European public opinion on September 2 was more lively, because on this day Napoleon III of France surrendered. The news of Nasan's surrender caused a sensation throughout Europe, and after the Battle of Sedan Napoleon III ordered the fighting to stop.

In the Battle of Sedan the French army suffered 17,000 casualties and 21,000 were captured. The Prussian army reported 2,300 killed, 5,000 wounded, and 700 captured or missing.

Newspapers from all over the world rushed to report on the outcome of the war, and a few hours later the Viennese newspapers followed suit with great fanfare, but the Austro-Hungarian population was clearly more interested in the progress of its own army than in the news of the defeat of France, and everyone was anxiously awaiting the outcome of the war in Italy.

At this time, Archduke Albrecht commanded the imperial army to step on the second line of defense of the Italians towards the city of Venice, the second line of defense of Italy is not as solid as the defense line of the Isonzo River, although the location of the defense line of the Isonzo River is not very good, the Italian side of the terrain is relatively low, which provides convenience for the Austro-Hungarian artillery, but this is the border between the two countries, after the annexation of the Venetian area, the Isonzo River defense line was built, and the second line of defense was completely improvised, and there was no cover to rely on.

In the face of the Austro-Hungarian attack, the second line of defense was quickly broken, and in order to preserve the strength of the troops, the Italian commander had to order the troops to retreat to Venice, and the Italian army gathered with the city of Venice resisted the Austro-Hungarian army with the help of Venetian fortifications and buildings.

……

"Tell me, why did there appear an Austro-Hungarian army in Rome? What does your intelligence department do for food? More than 10,000 people didn't notice it right under your noses? If this army had not been in Rome but in Florence, wouldn't we have been wiped out by Austria-Hungary in a straight way! Emmanuel II angrily questioned his men.

Just yesterday, Emmanuel II received the news of the failure of the attack on the Roman coalition, and Emmanuel II was directly stunned at that time! The Papal State still has this fighting power? Impossible, absolutely impossible!

The good news was that the Papal army was still weak in combat effectiveness, and the bad news was that it was the Austro-Hungarian army that defeated Italy.

The worse news was that the Austro-Hungarian expeditionary force was now organizing troops towards Florence, and at the same time, the Papal States army was also attacking the Italian coastal defense forces on the east coast under the direction of Lieutenant General Karl.

This was not too difficult for the Papal army, because the Austro-Hungarian navy would cooperate with their actions, and more than 30,000 Austro-Hungarian landing troops had already set out from Trieste in the direction of the east coast of Italy.

Emmanuel II, who had suppressed his anger a little, asked. "Now we want to mobilize some of the troops we are going to send back to Florence, is it too late?"

"It's hard! Because now the main forces are in Venice, we can't get out, but we can think of a way from the French border troops, but we don't know if it's too late. ”

"Your Majesty, I don't think it's a good idea for us to evacuate from Florence first, and then return to Turin." Said a former minister of the former Kingdom of Sardinia.

Before the Kingdom of Italy, that is, the capital of the Kingdom of Sardinia was Turin, and after the initial unification of Italy by Napoleon III last time, the new Kingdom of Italy was set in Florence.

"Idiot! Now that the newspapers are reporting the failure of the Roman Reconquest, what will the whole country think if we withdraw from Florence to Turin? What do you think about the front-line fighters? The national capital can't be defended, so what can be done to resist the aggressor Austria-Hungary? Emmanuel II rebuked.

Emmanuel II then struggled for a long time, and said, "Let the border troops who are wary of France come back as soon as possible, and mobilize them from Florence and the surrounding areas at once, and I will muster at least a force of 50,000 men no matter what method they use, and the enemy from Rome must be kept out of Florence before reinforcements arrive." ”

……

Marseille, France.

"The defeat at the front is not terrible, although the emperor has surrendered, but we, the French people, will not give in, as a patriot, I am willing to donate a batch of supplies to the government free of charge, I hope they will not compromise with Prussia......" The Count Medina gave his speech at the door of the city hall of Marseille, stating his position of defending his homeland and country.

