Tang Qi Tan

Along with the soldiers of the Freedom Army rushing into the city of Avignon like a tide; the morale and fighting spirit of the Royalist/Royalist troops who had vowed to let the invading enemy shed blood under the city were like melting snow under the scorching sun It fell apart quickly, and the collapse was out of control.

Therefore, when the last group of aristocratic armed forces retreated into the palace cathedral to resist, under the roar of the cannons pushed up one after another, hoarsely pleaded and begged for forgiveness and raised the white flag; That's it.

And the unexpected end of this battle also announced that one of the most powerful armed factions among the many royal parties once entrenched in the south of the kingdom; the White Legion that was rampant in the Provence area was destroyed.More than 100 nobles, big and small, headed by Earl Angkian, died or were captured.

Even the private soldiers, tribes, and followers they brought were all killed and injured.Therefore, the remaining work is the follow-up clearance and inspection of their respective territories.The fall of the city of Avignon also meant that the dominance of the province of Provence and the subsidiary Grand Crown changed hands.

It also brought about two other collateral reactions.First of all, as the largest local force in the Maritime Province; the alliance of the Marseille Port City; announced the acceptance and management of the Free Army; and actively cooperated with the Free Army to take over the four counties and [-] large and small cities in the Maritime Province.

At the same time, they also donated 500 million pounds of food and military expenses worth 85 Ecu; as a reward for the Free Army allowing them to maintain the status quo of the autonomy of business groups and guilds, and providing follow-up armed asylum.In addition, the free army can also collect annual transaction taxes and customs duties.

Secondly, the garrison of the Fortress of Toulon and the Royal Navy, about [-] soldiers, sailors, craftsmen and other auxiliary personnel; also declared to join the sequence of the Free Army, and accepted the reorganization and dispatch; thus greatly enriched There is a severe shortage of free officers and non-commissioned officers.

After all, even if most of them are second- and third-line garrison troops and naval combat teams.At any rate, it is the Kingdom Army that is familiar with military operations and orthodox training; as long as it is slightly modified and retrained, and after being dispersed and promoted to various companies, it can be used quickly.

But the bigger harvest is still in the city of Avignon itself, as the capital of the province of Provence, and even the water and land hub of the Greater Provence region; where the royal family's summer palace is located.He also hoarded a large amount of money, food and materials collected and collected by the royalists during the turmoil in the kingdom.

The food reserves used to hold on to it alone are enough to feed the 10,000+ citizens of the city and the White Army itself for several years under a long-term siege.And the taxes and tributes they have collected in nearby areas over the years have reached an outrageous 150 million ecu.

And other materials such as bacon, wine, cloth, leather, oil, fuel, and iron ingots collected from the search are piled up like mountains; Industry is a considerable number.

Therefore, Jiang Tian even ordered the formation of a temporary special court, which is being slowly tortured and forced to find out where the captured nobles may have hidden property.However, for the Free Army or Jiang Tian, ​​there are other things that are more valuable.

For example, in the city of Avignon, there is a royal high school, two church schools, a mechanic (apprentice) training institute; a large grain and livestock trading market; there is also a large royal library in the palace; Royal Iron Works and Naval Foundry.

Especially the last two are undoubtedly a timely help for the current free army, or a particularly important part; because Avignon's location can get the transportation and mining costs of nearby areas through seaports and water transportation, relatively low coal and iron ore.

Therefore, four generations ago, the royal family established a local iron factory under the jurisdiction of the royal family, which can provide 60 pounds of gray cast iron (not pure graphite iron) and a small amount of forged steel every month; A foundry that provided ordnance products for the Royal Navy.

Although, because of the large-scale requisition after the royal party occupied the provincial capital, most of them have been abandoned and vacant.But the site, the facilities, and the manpower were readily available; enough money could be invested to resume operations, and even artisans could be recruited from Marseilles.

Therefore, after preliminarily counting the existing family assets and expected income, Jiang Tian announced that all soldiers would be paid one month's salary; soldiers who performed outstandingly could receive three months' salary and other rewards; and soldiers who died in battle could also receive A pension for a full year's salary.

At the same time, it was announced that more soldiers would be recruited and replenished on the spot; many captives would be organized into forced labor teams to restart the mining of mines and forest farms near the city of Avignon; corresponding iron-making technicians would be recruited from Marseilles with high salaries, and hundreds of games would be held at the same time. A public examination with no restrictions on origin.

In fact, after the self-owned army attacked all the way, in every city and town it occupied, all kinds of people came to join them; it was just that there were not many suitable candidates; Even fewer people count.

Among them are mainly former knights and country lords whose families have been ruined and bankrupt, the second sons, bastards and illegitimate sons of small and medium-sized noble families who have no inheritance rights; Some low priests.

Of course, this is also the norm in this era. Compared with the poor people who are busy all day for their livelihood, these groups have more or less the opportunity to receive some education; and they also have the desire and appeal to change their own destiny and future.It is also a class that the Freedom Army can fight for at the moment.

Therefore, after the preliminary interview and simple written examination, and after passing the oath ceremony, they are used as alternates, trainees, and temporary substitutes; based on their demonstrated expertise and inclinations.Become a civilian clerk who fills the military organizations and local agencies of the Free Army.

Of course, it is inevitable that various kinds of speculation, utilitarianism, and other tendencies and purposes will be mixed into it; therefore, for Jiang Tian, ​​who is familiar with historical experience and lessons, this is just a matter of choosing whether to solve it or not. It's just an expedient measure to slowly rectify.

Therefore, in addition to strengthening the corresponding internal monitoring mechanism and improving the administrative structure, he also needs to establish more schools; to re-train a large number of students with a firmer stand and a stake in the future; to gradually replace these early start-ups transition team.

Therefore, every time he occupied a city, he would try to take over the local churches or government-run and commercial schools, as well as related industries such as paper mills and printing houses, and then reorganize and deploy teachers in different places, and arrange unified teaching materials; The dormitory attracts common people's children to enroll.

Although all of these are initial creations and there are always problems, as long as you can persist in investing; with the passage of time and the strengthening of the control of the Free Army; under the continuous supply of a large enough base, there is always a corresponding probability of producing better Talents.

Therefore, whether it is for Jiang Tian or the soldiers of the Freedom Army, after going through battles across several provinces, they can also make some adjustments and relax under relatively abundant material conditions.For example, come to the royal palace located in the north of the city to enjoy an open-air hot spring.