After the strategic plan was finalized, the Imperial Army quickly prepared for the expedition.
Following the arrival of a new batch of supply convoys from Outer Austria to Dijon, the Imperial Army, led by Laszlo, advanced toward the northern battlefield.
The southern front had temporarily reached a stalemate. Upon the advice of the staff and at the request of Matthias, who was appointed to command the southern forces, Laszlo utilized the privileges he gained after the Swabian War to order the recruitment of over two thousand Swiss mercenaries from the Three Forest Cantons, Lucerne, and other areas to bolster the combat effectiveness of the southern troops.
It was true that southern France was militarily weak, but capturing cities and territories still required some sacrifices, so the troop numbers naturally could not be too low.
Originally, Laszlo intended to simply gather some mercenaries from Swabia to make up the numbers, but upon closer investigation, he discovered that Swabia's mercenary industry was temporarily in decline.
With the promulgation of the Land Peace Ordinance, more and more free mercenary camps were forced to disband or relocate.
The German mercenaries once commonly seen throughout Swabia had now either reformed, becoming private soldiers serving lords or even the emperor long-term, or followed in their predecessors' footsteps by flocking to the armies of France and Burgundy in pursuit of war.
Others took a third path, using their combat skills to become bandits, engaging in robbery and plunder, with most ultimately being eradicated by the regional military commanders.
As a result, the mercenaries' main bases gradually shifted to the Low Countries, as there seemed to be endless wars there—England, France, and Burgundy, places unrestrained by the emperor, where conflict never ceased.
After the Hundred Years' War ended, England began the ongoing Wars of the Roses, while France had already experienced three Wars of the Public Weal, providing mercenaries with a new paradise.
The significant loss of Swabian mercenaries forced Laszlo to settle for the next best option: recruiting in Switzerland to strengthen his forces.
Due to the restrictions of the Treaty of Constance, the Swiss cantons were prohibited from providing mercenaries to France, and their relations with the Burgundians were not particularly good, so many Swiss who had fought on the battlefields ultimately chose to return to the mountains to farm and herd.
Now, they had to accept employment under the emperor, whom all mountain folk regarded as a blood enemy, and because of the Imperial War, Laszlo reduced their pay to match that of German mercenaries.
After all, Swiss mercenaries' salaries were generally a quarter higher than those of mercenaries from other parts of the empire, and it was only after Laszlo disbanded the illegal organization [Eight-Canton Alliance] that the Swiss pay rates dropped.
The task of recruiting the Swiss was delegated to Tyrol Governor John, who had previously been briefly responsible for absorbing immigrants in Hungary and had dealt with the Swiss on many occasions.
After arranging the matter, Laszlo did not intend to micromanage further. Whether it was the recruitment or management of Swiss mercenaries, he left it to John and Matthias to handle the headaches; he only took care of the payment.
The logistical issues for the southern army were resolved by the Milan Governorate. Supplies originally prepared for the Imperial Army were continuously transported from Turin to outside Chambéry to meet the needs of the southern forces.
On the road from Dijon to Paris, Laszlo rode a fine horse at the forefront of the procession, with the Elector of Brandenburg riding alongside him.
Although everything had been arranged, Laszlo still felt somewhat uneasy, to the point that his expression turned somewhat peculiar.
The conflict in Chambéry could be said to be entirely cleaning up Charles's mess, though Louis XI, the troublemaker, was the one who truly deserved the curses.
If the Savoy region had not encountered problems, the southern army would have already invaded France and besieged Lyon by now, with even a chance to advance further.
Unfortunately, Louis XI's scheme ultimately succeeded.
The remnants of the Savoy family chose to cause trouble at this time—it was hard to say whether they were clever or foolish, though it was not difficult to understand.
The Treaty of Geneva divided Savoy among four parties, completely erasing this major lord who had previously maneuvered between the empire and France, which was indeed too harsh.
However, what was done was done. Laszlo had gritted his teeth and swallowed the entire Southern Savoy back then, and now he certainly would not reverse his stance.
That Luigi of Savoy, what a poor choice to learn from—emulating his father by colluding with Louis XI. Even if Laszlo didn't finish him off, Charles would not let him go.
It was just a pity for the valiant Queen of Cyprus, who at such a young age had to endure the pain of losing her husband.
