In the vast wilderness training ground outside Beiguan Army Fort, Art was observing a confrontation training of the Welsh Army.
This was a confrontational training that had been prepared for a long time. The main forces in the confrontational training were the First Company and the Second Company of the Welsh Army. The crossbow and cavalry teams also abandoned their bows and dismounted and joined the first company camp as infantry, while the heavy infantry team joined the second company camp.
Hate and the five soldiers of the Guards Law Corps served as arbiters and stood on the high platform of the earthen fortress outside the training ground to judge the results of the competition between the two armies. The military priest Robert was also invited to accompany Art to observe this special training.
The two teams were separated by more than a hundred paces and lined up in a neat formation, with nine military flags, one large, eight small and nine small, placed flat behind them.
The flags of the Welsh Legion are all vertical strips. The flag is based on the coat of arms of the Blood-Eyed Howling Wolf, declaring that the commander of this army is the Border Baron Artwood Wells. Below the Howling Wolf coat of arms are two crossed knight's swords; the knight of the company flag The Latin words "Company
Today's training content is very simple. There is a military flag on the ground on both sides of the center line of the field. The gap between the two military flags is a hundred feet wide. Both sides of the military flag represent the territory of the two armies. The two sides charge towards each other. The company that captures the opponent's nine military flags first is the winner. However, the two armies must pass between the two military flags to enter the other side's "territory." Otherwise, hundreds of soldiers on the entire training ground will be scattered into a large area, and the meaning of line confrontation will be lost.
Hands of both sides in the confrontation training are long and short sticks used in training, wearing armor, and lifting shields. Hundreds of people stand facing each other, which really feels like a confrontation.
Originally, according to Art's idea, real battle scenarios should be simulated and many simulated training contents such as traps, trenches, horse obstacles, small group raids, offense and defense, retracement, cavalry charges, crossbow cover, etc. However, considering that almost all of the participants in the confrontation training were recruits who had just completed basic training, Art greatly simplified the confrontation training. The two sides were completely wearing a full set of heavy armor and holding sticks and shields to wrestle under the command of an officer.
As rewards for the winners of this training, they will receive a full day's rest, ten thirty-pound barrels of the valley's own "Wells Beer" and a freshly hunted wild boar. Wild boars were not unusual, but three hundred pounds of beer on a day off was a big enough attraction for these hard-drinking soldiers.
"Wave the flag and get ready!" Art ordered to a guard beside him who was acting as a flag bearer.
The flagman pulled out a black Howling Wolf and Crossed Sword military flag from the wooden flag trough on the side. The general's flag was raised high, drawing a circle in the air. This flag means "prepare for battle."
With the waving of the military flags on the high platform, the two armies began to prepare to respond to the flags. First, two company flags were erected to respond to the flags, then eight team flags were erected, and finally a large pennant was erected.
The "armies" on both sides of the entire training ground were flying flags. Although the scene was not spectacular, it was still exciting.
On the left side of Art, the first company led by Odo is surrounded by six elite soldiers. Each flag also has three strong soldiers as flag guards; in front of the flag guard is a team of twenty people. Obviously, they are also "defenders" to protect the "territory". Once the "enemy" "Breaking through the border and approaching the military flag, they will move forward to "fight and stop"; in front of the "defenders" is the main force of the battle. They number close to two hundred and are divided into four rows as wide as the center line military flag. After the order is sounded, they will move towards the "border" and defeat the "enemy army" there to capture the "enemy territory"...
On the right side of Art is the second company of infantry led by Angus. Unlike the first company, which is moving step by step, the second company has no "stay defense" team at all. They only have two guards per army flag, and all the remaining soldiers will be used in the "border charge". The formation of the second company was also completely different. They selected the fifty strongest soldiers in the army and arranged them into a triangular cone formation. Behind the cone of fifty men were three rows as wide as the military flag. The second company is based on offense and defense. Once the charge call is sounded, these fifty people will tear a gap from the "enemy" formation in the shortest possible time, and then fifty soldiers will nail into the gap, and then all the soldiers will run along the gap towards the "enemy" flag...
