At the time, Egil used to deflect the subject** and did it as a fake. An emissary was sent to deliver the message to the barracks near Krakow. Directly summoned the troops and horses, and was ready to send troops.

Despite this moment, the conscription troops of France, which was far away from England, had not yet arrived. But corresponding. The Empire acquired a larger number of levies from its newly conquered German territories. Plus the conscripted troops of Scandinavia and Eastern Europe, and the 100,000 Norman professional troops. Egil still had an army of over 700,000 men.

These 700,000 troops were scattered in the capital Krakow, as well as in various barracks in the Polish province near Krakow. All kinds of supplies and supplies are constantly being transported from all over the empire. At the end is the atmosphere of great militarism. The soldiers ate lamb meat and drank spirits. Trained hard every day.

The children of the nobles who had studied in the military academy were encouraged, and the veterans who had seen it on the battlefield showed off one by one. Even more conspicuous are the veterans who stole a vote in Constantinople and are now rich men. That's a real signboard. The bluffing recruits itched in their hearts. I can't wait for the emperor to give an order, and go to the battlefield to fight to the death with the Tatars. The officers counted on fame, and the soldiers looked forward to the riches they had snatched.

This vote was fed with Norman King's elite soldiers, and they all wanted to go to the battlefield to fight for their lives. I look forward to it all night. Some people even dream about things related to it when they sleep and dream about it. Shouting dreams of killing enemies. As a result, it almost caused a camp roar. In the end, he was dealt with by military justice...... But they also really, really can't think of it. The Norman Emperor really blew the rallying horn in the middle of the night, at two or three o'clock in the morning.

At that time, Maria, who rushed to hear the news, wrote these words as a historical record. There is no mention of Egil being taken to the barracks by his wife. Haosheng covered up his man:

"At the beginning, the city of Krakow was boiling. Lights are everywhere, and the night is like day. The reason is that the emperor accepted the imperial concubine, celebrated with the whole world, and smiled in the city. But it's only halfway. When the emperor heard that 500,000 Tatar troops had crossed the Ural Mountains, Kokhashan was in a hurry. When the emperor heard the news, he was in a hurry and ran between the banquets to the camp of the Praetorian Guard. Convey the Emperor's Command. Gather an army. Immediately rushed to Kazan to fight.

The emperor was advised left and right, and the festival was solemn and could be postponed. Kazan Castle is strong, and there is no obstacle for a while. However, the emperor was full of color and retreated. Beat the drum and summon it, and take the stage to tell the three armies. Said: I can't bear to see my siblings sitting in the city, and enjoying myself alone. After speaking, his tone was choked. The three armies were moved, and the mountains shouted long live. So he marched overnight and rushed to Kazan to ......"

That's it, Maria's article, insisting on turning black into white. Describe Egil, a bastard who is afraid of his wife hiding in the barracks, as a good leader who loves soldiers like a son. This record has been handed down to future generations. A few hundred years have passed. Who can still know what he really wanted back then? Who would not regard Egil as a great leader who put public and private first? No wonder Dr. Hu Shi said that history is a little girl who can be dressed up...... In this way, the wise and martial Norman Emperor went to Kazan with nine wives and an army of more than 700,000 troops. Ready to beat Meng Yuan hard. At the same time, near Granada, an important city in southern Spain. The Empire's campaign to conquer the Iberian Peninsula also reached its highest peak.

When Egil's powerful lackey, Imperial Marshal Farr followed the Emperor's orders. With the help of the Norman Empire's Western Mediterranean Fleet, he unexpectedly launched an attack on the Spanish lord, Cid of Valencia. The world was shocked.

This city is like poetry. There are palm trees and countless seabirds and fish. A coastal city rich in products. Commerce and trade are developed and culture is flourishing. A city that grew rich under Cid's rule. Marshal Farr, who had lost his mind in the wind and waves of the Mediterranean, was burned to ashes. And Cid, this half-life veteran, brave and strong warrior. and the generals and rulers of Iberia who were the best at war. and his city was reduced to ashes along with him.

There isn't much new in this campaign. It's just that the Norman army fought across the sea, and the hillbillies of Iberia had never heard of it. So I was caught off guard. The Iberian Peninsula is very terrainous. Surrounded by the sea on three sides and facing the mountains on the other. Historically quite closed. The invaders either crossed the Strait of Gibraltar and attacked from North Africa. Or from the Pyrenees to the north. There are two places, one in the south and one in the north. The Iberian vision and insight were limited.

