Out of the principle of limited support, Marin thought for a long time and decided to send some troops to support the emperor. As a result, it was better for the emperor to repel the Swiss attack, but he was incapable of launching a counteroffensive.
So, after much deliberation, Marin finally decided to send two phalanxes to support...
Two phalanxes are nothing on the battlefield of head-on confrontation. However, now the emperor's army is relying on the pass to resist the Swiss attack. Therefore, two phalanxes are definitely enough.
Of course, Marin decided to increase the proportion of musketeers. For example, in the previous phalanx, there were only 300 musketeers. But to support the emperor's two phalanxes, Marin decided to equip a phalanx with 400 musketeers. The two squares add up to 2,500 people, and there are 800 musketeers.
800 musketeers, relying on walls and bunkers to fight back, are quite powerful. Because, hiding behind the line of defense, they don't have to worry about being charged and killed by the enemy, they can reload leisurely, and then aim and shoot.
You know, when the Ottoman Turkish Sultan Suleiman I led an army of 250,000 to besiege Vienna in 1529, the Vienna defenders relied on 72 arquebus guns to forcefully repel the Turks at the gap in the city wall that the Turks blasted. The charge, held Vienna.
Of course, that was because the Turks didn't understand the power of platooning guns at the time. However, in this era, even the Swiss don't know much about the power of volleys. Only the unlucky Saxons really tasted the power of shooting in line.
Moreover, when defending the city, the power of platooning guns is much greater than that in field battles. Because, in a field battle, as long as the enemy rushes over quickly, the musketeer has to retreat and let the spearman go up. Therefore, in field battles, there is a time limit for the musketeer to play.
But in the defense of the city, the musketeers occupy a natural location, coupled with the huge power of the muskets, they can completely suppress the opponent. Even if the opponent has a warrior wearing a full set of armor, it is difficult to ascend the city. Wearing armor, you may be able to withstand the blows of archers, but facing muskets, it doesn't matter whether you wear armor or not.
Moreover, muskets are more lethal, and the damage they cause looks more bloody, which can make the enemy even more frightened. Especially the musket guns used by Marin's musketeers, the bullets weighed 50 grams, and their destructive power was extremely amazing. If it hits someone, it will cause a huge trauma the size of a bowl, and it will bleed out, which is very scary.
If the volley of guns caused great casualties to the opponent, the sight of the terrible wounds on the comrades would also terrify the living.
Then, the next thing is the choice of commander. Schwartz was excluded first because he was a very trusted subordinate of Marin.
Schwartz's ability, seriously, can't match that of the more talented Frundsberg. Because, after all, the Schwartz family declined early, and did not receive a complete knight education since childhood. Unlike Frundsberg, who received strict military education since childhood, his mind is more flexible.
However, Schwartz has one thing that Frundsberg can't match. That is, Schwartz is very loyal to Marin, and any order to Marin is carried out to the letter, regardless of right or wrong, good or evil. As long as it is Marin's order, even if he is asked to do bad things, Schwartz will not have any opinions. In Schwartz's eyes, Marin's will is his pursuit. In short, Schwartz is a fanatical supporter of Marin.
But Frundsberg is different because he grew up in an aristocratic family and has independent thinking ability. Even, when receiving Marin's training, he would also put forward his own opinions.
Originally, this was an advantage. However, Marin's knowledge is hundreds of years ahead of people of this era. Frundsberg's own views are actually based on the thinking of people of this era. Therefore, his personal opinion often has no better effect.
For example, Frundsberg prefers an aboveboard knight duel and opposes sneak attacks. This is a common problem of officers from knightly families in this era. Their pursuit of honor has reached a pathological point.
Although Schwartz was also a knight in his ancestors, he no longer belonged to the knight family when his father came. Therefore, Schwartz does not value honor so much, but pays more attention to effect. In this regard, Schwartz is more in tune with Marin.
Moreover, the last time Frundsberg and Marin had a estrangement in their hearts regarding the massacre of the old nobles in the Earl of East Frisia and the disposal of noble women. Even, Frundsberg thought that Marin was too cruel and lacked the honor of a knight. Marin knew this very well.
However, to be honest, the father of the German mercenary is the father of the German mercenary. Among the dozens of knights under Marin's command, Frundsberg is considered the most talented.
Marin wanted to train the most loyal Schwartz to be the number one in the army, but the existence of Frundsberg, who was no less qualified and capable than Schwartz, blocked Schwartz's ascension. Because, whether it is qualifications or ability, Frundsberg is not inferior to Schwartz, and even better in ability.
…
The above are all secondary. In fact, the most important reason that makes Marin more inclined to Schwartz is that Marin once tested the loyalty of his generals in a state of half dream and half drunk after drinking. .
Marin asked his generals cryptically, if he had a conflict with the emperor, which side would they stand on...
As a result, Schwartz, Kahn, Sauer and some generals expressed without hesitation that they would stand by Marin. And Frunzberg said that Marin should be loyal to the emperor forever and should not be hostile to the emperor...
It was this temptation that made Marin sad. Frundsberg was promoted from a plate armored heavy cavalry by Marin and trained as a general. Unexpectedly, after a few years, Marin is no more important than the emperor in his mind...
This temptation finally strengthened Marin's determination to train Schwartz. As for Frundsberg, Marin didn't know how to deal with it. After all, Frundsberg was not wrong either.
