Chapter 122: Spear Phalanx and Initial Discussion on Military Reform
The light has passed, and darkness has fallen silently. The bonfire in the hall flickered on the king's face, outlining solid lines, like a cooling sculpture.
Shulot looked at his friend expectantly, but felt the king's eyes gradually deepening, and the distance began to grow far away.
The young man felt anxious and stopped waiting. He subconsciously reached out his hand, hesitated for a moment, and then gently pulled Avitt's sleeve. Then, he looked into the other person's eyes and sincerely and firmly promised again.
"Avit, trust me. I will always stand with you, just like in the past!"
Hearing these words, Avitt's eyes flickered slightly. His thoughts descended again, and his divinity was interrupted by the ups and downs of emotions. So he lowered his eyes, pondered for a moment, then stood up from his seat, turned around and walked to the window to see
Staring at the deep night sky, letting darkness cover his face.
Shulot also stood up and walked behind his friend. The two of them stood one step apart, looking at the night sky and the stars together, silently.
In the corner, Gillim watched all this silently. His expression was extremely serious, his brows were slightly furrowed, and he was lost in thought.
After a long time, the young man spoke again in frustration.
"Avit, forming a spear militia can increase the military strength of the alliance. I am just making a suggestion that the commander of the army can be appointed as someone else..."
Avitt then turned around. He looked at the young man close at hand and sighed softly. Unknowingly, the young man had grown much taller and had already reached his shoulders.
"How many people do you want? How to design it specifically?" Came a calm voice, as gentle as ever.
Shulot blinked his eyes. Soon, he reacted with joy and answered seriously and in detail, his voice rising.
"I am going to form a group of eight thousand people. I have just inspected the situation in the mine and I can probably recruit three thousand gold and silver miners, who have the best obedience and discipline; and more than two thousand salt workers, who are fierce and cooperative.
More than 800 masons, they are calm and powerful. Based on 6,000 miners and 1,000 civilian warriors as the skeleton, they drive the entire army forward. Finally, they are filled with 1,000 selected village militiamen. 8,000 people pass by
After several months of military training, we will have a complete and powerful Hikipili Army."
Having said this, Shulot pondered for a moment.
His mind first imagined the Macedonian spear phalanx, small shields, super long spears, and the 16*16 tight phalanx. Then, considering the reality, he shook his head. Without the threat of cavalry, spears do not need to be five or six meters away.
An army trained for so long and several months would find it difficult 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 were of little significance among heavy infantry. They were often just decorations and served as the most important defense.
It is a large shield. This early phalanx is slightly looser, has slightly lower formation requirements, 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 hats, half-length 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 stab each other alternately.
The warriors were on the outside, carrying war sticks. If the spear array was broken through, the warriors would need to block it in close combat.
The Lance Corps is positioned as the maintainer of the battle line and the anvil to confront the enemy head-on, which requires the effective cooperation of other troops."
Avitt was lost in thought. He recalled the Tarascan spear militia, with their two-and-a-half-meter-long bronze spears, and their compact formation. He thought they were quite resistant to fighting, unlike ordinary militiamen. If the thickness of the formation continued to increase,
By lengthening the spear and wearing armor and carrying a shield, it can indeed 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 easy to get out of touch when moving. Therefore, it should be mainly used for defense, like a curled up porcupine, and its offense is weak. Its flanks and rear
The back is also a weak point...how do you plan to arrange tactical coordination?"
After all, he was a commander who had been in battle for many years and had seen similar armies. Avitt quickly analyzed the key points.
Thurot nodded in approval and whispered approval. Taking this opportunity, he described in detail the idea of Mexica's military reform.
"That's true! The spear phalanx will not be used in rugged terrain, but will be used in large battles on the plains of the Lake District as the center of the military formation. This position was originally occupied by elite noble battle groups or senior warrior groups. Now they can be used by
Used for attacking wings.
On both sides of the military formation, there are fast-moving warrior 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 formation, the warriors will launch a charge from the flanks, and the anvils and hammers will cooperate, and the hammers will break up.
Enemies. All melee warriors should bring two obsidian javelins and shoot at close range before charging. The function of the javelin is not to kill, but to disrupt the enemy's formation and make the enemy's shield unusable.
At the rear of the military formation are the longbow warriors for long-range attacks. It is best for them to occupy the high ground and form a formation. Use dense arrow rain to focus on attacking the enemy warriors to effectively output damage.
