Chapter 1134: The Security Organization's First Joint Operation
Ariosto's eyes immediately lit up. "You mean the Security Organization will..."
Archbishop Talleyrand smiled and nodded again. "The moment Lucca declares war, the Security Organization will begin assembling its forces. If the Neapolitans dare to retaliate, our grand army will march straight into Abruzzo."
Abruzzo was a strategic stronghold to the northwest of Naples, situated just over 150 kilometers from the capital city itself.
Ariosto still felt a lingering sense of unease. "Archbishop, what if Ferdinand IV appeals to Austria for aid?"
While Naples nominally followed Spain's lead, it had long pursued a pro-Austrian policy in practice.
Talleyrand glanced at him dismissively. "If he still remembers General Cordoba, he won't choose that path."
He was referring to the events of the early sixteenth century, when the Duchy of Milan, incensed by Naples' interference in its succession matters, decided to ally with France to invade the kingdom.
King Ferdinand II of Naples, unable to withstand the assault, turned to Spain for help.
The famous Spanish general Cordoba soon led a massive army into Naples to wage war against France. At that critical juncture, the Duchy of Milan suddenly betrayed their French allies, causing the French army to suffer heavy losses and forcing a retreat.
Cordoba's army immediately turned and occupied Florence, forcing the reigning King Frederick IV into exile. Florence remained under Spanish rule for nearly two hundred years, only regaining independence through the Treaty of Vienna following the War of the Polish Succession.
How would Naples dare to invite the wolf into its house a second time?
Talleyrand added in a cold voice, "In fact, it might be a good thing if Naples actually seeks help from Austria."
Back then, the Austrians couldn't even hold the Mantua Fortress. If they tried to proactively seize a fortress garrisoned by French troops now, they would essentially be hand-delivering war reparations.
Ariosto finally stopped hesitating and stood up. "I will have the Council of Elders vote on the declaration of war immediately."
Several days later.
Domenico Caracciolo, the Neapolitan Minister of Foreign Affairs, handed the declaration of war just delivered by the Republic of Lucca to Prime Minister John Acton. He laughed with pure disdain. "Have the Luccans gone mad?"
Acton scanned the document quickly, a similar smirk playing on his lips. "'Compensate Lucca for losses totaling six million francs and sign a written agreement guaranteeing that no such incidents will occur again... otherwise, a full-scale offensive will be launched within half a month.'
'Heh, their Council of Elders probably just needs to give their people an explanation. After all, the British caused quite a scene this time.'"
"Most likely," Caracciolo agreed. "How do you think we should respond?"
Acton thought for a moment before giving his instructions. "Send someone to Lucca to make a gesture. Say that the weapons were smuggled by corrupt armory officials and that a military tribunal has already dealt with them."
This was already considered showing a great deal of respect to a small nation like Lucca. Of course, it was only because the Luccan government had produced irrefutable evidence proving Neapolitan involvement in the riot.
Acton then added, "Go and summon Lord Paget. Tell him that this mess has caused us no small amount of trouble, and they must compensate us for it."
They settled this 'minor matter' just like that, later providing only a brief report to Ferdinand IV.
What they didn't expect, however, was that half a month later, Lucca actually deployed its troops.
Lucca had never enjoyed such prominence since its founding.
Nine hundred men of the Lucca National Guard were stationed at the Abruzzo border—they had undergone an emergency mobilization for this campaign.
Positioned on their left flank were five thousand soldiers from Parma and Modena.
On the right flank stood a four-thousand-man coalition force from Milan, Genoa, and Venice.
Following behind them was the ten-thousand-strong Sardinian Legion.
In the distance, two French artillery batteries—twelve cannons in total—glared hungrily at the Neapolitan border guards below Abruzzo.
At the same time, three thousand French infantrymen served as the reserve force. They were drawn from the French garrisons in Ravenna and Mantua.
The fifteen hundred Neapolitan soldiers across the line were trembling with fear.
The border Lieutenant Colonel in command prayed fervently in his heart that the enemy wouldn't attack. He had heard of Lucca's declaration of war, but he never imagined they would appear in his sector—Lucca and Abruzzo didn't even share a border. Everyone in Naples assumed Lucca would, at most, send a fleet to loiter near Naples to say they had 'launched an attack.'
It wasn't until he saw the twenty-three-thousand-man army that he remembered the existence of the Mediterranean Security Organization.
Two hours later, the Neapolitan Lieutenant Colonel was already drinking coffee in the Lucca military camp—he had surrendered without putting up any struggle at all.
Immediately afterward, the Security Organization's coalition force detached a portion of its troops to surround Abruzzo. The main force of twenty thousand continued its march south toward the city of Naples.
The entirety of Naples was plunged into instant panic.
Ferdinand IV desperately mobilized his army to defend the capital while simultaneously dispatching Caracciolo to Lucca to negotiate.
While Naples had over fifty thousand troops in total, they hadn't taken Lucca's declaration seriously. Their forces were scattered across the country, with fewer than ten thousand troops stationed near the capital.
Furthermore, what worried Ferdinand IV most were the three thousand French soldiers within the coalition ranks.
Though their numbers were small, their presence signaled France's official stance.
Even if Naples managed to stop this initial wave with an emergency mobilization, the city would fall the moment France began sending reinforcements.
Ferdinand IV considered asking the British—the instigators of the whole mess—to mediate, but the British minister flatly refused. He even threatened the King, warning him not to reveal Britain's involvement in the matter.
Eight days later, when the Security Organization's coalition force arrived leisurely before the walls of Naples, they received a message from the Stadtholder of Lucca. Naples had agreed to sign a peace treaty, which included paying Lucca six million francs in reparations, covering one and a half million francs in coalition logistics costs, and promising never to interfere in the internal affairs of any Northern Italian state in the future.
The Security Organization's forces began their withdrawal at the request of the Luccan government. Joseph had never intended to truly crush Naples; for now, maintaining stability on the Apennine Peninsula was most beneficial to France. The military deployment was primarily a warning to Naples to keep its hands off Northern Italy.
As newspapers reported on the coalition's expedition, all of Northern Italy erupted in excitement.
This bloodless victory served as tangible proof of the Security Organization's reliability.
In the past, a small country like Lucca would have had to suffer in silence when a major power stirred up trouble within its borders. This time, however, Naples had been forced to bow its head and pay reparations.
This gave all member states of the Security Organization a profound sense of security.
Simultaneously, the joint military action served as a drill for military coordination between the various nations. It identified several issues in cooperation, laying the groundwork for improving joint combat efficiency in the future.
Lucca was also quite savvy, distributing the vast majority of the reparations among the participating nations to 'support the construction of new industries.'
Governments across the region began celebrating the great victory. The streets were filled with life and bustle, showing no trace of the protests and demonstrations that had plagued the area just over half a month ago.
Comments