Louis XII was shocked to learn that 20,000 German mercenaries were about to cross the sea to Sicily to concentrate. So, he sent his troops north, intending to intercept this army.

However, because of the guides of this army and Gonzalo. Morality. Córdoba's headquarters in Sicily used carrier pigeons to transmit messages, without delay. As for the French, because there was no stable route of communication between them and their ally Genoa, they delayed the time.

Therefore, when the French sent 15,000 cavalry to intercept them, all 20,000 German mercenaries had already boarded the ship, and the French pounced......

Looking at the French cavalry who returned to the city of Naples in despair, Louis XII frowned:

"This is troublesome, the enemy is now also 60,000 troops, we have no advantage...... What should I do......"

Louis XII then summoned his ministers to discuss what to do.

"Ladies and gentlemen, the enemy army is also very strong now, how should we deal with it?"

John who had just returned from the North Sea Country. Raffi proposed:

"Your Majesty, though we are not completely sure of our superiority over the Spaniards. However, if we rely on the fortified city of Naples, we are still sure of winning. After all, the advantage of the Spaniards was in the muskets. However, in the face of the city walls, the muskets did not have much effect. On the contrary, we have more rifles to prepare, and we have an advantage by relying on the cover of the city walls......"

Therefore, the minister's advice was to prepare more grain, grass and gunpowder, and prepare to hold the city of Naples for a long time. Use muskets and artillery, lean on the walls, and consume the lives of Spanish soldiers. When both sides run out of ammunition, then the opportunity for our most valiant knights in France to play will come! ”

This is actually what Marlin taught him to say, otherwise, to John. How can Rafi give such professional advice?

In fact, Marin was worried that the French would not be able to defeat the Spanish phalanx in the event of a decisive battle in the field. If the French army is defeated, then Spain will rise completely.

Therefore, Marin believed that the French would be best to defend the city of Naples and consume the lives of the Spanish soldiers.

Moreover, siege warfare was very brutal. Not only are the casualties of the besieging side large, but the casualties of the defending side will not be small. After all, the walls are so long, there are always weak points. If someone catches a weak point and is very scared, there are also many casualties.

Marin would most like to see Spain and France fight a long-term offensive and defensive battle in the city of Naples, which will not only cause heavy casualties, but also last a long time. It's better that both countries play out in the city of Naples and make a lose-lose situation or something......

……

Another trusted advisor of Louis XII, that is, Charles of Geddes, is still trying to get in touch with the Germans, putting pressure on Marin, and has not returned. So, John. This suggestion of Lafite became the best choice for Louis XII.

So, in order to fight a protracted war, Louis XII made a series of decisions......

For example, he began to lavishly store food in the city in preparation for a protracted war. At the same time, large quantities of gunpowder were brought into the city and stored for use in a protracted war against the Spaniards.

In order to obtain sufficient rations, Louis XII made two preparations - first, he ordered the dispatch of French cavalry to forcibly collect food in various parts of the Kingdom of Naples. When they saw food, they grabbed it and brought it into the city of Naples, preparing as much food and grass as they could.

Second, Louis XII also ordered the original people of the city to be driven out to the nearby villages. This was done in order to reduce the number of mouths, so that the people would not share the rations with the French soldiers. Without the people of the city, there is no need to feed them. Moreover, there is less possibility of someone colluding with the Spanish army to cooperate with each other.

Even, the 80,000 people brought by the French, Louis XII also dismissed 60,000 people and let them return home, leaving only the strongest 20,000 people who seemed to have some combat effectiveness.

As a result, there were 60,000 strong men in the city who had a lot of food, and the food could last longer. And the 20,000 sturdy people who stayed behind can not only take care of the lives of the soldiers. At critical moments, you can also take weapons to the city to help fight......

Because it was a defensive battle, and there were enough supplies. Therefore, there is no need for so many people, and Louis XII was right to repatriate most of the people. After all, the main duty of the minfu was to transport grain and baggage and build barracks.

But the problem is that now the French army is defending the city, and the houses are ready-made. After driving out the inhabitants of the city, the French army squeezed into the houses in the city and it was absolutely enough. And the defense of the city does not need to transport money and grain for a long time, but only needs to make food and send it to the city. In this way, 20,000 people are definitely enough. Moreover, these 20,000 people are very strong, and they can be used as half a soldier even if they are armed......

……

In addition, in addition to the stockpiles of money, food, and ammunition, Louis XII had his men go to Naples and cut down all the trees around the city. The purpose was to use the trees around the city to build siege equipment for fear of the arrival of the Spanish army.

For example, ladders and trebuchets are too cumbersome for the general army to carry with them, but to bring craftsmen and rush to build them when they arrive outside the city.

Just like when the French besieged Naples this time, they did not bring ladders, but brought hundreds of craftsmen to cut down trees around the city of Naples and build ladders on the spot......

Louis XII ordered the trees around the city of Naples to be cut down, which was considered to have caused great trouble for the Spanish army to attack the city. After all, the Spaniards had to go far and wide to cut down trees and transport huge logs to the city of Naples to build siege equipment......

There is that, according to John. At Lafite's suggestion, Louis XII sent troops out of the city and demolished all the stone houses outside Naples. And all the stones and bricks that had been torn down were piled up in the city. Once the siege began, the bricks and stones obtained from the demolition of the houses were a sharp weapon to be smashed on the heads of the French army......

No matter what armor you wear, you can resist a sword, but you can't stop a bullet. At the same time, it can't stop the bricks and stones......

Faced with the ferocious onslaught of heavy bricks and stones, even enemies wearing the best quality plate armor could not be eaten......

Before the Spanish army had even landed, the walls of Naples were filled with bricks and stones, which were professionally used to smash the Spanish siege army......

Louis XII was pleased to see the bricks and stones piled up on and under the walls of the inner walls. So many bricks and stones, definitely enough for the Spaniards to drink a pot.

As for the local Neapolitan people whose houses were demolished by the French? What does their life or death have to do with themselves? Besides, it's early summer, and you don't have a house, so you can live in the wild. At most, it is bitten by mosquitoes......

What, what to do if it's windy and rainy, you ask? I forgot to mention that Italy has a Mediterranean climate, with hot summers and little rain, and the rainy season is mainly in winter. As a result, it rarely rains in the wild in the summer......

Besides, Louis XII was not a philanthropist, so he didn't care about the lives of the Neapolitan people. Moreover, he conquered Italy, not for the sake of domination of the region, but for the sake of volcanic ash. As long as the volcanic ash is in hand, whether the locals will die or not is not in his consideration......

In this way, before the Spaniards arrived, the French were already piling up the city with grain, hay, baggage, guns and ammunition, as well as bricks, stones, and logs for smashing people. Just wait for the Spanish army to attack the city, and then all greet the faces of the Spanish soldiers who climbed the walls......