"All troops mobilized! Target, Adrichia——!"
When Hilde was the first to walk out of the forest on horseback.
Behind her was a long scarlet iron wall.
The Byzantine Empire was dominated by red, and the generals wore helmets decorated with red manes and red cloaks. The soldiers also used a lot of red decorations, which looked solemn and murderous, and from a distance, they looked like a red wave.
When Hilde's army appeared on the Thracian plain, the Thracians who were working put down their farm work and looked up in amazement at the strange army that suddenly appeared. Since Darius' army arrived in this place decades ago, there has never been such a large-scale foreign army arriving in this place.
"There are enemies!"
The Thracian peasants began to flee in panic.
At the same time, Hilde led the cavalry and began to gallop across the farmland.
These cavalrymen equipped with stirrups and high-bridge saddles are the most powerful cavalrymen known in the world. Even in the far east, high-bridge saddles did not appear until the Eastern Han Dynasty. Because of its sturdy structure and design, it allows soldiers to wield weapons freely on horseback, which is not only convenient for slashing, but also convenient for cavalrymen to charge with spears and fire volleys on horseback, greatly reducing the cost and time of cavalry training, and greatly improving the combat effectiveness of cavalrymen.
Byzantine cavalry.
Including Hilde's personal soldiers and cavalry guards.
Other cavalry units were equipped with high-bridge saddles and stirrups.
At the same time, after fighting with the coalition forces of Perintus, Hilde made some targeted improvements to the cavalry based on the problems that the cavalry had. For example, the lances in the hands of the cavalry were changed to cavalry spears that were convenient for stabbing on horseback, rather than infantry spears. At the same time, due to the development of the steel industry, Hilde could also take advantage of this and equip the Byzantine cavalry with some weapons suitable for close combat, such as some short weapons.
The guards cavalry were all equipped with cavalry spears and flails.
This weapon has a handle on one end, a long pumpkin-shaped iron block on the other, and a chain in the middle. It is very suitable for attacking heavily armored targets on horseback.
Many of Hild's potential enemies were heavy infantry. Swords were not very effective against heavy infantry, because sharp weapons were good against people, but not so effective against bronze armor. But blunt weapons were different. The swung flail could directly smash a big hole in the enemy's bronze armor. No matter where it hit, it would basically tear the flesh apart. With the advantage of the horse's high position, it could beat the enemy without any chance of fighting back.
Facing such cavalry.
Even if some Thracians intended to resist.
When they saw the weapons, they were so scared that they ran away in panic.
"The enemy's main force may not be nearby."
"yes……"
Hilde also planned to confront the enemy head-on.
From this point of view, it seems that there is no hope.
So, Hilde could only carry out the next plan.
"Let our Thracian soldiers go and tell the people here that as long as they cooperate, we will never kill innocent people. Tell them that their rescuers are here." After Hilde gave his orders, he led the cavalry and continued to move forward. According to the memories of the Thracians in Hilde's army, there was a Thracian gathering point nearby, with less than 10,000 Thracians living here.
Hilde led the cavalry and headed straight over there.
After walking along the farmland for more than an hour, Hilde finally saw a dilapidated small town.
"This is it."
From a distance, Hilde could see that some Thracians hurriedly picked up their weapons.
"His Majesty!"
At this time, a centurion of the Royal Guards came to Hilde and said, "The enemy seems to be planning to resist. Should we just rush over and kill all these barbarians?"
"Wait a minute."
Hilde stopped the young centurion.
"Don't be so anxious."
"Yes."
"These people are oppressed. Our only enemies are the King of Thracian and his loyal lackeys. Do you understand?" Hilde said, and then he said to another centurion behind him, "Starlex, these were your compatriots in the past. What are you going to do?"
Chapter 6, Section 7: No Problem in Persuading Surrender
Starlux nodded.
"As you said, many Thracians are oppressed. Their lives are very hard and they live under the tyranny of the Thracian king. You are leading the army now to save them from suffering and despair. Therefore, you should give this task to me. I, Starlex, will definitely help Your Majesty and convince these compatriots of mine to stand with us!"
"Okay, then go ahead."
"Yes!"
Stalecus was a native Thracian.
It comes from a tribe of soldier class.
He was very good at martial arts and spoke fluent Greek. Therefore, when Hild was selecting the Royal Guards, he included Stalex under his command and made him one of the three centurions of the Royal Guards. You should know that in ancient Greek society, the status of centurions was very high. They were the most core grassroots officers and were responsible for leading their subordinates to rush into the battlefield and kill the enemy. They were deeply trusted by the soldiers and were the embodiment of martial arts and glory.
Starlex was naturally very grateful for Hilde's appreciation.
So he led more than a hundred cavalrymen and rushed towards the small town ahead.
The Thracians in the city were terrified.
These Thracians were all farmers, most of them had no weapons, and only had farm tools made of wood, such as wooden rakes. These weapons were definitely powerless against the armored guards. They trembled as they watched the cavalry rushing over. They had already thought about their fate.
However, these cavalrymen were only a hundred meters away from them.
Suddenly he pulled the reins.
Starlex rode his horse to the front of the village and spoke in Thracian:
"My fellow countrymen! Do not be afraid! I am also a Thracian!"
"Thracian?"
They were a little surprised when they heard the familiar Thracian language.
At this time, Starlex raised his sword and shouted loudly: "Everyone, you must have heard of the name of the Byzantine Kingdom in the south! It is that country that accepted tens of thousands of compatriots who escaped from the tyranny of the Thracian king, gave them land to cultivate and a free life! No need to starve because of taxes, no need to tremble all day because of oppression! Our king, the Byzantine king, is a kind and benevolent king! He gives all citizens a fair and happy life."
