The Fox of France - Chapter 172 (Patreon)

"The first major sweep by the British brought us immense losses, mainly because we underestimated the brutality of the struggle. We were deluded by previous victories, including me, and the leadership, including me, bears an undeniable responsibility for this failure.

In fact, we had seen the British tactics before. During battle training in the Toulon camp, Comrade Joseph, when playing the role of the British, used similar methods to inflict significant losses on us.

Despite this experience, many of us, including myself, underestimated these tactics when facing the enemy's first major sweep. It resulted in significant losses for the people and the revolutionary forces. This, I must say, is nothing short of a crime..." - Russell's "Memoirs of the Revolutionary War"

After the Duke of Norfolk's army launched a massive operation, the Irish United Federation was initially unprepared. The terrain in central Ireland was mostly flat, with few hills, and extensive forests were scarce due to long-term development. This made it exceptionally challenging to relocate the population.

Joseph had proposed some solutions for them during their battle training in Toulon, such as digging tunnels. However, the tunneling plan was not executed effectively. The frequent rainfall in Ireland made the soil unsuitable for digging, and the high water table in many areas made it impossible to dig tunnels without water seeping in. Only on slightly elevated hills could they manage to dig simple hiding holes.

However, the people were not entirely without refuge. Due to the abundant rainfall in Ireland, there were swamps all over the plains. These swamps were quite dangerous, with deep and bottomless mud pits. For those unfamiliar with these areas, one misstep could lead to a dire farewell to this beautiful world.

But if prepared meticulously in advance, taking refuge in the swamps was not impossible. This required significant risk and thorough preparations in terms of personnel and supplies.

So, after the battle training in Toulon, Joseph also proposed the idea of using swamps to shelter the displaced people. After discussions, many believed this approach was quite feasible. However, almost no one had made serious preparations for this before the major sweep.

When the noose of the major sweep began to tighten, the Irish people started to suffer significant losses.

Lieutenant Taveton saw the same Irish village that had left him with nightmarish memories during their last encounter. This time, he didn't come with just a cavalry unit; he had a thousand-strong army with cavalry, infantry, and artillery.

"Artillery, target locked. Prepare for incendiary shelling!" Lieutenant Taveton received the command. Yes, incendiary shells. After learning from their previous encounters, the British had no intention of entering the villages. They started with incendiary shells, burning down the entire village. In the blaze, most of the village's defensive structures became ineffective.

In this era, there were no white phosphorus incendiary bombs, napalm, or thermite grenades like those in the future - except for some secret laboratories. These so-called incendiary shells were essentially iron balls heated until they were red-hot and then fired at the target using cannons to start a fire.

The effectiveness of these incendiary shells was far from the ruthless modern versions. They were primarily used by the navy; the army seldom used such tactics. However, the houses in Irish villages were mostly made of wood, making these incendiary shells quite suitable.

As the artillery barrage began, the village started to emit smoke. Soon, orange flames erupted, and in these villages, the houses were close to each other, making it easy for the flames to spread from one building to another. The entire village quickly went up in flames.

There were no people or animals running out of the burning village. It seemed the villagers had already evacuated.

Near the village, there was a not particularly large forest, the source of firewood for the villagers. If the villagers had fled there, this forest should have been the most likely hiding place. When Lieutenant Taveton came here last time, he had only a cavalry unit, so there was little he could do about it. If he had ventured into the forest that time, he would have faced an even worse fate.

But this time was different. Before a thousand-strong army, this forest was too small. Moreover, Irish forests were different from some forests in the south, relatively open and not easy for concealment.

Lieutenant Taveton received orders. His cavalry would intercept the villagers near the forest, preventing their escape. Meanwhile, infantry soldiers in skirmish formation entered the forest.

Soon, shouts, gunshots, and the sounds of grenades echoed in the forest. Clearly, a fierce battle was taking place within. Shortly, Lieutenant Taveton saw a group of people running out of the forest aimlessly, scattering in all directions.

"They are Irish rebels! Chase them down, kill them all!" Lieutenant Taveton ordered. He spurred his horse and drew his revolver, giving chase.

Many of those fleeing were women and children, but the British cavalry cared little about that. They pursued and used revolvers, cavalry charges, and sabers to quickly eliminate these "rebels."

By now, the battle within the forest had also ended. The British army had engaged in a fierce battle with the "well-trained Irish rebels." They suffered considerable casualties but managed to kill numerous rebels, including nearly twenty elite rebels armed with revolvers and rifles. The "well-trained male rebels," wielding dangerous weapons like pitchforks, numbered over a hundred.

After this battle, most of what could burn in the village had been consumed by the flames, and the fire had gradually died down. On the commander's order, soldiers decapitated all the rebels, whether male, female, young, or old, and then impaled their heads on the ruins of the village to deter those who dared to resist the rule of the British Empire.

This scene played out in many other Irish villages. According to statistics from the Irish United Federation, during the British's sweeping operation, a total of 171 villages were burned, more than 10,000 people were killed, and over a thousand Irish independence fighters were sacrificed. The founder and chairman of the United Federation, Mr. Tone, also met a glorious end due to the treachery of informants. It can be said that the Irish people suffered a heavy blow in this campaign, and if it weren't for the timely support from the beacon of freedom and democracy in all of Europe, Big Brother France, Irish history would have added another heroic lament.

Seizing the opportunity of the United Irishmen's significant weakening, the Duke of Norfolk swiftly implemented his iron-fisted system. In the cities, a new identification system was introduced, and anyone leaving home without a "civilian ID" would face severe punishment. First-time offenders would be flogged, second-time offenders would be sentenced to hard labor, and if there was a third time, they would face the gallows.

The new parish system was also enforced. As the revolution was stifled, some less steadfast opportunists began to defect to the British side. Many who leaned toward the United Federation or worked as informants for the United Federation were sent to the gallows, and those who remained had effectively severed their connections. According to the successor chairman, Mr. Russell, "We have lost almost all of our work in the cities."

"How long can the flag of Irish independence continue to fly?" This question weighed heavily on the hearts of every United Irishmen warrior.

At this most critical moment, the remaining high-ranking members of the United Federation held an emergency meeting on a new French high-speed communication ship called the "Independence." It was said that a mysterious French friend also attended the meeting. During the meeting, this French friend offered some suggestions to these steadfast Irish warriors and assured them that they had not failed. The support from the French people would be even greater than it was now, including weapons and military advisors.

On this ship, the United Irishmen re-elected a new leadership structure and formulated their plans for the next phase.

"In this major sweep, we suffered enormous losses. The blood of United Irishmen flowed like a river, and the bodies of the Irish people piled up like mountains. However, revolutionaries cannot be killed! Cut off one head, and two more will grow in its place." - Russell's "Memoirs of the Revolutionary War"

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