"Guys! Do you want to defeat your opponent?"
"Yes!"
"Do you want to lie in bed and drink delicious beer?"
"Yes!"
"Then cheer me up and crush them!"
Angus, the captain of the second company, is doing "pre-war" mobilization.
While the second company was shouting and cheering, Odo from the first company also raised the shield in his hand, mobilizing the morale of the soldiers from left to right...:
Woo~Woo~Woo~~~
Three horns were blown.
Charge!
Charge! charge!
The training ground rang with loud shouts. The two armies screamed and rushed toward each other. The two black iron streams soon collided violently...
The military priest Robert looked at the two fighting teams and reminded Art with a worried face: "Master Art, is it too cruel for you to train the soldiers like this? Hundreds of people charge, even if they are armed with sticks, there is a high possibility of casualties."
At stared at the confrontation in the training ground intently, and replied: "Father Robert, I firmly believe that Only when soldiers bleed and sweat in daily life can they become the strongest warriors. "
"As for casualties, it is indeed inevitable, so my medical team is waiting aside, ready to treat the wounded." Art pointed to the six medical soldiers at the training ground. There were three wooden beds called "stretchers" beside them.
"Lord Art, I still have to remind you that your soldiers are humans, not gods. They are all flesh and blood. Your training is too harsh, and the soldiers will definitely resist your training." What Robert said was not groundless. He had already smelled the smell of resistance in the Wells Legion. Those who followed The veterans who had followed Art all the way through life and death were fine. The new soldiers who had not experienced the cruelty of war did not have such a consciousness. They just thought that Art was torturing them. Their dissatisfaction became stronger, and fights between soldiers and conflicts between soldiers and officers also began to sprout.
"Lord Art, not every soldier can understand your intentions. The seeds of dissatisfaction have begun to sprout among those soldiers."
Att has noticed that some soldiers have begun to complain. They cannot understand the inhuman torture of Att before receiving the experience of war. High military pay cannot make every soldier break out of his nature, and this kind of seed born from the heart cannot be destroyed by harsh military law.
"Father Robert, you are right. Recently, there have been several new soldiers in the legion who were punished by military law or even expelled and imprisoned for resisting training."
Att obviously has plans to deal with it, "So I plan to create a new position of military monks in the legion, who will be responsible for teaching the legion soldiers the idea of fighting for God and the lords, responsible for channeling the dissatisfaction of the soldiers, and responsible for conveying the true thoughts of the soldiers to resolve their resentment... In short, they will play an important role in stabilizing the morale of the army and uniting people's hearts." These monks will become part of the Wells Legion, accept the control of the legion and enjoy the military pay of the squadron leader. What do you think? "
Father Robert was frightened when he heard that Art actually wanted to appoint church clergy in the army. It was really shocking that a little baron dared to usurp the power of the church.
"Lord Art, you must not set up this monk to accompany the army. Last time you used monks to temporarily exercise the rights of clergy in the territory, although it was not in line with church regulations, it can be inferred that there is a lack of clergy, and devout believers spontaneously serve God. When the church asks you, you can barely pass it by. "But setting up monks in the army is the same as the officers under your command. Once the church knows about it, you will not be able to bear the crime of being a secular lord who interferes with the church's priesthood without authorization." Robert has been in the Baptist church for many years and knows what is forbidden.
Matt had already thought of this and replied: "Then I won't call them military monks. I call them ideological and political officers, who are the most devout believers. The church will not interfere with my setting up ordinary officers, right? These people just help me control the soldiers' thoughts, not clergy. But I hope you can teach them some communication skills between God and believers."
"This~this seems~" Robert could not refute for a while.
