I'm the Dauphin in France

Chapter 984 Bloodletting Tactics
"The British have also developed percussion cap guns and bulletproof inserts, which will make it difficult for us to achieve a huge exchange ratio."

"But we will have weapons better than percussion cap rifles, more convenient equipment than Sharp's signal tower, and better tactics than 'back slope + white thin line'.

"We will continue to innovate, and even if we become a 'Lion', we will not stagnate."

Joseph spread his arms and said loudly: "I can tell you that France will be as great as Rome! Let us welcome that day together!"

All the officers stood up at the same time, their faces flushed with excitement, and shouted at the top of their lungs, "As great as Rome!"

"Long live France!"

The several officers who had previously clamored to petition for Napoleon had now stopped.

They are all smart people who have managed to get the position of senior officers. The Crown Prince has made it very clear just now that France's current goal is to accumulate national strength, continue to improve the combat effectiveness of the army, and avoid being in a fight with other "wild dogs".

However, General Bonaparte's previous actions will cause the country to continue to "be wounded and bleed."

No wonder His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is so angry.

But His Royal Highness also mentioned "as great as Rome", so France will not stop at its current sphere of influence. In other words, General Bonaparte may have a day to command the army again to serve the country.

After the officers calmed down, Joseph began to announce the list of promoted officers, followed by the general plan for the second military reform.

It was not until 9 o'clock in the evening that hundreds of officers left the military academy auditorium with His Royal Highness the Crown Prince.

Everyone went back to the camp or officers' quarters. The Paris Police Academy did not have the tradition of officers' balls.

As soon as Joseph got on the carriage, he saw Berthier following him with a signal tower standard document, which should have been sent by the signal tower during the meeting just now.

"Get in the car and talk." Joseph motioned to the Chief of Staff.

After a moment, the carriage started.

In the carriage, Berthier handed the document in his hand to Joseph and said, “Your Highness, it is from Colonel Junot.

"He had won a victory five days earlier, killing or capturing thousands of enemy troops, including at least 5 British.

“Colonel Junod requested additional troops to be sent to Iberia.

"Based on the previous battles with the Anglo-Portuguese coalition, he judged that if an additional 20,000 troops were sent, Lisbon could be occupied by the end of the year at the latest."

Joseph glanced at the report and shook his head, saying, "Our army in Portugal cannot exceed 7 people at most. That is if the Spanish make mistakes and cannot sustain the war.

"You have to remember that our goal is not to quickly capture Portugal."

"Yes, Your Highness." Berthier nodded and then said, "Your Highness, I know that the current strategic focus is on domestic construction, but if there is a chance to remove the British military port in the Bay of Cadiz, it will partially break the maritime blockade of our country. This will also increase trade income."

The Bay of Cadiz is the sea area on the southwest side of Europe.

If Britain loses the naval port here, it will only be able to send a fleet from its homeland to blockade here. The consumption will increase exponentially and the density of the blockade will be greatly reduced.

This allowed French merchant ships to enter the Atlantic Ocean through Spanish ports.

Joseph shook his head: "You seem to be too optimistic.

"Even if we capture Lisbon, Portugal will probably not surrender. The British will continue to hold Porto and send supplies there by sea.

"Eventually we still have to go back and take down the Torres Vedras Fortress Group."

He had good reasons for saying this. The Portuguese were ruled by Spain 200 to 300 years ago, and Spain treated them very harshly. The Portuguese remembered this deeply and called that period of history "eternal shame", so they were very determined to resist Spain.

Historically, Napoleon's Franco-Spanish coalition occupied Lisbon, and even the Portuguese royal family fled to Brazil.

But the Portuguese immediately launched guerrilla warfare across the country.

The British occupied Porto and built a group of fortresses stretching over 30 kilometers. The Franco-Spanish coalition spent a huge amount of money to attack Porto, but never completely controlled it.

The British used Porto as their base and provided continuous support to the Portuguese guerrillas. The Portuguese royal family also invested all the income from the colonies in the war. In the end, the Franco-Spanish coalition was harassed by the guerrillas and suffered terribly. In the end, the supply was cut off and they had to withdraw in embarrassment.

Joseph knew that he must not get too involved in Iberia.

Britain is like a ferocious beast. The more eager you are to kill it, the more likely it is that you will be bitten back by it.

Berthier was a little puzzled and asked, "Your Highness, then we will continue to confront the Anglo-Portuguese coalition forces in Coimbra?"

Joseph smiled and shook his head: "It was the Spanish who confronted them. We only had 5 troops there.

“And the standoff won’t last forever.

"What we have to do now is to gradually change the Portuguese's mindset. As long as they stop actively organizing guerrillas, the British will be the ones who can no longer sustain the pressure."

Berthier was obviously a little surprised: "Change your mind? I'm afraid that won't be easy, Your Highness."

"Normally it's not easy," Joseph said, "but this time the British will help us.

“You know, people are easily tempted when they have to make huge efforts and no return in a short period of time.

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

He thought for a moment and then said, "Oh, by the way, I have to write a letter to His Majesty Carlos IV."

……

Portugal.

The upper reaches of the Vaugá River, 100 km east of Coimbra.

Outside the church of Nehabe Village, the village chief, under the supervision of an officer, shouted to the hundreds of villagers in front of him: "The Spanish devil has arrived!
“Her Majesty the Queen has ordered us to move immediately to the south of Setubal to avoid the demons’ plunder.

“Everyone go back and make preparations now, we will set off south in three days.

“We must not let the Spanish get anything they want from here!
"May God bless my king."

The villagers immediately began to whisper to each other, and some women began to sniffle.

They all knew what the so-called going south meant, but fighting against the Spaniards was something they had to do.

At this moment, someone suddenly shouted: "The Spanish only took some food, but the British are going to destroy everything we have!"

The village chief immediately pointed at a short young man in the crowd and shouted, "Igor, what nonsense are you talking about?"

The young man's voice became louder: "Have you heard? Those people who moved away from Porto before did not get any food or shelter.

"They can only beg near Lisbon now, and some strong people have even been sold to the Levant by British slave ships!"

(End of this chapter)