However, after their only son died young, the two had gradually grown apart and were now completely estranged.
Luigi was waiting for death in Chambéry, while that queen had probably already reached Rhodes and would soon lead her army alone back to Cyprus to reclaim the throne—a journey likely fraught with peril.
What can one say? Truly a pair of star-crossed lovers.
After some thought, Laszlo abandoned the idea of persuading Charles to reconcile with the Savoy family.
Charles's stubbornness and brutality were well-known; he could not tolerate rebellion, and it was he, the emperor, who had persecuted the Savoy family the most back then, leaving him with little ground to advocate for reconciliation.
Though it was somewhat troublesome, it was indeed better to eliminate the root of the problem; otherwise, there was no guarantee that another group of rebels might emerge in Turin someday.
"Your Majesty, is something troubling you?" the Elector asked, noticing the emperor's unusual mood.
"Just minor matters. I am now very curious what schemes that Spider King, always known for his cunning, still has up his sleeve to deal with the current situation."
Thinking of Louis XI, Laszlo curled his lips into a cold smile.
Although that fellow indeed had countless schemes, leaving Charles and the great feudal lords of France in disarray, the current situation was not something simple tricks could reverse.
It was likely that the French king, who dared not lead troops into battle himself, was now running out of ideas.
Ultimately, strength comes from within; if you cannot win on the battlefield, no amount of cunning schemes will help.
Historically, Louis XI was indeed lucky, finding the most formidable fighters of the time—the Swiss—as his enforcers, splitting Charles's head open with a halberd.
But upon closer thought, in the mid-period of Louis XI's reign, he controlled nearly all of France's resources. Even under such circumstances, he struggled against Charles's Burgundy for many years, ultimately relying on the Swiss to deliver the fatal blow to Burgundy.
Moreover, a few years later, when he went to scavenge Burgundy's legacy, he was beaten by a reckless young Habsburg who gained everything without effort, causing France to lose the crucial Flanders.
In the current situation, Louis XI had been backed into a corner by him and Charles. If nothing unexpected happened, the French were likely to launch a final counterattack.
Whether the target of this counterattack was Charles or him, the emperor, remained unknown for now.
"Louis XI's crimes would require countless sheets of parchment to document. Now, with his allies turning against him and even his own brother opposing him, I do not believe he has any chance of turning the tables."
The Elector shook his head. Under the emperor's near-overwhelming propaganda offensive, Louis XI's reputation had long been tarnished.
Accusations such as harsh and brutal rule, collusion with infidels, and support for heretical popes were widely known. Even his reluctance to personally take to the battlefield was specifically mocked by the emperor's court writers, highlighting the emperor's own bravery by contrast.
The imperial and papal encyclicals issued in the empire could largely be seen as declarations of war, targeting the audacious Louis XI.
Although written entirely in Latin with hardly any profanity, a consensus formed that the French king was utterly wicked, even boosting the morale of the Imperial Army to some extent.
"The French still retain some fighting capability, so we must not be careless in this expedition. We cannot give the enemy any opportunity to turn the tide," Laszlo said resolutely.
Although he was quite confident about this battle, if the French's desperate counterattack was indeed aimed at him, it would likely lead to a fierce battle, leaving no room for negligence.
The Elector beside him nodded in agreement. "We will soon leave Burgundy's territory and officially enter enemy land. What do you think..."
Laszlo turned back and ordered Ester behind him, "Deploy your Hungarian cavalry and the Dalmatian and Albanian light cavalry assigned to you. Do not overlook any movement within twenty miles."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
The commander of the Imperial Guard, who always handled such tasks, was experienced and rarely made mistakes, earning Laszlo's deep trust.
"What about the logistics issue?"
"The same old method, Marshal. All the villages, towns, and castles along the way will serve as our supply points."
Fighting deep in France meant stretched supply lines. Transporting grain from within the empire would not only incur heavy losses but also risk interception along the way. It was better to employ a medieval-style locust tactic.
Since they were on French soil, neither Laszlo nor the Imperial soldiers would have any moral qualms.
The Elector breathed a sigh of relief. The emperor had considered his two main concerns, so this expedition should proceed without issues.
Meanwhile, while Laszlo was still worried that the French might concentrate their remaining strength against the Imperial Army invading France, Charles, who was staying near Rouen, had received what he considered both the best and worst news.
