"Jeffrey, the equipment we captured is repaired, let the soldiers change into weapons and equipment so that I can see what they look like in the army." William wanted to see how Jeffrey had formed the infantry, and said with a smile on his face.

"Mylord, His Highness William, please wait a moment." Jeffrey bowed to me with his right hand on his chest, turned around, and shouted to the infantrymen who were practicing walking in unison: "Soldiers, go to the warehouse, get your equipment, put on, turn back, run, one-two-one, one-two-one, one-......."

Looking at the figure of Jeffrey leading the infantry, William couldn't help but smile with relief.

About a quarter of an hour had passed, and Captain Jeffrey and his soldiers had begun to walk in front of William.

At a glance, I saw a total of twenty-one Norman sword and shield heavy infantry in the two rows in front of me holding oak round shields and Viking swords, wearing full-body chain mail and nose guards, and daggers hanging from their waists, striding forward, their expressions solemn The large shields in their hands seemed to be able to block any attack.

Behind them were four rows of thirty-six Norman tomahawk hoplites armed with long-handled Viking tomahawks, oak shields on their backs, short-sleeved chain mail, fur cloaks, and daggers hanging from their waists.

Behind them were six platoons of sixty-three Norman light infantry armed with large round oak shields and short-handled hand axes, and dressed in heavy cotton armor, and they were a stubborn reef that would not be destroyed by the waves, and would exist as the backbone of this infantry.

At the end of the line were three groups of Norman Javelin light infantry, numbering thirty men, carrying five throwing spears made of captured short guns, holding a large round oak shield in their left hand and a short spear about two meters three long in their right hand, and they would walk forward in burlap clothes, and they would act as long-range marksmen for this infantry.

"Well done, Jeffrey, you're able to assemble this infantry in such a short time, you're pretty good." William applauded and said with praise in his mouth.

"Mylord, His Highness William, this is what I should do, and it is the result of your good teaching." Jeffrey said with a smile and a right hand on his chest.

William patted Jeffrey's bent shoulder, laughed, and said, "I didn't expect honest people to be sycophants, ahahaha." Jeffrey, don't be modest, I'll expand the size of the infantry in the future, as long as you do a good job, I won't treat you badly. ”

"Yes, His Highness William." Jeffrey said with a smile and a right hand on his chest.

After observing the training of Jeffrey and the infantry, William walked contentedly towards the living room, humming an unknown ditty in his mouth, looking happy.

At this time, an obese figure in a gorgeous leotard walked over quickly and shouted: "His Royal Highness William, His Royal Highness William, I am Victor. Motley, please wait a minute. ”

Listening to this familiar voice, turning around and seeing Victor's disgusting figure, William's tone was slightly impatient, and said, "It turned out to be Victor, what's the matter with me in such a hurry." ”

"Your Highness William, Victor apologizes to you on behalf of the City Council for his abrupt invitation to attend a reception hosted by the City Council. This time, with the respect of all the members of the City Council, I would like to extend a solemn invitation to you to attend our reception. As he spoke, Victor bent down his fat body and saluted William.

William smiled and shook his head, waved his hand gently, and said with an apologetic expression: "Your Excellency Victor City Councilor, I'm really sorry, I've been a little unwell these days, maybe I'm a little tired from the past two days, and I won't go to this social reception." ”

"Well, that's a pity, Your Highness William, our invitation is valid at any time, please come and visit when you are well." With a look of loss on his face, Victor bowed somewhat exaggeratedly.

"Alas!"

Look at Victor. Motley left the barracks, and William sighed slightly.

These businessmen are really not giving up, they want to get it without any paying, and they will be persecuted with a little bargaining chip, and if these profiteers become big in the future, they will have it.

In the future, if his children and grandchildren allow these unscrupulous merchants to grow, they will end up with the same fate as James II of England and Louis XVI of France, and the mob and army they organized will be guillotined, and the great dynasty will also come to an end.

At that time, there may be things like the slave trade, the enclosure movement, the sheep cannibalism, the East India Company, the Opium Wars, the lanterns, and so on.

Perhaps these merchants should be treated like the Celestial Empire, with no power, and commerce is monopolized by the state (the Normandy royal family), burdened with heavy taxes, with iron chains on their feet, and shouting about taxes and taxes.

Retracting his chaotic thoughts and thinking about the current situation of the army, William touched his chin with his right hand and thought: "Now our army still has two weaknesses of light cavalry and infantry, the number of light cavalry is too small, and the training time of infantry is too short and too tender, if you want to make up for these two weaknesses in a short time, you only need to hire mercenaries." ”

It was William's merit to do it when he thought of it, and William summoned Steward Osborne and asked, "Steward Osborne, do you know any famous mercenaries near Lenebor City?" ”

Hearing this, Steward Osborne took out a roll of parchment from his bosom, spread it on the table and said, "Mylord, Master William, there are three mercenary groups near the city of Renebor, namely the Rodrigo Mercenary Regiment, the Servia Mercenary Regiment and the Swiss Spear Mercenary Regiment. ”

William looked interested and asked, "Oh? There are actually three mercenary groups in this small city. Steward Osborne, tell me what they're all about. ”

Osborne pointed to a name on the parchment and said, "Mylord, Master William." Let's talk about the Rodriguez mercenary group first, the leader of this mercenary group is called Rodrigo. Diaz, originally a knightly nobleman, was later deported into exile in Normandy. This mercenary group was composed of Rodrigo's knights, retains, and Spaniards. The asking price of this mercenary is not high, a total of 38 light cavalry, 8 pfennigh per person per day, but the mercenary should be a nobleman, so that he can be knighted in the future and restore the honor of the family. ”

"Oh! It's not too much to ask for Rodrigo, and if he shows enough ability and loyalty, I don't mind making him a knight, and I can talk to him later. William pondered for a moment and said.

Then Steward Osborne pointed to another mercenary group and said, "Yes, His Highness William. You see, this second mercenary group, the Servia Mercenary Regiment, is a large mercenary group composed of Serbian knights and heavy infantry, they have participated in many wars since they came to France from Serbia, and the asking price is relatively high, 25 pfennigh per person per day for knights, 6 pfennigh per person per day for infantry. ”

"Well, this mercenary group is too cost-effective, and there is no shortage of heavy cavalry and heavy infantry in our army, we don't need this mercenary group." William shook his head lightly and said.

Steward Osborne nodded, pointed with his right hand to the last mercenary group and said, "Yes, Master William, the last Swiss pikeman regiment has 90 Swiss pikemen and 30 Swiss halberders, and the leader is Daniel. Bühler. They demanded a daily salary of 3 pfennigs per person. ”

"This mercenary group is not bad, decided, tomorrow it will be called Rodrigo. Diaz and Daniel. Bühler came to the barracks to discuss the hiring. William's face showed a happy expression, and he spoke a little hurriedly.

"Obey your orders, Master William." Steward Osborne bowed.