There had been a confrontation between Kniprod and Alexander, and after inflicting heavy losses on Pskov, the Teutonic Knights were intent on taking advantage of the victory to pursue Novgorod, which was weakly defensive. At that time, Alexander was just starting out as a grand duke, but on the battlefield, the battle-hardened Grand Master saw the horror of this man.

At that time, Novgorod had not yet formed a new army, and had always adhered to the principle of neutrality, just a weak commercial republic, although rich, but vulnerable to the Teutonic Knights.

However, Alexander, who was only in his twenties at the time, became a stumbling block in his way. And he has been in this block for nearly ten years. With his strong diplomacy, that man actually caused the princes of the Holy Roman Empire to recall Kniprov because they were afraid that the Teutonic Knights' power would be too large, and this method had to be impressive. Although the Teutonic Knights had to submit to the demands of the Holy Roman Empire at that time, the Grand Master was very impressed by Alexander's methods.

Ten years after losing that opportunity, Alexander did everything he could to make Novgorod an equal to Tver, Moscow, and Vladimir, and now rivaled the Teutonic Order.

It was only ten years, and it was for this reason that Kniprod decided that he could not let Alexander continue to grow.

Looking at his puzzled subordinates, Kniprod shook his head and ordered, "Everything went according to plan. Even if he did have intentions, the rabble of the Rus' principalities would not be of great use in delaying. Let Maximilian and Wiggins try to make the auxiliary soldiers charge, but be sure to keep the fire and don't use the armored knights until they force Alexander out. ”

"Understood!"

・・・・・・

At the same time, people in Novgorod also felt the depression and panic before the war.

"What kind of medicine is in Alexander's gourd, and he has put the command in my father's hands when the war is imminent?" Sergei grabbed the herald by the collar and roared, "Doesn't he know that we're all going to be doomed if this continues?" We're not here to be cannon fodder. Except for the few mechs we brought with us, the others here are all infantry, and these people can't hold the Neva fortress at all! "Hearing Alexander's so-called military order, everyone was silent, but Major Sergei, the son of the commander of the Kesman corps, suddenly attacked.

Alexander ordered the coalition forces to be the main force to hold the Neva River, and the new army under his command was completely missing. What are you kidding, with them? Even the weapons used were old-fashioned smoothbore rifles, and the equipment rate of even firing guns was pitiful, while the auxiliary soldiers of the Teutonic Knights had a staggering number of rifles, not to mention the staggering burst of guns and all kinds of artillery. Not to mention anything else, how could those torrents of steel be able to withstand by them? No wonder Sergei was furious.

"Sergey, calm down." Looking at his impulsive son, Captain Kesman said flatly, the man was still calm at the moment.

But the herald was expressionless and said, "I only obey the orders of the Grand Duke, and I am only responsible for delivering orders, and I don't know anything else." Lead all coalition forces to defend the fortress and not take a step back until the opposing mech-knights exceed five. ”

"Five?" The Commander of the Kesman Corps asked, with some confusion, why Alexander had given such a strange order. His character had always been cautious, and in any case, Aristotle's orders were too risky, and the transfer of Vasily's elite army made him even less confident about holding the fortress.

"Yes, it's five. That's what Archduke Alexander said. The herald replied.

"Hmph," Sergei snorted, "when the time comes, who will have time to retreat under the torrent of steel, Grand Duke Alexander's order is really ridiculous." Could it be that we are just here to be cannon fodder? ”

As soon as these words came out, the faces of the other Rus' generals also changed, they were involved in the Great Western Expedition against Poland, and it was clear that Warsaw was just around the corner, but the situation took a turn for the worse due to the intervention of the Teutonic Knights. The shadow of the Black Cross's torrent of steel still lingers, and they don't want to repeat the mistakes of the past, once that happens, this time the nearly 10,000 Rus' allied troops will not have time to retreat and there is a danger of annihilation. And it is one thing to obey Alexander's command, and it is another thing to go or not to die. They don't want to be cannon fodder in Novgorod, even if Alexander really has a good idea.

Just when everyone was hesitating whether to stay in the fortress or not, the herald was followed by the old man in the cloak who revealed his true face.

"Ladies and gentlemen・・・・・・" a hoarse and gentle voice sounded.

"Your Excellency, Grand Imam!" Everyone was taken aback and looked at the old man in front of them, it was the Grand Imam of Isdel?! He appeared in such a dangerous place. As Orthodox Christians, they reverently saluted the Grand Imam of Isdir.

"How did you get here? It's too dangerous here. ”

"It's the Grand Duke of Alexander, who asked the old man to come here and say that you are kings." Grand Imam Isder waved his hand and looked at General Rus in front of him, and even the unruly Sergei had to bow his head humbly. "Please be able to trust the old man and the Grand Duke Alexander, this time the plan is leaky, although there will be a battle here, it will definitely not be the fiercest battlefield. But your ability to hold on here is the key to victory in this war. If you don't feel at ease, the old man will be here with you until the end of the war. ”

Everyone was stunned by what the Grand Imam said, you must know that this place is about to become the front line, and no one can guarantee that there will be no accidents, the so-called son of a daughter will not sit down, not to mention the identity of the Grand Imam, if there is anything wrong, they will die. With nothing to say, they looked at each other and nodded.

"Since you said so, Grand Imam, we will definitely stick to this place and never take a step back!" Commander Kesman was the first to take a stand, and the other generals also bowed their heads in agreement.

"May the gospel of God cover the armies of jihad, and the Lord bless the kings with victory, Amen."

"Amen!"

・・・・・・ (To be continued.) )