Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 1026

1026. Alsace-Lorraine (4)

Maximilian I, utterly fed up with the drawn-out proceedings of the Imperial Diet, finally began to act independently. He mobilized a force composed of the Habsburg family’s personal guard and soldiers from supporting lords, and they began their march toward Lorraine. However, their progress was far from smooth.

Most of the lords along the way proved uncooperative. This was somewhat expected from those who adhered to the new religious sects emerging at the time, but even Catholic lords often refused to lend their support.

“Since it wasn’t decided by the Imperial Diet, we have no obligation to support it!”

That was the common refrain. Consequently, the army departing from Habsburg lands had to procure all necessities, including food, at its own expense.

“This is treason!” Maximilian I roared upon receiving the reports, but his anger was largely impotent. Pushing the issue further risked turning the entire Imperial Diet against him, a disastrous outcome. The Imperial Diet, including the seven Prince-Electors [the nobles entitled to elect the Holy Roman Emperor], had already issued a stern warning to Maximilian I.

“There is no obligation to support military actions not sanctioned by the Diet.”

“Even the Emperor cannot compel the lords against their will.”

“Damn it… The enemy is within,” Maximilian I muttered, gnashing his teeth as he reread the notification from the Imperial Diet. After a long, frustrated sigh, he looked around at his assembled vassals.

“Hoo~. Behold, the respect afforded to the Holy Roman Emperor!”

His vassals lowered their heads in silence, feeling the intensity of Maximilian I’s anger.

“Hoo~,” Maximilian I sighed again, this time more deeply, before issuing an order. “Tell Count Tilly: win at all costs.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

The commander of the Habsburg army heading to Lorraine was Count Tilly, a devout Catholic and a staunch loyalist of the Habsburg family. After giving the order concerning Count Tilly, Maximilian I turned to gaze out the window, muttering to himself, “I must win this war. Only then can I subdue those arrogant fellows who control the Imperial Diet.”

Maximilian I ground his teeth at the thought of the nobles within the Imperial Diet who constantly obstructed his ambitions. Meanwhile, Count Tilly, having received Maximilian I’s urgent order via messenger, offered a wry smile.

“I’ve received a difficult order indeed.”

The forces under his command numbered approximately 40,000 men, a mix of cavalry, infantry, and artillery. It was a considerable force, but the French army already present in Lorraine numbered over 30,000 and was steadily growing. Fortunately, the French forces were currently scattered across three key regions within Lorraine.

If he could defeat these isolated detachments before they had a chance to regroup, he might stand a chance of achieving victory. However, this was by no means a simple task. It demanded rapid maneuvers and concentrated firepower, capabilities that the current state of the Habsburg army made almost impossible.

As previously mentioned, external support was virtually nonexistent. After confirming the order sent by Maximilian I, Count Tilly carefully assessed his forces’ capabilities and began composing a letter. The letter to his lord, Maximilian I, could be summarized as follows:

-I am confident that I can win the first one or two battles. But I am not confident after that.

-I will do my best to inflict damage on the French. But I cannot guarantee victory.

-In the end, the final victory depends on diplomacy.

* * *

By the time the Habsburg army led by Count Tilly arrived in Lorraine, the French army had amassed over 50,000 troops in the region. However, these forces were dispersed among Metz, Virten (Verdun), and Toul. These regions were formerly independent bishoprics [small states ruled by a bishop] and would eventually be annexed into French territory.

“There’s no need to waste blood by scattering unnecessarily to irrelevant places.”

“The Habsburg army will have to come here anyway. Why? Because we are here.”

While they avoided excessive dispersion, the 15,000 to 20,000 troops stationed in each location were still numerically inferior to the advancing Habsburg army. The French were fully aware of this disadvantage, but they were not expecting to be easily defeated. They had learned valuable lessons from the Empire during the previous Italian Wars.

“Now, urban warfare is more important than siege warfare.”

“In the case of open field battles, mobile warfare is impossible due to barbed wire and trenches. These battles must be won with firepower.”

Despite paying a heavy price in casualties, the French adapted to the Imperial army’s style of warfare faster than anyone else. Armed with a large number of cannons, gun carriages, and small gun carriages, the French army burned with ambition despite being outnumbered.

“We might lose once. But those guys won’t really win even if they win!”

The ensuing battle unfolded both as expected and unexpectedly for Count Tilly and the French. The first major engagement took place in Metz, the easternmost of the bishoprics, and it quickly devolved into a fierce urban battle. The Habsburg and French armies fought relentlessly for control of the bridges spanning the Moselle River, which bisected the city.

In this urban combat, the French army’s secret weapon, the small gun carriage—essentially an early form of submachine gun—proved devastating. Though significantly smaller than a traditional gun carriage, it could unleash a torrent of bullets in a short amount of time, suppressing enemy advances. However, the Habsburg army they faced was not the same force that had betrayed Venice in Italy.

Armed with long rifles copied from Florentine designs and gun carriages inspired by the army’s own artillery, the Habsburg army countered the French by ‘making roads with cannonballs,’ effectively blasting their way through obstacles. In the end, after a bloody battle that stained the streets and walls of Metz crimson, the French army, having suffered significant losses, was forced to retreat towards Virten.

