It was the end of October on the Eastern European plains, with sunny skies and white clouds. Except for the slightly cold air, everything was perfect.

In Kiev, the artillery positions set up by the Roman Empire continued to pour artillery shells into the city. On average, every three hours, the empire would fire artillery into the city for thirty minutes without interruption, giving the people inside something to do besides waiting.

The 6-pound and 8-pound solid bullets flew continuously from low altitude and smashed viciously into the Russian positions in Kiev. All the Russians who were holding on to the city could only look dryly at the flying shells in the sky, with the naked eye visible.

The trajectory fell into the city. As a city with quite a history, Kiev's ancient city wall had bricks and earth exploding like sawdust everywhere. Further inside, many buildings in the city became crumbling, and the flames burned black.

The smoke can be seen for more than ten miles around.

Now that we have successfully besieged Kiev and even won two games, the next step is on the agenda.

"Attacking Kiev to seize this kind of city? Anyway, the old warlord's order is for us to go north to besiege Kiev and contain the Russian army from Minsk. Why don't we take this city and hold on here? Your Excellency, Commander of the Legion

, we ask for the honor of planting the eagle flag on the head of Kiev!"

The two legion commanders who had missed two battles were eager to try.

"The attack will cause damage to the imperial troops, but also to the fortifications. Will a destroyed city be used against the defenders of Minsk?"

"The supply is expected to be overwhelming. Our transport vehicles can only carry less than two months of supplies at most."

"After all, you are all cowards! How can a brave Roman be afraid of death! Lord Commander of the Legion, let me lead the team, and I will personally plant the Roman flag on the top of the city of Kiev!"

"How did you talk!"

"That's enough!" Seeing that a good military discussion was about to turn into a quarrel, Uncle Zhimiszia stopped the two army commanders, "I don't want to capture Kiev. Okay, you all come here, I will issue the order

.”

The main force stayed put, besieged Kiev, sent out cavalry, and asked the Poles to cooperate in destroying the forces of the pro-Russian Polish nobles. Before the main force of the Russian army in Minsk made any move, this was Rome's next step.

The commanders of each legion ordered to leave one after another after being assigned the task of sweeping up. In the big tent of the military meeting, only me, Uncle Zimiskia and the one-eyed old man General Cleisthenes were left.

Uncle Tzimiszia asked: "Your Highness, what do you think of my arrangement this time?"

"The Russian garrison in Minsk is not only responsible for defending the territory, defending the Kingdom of Sweden and the German region, but also part-time responsible for suppressing the local area. The number of troops in Minsk is the highest among the Russian garrison in several aspects, with more than 70,000 people. It fell.

Kiev needs to defend Kiev. Not to mention that the troops were damaged during the siege, but the destroyed fortifications are not enough to survive another offensive and defensive battle, and the city cannot hold tens of thousands of us at all. With tens of thousands of us

If we stick to our troops here, although we can attract the Russian army to the greatest extent, it is also very likely to catch up with us, and even drag down the main force of the Svyatos governor, which is not worth the gain." I thought about the disadvantages of sticking to Kiev.

I feel that this place is really tasteless. Who made the supply line so long? "The plan of the legion command is very good. Surround Kiev without attacking, send cavalry to cooperate with the Poles, sweep the area around Kiev, and take away what can be

Take everything away, everything that can be moved away, so that the Russians going south will not even have anything to eat, which will be very beneficial to our future operations."

Uncle Tzimiszia nodded happily: "Yes, that's what I mean, trap Kiev and let our army eat the nearby food, so that the Russian army in Minsk will have no food available after they arrive here.

!”

Except for Rome, European countries basically don’t have to prepare and supply food for the army. They have almost no logistical burden and no such concept, so it is a tradition to eat wherever they go. I didn’t expect that the Russians used it to defeat the Swedes, Napoleon, and Hitler.

The tactics actually let us use them.

Uncle Tzimiszia gave me a mission later. He took all the Polish vassal cavalry and went to each legion to ask for three battalions of imperial infantry. He gave me two battalions of chasseurs to coordinate with my breastplate.

The cavalry battalion visited the Poles centered on Zhitomir as far away as possible.

Since the mission is to be carried out before the Russians arrive, naturally the sooner we leave, the better. The command of the Chasseur Battalion was given to Uncle Tsimiszia on the first day, so I don’t have to think about the selection of the Chasseurs.

, I immediately took the order given by Uncle Zhimiszia and went to the major legions to ask for people.

