Rise of the 1630s South America

Chapter 2461 "Occupied Area" ([-])

October 1702, 10, Port of Cagliari, light rain.

After a hard day's work, Maccarone returned to his fish-smelling home.He is the only one in the family, his wife has died of illness, and he has no children.As for his parents and relatives, they had long since died in a resurgence of the Black Death many years ago, leaving Maccaroni to live alone.

Port of Cagliari is the capital of Sardinia, but its population is small, only about 2 people. Its economy is dominated by agriculture and fishery, and its trade is not very prosperous.In fact, given the good location of Cagliari Port and the fairly good agricultural conditions, the development here should not be so embarrassing.But at this time, we have to condemn the Spaniards. This country does not know how to do it. The local governance is in a mess, agriculture and agriculture are not good, and fishery and fishery are mediocre.Not to mention trade, the profits are all taken by others, either the East Coast or the Dutch, and even the French and the English have a share of the pie, which makes people speechless.

As a territory of Spain in the Mediterranean Sea, Sardinia is not even as good as the discriminated Catalonia region. It has not received even a single peso investment from Madrid for many years. On the contrary, it has to pay a lot of taxes. Less, it just sucks.

Macaroni is physically strong, and he was forced into the army by the Spanish governor and participated in the battle in Catalonia.He was a musketeer at that time, and he carried a flintlock made on the East Coast, which was not bad, about [-]% new, but the bayonet did not know where, maybe it was lost, maybe it was embezzled by an officer.In short, he fought in the Barcelona area for a few days in a daze. During the day, he moved with the large army, arrayed and shot, and at night he worked hard to make bullets with molds, and then continued to fight repeatedly during the day until the whole army collapsed one day, and they were in a panic. He fled to a small city and set up defenses on the spot.

During the month of defending that small city, they did not experience much large-scale war, but the small-scale fighting has never stopped.The comrades around him fell one by one, and Maccaroni, who was lucky enough to survive, became a junior officer because of his feat in killing two French soldiers, and stayed safely until the end of the war.

After the war, Maccaroni's unit was disbanded due to serious financial problems.The soldiers were sent home without a penny, and Maccaroni, as an officer, received a pitiful two pesos.But the money was not enough for him to return to Cagliari, so he worked as a bodyguard for a few months in the local area before he earned enough travel expenses to return to his hometown.

All in all, it was not a pleasant experience.The wailing of wounded soldiers on the battlefield, the neighing of war horses, and the choking gunpowder tortured him for a long time afterwards.Even just last month, perhaps because of the tense situation and the rumors flying all over the sky, he dreamed about the situation on the battlefield that year. The large group of French cavalry in golden lily armor brandishing their sharp spears made him sweat profusely Woke up with a start.

Damn it!Why is everyone fighting!Can't we get along well and live in peace?Maccaroni never thought of hurting anyone. Even though life was so unfair to him, he was still very optimistic, and he was unwilling to fight strangers for unnecessary reasons.

But can his little wish come true?Maybe it's hard.Because just when Maccaroni got home, a well-dressed man was already there waiting for him.He is an officer in charge of conscription, a native of Cagliari, who works for the Northern Italian Federation. Because he heard that Maccaroni has war experience, he plans to enlist him to join the upcoming Sardinian infantry regiment and serve the country. potency.

There is no doubt that this "country" is not Spain, but the Northern Italian Federation, because just a week ago, a division of the Northern Italian coalition forces landed in Sardinia, and then easily defeated the few local defenders. The entire territory of Dingdao "occupied".

Sardinia, the second largest island in the Mediterranean, has now officially fallen into the hands of the Northern Italian Federation, and the Port of Cagliari and parts of its surrounding areas have also become federal territories.

Macaroni didn't have a good impression of the northerners, although they all seemed to be of the same ethnic group.But so what?The Spanish governor is certainly not a good person, but is the governor sent by the northerners a good person?Take a look at what they did in Cagliari, robbing wealth, raping prostitutes, and enlisting into the army. Although almost all countries' armies are doing this kind of virtue at this time, Maccaroni still cannot recognize them.

But there is no way, Sardinia has fallen, and everything is decided by the winner. The people in the occupied area don't have much choice. They even have their parliament dissolved, although that parliament never seems to represent them. working people.

"Macaroni, don't hesitate anymore, the Venetians have already said, I will give you the position of company commander." The well-dressed man is named Zenoni, a wealthy local businessman who has been exporting to Genoa for many years Fruit and wool were thus bought very early.As soon as Cagliari fell, he took office as an official of the local Provisional Government, responsible for the recruitment of soldiers for the Confederation of Northern Italy.

"Company commander? I haven't heard of this position." Maccaroni wiped his hands with a dark towel and said indifferently.

"This is a position in the Eastern Army establishment. It can manage nearly 200 people, and you can get [-] lire a month. Listen to me, Macaloni, you have made a fortune. This income is very rich, enough for you to continue Marry a wife, do you understand?" Zenoni persuaded earnestly: "Maybe you still don't understand the full meaning of the company commander. It's not just money, it also means the improvement of your social status, understand, Maka Loni? When you become a company commander, you will no longer be a penniless low-class person, you will be a decent person, many people will compete to invite them to their party, and you will become the new rich man of this city."

"I've only managed 50 people at most." Maccaroni said, but before Zenoni frowned, he spread his hands and said, "But I don't have the right to refuse, do I? I'll go to the conscription office , tomorrow morning. The future responsibility of the Sardinian infantry regiment is to defend the homeland, and I am willing to do so, as long as the Venetians don't send us to burn, kill and loot elsewhere."

