Rise of Rurik

Kaiserslautern, located between two mountains, was covered with battle clouds, and 40,000 troops suddenly gathered in the small plain outside the mountain pass to the south of the city.

On one side is the coalition of Eastern Kingdom nobles headed by Duke Ludwig of Great Bavaria. They are located in the north of the battlefield and are stationed in Cat Creek Village and Shi Creek Village. The total strength is close to 30,000.

On one side, headed by Count Adalbert of Metz, he gathered a group of troops directly under the "Roman Emperor", the remnants of Baron Sargau's army, and the remnants of Baron Brisgow's army. They were part of the Middle Kingdom army, and the entire army was stationed in the southern part of the battlefield. Hat Town, namely Xu Zehausen. The total strength can barely be described as 10,000.

The time is gradually approaching in the afternoon, the sun is gradually turning yellow, and the temperature continues to rise.

Ludwig squinted his eyes and looked at the troops gathering not far away. He was really unsure, so he ordered his troops to assemble and assume a defensive posture.

Now, the Saxon army, carrying a large number of spears and marching like a moving forest, finally appeared on the battlefield.

In any case, the Saxons had just won a victory. The soldiers from Bavaria, who had looked down on this group of "weak brigade" at the beginning, had to pay attention to them at this moment.

How should the battle proceed? The Franks learned war from wars in the past, and it seemed that cavalry was the best tool to solve combat problems. Even though Ludwig suffered a major defeat, he still had a superstition about cavalry. Now the battlefield is completely open and flat terrain, which is most suitable for the cavalry to launch attacks with mobility and flexibility. Whether it is "peeling onions" or simple collisions, the commander can do whatever he wants.

As for the larger number of infantry, the tactics seem to be just soldiers screaming and rushing forward to fight the enemy. Any formations are of little significance. The battle eventually turns into a chaotic group fight. The number of soldiers and the physical strength of the soldiers are almost the only two factors for victory. .

So when Ludwig's huge direct army was in formation, the infantrymen from Bavaria were still able to gather in the form of a flag team, ranging from 400 to 800 people around an order flag. The most elite heavy infantry died on the Elbe River in 840 because of his reckless military force. Today's military is new. Even though many people are dressed as heavy infantry, their strength cannot be compared to that of the deceased veterans.

There is only one thing that can be seen - all the soldiers of a flag team cannot be neatly arranged into a rectangular square.

Being able to gather together in the form of a flag team is already considered excellent. With an equally large number of armed militiamen, just requiring them to gather under one flag to maintain the framework of a flag team is an excellent job.

The armed militias mostly use short spears as weapons, and usually carry a few hand axes in their waists. They generally have iron helmets and a small wooden shield, and almost no armor and stomach. Looking at the militia with as many as 10,000 troops, it seems that everything has returned to four hundred years ago, when it was still the era of the barbarian Franks, and the Frankish warriors at that time were like this.

However, although the ancestral tribal soldiers were seriously lacking in armor, they were known for their bravery. Hundreds of years later, do these militiamen still have the same bravery as they did then?

In complete contrast was the army of Duke Liudolf of Saxony.

His son-in-law Reglaf, after all, this boy is the de facto eldest son of Rurik himself, and some of his soldiers have experience in serving in the Russian army.

Although the stomach is important, it is not the only magic weapon for victory. The guards soldiers loyal to Reglaf were easily won over by the Duke of Saxony. These people ate well and drank well. In exchange, they taught the Duke some Russian military ideas, even if they were just superficial.

The Saxon warriors, now all wearing plate armor and iron helmets, stood on the right flank of their own military formation. Each graf noble was responsible for his own warriors, and the troops that had suffered greater losses in previous battles were temporarily combined, and finally six spear phalanxes existed on the battlefield.

There are ten people in a row, divided into five rows. The number of people in different squares is different, which does not affect the orderly nature of the formation at all.

Three thousand spearmen! This is the infantry regiment Liudov devoted to this battle. He must leave a small number of soldiers to guard the looted wealth in the city and take care of the wounded.

Liudov was on horseback, with his limited number of cavalry in front of the military formation. He first looked at the infantry square formation in the front, and then at the Bavarian army on the right. In terms of texture, although the Bavarians had more troops, his own army was more powerful.

He was full of confidence, so he brought all three hundred cavalry with him, and a homemade Saxon flag flew with the army.

He rode up to a stop beside Ludwig, the arrogance on his face not diminishing at all.

Ludwig, who tightened his grip on the reins, curled his lips slightly. Perhaps because of uneasiness and anxiety, the mount kept shaking in place, forcing him to constantly adjust its position.

"How many people did you bring? All the Saxon troops were dispatched?" he asked.

"Tell the truth?"

