During the days of forming the new army, Bruno was surprised to find that among the three artifacts of the cavalry in the previous life, only the saddle had appeared in this world.
As for horseshoes and stirrups, or similar alternatives, no one has yet invented them.
The cavalry of the Norman Empire was still in a relatively primitive stage of development, and could only be regarded as having just taken the step of formalization and standardization.
Most of them wore chain mail and large shoulder pads, and hard helmets on their heads.
However, the weapons of the cavalry are still mainly short swords. Some cavalry also carry spears and bows. The spears can be thrown or stabbed, and the bows and arrows cooperate with the cavalry to shoot while moving quickly.
However, such cavalry had an extremely fatal flaw. They only laid a blanket on the back of the mount and tied it with a leather saddle, but there were no stirrups.
This resulted in the cavalry having to rely on their legs to clamp the horse's belly to maintain the balance of the body when fighting, so that the reaction force generated when the soldiers were in close contact could easily knock the cavalry off the horse.
Moreover, even if there is no close fight, it is often necessary to hold the horse's mane tightly with your hands when the horse is galloping or prancing, otherwise it will be thrown off the horse if you are not careful.
Therefore, after discovering this problem, Bruno specially ordered the blacksmiths to make dozens of sets of stirrups and equipped them to the cavalry guards as soon as possible.
The production of stirrups is extremely simple. It only needs a brief description, and even the poorest blacksmith can make it.
With the stirrups, the cavalry of the Idar Territory can completely free their upper bodies, ride and shoot, chop left and right, and use the stirrups to offset the reaction force during close combat, allowing the cavalry to truly attack.
The power of the unity of man and horse comes into play.
As for horseshoes, although their role in combat is not obvious, they are of great significance in the long run.
After horses without horseshoes run for a long time and long distances, the horseshoes will easily crack or fall off, which will directly cause the cavalry to lose the ability to fight.
The presence of horseshoes allows the cavalry to boldly run or charge without worrying about the wear and tear of the horseshoes.
Therefore, when the Idar cavalry equipped with these three artifacts engages in a head-on battle with Sauron's cavalry, the victory of the Idar cavalry is almost certain.
The disgraced Herman Barkley did not die. He was just knocked to the ground by Sam. Then he felt so ashamed that he stuck out his butt and refused to get up.
Fifty knights were rushed to pieces, and the infantry led by Sauron who were lucky enough to survive were all captured.
In fact, as early as when Herman Barkley was knocked to the ground, the civilian soldiers of the Sauron Territory simply raised their hands and surrendered.
This battle was no longer possible. The civilians of Sauron who had been forced to fight did not show any resistance to surrender. They obediently disarmed and then cooperated with each other to tie themselves up.
A total of more than 300 soldiers and knights from the Sauron Territory were captured, and more than 100 people were injured or killed.
On the other hand, only three people in the Idar Territory were killed, and a dozen standing army soldiers were slightly injured. As for the cavalry guards, they were all alive and kicking.
This can already be called a miracle in the history of war in the Norman Empire.
Such results can be achieved on the one hand because of the high-intensity training of the standing army and the guards and the use of various new weapons; on the other hand, because the army led by Sauron is really too weak, and the civilian soldiers are even less capable.
Fighting spirit.
At this point, the soldiers of the Sauron Territory were dead and wounded, and the plan to annex the Glen Highlands was completely ruined.
After the war, Bruno arrived belatedly with his entourage.
Seeing his army winning the battle, Bruno was naturally refreshed and felt relieved.
"Are you the eldest son of Earl Sauron, Herman Barkley?"
After looking up and down at the tied-up Herman Barkley, Bruno asked curiously.
Herman Barkley turned his head to the side and said, "That's right! It's me, please let me go."
"You are my prisoner now, why do you have so many demands?"
After that, Bruno kicked the big guy hard.
"You are insulting me! I am a noble! I am the sole heir of Earl Sauron!" Herman Buckley's eyes widened and he shouted in disbelief.
"This man has such a loud voice..." Bruno covered his ears with his hands: "Sam, shut his mouth!"
Sam Layton looked around, picked up a piece of black bread dropped by Sauron's soldiers, and stuffed it into Herman Barkley's mouth.
"Uh...uh..." Herman Barkley struggled, but could not speak.
"Did anything slip through the net?" Bruno asked Sam, ignoring Herman Barkley's struggle.
"No! All the troops that invaded the Idar Territory this time are here. I sent sentries to keep an eye on the outside. No one fled back!"
Sam Layton was also very excited at this time. After all, this was a great victory fought under his command. The Idar Territory had not experienced such a victory for a long time.
Of course... the most important contribution must be attributed to his lord. From forming a new army to inventing stirrups and horseshoes, Bruno is not responsible for any of them.
Although Sam Layton could only place second, he was already satisfied.
"In that case...then prepare to counterattack!"
"Counter...counterattack? Now?" Sam Layton asked in surprise.
"Of course, haven't I been angry with you before?" Bruno said matter-of-factly, "Others have come to our doorstep to act wild, so there's no reason not to fight back. Besides... Sauron's army is already here.
Is it done?"
"Okay!" Sam agreed immediately.
After all, after this battle, the Sauron Territory was almost completely undefended, and Idar's army could march straight in and hit Sauron Castle in one go.
"But...how far will our counterattack go this time?" Sam was a little uncertain, so he asked Bruno.
Although the Norman Empire turns a blind eye to conflicts between nobles and can even tolerate territorial disputes, it will never allow any nobles to be killed directly. This is the bottom line!
It is precisely for this reason that the only area that Earl Sauron has planned is the Glen Highlands located in the northern part of Idar Territory.
"Since the people from Sauron like the land so much, then... just grab his land..."
Bruno used a quill to draw a line on the map he had just taken out: "I don't just want the Highlands... I want all the land south of this line!"