When Andrew Desay passed a gray-white marching tent, there was a sound of fierce debate. Five or six staff members gathered around a dilapidated square table to discuss. The table was spread out with the situation of the French attack on Zaragoza. From time to time, there were commanders to bring the latest battle situation. Three lieutenant-level staff members must accurately mark the information on the map as soon as they received the battle situation. The senior staff members must deduce the battlefield process and the gains and losses of the enemy and us, and provide decision-making references for the supreme commander. On the open space on the left side of the gray-white tent, several officers acting as clerks were lying on the long table with ink-filled quills. They followed the instructions of the commander and drafted various combat orders.

The end of the young lieutenant colonel's goal was the top of the slope, facing the west of the main city of Zaragoza. There, Marshal Rana, the supreme commander of the Front (commanding the two legions), was wearing a light gray wool cloak, facing the west of the city of Zaragoza, and observed the indestructible city with a monocular mirror.

Overwork has caused the 40-year-old marshal's face to be no longer healthy, rosy, a little pale, but his eyes are deep and firm. Even though his left leg, which had been recovering from his injury, began to ache again, the body of this French Empire, who is known for his "brave, fearless and tenacious", is still as straight as a javelin.

At the foot of the high ground where Marshal Rana is located, trenches of two meters deep and one meter wide, extending to the main wall of Zaragoza. In view of the French army's easy breakthrough to the central city during the first siege, the Zaragoza people re-strengthened the defense of the main city wall. Not only did they widen and thicken the walls, but they were numerous and eye-catching excavations, but also dug a trench surrounding the entire inner city below the main city wall, and a semicircular fortress was built at any distance.

During the second siege, all the semicircular artillery batteries were destroyed by French artillery fire. The frequent battles made the Spaniards not have time to re-seal the gap of the city wall more than 30 meters wide formed by the collapse of the artillery. They had to use bricks and stone rubble to build a simple chest wall. As for the city ditch below the gap in the main wall, it had been buried by the collapsed bricks and stone ruins.

In the distance, thousands of French troops in blue uniforms were lined up. Under the leadership of the officers, they stepped on the drums and raised their courage to launch the fifth attack today at the gap in the city wall. With the sound of guns and cannons, they heard endlessly. Only twenty minutes later, Marshal Rana angrily put away the monocular mirror and threw it to the adjutant Desai who was following behind him. It was because he saw his army being driven back in a mess under the counterattack of the Spanish.

As the most outstanding commander of the marching cover in Europe, few people can match him in field battles. In addition to being brave and inspiring his subordinates, Rana also has excellent tactical qualities. She is calm, tenacious and does not give up under any circumstances. At the same time, she rarely becomes too reckless and impulsive and becomes in chaos. She is a rare talent for generals.

But he did not like the offensive and defensive battles of the city, especially the attack of this city cast with bricks, blood and patriotism. It was different from Antwerp, Brussels, Danze, those strong fortresses, the Spanish guarding the city of Zaragoza, were not professional soldiers, and a few months ago, they were still nobles, clerks, peasants, priests, doctors, housewives, and even children who had never touched guns. The arrival of the French made these men quickly become the bravest and fearless warriors, not afraid of artillery fire, bullets and bayonets.

After the Lagoza defenders abandoned the periphery of the city, they not only stood firm on the main wall, but also built countless barricades day and night in the core area of ​​the city, turning the monasteries, churches and villas into solid fortresses and connecting them to each other. Even if the French could break into the city, they would fall into ambushing the defenders on all sides and could not extricate themselves. Just now, in the telescope, Marshal Rana saw with his own eyes a Spaniard without military uniform and bare hands hugged a French soldier rushing to the city. The two fell down 20 meters high in the city wall together and fell to death.

Soon, the messenger who came on horseback sent the front line to the headquarters. A middle-aged senior staff member wearing the rank of brigadier general took the information. After rushing to see it, he turned his hand to his colleagues next to him with a worried expression, and he quickly walked to the commander-in-chief.

"His marshal, Colonel Pierre's troops, who were in charge of the attack, failed for the second time. This is the fifth attack today. Colonel Pierre reported that the soldiers and officers were too injured and exhausted. Should they suspend the offense for rotation? Or should they launch the troops on the southern front in advance to reduce the pressure on the western front?" The brigade general described and suggested truthfully.

