For a moment, Louis XII was going to make a fake show, so he stayed in Milan. After all, the conquest of the Duchy of Milan had gone so smoothly that it had left him in a dream.

Until John. It took Lafite to bring a few "nurseries" to wake up Louis XII's comfortable dreams......

"Who are these people?"

John. Raffi replied:

"Back to Your Majesty, this is the 'exiled nobleman of the Kingdom of Naples' that the minister found for you......"

Previously, Louis XII and John. Raffi discussed how he would change his tune and march into the Kingdom of Naples after arriving in Italy. John. In accordance with Marin's instructions, Lafite came up with a plan to "demand the will of the people".

The so-called "popular demand" is actually just to find a few representatives of the nobility and "petition" to Louis XII. Why are they representatives of the nobility? Because in this era, they are the "representatives of the people". As for ordinary people, they are not qualified to "represent the people".

In the beginning, John. Rafi did not find a few former Neapolitan nobles in exile. After all, the nobles of the Kingdom of Naples, even if they are in exile, will choose other Italian states. After all, I'm not used to going to France. Not to mention the language problem, but the food problem, those Italian aristocrats can't stand it.

At this time, in France, the mainstream was still dark cuisine, and the food was not at the same level as Italy. Even though the fat brothers were sent to the French royal palace and made a rudimentary version of the "French Feast", it was not yet popular.

Therefore, even if the Italian aristocracy went into exile, they generally chose other states in the country. For example, you can go into exile in Rome, Venice or Milan......

Coincidentally, originally, John. Rafi could not find a suitable Neapolitan aristocrat in exile to act as a "representative of the people", so he prepared a few low-ranking nobles who could speak Italian to put on makeup and pretend to be the "representative of the people" of the Kingdom of Naples.

Didn't expect Ludovic. After Sforza fled the city of Milan, Johan. Rafi actually found several nobles of the former Kingdom of Naples who were in exile in the city of Milan. It is no wonder that Milan is the largest city in Italy, and it is not uncommon for several Neapolitan aristocracy to live in exile.

This time, John. Rafi didn't have to be an actor with the few impostors he had prepared. After all, the dignified King of France, if he is found to be a fraud, it will be very embarrassing. And it would be reasonable to drive a few real exiled nobles of the Neapolitan kingdom to act as "representatives of the people" and ask Louis XII to "send troops to save Naples......

If he falls into the hands of the French, he can't save his life to see the mood of others, and these Neapolitan exiled nobles naturally don't dare to talk nonsense. Moreover, Louis XII promised that as long as he occupied the Kingdom of Naples, these "meritorious men" could naturally go back and continue to be nobles......

These former Neapolitan nobles in exile were forced to flee the Kingdom of Naples because they could not get along with the Spanish authorities who occupied the area. Now, it may be a good choice to take refuge in Louis XII......

So, early the next morning, in the square of the Duomo of Milan, Louis XII made a show and met many celebrities in the city of Milan.

Then, in public, John . . . A few Neapolitan nobles arranged by Raffi suddenly came out of the crowd, knelt at the feet of Louis XII, and wept bitterly and begged Louis XII to send troops to "save" the people of Naples who were in "dire straits......

According to John. In the script designed by Raffi (in fact, it was designed by Marin), Louis XII first pretended to be very hesitant and reluctant, and also shirked the fact that France and Spain had a "long-lasting friendship......

When Louis XII solemnly said that "France and Spain have a long friendship", the nobles present almost vomited - can you make a face?

However, due to the strong force of France, these people are all smiling on their faces and MMP in their hearts......

Eventually, after "repeated persuasion" from several nurses, Louis XII "reluctantly" agreed to send troops south to "save the people of Naples......

……

After this disgusting scene, Louis XII hurriedly hurried the nobles to discuss how to send troops.

John. After thinking about it, Rafi said:

"After today's scene, presumably the Spaniards' spies will definitely send the information home. It is estimated that the distance from Milan to Barcelona is several hundred francs (1 fari = 4 kilometers), and even if the opponent is fast, on land, the Spaniards will first need to pass through the south of France. But the south of France is full of our people, and they won't be given the opportunity to change horses. As a result, it usually takes at least seven or eight days for them to send the message back. Then, they sent troops and mobilized supplies...... I don't think it will be able to do it in a month or two...... We just need to hurry south, and the Spaniards should not be able to react. ”

"What if the Spaniards used carrier pigeons to deliver messages? That would get the news to ...... days in advance," a French nobleman asked.

