The light has gone, and the night has fallen silently. The bonfire in the hall flickered on the king's face, outlining solid lines like a cooling sculpture.
Shulot looked at his friend expectantly, but felt the king's eyes gradually deepening, and the distance began to grow far away.
The young man became anxious and stopped waiting. He subconsciously reached out his hand, hesitated for a moment, and then gently pulled Avitt's sleeve. Then, he looked into the other person's eyes and recommitted sincerely and firmly.
"Avit, trust me. I will always stand with you, just like in the past!"
Hearing these words, Avitt's eyes flickered slightly. His thoughts descended again, his divinity interrupted by ups and downs of emotions. So he lowered his eyes and pondered for a moment, then stood up from his seat, turned around and walked to the window, looking at the deep night sky, letting darkness cover his face.
Shulot also stood up and walked behind his friend. The two stood back and forth, one step apart, looking at the night sky and the stars together, silently.
In the corner, Gilliam watched all this silently. His expression was extremely serious, his brows were slightly furrowed, and he was deep in thought.
After a long time, the young man spoke again in frustration.
"Avit, forming a spear militia can increase the military strength of the alliance. I am just making a suggestion. The commander of the army can be appointed as someone else..."
Avitt then turned around. He looked at the young man close at hand and sighed softly. Unknowingly, the boy grew a lot taller, already reaching his shoulders.
"How many people do you want? How to design it specifically?" Came a calm voice, as gentle as ever.
Shulot blinked. Soon, he reacted happily and answered seriously and in detail, his voice rising.
"I am going to form a group of 8,000 people. I have just inspected the situation in the mine, and I can probably recruit 3,000 gold and silver miners, who have the best obedience and discipline; and more than 2,000 salt workers, who are fierce and cooperative. ; More than 800 masons, they are calm and powerful. Based on 6,000 miners, and then with 1,000 civilian warriors as the skeleton, driving the entire army forward. Finally, they are filled with 1,000 selected village militia. 8,000 people passed by After several months of military training, there is a complete and powerful Hikipili Army."
Having said this, Shulot pondered for a moment.
His mind first thought of the Macedonian spear phalanx, small shields, super spears, and the 16*16 tight phalanx. Then, considering the reality of the situation, he shook his head. Without the threat of cavalry, the spear does not need to be as long as five or six meters. It is difficult for an army trained for several months to maintain such a tight formation in terms of discipline.
Then, he once again recalled the early ancient Greek heavy infantry phalanx, large shields, three-meter spears, and bronze breastplates. He remembered that bronze helmets were of little significance among heavy infantry, and were often just decorative. The main defense was the large shield. This early square formation was slightly looser, had slightly lower requirements for formation, and was easier to train. In the face of early bronze weapons, the breastplate can also be weakened.
Shulot combined the alliance's armaments and recalled the description.
"This legion will be equipped with thickened cotton hats, half-length cotton armor, large shields tied to the arms, and three-meter-long spears. The miners and militiamen only need to learn to form a strict formation and use squads as units to stab each other alternately. The warriors were on the outside, carrying sticks on their backs. If the spear formation was broken through, the warriors would need to block it in close combat.
The Lance Corps is positioned as the maintainer of the battle line and the anvil to confront the enemy head-on. It requires the effective cooperation of other troops. "
Avitt was lost in thought. He recalled the Tarascans' spear militia, with their two-and-a-half-meter-long bronze spears and compact formation. He thought they were quite resistant to fighting and were different from ordinary militiamen. If we continue to increase the thickness of the military formation, lengthen the spears, and wear armor and hold shields, we can indeed withstand the impact of elite warriors for a long time.
"Since there is a stone anvil, there must be a stone hammer. The spear phalanx is not flexible enough, and it is easy to get out of touch when moving. Therefore, it should be mainly used for defense, like a curled up porcupine, and its offense is weak. Its flanks and rear The back is also a weak point...how are you going to arrange tactical coordination?"
After all, he was a commander who had been in battle for many years and had seen similar armies. Avitt quickly analyzed the key points.
Xiuluo nodded in approval and softly praised. Taking this opportunity, he described in detail the idea of Mexica's military reform.
"That's true! The spear phalanx will not be used in rugged terrain, but will be used in large battles on the lake area plains as the center of the military formation. This position was originally used by elite noble battle groups or senior warrior groups, but now they can be used by Used for attacking flanks.
On both sides of the military formation were fast-moving warrior legions, covering the flanks of the spear phalanx and serving as hammers for assault. Once the enemy warriors are entangled with the spear array, the warriors will launch a charge from the flanks, and the anvils and hammers will cooperate to scatter the enemies in a pincer attack. All melee warriors should carry two obsidian javelins to shoot at close range before charging. The function of the javelin is not to kill, but to disrupt the enemy's formation and make the enemy's shield unusable.
