King of German Mercenaries

Out of the principle of limited support, Marin thought for a long time and decided to send some troops to support the emperor. As a result, it was better for the Emperor to repel the Swiss attack, but he was incapable of launching a counter-offensive.

So, Malin thought about it, and finally decided to send two phalanxes to support...

Two square formations are nothing on the battlefield of a head-to-head confrontation. However, now the emperor's army is relying on the pass to resist the Swiss attack. Therefore, two square matrices are absolutely sufficient.

Of course, Marin decided to increase the proportion of musketeers. For example, in the previous phalanx, there were only 300 musketeers. But to support the emperor's two phalanxes, Marin decided to deploy a phalanx of 400 musketeers. The two phalanxes add up to 2,500 people, and there are 800 musketeers.

800 musketeers, relying on city walls and bunkers to counterattack, are quite powerful. Because, hiding behind the line of defense, they don't have to worry about being chopped by the enemy's charge, they can reload at a leisurely pace, and then aim and shoot.

You must know that when the Ottoman Turkish Sultan Suleiman I led a 250,000-strong army to besiege Vienna in 1529, the Vienna defenders relied on 72 arquebuses and forcibly repelled the Turks at the gap in the city wall opened by the Turks. The charge, defended Vienna.

Of course, that was also the fact that the Turks did not understand the power of platoons at the time. However, in this day and age, even the Swiss did not know much about the power of platoons. Only the unlucky Saxons have really tasted the power of lining up to be shot.

Moreover, when defending the city, the power of the platoon of guns is much greater than that in the field. Because, in the field, as long as the enemy rushed over quickly, the musketeers had to retreat and let the spearmen go up. Therefore, in the field, the musketeer's play is time-limited.

But in the defense of the city, the musketeers occupy a natural geographical advantage, and with the huge power of the muskete, they can completely press the opponent to fight. Even if the opponent has a warrior wearing a full set of armor, it is difficult to climb the city. Wearing armor, you may be able to withstand the blows of archers, but in the face of muskets, wearing armor or not is the same.

Moreover, the musket is more lethal, and the damage it causes looks bloody, which can make the enemy rush to fear. In particular, the Mushkert muskets used by Marin's musketeers, with bullets weighing 50 grams, were extremely destructive. If it hits a person, it will cause a huge trauma to the mouth of the bowl, and blood will flow out, which is very scary.

If the platoon of guns inflicted huge casualties on the other side, looking at the horrific wounds on the comrades will also make the living feel terrified.

Then, the next thing is the choice of the commander. Schwartz ruled out first because he was a man Marin trusted very much.

Schwartz's ability, seriously speaking, is no match for the more gifted Frenzberg. Because, after all, the Schwartz family declined early and did not receive a complete knight education since childhood. Unlike Frenzberg, who received a strict military education from an early age, his mind is also more flexible.

However, Schwartz has one thing that Franzberg can't match. That is, Schwartz is very loyal to Marin, and any orders to Marin are executed without compromise, regardless of right or wrong. As long as it is Marin's order, even if it is to let him do bad things, Schwartz will not have any opinion. In Schwartz's eyes, Marin's will is his pursuit. In short, Schwartz is a fervent supporter of Marin.

And Franzberg is different, because he grew up in a noble family and has the ability to think independently. Even when receiving Marin's training, he will also put forward his own opinions.

Originally, this was an advantage. However, Marin's insight is hundreds of years ahead of the people of this era. Frenzberg's own views are actually based on the thinking of people of this age. Therefore, his personal views are often not better.

For example, Frenzberg is more advocating the fair and honest knight duel, and opposes sneak attack. This is the common problem of officers from knightly families in this era, their pursuit of honor,

to the point of morbidity.

Although Schwartz's ancestors were also knights, by the time of his father, he no longer belonged to the knight family. Therefore, Schwartz does not value honor so much, but pays more attention to results. In this regard, Schwartz is more in tune with Marin.

Moreover, the last time about the massacre of the old nobles of East Frisian Country and the disposal of the nobles' women's families, Frenzberg and Marin had already had a rift in their hearts. Even, Frenzberg thought that Marin was too cruel and lacked the honor of knighthood. This point, Marlin is also very clear.

However, to be honest, the father of the German mercenary is the father of the German mercenary. Among the dozens of knights under Marin's command, Frenzberg was considered the most talented.

Marin wanted to train the most loyal Schwartz to become the first person in the army, but the existence of Franzberg, whose qualifications and abilities were no less than Schwartz's, blocked Schwartz's ascent. Because, whether it is seniority or ability, Franzberg is not inferior to Schwarz, and even better in ability.

...

The above are all secondary. In fact, the most important reason for Marin to be more inclined to Schwartz is that Marin used to test the loyalty of his generals while drunk and half-dream. .

Marin asked his generals in a veiled way, which side would they stand on if he had a conflict with the emperor...

As a result, Schwartz, Kahn, Sauer and some of the generals did not hesitate to say that they would side with Marin. And Frenzberg said that Marin should be permanently loyal to the emperor and should not be hostile to the emperor...

It was this temptation that made Marin heartbroken. From a plate heavy cavalry, Frenzberg was promoted by Marin and trained as a general. Unexpectedly, several years have passed, and Marin's importance in his mind is not as important as the emperor...

This temptation finally strengthened Marin's determination to cultivate Schwartz. And Franzberg and Marin don't know how to deal with it. After all, Franzberg was not wrong.

