Chapter 85
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Chapter 85
14. End of the Second Hundred Years’ War – 1
By the time the entire United Kingdom was suffering from measles 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 Málaga. Jean-Baptiste Jourdan’s 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 come close to them.
“We have a good advance, maybe because we’ve 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 time during the break that did not have much fighting.
The corps, which raised its physical condition and discipline under Napoleon’s leadership with hard training and adequate rest, was showing off its supreme discipline, even though it had long been off the battlefield. Confidence. They had confidence that they could win against any enemy.
‘I’m sure we would be able to keep up with the Republic’s 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, some cavalrymen with white flags were waiting for Napoleon. There was a messenger 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 messenger. 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 time that I am writing such a direct letter to Your Majesty, even though I have been facing France for a long time. Please forgive me if there is any awkwardness in manners and expressions.
It was a hard handwriting that felt rigid and strict. Napoleon’s 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 times the power.
The fortresses and fortifications formed by the blood and sweat of the Allies and their resentment 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 meant ‘Don’t 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. It’s a letter from Wellesley.”
Napoleon gave the letter to Junot. Junot read it carefully, spat out a low-pitched swear word and then spoke.
“He’s making a clumsy excuse on the outside, but it’s really a lousy provocation. The more scared a wildcat feels, the louder it cries. Your Majesty, you don’t 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 Wellesley’s tendency through rumors, he handed over the judgment on the situation to Junot, who could be said to know Wellesley well. Junot thought for a moment and replied.
“There’s certainly nothing strange about this letter. He is a member of a high-ranking noble family in England, and he values manners and praises chivalry and gentleman’s will. I’ve never seen this kind of ugliness from him before.”
Napoleon nodded. He also thought that it was far from Wellesley’s usual disposition. He had a rough idea of what this meant.
“His Excellency said that I should wait for Your Majesty the Emperor’s reply, staying here for a while…”
“No, you don’t have to.”
Napoleon, smiling at the messenger’s words, continued.
“My reply will be shown on the battlefield.”
One thing for sure was that he had no intention of following Wellesley’s 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 Napoleon’s Corps advanced to the sound of the military band. The coalition seemed rather surprised by the French army’s 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 army’s march in front of the fortress accelerated. After advancing for about 4 to 5 kilometers 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 Napoleon’s 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 Masséna’s 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 Wellesley’s Corps.
“Gentlemen.”
The eyes of the marshals and officers staying in command focused on him.
“It’s time to end this long war.”
News arrived that Masséna’s 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 times 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 emergency evacuation teams who immediately came 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 Masséna’s Corps, which had been advancing north to support Jourdan’s 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 men.
However, the French’s current combat capabilities exceeded the expectations of Wellesley and the Allied officers.
‘They were not at this level when we faced them on the Arlanzón River. What kind of magic did he do!…’
Anyway, it was clear that the time that they could hold out here was limited. One of the clever officers came up with a bold suggestion.
“The city can be recaptured at any time as long as the fortress doesn’t 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, Wellesley’s Corps could retreat to the city of Évora, where the coalition’s warehouses were located, get more men 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.
“…Let’s retreat. But we must come back and retake this place.”
They would let the owner of the city surrounding the fort change. However, during that time, Wellesley’s troops would be able to regain strength to attack the French forces besieging the fortress.
Arthur Wellesley’s 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 sometimes made fun of humans with the mischief of fate. This time, 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 Kingdom’s Army is in the worst situation.
We can’t 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.
Britain’s economy was struggling in great darkness, and it would take a long time of patience to get through it. There was no time or money for them to invest in a war that seemed 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 income tax immediately and blow up the previous agreement! 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 income taxes (the taxes conducted to cover the cost of war), and the payment of overdue wages.
‘If there is no ceasefire, we demand the resignation of the Cabinet!’
Read latest Chapters at Wuxia World . Site Only
They demonstrated in front of Westminster Palace, 10 Downing Street, and even St. James’ Palace (the palace of the British royal family).
Some of the protesters did not hesitate to engage in violent confrontations with police officers or even pulled out swords. Meanwhile, a second shockwave hit the industrial economy of Britain.
