The War Court and Lap Pillow, Austria's Mandate of Heaven

Chapter 1588 The Battle of Madagascar (Part 1)
At this time, a voice came from outside the door.

“Your Majesty, Governor Ramarosson Andrianjaca has urgent business to attend to; the Austrians have attacked.”

"What? Where have they fought to?"

"We haven't reached the shore yet."

Queen Lanavarona I breathed a sigh of relief.

"Let Ramarosson Andrianjaka wait in the side hall."

"Yes."

Fifteen minutes later, in a side hall of the Imerina Palace.

"Ramarosson, what exactly happened?"

Queen Lanavarona I said with some displeasure, "The Kingdom of Imerina has been invaded more than once or twice, but only this time has Ramarosson Andrianjaka been so disheveled, his hair looking as if it were singed."

"Your Majesty, the Austrians have destroyed all of our coastal defenses."

To Lanavarona I, this was just another empty phrase, since which great power didn't destroy the coastal defenses first when they came to power?
“Ramaroson Andrianjaka, if you waste my time again, I’ll throw you to the crocodiles.”

Ramarosson Andrianjaka's throat bobbed as he spoke.

"Yes, Your Majesty. The Austrians' firepower is very strong, and they have already occupied Mahazanga Port."

Lanavarona I's eyelids twitched.

Will their boats go up the river?

Ramarosson Andrianjaka shook his head and said.

"No, their boats are too big; they would just run aground if they entered inland waterways."

Queen Lanavarona I breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this.

"Whatever conditions they propose, we will refuse. If they dare to enter the interior, you must eliminate them at all costs. Understand?"

Ramarosson Andrianjaka's eyes were bloodshot. If everything were as usual, he wouldn't have had to come here in person, and he didn't want to see this old monster either.

"Your Majesty, their only condition is the return of the prisoners. This enemy is truly different."

Upon hearing this, Queen Lanavarona I finally let out a cold laugh.

"Nothing's different. Aren't they just ministers who only know how to bribe me? Kill all the remaining prisoners tomorrow, the more exciting the better."

I'd like to see what those red-skinned pigs can do.

(Because Europeans have relatively light skin, they are very easy to get sunburned in the intense local sun. Locals see Europeans as having red skin and being relatively plump, so they call them "red-skinned pigs".)

Of course, there's another explanation: European meat tastes somewhat like pork.
Ramarosson Andrianjaka nodded emphatically, knowing that if he opened his mouth again, he would be the first to die.

No matter how powerful the Austrian gunboats were, he could always find a way to deal with them. Ramarosson Andrianjaka didn't want to die meaninglessly at the hands of this madwoman.

In reality, under the reign of Lanavarona I, there were not many loyal followers. Most of them were forced to submit because their families were controlled by her and because of her horrific methods.

On the third day, Friedrich saw through his telescope a group of natives setting up a large pot to boil water in front of the earthen fort.

Are they going to cook?

Friedrich was completely baffled.

"They are likely going to use witchcraft."

Gablenz, standing to the side, was clearly more experienced. "Witchcraft?"

Archbishop Rauscher, who was accompanying him, immediately perked up.

"Yes, the natives believe they can defeat us with witchcraft."

Gablenz shrugged, clearly unconvinced.

However, Archbishop Rauscher was triggered by the keyword and shouted loudly.

"How can we let those evil natives harm our warriors? Brothers, let's move out!"

So a group of charlatans started chanting scriptures, and many soldiers who didn't understand the meaning of it followed suit.

Gabrenz covered his face.

"I really think it's quite a coincidence that our empire is where it is today."

As a result, Archduke Frederick, who was standing to the side, also began reciting the scriptures.

In fact, quite a few Europeans at the time believed that faith in science and faith in God were not contradictory.

A short while later, the natives brought another group of prisoners with their hands bound.

"Have they given up?"

"That's good. Then we won't have to worry about anything if we fight again. Bring out the gold and send it to them!"

Soon, several priests drove wagons laden with gold to the enemy's front lines, and the Kingdom of Imreina accepted it without hesitation.

However, what happened next was completely unexpected by everyone.
The natives threw the prisoners into the large pot one by one. The prisoners screamed in agony as they struggled desperately, but their bodies began to turn red rapidly, and their skin began to peel off, revealing the bright red muscles underneath.
Almost without hesitation, the Austrian cavalry and infantry began their charge, and the artillery began firing at the buildings behind the natives.

Friedrich immediately ordered his communications officer to send a telegram.

"Get everyone who can carry a gun to the front lines immediately! I'm going to kill them all! Right now!"

Friedrich took a deep breath and then spoke.

“Leave a minimum number of guards on each ship.”

"As you command, sir."

The situation on the battlefield was completely one-sided. Although the natives had a large number of weapons captured and traded, their proficiency in using these weapons was very low.

In fact, the army of the Kingdom of Imreina had a very high rate of firearms equipment. Although it did not reach the level of the Qing Dynasty, it exceeded 50%, which was far superior to some small European countries at the same time.

This was mainly due to trade with European countries, plus the benefits of the Anglo-French rivalry, as well as a considerable amount of battlefield spoils.

The troops in front of us are the elite of the elite in the Kingdom of Imerina, with nearly 80% equipped with firearms, and even have cannons.

But this did not mean they could withstand the Austrian Imperial Army's offensive head-on; the overwhelming barrage of rockets shattered the natives' psychological defenses in an instant.

They were not unfamiliar with artillery, but this was truly their first time seeing rockets. In particular, the whistling sound of the rockets reminded them of a monster from local legends, and fear quickly spread throughout the army.

Austrian snipers swiftly picked off the richly dressed chieftains of the Imerina Kingdom's army on the battlefield. As the chieftains fell one after another, the fear of the native soldiers reached its peak.

Some knelt down to pray, some were so frightened they soiled themselves, and finally some began to turn and flee. Thus, the army of the Kingdom of Imerina collapsed like a flood breaching a dam.

Ramarosson Andrianjaca witnessed all of this from his earthen fortress. He wanted to organize a counterattack. He believed that if the enemy's infantry were annihilated first, and then the enemy was engaged in close combat, the army of the Kingdom of Imerina could win with its superior numbers.

Therefore, the troops at the front must hold off the enemy's first wave of attack, and then deploy reserves to stop the enemy's offensive momentum. When the enemy is about to retreat, the elite troops should be sent out to pursue and expand the victory.
However, in reality, he had no time to give orders. The barrage of artillery fire destroyed the earthen fortress, and he and his elite troops perished in the vengeful barrage.