"The Duke of Bourbon is bringing a large army toward us?" Duke of Brittany François exclaimed, leaping from his chair upon hearing the news brought by Charles's scouts.
The duke immediately turned to look at Charles. Seeing Charles's calm and unflustered expression, he seemed to find reassurance, gradually calming down.
"No need to panic. This was expected. Moreover, I have been looking for an opportunity to settle things with Louis XI and his servants."
Charles clenched his fist, trembling slightly.
Not from fear, but from excitement.
A long-awaited decisive battle was about to begin.
His scouts had learned of this news near Paris, meaning the main French forces would reach them within a few days.
"Wait, Charles, this isn't what we planned!" François said anxiously. "Didn't we agree to wait for the emperor to arrive with his army before dealing with Louis XI together?"
"The emperor chose to advance from the south, and there has been no news from him yet. I do not intend to wait idly, let alone be chased away by Louis XI's army."
Only then did Charles reveal his true intentions to François.
The French Army had recently withdrawn from Dijon to Paris. After some rest, they certainly would not stay in Paris waiting to die.
Charles led his troops to Normandy not only to plunder and rendezvous with allies but, more importantly, to lure the French Army into a decisive battle.
Everything went as he expected: Louis XI could not resist and sent a large army to find him.
According to his intelligence, the main French forces did not hold an absolute advantage in numbers compared to the combined armies of him and the Duke of Brittany. The quality of both armies should not differ greatly, and Charles was even confident that his troops were superior in open-field combat.
In Charles's view, the failure of the siege of Beauvais was entirely due to the inherent difficulty of siege warfare, but a decisive battle in the open field was another matter.
"You're insane!" François's overly emotional outburst made Charles frown.
"I have carefully studied the surrounding terrain these past few days and found a suitable battlefield. As long as we set up our positions properly, we can easily defeat the French Army rushing from Paris. Then you take your Normandy, and I take my Champagne—isn't that good?"
"No," François's expression shifted repeatedly before reason finally overcame greed. "The Duke of Bourbon will surely bring the Compagnies d'Ordonnance. We cannot handle those fierce cavalry. If you refuse to retreat, I will return to Rennes myself. Fight on your own if you wish."
Upon hearing this, Charles's expression turned cold. He had fewer than twenty thousand troops. If the Duke of Brittany's several thousand men withdrew first or slacked off during the battle, he would have no chance against the Duke of Bourbon and the French Army.
Seeing the cowardice in François's demeanor, Charles let out a helpless sigh.
"Fine, take your army and withdraw. I will also return to defend the Somme River."
Charles suppressed the urge to curse, holding back to avoid pushing his ally toward the enemy.
"I will await your news, Charles."
Seeing Charles nod, François breathed a sigh of relief and decided not to delay any further. He immediately headed to the Breton camp, preparing to lead his troops away overnight.
Despite his immense reluctance, Charles, unwilling to avoid the French Army's Sharpness, had no choice but to summon his generals and announce the decision to retreat.
The news of the impending arrival of the main French forces was already known to the commanders, who were relieved by the duke's judgment—in fact, most Burgundian generals feared that Charles, in a fit of anger, might lead them into a head-on clash with the formidable French.
In that case, many warriors following King Charles would likely lose their lives.
After some preparation, Charles, nicknamed "the Bold," King of Burgundy, led his Burgundian army to withdraw to Abbeville at the mouth of the Somme River.
There, two newly recruited Burgundian Compagnies d'Ordonnance were awaiting orders, numbering nearly two thousand. Additionally, some supplies transported by sea had been delivered to Abbeville. Charles intended to hold out there, awaiting the emperor's arrival.
The summer sun hung high overhead, its scorching rays mercilessly draining the soldiers' stamina. Even though they had shed most of their burdens, it did little to alleviate the exhaustion of the forced march.
A city standing on the banks of the Seine River appeared just in time on the distant horizon, making everyone sigh with relief.
That was Rouen, originally the goal of their journey, the city that urgently awaited their rescue. However, it now seemed the city's appearance had rescued them.
Unlike the soldiers, the faces of the Duke of Bourbon and the other French marshals commanding this army were rather grim.
As the column drew closer to the city, they discovered a temporary camp near the road that had been burned to the ground. There was no need to guess whose mark that was—it was left by the Burgundy-Brittany allied forces.
