763 [The strong fortress is always broken from the inside]
"Hans, do you still have food at home?"
"No more. Since the city was besieged, the price of bread has increased five times. How can I survive with the little money I earn? Originally I wanted to enlist in the militia, but they only recruited 5,000 people and they didn't accept me because they thought I was too short.
.”
"The reinforcements were defeated yesterday. The King of Northern Europe is very powerful. I heard he was a noble Indian prince. Congressmen, I'm afraid they will be doomed this time."
"But no matter who wins the battle, we will still be hungry."
"Do you dare to risk your life?"
"My whole family is starving to death, so why not?"
"Then come with us tomorrow night."
"you?"
"Yes, we, the hungry people."
"good!"
Capital is inherently bloody, and capital inherently pursues privileges and interests.
It only took a few decades for the Hanseatic League to turn from its peak to decline and become a street rat that everyone yelled at. These businessmen really went too far.
Take Britain as an example. The Hanseatic League helped Edward IV seize the throne, and then obtained a series of privileges in Britain. Not to mention tax incentives and monopoly operations, Hanseatic merchants were not even subject to British law. Hanseatic merchants
Crimes in the UK must be handled separately by more than two judges appointed by the king, and the result is often impunity.
This is considered a minor issue. The Hanseatic League was even more terrifying in Northern Europe, directly interfering with the succession rights of the three kings.
If the new king does not recognize the privileges of the Hanseatic League, the Hanseatic League can directly deprive him of the throne. The succession of the thrones of Denmark and Sweden has been in the hands of the Hanseatic League for at least several decades.
Can this be tolerated?
The kings of Britain and Russia (still called Moscow at the time) took the lead in rebelling and expelled the merchants who suppressed the Hanseatic League. Then, during the Kalmar Union era, the three Nordic countries also tried hard to get rid of the control of the Hanseatic League. Unfortunately, they were too poor to completely
Detach.
In addition, the Hanseatic League's franchise model made countless towns virtually independent.
Some local merchants secretly joined the Hanseatic League. After receiving the support of the Hanseatic League, they went to the king or lord to obtain the autonomy of the town in a half-coercion and half-redemption method. The businessmen set up parliaments, formulated laws, and recruited
The army has thus become a state within a state.
After gaining autonomy, the merchants joined forces to plunder the citizens, making the city in which they lived miserable.
Therefore, from the second half of the 14th century, a large number of citizen resistance movements broke out in cities controlled by the Hanseatic League. Among them, the citizen movement in Lübeck lasted for ten years, completely paralyzing the city's administration and business.
The businessmen were forced to compromise, and in addition to the Senate, they established the House of Representatives to recruit influential citizens into their ranks, and together they harmed the common people who had no voice.
Wang Ji besieged the city for a month, and all the reinforcements were wiped out. The price of food in Lübeck was still rising.
These businessmen are unwilling to give up a good opportunity to make money, even if a butcher's knife is held to their necks.
Finally, on the forty-fifth day of Wang Ji's siege, more than 2,000 hungry citizens rushed into the warehouse where merchants had piled food. Just as the congressmen sent troops to suppress it, thousands of temporarily recruited militiamen also joined in to grab food.
The team was in a state of semi-starvation because they also did not have enough to eat as soldiers defending the city.
A fierce battle broke out between the standing army and the militia. More and more hungry citizens joined in, and the standing army of the merchant group collapsed instantly.
The citizens had become increasingly angry. After robbing them of food, they divided into numerous groups and stormed into the homes of wealthy merchants and robbed all valuable items.
Finally, someone calmed down. They had caused a big disaster and would definitely be retaliated by the Hanseatic League.
So, dozens of people organized themselves and ran all the way to the city gate. Finally, hundreds of people seized the gate and dedicated it to the city at dawn.
Wang Ji led 2,000 soldiers into the city to quell the riots and ordered the troops not to loot privately.
Of course it was a planned robbery. All the merchants of the Hanseatic League were robbed by Wang Ji. In addition, they were arrested, tortured, and asked where their financial reports were hidden.
At the same time, they occupied the city council and took over all government information. Not a single senator was left, and they were all taken to the square and beheaded in public.
Countless citizens came to watch the ceremony, and Japanese soldiers temporarily acted as executioners.
I saw the Speaker being pushed down to his knees and shouting with tears streaming down his face: "Great King of Northern Europe, please don't kill me. I am willing to negotiate peace with you and recognize your throne. I will persuade other cities to stop sending troops...
