People in the Middle Ages, draw cards to get promoted

Richard's confidence naturally did not come from these ordinary knights and sergeants.

They only have more than a hundred war horses, pack animals, baggage, and weapons and equipment. They are made up of soldiers under more than a dozen small lords. They rely entirely on his personal prestige. It is difficult to overestimate their combat effectiveness.

His confidence stems from the dozens of guardsmen under him who had received special training from his queen in Lundenwick and consumed a large amount of potions that increased their strength, as well as himself.

“Even sheep led by a lion can defeat a pack of wolves.”

Richard jumped off his horse and grabbed a handful of wet soil on the ground: "The delta is densely covered with rivers, and it is difficult for cavalry to use it. Our small number of horses is both a disadvantage and an advantage. Send my military order and let each lord lead his own soldiers. Pile the carriages carrying baggage to the outside and form a car rampart. All knights and attendants are not allowed to go to battle without my order."

Fuller frowned and said: "Your Majesty, if you want to fight the Saracens in the wild, and the enemy has a numerical advantage, and you want to win, shouldn't you rely on our powerful Norman knights to penetrate the enemy's formation and tear the enemy into pieces? ?”

Richard glanced at him sideways and said displeasedly: "Count Fuller, if we really follow your plan to fight, even if we defeat the main force of the enemy, how many people will be left? At that time, it will only take a few dozen of us. Occupy a city?”

He is a tough monarch who often personally leads his troops and charges on the frontline battlefield, but this does not mean that he is a reckless and brainless thug.

He took off his gloves and drew a brief city layout map on the ground: "This is our goal, Semanud City. If you are the commander-in-chief, how much military power will it cost to capture this city?"

Fuller frowned in thought.

The Gauls were actually not very good at besieging such large cities, because there were no such large cities in Europe except the Apennine Peninsula.

What they have to face are small-scale stone castles with defenders often no more than a few hundred people, but they are built in various difficult terrains. Long sieges or negotiations are the mainstream, rather than placing hope. In a surprise battle.

In fact, although the castle is small, there are few directions that need to be defended. In this case, it is difficult to carry out a surprise attack.

"We first need skilled carpenters who can build counterweighted catapults, wild ass cannons (a torsion siege machine), giant ballistae, large trebuchets, and enough apprentices. There needs to be a carpentry team of at least three hundred people.”

Counterweight trebuchets were already known to Europeans at this time, but the technology had not yet been introduced, but the Crusaders all knew that the Saracens in the East were already using this giant siege machine that could smash city walls.

He paused and then said:

"I don't know how this city is fortified, but according to Damietta's standards, its towers equipped with city defense ballistas will pose a great threat to our siege vehicles and towers. . If the city of Semanud has 10,000 regular troops as defenders and the citizens help defend it, if we want to attack the city, we will need at least 30,000 people and it will take three months to half a year."

Fuller's answer was uneventful and unremarkable.

"You want too much."

"It's been too long."

Richard was obviously not very satisfied with his answer: "Fuller, it seems that my expectations of you are too high. You are only suitable to be my captain of the guard."

"This is exactly what I wish for, Your Majesty."

Fuller said calmly.

Many great nobles, or their descendants, usually work in the king's court and hold important positions as court officials. This is not only a sign of trust and respect, but also a means for the kingdom to control the country.

Captains of the Earl's Guard like Fuller only spend a handful of time in their own territory each year.

"Okay, I know your loyalty."

Richard smiled, then quickly said with a straight face: "There are many enemies, so we must seek opportunities to annihilate them in the wild. When the troops are scattered everywhere, we can also take advantage of the opportunity to attack. Only when the water is turbid can we fish. "

"But Your Majesty, how can you be sure that the enemy will definitely take the initiative to attack?"

Richard sneered: "The Saracens have always been accustomed to using cavalry as their main force. Crossing the river bank, there are shoals and silts everywhere. This is the best place I have chosen for them."

As soon as he finished speaking, two black shadows flew past the thick clouds again.

In the distance, there was even more smoke and dust.

The scout sent out hurried back with a shot falcon: "Your Majesty, the enemy has a large group of cavalry approaching. It is roughly estimated that there are no less than three thousand people."

"Look, this is coming."

Richard patted the dirt on his hands and stood up straight: "Good job, Charlie."

The scout showed a shy smile, raised the falcon he was carrying, and said, "This flat-haired beast overestimates his capabilities and wants to attack me. Your Majesty, will this give you extra food for the evening?"

Richard smiled and shook his head: "I also shot one down, you can keep it for yourself. The Saracen falcon is indeed a great threat to a single scout. Unfortunately, it encountered me, Richard." Guards."

"Send the order and prepare to meet the enemy!"

The enemy quickly came closer. Although the Crusaders were puzzled by Richard's order, they did not say anything. Although there were many knights among them, there were only a few with horses. Richard's guards , but after arriving in Damietta, he spent a lot of money to collect enough Arabian horses for use in the battle.

These guards obviously carried out Richard's orders without any compromise.

On the horizon, out of the smoke and dust, pagan soldiers wrapped in black turbans and black robes were seen. They were either riding dromedary camels or war horses, with a blazing red flame painted on them. The flag is like a visitor from hell.

