(0865) In addition to cuirassiers, the French had the famous dragoons. This time, the dragoons also poured out. Dragoons were armed with muskets, moved swiftly, and came and went like the wind. Compared to cuirassiers, dragoons were more combat-ready. Because, the cuirassiers are more manifested in appearance, but the dragoons are real fist troops, and their achievements are brilliant.

In the previous battles, neither the French had sent cuirassiers nor dragoons, the main thing was that there was no room for them on the battlefield. Neither Istanbul nor Marseille were suitable for cavalry sorties. However, the terrain around Lyon was very suitable for cavalry activities. Therefore, the cavalry of the French was all scattered at once.

In addition to the French [***] team, the Teutonic warriors of the Grand Duchy of Prussia were also dispatched. Although the Teutonic warriors were pure infantry, their combat effectiveness was not to be underestimated. Because, they are the bosses of the infantry, with strong discipline, good training, and extremely strong combat effectiveness. Even if the French cuirassiers met them, they might not be able to take much advantage. In the mighty Prussian army, the Teutonic warriors were definitely the best of them.

In fact, by the seventeenth century, pure Teutons no longer existed. Around the twelfth century, the Duchy of Teutoni had already disappeared. Its territory, which later became part of the German Empire. But, as a title, the glorious Teutonic warriors remained. At that time, Germany was not a unified country, but was composed of many grand duchies. Among them, the more powerful is the Grand Duchy of Prussia.

On many occasions, Germans often referred to themselves as Prussia precisely because Germany developed on the basis of the Grand Duchy of Prussia. The so-called German Empire, with too many traces of Prussia. However, in the seventeenth century, the Grand Duchy of Prussia was not as good as it was later, and they were just a stronger duchia.

This can be seen from the fact that the Swedes want to bully them. King Gustav of Sweden sent troops to fight the Prussians all year round. While the Swedes were cleaning up the Poles, they were also at war with Prussia at the same time. It can be inferred from this that the Prussian army at that time was not particularly powerful. After Prussia became strong, where did the Swedes dare to bully Prussia? It's pretty much the other way around. Perhaps, the Teutonic warriors were an exception.

When it comes to the cavalry of Europe, the cuirassiers and dragoons are actually not the most powerful. The most powerful cavalry of the European powers should have been the hussars of Poland's heyday. That's the real toughest cavalry. Why are they amazing? Because they once fought against the invincible Mongol Iron Horsemen! They kept Warsaw! They kept Poland!

Despite their heavy losses, almost all of them were wiped out, they managed to block the Mongol cavalry from entering Poland. Such a combat experience is enough to be proud of all other cavalry! By the seventeenth century, hussars, though somewhat in decline, were not as powerful as they had been. However, the tiger is still powerful, and the name of the hussars is still awe-inspiring.

In addition to fighting bloody battles with the invincible Mongol iron cavalry, the hussars also made great contributions in the battles against the Grand Duchy of Moscow, the Tatars and the Turks. It can be said that the eagle wings erected behind the hussars are a symbol of Poland. All the Poles believed that as long as the hussars were dispatched, there was no enemy that could not be defeated.

Hussars were the essence of the Polish army and the core of the entire Polish army. The Poles poured all their energies into the hussars. They were well-armed and well-trained, and they performed great feats in battles with the Swedish army. Suffice it to say that if the Poles had no hussars, they would have been destroyed by Gustav many times.

At the same time as the hussars, the Nordic countries also dispatched their special classes: pirates and berserkers. Hussars, Dragoons, Cuirassiers, Teutonic Warriors, Vikings, Viking Berserkers...... These names sound a lot like the classes in a famous game. Actually, this is not surprising at all. Because, games are also derived from reality. At that time, these classes did exist, but the names may not be so formal.

For example, Viking Berserker has a self-healing function in the game, which is of course impossible in reality. However, the fighting endurance of the Viking berserker is indeed relatively strong. Due to the special climate and geographical environment, the body of the Nordic people is generally relatively tall. This gives them great combat power and also gives them strong recovery ability.

In fact, these barbarians from Scandinavia, like the Jurchens in the East, were a completely uncivilized people. They regard fighting as a kind of fun, and their blood flows with the ** of burning, killing and looting. They enjoy killing and they also enjoy being killed. Super advocating violence is their only characteristic.

It can be said that the arrival of the White Army has blown up all the armed forces of the entire European continent. A large number of cavalry dispatches did bring some trouble to the white-clothed army. The logistics supply lines of the White Army are, to a certain extent, indeed threatened. From Marseille to Lyon, they are all inland areas, and the white-coat navy cannot help them.

However, fighting in Europe, the war horses of the white-clothed army can basically be used. Mongolian horses are perfectly capable of being used on the European continent. Therefore, Xu Xingxia ordered a large number of Mongolian horses to be loaded directly from the mouth of the Yangtze River and transported directly to Marseille for landing. After about a year of transportation, about 50,000 Mongolian horses were transported to the European continent.

