After deciding on the distribution of troops, Chief of Staff Berthier also proposed the next action plan of the Corsican Army:

"Then, our next enemies in northern Italy are the Duchy of Milan and the Grand Duchy of Tuscany controlled by Austria..."

The Principality of Milan, located at the foot of the Alps, has been controlled by Spain since the 16th century. It was not until the end of the War of Spanish Succession in 1721 that Austria seized this rich Italian state from the Spanish.

The Grand Duchy of Tuscany, centered in Florence, has been ruled by the legendary Medici family for the past few centuries. However, with the death of the main line of the Medici family, Austria, which is world-famous for its marriage diplomacy,

The Habsburgs also took advantage of this opportunity to acquire this birthplace of the Renaissance.

Currently ruling Tuscany and Milan is Leopold, the third son of Queen Maria Theresa, the first heir to the Austrian Habsburg family, and the biological brother of Crown Princess Mary of France.

A generation.

This twenty-four-year-old ruler was indeed diligent in governing. Since accepting the title of Grand Duke of Tuscany in 1765, he had carried out a series of internal reforms in the country.

He reformed the representative system, balanced taxes, weakened the church, and even made Tuscany the first country in history to abolish the death penalty and torture.

In order to reduce national expenditures to the greatest extent and use fiscal revenue for people's livelihood, he even reduced the entire country's army and navy, placing national defense security completely under the protection of Austria.

Many commentators in history believe that after the death of Carlo Emanuele III, Leopold I became the most enlightened ruler in Italy.

However, although Leopold I did his best in domestic affairs and people's livelihood, he still did not gain the support of the local Italian people.

The people at the bottom did not gain much from the political reforms, and they naturally had no particular favorable impression of the German Archduke.

As for the local nobles and dignitaries in Tuscany, due to Leopold I’s very tough repressive attitude towards local Italian dignitaries and the fact that the Medici family still has considerable influence in Tuscany, the locals

The nobles will also not stand on the same side as this Shinra prince.

The title of Duke of Milan was originally held by Maria Theresa. It was not until the eve of the Italian War that Maria Theresa awarded the Duchy of Milan to Leopold in order to show her support for the war.

De I, this young archduke had not yet established formal rule in Milan.

After briefly introducing the situation of Austrian forces, Berthier distributed his plan to several people and quickly elaborated:

"Current intelligence shows that Tuscany and Milan under Leopold are weak in military strength and will hardly organize any effective resistance to our offensive. I propose that Davout and Serrurier attack Milan and Milan to the north.

Mantua, the main force of our army will go south to take the Florence region. If everything goes well, we can pacify northern Italy before the cold winter arrives."

Major Serurier read the plan meticulously and asked seriously:

"Didn't Austria provide military aid to Tuscany and Milan?"

Even Great Britain, which signed a treaty declaring not to interfere in the Italian war, secretly provided naval assistance to the Kingdom of Savoy. Serurier did not believe that Queen Maria Theresa would be honest in not providing any assistance to her son.

What's more, under Leopold's disarmament, the Grand Duchy of Tuscany had almost no standing army.

"It can be confirmed that Austria secretly sent an army into Tuscany..." Berthier explained:

"But that army marched south together with the Milan army a few weeks ago. They planned to cross the Papal State and directly attack the northern mainland of the Kingdom of Naples. Therefore, Tuscany and Milan are almost undefended."

André Davout also pointedly added:

"They probably didn't expect that the Corsican army's battle in Piedmont would go so smoothly, so they completely emptied the mainland."

The Austrian generals did not believe that the Corsican army could achieve any results at the hands of Carlo Emanuele III. The most likely thing was that this group of stupid Corsicans would be annihilated in Piet.

On the battlefield of Monte.

Even if there is a one percent chance that the Corsican army will gain an advantage over the Sardinian army, their war in the Kingdom of Sardinia will never end in a year and a half.

After coming to this conclusion, the Austrian generals and Leopold I did not regard the Corsican army in the west as a threat at all, and directly concentrated their main military forces on the battle in the Kingdom of Naples, trying to capture Naples.

Directly end the Italian War.

I am afraid that after learning the news of the Corsican army's great victory in Turin, the one who was most panicked was Prince Leopold at the Pitti Palace in Florence.

"What is the possibility of the Austrian and Milanese armies abandoning Naples and returning to defend their homeland?" Major Serurier discussed cautiously.

"The probability is very low." Berthier obviously took these situations into consideration:

"The biggest goal of the Austrians is to capture Naples and end the Italian war. The fall of Milan and Tuscany is not important to them, not to mention the size of the enemy army is more than 10,000 people, even if they really abandon Naples and return to defend their homeland

, our army can also try to engage in battle with it."

