Under the setting sun, a large cavalry team was attacking in reverse. There was a yellow and blue flag of the County of Auxerre flying in the team. Count Bernard took the lead in retreating.
All the leisurely people stood up lazily one after another. They paid attention to the earl and then whispered to each other what was making the lord so nervous.
Because Bernard's troops exceeded 10,000, the soldiers did not have a clear organization such as a "flag team". Their formations were chaotic, and the camp period was even more chaotic.
Ordinary peasant soldiers who were recruited, as well as servants brought by the feudal knights, people from all kinds of sources formed a huge infantry group. Their origins were chaotic and they were not subordinate to each other. In principle, everyone was loyal to the earl. Once How much combat power does this army have when the battle breaks out... They should be very strong.
Before witnessing the huge garrison in Auxerre and the orderly formation of the enemies, Bernard had strong confidence in his troops.
Now, his self-confidence has been greatly shaken.
Suddenly, a cavalry team that may be Russians rushed out of the forest. The newcomers had blazing eyes and seemed to be about to fight. They were obviously outnumbered, but they lined up their horses to form a wall. Their unusual behavior probably hinted that there was an ambush in the forest. As long as he orders the battle, when the fierce battle is in full swing, the Russian ambush suddenly comes out, and he is attacked from both sides, it will be terrible.
Bernard completely misjudged that "Bald" Charlie had been captured by the Russians, and a war was inevitable.
He withdrew dejectedly. It was clear that the men and horses were still very tired, so he rushed back to his camp and summoned the nobles and officers who had stayed around.
My Lord Earl
was panicked. When the cavalry returned, the leisurely atmosphere of the huge camp was quickly enveloped in a strong sense of tension. Everyone realized that something big had really happened.
More than a hundred people gathered around Bernard at dusk. They were a large number of knights, small barons from remote areas, and country barons who were local military governors without titles but with military powers.
Putting aside titles and power, these people are the middle and lower-level officers in the army. Bernard's mobilization of them is tantamount to announcing that a war is imminent.
As expected, Bernard expressed his judgment without reservation.
After dismounting, he stood on a wooden cart and spoke condescendingly: "Our king went to Auxerre to negotiate. But! He was attacked by the local Burgundians and Normans. Captured. It was all a scam, we were deceived."
Many junior officers have learned that the king condescended to negotiate with the local garrison in Auxerre. In view of the intelligence obtained earlier that the garrison of Auxerre wanted the noble man to come to negotiate, the king also went. Even if "Bald" Charles was actually the king supported by the earl, his dignity should not be tarnished by the lowly Normans.
Originally, the king went as a reward to the Normans, but... the pirates really didn't change their evil intentions?
Some wordsThere was a huge uproar, and someone in the crowd roared: "Save our king! Kill all the Normans!"
The crowd suddenly became excited, and the junior officers and nobles raised their fists and shouted at the top of their lungs that they wanted to kill the Normans. words like people.
Bernard was very happy to arouse the anger of his subordinates. He waved his hands to calm the restlessness
and sternly accused: "Normans are Normans! Mercia King Regrave has rebelled, and he has betrayed the king! This means that Anjou and Shannon have rebelled." Perhaps he was afraid that the lower nobles would not understand, so he specifically emphasized: "Six months ago, the king's king was in Bo. Vadier personally knighted a boy, and now that boy has betrayed his king and even kidnapped his king. Such a despicable thing will go to hell. I order you to kill this evil man and help him go to hell immediately.”
Although it was unbelievable, the lower-level nobles whispered among themselves and felt that it made sense.
After all, a group of lower-level nobles were stationed outside the city of Poitiers with their cavalry. At that time, Reglaf led his army of more than a thousand people to approach the city without giving any notice. Because the guy was young enough to condone the offense.
This is a serious military provocation. The earl, considering his youth, can mercifully allow this man to station in the wasteland. But provocation is provocation.
Ordinary lower-level nobles are completely unaware of some secret transactions between Bernard and Regraf. In view of the military provocation of trespassing into the territory, many nobles feel that the boy has never been kind. This is good, Reglaf is indeed a conspirator, and he has rebelled.
Everyone completely obeyed the count's arrangements. Originally, they gathered from all over the country with the intention of starting a war against the Burgundian nobles. Now the barbaric Normans and Burgundians met under the city of Auxerre. , and also kidnapped His Majesty the King as a prisoner, which made the war fully justified, and the battle must start quickly.
Bernard took advantage of everyone's high morale and simply ordered: "The whole
army begins to prepare! I will leave a very small number of troops to garrison the camp, and the others will bring five days of rations. , drink water, and have another meal tomorrow morning, we will march to Auxerre!"
Everyone raised their fists and shouted again. After they were ordered to disperse, they mobilized their men.
As the most powerful force in the coalition, the Poitiers-Auvergne Army has finally begun pre-war mobilization. Bernard has set a tight time limit for the attack. The army will attack when the sun rises tomorrow. Set off.
He still did not dare to delay, so he took advantage of the afterglow before nightfall with his cronies and quickly rushed to the barracks of the Gascon Army and the Toulouse Army in the rearguard position.
