When the French (Polish) cavalry successfully took the third line of defense and showed off their power at the forefront of the last position, the coalition commander, General Roland Hill, was indeed panicked.

He really couldn't understand that just before noon today, the four mountain pass lines that were known as the unsinkable were actually broken through three lines of defense by two French troops in just one hour. During this period, the coalition forces lost a total of 40 cannons, and more than 2,000 officers and soldiers were either killed in battle or injured or captured.

Most of the Portuguese who fled back to the ridge defense line had lost their combat effectiveness. What was even more shameful was that the deserters brought pessimistic and disappointing defeat to the troops that had not yet participated in the war, which caused great panic among the soldiers. If General Hill had not made a quick decision and ordered the gendarmerie to ruthlessly suppress the stupid actions of the panicked elements, perhaps even he himself would have to turn his horse and evacuate towards the rear.

After rigorous interrogation and detailed screening, the military police team cooperated with the Military Law Department to sort out the true situation of the three mountain pass defense lines being captured by the French army from the description of the inconsistency of the defeated soldiers. An officer verbally reported to General Roland Hill:

"... It is investigated that the French artillery used a special large-caliber mortar, which can shoot combustion-bombs at a speed of 2 rounds per minute at a speed of 1,000 yards or even further apart... Because the artillery commanders on the high ground on both sides seriously violated the artillery rules and piled gunpowder trucks and shells on the open-air front positions, the splashed combustion-shells triggered a death-bomb. In addition, this type of combustion-bomb is more powerful than the kind of throwing combustion-bombs used by the Desay Division in the Battle of Zaragoza, and the damage to the soldiers' flesh and body and spirit is particularly fierce. After it lands on the ground, it can also form a secondary explosion, which is unpredictable.

...When attacking the first line of defense, the French reduced the lethality of frontal artillery barracks to them through the transformation of skillful queues and the scattered scattered lines... When our army was platooning with the French infantry, they were almost one-sidedly massacred. The French riflemen were able to accurately strike our soldiers at a distance of 300 meters with the high efficiency of shooting three shots in one minute, but we were unable to cause any substantial damage to the attackers within this range.

...After the first line of defense was lost, the commanders of the second and third lines of defense strengthened the defense of the above situation. But what we did not expect was that the French actually used a large group of cavalry to launch a intensive offensive on the narrow and rugged mountain road. Although the artillery and infantry on the two lines of defense tried their best to resist, the enemy's light cavalry still broke through continuously despite the major casualties..."

Because Major Alvin, who was loyal and precise and efficient in his work, was unfortunately seriously injured in the front line and could no longer perform his duties. A Captain Hesel of the Gendarmerie, temporarily took on General Hill's adjutant of the staff. The officer from Manchester City was standing respectfully in front of the commander, and dedicating to read the collected and summarized front-line war reports.

The news is very bad, and it should be said to be quite bad, just like Hill himself is extremely depressed. At this time, the British commander wanted to curse furiously and pour out his anger, but he forced himself to restrain himself. Hill knew clearly that if even the Supreme Commander could not be calm and calm, then the officers and soldiers under his command would become more and more panicked and lose their fighting spirit. The last line of defense in front of him, which was already in danger, would not be able to be kept for long.

The good-tempered General Hill always relied on his temper. After Captain Hesel, who acted as the interim adjutant, finished reading, he asked coldly: "Why did the commanders on the second and third lines of defense not follow the orders I issued an hour ago and pave the minefield on the road before the arrival of the French army?"

After hesitating for a moment, Hessel still gritted his teeth and said: "Half of the more than a thousand mines transported from the Lisbon military camp failed to work due to moisture in the gunpowder; in addition, although the Portuguese officers did not dare to refuse to execute your order in person, they all disobeyed the situation, because doing so would prevent their compatriots from withdrawing the ridge defense line."

The general asked again with a blank expression: "Where is the reinforcements in Lisbon marching?"

The captain replied: "There is no news at the moment. I'm afraid they have learned the unfavorable war on the mountain pass defense line and are unwilling to come."

"Damn coward!" The British general could not bear it in the end and made a fuss for the first time in front of his subordinates. He believed that the slow movement of the reinforcements must be the revenge of the noble parliament on him. Perhaps many people in Lisbon were eager to throw themselves into the arms of Duke Hruna, and use themselves and the coalition forces at the mountain pass as a gift to please the Desay Division.

"General, what should we do now?" Captain Hesel asked carefully, and he kept his voice as low as possible.

The "we" mentioned by this temporary adjutant naturally refers to more than a thousand British officers and soldiers on the coalition defense line. As for the incompetent and cowardly Portuguese, why bother with their lives and death. From the commander's angry and frustrated expression, the British captain knew that General Hill had no longer had much confidence in defending the mountain pass, and the fall of the entire defense line was a matter of time. The only question at present is just how much price the French were willing to pay and how long it took to open the road to Lisbon.

In the sultry and simple command post built with branches and canvas, General Hill, with a sad face, was pacing back and forth quickly, and his mind was always choosing between retreat and persistence. As Hesel had expected, General Hill's confidence in the war had been severely shaken. This was not a personal fault. In fact, the British had already put their abilities to the extreme.

However, the bravery of the French army, the incompetence of friendly forces, and the demolition of the Lisbon nobles all disappointed Hill and he was powerless to make things happen. Another point is that at the strategic level, Commander Wellington and the General Staff of the Alliance devoted most of their energy to Marshal Massena's Portuguese legion, which seriously underestimated the true strength of the Desai Division, which served as a partial division.

