Life of Being a Crown Prince in France - Chapter 1223: 1128: Quagmire
Chapter 1223: Chapter 1128: Quagmire
In the vast Rif Mountains, the Spanish army, without even a guide, naturally couldn’t locate the indigenous people who had lived here for hundreds of years.
So after a torrential rain, with mud everywhere on the mountain, the Wozan Tribe and the Rif Tribe immediately launched a long-planned ambush against them.
Tribal warriors used trees for cover to launch continuous attacks, while the Spaniards were stuck in the mud, unable to move.
In just four days, the Spanish Army suffered more than 4,000 casualties; cannons and logistics were almost completely abandoned, yet they still couldn’t escape the Rif Mountains.
Yes, even at this point, more than 7,000 Spanish soldiers remained trapped in the mountains.
And reports indicated that the persistent rain in the mountains might mean that without further attacks by the Moroccan tribes, this unit could be drowned or starved in the mountains!
Bertier glanced at the Crown Prince’s gloomy face nearby, cursed the Spanish counterparts in his heart, and then cautiously said, “Your Highness, Madrid hopes we can send reinforcements…
“The Meiner’s Army currently besieging Gibraltar is very close to Morocco. Using Spanish Navy transport ships, it would only take two days to land them.”
Joseph immediately shook his head: “We cannot get involved in the war in Morocco.
“Originally, the Spaniards could have exploited the contradictions between the northern tribes of Morocco and Marrakesh, allowing the Sultan of Morocco to send troops to first occupy Meknes and Fez, cutting off tribal support. Then they would only need to send a few thousand soldiers to wrap things up.
“But now, with His Majesty Charles IV declaring war on Morocco, Sultan Suleiman would never help him against the northern tribes, and might even send troops to attack the Spanish army.
“And even if Saldano could achieve one or two victories, the Moroccan tribes only need to retreat from the Rif Mountains, slip into the eastern Atlas Mountains—where there are numerous mountain tribes—that would surely support the Wozan Tribe against foreign enemies.
“This is a war being fought in the mud; if we send troops there, they’ll get stuck too.”
What he withheld was, if the conflict dragged on too long, the British might likely support Morocco, urging Suleiman to join the fight. France currently had no reason to expend resources in Morocco.
Bertier nodded silently, hesitated for a long time before saying, “Your Highness, should we then suggest that Madrid withdraw the troops?”
Joseph irritably shook his head again: “That would severely affect the morale of the Spanish army and could likely cause an unexpected turn on the Portuguese front.
“Moreover, the ministers in Madrid would most likely not agree to a retreat either.”
Bertier could only lower his head without a word.
Joseph turned his gaze to the map on the side, contemplating in his mind.
Firstly, French troops must not get embroiled in the Moroccan conflict. Secondly, we need to help the Spaniards achieve some level of victory, at least allowing them to withdraw with dignity.
Hence, we must not be constrained by the mountainous battles in northern Morocco but should choose battlefields favorable to larger army operations.
——————
The rest has not been written yet, please refresh after 40 minutes to see more. The author apologizes sincerely.
Rif Mountains (Rif Mountains, in Arabic er-Rif, also known as “Rif Atlas Mountains”). The western north branch of the Atlas Mountains in North Africa. Located along the northern coast of Morocco. It stretches east-west and is separated from the Middle Atlas by the Taza Depression. The central section is steep, with an elevation of over 2,000 meters; the east and west sections are gentler, ranging between 700-800 meters. The northern slope has many cliffs, dropping directly to the Mediterranean to form capes and bays. Mainly comprised of sandstone and shale; the western and central coastal sides have many limestone layers. Rich in iron, manganese, lead, zinc, and other minerals.
Mountains in northern Morocco. Extending from Tangier (Tanger or Tangier) to near the Moulouya Valley at the Morocco-Algeria border, it stretches 290 kilometers (180 miles), with most of the ranges close to the Mediterranean, leaving only a few narrow coastal valleys suitable for agriculture or urban habitation. The higher peaks are snow-capped in winter, with the highest peak being Tidirhine, reaching 2,456 meters (8,059 feet). Despite its rich mineral deposits, only iron has been extensively mined. Relying on the rugged and isolated environment of the mountains, the Berber tribes, under the leadership of Abdul Krim (Abd el-Krim, 1882–1963), resisted French and Spanish occupation in the 1920s. After Morocco gained independence in 1956, the construction of roads on mountain tops and united roads (from Fez to Ketama) improved transportation in the mountains.
Ferdinand I was a Prince of Spain, former Duke of Parma, at the time the King of Naples and Sicily, the third son of Carlo and his wife Maria Amalia of Saxony, born on January 12, 1751, in the capital of the Kingdom of Naples, Naples. On August 10, 1759, Ferdinand’s uncle, King Ferdinand VI of Spain passed away, and Ferdinand’s father Carlo, as the half-brother of Ferdinand VI, inherited the Spanish throne, becoming Charles III. Since the Bourbon Dynasty had an agreement upon obtaining the thrones of Naples and Sicily that one person could not hold the throne of both Spain and Naples/Sicily, Charles III assigned his second son Carlo as Prince of Asturias to eventually inherit the Spanish throne; and passed the thrones of Naples and Sicily to his third son Ferdinand. Ferdinand thus became King Ferdinand IV of Naples and King Ferdinand III of Sicily. Due to Ferdinand being only eight years old when he inherited the throne, he could not govern independently. Naples and Sicily were managed by the regent Marquis Bernardo Tanucci, a capable and ambitious politician from Tuscany. Bernardo Tanucci aimed to keep the government as much as possible in his own hands. He deliberately neglected the education of the young king, encouraging him to engage in what he liked, leading the young king to overly indulge in outdoor activities. Ferdinand grew healthily, however, as a monarch, he was quite ignorant. His happiest times were spent with the “Lazzari” wanderers, living in the lowest tier of society, deeply influenced by the dialects and habits of ordinary citizens. Ferdinand was enthusiastic about hunting and fishing and even sold his game in the market, donating the proceeds to the poor. Ferdinand’s other eccentric behaviors are hard to count. Though not highly cultured, his intelligence and insight were not lacking. He once said: Naples, like a child, needs to be ruled with “sticks and candy”. Early rule over Naples and Sicily was under the regency of Marquis Bernardo Tanucci. In 1767, when Ferdinand came of age and began to reign, his first order was to expel the Jesuit monks. The following year, he married the Grand Duchess Maria Carolina of Habsburg-Lorraine, the ninth daughter of the Empress of the Holy Roman Empire and the Austrian Grand Duchess Maria Theresa. In 1775, Maria Carolina bore Ferdinand his first son, Carlo. She began to hold a voice in the Council of State, gradually leveraging this position to influence the kingdom’s politics.