"You must tell the truth! There will be a big war today, and this is your fate."

"Three thousand infantry, three hundred cavalry." Liu Duofu glanced at the enemy's military formation in the south, and the smile on his face disappeared at all: "I don't think the enemy has more soldiers and is stronger. I think my people can press up before sunset. Settle the fight. What do you think?"

"Do you want to have honor again?" Ludwig asked harshly.

"I can if you want."

"You'd better retreat. I'm the main attacker this time! And you! You must cooperate with me."

At this time, Ludwig was already gathering his cavalry. They kept a little distance from the infantry array. Liudov had already guessed what might happen next.

"Like that time on the Elbe River?" Liudov asked with an obviously sarcastic attitude.

This moment brought up the shameful and embarrassing past. Ludwig hurriedly shook his head, and then suddenly raised his bearded head and shouted angrily: "Shut up!" He then pointed directly in the direction with his big hand: "They don't deserve to die. The Russians! This time my cavalry can overwhelm them!"

Liu Duofu pretended not to be angry: "So... what can I do for you?"

Ludwig hurriedly took another look. He could see that Liudov had been a duke for a year and a half and had no financial resources to build another heavy cavalry unit. You must know that this guy could afford five hundred heavy cavalry when he was the Count of Westphalia.

However, even light cavalry still has an advantage over ordinary infantry.

"You only have three hundred cavalry?"

"Exactly."

"Enough. I will lead the charge! Duke of Saxony, you must fulfill your obligations. I want you to bring your cavalry to fight with me."

"I expected you to be like this. But...is this really appropriate? Didn't you agree that all the honors will go to you?"

"That's right! You have to bring the cavalry to join, and the Marquis of Thuringia must do the same. All of you should not try to watch the fire from the other side."

From Liudov's point of view, in the past he felt that cavalry charges were invincible, but now the Saxon army may be best at restraining the cavalry. His heart was wavering, and he looked at Ludwig's face carefully. All Dove could think was very simple: "You're crazy again."

He was too embarrassed to refuse, and it happened that Thakurf, the queen of Thuringia, deliberately wandered into the battlefield with his men. As soon as this guy who only wanted to fish and swim heard that his cavalry with only a hundred cavalry was going to fight, he wanted to charge with the army.

Takulf was very resistant instinctively, and his complexion instantly looked as ugly as if he had been constipated for seven days.

"Who dares to retreat? Do you want to sit back and watch me charge forward? Including all of your cavalry, we should have 2,500 cavalry. As long as I lead you to charge once, the battle will be resolved immediately."

Ludwig then used words such as the glory of victory and the honor of nobility to tell his vassals that they must take a gamble.

What can I do?

The two great nobles together had four hundred cavalry. Due to face and practical needs, they had to reluctantly announce that they would personally take the cavalry and go gamble with Ludwig.

The real goal is Strasbourg! A long time has passed since the enemy appeared. Ludwig could see that the enemy was afraid of throwing in the troops in front of him. He originally estimated that today's battle would probably determine the outcome of the civil war. Obviously, he was facing a partial division under his eldest brother.

Kaiserslautern, the eldest brother's army has been littered with corpses, and now there is a group of guys who are eager to die. Today is the day to send them to hell.

The situation tempted Ludwig to gamble. As long as he defeated the main force of the Metz army in front of him, the significance of the Kaiserslautern military stronghold would collapse. The post-war army could easily pass through Baron Brisgow. Leader, the door to Strasbourg is open!

How many soldiers does the eldest brother Lothair have to guard the city? I'm afraid that only a group of old, weak, sick and disabled people will be left.

Ludwig kept convincing himself that he even became self-paralyzed, indulging in a fantasy and believing it to be true - as long as he defeated the enemy in front of him, it would be simple and easy to capture Strasbourg.

Of course, he didn't really intend to be like the previous failed battle. Maybe it was too risky to go all-out and expect a group collision to break the formation with one blow and turn it into a cavalry legion ravaging the infantry.

Then adopt the tactic of peeling onions!

Even though he could tell with the naked eye that the enemy had cavalry, they didn't seem to have many.

As long as the cavalry team is assembled, it can launch an attack. After he explained in detail the tactics he claimed to be very clever with the two vassals, he sent a messenger to summon the flag captains of the cavalry and gave them more specific tasks.

Therefore, first of all, the two thousand cavalrymen of Ludwig's army took turns attacking in the form of a flag team. The cavalry does not ask to break the formation, but to constantly wear down the enemy's strength.

When the enemy's formation became slack, each flag team moved to the front to attack. At the same time, the Saxon and Thuringian cavalry, which were deliberately stationed to observe the battle and were actually tactical reserves, immediately went into battle. It was at this time that Ludwig himself led the charge.

