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Chapter 984: Bleeding Tactics

"The British have also developed percussion cap muskets and bulletproof inserts. This will make it difficult for us to maintain the massive kill ratios we once enjoyed."

"But we will possess weapons superior to the percussion cap musket, equipment more convenient than the Chappe signal towers, and tactics more brilliant than the 'reverse slope' or the 'thin white line.'"

"We will continue to innovate. Even as we become the 'lion,' we will not stagnate."

Joseph spread his arms and proclaimed loudly, "I can tell you all, France shall be as great as Rome! Let us welcome that day together!"

Every officer stood up simultaneously, their faces flushed with excitement as they shouted at the top of their lungs, "As great as Rome!"

"Vive la France!"

The few officers who had previously been clamoring to petition for General Bonaparte had now lowered their flags and silenced their drums.

To reach the rank of senior officer, they were all intelligent men. The Crown Prince had just made it very clear: France's current objective was to accumulate national strength and continue improving the army's combat effectiveness, avoiding a situation where they were dragged into a "dogfight" with other "stray curs."

General Bonaparte's previous actions, however, would have caused the nation to "bleed" and suffer continuous injury.

However, since the Crown Prince mentioned "as great as Rome," it meant France would not stop at its current sphere of influence. In other words, there might still come a day when General Bonaparte would once again lead the army in service to the nation.

Once the officers' emotions had settled, Joseph began announcing the list of promotions, followed by the general outline of the Second Military Reform.

It wasn't until nine o'clock in the evening that the hundreds of officers finally followed the Crown Prince out of the academy auditorium.

Everyone returned directly to their camps or officer quarters. The Paris Police Academy did not have a tradition of holding officer balls.

Joseph had just stepped into his carriage when he saw Berthier approaching with a standard signal tower document in hand, which must have been delivered during the meeting.

"Get in, we can talk inside," Joseph beckoned to the Chief of General Staff.

A moment later, the carriage set off.

Inside the cabin, Berthier handed the document to Joseph and said, "Your Highness, this is from Colonel Junot."

"He secured a victory five days ago, killing or capturing over a thousand enemy troops, at least three hundred of whom were British."

"Colonel Junot is requesting reinforcements for Iberia."

"Based on his judgment from the recent engagement with the British-Portuguese Allied Forces, if we send another twenty thousand troops, he can occupy Lisbon by the end of the year at the latest."

Joseph glanced over the report and shook his head. "Our army in Portugal cannot exceed seven thousand men. That is only if the Spaniards make a mistake and cannot sustain the theater themselves."

"You must remember, our goal is not the rapid occupation of Portugal."

"Yes, Your Highness," Berthier nodded, then added tentatively, "Your Highness, I know the current strategic focus is domestic construction, but if there is a chance to uproot the British naval port in the Bay of Cádiz, we could partially break the maritime blockade against us. This would also increase trade revenue."

The Bay of Cádiz was the sea area on the southwestern side of Europe.

If the British lost their naval port there, they would have to send fleets all the way from their home islands to maintain the blockade, which would double their costs and significantly reduce the density of the blockade.

This would allow French merchant ships to use Spanish ports to sail into the Atlantic.

Joseph shook his head. "You seem a bit too optimistic."

"Even if we occupy Lisbon, Portugal likely won't surrender. The British will continue to hold Porto and supply it by sea."

"In the end, we would still have to go back and grind through the Torres Vedras fortress complex."

He had ample reason for saying this.

The Portuguese had been ruled by Spain two or three centuries ago, and Spain had treated them very harshly. This memory was engraved on their bones and hearts, and they referred to that period as an "eternal disgrace," so their will to resist Spain was incredibly strong.

Historically, Napoleon's Franco-Spanish army had occupied Lisbon, forcing the Portuguese Royal Family to flee to Brazil.

But the Portuguese had immediately launched a nationwide guerrilla warfare campaign.

The British had held Porto, building a series of fortifications stretching over thirty kilometers. The Franco-Spanish forces suffered immense losses trying to attack Porto and never truly managed to control the area.

The British, using Porto as a base, provided a steady stream of support to the Portuguese guerrillas. The Portuguese Royal Family also poured all the colonial revenue from Brazil into the war. Eventually, the Franco-Spanish forces were harassed to the point of misery by the guerrillas, and they were forced to retreat in disgrace when their supply lines were severed.

Joseph knew deep down that they must not get bogged down too deeply in Iberia.

Britain was like a ferocious beast; the more you rushed to kill it, the more likely you were to be bitten back.

Berthier asked, somewhat perplexed, "Your Highness, then are we just going to stay in a stalemate with the British-Portuguese forces at Coimbra?"

Joseph smiled and shook his head. "It is the Spaniards who are in a stalemate with them. We only have five thousand troops there."

"And the stalemate won't last forever."

"What we need to do now is gradually shift the Portuguese people's mindset. As long as they no longer actively organize guerrilla units, then the ones who won't be able to hold out will definitely be the British."

Berthier was clearly surprised. "Shift their mindset? I'm afraid that won't be easy, Your Highness."

"Usually, it wouldn't be," Joseph said. "But this time, the British will help us."

"You know, when people are making enormous sacrifices without any short-term returns, they are very easy to influence."

"Mr. Lavalette should have already begun operations there."

He thought for a moment and added, "Right, I need to write a letter to His Majesty Carlos IV."

...

Portugal.

An area upstream of the Vouga River, a hundred kilometers east of Coimbra.

Outside the church in Nehabe Village, the village head, under the supervision of an officer, shouted to the hundred or so villagers gathered before him: "The Spanish demons have arrived!"

"Our great Queen has ordered us to relocate south of Setúbal immediately to escape the demons' plundering."

"Everyone, go back and prepare. We will set out south in three days."

"We must not let the Spaniards get anything they want from here!"

"May God protect the Queen."

The villagers immediately began whispering among themselves, and some women started to sob.

They all knew what the so-called "migration south" entailed. But resisting the Spaniards was something that had to be done.

Just then, someone suddenly shouted, "The Spaniards only want to steal some grain, but the British want to destroy everything we have!"

The village head immediately pointed to a short young man in the crowd and scolded, "Igor, what nonsense are you talking?"

The young man's voice grew even louder. "Have you heard? Those people who were moved from Porto didn't get any food or shelter at all."

"They are now forced to beg near Lisbon, and some of the stronger ones were even sold to the Levant by British slave ships!"