One step is wrong, one step is wrong!

Hill had to admit that from the beginning of the Third Portuguese War, this French army commanded by Andrew Desay was far superior to all the opponents in front of him in terms of command strategy, number of troops, quality of officers and soldiers, combat capabilities, weapons and equipment, intelligence collection, etc., and made the coalition forces in passive defense always at a disadvantage.

Unlike the conservative and stubborn Bellsford, Roland Hill was able to judge the situation, make a quick decision, and accept the cruel reality in front of him calmly. Therefore, he was not restricted by Commander Wellington's request to stick to it until the end of August, a command that proved absurd. After all, General Hill and his British troops had done their best to do as much as they could.

Soon, the British commander secretly issued a retreat order against the British army: All British officers and soldiers, including the wounded, would leave the battlefield in stages and batches, retreat to the southern coastal areas, and reach the port of Batussel under the control of the local fleet; in addition, on the last line of defense, all artillery, ammunition, large supplies, etc. that could not be moved must be piled up firewood and poured with tinder oil, and all of them were completely destroyed before the French broke through the line of defense.

"Remember, you must also bury landmines at the entrance to the northern foot of the mountain pass!" Hill added.

"It takes two hours to prepare!" Hesel estimated the time it took to retreat.

"Then let the Portuguese hold on for us for another two hours. Captain, you are responsible for the military police to supervise the war!" Hill attached the last order.

...

Just as the British were planning to escape from the battlefield, a fierce debate broke out inside the guard cavalry regiment at the other end of the ridge defense line. The focus of the cavalry officers was to garrison in the place of defense, waiting for reinforcements from infantry, artillery, or other friendly forces; or to continue to launch an attack and work together to seize the last mountain pass line guarded by the coalition forces.

Due to the battle against the second line of defense, Colonel Paowwsky suffered a leg injury and lost too much blood. He was currently in a coma; and the regiment commander's main deputy, the lieutenant colonel commander of the subsequent column, was also seriously injured and could no longer command the battle. The cavalry regiment lacked two main commanders seemed hesitant to choose to continue attacking or defend the defense line waiting for assistance, and his opinions were not unified.

When several radical cavalry officers offered to continue to attack the ridge defense line, another older lieutenant retorted coldly:

"Gentlemen, everyone already knows that there is a trench of defense squads 3 meters wide and 2 meters deep on our offensive road. If this trench is placed on the plain, I have no doubt that the cavalry can easily jump over and stab the enemy's heart with a spear, or cut off the heads of the Portuguese and the British with a sabre.

However, this is not the case. The cavalry need to carry out a frontal upward attack of up to 1,500 meters from the lower end of the plain to the ridge. In order to reduce the damage to the team by the coalition artillery, we must always maintain a long distance and never stop raiding. This will definitely make the war horses that have been fighting several times more exhausted and cannot cross the trench.

So, to reduce unnecessary casualties, we must wait and wait for support!”

The elderly officer's careful consideration immediately won the approval of some of his comrades, but it attracted the stern rebuttal from other officers who were eager to seek military merits. Someone ridiculed and said: "Yes, yes, we need engineers to fill the trench with wicker baskets with mud to fill the trench, or wait for the infantry to jump into the trench to build a climbing wooden ladder, or simply let the mortar and artillery company directly destroy the coalition defense line. In this way, all the brothers of the cavalry regiment can stand by and watch the Duke award the guard flag to infantry, artillery, and even engineers!"

"Damn bastard, do you want to duel with me?" The elderly officer was furious after hearing this and suddenly pulled out his saber.

"Come on, coward, see who is the warrior!" The previous provoker was not willing to be outdone and began to look for his own spear.

When the other officers saw that it was broken, everyone hurried forward and pulled the two fighting roosters apart. Although the farce of the duel has temporarily subsided, the issue of everyone's struggle has completely reached a deadlock, and no one can convince the other party.

Corporal Gillowsky was also recruited to meet in the inconspicuous corner of the officers' team. Due to his outstanding combat, he had been temporarily appointed by Colonel Pavowsky as the company commander of a cavalry company, although his rank of lieutenant had not been awarded. Next to Gillowsky was Sergeant Gasset of the Rampage Regiment, and he attended the meeting of the Cavalry Officer's Regiment as a representative of the friendly forces.

The two looked at each other and felt that each other's eyes revealed helplessness and unwillingness. In terms of qualifications and military ranks, the non-commissioned officers could only serve as listeners honestly. Not to mention the right to vote, they did not even have the right to speak. No officer was willing to listen or seek their opinions.

After a while, Gonzalez Enrique ran over. He stopped not far away and kept making gestures towards Garset. The sergeant stood up and walked over. Enrique attached himself to his ear and muttered softly. Garset's face changed drastically.

"Everyone, please be quiet!" Returning to the officers' regiment, Garset interrupted the dispute between the two sides in an impolite tone. He ignored everyone's contempt, silent or angry eyes, and continued to explain with a serious expression: "Just just now, a scout had reported to me that the coalition forces were preparing to retreat to the ridge defense line. Please do not doubt that the above information is accurate and reliable."

When they heard this news, the officers present were in an uproar. Immediately, everyone was no longer thinking about continuing to wait for reinforcements, but how to pursue and expand the results of the battle.

"The cavalry in the movement cannot cross the trench. Even if they dismount, there is no long ladder for climbing!" The elderly officer was still persevering, and he just asked to properly handle the biggest problems faced in the battle.
Chapter completed!