Is it true that the king leads the way? This is impossible.

He almost died on the banks of the Elbe River. Ludwig had lost his former arrogance and at least became cunning.

But in all this, the Metz army in the south of the battlefield was busy maintaining a passable array with a weak force. Count Metz himself was unwilling and dared not to retreat. He found that the enemy with significantly more troops was standing still. He seized the time window and finally committed himself. Xu took the necessary precautions.

Only then did the earl's envoy leave the military formation holding a cross flag. He also specially arranged for a young priest gathered from the refugees to accompany the messenger on horseback as a clergyman.

What the count didn't know was that the army arrayed in the north of the battlefield was about to change its defensive posture, and the cavalry attack was in full swing.

It was the presence of the emissary that was too conspicuous that forced Ludwig to temporarily suspend his plan.

"Ridiculous! You wait until now to talk to me? I thought you were planning to break the rules and refuse all conversations." Ludwig was slightly disappointed. Since the other party sent an envoy, he was too embarrassed to attack directly indiscriminately. .

Two arrogant Ludwig Army envoys rushed over on horseback. One of them was carrying a Three Lions flag to show the noble status of the army.

Even though there was a priest among the envoys from the south, this lowly priest was motivated by fear and his eyes were full of panic. His existence was meaningless, which only further stimulated the arrogance of the Ludwig envoy.

"Who are you? If you dare to set foot here, you will definitely die!"

But the Metz envoy asked sternly: "Whose soldiers are you? How can you carry Charlemagne's noble flag yourself!"

"You are a despicable and dirty maggot! How dare you question us! The Duke of Bavaria is here. If the army attacks, all of you will die! Who are you?"

Really the Duke of Bavaria? Now it makes sense that they carry the Three Lions flag.

Count Metz was suddenly stunned, and the arrogance he had just now disappeared.

After all, the envoys are Count Adalbert's personal soldiers. They are very aware of their own strength, and they also know that the serious losses suffered by their side in the Second Battle of Kaiserslautern that broke out last year were caused by Ludwig's army.

Count Metz went to war to make a bet, even though the fiefdom had been reduced to agricultural decline and a large loss of population.

"Are you surprised? Then be surprised!" Messenger Ludwig asked again: "Could it be that Lothair is here too?"

】

"The real Roman Emperor is not here." The Metz envoy said under pressure.

"Whatever you say! My king already knows that you Metz people want to get Kaiserslautern again. My king also ordered that if your Count Adalbert comes in person, if you can kneel down and swear allegiance to the great Duke of Bavaria, And by immediately opposing Lothair, today’s battle can be avoided.”

It seems that this is the best way to resolve a bloody dispute, but the little messenger is just a messenger, and the messenger cannot make any reply. But the messengers themselves are also real people, and they have their own ideas. Based on your understanding of the earl's master, your Excellency will never accept this humiliating submission.

After all, if Metz wanted to side with Ludwig, he would have done so as early as 840.

Now the Metz envoy finally stated his appeal on behalf of his master: "No matter who you are. Your Majesty, the Count, has been ordered by the king to guard Kaiserslautern. If the Count goes to you, you should withdraw your troops immediately."

There was no need for the two sides to continue talking. The envoys each returned to their own military formations and reported the important news they had learned to their respective masters.

One party learned that Lothair himself really did not come, and what was in front of him was just the Metz Army headquarters and "miscellaneous fish" gathered from miscellaneous places.

One party learned that Ludwig actually launched an all-out southward march without following the routine during the wheat harvest period, and made unreasonable demands.

With a brief thought, Adalbert pinched his beard and thought of the two powerful nobles whose human brains were beaten into dog brains. They were both grandsons of Charlemagne, and the vassal nobles could follow anyone.

It's just that the Adalbert family has a complicated marriage relationship with a group of nobles from the Imperial faction, but has no intersection with Ludwig's "Oriental faction".

If you really surrender to that guy, can today's war be avoided? Who knows.

Adalbert boasted that the army in his hands would be disastrous if he fought head-on. He decided to go and talk to Ludwig himself if the arrogant Eastern monarch of the empire was really willing to receive him as the envoy said.

However, Ludwig obtained important information from his envoy. Since the identity of the enemy was very clear, and the strength of the troops was also very clear, this plain battlefield was Ludwig's original intention to defeat the small number with more troops and was sure of victory. I simply don’t want to talk anymore.

But considering the future battles, he urgently needed to complete an annihilation. Even if they can't kill the opponent until their corpses are everywhere, they still have to kill them until they can no longer organize their army. This requires killing Adalbert himself in this battle.

What he should consider is that the guy ran away when the battle was not going well. Unless there are some tricks that can force it to fight like crazy to the end.

Thus, the famous prisoner finally came in handy.