Some of the horses captured in West Asia were also transported by sea to the port of Marseille. By the beginning of 1640, more than half of the white-clothed army led by Chi Hu and Zhang Quanfu were cavalry. Chi Hu and Zhang Quanfu divided the cavalry into squadrons one by one, and fought face-to-face with the cavalry of the European powers.

In the duel of cavalry and cavalry, the knights of the Middle Ages, relying on spears and flintlock muskets, were clearly no match for submachine guns and mortars. More than 50,000 cavalry in white clothes trampled on the plains of Europe, and there was simply no one to stop their advance.

Only a year passed, and the cavalry of the Western powers was almost exhausted by the white-clothed army. The cuirassiers and dragoons of the French were almost gone. The Polish hussars were also largely depleted. If it weren't for Xu Xingxia's order, don't turn Europe into a white land, I'm afraid that Europe will really become a white land.

Seeing that the situation was not right, the European coalition forces were determined to pounce on it and save their inferiority.

This time, it was Gustav's Swedish army that led the way. Gustav is fully confident in the combat effectiveness of his army. Gustavus phalanx, that is quite famous existence. In the past, Gustav relied on phalanxes one by one to defeat both the Polish army and the Prussian army, which was miserable.

It just so happens that the terrain around Lyon is very suitable for setting up a phalanx. Therefore, Gustav took out all his efforts to press the bottom of the box. He was determined to use the mysterious phalanx to give the white-clothed army a dismount. From the morning, the armies of both sides were in formation. Gustav laid out a large phalanx of 50,000 people, which included many medium-sized and small phalanxes. The various phalanxes are interlocking and inseparable.

Such a phalanx is indeed a difficult bone to gnaw on for the armies of other Western powers. Because, whether it is cavalry or infantry, once it is trapped in the phalanx, there is no chance to get out. The Swedish army would rely on muskets, spears and cannons to kill all the incoming invaders in the open space between the phalanxes, and no one could avoid it.

On the white-coated side, the troops of two battalions, combined with artillery, were about 23,000 men. They were completely ignorant of the phalanx of the Swedish army. They resorted to the simplest, and most violent, method, which was to fire the artillery and keep up with the infantry. No matter who is in front of you, first ravage it several times with shells.

As a result, the Swedish army was tragic. They didn't have a chance to make contact with the white-clothed army at all, and they were already stunned by the overwhelming artillery fire. The heavy artillery of the White Army, all with a firing range of more than ten kilometers, completely covered the artillery of the Swedes. The phalanx of the Swedes, no matter how subtle, is useless for heroes!

"Tom tom!"

"Boom!"

All kinds of heavy artillery of the white-clothed army took the lead in starting to bombard.

All the Swedish troops were enveloped in heavy artillery fire.

Gustav clearly overestimated the capacity of his own army and underestimated the lethality of the artillery fire of the white-coated army. The 105-mm howitzers and 155-mm howitzers of the White Army Army are simply natural nemesis against such a phalanx. A 155-mm shell went down, and half of the people in the phalanx were blown away. A few shells went down in a row, and the phalanx was gone. After half an hour of indiscriminate bombardment, the Swedish army was dispersed.

The Polish army and the Swedish army have had a lot of bloody clashes before, and the grudge between the two armies is actually quite deep. When they saw the Swedish army retreating, they immediately showed contempt for the Swedish army. Gustav took the opportunity to provoke and instigate, and as a result, the Polish army rushed forward in high spirits and could not wait.

It's a pity that this time, the Poles were completely wrong. The essence of the Polish army was the hussars. However, before that, the hussars had been almost exhausted by the cavalry of the White Army. The rest were very ordinary infantry. Their combat effectiveness, compared with the hussars, is completely out of the same level, and it can basically be said that they are indiscriminate.

As a result, the Poles dispatched 20,000 infantry, and immediately came under heavy fire from the white-coated army. The cavalry of the White Army also took the opportunity to launch a surprise attack on the Polish infantry from both flanks, dividing and encircling them, and annihilating them individually. By the time the Poles realized that something was wrong and ordered the withdrawal of their troops, there were less than 200 people who could crawl back. Moreover, these two hundred people were continued to be pursued by the cavalry of the white-clothed army, and in the end, not even one of them escaped.

While the Polish army was coming forward to fight, the Prussian Teutonic warriors were also dispatched. The Teutonic warriors were indeed formidable in combat, and the broad swords they wielded were excellent in terms of strength and sharpness. Ordinary armor can't stop their broadswords at all. Often when a sword comes down, even the armor of the person is split.

The armor on the Teutonic warriors was also the most protective. They were the first to abandon bulky plate armor and equip it with lightweight chain mail. And inside the chain mail, there is a special protective baffle. In the critical position, the baffle is also particularly thickened. Due to their strong protection, even the English longbowmen could not shoot through their armor.

