The place where Guo Kang and others were was a platform set up in the square in front of the Empress Temple.
"Are you going to watch the troops?" Zhu Wenkui asked, looking down at the surroundings and then at the spectators arriving one after another.
"It's not quite the same. The soldiers usually stand still while the reviewers walk over to watch. The triumphal ceremony is for officers and soldiers who have received meritorious service to line up in the city." Guo Kang said: "This ceremony is very long. . Most of the time, it’s actually just walking around the city, showing off the results of the war.”
"Oh, it just gives everyone a chance to show off." Zhu Wenkui nodded.
"That's right." Guo Kang thought for a while and replied: "We just won a big victory, so of course we have to show it to everyone. Here, the army and citizens like this kind of ceremony very much, so they do it well every time It’s lively. They’re going to circle the main street so everyone can see it.”
"Nowadays, the scale of wars is getting bigger and bigger, and it is even approaching or even surpassing the classical era." He said: "The triumphal team is very long, because there are nearly 10,000 people who enter the city to participate. This is still They are just those who were chosen and made meritorious service in the battle.”
"They should have been gone for a while now. In the morning, I heard people making noises at the city gate. It was probably the citizens who got up early to watch. Of course, the most important part of the sacrifice still has to be held in this square. That’s why we’re waiting here.”
As he said this, he called the servants, brought the chairs over, and asked the guests to sit down.
Their location is at the front of the viewing platform, near the center. Next to it, there were many other visitors.
Zhu Wenkui settled down the ladies of the royal palace, and also stopped the heroine Jeanne and Captain Jessica from walking around and deliberately showing off their official uniforms to other envoys.
Monk Daoyan, however, had already kept silent and went to other missions with his interpreter to start chatting with them. Zhu Wenkui couldn't control him, so he simply gave up, sat back on his seat, raised his head and rested.
After a while, a group of musicians set up several big drums in the square. Others stood at the edge of the square holding suonas, gongs and other musical instruments.
"It's coming soon." Guo Kang said to everyone.
Princess Ma just nodded slightly, and Princess Jeanne still looked calm. Zhu Wenkui sat upright with some embarrassment, and then turned around to ask little Jeanne to sit down as well. In the end, she was laughed at for a while by the more prepared woman.
Zhu Wenkui was so angry that he had no choice but to teach the two "dressed beasts" a lesson and tell them to be more honest, and then he breathed a sigh of relief.
In the square, one could already hear the cheers getting closer and closer, and after the human voice temporarily subsided, the sound of drums and drums sounded.
"The leader is coming." Guo Kang explained again.
"You seem to be familiar with this process? Have you done it often before?" Little Jeanne sitting behind him asked curiously.
"It's not very often." Guo Kang said: "According to our tradition, it must be a very important victory to be worthy of a triumphal ceremony. According to the tradition of classical times, it is to kill a warrior of more than 5,000 levels."
"This standard is already very high. Throughout the war, it was very common to have less than a thousand people. In the early days of our founding, this was not the case for a long time."
"The first time that the standard was met was the 'Cowardly War'. General Li Tiance fought against the Mazar people. He fought fourteen times, captured five cities, and beheaded more than 6,000 soldiers. However, such results are rare. After that, it was never held again for more than ten years.”
"What is timidity?" Zhu Wenkui also asked.
"It means lowly." Guo Kang said: "When the Mongols went to the west, other countries basically recorded the name of the king, title and country name normally. Only the Kingdom of Hungary, especially called the 'Mazar Tribe', King Bei The fourth generation of La is called 'Qie Lian'."
"I don't know what they did to incite hatred like this." Guo Kang shook his head: "Anyway, after that, 'Mazar Tribe Master Qi Lian' became the exclusive title of the King of Hungary."
"I heard that Hungarians are also nomads who came from the east. Maybe they were enemies in the same group." Zhu Wenkui speculated.
Guo Kang scratched his head and found that it seemed possible.
"What happens after that?" Little Jeanne seemed very interested in all the wars.
"Then it was the Li family again." Guo Kang said: "His son Li Yinglin achieved the standard results in the first battle at the Prut River, and his efficiency exceeded his father. At that time, some people felt that this war was a civil strife that could have been avoided. It had no commemorative value, and no suitable trophies could be produced for sacrifice. So, the Khan's court discussed and counted his subsequent battle against Lithuania separately, and deemed it qualified, and held it again."
"After that, during the time of Queen Mother Helena, it was held three times in total. When Basil III was in power, it was held ten times, three of which were by himself. However, in these years, it has become less frequent. Today's John IX Khan , only held twice. This was his first triumph."
"During this period, you should rest and recuperate." Zhu Wenkui said.
"It has something to do with it." Guo Kang nodded: "But I think it's mainly because the barbarians don't attack very much. In the past, we annihilated several large groups of invading enemies in the field, and that was enough. But now, often, You have to take the initiative to search for it and force the enemy to gather."
