The British were too arrogant and too self-righteous, thinking that they had sent an elite rifle regiment and dressed up as a redshirt infantry regiment using a smoothbore gun, which would catch the unaware of the Desay Division off guard and then suffer a huge loss. I don't know that all the troops of the British Expeditionary Force had been clearly understood by the Military Intelligence Bureau two months ago.

Major Harding said in the letter that the coalition forces would send the 48th Infantry Regiment (i.e. Northampton Regiment, now the Royal Anglo Regiment) under Colonel Winster to join the battle. But in fact, Desai saw through at a glance that the so-called Colonel Winster did exist, but he was commanding the 60th Infantry Regiment (Royal King Regiment, now the Royal Green Jacket Regiment).

If anyone insisted that the British soldiers always maintained a gentlemanly and knightly manner on the battlefield, Desai would definitely use the hilt to hit the speaker's wooden fish head. In another time and space, some time in the second half of 1811, the British army used this challenge to make an elite French infantry regiment (using a smoothbore rifle) under Marshal Sirte defeated the British rifle regiment at the Fortress of Badajos. In the battle, more than half of the French casualties, while less than 15 British soldiers lost.

The British major who wrote the challenge to General Delney was named Henry Harding. Others may not be familiar with him, but Desay knew his great reputation. The future British Field Marshal, the governor of the Indian colony, was the military spokesperson for the first Opium War against China. At present, although the young and energetic Major Harding was just a staff officer of the Eastern Front Allied Forces sent by the commander, he was cautious and rebellious, and often liked to question the command of the superior, and was well-known throughout the British Expeditionary Force.

Desai is almost certain that this challenge book was not instructed by Bellsford, but the private action of Major Harding and other young British troops. Major Passel, who was in charge of the intelligence department, also agreed with the speculation of the division commander.

The MIIS agent lurking in Evora once reported that Henry Harding and others often despise the authority of commander Bellsford. He even wrote publicly to commander Wellington, accusing the conservative combat philosophy of "the elderly General Bellsford", which led to the latter's relationship with Major Harding. If Henry Harding was not the chief staff officer who directly dispatched the Eastern Front Department of the Command, Bellsford would have no right to remove it. Otherwise, Major Harding would have been removed from the General Staff of the Alliance Army.

General Rusty also smiled after reading the challenge letter from British officers. Henry Harding was too insidious. He knew that the defenders in Evora City were seriously insufficient (plus guerrillas did not have 10,000 people), and his comprehensive combat effectiveness was far inferior to the main force of the elite Desai Division (the British judged that the French army was 20,000, but in fact, there were only 14,000 French troops under Evora City, and the cavalry brigade had separated from the main force and lurked 30 kilometers away), so he asked to let both sides set up an infantry regiment on the plains under Evora City to compete one-on-one battlefield, in order to weaken the advantages of the Desai Division in personnel and troop.

What's even more shameless is that Major Harding not only restricted the number of troops, but also required both sides not to use cavalry and artillery to participate in the war. Because the established cavalry in the city of Evora were all Portuguese, one of which had just been ambushed by the French outpost (10 people) in the village of San Francisco, and his morale was severely damaged and he could not compete with the Polish lances under Desay. As for artillery, they were all placed in various city defense fortresses in Evora. All 20 artillery that could be allocated were in General Paul Coelo, and nearly 20,000 troops under him were trapped in the area of ​​the city of Estremos dozens of kilometers away.

Harding and others believed that the Desay division came from afar and arrived at the city of Evora with great momentum. Their army was in a prosperous state and their morale was high. However, because the French army had always maintained a forced marching state within a few hours after landing, the soldiers were already tired. On the contrary, due to the accidental sneak attack of the French army, the coalition forces were inadequate, their morale was disintegrating, and their morale was low, but they had the advantage of waiting for work.

Therefore, Major Harding advocated that a battle must be fought under the city of Evora. With the advantages of time, place and people, he will hit the unprepared vanguard of the French army. The morale of both sides will increase and decrease, and then become beneficial to the coalition forces defending the city.

If it were three weeks ago, Chief of Staff Rusty would definitely dissuade Desay from being fooled by the British. But now, after the battle in the village of San Francisco, Rusty has too many sufficient reasons to believe in the correct judgment of the division commander. That is the excellent performance of the Hruna 1810 rifle, which can instantly kill all British guns, including the Baker rifle. As for the military qualities and tactical arrangements of both sides, the rifle regiment commanded by Colonel René is at least comparable to the British, or even stronger.

Someone in the General Staff carefully raised a little doubt, that was that he was worried about the leak of information about the Hruna 1810 rifle. Desai was very calm in this regard. He believed that the secrets about the Hruna 1810 rifle could not be preserved for too long. After the Battle of Evora, the British would definitely learn about the existence of the mercury fire hat and the Minnie bomb through various channels and develop it.