"No, General Mondell, the time has not come." Marshal Rana shook his head and rejected the Chief of Staff's proposal. "The combat plan previously planned remains unchanged, so that Colonel Pierre can continue to attack. After holding on for half an hour, his regiment can rest. Before sunset today, be sure to attack the city from the only gap on the Western Front, and firmly guard the nearby monastery and walls. In addition, the mines buried under the South City walls of the Engineers can only be detonated after the Western Front troops successfully hold on for half an hour, and must wait until my order is issued."

General Mondale frowned, still worried, "But this will inevitably lead to the continuous casualties of Colonel Pierre's regiment. They only have less than 600 people left. Even if they barely attack the gap on the Western Front, they may not be able to defend it, let alone..."

Marshal Rana interrupted the Chief of Staff’s complaint without any explanation, reached out to the enemy side, and said loudly, "Please listen, there, the cheers of the Spaniards, the shouts of an ancient nation. Although their casualties were several times higher than ours, they were still holding their positions unyieldingly without any compromise or concessions. My general, this is not Ottries, not Jena, not Friedland, not where we can easily win the war by defeating the main force of the enemy. For the sake of damn victory, we must, and can only kill those who are so brave and even crazy, and use death to completely eliminate the fighting will of the rebels."

The marshal's tone paused for a moment to restore peace to his mood. "Okay, transfer a grenade battalion from the reserve team to be commanded by Colonel Pierre. From now on, I don't want to listen to any reports on excuses and casualties. If the attack is not good next time, you will replace Pierre and command the Western Front troops with full authority!"

"Yes, Lord Marshal!" General Mondale gave up his efforts, saluted and left, preparing to draft the orders of the Supreme Commander.

"What do you think, Lieutenant Colonel Desay." Marshal Rana turned around and asked suddenly at the lieutenant Colonel adjutant who was using a monocular mirror to observe the battle situation.

The busy Desai quickly packed up the monocular mirror, stepped forward in small steps, saluted and replied: "The bullet is a fool, the bayonet is a hero! As long as Colonel Pierre's troops break through the gap and advance 100 meters, the cowardly Spaniard will collapse! Marshal, I ask you again to allow me to join the grenade battalion, even if you command a company or a platoon!"

Since the Battle of Friedland in 1807, Lieutenant Colonel Desay, who had recovered from injury, has never been able to become a front-line commander, but has only served as the emperor's combat staff or an adjutant entourage of Marshal Rana. For this reason, this honorary student who graduated from the first Imperial Military College (St. Sier Military Academy), had participated in the Battle of Austerlitz, the Battle of Jena-Oustite, the Battle of Ella, and the Battle of Friedland. He felt very uncomfortable, especially when he had to replace the Marshal every day to serve the auspicious bird with an arrogant attitude and no flight.

Marshal Rana quietly stared at the face of the twenty-six-year-old young adjutant in front of him, who was almost exactly the same as the old comrade-in-arms many years ago. As a soldier, Little Desai has excellent military qualities, brave and obedient command, perseverance, tenaciousness, optimism and confidence; but as a commander, especially a senior commander, he still lacks the control of the team, keen analysis and judgment, the ability to withstand setbacks, and sufficient political wisdom.

The little guy not only flows with the blood of old Desai, but also inherits the unfinished career of his father and grandfather. Although the future is difficult and full of unknown dangers, Rana does not want Little Desai to die easily on the battlefield, which will disappoint the expectations and efforts of too many people, because a nation needs him to save it.

After a moment, the marshal turned around without saying a word and rejected Lieutenant Colonel Desay's request to participate in the battle.

"Why? It's just that I am his son, but if His Majesty the Emperor could be here, he would never refuse!" Lieutenant Colonel Desay whispered hard to defend himself, even in vain, and still kept begging.

At 2 pm, the French army on the Western Front failed the sixth attack, Colonel Pierre was killed, and Brigadier General Mondale was appointed to take over command of the Western Front. At the same time, his adjutant, who could not stand up to his plead, Marshal Rana finally agreed to Lieutenant Colonel Desay to join the front-line combat sequence and be responsible for commanding a reserve battalion.

At 3:05 pm, the French army on the Western Front commanded by Brigadier Mondale launched the seventh attack.
Chapter completed!