Since its last financial bankruptcy in 1607, Spain has worked hard to govern. While maintaining the superficial peace with England under the Treaty of London, there has been no conflict with France. Its national strength has continued to recover, and it has been concentrating on maintaining its rule in the Netherlands.

At this time, the Dutch consul, the military genius Maurice of Nassau, was getting old, and the famous military general was politically incompetent. The Netherlands was permanently divided into Orangemen and anti-Orangemen.

At this time, the Armada was overwhelming the world. The Spanish army in the Netherlands had Spinola, a famous new star, who was very advantageous in the battle against the internally discordant Netherlands. The edge of Maurice of Nassau was overshadowed by him.

Everything was developing in a direction favorable to Spain. It seemed that there was hope of destroying the Netherlands and restoring the kingdom's rule over the entire Netherlands, so much so that there was a saying that "God favors Spain".

However, the Chosen One, Jiuye, suddenly appeared at this time. With the cooperation of the Basques, the French army achieved such brilliant results with only 10,000 border guards.

Spain, which had always focused its main energy on the Netherlands, was suddenly dealt a severe blow in its hometown. For a time, the monarch and his ministers looked at each other in a panic and behaved at a loss. Some people even proposed to send soldiers from the Netherlands or the colonies back to the country to rescue them.

At this time, Prime Minister Duke Olivares played a key role. The thirty-three-year-old Prime Minister was as famous as Richelieu. He was upright and capable, and kept a cool head.

He believed that the failure of the Basque Battle was caused by accidental factors. France should have no intention of using large-scale troops against the Spanish mainland. Spain could not give up its efforts and advantages in the Netherlands. The American colonies were too far away and it was too late to mobilize troops.

So after discussion between the emperor and his ministers, they temporarily put together a group of city defense troops from the rear and transferred them to the front for defense. They decided to take a look at the next situation. At the same time, they recruited and trained troops on a large scale in order to counterattack.

These city defense soldiers in the rear were corrupt, incompetent, poorly disciplined, and basically had no combat effectiveness. They were all trembling on the front line, ready to turn around and run away, or raise their hands to surrender, if the French came over.

The Spanish frontline generals had their white flags ready. However, the amazing thing was that after waiting for more than ten days, the French did not attack. This surprised these generals. Could it be that Spain is really favored by God?

What the fearful Spanish monarchs and ministers didn't know was that the French generals were also extremely depressed.

The Count had won the battle and reported the good news to Paris. At the same time, he asked the country to quickly send reinforcements, and took advantage of the victory to continue his efforts and march straight to Madrid. This opportunity to defeat Spain, the old enemy, was too rare and must not be missed.

However, the reinforcements did not arrive, and problems quickly arose internally. The 40,000 Basque militiamen who came for reinforcements did not listen to the count at all, claiming that they would not obey anyone except Master Jiu.

This group of people was divided into more than a dozen hills, and they were dissatisfied with each other. The count couldn't find anyone to negotiate with him. After looting San Sebastian, they dispersed and ran back to Bi.

Went to my hometown in Erbao.

Along the way, rich Spanish families were robbed to use for military supplies. Suddenly, smoke and dust were everywhere, and the security in the Basque region was "very bad" according to the nobles.

The 20,000 elite militiamen originally trained by Lao Jiu did not leave, but people's hearts were floating, and they were all waiting for Master Jiu to come online and issue new orders. Brigadier Baron France simply couldn't control it.

The count can only command the original 10,000 men, and even the original 8,000 Basque brigade people have been led astray by their own people and are disobedient.

It is impossible to attack Spain with these 10,000 troops. Pamplona in Navarre is still in the hands of the Spanish. Once the count goes deep behind enemy lines, what if San Sebastian is captured by Pamplona's enemies?

Down, the retreat was cut off, and the French army would most likely be annihilated.

The military supplies from the rear were delivered in time, but the reinforcements were delayed. The count cursed the treacherous ministers in the court and lost a good opportunity. In desperation, he sent 20,000 Basques to defend Victoria and build defense facilities.

After all, Bilbao is defended by 40,000 militiamen who have now become bandits. Victoria now has no soldiers. The Spaniards can easily defeat it with one company, but the Spaniards are afraid of being beaten and do not dare to come.

Ten thousand elite troops of his own are stationed in San Sebastian. This is a bridgehead that can be attacked and defended. If the troops advance, they can rush to the aid of the Basques. Even if the Basques are completely defeated, they can still retain some of the gains they have made and push the national border forward.

traveled dozens of miles.

The Count has made arrangements as much as possible within his own ability, summoned manpower to build fortresses and fortifications in San Sebastian, and awaits the domestic decision.

At this time, the Spanish had lost all their elite troops and were unable to attack. The Basques were scattered and had no ability to enter the Spanish area of ​​influence. A strange peace appeared in the entire Basque region.

When news of a great victory came from the front, His Majesty Louis XIII was extremely excited and immediately wanted to send a large army to attack Spain and eliminate this old enemy in one fell swoop.

However, Richelieu analyzed the situation for him, and His Majesty the King immediately calmed down.

The French army was able to attack the Basque region because of the internal support of the Basques. Once it entered the hinterland of Spain, the Spaniards, their old enemy, would definitely fight to the death.

Although the Spanish regular army has been dispersed, the private soldiers of the nobles will definitely exert huge combat effectiveness in order to defend their homeland, and they will definitely contain the French army.

Even if they could reach the city of Madrid, the city's defenses were strong and the king's guards and the nobles' private troops were holding on to the city. It would be impossible to defeat it in the short term. The Spaniards would definitely call on the people to help defend the city.

Once the troops are under the fortified city, nobles from all over Spain come to serve the king one after another, and it will become a long-term tug of war.

In addition to being a test for the kingdom's economy, danger will arise once the Netherlands on the northern front and Italy on the eastern front transfer elite troops to fight against Spain. Our plan to push the national border to the west bank of the Rhine will be out of the question.

Already.

We will fight Spain and lose both sides, fulfilling the Habsburg wish. The resources of Alsace and Lorraine are extremely important to the development of the kingdom and cannot be given up. Therefore, a large-scale attack on Spain is not advisable now.

His Majesty the King still refuses to give up. Since he cannot further attack Spain, he can always swallow the Basque Country that has already been conquered, right?

Richelieu shook his head, "It still doesn't work. The Basque Country is strategically a dead zone, easy to attack and difficult to defend, and faces enemies on three sides. We need to train at least 30,000 more elite troops to defend this place. Economically, the kingdom cannot support it.

But we can’t give it to Spain and waste this good opportunity. Since the Basques obey Jiuye, we can take advantage of it.”
Chapter completed!