"The news brought by Rouen's messenger was true. Upon hearing of our approach, Charles actually ran away first," said Marshal André de Laval, the deputy commander of the French Army, his tone full of disbelief as he stared at the chaotic remains of the Burgundian camp.
As the most senior marshal in the French Army, he had been dismissed for a time after the death of his patron, Charles VII. However, with Louis XI's trusted generals nearly exhausted, he was finally reinstated.
It was this veteran, tempered in the Hundred Years' War, who had previously commanded three thousand French troops at Beauvais to block Charles's Siege.
Although he hadn't clashed with Charles many times, he had some understanding of that Burgundian monarch's arrogant character. He simply couldn't fathom how a renowned warrior like Charles, famed for his courage, would flee without a fight.
"Indeed, this complicates matters," the Duke of Bourbon shook his head helplessly.
This time, he had finally managed to secure command of most of the Compagnies d'ordonnance from the king—a full seventeen companies under his banner. With such a powerful military force at his disposal, he could have easily crushed the Burgundian and Breton rebels.
He just never expected that the enemy, who initially seemed determined to resist and quite audacious, would have withdrawn before he could lead his main force to confront them.
"What do we do now? According to intelligence, the enemy fled separately, meaning the Breton and Burgundian forces each retreated towards their homelands."
Marshal André looked at the vanguard, which had already received orders and begun setting up camp outside the city, and posed the question to the commander-in-chief.
Unlike the Duke of Bourbon, he didn't feel regret over the enemy's escape. Compared to a classic siege-and-relief battle, he would much rather pursue and harass the enemy, then shatter the unprepared foe in a field encounter.
"Letting the enemy escape like this, I cannot give His Majesty an explanation upon returning to Paris. Moreover, Charles's army carries a huge number of cannons and loot plundered from Normandy. Their marching speed shouldn't be very fast."
The Duke of Bourbon analyzed calmly, pondering for a moment before making his final decision.
"Marshal André, I will dispatch five elite Compagnies d'ordonnance for you to command. Pursue the Burgundian army, find them, and pin down their baggage train and rearguard. The main force will follow shortly."
"Leave it to me, Your Grace," the old marshal replied with a grave expression.
Five companies, nearly three thousand troops. Among them were heavy cavalry, light cavalry, mounted archers, and combat-supporting squires—all equipped with horses.
This was a powerful cavalry force almost entirely composed of professional soldiers, with formidable combat prowess.
Back when the Treaty of Tours was signed, bringing a temporary truce between France and England, tens of thousands of mercenaries gathered under the late King Charles VII had nowhere to go.
To deplete the strength of these free companies and also to build a powerful army, Charles VII organized a massive expedition against the Empire.
Lorraine, Alsace, and Switzerland were all invaded. Switzerland paid the price of over a thousand casualties to repel the French, while Lorraine and Alsace were brutally ravaged by the French Army.
Following that, in 1445, Charles VII carried out an epoch-making reform, selecting the most elite several thousand men from these expeditionary forces to form the initial fifteen Compagnies d'ordonnance.
Over time, by the current reign of Louis XI, the scale of the Compagnies d'ordonnance had expanded to over twenty companies.
If it weren't for the current turmoil within the kingdom, with rebellions erupting everywhere, during this period when the Emperor was gathering the Imperial Army, King Louis might have been able to muster the kingdom's peak force of forty Compagnies d'ordonnance.
If they could truly gather the over twenty thousand standing cavalry who once served the king, they wouldn't be as passive as they are now.
However, the military forces they currently command are sufficient. Their enemies have already shown fear.
After a brief rest, Marshal André led the five Compagnies d'ordonnance assigned to him and set off in pursuit, following the trail left by the Burgundian army.
The terrain of Normandy was excellent—flat plains, forests and shrubs scattered across the landscape, multiple rivers cutting through the plains, with villages and towns mostly distributed along the riverbanks.
This terrain facilitated both Charles's transport of his expensive and heavy gunpowder toys and the rapid pursuit by the French cavalry.
To increase the marching speed as much as possible, Charles had to abandon part of the loot. Fortunately, for this expedition, Charles had only brought nearly a hundred lightweight Serpentine cannons. Otherwise, he would have had to abandon those Burgundian heavy cannons he was so obsessed with.
