After talking about gun control with the officers and nobles present, Marin began to talk about another important topic. That is - pick the black knight...
Marin took out the carbine version of the wind-up flintlock again, stepped on the horse, and demonstrated it to everyone. I saw Marin stepping on his war horse Karl, with a leather bag hanging on each side of Karl's neck, three carbines on the right, two on the left...
After riding on the horse, Marin rode the horse for a short period of acceleration, and very coolly pulled out a loaded spring-loaded ignition carbine from the leather bag on the right, holding the gun in both hands, and fired at the humanoid target in front of him at a distance of 30 meters. shot...
But, embarrassingly - Marlin missed the shot...
Marin quickly controlled the battle horse Karl, made a half-turn, returned to the original place, and accelerated the horse again. This time, Marin was more cautious and did not dare to show off. Instead, he shot when he was 20 meters away from the human-shaped target. This time, finally hit the target...
Then, Marin, who was interested, quickly changed the gun, and continued to shoot the humanoid target during the semi-circular movement. Out of 4 shots, 2 shots hit...
Everyone didn't understand what Marin wanted to express, and Marin was also very embarrassed-because of his poor shooting skills, he didn't express what he wanted to express.
So, Marin waved his hand and called Steindorf, captain of the first phalanx musketeer company:
"Boren, go and demonstrate, just like I did just now!"
"Yes, my lord!" Steindorf, the captain of the Musketeer Company, went to the stables and brought out a more docile war horse. And Marin's guards also loaded all five carbines, and tied them to the back of the horse's neck with leather bags.
After Steindorf got on his horse, he didn't shoot immediately. Instead, he carefully accelerated three times from Marin's shooting position, and drew his carbine three times, aiming at the human target, but he didn't shoot.
After the three trials were over, Steindorff confidently resumed his horse and accelerated. At a distance of 30 meters, Steindorf pulled out a loaded carbine decisively and pulled the trigger...
"Pa—" Steindorf hit the target with the first shot, and it was at a distance of 30 meters. Marin scored 2 of 4 from 20 meters away, which is far behind Steindorf. Moreover, Steindorf's shot directly hit the heart of the humanoid target, which was very "fatal".
After Steindorf finished the fight, he also realized that he seemed to have severely compared the Earl. Therefore, he glanced at Marin nervously, for fear that Marin would be dissatisfied with him, but Marin didn't have any special expression.
In fact, during the charge, Steindorf could fire two more shots within 10 meters from 30 meters to 20 meters. But in order not to embarrass Marin, Steindorf fired another shot when he reached 20 meters, but deliberately missed it.
Marin also saw what Steindorf was thinking, and he drank:
"Boren, don't be shy, show your best form!"
After hearing this, Steindorf also let go of his psychological burden. In the second round of charge, the first shot was fired from 30 meters, and then another shot was fired from a distance of 30 meters to 20 meters, completing two shots.
In fact, when the horse accelerates, the distance from 30 meters to 20 meters is only about one second. In this short time and short distance, Steindorf can shoot two shots, and he is definitely a master who draws a gun very quickly, somewhat similar to the masters who drew guns in the western cowboys in the 19th century. After all, one second is enough for the average person to draw another gun. But Steindorf not only put the fired gun back into the leather bag, but also pulled out another gun, and completed the aiming and shooting. It can be seen that this person's reaction speed and shooting skills are very amazing. Moreover, these two shots were all on target...
When performing a "half round" movement at a distance of 20 meters, Steindorf fired two more shots, both of which were on target. You must know that this semi-circle is a semi-circular orbit, turning backwards, not moving forward obliquely. Otherwise, Steindorf can finish all 5 shots.
Marin can also be sure now. In the half round, if the speed is relatively fast, the average person can shoot up to 4 shots. If the horse was a little slower, it might be possible to get 5 shots. It's no wonder that those regular black-shirted knights are generally equipped with 5 clockwork guns. And those irregular black-shirted knight mercenaries simply brought only three. Because, with too many, they have no time to shoot. Some black-shirted knights with average shooting skills on horseback can only shoot 3 shots in the "half roundabout". Only the black-shirted knights of the well-trained and formally formed black-shirted knights can shoot four or five shots in the semi-circular movement.
