The Rhine River has thousands of miles of sailing all year round. The convenient water transportation has brought huge wealth and also irrigated large areas of plains on both sides of the river.
It is now the autumn plowing season. In the farmland, farmers are driving their cattle and horses to work. In the distance, you can see dilapidated or brand-new houses.
The sound of horns coming from the river made the farmers raise their heads and take a look. The water level was now low and the ship's hull was blocked by the river embankment. Only the golden double-headed eagle flag fluttering on the top of the mast was visible.
There have been many troop transport ships passing by on the Rhine recently, and the farmers also know that another war is coming, because the knight left with about ten people and requisitioned an extra portion of oats.
On the first ship of the Weissensee fleet, a conscripted militiaman said to Frederick: "Sir, there is a village behind the river embankment. I used to live there."
Frederick asked him: "Don't you go back and have a look?"
The militiaman just smiled bitterly and shook his head. It seemed that he had some bad memories in his hometown.
Frederick was about to change the subject when a young officer came to him: "Commander, the place where the ship will rest today is coming."
Frederick looked up at the sun above his head, turned back and said: "Okay, stop the ship as planned."
The young officer in front of him had a hooked nose, sharp eyes, and the aura of an eagle.
Helmut was a good friend of Franz's when he was traveling around the country. He was born in a family of down-and-out knights in the Principality of Meklen. He was very smart and had many years of combat experience.
After little Franz came back and took up an important position in Wessen's army, he wrote to invite him to come over. However, communication was inconvenient in this era. The day after he came to Wesenberg Castle was the first anniversary of the victory in the Six-Day Defense War.
After the interview, Frederick agreed to Helmut's appointment as undersecretary of staff to assist Franz in managing the staff.
During this expedition, Frederick asked little Franz to guard the home, and the staff team was led by Helmut. Sixty percent of the team members were newcomers, so it was considered as a way to increase their experience by spawning monsters.
At the same time, Frederick's troop quota this time is 1,500. The number of troops is not limited. You can bring more people, but the supplies provided by the royal family's logistics are only given for that many people.
1,500 men was almost the number of an infantry regiment, so Frederick led the expedition according to the organization of one infantry regiment and three cavalry companies.
The personnel of this unit were drawn from the original two regiments. Helmut currently serves as the regiment commander, and the two regiments of Shoujia have recruited troops in advance.
According to the plan of the Ministry of Military Affairs, the army needs to gradually expand to more than 10,000 people, and the establishment needs to be adjusted. Large-scale reorganization will be carried out after returning next year.
The fleet soon stopped on the right, and in the afternoon, the fleet of the Principality of Byrne stopped on the left.
As night fell, Frederick, Archduke Byrne and the Archduke of Mainz, who had been waiting here for a long time, had a barbecue on the bank of the river, with guards standing guard 100 meters away.
The Archduke of Mainz picked up a skewer of grilled pork belly and handed it to Frederick, and said with a smile: "Commander, you eat first."
Frederick did not accept the skewers, but shook his head and said: "A commander in Taohuashi once said, 'The general will not speak of thirst before the army's well is drained; the general will not speak of hunger before the army's food is cooked; the general will not speak of hunger before the army's fire is fired.
"Cold; the army has not yet deployed, and the general will not say he is trapped." The translation is... bah bah bah..."
His peach blossom stone language taught by Psyche stunned the two old men. After being translated into the local dialect, they couldn't help but nod in agreement.
"This is what someone who has served as a commander-in-chief said." Archduke Byrne said, "My grandfather said something similar to me, but I didn't fully understand this until I was forty years old."
The Grand Duke of Mainz said to Frederick: "What else did he say? Tell us about it when you have time."
Frederick just smiled and nodded, picked up a skewer of roast lamb and ate it. The Archduke of Mainz calling himself commander and passing the skewers to him had been fooled.
Archduke Byrne smiled and said, "It seems you are very sober."
While eating, Frederick asked: "Is it His Majesty William's fault?"
The troops sent out this time are only for defense along the river. If each country only manages its own defense area, everyone will be in peace.
However, now the three of them are brought together, led by Frederick, who has the lowest title, age and seniority, and two highly respected archdukes are under his command. Even if these three families are an alliance, it is not normal.
Moreover, Frederick had 1,500 soldiers, and the other two had 1,000. It seemed that the commander had the most soldiers, but his number did not constitute an absolute majority. If the other two united to oppose him, their number would be greater than his.
This kind of arrangement seems to be meant to sow discord.
The Grand Duke of Mainz was more familiar with the affairs in the palace. While brushing the chicken legs with oyster sauce, he said: "This matter was decided by the Minister of Military Affairs, Count Pisto, and the king must have nodded."
"Wesson, what are you going to do?"
Frederick shrugged, poured beers for the two of them, and then said: "I have three countermeasures, two of which actually mean the same thing, and one is unacceptable."
Grand Duke Byrne asked with great interest: "Oh, what other ideas do you have?"
After taking a sip of beer, Frederick said: "First, you two are apparently following my command."
"Second, I will divide the defense zones and let everyone do their own thing."
"Third one, let's put a sack on Count Pisto and beat him up."
"Which one do you two choose?"
The Archduke of Mainz and the Archduke of Bain immediately answered in unison: "The third one."
The corner of Frederick's mouth twitched for a while, and then he said: "Okay, I'll give you two a lookout."
The three of them ate the barbecue in silence for a while, and Frederick said, "Let's do this. Let's divide the defense zones first."
"Anyway, as long as we defend, we will build forts in key places and leave a small number of soldiers to stand guard. If there are enemies coming, we will report them to the rear. The main force in the rear will either attack the invading enemies head-on or find a place to ambush."
"The defense area is simple, with Hanma City as the center, and the two of you will guard the left and right sides. I will go to the Weisen Territory in the south."
"We lined up along the river like this, supporting each other, like a snake. If we hit the head, the tail will come. If we hit the tail, the head will come. If we hit the middle, the head and tail will come."
This is the best way he can think of. When there are no enemies or there are few enemies, everyone should go their own way. When there are more people, they can cooperate strategically.
Moreover, these two uncles are living comfortably relying on the defense of the big city. It would not be too bad to go to relatives' houses by themselves, which can be considered as comprehensive.
Archduke Byrne seemed indifferent at this time and agreed while eating kebabs.
The Grand Duke of Mainz smiled and said: "Don't be so nervous. This operation is actually just a show."
"The nobles along the boundary river are all small nobles who have no say in the war and are used to consume the enemy. The territories of the big nobles are behind them. It's just that what happened in April made those big nobles a little worried, so the king asked us to go
Station the troops by the river to calm their minds."
"Anyway, many of the nobles by the river have gone to your place. If you want to rob, there is nothing to rob. The other side will not do the loss-making business."
"And those people on the other side of the Elbe River have followed the Osmaga Empire to attack the Piast Kingdom. Who will cross the river?"
Frederick was stunned when he heard this, thinking that this was not a show, so he asked: "So, this time the king wants us nobles from the Rhine Valley to go east to perform a show for the nobles from the west of the Elbe River?"
The Grand Duke of Mainz nodded and said: "Yes, it is the king who pays for it anyway."
"Believe it or not, everyone will be living and drinking in Hanma City."
"The reason I came here today is to tell you about this in advance. Then it will be enough to just show off."