As the saying goes, "10,000 people, boundless", the number of Swabian troops concentrated on the Rivoli Heights directly exceeded 12,000 people, and the soldiers with kite-shaped shields and spears lined up in a neat queue were sandwiched between the gaps in the infantry, and the looming sturdy German knights, this powerful force was slowly approaching the Rivoli Heights, putting great pressure on the Lombard soldiers stationed on the heights.

"Alberto, the army of the Germans should not be underestimated, their infantry is so elite, their knights are so brave and good at fighting, compared to the main force led by Otto III, Duke of Swabia himself." Ezzo II pointed forward with a horsewhip in his left hand and said to his cousin Alberto beside him:

"When the Germans first attacked, I didn't know where they were attacking, whether it was Lake Garda on our left flank, or the Adige River on our right flank, or the Rivoli Heights, where I was.

Now we don't have to guess anymore, they are going to take this place and break through the Rivoli Heights. ”

"My lord, the Germans are too deceitful, please allow me to lead the knights out of the battle and rub their sharpness first!" Belgato bowed slightly and said aloud passionately.

"Don't be impulsive, Belgato, the morale of the enemy is high, and sending valuable cavalry to storm the enemy array at this time is tantamount to hitting a stone with an egg." Ezzo II shook his head, reached out and pressed Bergato's shoulder, signaling him not to be impulsive: "Let's hold on to the Rivoli Heights first, and try our best to block their attack, and when their morale is weakened and exhausted, it will be the time for us to counterattack, and it will be a great opportunity to be active." ”

"I beg your pardon for being reckless, my lord," said Bergato, bowing his head and bowing respectfully, "My lordship, is it necessary to mobilize the army of the Adige River to the Rivoli Heights, since the direction of the enemy's main attack has been determined, it is not impossible to abandon the defense line of the Adige River and strengthen the defense of Rivoli." ”

"Don't be reckless, what we have to do now is to hold our ground, and it is not advisable to abandon the Adige line of the Adige River, which is tantamount to completely exposing the flank of the Rivoli heights that our army is holding onto, to the enemy.

Go back, Belgato, and lead the knights to prepare, and when the war is in the scorching heat, you will have a place to come. Ezzo II commanded with his right hand pointing to the position of the Lombard knights in the rear.

"Yes, my lord." Bergato touched his chest with his right hand and bowed down.

Just as Belgato was about to retreat, a quarrel broke out behind them, which immediately attracted the attention of Ezzo II and Belgato.

"What happened, and why did anyone dare to shout before the war?" Ezzo II asked the Lombard knights standing beside him.

"My lord, I beg your pardon, for it is the Normans from Sicily, who are very dissatisfied with your arrangement, and have asked to put them in easier positions, so they have come here to make a lot of noise." A middle-aged knight who looked like a guard knelt on one knee and bowed his head to report.

Ezzo II was evidently disgusted with the Normans, who did not obey orders and played their cards according to common sense, and he frowned, and said to the knight, who was still kneeling on the ground: "Arise, Renard, and tell me who is in the lead." ”

When Renard heard this, he breathed a sigh of relief, got up and said, "My lord, it was a young Norman knight who started the incident. A member of the Ottville family, named Tancred of Messina. ”

"Tancred? I've heard the name Caesar. The son of Guicaster's sister Emma, a well-known illegitimate child? Ezzo II's eyes could not help but flash with disgust, the contempt and dislike for bastards was very common among the nobility of the Middle Ages, if it were not for the hindrance of morality. The face of the Outville family, he has to call this young man called Tankred a dog mongrel.

"Call him in, I'll see what kind of guy this Tancred who is clamoring to see me." Ezzo II commanded with a wave of his hand.

"Yes, my lord." The chief of the Reynard guard stood up and bowed to leave.

Soon, a young Norman knight, only about fourteen years old, led by the chief of the Reynard guard, appeared in front of Ezzo II.

This person has a height of more than six feet, close to seven feet (that is, 1.9 meters), with a fit physique, handsome appearance, dragon and tiger steps, and a noble air between his gestures, which attracts everyone's frequent side attention.

Although the young knight named Tancred was only fourteen years old, he was already the leader of a Norman cavalry, and if he did not have enough talent and prestige, how could he be able to subdue the rebellious Normans at such a young age?

"This man is young, but not to be underestimated." The thought crossed Ezo II's mind.

When the young Norman knight Tancred. Morality. As Ottville approached Dudazzo II, he took off his Norman helmet with a nose guard, and his beautiful slightly curly blonde hair fell out, revealing a handsome and resolute face.

Ezzo II was keenly aware of a small scar on the left side of the man's face, caused by a cut with a sharp weapon, so it seemed that he had already been on the battlefield, and this scar on his face was a testament to his merits.

"Venerable King of Lombardy, Marquis of Milan, I, from Messina, Tancred. Morality. Tver, I have seen Lord Duke. Not tired, arrogant, or rude, Tanfred bowed slightly, and reported himself respectfully to his home, without the slightest hint of the arrogance he had shown before the Lombard knights.

"What are you doing here?" Ezzo II asked with a large number of Tantared twice.

"Lord Duke, I have been ordered by my uncle, Caesar, King of Sicily, to come to my aid with fifty brave and warlike Norman knights.

We are here to build our deeds, to gain honor and wealth, and we should be placed at the front of the array, not at the back waiting for the final outcome of the victory. "Tancred came to know what he meant.

In fact, what Tancred said was not accurate, he came to Italy this time, abducted fifty Norman knights and knights of the chamberlain without authorization, and came to the battlefield of northern Italy on his own initiative to make meritorious deeds, and there was no so-called "on the orders of Caesar, the king of Sicily".

However, in the end, Caesar saw that he could not say anything about Tanfred, so he had to order him to be posthumously recognized as the vanguard officer who went to support Lombardy.

Tancred was also bold, relying on Caesar's favor to take fifty Norman knights without permission, if Emma had not personally gone to Cannae's court in Apulia to intercede with Caesar, what awaited him Tancred might have been extremely harsh punishment, not as frivolous as now.

"In this case, I agree to your request, there are naturally never too many brave knights, and later you will bring your Norman knights to join the knight queue of Aberto, and when the decisive battle is a while, only you have a chance to perform." Ezzo II nodded slightly, then turned to Aberto and ordered, "Aberto, he will leave it to you to take care of." ”

In the eyes of Ezzo II, no matter how heroic Tancred was, he was now only a fourteen-and-a-half-old child, and he needed to be taken care of as adults.