In fact, Steindorf can shoot 5 shots, but it is also the first time for him to make a semi-circular movement on horseback. When turning around, he is not very used to turning his waist and turning his head to aim and shoot after drawing the gun. Therefore, he only shot 4 shots during the high-speed half-slalom. But as long as you get used to it, shooting 5 shots is not a problem at all.
Seeing this, everyone still doesn't quite understand what Marin means. So, Marin explained to everyone the idea of forming the black shirt knight and the tactics of the black shirt knight:
Specifically, Marin intends to form a cavalry team that shoots on horseback. The tactics used by the black shirt knights are called "semi-round tactics". The content of its tactics is—
When facing the enemy's plate armored knight phalanx or infantry phalanx without muskets and crossbows, a squadron of black-shirted knights with about three or four hundred people lined up in twenty or thirty rows, and each row also had twenty or thirty people.
After the battle started, the twenty or thirty black-shirted knights in the front row were the first to accelerate. They pulled out their first carbine and aimed forward. After entering the maximum aimable range of 30 meters, fire the first shot. Then, quickly throw the finished gun into the empty third leather bag, and then quickly pull out another loaded carbine, trying to shoot another shot at a distance of about 30 meters to 20 meters. Then, at a distance of 20 meters, the black-shirted knights in the first row took the middle as the dividing line and formed semicircles, and began to move to the left and right sides. The ultimate goal is to walk out of a semicircle and return to the side of the formation . This move is also called the "half roundabout" move. Because, when the war horse is running, it is impossible to turn after a sudden stop. Therefore, when they turn, they generally walk out of a semicircle, hence the name "semi-circle".
When the first row of fighters had already "semi-turned" and left the front, the black shirt knights in the second row had already begun to prepare. Before the first row turned, they began to accelerate slowly. When the first row left Behind the front, the second row of black-shirted knights arrived at the first shooting position 30 meters away, and collectively fired the first shot... followed by the second shot, the third shot... usually at least three shots, and at most five or six shots...
Moreover, these knights in black shirts actually don't have too many requirements for the aim, as long as the guns are held flat and forward. Because, the opponent must be a dense battle formation. As long as you shoot straight forward, you can always hit someone unlucky...
Twenty or thirty rows of black-shirted knights shot down in turn, and the opponent's first few rows were enough to be beaten to pieces. Then, the black-shirted knights moved collectively, instead of facing the enemy head-on, they ran to a distance to reload...
After reloading, these knights in black shirts will shamelessly appear in front of you again, rushing forward to shoot again in turn, and bringing down several rows of your troops again...
Under such circumstances, infantry without long-range weapons were basically pressed and beaten, and they couldn't fight back. As for the plate armor knights, they would usually chase after them, trying to pick out the shameless person in front of them. But it was useless. When the black shirt knights saw the plate armor knight rushing up, they would usually choose to run away. But it’s not just about running away. When people run away, they will turn around and shoot you...
After a few minutes of the plate armor knight's charge, the horse was tired and couldn't run anymore. Those knights in black shirts will run away, and after loading five carbines leisurely, they will run over and shoot those plate armor knights who are resting...
I have to say that the plate armor knight is a tragedy. The plate armor knight is very hard and is very suitable for charging. However, due to the heavy load, the average plate armor knight can only charge for a few rounds, and then has to rest for a long time. It is not the knights who are tired, but the horses who are tired.
A knight is usually a tall man who weighs more than a hundred catties. In addition to the plate armor weighing tens of catties and the horse armor weighing the same tens of catties, the total load is as high as two to three hundred catties.
Carrying a weight of two to three hundred catties, a general war horse can only charge a few rounds. Even with a good warhorse, you can charge for a few minutes at most. Then, take a long break. The knights who retreated after the charge often had to help their horses to rest with the help of the knight attendants. If you don't dismount and continue to let the horse carry a weight of two or three hundred catties, the horse will be exhausted.
The horses of black-shirted knights are rarely equipped with horse armor for flexibility. The black-shirted knights themselves are also mostly equipped with light armor. The reason for this is to facilitate running. When the plate armor knight came after him, the black shirt knight could easily slip away, so that the plate armor knight could not catch up. When the plate armor knight is exhausted and the black shirt knight loads his musket, he can use the resting plate armor knight as a live target...
…
Marin happily explained the tactics of the black-shirted knights. Steindorf and other civilian officers were fine, but Frundsberg and other knights from knight families frowned...