There was a sudden big commotion over there, which attracted the attention of the soldiers of the two counts who had already begun to prepare for the battle.
Seguin II, Count of Gascony, stood in front of the military camp. He clasped his waist and listened to the news in the distance. Soon a messenger came on horseback to report.
The dismounted messenger explained the return of Bernard in Basque. When Seguin IIAfter asking again, I was surprised to hear the news of the explosion.
Seguin II hurriedly found Acfred, Count of Toulouse, and quickly contacted Duda, Count of Autun, who was in the last position.
When Bernard had not rushed over at full speed, the earls in the rearguard had already gathered together. When Bernard arrived, he did not need to send anyone to notify him.
Everyone gathered together and immediately surrounded Bernard when he saw him dismounting. Everyone asked about what happened in the north.
"Stop arguing!" Bernard said in shock: "What else could happen? We were stupid enough to treat the Russians as negotiable objects. King Rurik of Russia broke his promise, and he took our king
Captured."
"What to do?" The Count of Toulouse slapped his thigh anxiously. He must also be anxious, because he had personally detained Pepin II before, so the legitimacy of the title now comes entirely from the recognition of "Charlie the Bald".
At this moment, Count Seguin II of Gascony was a little suspicious: "Why do I feel that things are very strange? Dear Count Poitier, what exactly did you...discover?"
p>"You?" Bernard rolled his eyes at Seguin II: "As a Basque, do you have to ask more about this? Do you still have any illusions about the Normans?"
"Oh, I don't like hearing what you say. What do you mean, do we have to gather the entire army to attack Auxerre immediately?"
"You are so smart for once. I am here to tell you that we will set off tomorrow, and I advise you to organize your army immediately."
Seguin II was very confused about the order just now: "Oh, do you doubt my battle. Not strong enough?"
"But you can't underestimate those Normans. I saw with my own eyes that they were deceived by the Normans and also by the Europeans. The Earl of Serre lied, and they formed a coalition and were waiting for us in Auxerre. The worst thing is that Reglaf also rebelled."
"A son got mixed up with his father. "?" Duda, Count of Autun, who could hardly stand listening, walked over to Bernard and asked.
Conrad looked at his cousin for a moment, and his stern tone became darker: "Yes."
"Is this really what you judged it to be?" Duda's A rhetorical question is a provocation and a strong questioning.
"What? You don't believe it?
"
"I believe that the Normans would do a lot of cruel things, but...you said the Normans would do a lot of cruel things. The mixing of Manchus and Burgundians is so shocking. So, how do you judge it?" "That's the truth," Conrad suddenly shouted, slobbering. Sprayed onto Duda's old face.
Duda wiped his face and remained calm on the outside, but in his heart he was already scolding his cousin for his arrogance. He calmed down and whispered softly: "IfWhoever roars louder is right. You can stand in front of the enemy's formation and shout at them, scaring them to death in one fell swoop. "
"Forget it, I won't argue with you. Brother, war is inevitable. I want to lead all the troops to rescue the king. What do you think? Although your army is weak, if you don't send troops, "
"Are you trying to anger me with your sarcasm? "Duda's face was iron-clad: "I will send troops, but the premise is that you send troops first. "After that, he looked at all the earls present: "We are all noble people, heroes who rule one side at the same time. Since Lord Bernard is the most noble among us, he should lead his army at the front, don't you think? ”
These words touched everyone’s heart. This large-scale expedition was organized by Bernard, and many nobles were unwilling to get involved at first. Everyone considered that Poitier- The Count of Auvergne controls almost the entire Aquitaine, and it would be irrational to openly challenge Bernard, the extremely powerful prince.
However, the Count of Sainte has not openly sent troops until now, due to that. The old guy is living according to the standards of a monk. No one has any illusions about a pacifist. If he doesn't send troops now, no one will criticize him.
If it is true. In a fight, it would certainly be a good thing for him to let other nobles charge forward. Bernard must also consider the current situation. If his army does not take the lead and charges forward, the other nobles with conscience will just wait and see, while those without conscience will just wait and see. Withdrawal.
After all, the king himself has been captured by the Normans
Bernard gritted his teeth and stamped his feet: "Okay, I'm in front. We will gather early tomorrow morning to set out for the expedition. I hope you will not fall too far behind our army. ”
The bickering at dusk was just a small episode, and all parties quickly reached a consensus on the march plan.
The next day, it was a foggy morning in May.
The soldiers of the huge Aquitaine-Toulouse-Gascogne-Autun coalition had a hearty meal of boiled wheat in the mist, and then began to gather in large numbers to prepare for departure.
The soldiers are expected to go away. It would take a whole day of walking to reach Auxerre.
Of course there could not be so many of them. It was expected that they would set up camp in the afternoon, because there must be a huge enemy camp not far away, and the two armies must stay aside. Enough safe space.
However, the so-called "safe space" is most likely to be tomorrow's "death battlefield"
The Lord has already set everyone. Personal fate. The soldiers had no choice but to talk to each other for comfort, and then knelt before the priests to listen to prayers.