Zenoni smiled gratifiedly, and at the same time complained in his heart, this matter will not be up to you in the future!After being on a pirate ship, enjoying the benefits of power and status, and seeing the lifestyle of the upper class, would you still be willing to give up everything and come back to live in this dilapidated hut with a strong fishy smell?Hehe, take your time, you will be willing to go to the battlefield and fight for the Federation in the future.

The next day, Maccaroni came to the Recruitment Office. After being assessed by several examiners, he successfully served as a deputy company commander of the Sardinian Infantry Regiment—at present, all the full-time officers above the platoon of the regiment are all People from the east coast, after the training is completed, local officers such as Macaloni can become regulars.

While Maccaroni and others were being questioned and assessed, Lieutenant Colonel Bai Chuanping, head of the Sixth Mixed Regiment of the East Coast Army, was talking with a middle-aged officer in the villa next door to the Recruitment Office.

"Sardinia's defense is very weak, and the local people don't have a strong sense of resistance. It's a waste for you to keep a division here. Of the five regiments (3 steps, 1 cavalry, and 1 artillery), completely transfer an infantry regiment to Sicily This can be implemented before the formation of the Sardinian infantry regiment, and there is no need to wait.” Bai Chuanping said: “As for the possible threat from the Spaniards, don’t worry, Special Envoy Sheng has already made up his mind, absolutely not Let them succeed. Besides, with your naval power, you may not be able to defeat the Spanish Mediterranean Fleet. Their main force is currently concentrated on the Atlantic Fleet, protecting their fragile overseas transportation routes, the Mediterranean Sea. There are not many boats."

"This time the troops are dispatched in a hurry. The opinions of the parliament are not very unified. Many members want to wait for the Spanish army to be transferred before dispatching." The middle-aged officer said.He is from Venice and is a member of the Pisani family. He has served on the islands off the coast of Greece for many years and fought countless times with the Turks. He is now the head of the Zakynthos division.What he meant was that all the actions of the parliament were deeply influenced by the people on the east coast. This was the case when it was decided to send troops before, and it is the same when it is time to send troops now. Its autonomy is limited.

Bai Chuanping smiled and said nothing.This is the Pisani family, one of the top [-] ruling families in Venice. If they change to other cats and dogs, someone in Bai will be reprimanded with embarrassment.Your country is supported by people from the east coast, so what kind of autonomy do you want?Just obey orders obediently, it will benefit you.Besides, the autonomy given to you is not small, okay?Don't be dissatisfied!

"Don't worry about Spain. According to the information we have received, they have already mobilized more than 3 troops to France. If there is no accident, Louis XIV will launch a large-scale battle in the Rhine River Basin. These Spanish troops will return to France in a short time. No more, although their field combat capabilities are suspicious, it is still possible to serve as an occupying force to maintain the rear, which can save French troops." Lieutenant Colonel Bai Chuanping said: "Well, Savoy also sent more than [-] people north to join the The French Legion, they will not threaten your western frontier for the time being."

"But the undeclared war against Spain this time is against the tradition of war. Moreover, Sicily and Naples are still relatively important to Spain. Will Philip V become angry and declare war on us, and then involve the French?" The head of the group was still a little worried and asked.

"Don't worry, the troubles of the French are bigger than you imagined." Lieutenant Colonel Bai Chuanping comforted: "More than 8 people have been invested in the South Netherlands, and more than 10 people have been invested in the Rhine Valley. We need to keep 30 people to defend everywhere, as a reserve team and supplementary soldiers. This will leave more than [-] people, and if you die, you can squeeze out tens of thousands of mobile troops. Are you really unable to deal with these people? Don't worry. , where the Eagle's Nest Fortress is, we won't just sit idly by."

Hearing this, the head of the group felt a little relieved.He also figured it out, how could it be possible to achieve the unification of the Italian peninsula without taking some risks and going through a few bloody battles?It is very dangerous to blindly think of opportunism. The more you avoid some things, the easier it will be for you. It is better to deal with them generously.At the same time, he also vaguely realized that the people on the east coast might not have wanted them to start a war so quickly.The special envoy of Shengde Hongsheng seems to be a very stable person. It is obviously not the best time to let the Northern Italian Federation launch a war-the people on the east coast themselves are also very likely to be involved-I am afraid it is not Sheng The intention of the special envoy.Considering that the soldiers on the east bank have always been domineering and rebellious, it is very likely that these soldiers can't wait any longer and unite to force the special envoy to relax the control so that they have room to operate.

"In addition, a group of warships from the navy may come over recently, and they may visit Genoa, Pisa, Cagliari and other places on camera. This kind of behavior itself is a kind of silent support for you, Spaniards Neither the French nor the French can fail to see all of this." Bai Chuanping said again: "Relax, fight as you please. Let's go and have a seafood dinner. I heard that the tuna in Cagliari is good. I want to get to know you."

"Oh, that's right." Bai Chuanping grabbed the middle-aged head of the regiment who was about to get up to make arrangements, and ordered: "The brothers who brought me also prepare some. The future of the Sardinian infantry regiment depends on They came for training, and this army is also going to the battlefield, so we can't be sloppy."

Lieutenant Colonel Bai Chuanping brought over a hundred veterans this time, all of whom are professional non-commissioned officers, and they are good at training troops.After the Northern Italian coalition forces occupy Sicily and Naples, they will form a group of "puppet troops" to help them maintain local law and order, so that they can deploy as many troops as possible to return to the north to prevent the French and Spaniards from launching attacks through Savoy , or go somewhere else to perform tasks.

There are a total of 7.5 troops, of which 3 are still inexperienced troops, so we have to be cautious!

(End of this chapter)