Arriving at the village near the castle, where the sunset is far west, the huge volume of the Sanwaya Mountains completely blocks even the last sunset, and the sky in the shadow is very dark.
The horseshoes knocked on the rugged dirt road, and the roar interrupted the villagers' beautiful evening.
Kant rode ahead.
Lead the troops to wait quietly at the entrance of the village.
They didn't say hello, and they didn't make any rude moves, just like using horseshoes as a knock on the door, expressing goodwill to the village and asking travelers for communication.
It's just that the number of these so-called "travelers" is indeed a bit too much.
The villagers also stuck their heads out.
Eyes full of surprise and uncertainty.
But there is not much fear, after all, this is the famous Fort of Aviles, the village under the rule of Viscount Gibran, when the ordinary mercenary group comes, they must be respectful and dare not offend in the slightest.
Even if it is a gang of robbers, they will only send out a message to replenish supplies, and there will be no more excessive actions.
Soon, there was a reaction in the village.
Teams of infantry wearing iron leather armor and holding 4-meter long guns quickly assembled.
Gathered in the central alleyway of the village, they formed the unique spear phalanx of the Dongjun leader. Looking at their skillful appearance, they knew that these guys who seemed to be armed militiamen could not be viewed simply by common sense.
Even Kant nodded secretly: "The training is good."
"It's not bad." Rolf shrugged.
Looking at those armed militiamen, his eyes were a little more curious: "Of course, compared to those armed militiamen in Beijun, these guys can be regarded as the elite infantry under the lord's hands."
"East County has its own military training system."
Kant said calmly: "It has nothing to do with the Lion Principality ten years ago."
He used to be an apprentice of the academy. In order to avoid suspicion, he did not read or study any supernatural power books. Instead, he studied the most in cultural history and human geography.
There is naturally a lot to know about the changes in the East County Territory.
including military.
Kant explained: "This is the infantry training method learned from the Yinpan Kingdom. It is good at fighting against cavalry." He looked at Rolf: "If you lead light cavalry to fight in the future, be careful. Infantry, the power against cavalry is not weaker than Rhodok's infantry."
"Oh, of course, I've compared these polearm-wielding guys to the Rhodoks."
Rolf nodded.
Narrowing his eyes slightly, he murmured: "Although the desert bandits have trouble dealing with these guys, as long as they exchange for Mamluks or Swadian heavy cavalry, these heavy cavalry troops with better defenses, even Rodo Even grams of spearmen can be defeated, not to mention these ordinary militiamen."
Kant said slightly solemnly: "But you still have to be cautious. According to the method you said, the price/performance ratio is too bad."
Rolf shook his head helplessly and said, "So I hate polearms."
What he said was naturally relying on the heavy cavalry to forcefully smash into the long spear phalanx formed by these militiamen, using the most violent and convenient tactics to directly defeat these militiamen and break through their formation.
But the group charge of the heavy cavalry is counterproductive.
can cause injury or death.
Especially the frontal charge of the spear phalanx.
Even if you can rush in and break through, it will cause a lot of damage.
Except for the fact that the two sides can use this desperate tactic in a decisive battle, they will definitely not use it in a regular tentative confrontation. After all, if you kill one thousand enemies, you will also lose three hundred, which is not worthwhile.
Therefore, the price/performance ratio is not high.
"A 4-meter spear."
Kant squinted his eyes slightly, his expression a little solemn: "Ordinary infantry can't use this kind of weapon."
Pikemen require rigorous training.
Not all infantry can use long guns, which has been proved in history.
Only when the civilization is relatively advanced, and the military and civilians can be trained to be organized, highly disciplined and highly coordinated, can this weapon be used smoothly. Otherwise, it is just a living target on the battlefield defeated by the enemy in vain, a motionless tortoise shell.
And this tortoise shell, as long as it is smashed hard on the sides and back, it can be easily penetrated.
But well-trained is different.
Look at history.
The ancient Greek city-states in southern Europe were good at using spear phalanxes, and in the hands of Alexander the Great of Macedonia, they became the pinnacle infantry with light cavalry.
The traditional melee infantry on the Fertile Crescent in the Middle East lost their armor and armor.
The Middle Ages was also dominated by spears.
A similar variant, the Swiss halberd, took this tactic to the extreme, and even the fearsome knights of the Kingdom of France and the Holy Roman Empire did not dare to rush in easily.
For example, when French knights dealt with Swiss halberd infantry, they dismounted and formed a corresponding spear phalanx to stab.
clearly recorded in history.
Even on the eve of modern times, the Spanish spear phalanx is still daunting.
And in Chinese history.