Now that exports of metallurgical, shipbuilding and cotton industries plummeted, numerous businesses went bankrupt, and were sold to securities companies and banks.
Britain’s economy once again faltered heavily, and citizens took to the streets, accusing the government and the royal family. Some radical citizens even demanded a change of government.
Prime Minister Robert Jenkinson and the Tory members were cornered. In the end, they had only one choice.
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Chapter 85
14. End of the Second Hundred Years’ War – 1
By the time the entire United Kingdom was suffering from measles 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 Málaga. Jean-Baptiste Jourdan’s 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 come close to them.
“We have a good advance, maybe because we’ve 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 time during the break that did not have much fighting.
The corps, which raised its physical condition and discipline under Napoleon’s leadership with hard training and adequate rest, was showing off its supreme discipline, even though it had long been off the battlefield. Confidence. They had confidence that they could win against any enemy.
‘I’m sure we would be able to keep up with the Republic’s 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, some cavalrymen with white flags were waiting for Napoleon. There was a messenger 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 messenger. 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 time that I am writing such a direct letter to Your Majesty, even though I have been facing France for a long time. Please forgive me if there is any awkwardness in manners and expressions.
It was a hard handwriting that felt rigid and strict. Napoleon’s 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 times the power.
The fortresses and fortifications formed by the blood and sweat of the Allies and their resentment 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 meant ‘Don’t 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. It’s a letter from Wellesley.”
Napoleon gave the letter to Junot. Junot read it carefully, spat out a low-pitched swear word and then spoke.
“He’s making a clumsy excuse on the outside, but it’s really a lousy provocation. The more scared a wildcat feels, the louder it cries. Your Majesty, you don’t 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 Wellesley’s tendency through rumors, he handed over the judgment on the situation to Junot, who could be said to know Wellesley well. Junot thought for a moment and replied.
“There’s certainly nothing strange about this letter. He is a member of a high-ranking noble family in England, and he values manners and praises chivalry and gentleman’s will. I’ve never seen this kind of ugliness from him before.”
Napoleon nodded. He also thought that it was far from Wellesley’s usual disposition. He had a rough idea of what this meant.
“His Excellency said that I should wait for Your Majesty the Emperor’s reply, staying here for a while…”
“No, you don’t have to.”
Napoleon, smiling at the messenger’s words, continued.
“My reply will be shown on the battlefield.”
One thing for sure was that he had no intention of following Wellesley’s 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 Napoleon’s Corps advanced to the sound of the military band. The coalition seemed rather surprised by the French army’s 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 army’s march in front of the fortress accelerated. After advancing for about 4 to 5 kilometers 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 Napoleon’s 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 Masséna’s 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 Wellesley’s Corps.
“Gentlemen.”
The eyes of the marshals and officers staying in command focused on him.
“It’s time to end this long war.”
News arrived that Masséna’s 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 times 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 emergency evacuation teams who immediately came 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 Masséna’s Corps, which had been advancing north to support Jourdan’s 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 men.
However, the French’s current combat capabilities exceeded the expectations of Wellesley and the Allied officers.
‘They were not at this level when we faced them on the Arlanzón River. What kind of magic did he do!…’
Anyway, it was clear that the time that they could hold out here was limited. One of the clever officers came up with a bold suggestion.
“The city can be recaptured at any time as long as the fortress doesn’t 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, Wellesley’s Corps could retreat to the city of Évora, where the coalition’s warehouses were located, get more men 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.
“…Let’s retreat. But we must come back and retake this place.”
They would let the owner of the city surrounding the fort change. However, during that time, Wellesley’s troops would be able to regain strength to attack the French forces besieging the fortress.
Arthur Wellesley’s 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 sometimes made fun of humans with the mischief of fate. This time, 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 Kingdom’s Army is in the worst situation.
We can’t 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.
Britain’s economy was struggling in great darkness, and it would take a long time of patience to get through it. There was no time or money for them to invest in a war that seemed 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 income tax immediately and blow up the previous agreement! 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 income taxes (the taxes conducted to cover the cost of war), and the payment of overdue wages.
‘If there is no ceasefire, we demand the resignation of the Cabinet!’
Read latest Chapters at Wuxia World . Site Only
They demonstrated in front of Westminster Palace, 10 Downing Street, and even St. James’ Palace (the palace of the British royal family).