It stands to reason that being loyal to the emperor and loving the country is politically correct. However, Marin is ambitious. Marin hopes that in the future, like Prussia later, it will occupy the northern half of Germany and become an independent country. In other words, in the later stage, Marin may part ways with the Habsburg family and establish an independent country.
But Frundsberg, as one of Marin's top generals, is more inclined to the emperor, which Marin is not happy about. Frundsberg is still young, and may still be in power when Marin establishes an independent country in the future. If the general under his command disagrees with the establishment of an independent country and separates from the Holy Roman Empire, then big things will happen. Maybe it will spark a civil war.
Therefore, Marin finally made up his mind to kick Frundsberg out. But how to kick it out made Marin scratch his head. After all, he didn't want to kill Frundsberg, a hero who didn't make mistakes, for no reason, but he also didn't want him to become the top general under his command and control the military power.
It just so happened that when the emperor came to ask for help, Marin had an idea—to give Frundsberg to the emperor...
The reinforcements of the two phalanxes, and the final commander, were determined to be Frundsberg. Frundsberg is the second general under Marin's command, and it is indeed a face to the emperor that he comes forward. Moreover, Frundsberg himself was happy to serve the emperor. After all, he was from the Swabian region and was naturally close to the emperor politically.
Marin's plan is to let Frundsberg lead the two phalanxes to serve the emperor for a long time. After all, Maximilian I was born to be hard-working, and he had endless battles in his life. Frundsberg was sent to the emperor, but there was no need to worry about it.
You know, the emperor and his Habsburg family were very keen on recovering the ancestral fief of Switzerland. If the strength is stronger, the emperor must have plans to recover Switzerland.
But Marin knew that the Swiss were so rebellious, coupled with their own powerful force. The emperor's road to conquer Switzerland must have been extremely difficult. Even if it does come down, it will face fierce resistance.
In short, as long as the emperor falls into the pit of Switzerland, he can't think of doing anything else. Even Marin, after completing the modernization of the army, only has the confidence to conquer Switzerland, but has no confidence to stabilize Switzerland. What's more, the strength of the army is not as good as that of the emperor of Switzerland.
Of course, Marin didn't want to give the reinforcements of these two phalanxes to the emperor for nothing. Therefore, Marin's plan is that the salaries of the soldiers of the two phalanxes will still be paid by Marin. Of course, the supply of food and ammunition had to be paid for by the emperor himself. In this way, the salaries are paid by themselves, and these soldiers will naturally be more inclined to themselves. And the emperor used them to fight, and he had to admit his feelings.
For Frundsberg, Marin was also very face-saving, and appointed him as the representative minister of the East Frisian County, representing Marin, and serving the emperor.
At the same time, all rights and interests of Frundsberg in East Frisia remain unchanged. Such as a manor, such as a castle... Moreover, the taxation of its fiefdoms is still tax-free...
Before departure, Marin had an in-depth conversation with Frundsberg. During the conversation, Marin did not object to Frundsberg teaching the "Marin Phalanx" to the emperor's army. But in terms of fertilizers for increasing food production, Marin asked Frundsberg to swear to keep it secret. Because this is the basis for all the nobles in East Frisia to make a fortune.
And Frundsberg himself is also an important beneficiary of vested interest groups. For Marin's request, Frundsberg swore without hesitation.
After all, his manor is still there, and his family has moved here. Keeping this secret is actually protecting one's own interests. After all, if the fertilizer secrets were leaked out, food prices would plummet, hurting the Frundsberg family's interests.
After receiving Frundsberg's assurance, Marin was completely relieved. Frundsberg is a knight who attaches great importance to honor, and his oath is still very guaranteed.
As for the issue of Frundsberg helping the emperor train the army, Marin never cared. Because, so far, the reforms that Marin has implemented in the army are only version 1.0 of the modern army. The Spanish phalanx is the lowest level of the phalanx. Even if it is learned by others, it is not a pity.
In the future, when the supply of gunpowder is more sufficient, Marin intends to launch new battle formations such as the Morris phalanx and the Gustav phalanx one after another. These battle formations are more powerful. But currently there is no such condition. Because of the difficulty in supplying saltpeter, Marin could only temporarily use the Spanish phalanx with the lowest proportion of musketeers. Marin will increase the proportion of musketeers until the supply of saltpeter in India is stabilized.
Frundsberg and some other officers, who had been tested to be more inclined to the emperor, went south with 2,500 reinforcements. At the same time, Marin also wrote a letter to Maximilian I, explaining the difficulties. It means that there are too many enemies around, and no more troops can be drawn, otherwise there is a danger of being taken away from the lair. In the end, Marin also implicitly proposed that he hoped that the emperor would help him get a seat in the Imperial Parliament.
Sending troops is not for nothing, and Marin is not a fool, so it must be an exchange of interests. Marin currently has no plans to expand the territory, and the emperor has no other benefits right now. Therefore, helping Marin get a seat in the Imperial Parliament is the most realistic condition.
Only by entering the Imperial Parliament, where almost all German princes participated, can Marin be regarded as a widely recognized nobleman. Otherwise, you won't even be able to enter the Imperial Council, and you'll always feel a head shorter than others.
Marin's plan was to mix into the Imperial Parliament first, and then find a way to become a duke. Finally, after gaining enough territory for yourself, promote to a kingdom.
Moreover, Marin hinted in the letter that if he entered the Imperial Parliament, he would send another phalanx to the past...