The city of Zaragoza in the early 19th century was just a medium-sized city in the northeast of the Spanish king, with a population of less than 80,000. The Ebro River in the north of the city was used as a barrier, and the Jueva River in the east could be supported, but the west and south of the city were open areas and there was no danger to defend. Therefore, whether it was the first or second siege of Zaragoza, the west and south of the city were the main attack directions of Napoleon's army.

In January 1809, the city of Zaragoza was dry and cold in the middle of winter. The smoke was still filled with gunpowder, and the sound of cannons was rumbling, and the fighting was shocking. Since early December 1808, more than 40,000 French troops, with the assistance of 3,000 engineers, had besieged Zaragoza for a full forty-two days. Because of learning from the lessons of the failure of the first Zaragoza offensive and defensive battle and replacing Marshal Monse as the new commander-in-chief, Marshal Rana decisively gave up the idea of ​​a quick battle.

The French, who relied on their superior forces and artillery power, quickly drove the Spanish defenders south of the Ebro River and west of the Jueva River, and forced the latter to blow up all the bridges on the two rivers. The act of destroying the bridges did delay the French attack to a certain extent, but also made the city of Zaragoza lose the possibility of using the two rivers to maintain contact with the outside world.

On the west and south of the city, French engineers used the method of digging trenches to approach the main city wall of the Spanish defenders step by step. They first dug the first parallel trenches more than 300 meters away from the main wall of Zaragoza. Through this parallel trenches, they dug a zigzag trenches toward the main wall of the defenders until the winding trenches extends under the main wall. On January 3, under the cover of artillery and heavy casualties, the engineers finally dug the second parallel trenches. At this time, the closest place to the main wall of Zaragoza is only about 100 meters.

While using rivers and trenches to completely block the entire city, Marshal Rana also ordered all the cannons of the Third and Fifth Legion under his command to deploy all the cannons around Zaragoza, carrying out violent bombings, in an attempt to force the Spanish defenders to surrender. 120 artillery pieces consumed 26,000 shells day and night, causing the capital of the former King Aragon to almost ruin.

On January 6, two 24-pound siege cannons urgently transferred from Madrid also joined the siege of siege to the siege of Zaragoza. A few days later, when all 24-pound shells were exhausted, a gap in the west and south of the city of Zaragoza was blown open. Victory was in sight. At the beginning of the day, the French army, who shouted the slogans "Ulaula" and "Long live the emperor", broke into the city several times, but was immediately driven out by the even more crazy Spanish defenders. The gap in the city wall created by the siege cannons was soon blocked by the Spanish with huge rocks, leaving only a gap of more than 30 meters to the west.

The second Zaragoza offensive and defensive battle was in a temporary stalemate.

More than 1,000 meters away from the defense of the Western Front of Zaragoza, there is a not very high hillside. The hillside was surrounded by dense olive trees, and only a small brick and stone path extending to the top of the slope. There is a medieval monastery, which was said to be built for a Christ Saint who "recovered the lost ground."

By 1809, thousands of olive trees were cut down, and the Zaragoza people did it, worried that the French would use the dense woods as cover; and French artillery also blew up the nearly 300-year-old monastery because dozens of Zaragoza people were still resisting with this monastery.

Soon, the French built their own headquarters on the ruins of the vast and ruins. Under the protection of two hundred guards, Marshal Rana and his adjutants were here to command the offensive and defensive battles in the city of Zaragoza. In order to deal with the endless attacks of Spanish thugs, the monastery was strictly blocked, and in addition to the commander and officers allowed to enter and exit. There were exceptions. A colorful Gaul rooster also obtained a special pass for Commander Rana.

One of the oldest native animals in France, the Gaul chicken, has its origins back to the ancient Roman era 2,000 years ago. It represents the vigilance and brave fighting spirit of the French nation, and may also be synonymous with arrogance. During the French Revolution, the Gaul rooster replaced the symbol of royal power, lilies, and thus became a symbol of France. The French flag in the First Republic was also printed with the image of a rooster until Napoleon became emperor.

This beautiful rooster striding in the olive garden, the red comb is like a burning torch, the shiny feathers are like colorful robes, and the two slender legs are like two small copper-plated pillars, showing a large appearance and arrogance of looking down on all living beings. Of course, the Gaul chicken has this qualification because it is the patron saint of Marshal Rana.

During the Danze siege in 1807, a French veteran presented the Gaul rooster to his beloved commander to his beloved commander in order to welcome the injured Marshal Rana. Unlike Napoleon who likes to use eagles as the symbol of the empire, but as the emperor's most valued senior general, Marshal Rana, who was an apprentice in dyeing merchants and advocated republicanism, liked this Gaul rooster very much. From the moment he happily accepted it, he always kept the Gaul rooster by his side and fed it himself, even on the battlefield.

It's strange that Marshal Rana, who had been injured almost every battle, has been safe and sound for two years since the Battle of Danze's siege. What's even more surprising is that in the Battle of Tudra, which restored the honor of the French Empire, the Gaul Chicken jumped out and scared Rana's mount, causing the marshal to suddenly fall off his horse, which prompted the commander to avoid the attack of a 6-pound solid bullet in time. In this battle, General Casta Rios, the troops of the Spanish hero who once "The Battle of Bailan" were completely defeated by the French army. From then on, the Gaul Chicken was not only the amulet of the marshal, but also the mascot of the entire Fifth Legion.

It was already noon, and the mascot jumped to the incomplete arch of the monastery, combed the feathers, then it stretched its neck and began to sing. Soon, a young lieutenant colonel brought a handful of wheat and gently sowed the feet of the Gaul chicken. Two weeks ago, the arrogant mascot finally gave him a favor to the master's adjutant, the young officer in front of him, to feed him.

The Gaul chicken, which had been high in cockscombs, jumped down to eat. Unlike the good mood of the eater, the young lieutenant colonel was obviously a little absent-minded. He forgot to comb the mascot's feathers, so he quickly turned around and left amid the latter's humming sound.
Chapter completed!