Chapter 273 The First Austro-Vietnamese War

When the Austrian Empire's declaration of war and the so-called "Ten Hates" were delivered to his bedroom, Emperor Minh Mang realized the disaster caused by his son. He died in a fit of rage.

Of course, this was not within Franz's calculations, and the life and death of the former emperor was no longer important, because who the opponent was was not important to the Austrian Empire, and even to Vietnam.

At this time, Emperor Thieu Tri did not feel sad because of his father's death. Instead, he felt a little sad in his heart. The true emperor was actually afraid of the yellow-haired ghost. Alas!

Nguyen Phuc Duong's confidence was not groundless. At this time, Vietnam had 150,000 elite soldiers, and those who participated in the invasion of Zhenla were just some temporarily recruited bandits and landless farmers, not regular troops at all.

At the same time, the Vietnamese navy had a total of 300 large and small warships. Although they could not be compared with the huge bird ships of the Qing Dynasty, they had huge silk-driving ships.

This large Fu ship is more than 36 meters long, about 7 meters wide, with 24 cabins and can carry 1,500 shi. Each ship is equipped with more than 30 sailors and boatmen, 80 sailors, and equipped with double masts, double rudders, and double iron anchors.

(It is a relic of Ming Dynasty shipbuilding technology, but it actually did not reach the level of the Ming Dynasty.)

The naval warfare rules are learned from the Tianxing Formation of Shi Lang, the sea thunderbolt. The troops of this formation are arranged like the oblique line of wild geese flying over, with the key point of giving full play to the power of shooting arms. If the firepower is superior, it will naturally be invincible.

(A modified version of the goose formation, the name seems to be given by Shiquan Lao Ren, the information is from martial arts novels, just to make you laugh.)

While Franz was building momentum in Europe, the war started in Asia. After all, he was not sure whether other powers would also get involved.

The expeditionary force of the Austrian Empire did receive a lot of donations and volunteers. Because the momentum was too large, Frederick had to lead the army himself.

Of course, he himself was very eager to fight this war. After all, he had never fought a war with an Asian country, and he also wanted to test the power of new weapons. The rocket's propellant gunpowder was denser and its shape was more aerodynamic.

After the war began, the Vietnamese army of 100,000 had just rushed from Hanoi to Hue (from the north to the center), and its generals received news that the Great Southern Navy had been defeated in Kompong Som, the South China Sea and the northern waters.

Whether it was the Ganzhuo boats that the Vietnamese had high hopes for before the war, or those rice boats (a bunch of sampans, basically driven by paddles), they were all vulnerable in front of the steam warships of the Austrian fleet.

With only one third-class battleship and seven frigates, all these 14th-century antiques were sent to the bottom of the sea.

Immediately afterwards, the transport ships carrying the religious army composed of Zhenla people landed in Haiphong (an important port in Vietnam) and approached the capital of Vietnam.

This move was beyond the expectations of Emperor Thieu Tri. He thought that it would be no problem to defend the capital with 50,000 elite soldiers and local troops.

But who would have thought that the first battle outside Haiphong Port would defeat more than 20,000 of his own troops.

Although the actual number of casualties was only a few hundred, due to the huge difference in firepower and the fact that the Vietnamese general who led the troops was killed on the spot, the remaining officers and soldiers who were frightened fled in all directions as if they were infected with the plague.

When the news reached Hue, Emperor Shao Tri sent a pigeon overnight to summon the army to come back for help. Lishan, who led the army to the expedition, had to lead his troops to rush to Hanoi, but before he arrived at the battlefield, another battle broke out in the Jiulong River Plain in the south, and the local defenders suffered heavy losses from the east and west.

Emperor Shao Tri sent Lishan to the expedition again. The latter, who received the order in a hurry, wanted to resupply in Hue, but heard the news that the outer perimeter of Hue City had been conquered by the enemy.

At this time, the general didn't care so much. He intended to fight to the death with the yellow-haired ghost and those high barbarian native accomplices here.

However, this dream was once again shattered. When the Vietnamese army arrived in Hue, the enemy had already disappeared.

What was worse was that the military equipment and supplies in the city's storage warehouses were either robbed or distributed to local civilians. This move was a murderous move.

Just as the Vietnamese were trying to save the unfavorable situation, the bad news that Hanoi and the Jiulong River Plain were in urgent need of help came again.

At this time, Emperor Shao Tri, who was in the Hue Palace, finally understood his father's good intentions.

Because when the Guardian Army attacked the outer city, he had a certain understanding of the enemy's strength. Originally, the other party could easily capture the palace and end the war quickly, but they did not do so.

Obviously, the real purpose of the yellow-haired man who controlled the Zhenla area was not only to show off his military power, but also to make his own army exhausted.

Soon after learning of the report that the Jiulong River Plain had fallen, Emperor Shao Tri decided to surrender. Representatives of both sides negotiated on an Austrian warship in the Beibu Gulf.

The agreement was drawn up by Franz early on, with the condition that Vietnam ceded the Mekong River Plain and paid a compensation of three million taels of silver.

However, Emperor Thieu Tri refused, and he decided to use force to retake the Mekong River Plain. Austria soon sent another sea and land attack to Hue.

The Imperial Guards guarding the imperial city were already one of the best troops in Vietnam. But the soldiers carrying outdated armor and bird guns were no match for the Austrian Marines.

What's more, this time Austria had twice as many warships equipped for this ocean-going operation, and it was Archduke Frederick himself who was in command.

This arrogant genius boy didn't care about the value of the cultural relics. He directly ordered rocket washing of the Vietnamese capital.

Then 20,000 new rodless spinning rockets roared across the land, burning the wooden Hue City to the ground.

Even the palace in the city was affected, and nearly half of the ancillary buildings were destroyed. Of course, as the foundation of the Nguyen Dynasty, the resistance here was still quite fierce.

When the Austrian Marines entered the almost ruined Hue City, there were still Vietnamese wearing rotten armor and holding short knives shouting and rushing out, but it was of no use at all.

However, at this time, they were no longer the invincible army that swept across Shanxi (a place name in Vietnam) and intended to conquer the Central Plains.

In the face of the Austrian army's three-stage volley and fierce firepower advantage, these people's charge became meaningless. Even if there were occasional casualties on their side, they were borne by the Protectorate Army in front.

Friedrich didn't know how the church and Franz tamed this group of vassal troops, but since there were cannon fodder, there was no reason for him to risk his elite troops.

Soon, Friedrich and his men arrived at the Hue Palace surrounded by soldiers.

Half of this majestic palace had turned into ruins at this time, but its former glory could still be vaguely seen.

At the palace gate stood several Vietnamese people with their heads raised and squinting. Their expressions seemed to accuse Friedrich of treason, but it didn't take long for these proud heads to leave their masters' bodies.

Friedrich didn't want to waste time. Since these people didn't want to talk, he would change a group.