As long as it is an elite unit, almost all of them are pikemen.
Although the division of arms is not so detailed in Chinese history, elite troops can skillfully use spears, spears and other pole weapons, and cooperate with bows and arrows, and swords for close hand-to-hand combat.
Therefore, Kant felt a bit of fear in his heart towards these militiamen in the Eastern County.
Without good infantry training.
Not so capable!
Rolf also noticed the difference in the East County leader, so he didn't continue to speak. Instead, he turned his eyes and carefully observed the village in front of him and the pikemen who were on standby, with a dangerous look in his eyes.
As an evil general, he was not without brains, and he also noticed something was wrong with the leader of Dongjun.
In the silence.
In the village, more than a dozen people came hurriedly.
The leader was a vicissitudes of life old man, followed by a rich middle-aged man, a strong middle-aged man, and a dozen guards, wearing more sophisticated iron-inlaid leather armor, holding a round shield and a sharpened hand axe.
The mayor, treasurer and sheriff of the village.
"Hello."
As an elder, the village head is naturally well-informed.
Seeing Kant and the Sarion Lion Knights, Lion Attendants behind him, and 500 elite desert robbers wearing iron leather armor, he couldn't help but beat slightly faster.
However, he still kept his mind steady, and after winking at the sheriff next to him, he said, "It's getting late, please forgive us for not being able to receive you when you come."
His attitude is very humble.
Kant was not arrogant either, he got off his horse, walked forward, and said calmly, "We want to stay overnight."
"Stay overnight."
The village chief hesitated slightly.
Apparently, he had some rejection in his heart towards the people like Kant in front of him.
Although there are 50 elite militiamen who can form a pike phalanx behind them, plus more than 200 ordinary conscripted farmers, it is a bit whimsical to rely on this infantry to resist a cavalry team of more than 500 people.
The magistrate also turned slightly pale, with cold sweat streaming down his temples.
It's not something he can handle now.
If an accident occurs, only Lord Viscount Gibran in the castle can handle it.
After all, according to his eyesight, just from the fierce eyes of these strange cavalry, especially those riders, he can find the aura no less than that of gangsters, or a group of gangsters!
"Don't be nervous, old man, we are mercenaries brought by Nanjun."
Kant noticed that their faces were stiff.
Smiling slightly, he said calmly, "When I arrived here, I wanted to ask the nobles of the East County if they want to hire us. After all, it is close to the Sangwaya Mountains, and there may be some alien or demonized creatures that need to be dealt with."
"Mercenaries." The village chief heaved a sigh of relief.
But I was still nervous.
Although it has been shown that they are neutral mercenaries, the old village chief understands that sometimes these mercenaries can turn into murderous gangsters at any time when they are short of money or in the dead of night.
Robbers and mercenaries often have interchangeable identities.
"We give money."
Kant chuckled, but the next words interrupted their suspicion: "Two big silver coins, I think it's enough to spend the night in the drying yard outside the village. I think there are only some sundries piled up there now."
"this…"
The village chief glanced at the finance officer and the sheriff behind him.
However, the two people behind were also secretly delighted when they heard the two big silver coins, and nodded immediately.
"All right."
The village head also understood when he saw this.
With a light cough, he still spoke gently: "Commander, your mercenaries can rest in the grain drying yard outside the village. To show your respect, you can get well water in our village for free. Of course, if you want some food, you have to pay extra."
After a pause, he felt that his tone seemed a bit serious, and he reminded Kant: "This is the territory of Lord Viscount Gibran. All our income has to be taxed, so we can't give it to you for free."
"I understand."
Kant nodded with a smile: "I won't embarrass you."
"That's good, that's good."
Seeing this, the village chief was so easy to talk, so he also stroked his beard with a smile, and quickly left with the financial officer and the security officer. As for the security in the village, it also dissipated a lot.
There must be precautions in the dark, and the militiamen are secretly vigilant and dare not disperse easily.
This is their village.
is their own home.
A cavalry team of this size is camping nearby. If you are not careful, they probably won't be able to stop them as long as they attack late at night.
After all, it was close to Fort Aviles, the castle of Lord Viscount Gibran, and any abnormality would be discovered soon.
"Set up a temporary camp."
Kant waved his hand and gave the order.
The desert robbers quickly went to the grain drying field not far away, removed all the sundries accumulated on it, and at the same time opened the linen tent they brought, and soon formed a temporary camp consisting of more than fifty tents.
The sky is already very dark, the stars and the moon have appeared all over the sky, and thin gauze is sprinkled on the earth.
Kant's first night in the East County Territory.
(end of this chapter)