Chapter 16 Don’t be timid, it’s just from the front
After the demonstration of the new weapons, the soldiers were left to continue training, while Paul, Knight Schroeder and officers above the company level gathered in the castle hall for a meeting.
In front of all the officers, Paul announced the appointment of Schroeder as his chief of staff, and explained that this position was equivalent to the chief staff in other armies. After introducing the military system he created to the old knight Later, he was awarded the rank of major, while his retinue Joyce was awarded the rank of captain and temporarily served as an ordinary staff officer.
Then it was time to summarize the reasons for the last failure. The officers took out the manuscripts they had written overnight and read out their opinions on the last battle one by one.
Finally, the little earl said: "Everyone summarized it in detail. Basically, there are two main reasons: the recruits are timid and act without permission. In order to solve this problem, I decided to set up drummers and trumpets in the army. Hands, let the soldiers develop the habit of walking according to the drum. ”
"When marching on the battlefield, soldiers march to the beat of drums. They can neither advance without permission nor shrink behind. The trumpeter blows two trumpets: the charge horn and the retreat horn. When the charge horn sounds, even if there are mountains of swords and seas of fire ahead, they have to charge desperately and retreat. When the horn sounds, you are not allowed to stay for a moment even if there are mountains of gold and silver in front of you."
"Pickets of each unit are responsible for supervising battlefield discipline. Anyone who violates the above disciplines will be punished with the death penalty depending on the serious situation."< br>
"Bryce, please draw up the detailed provisions. I require every soldier to remember it and start training immediately."
Bryce responded: "Yes, Earl "My lord."
The old knight was surprised. Although this little lord from the countryside is still underage, he has many unique insights in military matters.
He suggested: "Your Majesty, Earl, I already know about the previous battles. Please find out the soldiers who disobeyed orders and retreated without authorization last time, and hang them in public to show their moral integrity."
"Ah...this ...I have already punished them to hard labor in the mines..."
"Okay, since you have spared their lives, forget it this time, but don't do such unnecessary things next time. Mercy.” Now that the verdict had been passed, continuing to increase their punishment for the same mistake clearly affected Paul’s authority.
"Let's talk about how to fight in the next battle..."
After seeing the power of firearms, the officers were very excited. Most people thought that as long as they equipped a large number of weapons, they would be able to fight in the next battle. Be sure to win.
Schroeder held a different view: "Everyone, the count showed us firearms to give us confidence rather than make us proud. You must know that 'a proud soldier will be defeated'."
This old knight is really profound. You win my heart, Paul secretly raised his thumbs up.
Schroeder continued: "Everyone, I believe that the next battle must not rely on firearms. Soldiers must rely solely on hand-to-hand combat to defeat pirates in order to overcome their inner fear and establish a true sense of confidence and honor. "
"That's right." Paul agreed. Didn't Suvorov have a saying on earth, "The bullet is a fool, the bayonet is a hero." The soldier who dares to fight with the bayonet is a good soldier. .
This meeting decided to set up buglers and drummers, and temporarily proposed four bugle sounds: assembly horn, advance horn, retreat horn, and charge horn, which will be gradually added as the army builds up.
Adjust the daily training content, strengthen the training intensity in stabbing, and set up an officer training class in addition to the training. The old knight will personally teach some military knowledge of this era, such as encampment, ambush and counter-ambush, reconnaissance and counter-reconnaissance. etc.
Of course, firearms still need to be manufactured and trained. After all, we don’t know how many pirates will be next, so we still need to prepare the necessary weapons.
......
In the pirate camp, a group of pirates are also discussing plans.
"Quick, Shark asked me to bring a message so that you can stop."
"Is this enough? He himself is already full. I haven't got much yet."
"You ran so far away from the coast and had a head-on conflict with the lords here. How brave are you? It's too big. Grab a bunch of civilians and go back to Port Fulan."
"Bullying the defenseless people is nothing. Besides, if you want to do it, just do it in a big way. , old Graiman was ambushed by a shark and kicked his legs. The whole territory was in panic. It was a good opportunity to make a move. Yesterday, their little brat who overestimated his abilities led the troops to fight with us. His ability was mediocre, no. I feel sorry for my career as a pirate even if I make a fortune.”
