After the artillery fired, the infantry platoon attacked.

Knock knock! Knock knock! Knock knock!

Guided by the rhythm of the drums, the infantry began to advance synchronously with one company in four platoons of 120 men each, and a total of nine companies in one platoon.

Knock knock! Knock knock! Knock knock!

Row after row, although there were thousands of people, they were still neat and tidy, and they were not scattered.

This line infantry tactic, which was similar to lining up to shoot, gradually lost its effect until the popularization of rear-loading rifled guns, and it was not until the appearance of the Maxim repeating heavy machine gun that it completely disappeared.

"Stop!"

"The first team squats!"

"The first team raises their guns!"

"Second team with guns!"

"First Team Shoot!"

"Second Team Shoot!"

"The third team advances!"

"Fourth team forward!"

"Second Team Reload!"

"First team stands!"

"First team loads!"

"The third team crouches!"

...

It takes at least two minutes for a company of four platoons to complete a firing cycle.

"Hey, I said, can't it be changed to three rows? Four rows are too grinding, right? ”

Peter began to whine again.

"Your Highness, the four rows are the most ideal formation at present, and all countries are the same, even Prussia is no exception."

Field Marshal frowned.

"Hehe, then let me ask you, according to the formation of the scene, how many people can shoot at the same time in the first row of nine companies?"

"If the team is intact, a salvo will have 270 soldiers fired at the same time"

"What if we change it to a three-line shape?"

"If it's three rows... At the same time, 360 soldiers should have fired, but if you do this, the width of each platoon will increase dramatically, and it will be difficult to swing out unless the battlefield is very wide. And three rows of circular firing, it is too late in terms of reload time"

"Let me tell you what I think, let's say there are the same number of soldiers on both sides, one uses a three-line formation, and the other uses a four-lined formation, in the first round of shooting, regardless of the distance and hit rate of the two sides, let's count it according to fifty percent, 360 people can shoot at the same time to kill 180 people, and 270 people can shoot at the same time to kill 135 people. After three salvos, there will be 675 men left on the three-line side, and 540 on the four-line side. So may I ask the marshal, isn't it bad to spend more ammunition and consume more enemies? ”

"Hmm... This has to be when the width of the battle line allows, and the situation in the actual battle process is more complex and changeable, and it cannot be used so rigidly..."

"Then let me ask you again, who is now left with the gap between the nine companies in each platoon? The width is not enough to squeeze it! Right? You said don't be too rigid! The more soldiers in the same platoon can shoot at the same time, the greater the damage will be inflicted on the opponent, and the less damage the opponent will inflict on us. ”

"However, it is very difficult to reload in this way, and it requires extremely high coordination between soldiers, and in case of unexpected situations, such as flank breaches, it is more difficult for a three-line formation to turn and move than a four-line formation."

Marshal Apleksin Jr. retorted without thinking.

"What's so difficult about that! It's good that you march in a square team before the battle, like a 9x9 one, the left and right three rows, the upper and lower rows can be separated at any time, which is exactly in line with what you said is not rigid and adaptable."

“... Uh, this one."

"Don't earn it, just practice it on the spot!"

Empress Elizabeth spoke.

"Let's rest first, come back in the afternoon and look at it, and give the soldiers a noon time to train in the three-line formation"