1603 Winter

With the supply of new weapons and the recruitment of new troops completed, the strategy of the United Kingdom has changed. It didn’t fight against Elizabeth and her army – French Army, that is – in the field. Instead, while the United Kingdom’s troops built lines of obstacles and weapon installation – sort of ‘Maginot line’ in Middle Age – and withhold their attacks in the Netherlands, the marines of the United Kingdom and Royal Navy attacked the French coastlines, trying to cut French Army’s supplies.

It worked out just as I expected. The French nobles weren’t loyal to Regent Elizabeth, long before the war. Since they obeyed to her out of fear from her militaristic talent, when the United Kingdom’s troops swept into their feud, they quickly surrendered. Also, they were more than happy to give supplies to us instead of Elizabeth’s troops and some even suggested to send their soldiers to us to fight against her. So, with feudal lords deserting their side and cutting supplies one by one, the French Army’s food and military supplies were quickly drained.

In the end, the French Army had no choice but to loot the Netherland States they’ve conquered or currently attacking so far, to get the necessary supplies they need to continue the war. And that drives the Dutch in those states into nuts, which led to sporadic local militias and guerrillas which revolted against France.

Adding insult to injury to Dutch, even 120,000 Spanish Army arrived in the Netherlands states. And their situation was no different - actually much worse than - to France. When the French Army was suffering from a lack of supplies, they didn’t get their salary for a long, long time. So, their morale was seriously low and even during the battle, they were more eager to loot than to fight.

So, with the French Army and the Spanish Army both looting in their lands, the Dutch went berserk, thus leading to a rebellion army in 12 states of the Netherlands which are currently occupied or under attack by France.

And that’s where Maurice the Prince of Orange – my in-law and currently commander of the United Kingdom’s Army – came along.

“Your majesty. Right now, our army is all fired up and the locals of the 12 states of the Netherlands will join us and eagerly fight against France and Spain. Please allow me to retaliate against them!”

‘Oh really? Haven’t you been defeated by the lioness so far?‘

“I understand, but the Spanish army is the strongest troop in Europe and the French army’s morale is also fired up thanks to consecutive victories. It’ll be risky if we retaliate now.”

But he didn’t listen. Since he’s Prince of Orange, he can’t fiddle while his feud – Netherland – burns.

“Then, your majesty, relieve me from the position of the commander of the United Kingdom’s army! I’ll go to Amsterdam and will fight with my people till my last breath!”

“...Very well, then I’ll give you 180,000 soldiers and 100,000 mercenaries in addition. Before next spring, drive both France and Spain out of the Netherlands!”

‘That’s 280,000 in total. Surely, you can beat the 80,000 French armies and 120,000 Spanish armies with that number, right?‘

“Thank you, your majesty! I won’t let you down!”

At the start of the attack, the retaliation was successful. The biggest reason? The Spanish soldiers haven’t had their salary for a long time and their morale was down in the dumps. Actually, most mercenaries in the United Kingdom were the former Spanish soldiers and NCOs who deserted their troops due to payment problems.

Even officers of the Spanish army had a similar attitude, thus leading to the passive response of the Spanish army during the battle – not fighting back but withdrawing to the back when the United Kingdom’s army attack. Maybe in their mind, their new master was the ‘Eduardo I(=Edward VII in Spanish) the Rich King.’

However, from the middle of the attack, the United Kingdom’s troops faced severe resistance. It was detached forces of France, which led by regent Elizabeth, who realized that something is not right and came to the front line herself.

“Oh, isn’t that the Richard the Lionheart – with a breast?”

“Kill that bitch who dared to betray her father!”

It was half a ridicule to her being a woman but half of it was an admiration of her militaristic talent.

‘Clash’

“F**k off! I don’t have a father who kills his daughter’s maiden or murders his son-in-law!”

“Long live the Lioness! Kill the English!”

She was just like Joshua in the Old Testament. Even when the battle was leaning toward the United Kingdom, when her flying column showed up on the battlefield, the atmosphere reversed towards France. Being a woman, she wore those heavy, thick breastplate and casque while riding on a horse. And she commanded all French army like an AlphaGo doing a Go, putting the right kind and right size of troops at just the appropriate moment always.

In the end, Maurice himself led the troops on the front line and clashed with Elizabeth and her army at Antwerp. At this battle, 32,000 French Army, 40,000 Spanish Army, and 80,000 United Kingdom’s Army were present but Spanish was just observing from a remote distance and never fired a single arrow or a bullet.

The result? United Kingdom’s defeat, again! 20,000 United Kingdom’s soldiers were dead, while France lost only 6,000.

With this battle, the United Kingdom’s retaliation stopped.

1604 Spring

As a result of the retaliation, the Untied Kingdom reclaimed 9 states out of 12 Netherland states that it previously lost or was under attack from France and is currently fighting with France at the other 2 states. But it lost 30,000 soldiers, including the ones dead at Antwerp. While the alliance of Spanish and France army lost only 14,000 in total. In short, the United Kingdom half-won in strategic aims but it cost an arm and a leg.

“I‘m terribly sorry, your majesty. I‘ve only sacrificed precious soldiers but still failed to fully reclaim the Netherlands. Please relieve me from the position of the commander of the United Kingdom‘s army and let someone more talented to fulfill that job.“

“Nonsense! You’ve done your best. Please continue your service for me and my men.”

How can I blame him? Elizabeth is like a disaster to her enemies. You can’t win against a disaster!

So, at this point, I gave up the idea of finishing this war in 3 years. I’ve put 140,000 soldiers for permanent in the Netherlands’ 14 states we currently have(*The The Netherlands is 17 states in total. And France has 1 state under control, 2 states in fight.) and ordered the 10,000 marines and the Royal Navy to attack France’s rearward feuds, while relieving the rest of the troops from military service and returning them to their occupation. Since both Spain and France's economy is in rags, I’ll just wait until they declare bankruptcy.

With the change of strategy, even Regent Elizabeth became a threat. No matter how hard she attacks, the United Kingdom’s troops stationed at the Netherlands never fought back against her, only defending in the ‘Maginot Line’, with endless supplies and overwhelming economic power.

And since she only holds 3 states – in 2 fights with the local militias goes on and only 1 state – Luxembourg – is under full control – of Netherlands, the France army couldn’t get enough supplies.

1604 Summer

A countless number of soldiers from both the Alliance of Spain-France Army deserted their troops and either returned to their home or surrendered to the United Kingdom, changing their master to ‘Eduardo I/Edward VII the Rich King.’

But I - ‘Eduardo I/Edward VII the Rich King’ - wasn’t 100% certain of victory. Why?

Because at the same time, the Holy Roman Empire(Germany) made peace with the Ottomans. The treaty was sort of give-and-take. While the Ottomans recognize the Kaiser of Germany, the Holy Roman Empire pays 200,000 Ducats to the Ottomans every 3 years and gives up Transylvania, Wallachia that it momentarily occupied during the war.

It was no wonder why the Holy Roman Empire, which still had enough power to fight, quickly negotiate.

1604 Fall

“U, urgent news, your majesty!”

“...What is it?”

“Hanseatic League, Denmark-Norway Kingdom, Protestant Prince-electors of Holy Roman Empire – Duchy of Saxony, County Palatinate of the Rhine, Margraviate of Brandenburg, Electorate of Cologne – and some Catholic Feuds like Duchy of Lorraine declared war on the United Kingdom, taking Spain and France's side!”

In short, I was f**ked. Now, I had to fight with almost entire Europe.