“Huh, speaking of old Graiman, that bastard Shark actually killed a real feudal noble, and he was not afraid of arousing the collective anger of the lords of the Northwest Bay. "What's the matter? Who made old Graiman break the 'tacit understanding' between the gentlemen and us and break the rules of Northwest Bay? Besides, the Graiman family has been exiled here and has always been in trouble with surrounding families. We’re not together. I guess someone is still watching the joke secretly.”
"You must have broken the tacit understanding first. You came so far away from the coast to look for trouble..."
"Humph, then why did you come all the way here? To uphold justice for the noble gentlemen. ? Stop talking nonsense. In a few days, I will lead people directly to Huxin Town to ask for things. If they are not honest, I will pester their main force, and you will lead your people into the town quietly from the other side... …”
…
Nine days later, the pirates themselves came to claim the property requested in the previous letter.
The pirates rowed small galleys and gradually approached the town in the center of the lake. After receiving the report, Paul immediately ordered the army to assemble on the shore to stand ready, and sent a platoon of internal guards to go from house to house to inform residents to lock their doors and windows, and collect their belongings. Chopper is prepared for the worst.
"They are really a group of bold thieves. They just planned a sneak attack last time. After all, they took advantage of the darkness of night, and now they are so arrogant that they dare to provoke the ruling center of an earl in broad daylight." The old knight found it very incredible.
"Oops, it's too negligent. It would be bad if they trapped us with their water advantage. We really should have moved the residents of the island early." The old knight regretted his carelessness. The Man family built a castle on the island to defend themselves from enemies on the road. They didn't want the enemies to come from the water today, but it became the biggest Achilles' heel.
"Is there anyone on the island who is familiar with water warfare?" Schroeder asked, but he quickly knew the answer from the looks of everyone looking at each other.
"Then it can only stimulate them to land for a decisive battle..."
The pirates first sent a few small boats to test repeatedly not far from the shore, and then confirmed that the defenders did not have any bows or crossbows. After projecting their weapons, they started to land casually. It seemed that after their last victory, they no longer took the Territory Guard seriously, which made the old knight breathe a sigh of relief.
Seeing that the number of pirates was much larger than last time, I originally wanted to do a "half-crossing attack", but when I asked the old knight for his opinion, he was opposed. He believed that pirates are very good at water and will jump when the situation is not good. Back in the water, and if you encounter a nail when landing, there is a high probability that you will use ships to block the island in the middle of the lake, slowly trapping the soldiers and civilians on the island. What will you do then, rowing a fishing boat and playing gang war with pirates?
"Okay, let's have a decisive battle with dignity." Paul gritted his teeth, and then reiterated the battlefield discipline in front of the entire army.
Think optimistically, the odds of winning this time are still very high. Even if the soldiers can't fight the pirates, they still have a lot of grenades, and they have successfully made six muskets, no matter what, they can still make the pirates drink. .
Just as I was thinking about it, most of the pirates had already landed ashore and rushed over here.
"Grayman boy, are you ready with everything grandpa asked for in the letter?"
It's that big beard again, with a really loud voice.
"Happiness and anger cannot be expressed in color, happiness and anger cannot be expressed in color..." the little earl said silently in his heart.
“Last time you overestimated your capabilities and tried to resist us. I should have allowed you to add some filial piety, but looking at your poor place, I guess you can’t bring anything else except a few baskets of smelly fish. It’s still Grandpa I'm generous, please give me what you asked for earlier."
The bearded man said arrogantly.
Paul ordered the trumpeter to blow the marching horn, and Bryce shouted: "The whole army is ready to kill these bastards today and avenge the brothers who died last time. March forward."
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The drummer beat the marching drum, and along with the drum beat, the soldiers of the three companies raised their spears and began to advance slowly.
According to Paul and Bryce's intention, all four companies should be pressed forward, but the old knight insisted on leaving one company as a reserve and some pickets, saying that they were used to enforce battlefield discipline.
"Hey...have you not been taught enough or what?" The bearded man laughed loudly, "Brothers, we have arrived at their hometown this time, and they won't give it to us, so let's get it ourselves!"
The people around him laughed loudly, "Boss Quik is right, no one is allowed to fight for my head later," a pirate heckled, holding a steel knife tightly in both hands, The expression on his face gradually became ferocious and terrifying.
The two sides gradually got closer and finally came face to face...
(End of this chapter)