While the Carlist rebels were being bombarded, Prim's forces were already clearing out the Basque rebels in the La Rioja region.
As one of Spain's administrative divisions, La Rioja has the lowest population density in all of Spain.
However, La Rioja is still quite famous throughout Spain because the region is rich in wine production and is a renowned Spanish wine region.
Carlo's wine company currently has five large grape production estates, two of which are located in La Rioja, which speaks volumes about how famous this region is for wine.
Thanks to the sparse population, it was very easy to clear out the Basque rebels in La Rioja.
There were only a few population centers in the entire La Rioja region, and the Basque rebels' movements in this area were relatively conspicuous.
It only took a few days to clear out most of the Basque rebels in the La Rioja region.
At this time, Prim also received a report from the army in Zaragoza.
Hearing the news that a branch of his troops had encountered Catalan rebels in Zaragoza, Prim did not intend to change his operational plan and ordered his army to continue marching north towards the Basque Country and Navarre.
The garrison in Zaragoza numbered around 10,000, and with the support of advanced artillery, it was sufficient to hold off the Carlist rebels.
Prim's task was to quickly eliminate the rebels in the Basque Country and Navarre, and then bypass Zaragoza from the north to directly reach Catalonia.
Once the Catalan rebellion was suppressed, the Carlist rebels stationed in Zaragoza would naturally pose no threat.
A few dozen kilometers northwest of Logroño, the capital of the La Rioja region, lies Vitoria-Gasteiz, a major town in the southern Basque Country.
This is not only the stronghold of the Basques but also where the main force of the Basque rebels is located.
Prim attached great importance to attacking Vitoria-Gasteiz and specifically ordered the army to rest in Logroño for a day before marching north towards the Basque Country in full force.
Inside Vitoria-Gasteiz at this time, the Basque rebels were already in a state of panic.
What all the rebel leaders couldn't have imagined was that the government army would unhesitatingly march north to the Basque Country instead of first suppressing the rebellion in Catalonia.
The Basques' idea was to threaten the government while the Carlist rebels and the government army were locked in fierce combat, thereby securing autonomy and more regional power for the Basque Country.
But now, the government army was clearly advancing towards the Basque Country, which was completely unexpected by the Basques.
"Enrique, is this what you meant about us taking the opportunity to fight for Basque autonomy?" Mattis Anhatol, the main leader of the Basque rebels, was furious at this moment, his gaze fixed on Enrique, the senator from the Basque region.
"It's not my fault either, Mattis," Senator Enrique said with a shrug and a hint of helplessness. "Who could have expected Prim to come straight for us?
Logically speaking, shouldn't he have gone after the Catalan army, which has more soldiers?"
Although Mattis Anhatol also understood that all of this was due to Prim's unconventional tactics, the losses suffered by the Basque army still pained him greatly.
After all, there are only so many Basques.
Every Basque soldier lost was a heavy blow to the Basque people, whose total population is only a few hundred thousand at present.
"Is there any good way to end this war now? Damn it, when did the government army become so strong? When did they buy so much artillery?" At this moment, Mattis Anhatol was full of questions and couldn't understand why the Spanish army had become so powerful in such a short time.
"There are two ways to end this war," Senator Enrique said slowly after a moment of thought. "The first way is to surrender directly to Prim."
"What? Surrender?" Mattis Anhatol looked at Enrique in disbelief and asked, "Do you think Prim will let us go? He has long wanted to eliminate us and the Catalans; he will never miss this opportunity, absolutely not."
"Then what else can we do, General?" Enrique retorted calmly.
"Tell me your other plan." Mattis Anhatol was silent for a moment, ultimately having no other choice but to be silent.
The disparity in strength between the Basque rebels and the Spanish government army was like heaven and earth; it was completely impossible to defeat the Spanish government army alone, and there was not a shred of hope.
"Another way is to wait for the Catalans to bypass Valencia and reach Madrid," Enrique said. "As long as Madrid can be captured, this Spanish army we are facing will no longer be something to fear.
But bypassing Valencia to reach Madrid is fraught with difficulties, and I don't think the current Catalan army can do it unless God is willing to help them."
"Where is the Catalan army now? Are they still in Zaragoza?" Mattis Anhatol had no trust in his partners; they were being held back in Zaragoza by a small government force, which was a huge joke!
"It seems so, General," Enrique said with a shrug, looking helpless.
"Damn it, these Catalans never intended to cooperate with us. Or rather, their strength simply cannot threaten the government army.
God help us, let this group of damned Catalans go to hell, they deceived the Basques, they are using us!" The seemingly reliable Catalans were actually not reliable at all, and Carlo VII's supposed brilliance seemed more like self-amusement.
"General, I suggest we wait for three more days. If the Catalans still cannot break through Zaragoza within three days, we will have no choice but to surrender to Prim," Senator Enrique offered his suggestion.
"It seems that's the only way for now. Senator Enrique, I will rely on you for news from Catalonia. If there are any changes, please inform me immediately." Mattis Anhatol nodded, having to make the difficult choice.
"As you command, General," Senator Enrique nodded, looking as if he was completely devoted to the Basques.
A little later, within the Spanish army.
"Marshal, while the cavalry was on patrol, they caught this man, who claims to be a subordinate of Senator Enrique from the Basque region and has something to say to you.
I have checked him; apart from carrying a letter, this fellow is not concealing any weapons." The commander of Prim's cavalry division brought a Basque man dressed as a civilian before Prim.
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