Inside Mexico City

Ruvel, the capital's vice president, is not a military strategist or a politician, but a herald under Tasan Anna.

Although he was in a position of high power, he had neither political vision nor military literacy, and his only advantage was that he admired and loyed his superiors.

Therefore, José Epter, who was "experienced in a hundred battles", did not take this "corporal" seriously, but paid a heavy price for his pride and underestimated the enemy, besieging the city for several weeks, suffering more than 10,000 casualties, but not even touching the city walls.

This is naturally due to the city's defenses that Tasan Anna spared no expense to build—a three-tiered wall with an artificial slope made of sand and gravel.

Moreover, the walls of Mexico City were built by the Austrian side, and no corners were cut in the materials, especially the reinforced concrete structure for the first time in several turrets.

This gave the Mexican army an advantage in the face of the rebels, whose light artillery was completely unable to shake the new fortress.

Not to mention that the rebels used antiques (3-pounder, 4-pounder guns) left by the Spaniards during the Napoleonic period, even the largest caliber field guns (12-pounder about 76mm) in the European War at this time could not cause effective damage.

(In fact, even the 75 guns of the World War II era could not effectively damage reinforced concrete structures.) ）

Of course, if you bring in more than 24-pound siege guns or the main guns of the British 68-pounder battleships, no matter how strong the reinforced concrete is, it is no different from ordinary masonry structures, as long as it is hit, it will immediately shatter like a wooden plank.

Jose Apt actually tried to use Congreve rockets, but this kind of large "fireworks" are only particularly effective for wooden buildings, and it is okay to burn the city, but to break the city.

In fact, it was not Ruvel who was in charge of the defense of the city at this time, but the employees of the Austro-Mexican United Development Company.

Many of them are retired military officers who are all too familiar with the battlefield, and the intensity of the Mexican-American War is really not worth mentioning compared to the European battlefields that once lived and died.

These former soldiers actually had different views on this war, and some people felt that as long as they held on, Tasan Anna would come back sooner or later, because this was his old nest and it was impossible to give up.

This view is shared by the majority of the population, who also feel that their country will not sit idly by and watch what happens in the Americas.

Considering that Austria has an army of 3,000 men in Central America, there are of course objections, because intelligence from far and wide indicates that Mexico has fallen into full-scale civil unrest, and that the country is in civil war everywhere.

And from the size of the rebels outside the city, it can be concluded that this time José Apt has gambled all his wealth, and he will not give up if he does not take Mexico City.

Therefore, it was proposed to break out, after all, the rebels had not yet carried out a real siege, at least in the west and north directions.

However, this proposal was met with strong opposition, not to mention the high and deep pools of Mexico City, which had ample ammunition supplies; Even without these favorable conditions, it is better to stick to it than to run around as a headless fly.

After all, the news of the capital and the outside world is now transmitted through carrier pigeons, and no one knows what is going on outside, and once they leave here, there is no place for them to go.

Rather than scurrying around like headless flies, it is better to stick to the help, after all, they pay huge profits to the Vienna side and the Mexican government every year.

The fact that the first aid from Austria to Mexico included a large number of weapons and medical personnel meant that the Reich had no intention of abandoning the area.

The Austro-Mexican joint development company has a good reputation in Mexico, and at the same time has the backing of Tasan Anna's government, and in many cases the credibility is even stronger than that of the Mexican government, so the takeover of the city defense did not cause local resentment, but was more reassuring.

After all, the soldiers and civilians know better than anyone what virtues the Mexican army and officials are. After being besieged for a month, there was no chaos in the city, on the contrary, due to military control, those gangsters and nobles had to be restrained, but they appeared to be in order.

Outside the city, the rebel barracks

The floor was littered with garbage and filth, and the stench permeated the entire barracks, like a camping camp before it was cleaned.

It was already noon, but there were still many soldiers sleeping on the ground, and these people didn't even have a quilt.

The tragic casualties and low morale caused by the repeated failed sieges filled the soldiers' faces with frustration and exhaustion.

Sighs and moans come and go, and on the other side is a noisy scene. Due to the lack of food and medicine, many soldiers scrambled for the limited supplies, insulting each other and even fighting.

At the same time, weapons, flags, and siege engines were thrown aside in an orderly manner. Discipline in the barracks was even more untenable, with idle soldiers gathering together to play cards or act on their own.

And the officers don't bother to care, as long as those guys don't leave the barracks as deserters, they will turn a blind eye.

José Apt was so drunk in the command that he tore up the map hanging on the wall, and the other officers were thinking about the way out.

Joaquín de Herrera promised his supporters a lot, but now not only did he not keep his promises, but he was also running out of food and medicine.

If no more supplies arrive, their strong men will be able to tear them to pieces without Ruvier having to come out of the city after a while.

José Apte, who was at a loss, was even more depressed, thinking that he would be imposing if he was promoted from general to marshal, but was sent by Joaquín de Herrera to "regain lost territory".

Now that he is bleeding from his head, the "president" and the Americans are watching the play on the sidelines, ignoring him, and the more he thinks about it, the more angry he becomes.

"Budamaray (the Mexican version of the)! These damn cursed maggots, if you don't send supplies to Lao Tzu, I'll take you to their hometown! ”

The officers of the command suddenly came to their senses, knowing that the city of St. Louis was Joaquín de Herrera's lair.

The city started out on silver mines, and some of them were wealthy merchants. But there was no decent city defense, only an inspection team raised by Joaquín de Herrera.

Unlike Mexico City, which is high and deep, it needs to be filled with human lives.

So those officers offered suggestions one after another, and they couldn't stop thinking about it, after all, everyone wanted to make a fortune when they became rebels.

José Apte's move (eyes) immediately lit up, and he felt that Tassan Anna, who was in the presidency, had done it, and Joaquín de Herrera had done it, and he could do it.

What's more, at this time, the subordinates are united, and taking St. Louis is like a bag.

Then all the gold and silver treasures in the city will be his, as well as the beautiful Miss Fantasia Ima, Joaquín de Herrera's lover

And it can be seen from the attitude of the Americans that they will definitely not stand up for Joaquín de Herrera.

As long as he can take St. Louis City, then he is the new president of Mexico, and he can still have the support of the United States, so why not?

José Apt did not hesitate to order the army to prepare to move, the target of St. Louis!

(End of chapter)