Just as Marin and Kohler were discussing the details, there was a sudden knock on the office door. Marin stopped talking and told Kohler to open the door. He thought it was Leonardo da Vinci, who studied physical chemistry next door, who came to ask the question, but it turned out to be Schwartz.

"What's the matter? Schwartz! ”

Schwartz nodded and said:

"Young Master, the feasibility of the grass armor you asked me to investigate has a result."

Marin became interested and asked:

"What are the specific conclusions?"

"The conclusion is that the grass armor has good protection and is very promising in rainy and snowy weather. However, in fine weather, I am afraid of fire! Schwartz said seriously.

"Afraid of fire!" Marin smacked. Because, he remembered the story of Zhuge Liang's "burning rattan armor soldiers" during the Three Kingdoms. It was still rattan armor, like the thatched grass armor worn by Marin's men, which was more flammable. If someone blocks it and sets it on fire...... Marin couldn't imagine it......

Ma Lin breathed a long sigh of relief and said:

"Thank you, Schwartz, the vulnerability you found is very important. In the future, the grass armor will no longer be equipped in fine weather. Only in blizzard weather wear a full set of grass armor, and on rainy days, only bring a coat! ”

"Yes, I'll arrange it!" After saying that, Schwartz also took out his notebook and wrote down Marin's instructions.

Schwartz is now the secretary of military affairs, mainly assisting Marin in military affairs. Although he was not reinstated as a general, what he could do was no different from before. Moreover, the generals in the army also knew that Schwartz was removed from his post because he was helping Marin take the blame, which was just a means to fool outsiders. For now, Schwartz is not a military chief, but he is still doing something similar.

Of course, there is a difference as well. In the past, Schwartz issued an order and signed it himself. However, now, as military secretary, he issued orders, but they needed to be signed by Marin before they could take effect. However, Marin generally does not fail to sign. After all, that's the number one general under his command.

However, Marin keenly felt that Schwartz's prestige in the North Sea State Army was now too high, second only to himself. For the monarch, this is not a good thing.

Marin was not worried about the Schwarz rebellion, after all, it was rare for the lower nobles in Europe to rebel and replace the monarch. Even if it succeeds, other countries will not admit it.

However, Marin feared that Schwartz would have too much influence in the army, affecting his complete control over the army. Even if it doesn't affect itself, it may affect Caesar. If he had died earlier than Schwartz, Schwartz would probably have become a powerful minister.

Therefore, Marin decided to take advantage of this opportunity to press Schwartz for a while. At the same time, bring up Stade and other generals to expand their influence. Then, reinstate Schwartz to his original position. At that time, Schwartz's influence in the army will be weakened.

In short, military power is a matter of life and death. For a monarch, military power is best dispersed, not concentrated in the hands of a single subordinate, no matter how loyal that subordinate may be. Otherwise, once a convention is formed, the next generation of commanders may not be so loyal.

……

Seeing that Schwartz was about to leave, Marin's heart moved, and he planned to hear what Schwartz had to say. After all, one person counts short, and many people count long. So, Marin said:

"Don't go yet, Schwartz, I have something to discuss with you!"

Then, Marin told Schwartz what he had discussed with Kohler before.

Schwartz did not answer immediately, but thought for a long time with a frown. It was probably after thinking about it that he spoke:

"Young Master......"

"Wait!" Marin suddenly interrupted:

"I'm almost 30 years old, and it's not appropriate to call me a young master. In this way, you will call me lord from now on! ”

"My lord?" Both of them were a little surprised. Ma Lin explained to them in detail, if it weren't for the fact that they didn't know Chinese, Ma Lin would still plan to let them call themselves "Ming Gong" like in the Romance of the Three Kingdoms. The so-called Ming Gong is an honorific title for a person with a famous position. At the same time, it also has the meaning of "wise lord".

Of course, the German and Chinese systems are not the same. In German, the word "lord" also means "prince". However, there is also the meaning of "marquis". Of course, this is a later interpretation, and for now, the HRE does not yet have a special title of marquis. Therefore, the title is generally used for those princes and princes.

Kohler hesitated and said:

"Young master, you are already one of the most powerful princes, and it seems that there is a bit of a discount to use the title of this prince's son!"

Marin thought for a moment and understood what Kohler meant. After all, they misunderstood the meaning of the lord for a prince. Not only them, once the name spreads, others will also misunderstand. So, he thought for a moment and said:

"Just call Your Highness! As a Grand Duke, I am qualified to be called so! ”

In fact, if it is an independent Grand Duchy, such as the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, it can be addressed to His Majesty. But Marin was the Grand Duke of the Holy Roman Empire, and there was an emperor above him. Therefore, at best, it can only be addressed as His Highness.

However, Marin, the Grand Duke, has a bit of moisture. Because, Marin made an agreement with the other princes—although he was called the Grand Duke, he was equal to those dukes. Therefore, no one generally calls Marin His Royal Highness, but directly addresses him as the Grand Duke or Lord (meaning Great Lord).

