Chapter 2061 By the Way Grab the Throne
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Fortunately, in the past few years, several major armies of the Beihai State have been updated. A large number of young southern mountain people were recruited to replace the veterans in several old legions who were in their forties. After several years of training, those former southern mountain boys have also become veterans.
Of course, there were no battles to fight in the past two years. Like the five thousand young dragoons and black shirt knights, this group of young infantry lacked actual combat experience. Fortunately, they have been trained for longer and have a better foundation. As long as you are careful, it is still possible to practice with a few small battles first, see the blood, and then go to the big battle.
The configuration of infantry is much simpler, such as winter clothes. The reason why the cavalry is equipped with more expensive down jackets is to reduce the load on the horses in the future, so that the horses will not be too strenuous.
Infantry is not as delicate as cavalry and horses, and they are more durable. Therefore, the grade of their winter cold-proof clothing is much lower—that is, the coir raincoat...
The coir raincoat is a grass coat, made of thatch. Not only can it protect against cold, but also against rain and snow. The only downside is that it's a bit heavy. But it doesn't matter, because Marin equipped the infantry with a lot of light wheelbarrows. When marching, the infantry marched with a wheelbarrow. On the wheelbarrow, there are not only weapons and equipment, but also a small amount of food distributed, as well as coir raincoats and armor.
When encountering an enemy attack during the march, these unicycles will be pushed to the front and side of the formation to block the enemy's charge. Soldiers would then quickly grab their spears from their chariots and don their armor...
The coir raincoat woven with thatch is often the cheapest simple armor. Of course, in dry weather, coir raincoats are generally not worn, so as not to be ignited by enemy rockets. And in rainy and humid weather, these coir raincoats themselves are armor with good protection. Especially after being damp, it seems to be able to resist feathered arrows and lead bullets to a certain extent. Of course, the feathered arrows and lead bullets here refer to the feathered arrows and lead bullets that have lost most of their kinetic energy when flying from a distance, not the kind of feathered arrows and lead bullets that are shot at close range.
In addition, the infantry generally wore straw sandals that they wove themselves. Moreover, each person is also issued leggings to facilitate long-distance marches. This is historical experience. Back then, Hong Jun had walked 25,000 miles relying on straw sandals and leggings.
The stamina and toughness of this group of mountain infantry were no worse than Hong Jun's, after all, they were used to traveling long distances. Moreover, in the central and eastern regions of Europe, the difficulty of long-distance trekking was much lower than that of Hong Jun in the past.
Moreover, most of the journey, they can actually save. This is because the thousands of ships ordered by Marin can be used not only to transport immigrants, but also to transport troops.
At that time, those cavalry could only walk by land because they had three horses with them. The infantry, all the way to the east coast of the Baltic Sea, can actually be reached by boat. After docking, you need to disembark and walk.
And it is not too easy to transport 20,000 infantry with thousands of ships. Not only can soldiers be transported, but there is still enough energy to transport enough food, carts, artillery and ammunition.
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As for the Min Zhuang who accompanied the army, Marin didn't plan to bring it this time. Because, he intends to conscript on the spot...
Anyway, they planned to take the Muscovites back to the country, and they simply waited for the army to land, and directly recruited local strong men to join the army. Deliver food supplies and even artillery for the army. As for any of them resisting? Resist and kill. And the rest must be honest and obedient immigrants...
...
According to the information sent back from the Grand Duchy of Moscow, this war may start in the Smolensk area. Because the goal of Vasily III, the Grand Duke of Moscow, was to surround Smolensk with the army after the weapons and armor were in place. Then, while besieging the city, they defeated the reinforcements of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. Eventually, Smolensk was forced to surrender. At the same time, it also forced the Grand Duchy of Lithuania to agree to cede the Smolensk region.
