Chapter 122 Preliminary Discussion on the Long Spear Phalanx and Military Reform

The light has passed away, and the night has fallen silently. The bonfire in the hall flickered on the king's face, outlining solidified lines like a cooling sculpture.

Xiulot looked at his friend expectantly, but felt the king's eyes gradually deepened, and there was still a long distance away.

The boy felt anxious and stopped waiting. He stretched out his hand subconsciously, hesitated for a moment, and just gently pulled La'avit's sleeve. Then, he looked into the other person's eyes and made a sincere and firm promise again.

"Avit, trust me. I will always stand with you, just like in the past!"

Hearing this sentence, Avit's eyes flickered slightly. His thoughts descended again, divinity interrupted by ups and downs of emotion. So he lowered his eyes, pondered for a moment, then stood up from his seat, turned around and walked out of the window, looking at the deep night sky, letting the darkness cover his face.

Xiulot also stood up and walked behind his friend. The two stood back and forth, one step apart, watching the night sky and the Milky Way together, silently.

In the corner, Gilliam watched all this silently. His expression was extremely serious, his brows were slightly wrinkled, and he was lost in thought.

After a long time, the boy spoke again in frustration.

"Avit, forming a pike militia can increase the military strength of the alliance. I am just making a suggestion that the commander of the force can be appointed as someone else."

Arvette turned around. He looked at the young man who was close at hand, and sighed softly. Before he knew it, the boy had grown a lot taller, reaching to his shoulders.

"How many people do you want? How do you design it?" A calm voice came, as gentle as ever.

Shulot blinked. Soon, he reacted joyfully, answered seriously and in detail, and raised his voice.

"I am going to form a regiment of 8,000 people. I have just inspected the situation in the mine, and I can probably draw 3,000 gold and silver miners. They are the most obedient and disciplined; more than 2,000 salt workers. They are fierce and cooperative. ;More than 800 stone workers, they are calm and powerful. Based on 6,000 miners and 1,000 civilian warriors as the skeleton, drive the entire army forward. Finally, fill up with 1,000 selected village militiamen. 8,000 people passed by After several months of military training, there is a complete and powerful Hikipiri Corps."

Having said that, Shulot pondered for a moment.

Macedonian long spear phalanx, small shield, super long spear, and 16*16 strict phalanx first appeared in his mind. Then, considering the reality, he shook his head. Without the threat of cavalry, the spear does not need to be as long as five or six meters. It is difficult for an army that has been trained for several months to maintain such a tight formation in terms of discipline.

Then, he once again recalled the early heavy infantry phalanx in ancient Greece, with large shields, three-meter spears, and bronze breastplates. He remembered that bronze helmets had little significance in hoplites, often just for decoration, and the main defense was the large shield. This early phalanx is slightly looser, has lower requirements for formation, and is easier to train. In the face of early bronze weapons, the breastplate can also be weakened.

Shulot combined the alliance's armaments and recalled the description.

"This legion will be equipped with thickened cotton caps, half-body cotton armor, large shields tied to the arms, and three-meter-long spears. The miners and militiamen only need to learn to form a strict formation, and use the squad as a unit to alternately stab The samurai are on the outside, carrying batons on their backs. If the spear array is broken through, the samurai will need to block it in close combat.

The Long Spear Corps is positioned as the maintainer of the battle line and an anvil to face the enemy head-on, requiring the effective cooperation of other troops. "

Avit was lost in thought. He recalled the long-spear militiamen of the Tarascos, 2.5 meters long like a forest of copper spears, and a compact formation. In his impression, they were quite resistant to battle, which was different from ordinary militiamen. If you continue to increase the thickness of the army formation, lengthen the spear, and then wear armor and hold a shield, it will indeed be able to withstand the impact of elite warriors for a long time.

"Since there is a stone anvil, there must be a stone hammer. The spear phalanx is not flexible enough, and it is prone to disjoint when moving. Therefore, it should be mainly used for defense, like a curled up porcupine, and its offense is weak. Its flanks and rear Back is also a weakness, how do you plan to arrange tactical coordination?"

After all, he is a commander who has been in battle for many years, and he has seen similar troops, so Avitt quickly analyzed the key points.

Xiuluo nodded in approval and applauded softly. Taking this opportunity, he described in detail the idea of ​​military reform in Mexico.

"Indeed! The spear phalanx will not be used in rough terrain, but in the general battle on the flat land of the lake area, as the center of the army array. This position was originally used by elite nobles or senior warriors, and now they can be used The two wings used for attack.

On the two wings of the military formation, there are fast-moving samurai legions, covering the flanks of the spear phalanx, and at the same time serving as assault hammers. Once the enemy warriors are entangled with the spear array, the warriors will launch a charge from the flanks, and the anvil and hammer will cooperate to pinch and smash the enemy. All melee warriors should carry two obsidian javelins and shoot at point-blank range before charging. The function of the javelin is not to kill, but to disrupt the enemy's formation and make the enemy's shields unusable.

