in his name. [1]
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