Sedica, Governor's Palace.
The oil lamps hanging on the walls around the hall were not bright.
The old furnishings and the expressions on the faces of everyone sitting around the round table made the atmosphere very solemn.
First, Macedonia and Dalmatia in the southwest withdrew, and the Western Qin army launched a massive attack in the southeast, so that the 6,000 Serbian troops stationed in Dupnica were defeated and fled.
Then the nearby Slavs suddenly rebelled and blocked the The Serbian army was on the way back, and was defeated by the Western Qin army that caught up, with very few escaping.
Then the Western Qin Army began to attack northward in a roundabout way from the southwest, approaching the flanks of the Sedica coalition forces.
This made Charlie and others instinctively feel the crisis.
Immediately afterwards, Krum was defeated.
Thousands of Bulgar cavalry were almost wiped out.
Krum himself also died in the Balkan Mountains.
This series of unfavorable news came one after another.
The minds of Charles, Leo III, Leo V, Batannicus and others became older and more serious.
The situation worsened and became more and more unfavorable to the coalition forces.
Tricky, too tricky.
If there is no way to reverse the situation, the situation may get worse, but now no one can think of a good way.
A priest walked in and broke the silence.
He walked to Pope Leo III and whispered a few words in his ear.
Leo III's face suddenly turned pale.
Upon seeing this, Charlie immediately asked: "Your Majesty the Pope, what happened?"
Leo III trembled and said: "Ten days ago, the Tunisian legions of the Western Qin Dynasty launched a large-scale attack from southern Italy.
Rome was captured.
All the archbishops, bishops, and priests in Rome were imprisoned."
The faces of everyone sitting around the round table became more solemn.
Rome was the foundation of the Holy See.
The fall of Rome meant that the Holy See had to go into exile from now on.
Leo V wondered: "Although the Western Qin people attacked other surrounding countries before, they never persecuted local religions.
Why shouldn't they reverse the past policy this time?"
Leo III smiled bitterly and said: "The people of Western Qin already know that this coalition was organized by our Holy See.
This matter is no longer a secret.
It is reasonable for the Western Qin people to blame our Holy See for this.
Hey, if this time we If the coalition forces are defeated, we in the Holy See may have a difficult time in the future, and the days of suffering are coming again."
The fall of the Papal States meant that northern Italy was about to face the Tunisian army of the Western Qin.
From then on, the Frankish Kingdom would fall into a three-front battle, one in the Pyrenees, one in northern Italy, and then Coupled with Sedica's side, this pressure was too great for the Frankish Kingdom, which did not have a very deep foundation, and it made Charlie somewhat breathless.
At this time, another person walked into the hall quickly.
This was Charlie's general Oliver.
He walked to everyone and saluted Charlie, and said in an urgent tone: "Your Majesty, there is bad news from the north.
The people of Villatabi, The Abodrites and the Esti people have successively launched attacks on our territory in the north.
Floresmart is leading the army to resist, but These damn barbarians attacked us from the north, east and southeast at the same time.
Floresmart couldn't resist it.
As he was retreating, a considerable number of Saxons also launched a rebellion after seeing these barbarians attacking us. , now we have lost a large area of territory in the north, and the Danes and the Vikings further north have also shown their fangs to us."
Charlie stood up involuntarily and asked: "Where is Flores Matt now?"
"We have retreated to the area west of the Elbe River, and have strengthened the defenses of coastal towns and fortresses on the west bank of the Elbe River.
Although we have temporarily blocked the attacks of the Viratabi, Aboderiti, and Esti, the Danes and Viking pirates often landed and raided from the sea.”
The situation is too critical.
If it is not handled well, the newly established Charlie empire is likely to collapse.
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Charlie's face was solemn and his mind was running rapidly.
He thought for a while and immediately ordered: "Send someone to convey my order to England immediately.
Let them dispatch a fleet to attack the Danes and Viking pirate fleet Ogier coming from the north.
You should rush back to Aachen immediately and order you to take 3,000 people to strengthen the defense of the northwest coast."
"Yes, my lord" Charles added: "Send an order to Solomon, King of Brittany, and order him to lead an army of three thousand to reinforce the Pyrenees defense line.
Send an order to Namo, Duke of Favaria.
Order him to lead an army of three thousand to reinforce the Italian region and assist Pi."
To resist the attack of the Western Qin people."
As Charles's series of orders came down, the clerk quickly recorded them, wrote the official order on the spot, and gave it to Charles to stamp and send it out.
After Charlie issued the order, he looked at his general, the Saxon Philanthropus, and said: "Philanbalas, you are a Saxon and are familiar with the fighting methods of Saxons and other barbarians.
I am worried about Flo.
Resmat can't handle it alone, why don't you bring 3,000 people?
To support him, we must keep these barbarians east of the Elbe River.
If the Elbe River defense line is breached, Aachen will face a direct attack by the barbarians.
I hope you will not disappoint me.
As long as the northern and southern defense lines are stable, we Only here can we deal with the Western Qin people with peace of mind."
Filanbaras immediately said: "Your Majesty, don't worry, those damn rebels have been frightened by us for a long time.