At the rear of the army array is the longbow warrior group for long-range attacks. They are better off occupying high ground and forming formations. Use the dense arrow rain to focus on hitting the enemy's samurai group and effectively output damage.

In front of the army formation, on the outskirts of the formed legion, it is necessary to deploy fast-moving light javelin militia. They carried more than a dozen javelins, which they used to harass the enemy's elite warrior regiments, and at the same time pursue the scattered enemies.

If I have spare longbows, I also want to form a light bow and arrow militia mainly of tribe and village hunters. They are also arranged on the periphery of the army formation, moving quickly on the battlefield, looking for suitable shooting points.

The Longbow Militia can further enhance the ability of long-range harassment, continuously sniping the opponent's commander and warrior, and damaging the opponent's morale. If the position is right, the damage can also be very impressive.”

Xiulot seriously described the future, and the plan of military reform in Mexico has been in his mind for a long time.

Form a spear phalanx as the main force on the front line, and use more warriors for battlefield assaults. Form an elite light infantry to replace cavalry for tactical tasks, quickly pursue the fleeing enemy, and expand the advantage of the battlefield. Then try to increase the long-range strike force and bring out the role of the militia.

The Longbow Militia does not require melee capabilities, nor does it require captive capture. These skilled village and tribal hunters make the most of the kills. This is the second new team that the teenager gave high hopes to.

The military reform will focus on improving the role of civilian soldiers and liberating them from being consumables on the battlefield. On the one hand, build an army of civilians, and on the other hand, give full play to their speed and long-distance advantages. Once the power of civilians is proven in war, their political status will also rise rapidly, gaining the influence they deserve. And the rising civilian class can provide the basis for the next reform.

Xiulot's thoughts drifted away, flying to the vast world under the starry sky, imagining the vast future of war.

Avitt was contemplating, constructing the battlefield described by the boy in his mind. After a long time, he breathed a sigh of relief and nodded appreciatively.

"Sholot, your idea is good. The phalanx of long spears maintains the front line, the longbowmen deal damage, the warriors carry out flank assaults, and the light infantry is responsible for harassing and chasing. From a military point of view, this new formation will further expand the alliance's force .”

Having said that, Avitt paused. He put his hand on Shulot's shoulder, and looked at the boy seriously.

"However, the foundation of the Mexica alliance is the warriors. The warriors are not only a pivotal military force, but also the political core of the national society, especially the noble warriors. For thousands of years, the militias have been insignificant auxiliary. In this era, The emergence of copper spears and longbows will gradually change all of this, but it will take time.

So, Schlott, my student, keep your big ideas in mind first, and don't mention them to others. I will give you 6,000 miners. You first form the spear militia and see how effective they are.

At the same time, I allow you to recruit two thousand tribe hunters, and give you all the Tlaxcala bows captured by the alliance over the years, so as to explore the tactics of harassment first. Both units are placed under your command. "

Avit paused for a moment again, looking at the innocent and joyful face of the young man, carefully looking for something on it. After a while, he nodded slightly and smiled gently.

"The south of the Tarascos is the Balthus River, and the north is the Leman River. If a water supply line can be established, they can maintain a large army for battle. In the autumn campaign, I intend to divide the army into two groups. The main force will still attack from the closer south. , the partial division made a surprise attack from the north.

These days, the ministers of state affairs and the great nobles are arguing endlessly, hoping to lead the division alone. But I can't trust them!

My student, if you can train eight thousand powerful spear militiamen, two or three thousand longbow warriors and militiamen, plus four thousand city-state warriors in the Holy City, you will have enough strength to serve as the leader of the Northern Route Army commander in chief. Coupled with your experience fighting the Tarascos on the Leman River, the great nobles can't object.

In this way, in the autumn, I will let you lead the Northern Army alone, rush into the heart of the Tarasco along the Leman River, and deal them a fatal blow. Xiulot, you have to remember, I believe in you! Do not disappoint me! "

Hearing Avit's majestic instructions, and experiencing the king's difficult trust, warmth flowed fiercely in the young man's heart. Seeing his friend's smile, he couldn't help but take a step forward, hugging Avitt tightly.

"Avit, I will not let you down! I will always stand with you and swear in the name of my ancestors!"

The boy's face was full of emotion. He expresses his feelings and reveals his true feelings.

Avit nodded with a smile. He also gave the boy an equally warm hug. Then, he slowly closed his eyes. The fluctuating emotions and the deep and unpredictable eyes are hidden at the same time, disappearing under the face of the king.

Those who achieve great things have a thunder in their chest and a face like a flat lake. The king's road is doomed to be unpredictable and lonely.

It is a little more difficult to write about the deduction of military reform.