In this cat-and-mouse game of pursuit and flight, Charles, who had a head start, ultimately gained the upper hand. After four days of continuous marching, his main force crossed the Somme River, entered Abbeville, set up dozens of cannons on the riverbank, and awaited the arrival of the French Army.
The Burgundian rearguard, after suffering some casualties, left behind considerable baggage and some cannons for the pursuing French forces before crossing the Somme River.
By the time the Duke of Bourbon led the main force to the southern bank of the Somme River, he experienced the despair that Henry V's English army had encountered at Abbeville before the Battle of Agincourt.
The fords and bridges had all been destroyed. Heavy cannons on the opposite bank roared incessantly, repelling the French attempts to build pontoon bridges.
The Burgundian army on the opposite bank stood ready in formation along the shore, giving the French no opportunity to cross.
Outside the walls of Abbeville, Charles rode his fine steed before the ranks, shouting loudly to boost morale.
He could see the weariness on the soldiers' faces. Although they had set out two days earlier than the French, they had nearly been caught by the enemy before crossing the river.
Retreating without a fight had dampened the army's morale, and the loss of baggage and loot exacerbated the situation. However, the arrival of two companies from the coast and the supplies they transported halted the continued decline in morale.
Those ferocious French troops were now blocked on the opposite bank of the river, a fact many found fortunate. Yet, Charles was seething with anger.
He had never before experienced being chased down like a stray dog on the roadside, and this time he truly felt that sensation—utterly humiliating.
However, seeing the French Army on the opposite bank scrambling to retreat under the bombardment of the stone-shot heavy cannons, looking utterly exasperated on the far shore, his mood improved somewhat.
At least his army was preserved. There would surely be an opportunity to wash away this disgrace in the future.
After the French Army abandoned their attempts to cross the river, Charles also led his troops back to camp.
"Your Majesty, the envoy sent by the Emperor has arrived."
No sooner had he returned to camp than Charles was approached by Olivier, the Chief Squire of Burgundy, accompanied by an Austrian envoy.
"Sir Envoy, where is His Majesty the Emperor's army now?" Charles eagerly hoped to hear good news.
"His Majesty the Emperor's army has already departed from Dijon and is expected to travel via Auxerre and Nemours to the southeast of Paris. His Majesty hopes you will lead your main force to rendezvous with him at that time."
Upon hearing this answer, Charles first breathed a sigh of relief, but then, realizing something, his brow furrowed again.
"Why isn't His Majesty the Emperor taking the northern route via Troyes and Reims to rendezvous with me first, before we proceed together to Paris?"
"Troyes and Reims are both heavily fortified cities, difficult to capture. If we were to take this route deep into Champagne, His Majesty the Emperor fears we would be vulnerable to interception by the French Army, leaving us in a difficult position, unable to advance or retreat."
The envoy's reply was airtight, leaving Charles with no choice but to abandon his little scheme.
He had originally hoped to use the Emperor's great army to capture key Champagne strongholds like Troyes and Reims. That way, regardless of the outcome in Paris, he wouldn't leave this war empty-handed.
But now, perhaps seeing through this, the Emperor was heading straight for Paris with his army.
"His Majesty the Emperor has really presented me with a difficult problem." Spreading a map on the table, Charles studied the upcoming war plans.
If he were to rendezvous with the Emperor in Paris, he would first need to travel along the Somme River to Amiens, then launch a surprise attack on Compiègne, before finding an opportunity to head south to Paris.
The defenses in places like Compiègne and Saint-Quentin were relatively weak; taking this route wouldn't encounter significant obstacles.
The only problem was the movement of the main French force.
Currently, he and the Duke of Bourbon were in a standoff across the river. If either side moved first, it might create an opportunity for the other. Alternatively, both armies might move parallel along the riverbank, in which case Charles would likely find it very difficult to seize an opportunity to rendezvous with the Emperor.
"Actually, Your Majesty need not be overly anxious. If you can pin down the main French force here, that would also be a favorable outcome.
Once the French Army retreats, you can immediately seek an opportunity to rendezvous with His Majesty the Emperor." Olivier suggested.
"I suppose that's the only option." Charles nodded helplessly and sent men to escort the Imperial envoy back to report to the Emperor.