They had never seen before, with such a large army. It can transport tens of thousands of troops to land at once. Even when the Eastern Roman Empire was in its heyday, it occupied most of the Iberian Peninsula. The Balearic Islands must also be used as a transit point. Only then was he barely able to travel by sea to transport troops and supplies.

And this time, the Iberian nations also knew about the Normans' ambitions for themselves. However, they usually believed that the Normans would attack from the north, over the Pyrenees. Therefore, the kingdom of Aragon should be the first to be attacked. And the news keeps coming. The Normans sent troops in the province of South Flanders. Accumulate supplies. It also indirectly proves this speculation. Attention is drawn to the north of the Pyrenees. Field Marshal Farr's feint force went up.

In this way, after the fall and the burning of the city of Valencia. The Norman marshal rode out and plundered the Iberian plateau. Conquer the city. And with the death of Cid. The Duchy of Valencia, which he had maintained, vanished. Under the terrifying onslaught of the Norman hussars, he rode an Andalusian horse and held a javelin cavalry crossbow. The Iberian cavalry, who were said to have come and gone like the wind, died one after another. The elite light cavalry, which the Iberian lords were proud of, entered the sauna like snow lions after encountering the Norman hussars. One face will collapse the army.

And just like that, it took a little bit of time. The entire Duchy of Valencia, including the central Iberian city of Toledo, came under the rule of the Norman Empire. A quarter of Iberia's territory was conquered.

After this, the Moorish territories of southern Iberia. For Sultan Arslan went on an expedition to Egypt. So the dragons have no leader. is in a defensive stance and therefore does not attack. And in the north of Iberia. The cunning King Alfonso of León-Castel. He came up with a plan - he sent lobbyists to lobby Marshal Fahr to read the force. Establish yourself as Duke of Valencia – or perhaps as a king.

"You have a strong army in your hand. Heroes of the world. How could you be willing to work under the tyrant of the Norman Emperor? Then my Majesty would like to be an ally with you. Watch and help each other. You can also reign supreme in Iberia. How nice would that be? My Majesty has a fourteen-year-old daughter who has never married......

Halfway through the envoy's speech, he heard Field Marshal Farr burst out laughing. Then he laughed along. Then the laughter was over. Marshal Farr cut down the messenger.

The persuasion failed. Alfonso had to pick himself up. Prepare for a battle to the death with Field Marshal Farr. Northern Iberian Trinity. King Alfonso of León-Castil, King Ramiro of Aragon, and King Carlos of Portugal mobilized all their direct forces and vassals. Together with some of the remaining mercenary troops, they formed an army of 50,000 people. In the remote Iberian region, this can be said to be a thing that has never been done before. Even in the years when the campaign to recover lost ground was at its most intense. Nor had these kings mobilized so many troops. It seems that Marshal Farr really scared them.

So, in June, a fierce battle was fought between the Norman army of 20,000 and the combined army of northern Iberia near Toledo. Unexpectedly, when a fierce battle broke out between the two sides. Another Norman army, taking advantage of the fact that the coalition army was moving south and the interior of the country was empty, crossed the Pyrenees! And occupied most of the territory of the three countries of the coalition army!

In the case of the occupation of the homeland. The coalition rabble was slightly provoked by the spies of the Norman army, and then scattered. Collapsed without a fight.

Forthwith. The Norman army took the initiative. Easily crushed the three kings and their last remaining guards and servants.

In this way, the Norman Empire occupied a large part of the Catholic territory in northern Iberia. Occupied three-fifths of the entire Iberian Peninsula. After that, Field Marshal again led the army south into the territory of the Islamists. Successive battles. Captured Córdoba, an important town in the south-central part of the peninsula. The army approached Granada, the last Moorish stronghold on the peninsula.

Suppose this fortress, which had only two or three thousand men, was occupied by the Normans. Then the Moors did not have a strong enough stronghold on the whole peninsula, and they had to obediently withdraw from the peninsula. Go back to their native North Africa. This can be said to be an indescribable blow to the Sultanate of Moldova, which is booming in national strength.

And yet at this very moment. Arslan, who got the news and hurriedly gave up the attack on Egypt, returned to North Africa with his 30,000 elite Moorish army...... A great war is about to begin—strange thing.

In fact, Arslan did want to continue north, return to his territory in Granada, and fight the Normans to the death - but he no longer had the chance. The Normans' Western Mediterranean Fleet sank the last bit of the Barbary pirates he had recruited into the Mediterranean and blockaded the Strait of Gibraltar. He didn't have a boat. Even ships could not break the Norman blockade. Trapped and dying in North Africa, unable to move on......

(To be continued)