There was loud applause, and the Comte de Medina's remarks won the strong favor of the Marseille crowd.

At the same time, a reporter from the daily newspaper Marseille quietly captured the scene from a distance, and this photograph will appear all over France tomorrow, at least in the south of France.

After playing in front of the people for so long, the Count Medina was finally able to rest, and he took out a hand towel to wipe the sweat from his forehead, when the officials of the town hall gathered around.

"Count Medina, thank you for your support, but unfortunately we are also very embarrassed, after all, the emperor has surrendered, and now we still have to wait for news from the central government, so I am afraid that these materials cannot be disposed of for the time being." Said the mayor of Marseille.

"It doesn't matter, I understand your difficulties, but our fighters are still on the front line, and sending these supplies over is also considered support for them, no matter what, they are all French children." Medina said.

"If it is still possible to supply the labor army, we will send it directly to the front-line soldiers in the name of the citizens of Marseille, not in the name of the government."

The Count Medina's patriot character is well built, and now his opinion is fully respected by the city of Marseille, which is psychological.

As for the materials, it is a Franco-French "national" brand that is a joint venture between Germany and France, mainly some food and medicine, and some daily necessities.

The Count of Medina, as a collaborator, also has a stake, so it is necessary to make a name for these producers.

For example, canned beef and potatoes of the "Patriot", do you want to know about it.

……

In the evening, Leopold, who had completed the task of leading the team, began to report to Ernst about the situation in Hashingen.

"This time, the Hexingen Brigade suffered more than 700 casualties, and the number of casualties reached 132, because of the front line, we can only cremate their bodies on the spot, and the ashes will be brought back with the troops, His Majesty (William I) asked the Hexingen Brigade if it is considering participating in the next war."

After two battles, the Hexingen Brigade can be regarded as a European powerhouse, especially the Battle of Davilet, which is a more classic battle in the Franco-Prussian War, the Hexingen Brigade showed a little higher professional ability than the French army, (the Hexingen Brigade≧ the French Army≧ Prussia> Bavaria> the North German Confederation >Württemberg> Baden) so Wilhelm I was still very interested in this small force.

"Bring them back!" Ernst only replied to Leopold's words in the telegram.

In the subsequent war, there was no need for the Hexingen Brigade to participate, after all, the French emperor had surrendered, and the war was actually over.

The battle of Sedan was the line, and the war between Germany and France also changed from a just war to defend the country to a war of aggression, so Ernst did not want to participate.

As for the so-called "trophies" of the Franco-Prussian War, in fact, it was the robbery of civilians from various states to the rich France, and Ernst did not look down on that bit of wealth, and there was also a point that he did not want the Hexingen Brigade and those state troops to learn badly, and once the military discipline was destroyed, it would be complicated to correct it, and the Heixingen Brigade would be the foundation of the military transformation of East Africa in the future.

The Black Ringen Bank had already made a fortune through the war bonds, and as soon as the Battle of Sedang ended, the London bond market had already been crowded, and before the war began, the Black Shingen Consortium itself had eaten a quarter of it at a low price.

"Tom! Is there any open space near the castle? ”

"Your Highness, I'm afraid this is not easy to find, in addition to the mountains and forests, there is also some flat land in the castle area."

"Then clear a clearing from the mountainside, and I will bury the bones of those who died this time, all for the Hohenzollerns, nearby." Ernst said.

It is also good to be buried near Hohenzollernberg, which is relatively remote, except for the lonely Hohenzollernburg on the top of the hill, there are not many residents nearby, so there is no need to worry about anyone disturbing the rest of the deceased.

Ernst brought most of them from the Far East to Europe, and the rest were basically orphans in Europe, and the entire Heixingen Brigade could be said to be unaccompanied.

Originally, they did not have to participate in the Franco-Prussian War, but Ernst made a choice, and they did it, so Ernst also had to think about their future.

(End of chapter)