Some of the protesters did not hesitate to engage in violent confrontations with police officers or even pulled out swords. Meanwhile, a second shockwave hit the industrial economy of Britain.
Now that exports of metallurgical, shipbuilding and cotton industries plummeted, numerous businesses went bankrupt, and were sold to securities companies and banks.
Britain’s economy once again faltered heavily, and citizens took to the streets, accusing the government and the royal family. Some radical citizens even demanded a change of government.
Prime Minister Robert Jenkinson and the Tory members were cornered. In the end, they had only one choice.
Chapter 8514. End of the SecondHundred Years' War 1By thetime theentire United Kingdom was sufferingfrom measles in the aftermathofthe Great Crash'. Changesalso began on theIberian front.The French, who finally found their basewith thehelp of local intelligence, attacked and dealt a decisive blowtothe Spanishresistance.Thatday, Napoleon unleashedhis rigid defenses and launched a full-scaleattack on the Lines of TorresVedras.The corps of Joseph Bonaparteand GabrielSuchet moved fromMurcia to Mlaga. Jean-BaptisteJourdan's Corps marchedfrom Galicia to Vigo.Then Napoleon led hisown armytoFort Badajoz where Arthur Wellesleywas staying.TheAllies weresurprised by thissudden attack andpreparedtorespond, but the Frenchhad alreadycome close to them.We havea good advance, maybe becausewe'veeradicated therats that nibbledonthe wagons! Hahaha!Michel Neyand the other marshals were happy to havebroken the boringconfrontation.The soldiers whomarched with confidencewith thepossibilityofvictory lookedbraveand powerful. They did notwastetheirtime duringthe break thatdid not have muchfighting.Thecorps, which raised itsphysicalcondition and discipline under Napoleon'sleadership with hardtrainingand adequate rest, was showing off itssupreme discipline, even though it hadlong been off thebattlefield. Confidence. Theyhad confidencethat they could win against any enemy.I'msure we would be able to keepupwith theRepublic's standing army.'Napoleon tried to hidehis satisfaction while looking around. The French were about to cross abridge on their way to Badajoz. Acrossthe bridge, some cavalrymen withwhiteflagswere waiting for Napoleon. Therewas amessenger of the British armyamongthem.This is aletter fromour commander-in-chief to HisMajesty theEmperor of theEmpire.On his waytoBadajoz, Napoleonreceiveda letterwritten by ArthurWellesley fromthe messenger. Inthe interest and attentionofmany, heopened the letterand readit.I greet YourMajesty theEmperor, the ruler of France.Itisthe first timethat I am writingsuch a direct lettertoYour Majesty, even though I havebeen facingFrance for a longtime. Please forgivemeifthereisany awkwardness in mannersand expressions.It was a hardhandwritingthat felt rigid and strict. Napoleon'sgaze went down.Thelong-running war is causing trials andsuffering not only to the peopleofthe IberianPeninsula, butalso to thecitizensofBritain andFrance, andtothe people of neighboring countrieswho havea supporting roleinthis war.I am surethat this willdoharm to thedeveloped civil society, the state andnationalismthat developedinthe 19thcenturyomittedThe frontier drawn by the Alliedforces, includingFort Badajoz where YourMajesty' troops are marching, issolidand did notmiss your advance.It cannotbedenied thatYour Majesty havesuperhuman military strength that willneverbeseen again in thehistory of war, but it is notenough to win in enemy territory, evenifyou had at least three times thepower.Thefortresses andfortificationsformed by the blood andsweatofthe Allies andtheirresentment against France will remain unbroken by anyodds. I hope thatthe brilliant Emperor of France will makethe right decision withconsideration forthe subjects of the Empire.Althoughheaddedlong phrases, thecontent meant Don'tsuffer fromour defense, and turn backnow'. Atthe provocation, Napoleon smirked and calledJean-Andoche Junot, whowas in the rear.Did youcall, Your Majesty?Read this. It'sa letterfrom Wellesley.Napoleongave theletter to Junot. Junot read it carefully, spat outa low-pitched swear word and then spoke.He'smaking aclumsy excuse on theoutside, but it'sreally alousyprovocation. The more scared a wildcatfeels, the