In fact, the city was well stocked with military supplies.

At that time, Marshal Lewis gathered a large amount of food and ammunition for the great counteroffensive to support the consumption of 300,000 people for at least three months. This great counteroffensive failed too quickly, and most of it has not yet had time to be consumed.

Outside the headquarters, some soldiers were sitting on the ground, many unarmed, disheveled, and even barefoot, who were taking food from the hands of the National Army soldiers, and then crouched to the side to gobble it up. To this day, many of the routs still flee every day.

Someone was registering the people, and a few prickly ones who didn't want to cooperate were beaten up on the spot and then hung up in the sun.

"Ensign, be kind to them. Sean said, "Letting them starve for an extra day is more effective than corporal punishment, and it can save some food." ”

"Yes, Your Excellency, Commander. The officer in charge replied.

A major general named George Grant approached.

Sean knew this man, he was a very important subordinate of Marshal Lewis, he was born in cavalry, and even now he was the commander of an infantry division, he was still good at raiding. Grant's troops were known for their mobility and decisiveness.

In the great counteroffensive, Grant's division was on the right flank, facing fewer enemy troops, and as soon as he received the order to retreat, his troops were forbidden, and the brigades and regiments cooperated with each other, advancing and retreating in an orderly manner, almost retreating with all their bodies, and even bringing back most of the heavy equipment.

Therefore, in the formation of the non-national army in the city, the Grant division accounted for one-third of the number.

"Earl......"

"I think there are only officers and soldiers in the army, and nothing else unrelated!" Sean interrupted Grant.

"Yes, Your Excellency, Commander. Grant subconsciously straightened his back, "They asked me to be a representative and plead my case to you." ”

"Say it. Sean said.

"In times of crisis, they admired your courage and thanked you for your understanding and generosity. However, they are not ready to be disarmed and returned to the field. "Because it's an insult to a military man." ”

"But it's better than losing your life. Sean said coldly, "Glory can only be found from our enemies, and I can't give them glory." ”

"Commander, I guess you're worried about them dragging their feet on the battlefield, and if you stay in the city, you're worried about the soldiers making trouble, so it's better to dismiss them, or at least save food. ”

Sean glanced at him: "That's right, although the National Army is a new army, I have a lot of confidence in the National Army, at least we can retreat with our own strength." But if there is a drag, it's hard to say, I can't see death without help. ”

"New rifles? I've seen the new rifles your officers have brought. "It was a revolutionary rifle, and Marshal Lewis privately praised it." But because of this, it will also be a big problem for the Nationalists to be restocked, because this rifle will put an exponential pressure on logistics, and its one-piece metal bullets are too fast to shoot if a soldier who doesn't have much experience, and you can't get any reinforcements locally, and you can't get them from the rest of the empire, all by the long distance from Genoa, although the bullets are far safer to transport than we have now. ”

Sean was stunned, he and his subordinates had long realized this problem, this was the only defect brought about by technological progress, and a strong military needed a strong industry and a convenient transportation network to support it.

This is why Sean has been preparing for months to go north to the war, and has amassed a large number of arms in Daguerre.

People who are not in the national army system, I am afraid that no one has realized this yet, but Major General Grant in front of him has keenly discovered this weakness, and the continuous operation of the national army will be a big problem, and they are more trusting in supplies.

Sean pulled out a cigar and handed it another to Grant, indicating that he had an initial approval of Grant:

"General Grant, what do you recommend?"

"You can have these demoralized armies go to the rear, consolidate your supply lines, and transport military supplies to the front, which is much more reliable than inefficient civilians. Frankly, this kind of work both saved their face, maintained a little decency, and provided the necessary support for the war effort. Grant said.

"That's a good suggestion. But I hate neglect, embezzlement, and waste, and that's my advance warning to them. Sean nodded.

"Your Excellency, may I assume that you agree to do so?" asked Grant.

"I will have my chief of staff, General Perosa, meet with you, time is of the essence, and no bargaining is allowed. Sean said.

Seeing that Grant didn't leave, Sean asked, "What else do you have?"

"My troops and I are willing to accept your direct command and unconditionally obey any of your orders. "Honor shouldn't belong only to the National Army," Grant pleaded. ”

"Good. "We will attack valiantly, we will die valiantly, and the gentlemen with gold watches and top hats will sit in the spacious and bright halls and say that it is an epic battle." But honor requires us to pay the price of blood, others go south, and we will go north alone. ”

"Me and my soldiers are ready. Grant said.

In addition to the 1st Division of the Nationalist Army, which was stationed in the city, the 2nd and 3rd Divisions were deployed to the east and west of the city, respectively, and the latter had already exchanged fire with the forward troops of the Bilisians.

Although the Bilisians had won a great victory and captured countless victories, their soldiers were exhausted, and their army had dispersed too far. So the Bilisians were recuperating and were in no hurry to storm the city.

In fact, this is the best moment for a counteroffensive. However, it will be a crucial battle for Sean, who will have to deal with the city's lag in order to give it his all.

Once activated, Sean hopes to take the opponent by surprise with advanced weapons and obviously different tactics.

As for the army trapped in Tudela, especially when it comes to reliable sources that Marshal Lewis is among them, Sean can only let them fend for themselves, hoping that those officers and soldiers who are still fighting will support him until the moment when he moves north.

By the evening of the 22nd, Sean had reorganized the various armies in the city of Jobosa in a quick way, and all the troops were disorganized and reorganized, so as not to gather together.

The seriously wounded were transported to the rear, and the lightly wounded were directly discharged with paperwork and a small amount of travel expenses. The others were ordered to set off for the south and, in accordance with the strict plan drawn up by the General Staff, to the various supply points and communication nodes from Jobosa to the north bank of the Longjiang River, to take charge of transportation and local security.

As for some high-ranking officers who had nowhere to go, a general, three lieutenant generals and more than a dozen major generals, and many more colonel-level officers, the vast majority of them were from noble backgrounds.

In order to prevent them from getting into trouble, Sean left them in the city under the guise of a staff officer, in effect putting them under house arrest.

Some specialized and technical arms were retained, including artillery, cavalry and engineers, and were organized into three artillery battalions, two cavalry regiments and two engineer regiments, which were under the direct command of the headquarters as a strategic support force, and officers were transferred from the national army system to take command.

Only more than 12,000 people in the Grant Division have been retained in the city. Sean replenished it with enough ammunition and artillery, as well as corresponding transports and large livestock, and also paid an extra month's military pay.

These decisive measures came as a surprise to General Grant. In other words, this young earl from the south is extremely courageous, and he is simply unsighted and reckless.

Among those generals who have lost their military power, none of them have backgrounds, they are not from noble families, or they have been personally commended or promoted by His Majesty.

However, General Grant did not yet know what was going on in the Holy City.

If he knew, he would have understood that Sean had done so justifiably and without fear, because the high-ranking officers who had been stripped of their military privileges had nowhere to complain.