Chapter 468: Pacifying Northern Europe
Alfred began to massively gather troops in Stockholm, preparing to launch a decisive attack on the French army at night. Drive the French army out of Stockholm and severely damage the French 3rd French Army. In this case, the French army will not be able to launch an effective offensive against Stockholm for a long time. Then they can also get a certain period of respite.
It is incredible that Alfred miraculously assembled more than 50,000 troops. It seems that it is not only Alfred who is crazy, but also the entire army and even the entire nation of Sweden. Taking a closer look, these so-called 'elite' troops assembled are all soldiers who lack weapons, some of them don't even have a decent military uniform, and what's more, they even have a pair of bare feet. However, Alfred placed high hopes on this army, and even expected them to defeat the French army, which was armed to the teeth. This is simply daydreaming.
"Officers, soldiers. Now the great Swedish royal palace is at its most dangerous moment. The despicable French have invaded our country and blown up our cities. Now they are massacring our people. Sweden will be destroyed by them After the country is destroyed, the Swedish people, your relatives, will be enslaved by the French forever. As soldiers of the kingdom, do you want to see your motherland destroyed by the French and your relatives enslaved by the French? "Alfred delivered a speech in a righteous and strict manner. It's not that his speech wasn't appreciated by the Swedish army. But everyone knows that they will take advantage of this night to launch a desperate raid on the French, so they can't shout loudly, but can silently express their love for the motherland and relatives in their hearts.
Alfred glanced at the excited Swedish soldiers, and then continued: "His Majesty the King has agreed that after the war is over, every soldier who participates in this raid will be rewarded with a lot of wealth and will be rewarded with Nobility. Officers, soldiers. A better tomorrow is at hand, just waiting for you to get it."
Almost everyone's blood boiled with excitement. A large amount of wealth, as well as obtaining a distinguished title of nobility, this is definitely something they have never thought of. However, this also reflects the tragedy of the raid from another aspect. Otherwise, the King of Sweden would never have offered such a generous reward.
In fact, these are not what Gustav IV meant at all. For these, he knew nothing at all. These are nothing more than lies made up by Alfred to annoy the soldiers. However, he believed that if this raid was successful, Gustav IV would definitely agree to these rewards willingly.
In any case, Alfred finally reinvigorated the demoralized Swedish army. As for what will happen to these poor soldiers in the end, he doesn't think about it, and he doesn't want to think about it. Because there is only one such result, and that is to die step by step.
12 o'clock in the middle of the night. After a day of high-intensity fighting, most of the French army was drowsy. In order to improve their reaction speed, they even fell asleep directly behind the fortifications. There has been silence on the front line. Only a few sentries on the French army's position are still in high spirits, paying close attention to the movements of the Swedish army on the opposite side. But because of the darkness, they were only able to see a distance of one or two hundred meters ahead.
At two o'clock in the morning, the soldiers of the Swedish army all woke up from their sleep under the careful urging of the officers. Alfred believes this time is the best time to attack. Because he believed that the French soldiers at this time were already very tired, and their spirits were also in a very relaxed state. Launching a surprise attack at this time, the Swedish army has a great chance of winning. Only the positions that can break into the French army. Then the weapon advantage of the French army cannot be displayed at all. When the Swedish army launches another large-scale offensive, it will be very likely to win the battle.
Alfred's estimation was not wrong. At this time, the French army was indeed very tired. Many people have already fallen asleep. Even many sentinels were dozing off.
In order to improve concealment, many Swedish troops lowered their bodies as low as they were advancing. Even when they were only 500 meters away from the French position, they simply crawled forward on the ground. Among the ruins, one after another Swedish troops crawled forward quietly like geckos. Because in the dark night, the sound came from an unusually far distance, so they couldn't help being careless.
At this time, a Swedish soldier felt as if he had crushed something. It was a small protrusion, which he pressed down, but he didn't care, thinking it was just a small rock. But it was what he thought was just a small rock that finally killed him. As well as the abortive death of the entire project of the Swedish army.
It was a landmine. The Swedish soldier happened to be unlucky and fell on it. In order to prevent the Swedish army from launching a night attack, the French 3rd Army buried all the more than 2,000 mines 400-500 meters in front of the position. But because the range is too large, the distribution is very sparse. But still formed a defensive network. It is simply impossible for the Swedish army to break through that area without touching landmines on a large scale. Unless it is only a small army passing through, in that case, if you are particularly lucky, you may not be able to step on a landmine. However, the luck of the Swedish army is obviously not very good.
When the Swedish soldier got up. The landmine was detonated, and he was directly torn to pieces by the landmine, even the few Swedish soldiers around him were not spared either. At the same time, the huge explosion also woke up the sleeping French soldiers. They got up and picked up their weapons, shooting continuously into the night. At the same time, a large number of flares were fired into the sky. The Swedish army was completely exposed to the French army. The Swedish army immediately panicked. In the panic, more people stepped on landmines. caused even greater panic. The French army used flares to continuously shoot and kill Swedish soldiers.
The Swedish army had no choice now, and the morale that had been accumulated with great difficulty slipped to freezing point again. Going forward, then they will have nothing but death. Therefore, almost all the Swedish troops turned their heads and ran behind. The Swedish army behind thought that the fierce battle had already begun, and rushed forward desperately. In this way, the two pairs of men and horses collided together, giving the French army another decisive opportunity to mass-destroy the Swedish army.
With great difficulty, the Swedish army finally escaped. However, those who escaped back alive lost even half of their former self. More than half of the people had already been killed in the battle just now. The living Swedish army is even more frightened. It is simply impossible for them to take up arms and fight the French army again. The strength of the French army has been deeply imprinted in their minds.
Alfred was sitting in the War Office with red eyes waiting for news from the front when the first Swedish soldiers triggered the landmines. When the moment of the explosion was remembered, Alfred immediately had a feeling that something was wrong. He immediately asked the adjutant to find out what happened. Sure enough, after 10 minutes, the adjutant came back and brought him very bad news. That is their actions revealed that the French army is launching a strong attack, while the Swedish army is fleeing and suffering heavy casualties.
At that moment, Alfredo fell heavily on the chair as if all the strength in his body had been exhausted. His eyes dimmed, and he remained silent for a long time. At this moment, he had only one thought. That is the end, Sweden is over, and he is also over. He deeply knows that, as one of the promoters of the war, France will never let him go. He will surely be hanged.
That night, Alfred shot himself in the office in order to avoid trial in France.
The next morning ~www.mtlnovel.com~ was met with a failed raid by Swedish forces. King Gustav IV of Sweden also drank a glass of mellow red wine in his bedroom, and ended his life in this way. At the same time, by his side, there were more than a dozen red wine mixed with strong poison that he forced to drink.
On the next morning, the French attacked again. The Swedish army, which had lost its command and was extremely demoralized, could not resist the French attack at all. Even more people put down their weapons and raised their hands to the French army when they were attacked by the French army.
In the afternoon, the gunfire in Stockholm completely subsided, and the French army occupied the entire Stockholm and cleared all the resistance of the Swedish army. The Kingdom of Sweden officially falls.
Two days later, the recalcitrant Swedish army gathered in Sodertalje learned that Stockholm had been occupied by the French army, King Gustav IV of Sweden committed suicide by taking poison, and Minister of War Alfred committed suicide by swallowing a gun. In order to save the lives of the soldiers, under the leadership of Admiral Byron, the Swedish army walked out of the position, handed over all weapons to the French army, and formally surrendered to the French army. However, Admiral Byron also committed suicide that night.
The surrender of the Swedish army marked Sweden's complete defeat in the war, and most of the entire northern Europe has been in the hands of the French army.