Traveling through Du He, Li Chengqian's rebellion begins

The current Merovingian dynasty is no match for Goguryeo, and it is incomparable to the Tang Dynasty, which now possesses the thunderous bombs.

However, if these European countries were given 1000 years, they would have begun the Industrial Revolution, and the advent of gunpowder weapons would have completely changed the nature of warfare.

The professional armies established by European countries have gradually surpassed the advantages of traditional Asian empires.

The power that now possesses firearms is the already formidable Tang Dynasty!

Pei Xingjian then inquired, "King Han, we have already destroyed more than 70% of the European countries, but we still haven't found the potatoes and corn you mentioned."

"Could it be that these crops, which yield thousands of kilograms per acre, are grown in the Merovingian Empire, hundreds of miles away?"

"Or perhaps in the Visigothic kingdom?"

The Merovingian Empire had a vast territory, encompassing most of present-day France, the Rhine River basin in western Germany, all of Belgium and Luxembourg, southern Netherlands, and western Switzerland.

The Visigothic Kingdom also had a considerable territory, encompassing most of Spain, all of Portugal, and a small area in southern France.

These countries produced many philosophers and poets, but their industry and commerce were still very underdeveloped.

A moment of silence.

Xue Rengui also spoke up, "And the chili peppers you mentioned, King Han, have not yet been found."

On the main seat.

Du He stroked his short beard and said, "Conquer all the remaining countries, then send people to gather all the grain and see if there are any potatoes, corn, or chili peppers."

"If not, then it should still be in the Americas."

In his memory, potatoes, peppers, and corn were introduced to Asia from Europe and then gradually passed to the Han people.

Perhaps these things would have to wait until the Age of Exploration to allow Europeans to obtain these high-yield grains from the Americas.

We chatted for a while.

Du He asked softly, "Where are Hou Junji's and Cheng Yaojin's armies?"

This would prevent several enemy countries from mobilizing large forces to encircle and annihilate them. During this period, his, Hou Junji's and Cheng Yaojin's three armies advanced in parallel, and were only a hundred miles apart from each other.

This tactical arrangement ensures that the three armies can gather within a day.

Pei Xingjian cupped his hands and said, "The army of Duke Chen is resting in a city a hundred miles to the south. They will launch an attack on the Visigothic Kingdom in ten days."

"The Duke of Lu's army is resting a hundred miles to the north, and they will also set out in ten days."

Upon hearing that both armies would be setting out in ten days, just like them, Du He nodded slightly.

It's already early August. If the fighting goes smoothly, it's expected to end within three months. Then, we'll spend another two or three months looting the wealth and dealing with the people of these countries.

After sweeping across the European continent, the army was able to return home in triumph.

Li Chengqian has already urged him to return to Chang'an to take charge of the overall situation. He can send the rest of the army to carry out the subsequent campaigns in Africa, North America, and South America.

Those countries were even more backward, completely in a primitive society.

Even without the aid of the thunderbolts, the people of those primitive tribes still could not withstand the Tang army, which was clad in armor and wielding spears.

Du He stood up and said, "The army will rest for a few days, and then launch an attack on the Merovingian Dynasty in ten days."

Xue Rengui, Pei Xingjian, and the others stood up and accepted the order.

"promise!"

...

Although the Merovingian dynasty still appeared to be a single entity, it had internally split into three kingdoms: the Kingdom of Austrasia in the east, the Kingdom of Neustria in the west, and the Kingdom of Burgundy in the north.

Upon learning of the impending invasion of the Tang army, the monarchs of the three kingdoms all went to the capital of the Merovingian dynasty, hoping that the nominal rulers could unite to resist the Tang army.

Soissons.

Inside a grand and luxurious palace.

Clovis II, the monarch of the Merovingian dynasty, squinted at the three middle-aged men on either side of the table, a faint sneer on his face.

"Weren't you all clamoring for independence?"

"What are you doing here?"

Although the dynasty was still under his control, the real power had long since fallen into the hands of his ministers.

If it weren't for the fact that the people of these three kingdoms were all unwilling to submit to each other, they probably would have launched a coup two or three years ago and taken over his throne.

Left side of the table.

The monarch of the Kingdom of Austrasia in the east said anxiously, "King Clovis II, the Tang army has already attacked. If we don't unite, we will definitely be defeated one by one by the Tang army!"

"You are the monarch of the dynasty, please take charge of the overall situation!"

The rulers of the other two kingdoms also spoke out, expressing their intention to unite against the Tang Dynasty.

"hehe."

Clovis II scoffed, then said coldly, "The Tang army only numbers a few tens of thousands. Gather all your elite troops and wipe them out in one fell swoop in the mountains of the lower Rhine!"

"Don't even think about staying inside the city. Constantinople was reduced to ruins precisely because of its defense!"

The rulers of the other three kingdoms exchanged glances, then nodded solemnly.

Their Merovingian dynasty was located on the west coast, with no room to escape and no option to surrender to the Tang Dynasty and become its slaves. Their only way out was to annihilate the two Tang armies that were coming towards them.

As for the other 100,000-plus Tang soldiers... we'll talk about that next time!

After two hours of discussion, the three kingdoms of the Merovingian dynasty reached an agreement: they would mobilize all their troops to form a coalition of 25 to resist the Tang army.

Of these, 15 men defended against the main force attacking from the front, while the remaining 10 defended against the Tang army attacking from the north.

...

half a month later.

In the valleys of the lower Rhine, 200 hot air balloons floated above the Merovingian army, bombarding the enemy forces hiding in the valleys.

Both exits of the valley were blocked by Tang cavalry.

"God's punishment!"

"The Tang army holds divine punishment in their hands!"

The Merovingian soldiers were terrified and ran around in panic, shouting in horror.

Within the narrow valley, the army of over 100,000 ran amok, and hundreds or thousands of them died under the trampling of their own men.

More than half an hour later.

The people below the valley finally breathed a sigh of relief as they watched the divine punishment object drift further and further away in the sky.

Looking at the numerous craters on the ground and the countless soldiers lying in pools of blood, they were filled with fear and lost all will to resist.

Inside the central tent.

Commander Elsino Alde said in a panic, "Staying here will only lead to death. We must immediately split into two groups and rush out of the two exits!"

"Each exit is guarded by only 10,000 Tang soldiers. Our 100,000 troops will surely be able to fight our way out!"

"Breakout!"

They had specifically chosen this huge valley to ambush the Tang army, but unexpectedly, the Tang army still discovered their tracks.

Half an hour later.

The 100,000 surviving Merovingian troops quickly split into two groups and charged towards the Tang army.

But when they reached the mouth of the valley, they found something was wrong. The Tang army not only blocked the entrance with wood and boulders, but also set fire to block the entrance.

However, the mountains on both sides are towering and steep, overgrown with weeds, and there is even the possibility that a large number of Tang soldiers may be lying in ambush.

What if we can't break through?

"How about surrender?"

"Being a slave means losing your freedom, but it also means you can save your life."

"..."