louderitcries. YourMajesty, you don't havetopay any attentiontothis.The mainreason why I showed this letter to youisbecause youhave exchangedmany letters withArthur Wellesley.Napoleon understood thatthis wasa psychological battle between top commanders. However, because he had mostlyheardaboutWellesley'stendencythrough rumors, he handed over the judgment on thesituation to Junot, whocouldbesaid to know Wellesley well. Junot thought for a moment andreplied.There's certainly nothing strangeaboutthis letter. He is amember of ahigh-ranking noble family in England, andhevalues mannersand praiseschivalryand gentleman's will. I'veneverseen this kindofuglinessfrom himbefore.Napoleon nodded. Healso thought thatitwas far from Wellesley's usual disposition. He hada rough idea of whatthis meant.HisExcellency said thatI shouldwait forYour Majesty the Emperor'sreply, stayinghere fora whileNo, you don't haveto.Napoleon, smilingatthe messenger's words, continued.Myreplywill be shown on thebattlefield.One thing for sure was that he had no intentionoffollowing Wellesley's letter. Napoleonincreased the speed of thecorps. Arthur Wellesleywas waitingatFort Badajoz, looking forwardtothe final battle of this war.===Located betweenhills, FortBadajoz stood like an outpost, blocking the Frenchand Allied forces.Thecoalition forces, whichwere densely deployed behind thefortressand on its side, were standing by withanoptimal formation, completelyblockingthe entrance to the city of Badajoz.It wasa solid andstrong fortress, with troops placedinthe right way. Ifthey attacked them likethis, even a corps of elite soldiers would havetosuffer enormous losses.Advance!The left wingofNapoleon's Corps advanced to thesoundofthe military band. The coalitionseemed rather surprisedbythe French army'sapproachinghead-on with suchpace. Napoleonnodded quietly, and oneofthe officers who sawitsent a signal to theleft wing.Turnleft!Thehead of theprocession turned.Andthe battalionsthat followed in line withthe leadturned together. As they headed forthe fortress, theleft wing exposedits right sidewhen it turnedsouth.Once again, Napoleon lookedthrough histelescope at the enemies on the fortress andbehind it.Ha, those idiots Tell them to speed up on the left!I willfollow yourorders, Your Majesty!The French army'smarchinfrontofthe fortress accelerated. After advancingfor about 4 to5 kilometers fromthe corps headquarters, the troops stood by andoccupiedthe southern partofFort Badajoz.Then, the companyreorganizedits batteries with acompleteformation. AndNapoleon's Corps wascompletely divided intotwo likethis. The two parts took formation, surroundingthe south and east of the city of Badajoz.What about Massna's Corps?He is almostthere. It willtake about an hour for himtodeploy his troops.Tellhim to set up a campnorthofthe fortress and proceed withthe operation as planned.Yes, YourMajesty!After speaking, Napoleonexpressed his willingness to fight. Hewas determinednot to end this confrontationwith a simple siege.There must be astorminthe island country across thesea by now.Nevertheless, the descendants of proud pirates would not easilysign an armistice. Balloons could onlypop wheninflated. All they needed wasa trigger and a shock.And thiswouldbethe captureofFort Badajoz, which wasatthe coreofthe Lines of Torres Vedrasand was guarded by Arthur Wellesley's Corps.Gentlemen.The eyesofthe marshals and officers staying in commandfocused on him.It's time to end this longwar.Newsarrived that Massna'sCorpshad arrivednorthofBadajoz. Napoleongave theordertoattack.The French tricolor flags began to flyascannons rang out from the north, southand east.===The battle between the Frenchtobreakdown thedefensive barrierand the Alliestostop it continuedtodayaswell.Fearless warriors fromboth sides pushedthemselves into the battlefield, whereshells and bullets werepouring in, and struggled to puttheirflagsonhigh grounds.The dominance changed severaltimesa day. The body filled thefields, andbloodcolored thesurroundingrivers red.Desperate battles weretaking place all over the battlefield, but the armiesofboth sides followed oneunwritten rule. Do not aimguns andcannons at theemergency evacuationteamswho immediately cametotake care of injuredsoldiers.TheAllied and Frenchforces wereinthe midst of awar in which onlythe