However, the Teutonic warriors also had a fatal flaw, which was that they were too slow. They were holding heavy swords and heavy armor on their backs, so naturally it was impossible for them to run too fast. Under normal circumstances, they may not be in any danger. Due to the good protection of the armor, they have a certain ability to fight even in the face of enemy cavalry.

However, in the face of the artillery fire of the white-clothed army, this became a fatal flaw. The artillery fire of the white-clothed army is not something that armor can stop. In the face of a powerful shock wave, the armor of the Teutonic warriors became an accomplice on the battlefield. Once the armor is shattered and fragments are flying everywhere, it is equivalent to adding countless additional shrapnel and making it more lethal.

When the artillery fire of the white-clothed army was overwhelming, they didn't even have a chance to escape, and could only watch themselves being torn to pieces. The 21,000-strong Teutonic warriors, after being repeatedly ravaged by artillery fire, left not a single one, from generals to soldiers. The battlefield after the fierce battle was only countless fragments of broadswords and armor.

The armies of other Western powers, such as Vikings and Viking berserkers, were also mercilessly baptized by the mortars of the White Army. For these barbarians, mortars are the best weapon. Mortar shells exploded in the crowd, wounding countless enemies and screaming miserably. In the end, the casualties were so heavy that the Vikings and Viking berserkers could not bear it anymore and quietly retreated.

There was no way, and the European coalition had to abandon Lyon and fully retreat to Paris.

After the occupation of Lyon, the White Army did not immediately attack Paris, but slowly and methodically reorganized its rear. They are deliberately giving the enemy time, deliberately giving the enemy time to gather forces. The more forces the enemy amassed in Paris, the more troops were annihilated by the White Army. This will be of great benefit to future battles.

In fact, for the armies of the European powers, the white army really doesn't pay much attention. The first battle of Lyon basically consumed the elite armies of the European powers. The rest are second-rate troops of various countries, or new troops that have been formed in a hurry. Their combat effectiveness simply cannot be compared with the old troops. It was simply whimsical for the Western powers to expect them to hold Paris. Suffice it to say, the Europeans are really at their bottom.

As for the white-coat army and navy, naturally it was not idle. At the same time as the White Army ceased military operations, they were again active. The Eighth Fleet again took the lead and slaughtered the British. Hundreds of warships occupied the main ports of the British. The British had no choice but to abandon the coastal towns and retreat to the interior.

But with the arrival of the Marines of the White Army, the fate of the British, was tragic. Supported by the heavy artillery fire of the naval warships, the marines of the White Army waited to go ashore in Portsmouth and Southampton in England. Subsequently, they launched an attack on London. After three months of fighting, they finally succeeded in conquering London.

Britain is originally an island country, unable to receive support from other countries, once it is surrounded by the white army, the end is conceivable. The naval fleet of the British, under the attack of the navy of the white-coated army, has long been depleted. Without the protection of the navy, Britain is like a helpless little girl, who can only obediently spread her legs and wait for others to ravage her.

In the summer of 1641, the British were forced to announce their unconditional surrender. King Charles I, who had fled to Scotland, was arrested. Soon after, they were sentenced to death by an emergency commission composed of the British themselves. Subsequently, Xu Xingxia divided the area originally ruled by the British into five different provinces, each of which was managed by different people.

After the execution of Charles I, the English Parliament was not dissolved. Xu Xingxia retained the British Parliament. However, the British Parliament declared Xu Xingxia responsible. In other words, Britain was under the direct control of Xu Xingxia. As a result of this particular regulation, the status of the British seems to be slightly higher than that of the rest of Europe.

Using the British to contain the countries of the European continent was Xu Xingxia's basic strategy. The British have always been hard and not soft, and under the pressure of the white army, they should be happy to take on the role of this housekeeper. In fact, the British from the island country do have a large estrangement from the countries of the European continent. And the people of continental Europe have never been very kind to the British. The contradiction between the two, provoked by Xu Xingxia, became more and more obvious.

At the end of 1641, Spain also officially announced its unconditional surrender. They were cut off from France by the White Army, and surrounded on three sides by the warships of the White Army and Navy, and there was no other way out except to surrender. After the British surrendered on their own initiative, the Spaniards did not hesitate anymore and decisively announced their surrender.

The surrender of Britain and Spain, marking the last resistance of the Europeans, no longer meant much. In France, the Whitecoats were preparing a final assault on Paris, which could be taken at any moment. The White Army has fully established itself and is still capable enough to sweep across Europe. Where is the way out for Europeans?

In the summer of 1642, Xu Xingxia came to Marseille from tens of thousands of miles away. Paris is about to fall into the hands of the white-clothed army, and Xu Xingxia has to come and see for himself. Upon hearing the news of Xu Xingxia's arrival, the European coalition forces immediately abandoned Paris and fled.

(To be continued)