For a time, many Crusaders who had previously scorned the fighting power of the pagans could not help but beat their drums in their hearts.

In Europe, although wars are frequent, the scale is often only a few hundred or thousands of people. The enemy's cavalry alone, at a rough glance, is at least three thousand!

Especially the armored cavalry in the enemy's central army, all of them are in human and horse attire, wearing Cuman-style masks and helmets. This kind of enemy is really difficult to underestimate.

"Is this what the Crusaders in the East faced?"

"It's really unexpected."

Some of the Crusaders murmured under their breath. Their impression of the Eastern pagans still remained in the scattered Turkic states during the First Eastern Expedition, as well as the Gulam cavalry whose combat effectiveness was acceptable, but far inferior to that of the Crusader knights.

Richard was keenly aware of the morale problem and shouted loudly: "Pious warriors favored by Christ, are you frightened by the pagans who are harsh in appearance but soft in heart, strong in appearance but violent in nature?"

"Look at me, soldiers!"

He roared loudly, and his bright red cloak rustled in the wind, just like the three lions heraldic flag standing in the car barrier.

"I am Lord of Anjou and Maine, Ruler of Normandy and Aquitaine, King of Kings of All Albion (there have been many minor kings in Albion), Eternal Monarch, Pendragon!"

"I am with you."

The Crusaders vaguely seemed to see three huge golden lions surrounding a red magic dragon, swarming up and devouring it. In their ears, they could faintly hear a lion's roar full of awe-inspiring power.

"Long live, Your Majesty Richard!"

Richard put on his helmet and shouted: "It will be the birthday of God soon. Remember, my brothers, Heavenly Father is watching you. As long as we defeat the Saracen army, there will be a vast and fertile land." Cattle and sheep are waiting for us to enjoy.”

“Believe me, believe in God’s blessing, I swear we will celebrate the birthday of our Heavenly Father in the city of Semanud!”

The Crusaders' morale was greatly boosted, they waved their weapons and roared loudly.

“Praise the Father, praise the Lionheart!”

The enemy soon began to test the Crusaders.

Hundreds of lightly-armed Mulukes riding fast horses came to the carriage base, bows and arrows.

Arrows rained down.

The Crusaders raised their shields, and some knights in armor picked up their bows and arrows to fight back. However, their numbers were limited and they were equipped with fewer long-range weapons. Facing the Saracen horse archers, they were suppressed and unable to raise their heads.

"Don't panic. Crossbowmen (actually crossbowmen) and archers work in pairs to fight back. The enemy's weak arrows cannot penetrate our car barriers at all!"

Richard shouted orders.

The Crusaders held up their shields one after another, listening to the crackling sound in their ears. Occasionally, a muffled groan or a cry of pain would be heard.

As long as the formation is not disrupted by the enemy's arrows, the damage that cavalry bows can do to the Crusaders is actually quite limited.

In this way, the two sides fired at each other for a while, but it was the Saracen cavalry archers who lost their composure and retreated into the formation, leaving dozens of corpses behind. These unarmored or lightly armored cavalry were good at harassing, but not suitable for Attack the enemy.

A melodious horn sounded.

In the Saracen formation, the levied infantrymen who came from afar were seen, holding spears, bows and arrows, and surrounding the Crusaders' car base.

Richard frowned and sneered: "It seems that the commander opposite is a greedy, stingy fool. He plans to rely on these mobs to consume our strength and reduce the loss of his own elite."

"Then let us start a massacre and send these heretics to hell!"

Following his order, the imperial cavalry picked up their shields and swords and stood ready.

"The holy fire burns forever, supreme and great!"

"Kill all disbelievers!"

The Saracen infantry were like a black ocean, launching an attack on the Crusaders who had only a few thousand people in the encirclement.

The result is naturally obvious.

In the Saracens' combat sequence, infantry has always been cannon fodder. Most of these infantrymen under Governor Mahli were Copts. Their combat effectiveness and morale were very low, and they were defeated in a short time.

"The enemy is very strong."

Governor Mahri's expression was very solemn.

No matter how weak his infantry were, the numerical advantage was still there, and the enemy's vehicle barrier was hastily surrounded. It was not an insurmountable chasm at all. Such a result could only show that the enemy's combat power was extraordinary.

Ke Maier suggested: "Mr. Governor, should we send out elites to attack the enemy?"

Machri was hesitant. Those infantrymen just now obviously did not consume much of the enemy's strength. Sending his own elite at this time would only cause him heavy losses.

"My lord, we can no longer hesitate."

But Maier was originally opposed to his master taking the initiative to attack, but now that the situation has come to an end, he is even more impatient than Mahli: "If the time goes on too long and the Crusaders come to support us, we are likely to be surrounded by enemies from both sides. situation."

Mahri thought for a moment, then shook his head and said: "No, we have falcons watching in the sky. If the enemy wants to support us, they can't hide it from our eyes. These heretics carry limited supplies. If they stick to their original position, they will consume energy." Kill them."

But there was a hint of helplessness on Maier's face, which meant that he didn't know the Eastern allusions, otherwise he would definitely have said, "Sparing one's life for big things, forgetting one's life for small gains."

I want the benefits, but I'm worried about the damage.

What good thing is that big in the world?