At the rear of the military formation are the longbow warriors used for long-range attacks. They'd better take the high ground and form a formation. Use dense arrow rain to focus on attacking the enemy's samurai group, effectively outputting damage.
In front of the military formation and on the periphery of the formed legion, fast-moving light javelin militiamen need to be deployed. They carry more than a dozen javelins, which they use to harass the enemy's elite warrior groups while chasing down the defeated enemy.
If I have extra longbows, I'd also like to form a light bow militia made up of mostly tribal and village hunters. They were also placed on the periphery of the military formation, moving quickly on the battlefield to find suitable shooting points.
Longbow militia can further enhance the ability of long-range harassment, continuously snipe the opponent's commanders and warriors, and damage the opponent's morale. If placed in the right place, the damage can be staggering..."
Xiulote described the future seriously. The plan for military reform in Mexico had been in his mind for a long time.
Form a phalanx of spears as the main force of the battle line, and use more warriors for battlefield assaults. Form elite light infantry to replace the cavalry's tactical tasks, quickly pursue fleeing enemies, and expand your battlefield advantage. Then try to increase the long-range strike force and give full play to the role of the militia.
Longbow militia have no need for melee combat capabilities or the need to capture prisoners. These skilled village and tribal hunters can maximize the kill. This is the second new army that the young man has high hopes for.
Military reform will focus on enhancing the role of civilian fighters. Once the power of civilians is brought into play in a war, their political status will be improved and they will gain due influence. The rising civilian class can provide the foundation for the next reform.
Shulot's thoughts drifted far away, flying to the vast world under the starry sky, imagining the vast future of war.
Avitt, on the other hand, was deep in thought, constructing the battlefield described by the young man in his mind. After a long time, he breathed a sigh of relief and nodded appreciatively.
"Xulot, you have a good idea. The spear phalanx maintains the battle line, the longbowmen cause damage, the warriors carry out flank assaults, and the light infantry is responsible for harassing and pursuing. Militarily speaking, this new military formation will further expand the alliance's force. .”
Having said this, Avitt paused. He stretched out his hand to hold Shulot's shoulders and looked at the young man seriously.
"However, the foundation of the Mexican Union is the warriors. The warriors are not only a pivotal military force, but also the political core of the country's society, especially the noble warriors. For thousands of years, the militiamen have been insignificant auxiliaries. In this era, The emergence of bronze spears and long bows will gradually change everything, but it will take time.
So, Thulot, my student, keep your great ideas in your heart first, and don't mention them to others. I will give you six thousand miners. You first form a spear militia to see how effective they are in combat.
At the same time, I allow you to recruit two thousand tribal hunters and allocate all the Tlaxcala bows captured by the Alliance over the years to you to explore the tactics of harassment first. Both units are placed under your command. "
Avitt paused for a moment again, looking at the young man's simple and joyful face, carefully searching for something on it. After a while, he nodded gently and smiled gently.
"The Tarascans are bounded by the Balsas River to the south and the Leman River to the north. If a water supply line can be established, both can sustain the army's campaign. For the autumn campaign, I intend to divide the army into two groups. The main force will still attack from the closer south. , and the partial division made a surprise attack from the north.
These days, the ministers and the nobles have been arguing endlessly, and they all hope to lead the partial army alone. But I can't trust them!
My student, if you can train eight thousand powerful spear militiamen, two to three thousand longbow warriors and militiamen, plus four thousand city-state warriors from the Holy City, you will have enough strength to serve as the leader of the Northern Route Army. commander in chief. Coupled with your experience fighting the Tarascans on the Leman River, the great nobles cannot object.
Then in the fall, I will let you lead the Northern Army alone, break into the heart of the Tarascans along the Leman River, and give them a fatal blow. Shulot, you have to remember, I believe in you! Do not disappoint me! "
Hearing Avitt's majestic instructions and experiencing the king's difficult trust, warmth flowed fiercely in the young man's heart. Seeing his friend's smile, he couldn't help but take a step forward and hug Avitt with all his strength.
"Avit, I will not let you down! I will always stand with you, swearing in the name of my ancestors!"
The young man's face was full of emotion. He expressed his feelings and showed his true feelings.
Avitt smiled and nodded. He also gave the boy an equally warm hug. Then, he slowly closed his eyes. The changing emotions and the unpredictable gaze were simultaneously hidden and disappeared under the mask of the king.
Those who achieve great things will have thunder in their chests and faces like a flat lake. The path of a king is destined to be unpredictable and lonely.