It stands to reason that loyalty to the monarch and patriotism is politically correct. However, Marin is ambitious. Marin hoped that in the future, like Prussia, it would occupy the northern half of Germany and become an independent country. In other words, in the later period, Marin may part ways with the Habsburg family and establish an independent state.

But Frenzberg, as one of Marin's top generals, was more inclined to the emperor, which was not what Marin was happy with. Franzberg is still young, and may still be in power when Marin becomes an independent state in the future. If the generals under his command do not agree to establish their own independent state and separate from the Holy Roman Empire, then something big will happen. It might even lead to a civil war.

So, Marin finally made up his mind - kicking Franzberg out. But how to kick it out made Marin a little scratching his head. After all, he didn't want to kill Frenzberg, who made no mistakes, for no reason, but he also didn't want him to become the top general under his command and control the military.

It happened that the emperor came to ask for help, and Marin had an idea - to send Frenzberg to the emperor...

The reinforcements of the two phalanxes, and the final commander, will be Frenzberg. Frenzberg was the second-largest general under Marin's command, and his presence really gave the emperor a lot of face. Moreover, Frenzberg himself was happy to serve the Emperor. After all, he came from the Swabian region and was naturally close to the emperor politically.

Marin's plan was to have Frenzberg lead two phalanxes to serve the emperor for a long time. After all, Maximilian I was born to be a hard worker, and there were endless battles in his life. Frenzberg was sent to the emperor, not to worry about being useless.

You know, the emperor and his Habsburg family were very keen to regain the ancestral fief of Switzerland. If the strength is stronger, the emperor must have plans to regain Switzerland.

But Marin knew that the Swiss were so rebellious, coupled with their own strength. The emperor's road to conquer Switzerland must have been difficult. Even if they do, they will face fierce resistance.

In short, as long as the emperor fell into the pit of Switzerland, don't think about doing anything else. Even Marin, after completing the modernization of the army, only has the confidence to conquer Switzerland, but has no confidence to settle Switzerland. What's more, the strength of the army is not as good as that of the emperor of Switzerland.

Of course, the reinforcements of these two phalanxes, Marin did not want to give the emperor in vain. Therefore, Marin's plan is that the salaries of the soldiers of the two phalanxes are still paid by Marin. Of course, the supply of food and ammunition had to be paid for by the emperor himself. In this way, the salaries are paid by themselves, and these soldiers will naturally be more inclined to themselves. And the emperor used them to fight, and he had to accept his own feelings.

For Frenzberg, Marin also gave face very much, and appointed him as the representative minister of the Counties of East Frisland, representing Marin and serving the emperor.

At the same time, all of Frenzberg's interests in East Friesland remain as they are. For example, manors, such as castles... Moreover, the taxes on their fiefs are still tax-free...

Before departure, Marin and Franzberg had an in-depth conversation. During the conversation, Marin did not object to Frenzberg's teaching of the "Marin phalanx" to the emperor's army. But Marin asked Franzberg to swear an oath of secrecy when it comes to fertilizers that increase grain production. Because this is the basis for all the nobility of East Frisian to make a fortune.

And Frenzberg himself is also an important beneficiary of vested interests. For Marin's request, Frenzberg swore without hesitation.

After all, his manor is still there, and his family has moved here. Keeping this secret is actually protecting your own interests. After all, if the fertilizer secrets were leaked, food prices would plummet, hurting Franzberg's own interests.

After receiving assurances from Frenzberg, Marin was completely relieved. Frenzberg is a knight who attaches great importance to honor, and his oath is still very guaranteed.

As for Frenzberg's help in training the emperor's army, Marin never cared. Because, so far, the reforms that Marin has implemented in the army are only version 1.0 of the modern army. The Spanish phalanx is the lowest-level phalanx, even if someone learns it, it's not a pity.

In the future, when the supply of gunpowder is more abundant, Marin plans to launch new battle formations such as Morris Phalanx and Gustav Line. These battle formations are more powerful. But currently there is no such condition. Due to the difficult supply of saltpeter, Marin could only temporarily use the Spanish phalanx, which had the lowest proportion of musketeers. Until the supply of saltpeter in India stabilizes, Marin will increase the proportion of musketeers.

Frenzberg and other officers, who had been tested to be more inclined towards the Emperor, went south with 2,500 reinforcements. At the same time, Marin also wrote a letter to Maximilian I, explaining the difficulty. It means that there are too many enemies around, and no more troops can be drawn, otherwise there is a danger of being taken away from the nest. In the end, Marin also vaguely suggested that he hoped that the emperor would help him get a seat in the imperial parliament.

Sending troops is not a white faction, and Marin is not a fool, and there must be an exchange of interests. Marin currently has no plans to expand his turf, and the Emperor has nothing else to offer right now. Therefore, helping Marin get a seat in the Imperial Parliament is the most realistic condition.

Only when he entered the imperial parliament, in which almost all the German princes participated, could Marin be regarded as a widely recognized nobleman. Otherwise, if you can't even enter the Imperial Council, you will always feel that you are shorter than people.

Marin's plan was to blend into the Imperial Council first, and then find a way to blend into a duke. Finally, after gaining enough territory on your own, ascend to kingdom.

Moreover, Marin hinted in the letter that if he entered the Imperial Council, he would send another phalanx over there...