The Habsburg army was also in poor condition. Standard military doctrine called for exploiting gains by pursuing a retreating enemy, but the Habsburg army occupying Metz lacked the strength for such an endeavor. Count Tilly focused on recuperating his exhausted and wounded troops while simultaneously sending a letter to Maximilian I requesting reinforcements and supplies.

* * *

However, Count Tilly was not simply waiting passively. He first tightened security to prevent accurate information about the Habsburg army’s condition from leaking out. Then, he initiated a campaign of rumors throughout Lorraine, scattering spies in all directions.

“The French army suffered heavy damage in the city of Metz!”

“The reason the Imperial army is staying in Metz is to prevent unnecessary bloodshed!”

“The Imperial army will soon attack the areas where the French army is staying again!”

“His Majesty has promised to show mercy if they do not cooperate with France! He said that this has already been discussed with the Imperial Diet!”

The rumors spread by the spies sowed discord among the lords of Lorraine. It was undeniable that the French had suffered significant losses and retreated from Metz. Whether the Habsburgs had also sustained heavy casualties remained uncertain. Thus, the lords once again began to weigh their options.

“France is powerful, but the Emperor is also powerful.”

“They are currently at odds with the Imperial Diet, but if an agreement is reached with the Imperial Diet, the situation will change again.”

“Then?”

The lords of Lorraine, carefully calculating the potential benefits and risks, slowly began to shift their allegiances. First, the Catholic lords actively began to support the Habsburg army. Soon, carts laden with food and medicine began arriving in Metz.

Conversely, the lords who adhered to the new religious sects began to withdraw their support and declared neutrality.

“If France wins, they will hand over the bishopric as promised. If the Emperor wins, we can ask the Imperial Diet for help under the pretext of maintaining neutrality.”

As support dwindled due to the lords’ decisions, France was forced to bring supplies from its own territory. Upon receiving this report, the Chancellor relayed the information to Charles VIII and added, “I will slowly prepare for negotiations.”

“We are not backing down, are we?” Charles VIII asked.

“No. Instead, I am thinking of harassing the lords who are just watching.”

“Harass them thoroughly.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Meanwhile, Maximilian I, having received Count Tilly’s report and request, was making a similar decision. “Send the requested reinforcements as soon as possible, along with supplies.”

“Yes.”

“And prepare for negotiations.”

“Yes, Your Majesty. But, Your Majesty, are you really going to show mercy?”

“I never said that, did I?”

“Still, it would be good to show mercy.”

“To prevent the same thing from happening again, we must set an example and bestow favor.”

At Maximilian I’s intention to execute at least a few lords as a warning, one of the vassals raised another concern. “Then what will you do with Count Tilly? He recklessly invoked Your Majesty’s name and spread rumors. This is a serious crime.”

At the vassal’s point, Maximilian I expressed doubt. “Count Tilly did that? I have never heard of such a thing.”

“Ah…”

The vassals fell silent at Maximilian I’s words. While rumors had indeed spread, there was no concrete evidence directly linking Count Tilly to their dissemination. Maximilian I warned his vassals with a stern expression. “There should be no insulting a general who is currently performing well on the front lines.”

The vassals turned pale and bowed their heads at Maximilian I’s strong warning. “We will keep that in mind!”

This conversation also reached Count Tilly’s ears through various channels. Count Tilly smiled bitterly upon hearing the story. “I have taken the ‘poisoned chalice’ [an apparent benefit that is actually a curse].”

Maximilian I was overlooking the transgression now because Tilly was achieving positive results against France and swaying the lords. However, if Tilly’s performance faltered or he incurred the Emperor’s displeasure in the future, this incident would undoubtedly be used against him, leading to even more dire consequences.

* * *

Following the Battle of Metz, France and Habsburg continued to confront each other along the road connecting Metz to Virten and Toul. After three months of small-scale skirmishes, involving at most 200 to 300 troops on each side, negotiations for a formal end to the war finally commenced.

“The area that France is currently illegally occupying is the territory of our Holy Roman Empire! Evacuate immediately!”

“What are you talking about? We were stationed there to ensure a safe supply of iron ore and coal when we were subjected to a surprise attack! It was a surprise attack without a declaration of war!”

The representatives of the two countries continued to argue, drawing parallel lines endlessly and engaging in fierce verbal battles. Recesses, adjournments, insults, and shouts became commonplace as the representatives glared at each other and growled.

“Don’t you know that this will lead to war again?”

“Aren’t we already at war?”

“France is not afraid of our Holy Roman Empire!”

“Why would we be? If we look so ridiculous, why don’t you try fighting us again!”

As both sides remained entrenched in their positions, the nobles of the Imperial Diet began to exert their influence behind the scenes.

“Let’s end it here. If we end it here, we will also try to maintain a good relationship with the Emperor.”

“France should also be moderately greedy. If you continue, we will help the Emperor with all our might.”

With the subtle mediation and veiled threats of the great nobles who controlled the Imperial Diet, Habsburg and France finally reached an agreement.