Similarly, Desai also believed in the conservative and stereotyped old style of the British Army. With the strong industrial manufacturing capabilities of the British Empire, it was not difficult for them to develop mercury fire hats and Minnie bombs, or even very simple, but it was difficult to promote them to the entire army. In consideration of their own interests, the arms dealers of Baker's rifle would definitely oppose and obstruct and lobby for members of parliament; and the British Army would not consider applying for huge amounts of funds to re-arm the troops under parliament pressure.

The above are all facts written in military textbooks since the 19th century. They include long-term refusal to replace camouflage uniforms for soldiers, not using rear-mounted rifles, ignoring the actual role of machine guns and submarines, etc.

After receiving the order from Desai, Major Mardan did not leave immediately, but instead stayed in place. He was actively lobbying the officers in front of him, hoping to get himself to join the war. The major adjutant pleaded with him: "As an officer, I know the formation and formation of the British army. During the previous month of training, the soldiers of the North Aragon regiment and I have been engaged in this preparation."

It was in the rifle regiment commanded by Captain René, and there were 300 new veterans of the Northern Aragon regiment. In the end, Desai accepted the request of the adjutant and appointed Major Mardan as the assistant to Captain René to participate in the upcoming battle.

One hour later, when receiving the receipt from the French general, Major Harding said to Colonel Winster with an excited expression: "How about it, I said the damn Frenchman will definitely be fooled. Dear Colonel, it's your turn to keep your promise. The 60th Infantry Regiment, no, it should be the 48th Infantry Regiment, and needs an assistant, that is me, Henry Harding!"

Colonel Winster, who was not good at speaking, shrugged and agreed to the previous agreement between the two.

In the Fortress No. 3 not far away, 856 officers and soldiers of the Royal Kings' Rampage Regiment were changing their combat uniforms, from the previous "green jacket" to the well-known "King's Red Army" - that is, the Red Shirt Uniform. This was to deceive the French army in the upcoming "game".

As for other equipment, there was no change: backpacks, military blankets and light blue wooden kettles, these were standard configurations for the British army. What was not the ordinary was their weapons: a Baker rifle. In addition, the large black cowhide box under the armed belt was an ammunition box. It contained a full-packed bullet wrapped in oil paper (including a projectile and gunpowder for a single launch). Unlike ordinary ammunition, the projectiles of the Baker rifle were not only cast in exquisitely processed molds, but were also polished.

Like the British Royal 95th Ramp Regiment (the earliest ramp regiment regiment established in the British Army), the 60th Infantry Regiment (also known as the Royal King Ramp Regiment) that had been established for two years is also a special force that survives for the battlefield. It is a dirty unit without regular combat awareness, a unit without honor and unfamous.

When these unconventional British soldiers learned that their purpose of dressing up as an ordinary infantry regiment was to "humiliate" the Frenchmen who besieged the city of Evora from a distance, they were like ferocious beasts screaming. Everyone was clamoring, wanting to let the ignorant and cowardly French infantry taste the power of their iron fists, and let all the invaders corpses spread all over the field and blood flow into rivers.

Unlike the proud and sure-win British, Colonel René (deputy Major Mardan) was the French rifle regiment commanded by the division, although it was only about two weeks ago, all soldiers were veterans who had served for more than three years (including some soldiers from the Northern Aragon regiment). They had rich combat experience and used the British Baker rifle for at least two months, and participated in the Battle of Quarry Town.

Therefore, both officers and soldiers were very familiar with the fighting style of the British Ramp Regiment. After learning that they were going to have a one-on-one showdown with the British Ramp Regiment on the plain 2 kilometers away from Evora City, the officers and soldiers seemed extremely calm and felt that they were no different from the previous battles. In fact, everyone was also ready to fight in secret, and there was no need for officers to supervise. Everyone seized the time to carry out the last maintenance of the guns in their hands before the war, and they were extremely eager to fight early.

Because 10 minutes ago, Major Mardan brought the message from the supreme commander. Duke Hruna told all officers and soldiers: After winning this battle, the future Prince of Catalonia will award this elite force, with the first Wang Family Army flag embroidered with violets; the officers and soldiers participating in the battle will receive the first batch of Violet Knight Medals (mainly for officers) or Violet Iron Cross Medals (exclusive to soldiers). In addition, those who have received meritorious deeds after the war will give priority to their promotions and allow promotions beyond the level.

"What a pity that Garset cannot come to participate in the battle. That kid is an official fan!" Enrique said to Pablo.

Pablo sneered at the inconvenience of information with his companions, "Col. René has signed the promotion order long ago. After Garcet was discharged from the hospital, the corporal's shoulder mark will be changed to the rank of sergeant. Now, you and I have to think more about yourself. Otherwise, the boy will become a formal officer another day, and we two will still be the bitter big-headed soldiers."

Enrique nodded quickly and said yes. Then he changed the topic and talked casually at his comrades about erotic topics such as "The heroic Sergeant Garset was lying on the bed, enjoying the gentle service of a beautiful female nurse."

Everyone laughed after hearing this, and the slightly nervous atmosphere was swept away by the sound of joy.
Chapter completed!