But Jiang Tian, who was standing on the tower overlooking the entire battlefield, felt calm but slightly emotional. Because the upper hand and advantage held by the Free Army is actually a matter of course. This is the result of primitive semi-industrialized new armaments versus the peak tactics of the classical army.
The reason why it is still semi-industrial is because the steam engine, which is the source of power for large-scale industrial production, has not yet been able to form a stable mass production capacity; instead, it still requires large machinery driven by water power, coupled with some skilled technicians and a large number of ordinary workers, which is labor-intensive. industry.
However, this labor-intensive industry also has the most direct benefit; on the one hand, it can absorb a large number of the remaining population that has spread out from the countryside, or young adults who have fled from remote areas due to famines and changes to seek a way to survive in cities and towns. , and becomes a pressure reducing valve in disguise.
On the other hand, the collective work and coordination necessary for industrial production determine that after a period of running-in and adaptation, they can serve as the most direct supplementary soldiers; this is comparable to farmers or gentry recruited directly from the countryside. It's much easier for the younger generation.
Coupled with the large-scale primary industrial production promoted by the Free Army, it provides batches of sophisticated equipment such as firearms and armor; in terms of specific training cycles and armed costs, the actual cost performance is far superior to those of feudal models and classical models. The traditional cold weapon army under militarism.
At least, in terms of the continuous supply of follow-up troop base, logistics supply efficiency and equipment production capacity, and other comprehensive factors to support the war, the Free Army has accumulated sufficient advantages, and as time goes by and the battle lines change, the Free Army has accumulated sufficient advantages. The back-and-forth will continue to widen the gap.
In addition, there are various junior military schools and accelerated education, and the non-commissioned officers and officers trained in batches are far better in military organization and talent development efficiency than those who always adhere to ancient traditions and rely on large and small noble fiefs and knights' fiefs. , Generations offers models of armies and generals.
Of course, there are exceptions to the legacy knights and some other special units; because there is a certain level of hidden extraordinary power and abnormal creatures in this world. Therefore, these abilities and special methods that rely on blood inheritance still have an overwhelming advantage in individual confrontations and small-scale battles.
Therefore, when a group of knights, armed to the teeth, begin to charge with all their strength on the battlefield, the ones who can often intercept and stop them, and effectively fight against them, are those who are also knights. It's like the singing of ancient songs circulated in the kingdom.
When the knights with complete equipment and retinues began to devote all their strength to the battle, they were like fighting machines rolling past at high speed, which was enough to reduce most of the troops on the battlefield to supporting roles. If ordinary soldiers want to fight against them, they must be mentally prepared to pay a huge price and sacrifice.
Just like the battle outside Avignon. If there are not enough extraordinary means and strength as the foundation, facing the knights headed by Duval, the Free Army with high morale will inevitably suffer a big loss, instead of going to all possible means to turn them into prisoners.
For Rodrigo, who took the lead and charged into the enemy jungle, overwhelming wave after wave of formations; this was the most enjoyable and heart-pounding battle for him after a long period of escape and pursuit. . The best medicines and ointments for conditioning, tailor-made armor.
It has brought him back to his peak state as the second grand knight of the first sub-regiment of the Knights of the Golden Fleece; Rodrigo even felt that after exhausting his potential in this long escape, due to the mental and physical trauma he had suffered , the long-standing bottleneck has also been broken through.
Not only was he initially awakened with the activation of his ancestral bloodline, he was granted the special ability of Knight of Glory, which can temporarily block arrows, the "Shield of Heroism", and most of it has been restored; he even awakened another bloodline power for the second time, Restores the physical strength of mounts and comrades in a small area.
According to the members of the Redemption Knights, various oaths were made; this was one of the invisible blessings of following that Lord. Therefore, the growth of their overall physical fitness has been significantly accelerated; some people have even awakened the special abilities in their blood.
And among the new batch of members of their family who have passed the coming-of-age ceremony, there are even more chances of their bloodlines awakening. However, after the change in the relative celestial sphere, an endless stream of aliens began to appear in the world, which seemed very subtle; therefore, the position of the knight families in the north can be imagined.
In fact, the decline of the knight's bloodline and the discontinuation of inheritance have always been the biggest problem for families with similar backgrounds among the countries in the Western Continent. It once had glory and dignity, and of course it doesn't want to withdraw from the stage of history so soon. But with the decline of strength, the advantage against ordinary people is no longer obvious.
