Chapter 164 Occupying Belgrade
The next step is self-development, and you cannot interfere too much in the economy and market. What Peter can do now, besides developing new products, is to follow Colbert's example, implement mercantilism and encourage reclamation.
Meanwhile on the colonial front, the Ross Company was reorganized into the Oriental Company. He is responsible for the economic and trade affairs of Rus, Asia Minor, Caucasus and other regions, and is also responsible for investigating local work. At present, most of the affairs are still in the Rus area, and the development of Asia Minor is slow.
The head of the Eastern Company was a businessman, and Peter only sent people to supervise. Part of the profits must be handed over every year, and before you know it, economic colonization is complete.
The Eastern Company has established commercial offices in the Rus region of Lithuania for trade, and has also extended northward to Moscow via the Dnieper and Volga rivers. A trade road from Bukur Yesti to Moscow was completed.
The development of commerce and trade increased the income of Wallachia, and the Grand Duke invested part of the income in economic activities. This was a virtuous circle. The increasing wealth has also made many countries jealous, but it is difficult to attack without a suitable excuse. Who makes them need Wallachia to block the Ottomans.
Wallachia also paid less attention to the Ottomans, and now they were more concerned about the situation in Transylvania.
In Atelaide, the Hungarian army attacked for half a month but failed to defeat it. The opponent's will to fight is too fierce.
Sigismund was anxious. He had been so strong all the way before, but now he couldn't win.
What's even worse is that he is running out of funds. Sigismund had taken part of it from the pockets of the Hungarian nobles due to the outbreak of the civil war, but it was only enough for three months. Moreover, other expenses for soldiers are also very large, and these are completely insufficient.
And now, they're stymied at Atelaide. If they can't break through, I'm afraid the soldiers will mutiny.
Sigismund continued to sell off royal property in Hungary, and a large number of estates were sold, while the nobles took advantage of this opportunity to continue to grow and develop, making it even more difficult for Sigismund to compete.
In order to further gain support from other classes, Mary signed the "Farmers' Act". Confiscate all the lands of the Transylvanian nobility loyal to Sigismund and grant them to the Orthodox nobility and the Orthodox Church loyal to her. Some serfs working on the land were freed, which made the people at the bottom directly support Mary. Many Hungarian peasants even risked being caught and fled to Transylvania.
In order to defend their homeland, all the people of Transylvania went into arms. The population of more than 300,000 suddenly led to an army of 10,000. They attacked westward and fought to protect their beliefs.
Peter's army has reached Belgrade along the Danube River. This fortress on the Danube River is really important. Bella, the leader of the Negro Army, decided to capture this place first, and then go north to rescue Transylvania.
Belgrade had a garrison of 1,000 men. Sigismund had previously ordered that most of the garrison be mobilized to attack Transylvania. So when they found out there was an army attacking outside the city, they were very scared. Start asking Buda for help.
The Cossack troops were arranged to plunder the surroundings, while the Negru Corps waited for the artillery to arrive. At the same time, build siege equipment and reconnaissance intelligence.
Some of the survivors of the massacre, who had heard of an army attack, came to the camp and volunteered to provide intelligence and guides, telling them what they had experienced in the city.
"It's so cruel. They are all going to hell."
The priest accompanying the army was furious when he heard about such an encounter. He wanted to rush into Belgrade immediately and kill all these heretics.
"Father, now is not the time. When help arrives, we will make them pay."
Belgrade was besieged by unknown troops, and the news made Sigismund faint again. He could only ask the Hungarian Parliament to continue spending money, but the nobles did not buy it at all. What does Transylvania have to do with them, they might as well continue to take care of their own land.
And Sigismund's home country, HRE, has been a bit unfavorable to him recently. He joined the alliance of nobles who opposed his brother Wenzel a few years ago and forced him to give in two years ago, but as Hungary fell into civil war, Wenzel began to make moves again. Moreover, the critical Catholic movement that arose within Bohemia was also used by Wenzel in an attempt to defeat them with this power.
But who was Sigismund? He would not be overwhelmed by the difficulties before him. He began to contact the HRE and the Hungarian nobles, using his diplomatic skills to maintain the balance between countries, and ordered the army to pacify Transylvania as soon as possible.
The Hungarian army continues to attack Atelaide, and it will soon be undefendable. Fortunately, the soldiers Mary had made a deal with the Chamber of Commerce had arrived at the front line and went into battle to defend the city with supplies. There was no other way, the Hungarian commander could only continue the confrontation.
The Archbishop of Buda asked Rome for permission to form a crusade. The intelligence network in Buda told Peter the news, and Peter understood that if the Crusaders were allowed to form, Transylvania would be even less able to resist.
"Tell this news to Cluj, and let our people make some noise. The bigger the better."
Peter provided artillery and gunpowder for the army attacking Belgrade. At this time, Belgrade did not build the defensive buildings that would later be used in the battle with the Ottomans. The defensive capabilities were naturally low, but its geographical location also showed that it was not that easy to fight.
The Negro Legion began to attack non-stop. The ammunition fired from the artillery fell on the city wall, the defenders, and the buildings in the city. The debris generated by the explosion injured many people.
The defenders' psychological defense gradually collapsed, mainly because they had never seen so many artillery pieces with such lethality. And they only have a total of 2,000 civilians plus defense personnel. To defend this city with such a small number of people is really...
After 20 days of siege, legionnaire artillery destroyed a section of the city wall to the west of Belgrade. The army and the Crusaders formed by Andrei Church swarmed in, and that night the garrison of Belgrade was cleared and they completely occupied the city.
After the fall of Belgrade, Hungary's door was wide open, and the Vojvodina region faced foreign attacks at any time. But because they could not leave directly, the news was organized that the Transylvanian army and the Orthodox Christian army jointly captured the place. And spread the tragedy of the Belgrade Massacre through various means.
Whether it was the common people, the nobility or the church, they were all angry. Patriarch Carol proposed to form an army to go to conquer, and the boyars also wanted to go to attack Hungary, and even said that Serbia, which could not stop it, would pay the price.