All the priests in the monastery where they were stationed came out, and they also learned that the palace bishop Agius was also captured. I was very worried that the Normans would play dirty tricks on the priesthood, and I didn't want Agius to become a martyr out of ignorance.
Take out all the holy oil from the monastery, dilute it with river water, and then use it with dragons. Dip it in cypress juice and bless the warriors who are kneeling on the ground.
Priests will not do it.Following this, the action that was supposed to be a blessing before the battle was now placed. After the army left, the priests would pray for the soldiers in the monastery.
At least Bernard's description makes this war very legitimate, because those Normans believe in pagan evil gods, and the Normans themselves are mostly pirates. Killing these demons Even if those who are bewitched or are demons die in battle, their souls will go to heaven.
But who wants to die in a battle in a daze? Ordinary soldiers can only comfort themselves, hoping that after the war they can crawl out of the pile of dead safely.
The hoarse brass horns and distant drums sounded loudly, and the fog also dissipated at this moment.
A huge army was assembled. They left behind a large amount of baggage and moved forward lightly.
Each soldier brought five days of rations. Some soldiers had only three days before and after the battle, so they simply brought three days of rations to reduce their burden.
Many soldiers themselves did not have chainmail, but they collectively popularized iron helmets.
Different infantrymen wearing coarse cloth carried short spears and broad-bladed swords on their shoulders. If they did not have armor, they would make do with thick leather riveted with iron sheets to make a rough version of plate armor that was not durable for storage. improvise.
Cavalry is the main force in Bernard’s army, and his patchwork army did reach a terrifying number of 20,000 people!
Now he pulled out the horses that pulled the cart, and ordered the soldiers who could ride horses to act as unarmored light cavalry. In this way, he just pieced together a huge cavalry team of 4,000 people.
The force of four thousand cavalry was overwhelming, among which there were a thousand armored heavy cavalry. This was the strength he was proud of, and the army in his hands was approximately equal to the entire Aquitaine at that time. Regional military
military power.
Such a large army is much worse than in Charlemagne’s time. After all, the civil war has lasted for ten years. There have been constant frictions between several princes and constant conflicts among local nobles. The entire Aquitaine has been suffering from internal strife that has destroyed many villages. Natural shrinkage and the slow shrinkage of tax revenue made it impossible to raise excellent weapons and defense areas for the army.
The large amount of military spending is mainly to guard against Tours and Anjou in the north, and also to guard against Toulouse and Gascony. This has caused the village's economy to shrink even more, and the vicious cycle continues to this day.
There are really no permanent friends and enemies, only eternal interests.
Bernard's rude words to Seguin II, Count of Gascony, were not only due to the arrogance of his own blood. After all, these Basques were evenly matched with the Frankish army, and they were not defeated. Military conquest, but taking the initiative to make peace with awareness of current affairs.
Seguin II's grandfather almost killed Charlemagne himself in a sneak attack. If Charlemagne's guards had not resisted, the emperor might have died in the valley of the Pyrenees before he became an emperor. Bernard's grandmother was Charlemagne's only sister. If the young Charlemagne had been killed, she would not have such a status now.
If possible, Bernard really hopes that the Basques of the County of Gascon will fight against the Normans.
He has already praisedWhen the enemy opens his mouth, his own army in the Aquitaine region must go in front, and once a war breaks out, he must also charge in front.
With the sound of brass horns and drums, they took action!
Heavy cavalry and light cavalry each carry a spear. Behind them are mighty infantry holding short spears. Finally, there are convoys carrying necessary camping supplies. Most of the supplies are still in the camp, and the 20,000-strong army remains.
More than 1,000 people remain in the camp. It is definitely not an exaggeration to say that the rear area is empty.
A large number of soldiers were crowded on the dry and hard Roman road. However, this road was only a line. As a last resort, a large number of soldiers had to move on the wet roadside grass. Soon their leather boots became wet and stained. The soldier seemed to be walking in mud, and the situation was not comfortable.
Behind them were the troops of the Counts of Gascony, Toulouse, Agen, Angoulême, and finally the army of the Count of Autun.
Duda is loyal to Charlie and stands in Charlie's camp on behalf of the Count of Autun, but this does not mean that Autun is fully responsible for Charlie's life safety. Since there are already more than 20,000 soldiers advancing ahead, why should he lick his face and pretend to be strong, admitting that he is weak and shameless? Duda himself has no ambitions. He only hopes that he can defend himself in troubled times. Otan's power, as for who will be the King of the Franks or even the "Emperor of Rome" in the future, whoever is strong will naturally submit to the other.
As a result, the mighty army had to be divided into three parts: the radical faction, the wait-and-see faction, and the fence-sitting faction.
Perhaps the latter two can be lumped into the same category, but Duda and his Otan army actually do not want to wade into troubled waters at all. He is happy to defend and has no interest in offensive operations. So at the end of the team, he deliberately ordered his troops: "You are not allowed to participate in any battle without my order."
He even canceled the plundering rights of his subordinates, which made his more active son very unhappy. .
Duda is such a nobleman. He blamed his son for his brain collapse and yelled: "The more you rush forward, the faster you will die. You can only hold on to the title I passed on to you if you live a long time."
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