The reason why they dared to rebel this time must be instigated by some people.
The current momentum They can't last long.
As long as they hold the Elbe River defense line, they will retreat on their own after a long time."
After this series of arrangements, Charlie did not look relaxed and said to everyone: "Everyone, our real crisis has come.
The Western Qin general Gao Chongwen has led his army to the south of Sedica and there are signs of attacking our flanks. , with the defeat of Krum, the Western Qin people have freed up their hands.
I believe their army is very Move west quickly, Sedica's gateway is in their hands, and they can pounce at any time.
Now we are completely dealing with the passive and disadvantageous situation.
Therefore, in order to reverse the strategically unfavorable situation, we also want to preserve our troops and further extend the west.
Regarding the Qin people’s supply line, I suggest that we abandon Sedica and retreat to Serbia.”
Charlie's analysis was very good, and his suggestions were correct, but someone disagreed, and that was Batannicus.
The Sedica area was the only territory left in Thrace.
If he gave up Sedica, he would lose everything.
Territory, he will not be able to replenish troops or obtain taxes in the future.
"No, I don't agree.
How can we give up Sedica?
We unite to deal with the Western Qin people, not retreat again and again.
If we give up Sedica and Thrace, it will be very difficult for us to come back.
What’s more, what will my army eat and drink in the future?
Where will I replenish troops and obtain fiscal revenue?”
Others around the round table looked at each other, and Leo III persuaded: "Lord Batanicus, I think His Majesty Charles is right.
If we stay here any longer, we are likely to be attacked by the Western Qin people.
After retreating to Serbia, , our local unfavorable situation will be reversed.
Don’t worry, we will fight back in the future.”
Batannicus said impatiently: "No, Sedica is not yours.
Of course you won't feel bad about giving up Sedica.
This is my root.
Without roots, how can I and my army survive?
Don't you think so?"
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You can carve out a territory for me from other places."
Leo III opened his mouth, but he couldn't accept the words and could only keep silent.
Charlie sighed: "Let's do this.
After we withdraw to Sedica, we can raise donations from the local nobles and ask them to support you.
The military supplies for you and your army will be paid for by the donations.
If it is not enough, the rest will be paid."
The Frankish Kingdom will complete the part.
In addition, as long as If we can defeat the Western Qin army, we can still fight back.
Even if we cannot fight back in a short time, as long as we curb the offensive momentum of the Western Qin army, and after the situation stabilizes, I can make the decision to divide the plateau area east of the Pannonian Plain.
Give it to you as your territory, what do you think?”
When Battanicus heard what Charlie said, he also knew that this was his greatest sincerity.
He thought about agreeing: "Okay, I believe His Majesty Charles, but I also ask His Majesty to write me an agreement in his own hand, otherwise I will Unable to convince my army" Charlie had no choice but to recruit the waiters next to him and ask them to bring pen and paper to write down an agreement.
In late November, the coalition forces hurriedly withdrew from the Sedica area despite the cold wind and heavy snow, leaving only 2,000 people to guard the Sedica Fortress.
With the strength of Sedica and the remaining grain reserves, they could hold on for about a year. , but this is only theoretical.
The actual situation is often not the same as the theory.
It is possible that when the Western Qin army comes over, Sedika will not be able to defend it for three days.
On the fourth day after the coalition forces withdrew, Zhao Ziliang led the Western Qin army of 200,000 troops into the Sedika area.
Two days later, the army arrived at the Sedika Fortress.
A river flowed from the north of the fortress.
The fortress was originally used to prevent the barbarians from the north from moving south.
Therefore, building the fortress south of the river could maximize the role of the fortress.
The densely packed Western Qin army formed a neat square formation on the river bank opposite the fortress.
Zhao Ziliang was holding the reins with one hand and stroking the horse's mane with the other as he looked up at the fortress not far away.
Snowflakes were constantly falling from the sky, and there were traces of snow on his helmet and cloak.
A thick layer was applied, and even the eyebrows turned white.
Zhao Ziliang observed for a while and then ordered: "Send people across the river to shout for them to surrender.
After surrender, everyone can survive.
If they don't surrender after today, our army will attack the city tomorrow.
What awaits them then is the destruction of the city and the death of people." " "Yes, Your Majesty" A Western Qin captain brought a local man to the city to shout, making Zhao Ziliang's meaning clear.
The guards on the city wall were leaning on the wall battlements and looked at the endless Western Qin army across the river in a panic, feeling horrified in their hearts.
Extremely, he only has 2,000 men in his hands, while the Western Qin army has 200,000 A centurion was afraid and said to the guard: "Sir, surrender.
There are too many people in Western Qin.
Even one person can drown us with a spit.
We have no chance of winning and we cannot defend.
Sooner or later we will be defeated."
If you break through, you will still die when the time comes.”
The garrison remembered that he and two thousand soldiers were abandoned here, while others withdrew to Serbia, and they were asked to defend Sedica.
He remembered Batenicius's request at that time and became angry, "You withdraw to Serbia."
The popular ones drink spicy food and leave us here to wait for death.
Humph, I’m not that stupid.”
"Come here, send someone out to tell them we surrender":