They believed that the tactic invented by Marin was too shameless and did not conform to the knight's "imposing" fighting style. It was just that because Marin was the boss and they were employees, it was not easy to refute in person.
When Marin proposed to choose one of the officers present as the commander of the black shirt knight, all the officers from the knight family chose to decline...
Marin frowned, feeling very unhappy. However, thinking of the bad temper of the knights in this era, he didn't force it. In the end, he set his sights on Boren Steindorf, who is capable of riding and shooting and is good at commanding musketeers...
"Boren, how about you become this commander?"
Steindorf was taken aback. Originally, Marin wanted to form the "Black Shirt Knight", and he had no idea. Because, although his riding and shooting skills are good, he was born as a commoner. Moreover, Marin paid more attention to those educated knights from knight families, and he could see it.
Originally, he thought that the black shirt knight had nothing to do with him. Unexpectedly, all the officers from the knight family who were present at the scene refused to be the commander of the black shirt knight. So, this pie fell on his head.
You know, Marin made it clear that the size of the black shirt knights is about four or five hundred people. Becoming the commander of the black-shirted knights is equivalent to being at the same level as the leader of the phalanx. Under normal circumstances, officers at this level must be officers from knight families.
Unexpectedly, those knight gentlemen were not happy. Therefore, Marin had no choice but to choose Steindorff...
In fact, Steindorff also came from a family of knights. It's just that their ancestor was the youngest son of the knight family, who left the family long ago and became a commoner. So, a few generations later, Steindorff was already a commoner, retaining only the surname left by the knight family. Moreover, Steindorf did not receive a very good education when he was a child. He only went to a church school for one year. After that, because of family difficulties, he couldn't afford to read, so he went straight to work.
Therefore, Steindorf is uneducated, at most he can only write his own name and the few words he recognizes. And Marin has cultural requirements for middle-level officers. Even if it is Kahn, Sauer and other cronies, Marin will force them to study when he finds time.
In fact, Steindorf also wanted to study and study, but he was not Marin's confidant, and Marin never thought of asking a teacher to teach him. Therefore, he has never had a chance to stand out. To be the captain of the First Phalanx Musketeer Company is considered a stroke of luck. Because knights don't know how to shoot...
Only this time, he was more lucky. He was appointed by Marin as the commander of the black shirt knight directly because he had no competitors, and he became a middle-level officer at the same level as the phalanx leader...
After that, Marin made a selection in the army, choosing the black shirt knight. Because it pays attention to speed and flexibility, and has very low requirements for horse martial arts. Therefore, in order to reduce the burden on the horses, Marin asked to select fighters who were not tall and not too heavy. Of course, riding and shooting talent must be good enough.
After all, in addition to carrying people, the war horse also carries 5 carbines, which also weighs 15 kilograms. Choose lighter and shorter fighters, and save 15 kilograms of load at once.
The black shirt knight mainly shoots, and uses the saber to chase down the enemy's rout. Therefore, the requirements for the ability of positive rigidity are relatively low. Those fighters who are thin and not very skilled in martial arts can also be selected. Of course, it can't be too weak, at least the riding skills are good, and it can also make corresponding tactical moves on horseback. When chasing down soldiers, physical strength must also keep up.
Fortunately, horse farming is popular in Europe. Many commoners have served horses since they were young, and they are no strangers to riding. Therefore, it is much easier to choose cavalry in Europe than in ancient China.
In this way, Marin took the lead in selecting 200 soldiers who were about 1.7 meters tall and not heavy in weight in the army, and formed the first "Black Shirt Knights". What surprised Marin was that most of the 200 people came from the four phalanx musketeers. Because the musketeers are the most talented and easy to use the carbine. In addition, many people have ridden horses since they were young, so they are no strangers to equestrianism. Therefore, when choosing, the Musketeers have an advantage. Of the 200, 140 were former musketeers.
In this way, the first batch of 200 "Black Shirt Knights" under Marin's command officially appeared. Because it is a brand new force, Marin only has theoretical support. Therefore, the specific training and tactics need to be explored by Steindorf and the black shirt knights. But in any case, they are not groping around. After all, there is also the information that Marin saw from the Internet in his previous life as theoretical support. With direction, everything is easy to say...