In front of the military formation, on the periphery of the formed legion, fast-moving light javelin militiamen need to be deployed. They carry more than ten javelins to harass the enemy's elite warrior groups and at the same time chase down the defeated enemy.
If there are extra longbows, I also want to form a light archer militia composed mainly of tribal and village hunters. They are also placed on the periphery of the military formation and move quickly on the battlefield to find suitable shooting points.
Longbow militia can further enhance the ability of long-range harassment, continuously snipe the opponent's commanders and warriors, and damage the opponent's morale. If the position is right, the damage will be very shocking..."
Hulot described the future seriously. The plan for military reform in Mexico had been in his mind for a long time.
Form a spear phalanx as the main force of the battle line, and use more warriors for battlefield assault. Form elite light infantry to replace the cavalry's tactical tasks, quickly pursue the fleeing enemies, and expand the advantage of the battlefield. Then try to increase the long-range strike force,
The role of the militia comes into play.
The longbow militia does not need close combat capabilities, nor does it need to capture prisoners. These skilled village and tribal hunters can kill to the greatest extent. This is the second new army that the boy has high hopes for.
The military reform will focus on improving the role of civilian soldiers and liberating them from positioning as consumables on the battlefield. On the one hand, establishing civilian military formations, and on the other hand, giving full play to their speed and long-range advantages. Once the power of civilians is in the war
If proven in the process, their political status will quickly improve and they will gain the influence they deserve. And the rising civilian class can provide the basis for the next reform.
Shulot's thoughts drifted far away, flying to the vast world under the starry sky, imagining the vast future of war.
Avitt, on the other hand, was deep in thought, constructing the battlefield described by the young man in his mind. After a long time, he breathed a sigh of relief and nodded appreciatively.
"Xulot, you have a good idea. The spear phalanx maintains the battle line, the longbows cause damage, the warriors carry out flank assaults, and the light infantry is responsible for harassing and pursuing. Militarily speaking, this new military formation will further expand the alliance's force.
.”
Having said this, Avitt paused. He stretched out his hand to hold Shulot's shoulder, and looked at the young man seriously.
"However, the foundation of the Mexican Union is the warriors. The warriors are not only an important military force, but also the political core of the country's society, especially the noble warriors. For thousands of years, the militiamen have been insignificant auxiliaries. In this era,
The emergence of bronze spears and long bows will gradually change everything, but it will take time.
So, Hulot, my student, keep your lofty ideas in your heart first, and don't mention it to others. I will give you six thousand miners, and you first form a spear militia to see how effective they are.
.
At the same time, I allow you to recruit two thousand tribal hunters, allocate to you all the Tlaxcala bows captured by the Alliance over the years, and explore the tactics of harassment first. Both of these troops will be placed under your command."
Avitt paused for a moment again, looking at the young man's simple and joyful face, carefully searching for something on it. After a while, he nodded gently and smiled gently.
"The Tarascans are bounded by the Balsas River to the south and the Leman River to the north. If a water supply line can be established, they can sustain the army's campaign. For 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 will make a surprise attack from the north.
These days, the ministers and nobles are arguing endlessly, and they all hope to lead the partial army alone. But I can't trust them!
My student, if you can train eight thousand powerful spear militiamen, two to three thousand longbow warriors and militiamen, plus four thousand city-state warriors from the Holy City, you will have enough strength to serve as the leader of the Northern Route Army.
Commander. Coupled with your experience fighting the Tarascans on the Leman River, the great nobles will not be able to object.
Wait until autumn, and I will let you lead the Northern Army alone, break into the heart of the Tarascans along the Leman River, and give them a fatal blow. Xulot, you have to remember, I believe in you! Don't let me
disappointment!"
Hearing Avitt's majestic instructions and experiencing the king's difficult trust, warmth flowed fiercely in the young man's heart. Looking at his friend's smile, he couldn't help but step forward and hug Avitt with all his strength.
"Avit, I will not let you down! I will always stand with you and swear in the name of my ancestors!"
The young man's face was full of emotion. He expressed his feelings and showed his true feelings.
Avitt nodded with a smile. He also gave the boy an equally warm hug. Then, he slowly closed his eyes. The changing emotions and the unpredictable gaze were simultaneously hidden and disappeared from the king's face.
Down.
Those who achieve great things have thunder in their chests and faces like a flat lake. The path of a king is destined to be unpredictable and lonely.