heartless andcruelcouldsurvive, but theynevertouched theevacuation convoy.ArthurWellesley saw it as an effortmade by thepeople not to lose their humanity and chivalry.There is a holeinthe wallsurroundingthe city, sir! Atthis rate, we mayhave to give up the city today or tomorrowArthur Wellesley hadtosoothe his bitterstomach at thewordsofthe chief of staff. Thesituation got twisted whenMassna's Corps, whichhad beenadvancing north to supportJourdan's Corps, quickly turned aroundand tookover thenorthernpart of Badajoz.The Allies were outnumbered and were attacked on three sides, makingthem at a structuraldisadvantage. If it hadbeen only thismuch, Wellesley might havebeen able to block the Frenchoffensive withthe power of his men.However, theFrench'scurrent combatcapabilities exceeded the expectationsofWellesley and theAllied officers.Theywere notatthis level when we faced themonthe Arlanzn River. What kind of magic did he do!'Anyway, it was clear that the time thatthey could hold out here was limited. Oneofthe clever officers came up witha bold suggestion.The citycan be recapturedatany timeaslong as thefortressdoesn't fall. Thesituation is not very goodrightnow, so I think it would better to step downfor awhile.The fortificationofFort Badajoz, known forits robustness, did notbudgeatall during this short siege.Also, without much support, Wellesley's Corps could retreattothe cityofvora, where thecoalition'swarehouses were located, get more men andenough supplies.Itwouldbea strategicretreat. Ofcourse, they would havetogive up this cityuntilthen, but under the circumstances, they could not find abetter option.Let's retreat. Butwemust come backand retake this place.Theywouldlet the owner of thecity surrounding thefort change. However, during that time, Wellesley's troops would be able to regain strength to attackthe French forcesbesieging the fortress.Arthur Wellesley's decision wasthe bestone to defend both his troopsand his cause as thecommander-in-chief of the AlliedForces againstthe French.But theworldwas so cruel thatitsometimes madefun of humans with the mischief of fate. This time, its targetwas the coalitionforces led by ArthurWellesley.===The fall of Badajoz! The shocking news of the waronthe peninsula.The door to Portugal opens wide. The Kingdom'sArmy is in theworstsituation.Wecan'tcontinuethis waranymore We need to negotiate a ceasefire as soon as possibleArthur Wellesley wrote a post-war report, calling it a strategic retreat, butbreakingnews of theoverall situationarrived much earlieronthe mainland.And the breaking news was enoughtopanicthe entire court of Westminster as well as the citizens of London.Thecollapseofthe stock market andbankruptcy of businesses werecausing despair and were paralyzingmajorindustrial citiesone after another.Britain'seconomy wasstruggling in great darkness, and it would takea long timeofpatiencetoget throughit. There was no time or money for them to invest in a war that seemed already over.Stop thewar on the peninsulathat kills theyoungpeople of Britain!We wanttohold bread, not guns! The peopleare starving to death. What goodisthis wardoing?Abolishthe income taximmediatelyand blowupthe previous agreement! Wake up Westminster!ThecitizensofLondon yearnedfor peace moreintensely thanever. They took collectiveaction, demandinganend to the war, the abolitionofincome taxes thetaxesconducted to cover the cost of war, and thepayment of overdue wages.If there is no ceasefire, wedemand the resignation of theCabinet!'Read latest Chapters at Wuxia World . Site OnlyThey demonstrated in front of Westminster Palace, 10 DowningStreet, andeven St. James' Palace the palace of theBritish royal family.Some of theprotesters didnot hesitate to engage in violent confrontations withpolice officers or evenpulled out swords. Meanwhile, a secondshockwave hit theindustrial economy of Britain.Nowthat exports of metallurgical, shipbuilding andcotton industriesplummeted, numerous businesses wentbankrupt, and were soldtosecurities companiesand banks.Britain's economyonce again faltered heavily, andcitizenstook to thestreets, accusingthe governmentand the royal family. Someradical citizens even demanded achange of government.Prime Minister RobertJenkinson and theTory members werecornered. In the end, theyhad onlyone choice.