Two days later, in the morning, outside the county guard of Evreux, the Normandy family flag with two lions on a red background was waving in the breeze, and more than 3,100 soldiers lined up in a neat formation as if they were being inspected, and more than 1,700 conscripts were either driving carriages or pushing wheelbarrows ready to go.

At the front of the army, the Count of Evreux, Uncle Adolf, and the protagonist William are saying goodbye.

"Little William, you are really powerful, worthy of my Normandy family's thousand miles of horses. It only took two days to complete the training of the army that I urgently summoned, and it did not disappoint me. Robert, Earl of Evler, patted William's little shoulder and said proudly.

"Uncle and grandfather, don't worry, I will definitely occupy the city of Alençon before the army of Baron Richard of Argentun, and I will not disappoint you." William clenched his right hand into a fist and patted his chest in reassurance.

"My little William, you must pay attention to safety on this expedition, if you fail, it doesn't matter, come back with the army decisively, as long as you are safe and sound, uncle and grandfather will be satisfied." Robert, Earl of Evler, looked at William with affectionate eyes and said.

"Yes, Uncle Grandpa, I will definitely return safely, and I will not let you worry." William nodded and said.

"Alright, little William, let's go. I have sent the Minister to the Castle of Bretteuil to prepare supplies for you. Robert, Earl of Evreux, perhaps unable to bear to say goodbye to William, wiped away his tears and explained a few words to Uncle Adolf, turned around and rode into the city with his guards.

"Goodbye, uncle... William waved goodbye behind Earl Robert, turned around, and with a wave of his right hand, ordered, "All the troops go." ”

With William's order, the flag fluttered, and the whole army slowly advanced, Faller led the light cavalry forward to reconnoitre, Sir Hubert and Sir Ronald led the knights' legion and the knights' independent battalion as the front army respectively, and William led the middle army and the rear army to follow.

The army had not encountered any enemy as it had traveled, and William looked to the left and right, and the potholed roads were flanked by large estates of cultivated land, golden waves of wheat swaying in the wind, and poorly dressed serfs harvesting wheat with sickles.

After a hard day's march, William's army marched more than twenty miles and finally came to Fort Brett.

Built on a high ground and surrounded by a vast plain, the castle is surrounded by a wide meandering river and is connected by a stone arch bridge only a few meters wide, as if it were a natural moat.

Composed of two castles, one large and one small, the Fort of Breuteuil is the most important strategic heights in this area of Evreux, if the French army occupies it, it can attack Normandy, if the British army occupies it, it can also occupy an advantageous position in the attack on France.

Not far away, the palace of William's Earl of Evre, who had long been waiting for him. Seeing the arrival of William and his army, Turce rode to William's army with his retinue, turned over and dismounted, and led his companion cavalry to William's side.

William didn't say a word, his eyes were fixed on the court minister who controlled the court of the Count of Evreux, old but strong was William's first impression of him, his hair and beard looked completely gray on the outside, but his body wrapped in tight aristocratic clothes looked full and powerful.

"Your Highness William, the Count of Evreux has already ordered me to wait here for your arrival, and I ask you and your army to enter the castle of Bretteuil." Brad House bowed and said.

"Brad Palace, don't be polite, please come forward and lead the way." William nodded and said with a smile.

"His Royal Highness William, please come with me." Saying that, Brad Palace turned over and got on his horse, leading the way with his entourage.

William rode his horse to the gate of the Brettey Castle, and finally saw the twin castles, only to see that the huge main fort with twists and turns of the city wall extended a bridge to communicate with the smaller sub-forts, which seemed to have a little bit of a fortress meaning.

"Your Highness William, you seem to be curious about this castle." Palace Minister Brad leaned over and said.

"Yes, I've never seen such a strange castle in Rouen before, it's made up of two castles." William withdrew his gaze from the castle and smiled at the Brad Palace.

"Your Royal Highness, this castle was built by your ancestor, Rollo, the first Duke of Normandy, and it has a history of more than a hundred years. It was here that the Duke gathered his army to attack the French army, beat the king to his knees and beg for mercy, and gave the entire Normandy to the first Duke Rollo. Brad nodded, pointing to the castle and said.

"Oh ! It turns out that there is still this story, and it seems that this castle is very important. William looked at Brad's palace and said, "So how many troops can this castle be stationed in, and how many enemy troops can it defend against?" ”

"Returning to His Royal Highness William, this castle can garrison nearly 2,000 people, and it has been attacked by nearly 10,000 enemy troops without falling."

"That's really amazing, Minister Brad, let's stay in the castle first." It is said that William led his immediate legions and Adolf troops into the castle, while the knight legions, knights' independent battalions and levies could only camp outside the castle.

In the castle's chamber, William sat at the top, and on the left and right were Uncle Adolph, Sir Hubert, Bullard's Palace, Osborne's butler, Rodrigo's knight, Faller, Andrew, and Jeffrey.

William looked at the cronies and generals sitting at the bottom, and his mood couldn't help but surge.

"Uncle Adolf, can you tell me how the rebels are doing in Alençon?" William turned his head to look at Uncle Adolf and said.

"William, when I left Alençon City, there were about three thousand rebels composed of merchants, mercenaries and peasants, and now that more than a month has passed, their strength will definitely grow rapidly, so you should ask the Minister of Brad Palace for details." Uncle Adolf nodded and said.

"Minister Brad, tell me about Alençon City and the rebels." William moved his gaze to Brad's palace and said.

"Yes, Your Highness William, according to the tip, the city of Alençon is now completely controlled by merchants and mercenaries, and even most of the countryside around the Barony of Alençon is claimed by them. Now there are more than 8,000 rebel troops, of which more than 3,000 are scattered in the countryside and on the main roads, and 5,000 are stationed in the city of Alençon. The Prime Minister of Brad nodded, patiently speaking.

"Minister Brad, what is the combat effectiveness of the enemy army, and is there a large number of cavalry troops?" William continued.

"The rebels are mainly some merchant mercenaries and rebellious peasants, greedy for life and afraid of death, their combat strength is more suspicious, and there are no large number of cavalry troops, the only thing to worry about is the city defense of Alençon, if the enemy army retreats in the city, it will be difficult to defeat." Brad Palace knew everything and said.

The discussion did not last long, and William dismissed them and went to rest, leaving only Sir Hubert and Steward Osborne to remain as spies.