"
"Cut it off!" Wang Ji sneered.
The Japanese soldier raised his samurai sword and pressed it down on the back of the speaker's neck. The cold blade made the speaker go limp.
I saw a flash of light from the knife, the speaker's head flew out, and then blood sputtered like a fountain.
"good!"
The citizens burst into applause and praised the Japanese soldiers for their skill in beheading.
Dozens of citizens rushed over to collect the splattered blood, and some even snatched the speaker's head. The blood can be used as a medicine to cure diseases, and the skull can be ground into powder and taken as a great tonic. Not to mention civilians, even
Many nobles in Europe believe in this stuff.
More than a dozen senators were all beheaded.
It won't work without cutting it off. Anyone who can be a senator must be a merchant of the Hanseatic League.
Then, dozens of deputies were escorted, all of whom were prominent figures in the city. Some were priests, some were scholars, some were doctors, and even goldsmiths.
Wang Ji pointed at one of them: "Is this person guilty? Tell the truth and I will make the decision for you!"
"Guilty, he is guilty!"
Immediately, dozens of civilians rushed forward and counted the crimes committed by this man.
Wang Ji sneered: "Cut it off!"
Next.
Wang Ji asked again: "Is this person guilty?"
"Guilty, guilty!"
"Cut it down!"
There were dozens of members of the House of Representatives, but only one scholar survived. I don’t know if he was really not guilty, or if he was more restrained from doing bad things.
Wang Ji shouted loudly: "I have always done things fairly, punished the guilty, and treated everyone equally. I will protect my people and not let them be bullied by anyone. I will not pursue the food you stole in the city. The rest will be held accountable."
Yes, I will temporarily send people to sell them uniformly and restore the normal price. Are you...willing to surrender to me?"
"Yes, yes!"
Countless citizens cheered and shouted, and many simply knelt down to worship.
At this moment, a fast horse galloped up and reported in a low voice: "Your Majesty, a large enemy force has been spotted in the east, carrying the flags of Saxony and Brandenburg."
“Just in time!”
Wang Ji's smile did not change. He was so happy because the goods he grabbed in the city were enough to maintain the size of his army for at least ten years.
After all, this is the headquarters of the Hanseatic League, and some merchant families have been operating here for three hundred years.
The capture of the headquarters of the Hanseatic League does not mean that the Hanseatic League has been dissolved. They still have many branch franchisees.
For example, Hamburg, dozens of kilometers away, is Wang Ji's next target.
Whether it is Lübeck or Hamburg, they are actually Danish territory and are also under the jurisdiction of the HRE. Is it difficult to understand? Historically, it was not until 1768 that Denmark officially recognized Hamburg as a free city.
Wang Yuan captured Lübeck, the headquarters of the Hanseatic League, and Hamburg, another important city of the Hanseatic League. Strictly speaking, it was not an invasion, but the recovery of Denmark's inherent territory!
It's a take back, not a recovery!
As for the coalition forces of Saxony and Brandenburg, how powerful can the two principalities be? Just fight together to establish their power.
These guys are scattered, and there is no unified command. Some will come now, and some will come now, just like the gourd boy saving grandpa, delivering food one after another.
The Grand Duke of Saxony, the Grand Duke of Brandenburg, had already led his troops outside the city, and then looked stupidly at the unfamiliar flag on the city.
They came to rescue Lübeck only after receiving a call for help.
It stands to reason that with Lübeck's strong city defense and the food stored in Lübeck, it would be no problem to hold on for a year and a half. How come it was captured by the enemy in just over a month?
The two princes looked at each other, neither staying nor leaving, as if this dispatch of troops was a joke.
"How about withdrawing the troops?"
"Then withdraw first. When the Prussian and Livonian armies arrive, we can attack the city of Lübeck together."
"Okay, withdraw the troops, withdraw the troops."
"..."
What else can I do if I don’t withdraw?
Wang Ji didn't need to do anything else. He only asked his soldiers to shoot arrows downwards. After the two troops were shot to death, they couldn't even think about breaking the city.
Over the hundreds of years since its establishment, Lübeck has experienced countless pirates and regular armies. This is the first time it has been breached, and it was breached by the citizens inside.
Wang Jizhen didn't expect anyone to offer the city, he just wanted to besiege the city and call for reinforcements.