For an independent country like the Kingdom of Sardinia, the loss of the capital Turin means the defeat of the country, but for Austrian dependent countries like Milan and Tuscany, even if the mainland falls, it will only leave the Corsican people

It's just to take advantage of the post-war treaty.

What the Austrians are more concerned about is whether they can take advantage of the opportunity of this war to extend their sphere of influence to southern Italy.

...

After asking for other details of the plan, Andre Davout and Major Serurier saluted and left, immediately preparing to lead the army to attack Milan.

Only Lawrence and Chief of Staff Berthier were left in the huge room.

Lawrence looked at the map solemnly. During the discussion just now, he had remained silent and looked very worried.

Berthier also quickly noticed something strange about Lawrence:

"What's wrong, Charles? There shouldn't be any obstacles to the war in Tuscany."

"Indeed, there is a high probability that we can capture Florence and most of Tuscany within three months..."

His fingertips lightly traced the map, and Lawrence said in a deep voice:

"If the Principality of Milan and the Grand Duchy of Tuscany can be brought into the Corsicans' sphere of influence... it will only be a matter of time before they take over all of Northern Italy."

The countries that currently have influence in the entire northern Italy are the Kingdom of Savoy occupying Piedmont in the west, Milan and Tuscany controlled by Austria in the center, and the Republic of Venice in the northeast.

As for others, such as the Republic of Genoa, the Principality of Modena, the Republic of Lucca and the Principality of Parma, they are just small countries that adapt to the changing circumstances.

Now that the Kingdom of Savoy has been defeated by the Kingdom of Corsica, the island of Sardinia and the country's financial monopoly have been handed over to others. In addition, the wise Carlo Emanuele III is about to pass away.

Prince Torrio's ability and prestige are far less than those of his father, and the decline of the entire kingdom is inevitable.

The decline of the Republic of Venice has been irreversible since the last century. The repeated suppression by the Ottomans and Austria caused the Republic to lose a large area of ​​territory. Even by the end of the 18th century, only four ships of the once powerful Venetian Navy were left.

Line ships and seven oars, and even the merchant fleet only had about 300 small ships left.

If Milan and Tuscany are really brought into the sphere of influence, then the Kingdom of Corsica will definitely become a very important presence in Northern Italy even without the influence of France.

"This...! But!"

However, Berthier was shocked when he heard this. Of course he knew how rich Tuscany and Milan were, but he still hurriedly dissuaded him:

"Charle, Corsica has already obtained Sardinia in this war. Regardless of the outcome of the war, it is almost impossible for us to make territorial claims to the Apennine Peninsula."

If the Sicilian rebels successfully win independence from the Kingdom of Naples, then the defeated Kingdom of Corsica will naturally be unable to make any demands on Tuscany and Milan.

And even if the Kingdom of Naples successfully suppresses the Sicilian rebels, the Corsicans, who have already won a lot of money from the Kingdom of Savoy, are unlikely to win more in the peace treaty. After all, it is just an island of Sardinia.

This more than doubled the population and size of the Kingdom of Corsica.

"It doesn't have to be annexing the two countries directly." Lawrence shook his head.

"You mean...establish a puppet regime first?"

Berthier immediately understood what Lawrence meant, but his expression was still ugly:

"But Austria will never tolerate our illegal seizure of Tuscany and Milan. In the worst case scenario, we will go to war with an empire."

"What if France provides protection for that puppet regime?"

"If so..."

Berthier bit his lip tightly and thought for a moment before reluctantly nodding:

"The Austrians may not act rashly, but..."

Before the current Spanish King Carlos III succeeded to the throne, he took advantage of Austria's involvement in the War of Succession and directly sent troops to seize the Kingdom of Naples. Austria, which was hampered by Spain's national power, had no choice but to swallow this humiliation.

If France really comes forward to recognize the puppet regime established by the Kingdom of Corsica and provide it with asylum, Austria will naturally not be able to directly go to war, but there is no doubt that the relationship between the two countries will be greatly damaged by this, and may even cause harm to the country.

There are hidden dangers for the next war.

This was definitely something Louis XV did not want to see on his sick bed. This would even lead to the British accusing France of breaking its promise not to interfere in the Italian war.

"The only question is, will France really provide asylum?"

Berthier also realized this problem instantly:

"I know that the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Count Vergenin, is your friend. Charles, Charles can also persuade his father to lean towards you, but this is not enough for the Kingdom of France to issue that crucial statement. After all, Vergen

Count Regan did not have complete control over foreign affairs."

Although Lawrence did help Count Vergenin to the chair of Foreign Minister, it was less than half a year since Count Vergenin took over this position. It was impossible for him to eliminate the Duke of Choiseul in such a short period of time.

With great influence, such a huge department is all in its own hands.

"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will provide them with all their support, after all..."

Faced with this question, Lawrence's expression remained unchanged and he just said softly:
Chapter completed!