In history, Ivan III personally led the army to besiege the city of Smolensk,
It took two full years of siege before forcing Smolensk to surrender. During the siege, Lithuania organized a counterattack, but was defeated. No way, there are too many Russian troops. Even though 40,000 Muscovite troops were defeated in the Battle of Orsha, Moscow's huge manpower reserves allowed them to quickly raise a large army to resist Lithuania's counterattack and keep the victory of Smolensk.
From the fact that the Muscovites entrusted the Teutonic State to order 50,000 sets of weapons and armor, it can be seen that the size of the army touched by the Grand Duchy of Moscow this time was at least 100,000. As for Lithuania, it is enough to dispatch 30,000 to 40,000 people. In the Battle of Orsha, the 40,000 Moscow troops who were defeated were actually only part of the Russian army. The less than 30,000 troops sent by Poland and Lithuania are the main force that the two countries can produce. This is the gap in human resources between the two countries. Because the systems of the two countries are different, Lithuania and Poland must obtain the consent of the nobles to recruit troops, and the nobles will certainly not come out to support the royal war. On the other hand, the oriental system of the Grand Duchy of Moscow can recruit as many people as possible.
The Grand Duchy of Moscow has such a large population, and Marin didn't need to bring any civilians when he sent troops this time. Because, many civilian husbands can be recruited locally.
But for safety reasons, Marin still plans to bring a group of civilian husbands from his own country. Mainly, these native peasants are more reliable. It is more reassuring to let them keep the ammunition and food. As for the citizens of the Grand Duchy of Moscow who were forcibly recruited on the spot, it is okay to let them transport supplies, but it is not so reassuring to ask them to keep the supplies.
Fortunately, Marin's original marching route was to enter Lake Ladoga from the Neva River, then go south along the Volkhov River, and land on the shore after arriving at Tver. Therefore, most of the supplies actually do not need to travel too far on land.
...
In this march into the Grand Duchy of Moscow, in addition to plundering the population, Marin also has a very important goal, which is no less important than hundreds of thousands of people.
What goal? It is to force Basil III to give up his claim to the Byzantine throne!
Although Maximilian I had already bought the Byzantine throne from the last Byzantine emperor Andres Paliologos on Marin's suggestion. But the problem is that Andres Palaiologos had previously sold the Byzantine crown to Charles VIII. Now, the French are also clamoring that they are the orthodox successors of the Eastern Roman Empire.
Fortunately, under the mediation of the Holy See, whoever can conquer Constantinople and be crowned in the Sophia Cathedral will be the legitimate Byzantine emperor from then on.
However, because the sister of Andres Paliologos married Ivan III, Grand Duke of Moscow as the successor, and gave birth to Vasily III. Then a new problem emerged-Vassili III believed that it was unreasonable for his uncle Andres Paliologos to sell the throne privately. The throne of the Eastern Roman Empire should be inherited by blood, not sold to outsiders.
Therefore, Vasily III and his mother, Princess Sophia, have always declared that the so-called throne bought by Maximilian I and Charles VIII is illegal, and that he is the orthodox heir of the Eastern Roman Empire.
And Maximilian I actually didn't care much about the throne of the Eastern Roman Empire. Because, he obviously did not have the strength to break into Constantinople.
But Marin has! Therefore, Marin intends to use this troop to capture Vasily III and force him to publicly renounce the fight for the Byzantine throne, and to publicly support the legality of the throne obtained by Maximilian I...
As for why he supported Maximilian I to win the throne...
It's very simple-Marin plans to exchange the throne from Maximilian I or his heir at a high price in the future. For example, after the emperor died in 1519, his successors could not do without his financial, political and even military support if they wanted to compete for the position of emperor. At that time, Marin can completely bring over the throne and let himself experience the addiction of being an emperor... Well, the European Emperor, he played games in his previous life, and he especially wanted to be the European Emperor, although he has always been a non-chief...
The dispatch of troops this time, while robbing the population, also resolved the dispute over the throne and laid the foundation for the future competition for the title of European Emperor. It can be said to kill two birds with one stone. When he really won the throne, Marin wanted to tell everyone loudly——I, Marin, the Emperor of Europe! Not African Emirates!