Ludwig suddenly began to put on a grand display, flanked by Duke Liudolf of Saxony and Lord Thakurf of Thuringia on horseback.

There were only two hundred heavy cavalry accompanying the three nobles in a ceremonial manner. There was only one unlucky man who had been tortured in single clothes. His hands were tied and a horse pulled a rope and staggered on the flat grass.

Ludwig put on his golden crown in a particularly high-profile manner, and his purple robe was draped directly on his armor.

He held the reins and let the horse ride freely, tilting his head slightly to show a leisurely attitude derived from self-confidence.

Witnessing this scene, Adalbert felt very complicated. He had met Ludwig himself at the funeral of the late king many years ago and remembered that face. He never imagined that meeting Ludwig again would be a life-and-death battle.

With a vague hope of truce, he went to visit with a small number of mounted guards.

Adalbert would never kneel down and pledge allegiance to Ludwig. This was his line. As for taking back the ownership of Kaiserslautern through verbal talks, does it make sense? I don’t know, but at least I can give it a try.

Besides, King Lothair's march plan has been finalized. Even if the northern army does not go south, the southern army will take the initiative to go north. Perhaps this fact could be used as a reason to force Ludwig to withdraw his troops.

Unexpectedly, just when Adalbert had clearly seen the familiar face of the noble Ludwig with his golden crown and purple robe, he was stopped by the other party.

The two sides maintained a safe distance. Even if Ludwig wanted to assassinate that guy right now, he still had to consider being despicably attacked by the other party.

"Is it Count Adalbert of Metz?!" The person calling loudly was none other than Ludwig himself.

The war horse stopped. "It's me! I'm Adalbert! I'm Count Metz! Your distinguished Duke of Bavaria, we should talk..."

He wanted to say more, but Ludwig interrupted him rudely.

"It's really you? Then, this is your burial place. First, let's take a look at the gift I gave you."

It seemed that there was no need to talk anymore. For a moment, Adalbert didn't know what to do. His old eyes widened. He suddenly saw a thinly dressed prisoner being pushed in front of the formation.

The prisoner was none other than the eldest son of Freibach and Adalbert, the first heir to the title of Metz.

The father easily recognized his son, but the worst thing he could have imagined happened.

"Damn it, you are really captured! I would rather you die in battle." Adalbert was so angry that he whispered through gritted teeth. He couldn't directly show his resentment. Looking at the superior Ludwig, he didn't know what the other party was trying to do. trick.

"Do you recognize him? He is your eldest son!"

"I recognize it!" Adalbert shouted bravely: "What? Could it be that the noble Duke wants to kidnap me? Capture my son and use Freibach's life to threaten me to surrender? Are you so despicable?!"

"Shut up, you fool! I disdain to use this defeated person as a blackmail. I will return your son to you now!"

After speaking, Ludwig actually ordered his subordinates to untie Freibach from all his comfort, and then pushed the beaten and unlucky defeated man back to his father's camp.

Freibach staggered around, no one knew what he was thinking at the moment.

Suddenly, a cavalryman burst out of Ludwig's army formation. A short cavalry spear pierced Freibach's chest from the back in the lightning flash, and the powerful force directly brought him down. The poor defeated man was still trying to get up. As soon as he reacted, he fell completely motionless.

"No! Despicable! You killed my son! What kind of nobleman are you!" Adalbert covered his head and watched his son being murdered in front of his own eyes.

Ludwig still had a serious face, and to be fair, his actions were indeed a bit despicable.

But this man's survival to this day was purely accidental. He had been sentenced to death. When and how he would be executed depended entirely on Ludwig's attitude.

"Your son is returned to you! He is returned to you in the form of a corpse!" Ludwig continued to roar: "Adalbert! Prepare to fight! Today, this is your burial place."

He had no intention of continuing the conversation, so he retreated to the military formation with the guard of honor.

He openly killed the captured son of the enemy commander in front of the battle, and the reputation of Ludwig's camp was greatly shaken.

The Metz Army, which is at a disadvantage in all aspects, may also arouse the soldiers' grief and anger, and then cause the soldiers to fight like mad dogs.

However, this move was a fundamental setback to the Metz Army. After all, the large number of broken troops collected along the way were all commanded by Freibach. Many soldiers were killed in battle, and the general was actually captured. It is difficult not to think that this guy is also a person who is greedy for life and afraid of death.

Now he was killed in humiliation like a sacrifice, what a useless death.

Negotiations failed from the beginning, and war was inevitable.

Now, Adalbert, who was in a rage, had swollen veins on his face and blushed as if he had drank a large barrel of ale.

When he returned to the military formation, he only said one sentence angrily: "The whole army is ready to fight. We will fight to the end with the despicable Bavarians!"