While Art and Robert were discussing the ideological and political officer, Ron, who had been in charge of interrogating the "Assassin" killer, hurried to the high platform to find Art, and whispered, "Master, that guy is dead."
At turned his head and asked softly: "Have you asked all the questions you need to ask?"
"Assassin's secret hideout in Thorne City is already known, and the secret codes, contact methods, and activity patterns between them have been figured out..."
At left the guards and the military priest Robert to continue watching the ceremony and judging. He took Ron and turned back to the Beiguan Army Fortress. Stanley, the guard who was interrogating with Ron, was After cutting off the head of the corpse, there was another recently cut head in the corner of the room...
Looking at the stiff, headless corpse in the stone house, Art's eyes flashed fiercely, "The Dean family has entangled us like shit and rotten snakes, and now they are using such insidious and vicious tactics against us again. This time I must eradicate the Dean family!"
Hearing that Art was finally going to take action against the disgusting Dean family, Ron said excitedly: "Master, we should have killed the Dean family a long time ago. Those father and son are so damn disgusting. With your order, I will immediately sneak into the Wincheston Manor with the military law team and cut off the heads of Dean and his son."
This sentence He has been holding his anger for too long. From the trainee knights to the frontier barons, the Dean family is as disgusting as flies. Not only Ron and a group of young and energetic officers have already sharpened their knives, but also Odo, who has always been calm and tolerant, feels very angry. The officers do not say it publicly but privately complain about Art's "weakness".
Matt did not rush to give Ron an order. He said slowly: "Privately, you all feel that I am too weak when it comes to the Dean family. Are you very unhappy?"
"Ron, do you know how much wealth the Dean family has? After three generations of business, the Dean family's wealth is at least five million pfennigs! Baron Galvin has struggled for decades, but the family's remaining wealth is only one million."
"Do you know how many dignitaries in the court point to the Dean family to make money?"
Although Dean is only a knight, his ability The force is much stronger than that of Bazel. I won't even blink at killing Bazel, but it is too risky to kill Dean rashly, especially at this time of crisis. Count Bernard is worried that there is no legitimate reason to kill us. The Western Army stationed at Wincheston Manor is a signal."
Ron was still a little unconvinced, "It's so tiring, it's better to fight on the battlefield."
Matt's face darkened, "Ron, it's okay if others don't want to endure this humiliation, but you will be responsible for my intelligence network and Eagle Eye from now on, and you must get used to thinking about these terrible things."
"But this time we don't have to hold back anymore. The Dean family dared to collude to raise pagans and murder devout believers in God. This crime is enough to overthrow the Dean family. "Destroyed."
"Sir, then we shouldn't kill this guy, we should force him to find out the crime and take him to Besançon to report to the Archbishop..."
Ate waved his hand, "It's not enough. Just catching a little gangster can't bring down the Dean family, and we can't count on the Archbishop of Besancon for this matter."
What do you mean?”
"I'm going to raid Assassin's lair, kill them all, and use a pagan organization to bring down the Dean family!"
"This matter must be started as soon as possible. Once the Dean family realizes that the matter has been exposed, there will be no chance. Ron, I will give you two days to select thirty of the most elite soldiers in the legion to form a temporary team. You can choose from ordinary soldiers to squadron leaders."
"After being selected, you and Stanley will be responsible for training this temporary team. In the past two days, you have figured out the ways of Assassin's killers. You will train this team specifically for these killers and let them learn to track, lurk, encircle, and assault. I will also personally participate in the training. In addition, I will send an order to Spencer that the weapons and armor in the entire legion's arsenal are at your disposal, and they will be returned after the mission is completed."
"But time is tight. I will take you to do this big thing within a week, so you two must hurry up."
"Yes, sir!" A trace of revenge appeared on Ron's excited face.
At this time, there were sounds like mountain roars coming from the wilderness outside Beiguan. The winner of the confrontation at the training ground should have been decided.
"You two clean up this place and hang the head on the fort gate." After that, he walked towards the training ground.
………