Joigny was the first town of any significant size that Laszlo's army encountered after leaving Burgundian territory, with a population of several thousand and rather weak walls and defenses.
Under cannon bombardment, the walls collapsed rapidly in an extremely short time. The town's only defense force, consisting of a few hundred hastily assembled citizen militiamen, completely collapsed under the Imperial Army's swift and fierce assault.
On the streets, citizens could be seen fleeing in all directions, pursued closely by Imperial Army soldiers.
The victorious soldiers began looting house by house and gathering usable supplies for the army.
Civilians who dared to resist were brutally executed. Women and surrendered able-bodied men were rounded up and placed under guard, to be later sold to slave traders.
Someone set fire to several houses in the town, and black smoke rose from various parts of the city. However, the dangerous flames were quickly extinguished by the Emperor's Imperial Guard before they could spread.
"Your Majesty, many commanders have reported that the soldiers under their command wish for you to order the sacking and burning of the entire city." Marshal Albrecht found the Emperor in the town hall and reported the soldiers' desires.
These Imperial warriors had been pent up for too long. Finally able to let loose, they were all somewhat uncontrollably excited.
Just as Edward the Black Prince wrote to his father while leading his army on raids in southern France, 'Doing so provides the soldiers with immense satisfaction.'
Originally, Laszlo had earlier urged the city to surrender, demanding they hand over grain, livestock, precious goods, and pay a ransom.
However, battle ultimately broke out. Therefore, Laszlo allowed the soldiers to freely plunder the town. He hadn't expected that merely making money wouldn't satisfy his fierce and brave warriors.
Under other circumstances, Laszlo might have considered and agreed to such a request after some deliberation. But now, he absolutely could not issue such an order.
As for the reason, Laszlo's gaze turned to the side, where a grim-faced Frenchman stood.
Following the Emperor's line of sight, Marshal Albrecht finally noticed this person's presence.
"Issue the order: prohibit the slaughter of non-resisting citizens, prohibit setting fire to the city, release those captured citizens. Only gather supplies."
"Your Majesty, this..."
"Our advance has been too swift, making the current situation very complex. For now, just relay the order.
You must also restrain the Imperial Army. Have Ester assemble the Imperial Guard and have them carry out enforcement duties. Anyone who disobeys military orders will be dealt with according to military law."
"I understand, Your Majesty." The Marshal said no more. He glanced at the unfamiliar Frenchman once more and went to execute the Emperor's command.
"Jacques... Duke, although it is deeply regrettable, what's done is done. I hope you can understand." Laszlo sighed softly, trying to soothe him as gently as possible.
This uninvited guest was Jacques d'Armagnac, who was leading the Armagnac rebellion in La Marche, and the cousin of Laszlo's spymaster, the Duke of Armagnac.
He had previously served as the Duke of Nemours for several years. Although Louis XI later found an excuse to strip him of the title, he still held some influence in the region.
Originally, he, along with the Duke of Berry and the Count of Nevers, was jointly besieging Orléans. Upon learning of the Emperor's great army's arrival, he hoped to use the Emperor's power to restore his rule in Nemours. In exchange, he would mobilize Nemours' resources to solve the Imperial Army's logistical problems.
Laszlo, of course, welcomed such a proposal warmly.
It would be excellent to obtain military supplies without having to besiege a city. Moreover, Jacques promised to personally lead his troops to join the Emperor's army. This was partly due to orders from the Duke of Armagnac, and partly because he harbored immense hatred for Louis XI.
However, before he could arrive to meet with the Emperor, the Emperor's army had taken Joigny in less than a week—a city that had also been under the rule of the Duke of Nemours.
It was a case of the flood washing over the Dragon King's temple. Before Jacques could persuade the city's steadfast citizens to surrender to the Emperor on his behalf, the city had already suffered disaster.
"It can't be helped. However, Your Majesty, from now on, will you be able to restrain your army according to our agreement? In exchange, I will certainly do my utmost to meet your demands."
"Of course. I have no desire to expend my precious troops in every town we pass through. If we can obtain supplies without shedding blood, I believe the final confrontation with Louis XI will proceed much more smoothly."
"Then, is our agreement settled?"
"Yes."
""
Laszlo nodded. Together with Jacques, they affixed their seals to the newly drafted agreement, happily acquiring a guide.