At about four o'clock in the afternoon of the second day, Richard's army of 3,000 was already stationed on the plain less than two miles outside the city of Alençon.

Not far away, a cavalry force of three hundred men, led by an elderly nobleman, ascended a small hill that was not high.

This aristocratic old man looked like he was about fifty-seven or eighteen years old, his hair and beard were a little gray, and the strands of hair in front of his forehead had almost fallen off, revealing a bright head, he was William's current great enemy, Baron Richard of Argenthon.

Baron Richard was a contemporary of William's uncle, and despite his age, his diminutive figure rode on a pale yellow burqa, a chainmail robe, a Norman nose guard, and a long pale yellow cape, and he still looked heroic, as if he were a mighty giant.

I saw Baron Richard come out of the crowd, ride his horse to the top of the mountain, and look at the city of Alonzon nearly two miles away, and the breeze blows the cloak behind Baron Richard, and he looks very strong in silence.

After a while, a knight behind Richard rode up to his side, put his left hand on his chest and bowed, and said respectfully: "Lord Baron, the wind is strong on the mountain, please go back to the camp and rest early!" ”

This tall middle-aged knight has deep eyes, a thick beard on his chin, and wears an ear guard. The leather armor of the red V-shaped family coat of arms on a yellow background of the Vasi family is protected by iron plate armor on the shoulders and arm joints, and a long gray cloak is also draped behind him, which looks very powerful and strong.

"Sir Martin, I'm not as fragile as you think." Baron Richard retracted his gaze, turned his head to look at Sir Martin, and said, "Sir Martin, this Alençon city has only been captured by William for ten days, and it has been so firmly managed. It's not easy, we can't underestimate this His Royal Highness William! ”

"Yes, Lord Baron, there are at least four or five thousand people stationed in this city, and there is a wooden fort of two thousand people stationed on the high ground not far away, these two cities and fortresses are guarded by horns, even if most of these soldiers are new soldiers, it is not easy to take them." Sir Martin nodded in agreement.

"Sir Martin, my chief warrior." Baron Richard looked at Sir Martin and ordered, "This time we will go together to meet His Highness William." ”

"This—" Sir Martin said with some doubts and a hesitant expression, "Lord Baron, I have heard that this Highness William is a lowly bastard, suspicious, cold, capricious, and without the honor of being a nobleman, and I fear that he will detain you without scruples." ”

"Don't worry, Sir Martin." Baron Richard waved his hand and said, shaking his head slightly and saying, "As the heir of the duke, if he does such a thing, then all the nobles will oppose him."

What's more, aren't you still protecting me? My chief samurai. ”

"Do as you command, Lord Baron." Sir Martin put his left hand on his chest, bowed and said, "Even if it is at the cost of my own life, I will keep you safe." ”

Baron Richard nodded in response, and rode his horse with three hundred cavalry galloping towards Alençon.

......

Baron Richard, Sir Martin and his cavalry reined in front of the north gate of Alençon, and the soldiers on the gate tower became nervous, clenching their weapons and preparing for battle.

"Listen, the men at the gates, Lord Baron Richard is here again, and asks William to come here to see him." Sir Martin rode out and shouted loudly at the soldiers on the gatehouse.

The soldiers on the tower of the city gate looked at each other, and immediately several of them turned away, mounted their horses, and reported to the mayor's mansion where William was.

A quarter of an hour passed imperceptibly, and the soldier who had gone to report returned to the city gatehouse, leaned over and shouted to the people below: "Listen to the people below, His Royal Highness William has invited Baron Richard to the council hall in the center of the city to meet him, and only thirty people can come in." ”

Sir Martin in the city seemed to have been greatly insulted, and his face turned red, and he wanted to scold.

"Sir Martin!" Baron Richard pressed his right hand on Sir Martin's shoulder, turned to the guards at the gates, and said loudly, "Let's go in, Kaejo." ”

Crunch...

The heavy oak gate was opened, revealing a wide street on either side of which stood a large number of spearmen and archers, as if to guard against Baron Richard.

"Come in, Sir Martin." Richard flicked the reins and spurred his horses forward, waving his hand to give the order forward.

"Yes, Lord Baron."

Sir Martin commanded thirty of his heavy cavalry to follow him into Alençon, while the remaining two hundred and seventy cavalry remained outside the city under the watchful eye of the defenders.

Tap Tap, Tap... Tap Tap, Tap...

At the front of the line, Baron Richard rode his horse and looked around to observe the defenders and defenses of Alençon.

It's a pity that Sir Hubert led hundreds of main forces and a group of veterans to guard Baron Richard and his cavalry at all times, so that they could not observe any useful information.

......

Click, click, click... Click, click, click...

On both sides of the wide town hall, sixteen trumpeters blew the loud brass trumpets, and the rousing music echoed in the town hall.

William wore a blue robe thread made of silk with a gold thread outlining a splendid pattern and a Normandy family coat of arms, a gold crown set with jewels on his head, a gold-rimmed jeweled belt around his waist, a long ruby red cloak behind him, a sword in his left hand and a gold scepter in his right hand, and sat upright on a lacquered gold seat on the top platform, looking full of majesty.

There was also a chair beside William, and Baron Adolf sat upright, and in front of him stood Steward Osborne.

On both sides of the town hall stood dozens of knights and nobles dressed in costumes, officers of all ranks, and municipal officials, and hundreds of cavalry and heavy infantry stood guards in front of and outside the door and around the hall.

As soon as the trumpet sounded, the guard in front of the door shouted loudly: "Sir Hubert has come to you." ”

Sir Hubert turned over and dismounted in front of the door, walked slowly forward to William's seat, put his left hand on his chest and bowed, and said, "Your Highness William, Baron Richard has arrived." ”

"Sir Hubert, return to your place." William nodded slightly and said.

As Sir Hubert turned around and returned to William's right to the bottom of the head, there was a hurried sound of horses' hooves outside the door of the town hall.

In a few moments, Baron Richard, Sir Martin, and a banner-bearer rode into the town hall, while dozens of horsemen behind them were blocked by the guards outside the gate.

Baron Richard and the others stopped their horses in front of William, clutching the reins with a swaggering look.

Seeing this, the knights and nobles, officers of all ranks, and municipal officials on both sides of the town hall all exchanged heads and talked about each other.