 Complete the following phrase:  Instead, Napoleon planned on launching an invasion of Portugal from three directions, with Soult and 20,000 men overrunning the north, Lapisse with 9,000 troops advancing from the east, and Victor pushing in from the south. Robert Thomas Wilsons aggressive use of his 1,200 Portuguese regular troops completely fooled Lapisse, who became convinced that he was outnumbered and halted his advance. Baffled by Wilsons maneuvers, he was withdrawn and ordered to rejoin Victor. On 14 May 1809 Lapisse brushed aside Colonel Maynes 1,850 Portuguese regulars and militia in the Battle of Alcantara in Extremadura. Lapisses 2nd Division and a brigade of dragoons were engaged, a total of 9,500 soldiers and 12 guns. The Portuguese lost 250 men while French casualties were described as light. Lapisses men sacked the town before rendezvousing with Victor at Mérida. Two days before, the British army of Arthur Wellesleys won a victory over Soults corps at the 