Empire Rise: Spain-Chapter 39: Fleeing When Disaster Strikes

While the Carlist faction rebels were being baptized by artillery, Primó’s side had already begun clearing out the Basque rebels in the La Rioja region.
As one of Spain’s administrative divisions, the La Rioja region ranks last in population across all of Spain.
However, La Rioja is still quite famous throughout Spain, as this region is rich in wine production and is a renowned wine-producing area in Spain.
Carlo’s wine enterprise currently has a total of five large grape production estates, two of which are located in La Rioja, which shows just how famous this region is for wine.
Thanks to the sparse population, it was very easy to purge the Basque rebels in La Rioja.
The population centers in the entire La Rioja region are just a few, and the movements of the Basque rebels in this region were quite conspicuous.
In just a few days, the Basque rebels in the La Rioja region were cleared out until almost none remained.
At this time, Primó also received a from the Zaragoza army.
Upon hearing the news that the branch troops had encountered Catalan rebels in Zaragoza, Primó had no intention of changing his operational plan and ordered the army to continue northward to Basque and Navarre.
The defending forces in Zaragoza numbered around ten thousand, and with advanced cannons providing firepower support, stopping the Carlos rebels was no problem.
Primó’s task was to quickly annihilate the rebels in Basque and Navarre, then directly bypass from northern Zaragoza to Catalonia.
Once the rebellion in Catalonia was pacified, the Carlist faction rebels remaining in Zaragoza would naturally pose no threat.
Dozens of kilometers northwest of Logroño, the capital of the La Rioja region, lay Vitoria-Gasteiz, a major southern stronghold in the Basque region.
This place was not only the Basque people’s main base but also where the main forces of the Basque rebels were located.
Primó attached great importance to the attack on Vitoria-Gasteiz and specifically ordered the army to rest in Logroño for a day before marching grandly northward into Basque.
At this time, inside Vitoria-Gasteiz, the Basque rebels were already in a state of panic.
What none of the rebel leaders had expected was that the government army would unhesitatingly march north into Basque instead of first pacifying Catalonia.
The Basque people’s plan was to threaten the government while the Carlist faction rebels and the government army were locked in fierce combat, thereby strive for autonomy and more local power for Basque.
But now the government army was openly advancing toward Basque, which was completely beyond the Basque people’s expectations.
“Enrique, is this what you said about us being able to seize the opportunity to strive for Basque’s autonomy?” The main leader of the Basque rebels, Mattis Anhatol, was full of anger at this moment, his gaze fixed deadly on Senator Enrique of the Basque region.
“This isn’t my fault either, Mattis.” Senator Enrique spread his hands, speaking with a hint of helplessness: “Who could have thought Primó would come straight for us?
Logically speaking, shouldn’t he go after the Catalan army with more troops first?”
Although Mattis Anhatol understood that all this was because Primó wasn’t playing by the rules, the losses to the Basque army still pained him greatly.
After all, there
Every loss of a Basque soldier is a heavy blow to the Basque people, whose current total population is only a few hundred thousand.
“Is there any good way right now to end this war? Damn it, when did the Government Army become so powerful? When did they purchase so many cannons?” At this moment, Matis Anhatol’s mind was full of question marks, completely unable to figure out why the Spanish Army had become so powerful in such a short time.
“There are two ways to end this war.” Senator Enrique thought for a moment before slowly speaking: “The first way is to surrender directly to Primó.”
“What? Surrender?” Matis Anhatol incredulously looked toward Enrique and asked: “Do you think Primó will let us go? He has long wanted to eliminate us and the Catalans. He absolutely will not let go of this opportunity. Absolutely not.”
“Then what else can we do, Your Excellency General?” Enrique asked calmly in return.
“Tell me about your other plan.” Matthias Anhatol fell silent for a moment, and in the end, he could only remain silent.
The strength gap between the Basque rebels and the Spanish Army is as vast as heaven and earth; it is completely impossible to defeat the Spanish Army alone, with not even a shred of hope.
“There is another way, which is to wait for the Catalans to go around from Valencia to Madrid.” Enrique said: “As long as we can break through Madrid, this Spanish Army we are facing will not be something to fear.
“But going around from Valencia to Madrid is fraught with difficulties. I do not think this army of Catalans can achieve it now, unless God is willing to help them.”
“Where are the Catalans’ army now? Are they still in Zaragoza?” Matis Anhatol had not a shred of trust in his partner. They were blocked in Zaragoza by a small troop of the Government Army—this was a huge joke!
“It seems to be like that, Your Excellency General.” Enrique shrugged and said helplessly.
“Damn it, these Catalans never intended to cooperate with us at all. Or rather, their strength is fundamentally incapable of threatening the Government Army.
God bless, let this group of damned Catalans go to hell, they deceived the Basque people, they are using us!” The Catalans who seem reliable are actually not reliable at all, Carlos VII’s wise and mighty appearance seems more like self-amusement.
“Your Excellency General, I suggest waiting three more days. If the Catalans still cannot breakthrough Zaragoza within three days, we will have to surrender to Primó.” Senator Enrique stated his proposal.
“For now, it seems we have no other choice. Senator Enrique, the news from Catalonia will depend on you. If there is any change, please inform me promptly.” Matías Anhatol nodded, having no choice but to make this helpless decision.
“Understood, Your Excellency General.” Senator Enrique nodded, looking as if he was dedicating himself fully to the Basque people.
A little later, among the Spanish Army.
“Marshal, the cavalry caught this guy while patrolling outside. He claims to be a subordinate of Senator Enrique from the Basque region and has something to say to you.
“I have already checked, and this guy is carrying nothing but a letter and has no weapons hidden on him.” The division commander of Primó’s cavalry division brought a Basque dressed as a commoner and walked up to Primó.
Second update, seeking support!