Of course, it is not wrong for close people such as Kohler and Schwarz to call him His Highness. After all, judging by the title, Marin is already qualified to be called His Highness.

In the end, Marin also specially instructed - this is a private name, and it is limited to a few old people who have followed him early......

……

After solving the problem of salutation, Schwartz had the opportunity to speak again:

"Young Master...... No, Your Highness, I have an idea......"

"What thoughts? Tell me about it......" After speaking, Marin looked at Schwartz expectantly.

"That's what I thought, you just discussed with Kohler, let those young people take the trails and mountain paths. In my opinion, this will certainly avoid the officers and soldiers of the vassal states. However, it may not be completely avoided. After all, accidents always happen inadvertently. ”

Both Marin and Kohler nodded, agreeing with Schwartz.

"Moreover, once you are discovered, it is easy to be misunderstood. For example, it can be mistaken for a thief or an enemy. If the other side sends cavalry to intercept it, it is likely that something big will happen! Schwartz said cautiously.

Marin was taken aback, and after thinking about it again, he realized that what Schwartz said was very likely to happen. After all, it is strange that a group of people take small roads in their own territory, sneaky, and not be suspected and guarded. If the cavalry is dispatched to intercept and kill, it is really difficult to escape. After all, two legs can't outrun four legs.

Kohler then said:

"Young Master...... His Highness sent 2,000 scouts and 3,000 warriors to guard those immigrants! ”

Schwartz shook his head and said:

"No, in the face of the interception of the princes' cavalry, you dare to kill them? Cavalry is the treasure of every nation. Even if you can kill it, you can't kill it easily. Otherwise, there will be a mortal enemy! ”

Marin nodded approvingly......

In the era of cold weapons, cavalry was similar to the fighter of later generations, and each of them was the flesh of the lord's heart. If you kill a team of cavalry in order to cover the immigrants, you will definitely be stabbing the sky. If it is discovered, it will definitely be an undying hatred.

Marin is now being isolated and targeted by the princes, this kind of basket, don't poke it well......

"So what do you say?" Kohler asked, somewhat depressed.

Schwartz touched his chin and said:

"I have an idea...... Why don't you let them openly play the banner of mercenaries? ”

"What are you kidding? The Beihai Kingdom is now being targeted by most of the princes, openly raising the banner, don't even think about passing the test! "Kohler doesn't have a good airway.

"No, I mean, let them play the banner of other mercenary groups!" Schwartz explains:

"When I went south to attack the Duchy of Gedes before, the army of the Duchy of Cleaver who fought together was mercenaries from many mercenary groups."

"Before the start of the war, Duke Cleaver issued a summoning order, and many large and small mercenary groups in the south drove into the territory of Duchy Cleaver. Along the way, they were not hindered by anything. ”

"You know, there are many German mercenary groups now, and it's normal for one or two mercenary teams to walk on the road. Moreover, the average small vassal state would not dare to provoke these fierce mercenaries. ”

"Another point is that the mercenary group is in a hurry, and it is possible to bring the family......

"With family?" Marin and Khloe exclaimed in unison.

"Yes, the army of our Beihai Kingdom has been regularized, and when we are on the road, there are only soldiers and transporters. But most of the mercenary groups are not so formal, and many small mercenary groups will only travel lightly when they are fighting. In peacetime, when there is no fighting, or when changing employers, they all drag their families on the road. On the way, the mercenary team will follow many vendors, and there are even many female branch girls who follow the team......"

"What? Female branch girl? Both Marin and Kohler were shocked......

Schwartz nodded and said:

"Well, that's right, Female Branch! As you know, the mercenaries are all young and strong, and many of them are not good people. For those mercenaries who have wives and children, it's okay, and they know how to give money to their wives and children. For those bachelor mercenaries, after earning money, most of it is spent on wine and female branch girls......"

"Therefore, whenever a mercenary group has accepted the employment of the previous employer, there will be many merchants who sell alcohol, as well as female branch girls, who follow the mercenary group like a dog's skin plaster, seeking opportunities to make money. After all, mercenaries who have just accepted a hire and received a salary are the richest at that time......"

"I've seen it!" Marin and Kohler marveled.

"So, what I mean is very simple, that is, let those young men who have been recruited, and some of the mercenaries who have taken them, pretend to be small mercenary groups. As for their families, follow suit. Anyway, it is not uncommon for mercenary groups to bring their families to transfer. There are also some people who can dress up as merchants and vendors who follow the mercenary group or something......"

"Those princes are on guard against recruiting immigrants from our Beihai Country, and those people pretend to be mercenary groups that transfer to the field, as long as they don't use the banner of Beihai Country, but use the name of other mercenary groups, no one will pay attention to them. Moreover, mercenary groups are not easy to mess with! ”

……