"So, don't be afraid! You just need to put aside your hostility, and we will never hurt you. We will not plunder your food, nor will we rape your wives and daughters. We will only protect your safety and bring you liberation! We will completely save you from the cruel and merciless Thracian King!"
"Really?"
Some Thracians began to think.
Judging from the equipment of these people.
He is indeed very powerful.
Exquisite armor, handsome cloak, equally majestic helmet, and weapons that look terrifying.
All these combined, even the hunters under the Thracian king could not match them. You have to know that the hunters were wearing crude Thracian closed helmets and only a breastplate. There was no way to compare with the Byzantine heavy cavalry in front of them. At this time, an older Thracian slowly walked out of the crowd. He raised his head, looked at the knight in front of him, and asked: "Is what you said true?"
"Absolutely true!"
Starlex said excitedly:
"Our army is right behind us. It will completely destroy the rule of the Thracian King!"
"But……"
"You don't need to be afraid of the Thracian king or their hunters. Our fighting power is stronger than theirs. Our king is a more powerful being than the Thracian king. She is also a hero and an oracle! Everyone, I need your strength. I need you to spread the signal of liberation throughout Thrace! Tell everyone that we, the Byzantines, are here! We are here to liberate you!" Having said this, Starlex turned his horse's head and said to the cavalrymen behind him, "Who are we!"
"Byzantines!"
"What are we here for!"
"Defeat the Thracian King! Liberate Thrace!"
Although the soldiers shouted loudly in Greek.
But many Thracians knew Greek, so they could understand it.
It must be said that Starlex's shouting lifted everyone's spirits. Many Thracians have lived in darkness for many years. Now, they can finally see a glimmer of hope, which is more important than anything else. After staying in the dark environment for too long, people are extremely eager for this kind of hope. The hope brought to them by Starlex, or the Byzantine King, is the life-saving straw that pulls them out of the abyss.
"Excuse me, how can we help you?"
"This, I need to ask our king."
Starlex saw that it had been accomplished.
So he rode back to Hilde with his cavalry.
"Your Majesty! They are willing to surrender!"
"Yeah." Hilde knew that this was a matter of course, so she didn't show too much surprise. "Then what?"
"Their clan leader asked me what kind of help I could provide us. However, this naturally needs to be arranged by your Majesty personally. I do not have the authority to do so."
After Starlex finished speaking, he led the other cavalrymen back to Hilde's team.
It seems that this matter has been completely accomplished.
Hilde was also very curious about what Starlex had said.
So Hilde said to the others, "Everyone, follow me."
"Yes!"
When Hilde arrived at the village with the cavalry, the villagers were deeply shocked. They had never seen such a beautiful woman in their lives. Although she was wearing exquisite armor and holding a spear, these could not hide her beauty. Moreover, this kind of beauty was not the kind of coquettishness, but a kind of beauty that could purify the soul and invigorate the spirit. It was full of power, tension, and sacred and inviolable beauty.
Even the wives of the Thracian king.
All combined are still no match for the silver-haired woman in front of me.
Hilde rode his white horse and slowly came to them.
"Everyone, can you understand Greek?"
"I can." The old man stepped forward and said, "Are you the King of the Byzantine Kingdom?"
"It's me. My name is Hilde, and I'm the queen of the Byzantine Kingdom. I think Centurion Starlex has already explained a lot to you."
Chapter 6, Chapter 8: The Existence of the Hunter Force
Hearing what Hilde said, the patriarch nodded quickly.
"Yes, we already know that."
"I am here to bring you liberation, not a new oppressor. So, I don't need you to do anything for us. What you need to do is to tell all Thracians that the tyranny of the Thracian king will eventually end, and you will be able to live freely, without fear or hunger." Hilde said, and then looked at the patriarch, "Of course, we need some supplies, but we will buy them with money."
"His Majesty."
Upon hearing this, the clan leader said helplessly:
"We, we don't have any supplies."
"No? Why?"
"Everything, everything was taken away by the King of Thracian."
At this time, the chieftain looked at the farmland around him. He stretched out his hand with a trembling hand, and then said with a sad face: "Your Majesty, Your Majesty, look at this piece of land. The oats in the farmland will soon be harvested. These oats are enough for us to eat for a long time, but most of them have to be presented to His Majesty the King of Thrace, and then fed to his powerful army. We can only keep a part of the surplus food, and the remaining part of the seeds is just enough to fill our stomachs."
"..."
Hilde took a deep breath.
"What's your commission like?"
"Take away 80%."
"Eighty percent?" Hilde was also a little surprised. "This is too much!"
"Yes, Your Majesty, we really can't get any supplies, and we are now... almost starving." The patriarch couldn't help shedding tears when he said this. "Every day, each person can only have a handful of oats to make oatmeal porridge, and some wild vegetables and fruits to fill their stomachs. However, soon everything in our granary will be eaten up. Then, we will be out of food..."
When the patriarch said this, tears welled up in his eyes.
It can be seen that he is not just pretending to be pitiful.
Hilde asked helplessly:
"Don't worry, we have enough rations. These oats will mature soon. You can keep them for yourself after you harvest them. Don't worry, you can get rid of this situation after I defeat the King of Thrace. Now, please inform other Thracians that as long as you are willing to resist the King of Thrace, you are my friends of the Byzantine Kingdom."
"Yes! Your Majesty!"
Nothing is more effective than tax cuts.
These farmers have had it hard enough.
Hilde's Byzantine Kingdom itself is not an agricultural landlord country, at least not now, there is no large landlord class in the country, so even if the tax is reduced, the impact on the country's finances is not particularly large. What's more, these people are so poor that they have no pants to wear, even if taxes are collected, don't expect to collect much money for a while.
However, Hilde's promise.
Make these Thracians convinced.