"Now, the Europeans have many more soldiers than they did back then. They are also improving their craftsmanship and producing more armor. The big nobles are also following our example and building a larger regular army. Otherwise, it will probably be even harder. .”
"What about other directions?" Little Jeanne asked, "Is it possible to hit Osman?"
"It can't be done now." Guo Kang shook his head: "The last time the Ottomans triumphed, it was bought and killed by Tinicus twenty years ago. When my father defended the city, he didn't even get enough numbers, so he had to do it on the spot. A small triumphal ceremony. If it really needs to be held, I guess I’ll have to invite Emperor Timur’s uncle over and organize one for him..."
"He directly beat the Ottomans to pieces that time. After that, the Ottomans became a lot more cunning. Although they come to harass us now, they hide back in the mountains as soon as our army comes out."
"Even if we encounter them on the battlefield, as long as the situation is unfavorable, they will choose to sacrifice those church members who come for jihad to avoid a head-on confrontation with our main force. Therefore, in a fight, they can often only eliminate a large number of cannon fodder and cannot annihilate the enemy on a large scale. The results of Fang Jiashi’s battle.”
"It's really strange. How do they maintain it?" Zhu Wenkui shook his head.
"Ottoman is not a normal country and cannot be judged by our standards." Guo Kang explained: "Their home base is in the mountains next to Bursa. There is a lake there that can provide water in dry and cold Asia. There was a stable water source, so they built a stockade there.”
"Why does it sound like a bandit..." little Jeanne complained.
"They are bandits." Guo Kang nodded: "That stockade was literally a stockade back then. Later, when the Ottomans became wealthy, they occupied the city of Bursa and made it their capital."
"Then there's no need to call it the Ottoman Sultanate." Little Jeanne liked to tease as always: "Forget it, call it Shuipo Ottoman."
"This metaphor is actually quite vivid." Guo Kang scratched his head: "The foundation of the Ottoman state was the 'Gazi' movement."
"The Middle East and Asia Minor have been in a state of separatism and chaos for a long time, which has produced endless refugees and gangs. These people have no place to go, so they like to look for opportunities to rob. And the Ottoman village, located at the junction of Tianfang Sect and God Worship Sect, is also relatively The junction of the poor pastoral area of Asia Minor and the relatively wealthy agricultural and commercial area of Rome."
"The so-called jihadist movement is actually the same as the Crusaders. The organization method is religious, but fundamentally, I think it is still an economic issue." Guo Kang said: "Ottoman is in the border area, so it is naturally easy to gather these people who want to participate in robbery... Oh no , people involved in the Ghazi movement.”
"They have participated in plundering operations all year round. They are brave and tough in fighting. Moreover, because they are in the border area, the atmosphere of the Ottomans is actually relatively open. No matter which religion you believe in or which ethnic group you belong to, as long as you are together, Anyone who commits robbery can be considered one of our own."
"What do you mean, they seem to be pretty good?" Zhu Wenkui asked.
"How could they persist for so long if they have no merit at all." Guo Kang shook his head and said: "For a good man who is good at robbing families and homes, the Ottoman stronghold is obviously a better place to go than the European lords."
"Although they are said to be cruel, the Sultan is really willing to give money to a good man who can fight. In this regard, they are much better than the Europeans, so there are so many God-worshiping soldiers who are always willing to go Work for them."
"With these benefits, Osman has been able to maintain an elite family. Even if Emperor Timur's uncle dealt a devastating blow to the Ottoman army, these people can regroup."
"So that's what happened." Little Jeanne thought for a moment and said, "So, as long as there is another capable big boss in the Ottoman family, he will use the banner of his ancestors and rebuild the village, and soon a large number of people will join him. All the heroes have responded to the call and come to gather for justice. Is this what you mean?"
"Yes." Guo Kang said helplessly: "So, Osman's military strength is not directly proportional to the territorial area he controls on the surface."
"This is also the reason why it is difficult for them to be eliminated. His country is actually a stronghold, but as long as the chaos in the Middle East continues, there will continue to be heroes from all walks of life who come to the mountain for his reputation. This is no longer just politics and It’s not a religious issue, it’s an economic issue.”
"Either completely control the Asia Minor Mountains and seal off the entrance of outsiders, which is to throttle; or level the entire Fertile Crescent and the Caucasus to prevent the emergence of new heroes, which is to close the source. Otherwise, this water-poor Ottoman The stockade is indeed very difficult.”
"So that's it." Zhu Wenkui thought for a while and smiled: "I heard Mr. Li say that there used to be a girl from the Osman family who often came to find you. It turns out that she wanted to capture the husband of the village."
"Well……"
"Brother, this is not funny!" little Jeanne said dissatisfied.
Zhu Wenkui laughed a few times and had to turn his head again, pretending to study those flags and golden drums.
(End of chapter)