Coupled with the socio-economic development of the kingdom, the traditional knight fief/manor system has become increasingly difficult to support and maintain the stable continuation of an inherited knight family. Even due to poor management and bankruptcy, he could only sell his ancestral property to pay off debts and join the ranks of middle- and high-level nobles as hangers-on and vassals.
It is not unheard of to even be driven by tax collectors and other nouveau riche who smell the same odor to become the bodyguards and private armed leaders of these rentier classes. Especially in the hometown of knights, which is relatively conservative and retro, the situation of the knights inheriting in the north is undoubtedly more difficult.
Even in the capital region, which is the most prosperous and prosperous city in the kingdom. Not to mention the large number of bankrupt and declining feudal knights; being able to obtain a member of a knight family with a long history as a retinue is part of the pomp and dignity of the wealthy class. Even the royal family is powerless to prohibit it.
Therefore, compared with the Burgundian dynasty, which has basically remained unchanged and even made significant strides in its ruling methods and foundations, these families in the North who inherited knights once had great expectations, thinking that this was an ancient virtue. A return to tradition; but quickly disillusioned.
Because King John still relied heavily on and relied on in ruling the country, the bankers and large chambers of commerce and business groups who always stayed behind the scenes during the changes in the kingdom's political power; and the army was still based on local nobles, large and small. foundation. Although some heritage knights are appreciated.
But whether it is selling off the former royal family's direct territories and properties, or enlarging the fiefs of nobles from various places, or creating various projects, it basically has nothing to do with these inherited knights, or even the fief knights. Because they simply cannot afford the corresponding expenses and fees.
It can be said that they were once again abandoned by the general trend of the times; at this time, some young knights who were wanted and hunted for joining liberal political activities or supporting the republican government and had to flee to the south also gave these young knights Old families bring new options.
Abandon the decadent royal family and most of the aristocracy, join the rising knight king in the south to establish a new Free Army regime, and use your own service and dedication to obtain a stable annuity income, a decent position, and a future. At least, it won't be worse than the current situation.
Therefore, among the knights who followed him to the battle this time, there were many elderly Northland knights with gray hair or scars on their faces. Their appearance is not forced, but to fight for a future for future generations when family members are withering and the workforce is in decline.
For them, being able to fight with all their strength and die in this final battle that determines the fate of the kingdom is undoubtedly the greatest honor and dignity. And their children and grandchildren who have not yet grown up can receive the bloodline awakening ceremony and free medicine supply provided by the new government after the coming-of-age ceremony.
This is undoubtedly the tragedy of those traditional knights, but it is also an opportunity for the young knights of the new era to rise again. In contrast, Rodrigo was suddenly worried about the Holy Kingdom; most knights were too clinging to tradition and had been immersed in the glory and glory of the past chivalry for a long time.
Therefore, even if there are some voices looking forward to innovation, or in the new generation with different ideas, they will be quickly suppressed, suppressed and killed. And Roderigo seemed to be aware that he seemed to be regarded as the banner of those passionate young men who were radical and eager for change in the Holy Kingdom.
That's why he encountered a series of murders and was framed by Luo Zhi for many crimes. However, the flash of lightning and flint in his reverie did not affect him from swinging his ax and spear like a storm, hitting the enemy knight who passed by, smashing his shield and arms into pieces, and causing him to tilt his head and sideways.
He still had enough energy to lift up the sword on the saddle, whizzing past the piercing flag gun on the other side; and then flawlessly detached another enemy knight who was following closely, breaking a gap from the shoulder to the breastplate. He fell on his back with a burst of blood. At the same time, he held the long flag gun pole under his arm and slapped another guard in the face.
In the blink of an eye, a small group of enemy knights were crushed and disintegrated. And with him as the spearhead of the breakthrough, more flag guns and waving swords and sabers rushed in like a tide, completely trampling everything and people in front of them like mud and smashing them into pieces. under the hooves of horses;
Even the enemy knights who came out to attack in groups seemed unable to stop them for a moment; at the moment of the encounter, pairs of knights struck each other dullly, with fragments of weapons inserted into each other's bodies, entangled and overturned. , rolled off the horse; and then were overwhelmed by more cavalry.
However, at the other end of the battle line, the Grand Gascon Regiment, which was ordered to change direction to support the right wing, also encountered an unexpected situation; most people once again heard the familiar accents of curses and hometown slang from the opposite front. His movements, which he had been preparing for, all became sluggish.
"The Great Hound of D'Artagnan?" "The subtle ghost of Taymor?" "The stingy Condonian?" "The greedy man of Auch?" "The mud-legged man of Arwen?" "The decent man of Tarbes people……"
(End of chapter)
