The Rise of the European Emperor

On the front line of Smolensk, Glinsky also received an anonymous letter sent by Marin. Glinski is not an idiot. When he knew that his purchase of guns in Austria was exposed, he immediately revised his plan. Because the letter said that the other side did not know the number of artillery. Therefore, Glinski simply sent someone to the rear to pull 40 artillery pieces over.

However, none of these artillery have a cannon carriage, and they are all separate barrels. Then, Glinsky sent people to set up the artillery on the hill outside Smolensk, and according to the original plan, began to bombard the walls of Smolensk.

Because of the height of the hillside, the range of the artillery is greatly increased. Moreover, with the blessing of height, the kinetic energy of the shells falling down is quite large. The shells hit the city wall one by one, making a loud noise, which also made the defenders in the city terrified.

The nobles of Smolensk immediately called for help from Lithuania with carrier pigeons, and told of the crisis that the city walls were bombarded. The nobles of Smolensk believed that if the shelling continued, sooner or later, the city walls would be destroyed.

"So that's how it is..." Sigismund I saw the request for help and thought he finally understood what the tactics of the Grand Duchy of Moscow were. But in fact, this is only the original intention of the Muscovites. In contrast, defeating the main force of Lithuania and leaving Smolensk completely isolated and helpless is what the Muscovites want most.

The Muscovites are not afraid of the severe cold and can besiege Smolensk in the severe winter. However, they feared that Lithuania would send powerful reinforcements. Therefore, it is in the best interest of the Grand Duchy of Moscow to defeat the main force of Lithuania. Without reinforcements, the city of Smolensk is a turtle in an urn. Even if they can't break through, they will have to surrender when the food runs out.

Sigismund I also knew this, so he was very cautious in this operation. If it is defeated, then Smolensk will really be alone and helpless.

Although the Kingdom of Poland has not done its best, it still has the potential for war. But the problem is that Poland is Poland, after all, it is just an ally and will not do anything for Lithuania. After all, Poland itself is under great defensive pressure. Because, in the south of Poland, it borders Ottoman Turkey, and the defensive pressure is also very high.

Unless the Grand Duchy of Moscow sends out a large army to besiege Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania, the Poles will make great efforts to support it. After all, if you don't support your allies, you're doomed. But if the Grand Duchy of Moscow controlled the scope of the war to Smolensk, the Poles would not give their full support. After all, this is just a border conflict. Besides, the wealth in the city of Smolensk is not distributed to Poland...

In order to ensure safety, Sigismund I decided to repeat the old trick-invite the Crimeans to join the war, let the Crimeans attack the rear of the Grand Duchy of Moscow, and force the Muscovites to return to aid.

But at this time, the Khan of the Crimean Khanate was no longer his former ally, Menggejire Khan, but his son Muhammad (River Crab) Grai. Muhammad Khan was also greedy for money, but his appetite was bigger.

Sigismund I sent 50,000 gold coins,

Muhammad Khan agreed, but did not send troops immediately, but planned to wait and see first.

As an old neighbor for many years, Muhammad Khan personally led troops to loot the Grand Duchy of Moscow several times. He knew that the Grand Duchy of Moscow had far more troops than the 50,000 who attacked Smolensk. In a hurry, the Muscovites can explode 200,000 troops.

Therefore, he planned to wait for the fierce battle in Smolensk before sending troops to attack the rear of the Grand Duchy of Moscow.

However, they all took other people's money, and Muhammad Khan also planned to show face and put on airs. So, he sent 5,000 Tatar cavalry and began to harass the southern border of the Grand Duchy of Moscow. However, no in-depth, just tentative attacks.

Vasily III was not a fool. After seeing that the Crimean Khanate might send troops, he also became nervous. Therefore, he used state taxes as a guarantee, borrowed 80,000 gold coins from the church and wealthy nobles in the country, and sent them to Muhammad Khan. Moreover, the messenger from Moscow also told the Crimean Khanate cryptically that we have obtained a new tactic that can wipe out the main force of the Lithuanian cavalry at one time, please just show your country and don’t really participate in the war...

Seeing that what the Moscow envoy said was true, Muhammad Khan was also a little worried. The way to deal with cavalry... The Crimean Khanate is also afraid... After all, the Crimean Khanate has only tens of thousands of young and strong. Once the cavalry is wiped out, it is almost equivalent to subjugation...

Therefore, Muhammad Khan intends to wait and see first to see if the Muscovites really have powerful tactics to restrain the cavalry. In short, when the time comes, which side will be stronger, which side will Crimea stand on.

In fact, the Crimean Khanate has not fought a war for several years. why? Because they can sell horses, cattle and sheep to live without relying on robbery.

The order given by Marin is a long-term large order, and the Crimeans can obtain stable income by selling livestock. Moreover, even if their own horses, cattle and sheep are not enough, they can still import livestock from the Kazan Khanate, Astrakhan Khanate, and Siberia Khanate, and then resell them to the North Sea State to earn the difference.

In addition, the Crimean Khanate can also import horses, cattle and sheep from the Nogai Khanate in the northern part of the Caspian Sea, and resell them. On the grasslands of Central Asia and eastern and southern Eastern Europe, horses, cattle and sheep are the least valuable things. All tribes have them, and what is lacking is a market. Now, the Crimean Khanate has mastered the market for selling horses, cattle and sheep, as if they have become the bosses of a group of nomadic countries, and they are praised wherever they go. Otherwise, if you don't buy your cattle and sheep, you will have no money to make. And fighting or something is no longer the pursuit of the Crimeans.

Therefore, Sigismund I was doomed to disappointment. And the Crimeans, who are obsessed with business, will not invade the hinterland of the Grand Duchy of Moscow like they did a few years ago...

...

On Marin's side, after hearing that Lithuania's Great Sejm rejected the news that Bohemia had dispatched too many mercenaries, he hypocritically expressed his willingness to send 5,000 troops, but Lithuania had to pay the mercenary fee. Moreover, the asking price is relatively high. After all, with the combat power of the Beihai Army, three times the market price is not too much, right?

Sure enough, the great nobles of Lithuania's Great Sem were reluctant to pay, and when they heard that the price was tripled, they immediately rejected Marin's "good intentions" tactfully.

Marin was also relieved, and he was worried that he would really send a group of men to give away the head. If the other party refuses, that would be great. Moreover, everyone's face is also getting along.

But, after all, it is a country where the sister is the queen, which does not mean that this ally is not qualified. So, after thinking about it, Marin told Kohler:

"Pull two ships of old grain and send it to Lithuania!"

Right now, in order to welcome the population that will be plundered from the Grand Duchy of Moscow in the future, the North Sea Country has stopped using rye to make wine. Therefore, there is no way to deal with old grain. Therefore, simply send two ships to Lithuania as a favor.

Two ships of grain, 100 tons each, total 200 tons, or 440,000 pounds, which can feed tens of thousands of troops for a long time.

For Marin's kindness, Lithuanian Da Sem accepted it without any hesitation this time. After all, food is indeed an urgent material needed for war.

Although Marin did not send a large army, the two ships of food were indeed able to express their sincerity. This love, whether it is the Lithuanian Great Sem or Sigismund I himself, must be accepted. Moreover, before Marin brought Simon to America, and "coincidentally" avoided the war, Sigismund I had no opinion. For Lithuania at this time, two ships of military rations are more important than Simon, a general. Moreover, the Earl of Kyiv will also send troops this time. Simon's absence does not affect Da Sem's recruitment of cavalry from the Counties of Kyiv...