Chapter 962 Bluffing

The main reason why Congreve's rockets did not shine on the battlefields of the 19th century was that their accuracy was extremely poor, but this weakness did not exist when the target was a fortress.

Hundreds of rockets rose into the sky at the same time, drawing a gray trajectory. The sharp whistling sound was like the call of the god of death. Some French soldiers were already desperate, and they looked at the sky with empty eyes.

Rockets rose into the sky like an angry dragon, and after exhausting their last strength, they turned into meteors with fire and hit the Salbourg.

A rocket fell on the broken tower. First, the light and heat of the rocket explosion lit up the whole sky, and then the gravel, dust, and gunpowder swept up by the air wave.

Then came the second and third rockets. Rockets fell and exploded one after another, flames rose into the sky, and bricks and tiles and gravel continued to fall like raindrops, making it impossible to avoid.

As time went on, the speed of the raindrops fell faster and faster, and every drop was so shocking.

In addition to the French soldiers who were desperate and waiting to die, more people were panicked. They ran around like headless flies, with screams, cries for help, cries, and explosions intertwined.

The French soldiers looked for all possible places to hide, but those seemingly safe places were mostly buried with explosives.

The ubiquitous explosions caused the entire fortress to collapse rapidly, and also made the French soldiers feel the real cruelty and helplessness for the first time.

Since the first Alsace-Lorraine crisis in 1844, Franz has been sending war supplies to the Alsace region openly or secretly.

As for why they were not sent to the Lorraine region to not lose an inch of land, the answer is that the defense line is too long to defend.

As the northern gate of Alsace, Salbourg naturally received Franz's special care. Its underground storage of dozens of tons of gunpowder is enough to support several large-scale battles.

And Franz could not really leave his fate to a group of militias and mercenaries. His backup plan was to directly detonate all the explosives that had been preset in advance if he could not defend.

Leaving the French a ruin so that the Austrian army can recapture the lost ground.

Those hundreds of rockets were just appetizers, and more rockets rose into the sky from all directions.

The horrific explosion lasted for nearly thirty minutes, and the vanguard of the French army entering Salbourg suffered a devastating blow.

However, the most serious loss was to be said to be the headquarters of Ramosilier. After the attack, his command system was blown to pieces.

Two of the three corps commanders were seriously injured, and the remaining one temporarily lost his hearing. Ramosilier's adjutant, more than a dozen senior staff officers and dozens of guards died.

The headquarters was like this, and the casualties of ordinary soldiers were even more difficult to count.

And this was not the end, but just a beginning.

Ramosilier was helped by several guards to a relatively safe place. He looked at the ruins and the heavy losses of the troops in front of him and sighed.

"What a bunch of despicable rats, they actually buried so much explosives in the fortress. And where did they get so many Congreve rockets? This is so unusual! Is it a British conspiracy?"

In the stereotype, Congreve rockets are British products. After all, the burning of Copenhagen is still very famous.

The adjutant is no longer there, and the others are either too low-ranking or not in the mood to talk about it. They have not recovered from the catastrophe just now.

"Report! Your Excellency the Marshal!"

At this time, a scout cavalry rushed over in a panic, and Lamosilier's heart skipped a beat.

The reality is just as he expected. This attack was not a temporary intention, but a long-planned conspiracy.

"Report that an army is approaching, with at least more than 10,000 people, and carrying a large number of artillery. They also sent a messenger."

"Bring him to see me!"

Lamosilier looked at the mess around him and changed his words.

"Let them wait first."

Lamosilier's move was naturally to maintain his image and the face of the Second French Republic, but at the same time he was also buying time to reorganize the team and allow more troops to enter Sarrebourg.

Although this place has been bombed into ruins, it is still the only passage from Lorraine to northern Alsace, so the strategic position has not changed.

In the end, he had a bit of revenge. The explosion just now was more than just a shock. If he had worse luck, he might have died.

Half an hour later, the French army temporarily cleared a piece of open space in the ruins, and all the wounded and corpses on the roadside were urgently treated.

The German coalition envoys were led by officers of the follow-up troops to Lamosilier.

The envoy was told that Marshal Lamosilier was resting, and the former just laughed disdainfully.

At this time, the envoy of the German coalition was the famous radical Hernan Neu, who was supposed to rebel against the German Empire in the original world line.

However, due to too many historical differences, this radical populist became the vanguard of the German coalition and was willing to serve as the most unwelcome messenger.

No matter what the situation was, the French would not be kind to him, and no matter how well he did, no one would remember it. However, as long as he made a mistake, he might be sent to a military court.

However, Hernan Noy was not afraid. He just thought the French were funny. He had witnessed the grand "fireworks show" with his own eyes.

The soldiers standing guard at the outermost perimeter were all covered in dust, but the French troops inside the ruins were bright and beautiful. Some people would believe that they were a guard of honor.

As for Lamosilier resting, he thought it was even more impossible. Given the intensity of the situation just now, it was somewhat credible that he was receiving treatment.

The French officer in charge of the reception was also very unhappy, but he did not get angry because what they needed most now was time.

The first 10,000 people who entered Salbourg were almost all crippled. It took time for the follow-up troops to come to stabilize the situation.

In silence all the way, they finally arrived at Lamosilier's temporary command post.

Lamosilier said he was resting, but he was sitting upright on a collapsed boulder, holding his marshal's baton in his hand, and his clothes were also brand new.

There was also a rather majestic warhorse on the side, with sharp muscles under the black mane, which perfectly embodied the words "tall, mighty and powerful".

In addition to the warhorse, there was a large flag next to Lamosilier, which was the flag of the Second French Republic.

The blue, white and red tricolor flag fluttered in the wind, and the majestic guards on both sides would definitely give the newcomers a sense of power.

However, Hernan Noy just found it funny. What was so great about a group of French people in the ruins?

"Marshal, I am ordered by Archduke Albrecht of Austria, the commander-in-chief of the Second Army of the German Allied Forces, to ask you to withdraw from Saarburg unconditionally to avoid unnecessary sacrifices of soldiers on both sides."

Lamosilier was a little surprised, and then said angrily.

"Did Albrecht understand the situation? Now our army occupies Saarburg, and the advantage is on the French side!"

Hernan Noy said calmly.

"So you mean to start a war right away?"

"Uh" Lamosilier was speechless for a moment, but then he changed his words helplessly.

"That's not what I meant."