"Even if he uses carrier pigeons to deliver messages, so what? Mobilize supplies and troops, and they cannot be transported by carrier pigeons. At the end of the day, the Spaniards will lose their chance! "John. Rafi shook her head.

Louis XII frowned and said:

"They'll be too late to send their troops, but I'm afraid they'll send a shipment of gunpowder and lead to the city of Naples first. With plenty of ammunition, the 2,500 musketeers in the city are still a big threat......"

John. Raffi nodded and said:

"Well, if the Spaniards send a message with carrier pigeons, they will return home in a day or two, but it will still take more than 20 days to transport troops and horses from the port of Barcelona to Naples (the wind is weak in the Mediterranean, and the ship goes slowly)......

In this way, we only need to reach the city of Naples in 20 days, and we can avoid the defenders receiving assistance......"

"Twenty days ......," Louis XII frowned.

The overland distance from the city of Milan to Naples is estimated to be seven or eight hundred kilometers, and if it is reported, it will take seven or eight days to ride a fast horse. However, on the French side, there were tens of thousands of troops. With the addition of 22,000 Italian mercenaries, there were more than 80,000 troops. Moreover, too much baggage was bred, including artillery.

With a large number of baggage, the speed of the march could not be fast, and the overall march was probably less than 30 kilometers a day. It is estimated that it will take at least a month to walk from Milan to Naples. This is also due to the fact that the Italian peninsula has Roman roads built during the Roman Empire. Without the Roman road, the rugged terrain of the Apennine Peninsula would have taken several months.

If you want to walk for more than a month, then it's still hairy. The Spaniards did not say that the army could be in place, at least they could send a batch of ammunition and supplies. Once the city of Naples is replenished with ammunition, it will be difficult to get it......

"What to do? We must prevent the defenders of the city of Naples from getting ammunition supplies! Louis XII said worriedly.

John. After Lafite secretly looked at the "clever plan" given by Marin, he was confident:

"Your Majesty, the minister has a way!"

"Tell me about it!"

"Divide 10,000 cavalry, take off the plate armor and horse armor, one man and three horses, quickly go south, and reach the outside of Naples first. Just get to the outside of Naples and burn the docks in the port of Naples. In this way, the Spaniards could not send ammunition supplies into the city of Naples! ”

"I'm against it!" At this moment, a baron named Bowman stepped forward. He retorted:

"Baron John, you may not know about military affairs, and the 10,000 cavalry you said is theoretically feasible to go south. However, you haven't thought about the problem of food and grass for these 10,000 cavalry. 10,000 cavalrymen were to carry at least two horses each. And the daily food requirement for each horse reached the consumption of 5 soldiers. Excuse me, how do you guarantee the supply of food and grass for 10,000 cavalry? ”

Speaking of which, John. Raffi smiled. Because, he is really prepared for this question......

Earlier, John. Lafite persuaded Louis XII to buy a large area of land in the ancient city of Pompeii, near Mount Vesuvius, to excavate the ash. A private pier was even built nearby for the transport of volcanic ash.

Coincidentally, Pompeii is just a little south of Naples, only about 25 kilometers away. When the army was moving south to Italy, John. Lafite arranged for a shipment of grain to be sent to the port of Marseille and hidden near the ancient city of Pompeii.

If the 10,000 cavalry arrived outside Naples, they could go to Pompey to get food first, and then besiege the city of Naples.

"What about the consumption of food halfway through?" Baron Bowman asked.

"That's fine, it's on me!" John. Raffi said confidently.

Because, the main distance of these 10,000 cavalry was under the control of the Papal States. Marin had already said hello and prepared a few food supply points along Emilia Boulevard. As long as the French army brought gold coins, they could easily buy these Marlin prepared food.

The only trouble was the passage into the Kingdom of Naples after crossing the border from the Papal States. After entering the Kingdom of Naples from the Papal States, before reaching the city of Naples, there was no way to replenish the food and grass on that stretch.

However, the good news is that the city of Naples is not too far from the border. If you leave the Papal States and let the horses carry some food, you can still hold out for a day or two. When we get to the vicinity of the ancient city of Pompeii, we will be able to replenish enough food......

Worried about running out of fuel, Louis XII also breathed a sigh of relief, selected 10,000 French cavalry, and marched lightly to the south. Their task was to get out of Naples as soon as possible. There is no need to attack the city, just destroy the port of Naples and prevent the Spanish from sending supplies......