The first three legions that had contact with the enemy suffered some casualties and were exhausted after forced marches, so those people are not within my consideration. Then the three infantry battalions will be from the two new legions.

chosen.

Hippias, the commander of the fifth Spartan legion, received me very cordially. This fat middle-aged man in his fifties was impressed by his loud voice and impassioned behavior in the military tent that he wanted to die for Rome immediately.

I was very impressed. After learning that I needed three infantry battalions, he immediately boldly announced that I would choose any battalion headquarters in the legion.

Hippias quickly gathered the soldiers of the legion and arranged them in battalion units in the legion's camp.

"I really envy His Highness to be able to lead troops into battle!" Hippias, commander of the Fifth Spartan Legion, suddenly said this to me without any reason.

I smiled and asked him, "Aren't we all working for the empire now?"

"Your Highness, I am a commoner in Anatolia. Fighting, brawling, and stealing things from the homes of pagans are common things. I have been accustomed to speaking directly with my fists since I was a child. I am a simple person. War,

It's time to speak with your fists. The army has already been killed, so why besiege the city? Look at those generals with noble backgrounds, one or two making excuses for their cowardice!" Hippias said with resentment.

"Are you also dissatisfied with the strategy of the legion command?" I thought thoughtfully.

Hippias had no scruples about who Uncle Zimiskia was to me: "Yes!"

"You are a general with great personality."

I turned my hands behind my back and gave this cunning general a fairly fair evaluation. Anyway, I have noticed such a person.

"I just like to be straightforward."

Hippias goes straight?

I was still wondering why among the several army commanders, he was so keen on attacking and even threatened to personally lead the team to capture the city of Kiev. I dared him to strive for performance in front of me, but the reason was that he just said that he was a civilian.

It is generally difficult for civilians in the empire to climb up the ranks after reaching the position of legion commander. At this time, based on the experience and strategies accumulated over hundreds of years, the civilian who is the legion commander has the title of knight. At this time, it is most secure.

The method is to find a marriage between a middle- and lower-class aristocratic lady or a wealthy family to lay the foundation for future heirs. Within three generations, the grandson will become a baron or viscount. However, some commoners who are appreciated by the nobles can often soar to the sky.

, like an old scumbag, his title before his death was a military count.

After selecting two infantry battalions, I left the military camp of Hippias, went to the 10th Reinstein Corps, and selected an infantry battalion. After the three infantry battalions were selected, it was dusk, and it was time for dinner in the military camp.

In the army, the staple food is bread, and the meat is mainly beef and pork. Due to Orthodox Christian beliefs, the army will distribute fish emulsion and even vegetarian meals during Lent. Of course, these are provided in the usual garrison.

food.

During peacetime marches, the food provided by the Roman military camp came from the traditional method of the Vikings, "stew".

The staple food is still 1 pound of bread. After a day of marching, the soldiers received the bread and gathered around the marching pot. They put olive oil, meat, vegetables, radishes, onions and salt into the pot and stewed it slowly. After dinner, that night

The remaining bottom of the pot will be retained for the next day. If there is a lack of vegetables and other supplies, just put the bread and biscuits in boiling water and stir them into a paste.

Next to each marching pot, the company steward and the flag bearer acted as cooks and distributed food. After the soldiers received the bread and food, they would sign their names from the company steward and then receive their daily quota.

Wine. In the Roman army, wine was very important, just like condoms and chocolate were to the Medician soldiers.

In my Atalandi Cavalry Battalion, I received the same meal as the battalion commander. I ate the dinner with bread, which tasted as muddy as the food. A man who swaggered past the camp gate and asked me to look at it.

You have to keep your eyes straight.

A German female literary youth appeared, and she was wearing a dark blue and white-edged foreign trainee officer's uniform, a blue shoulder strap, and a three-cornered hat. This guy who likes beauty also pinned a piece on the side of his hat.

Ornaments and a few ostrich feathers.

The first thought I had when I saw Filetlia reminded me of stealing military secrets, but this is not the 21st century. Most diplomats pay to be trainees in their army, as military personnel.

Start first.

"What is she doing here? It's not like the Roman army just paid money to be an officer and steal lessons." The elusive Assassin suddenly came out from behind me.

I couldn't help laughing and said: "I think it was my father who asked her to come. There is a Prussian prince in the Roman army. It would be a good choice to scare the Russians."

While the two of us were talking, Filetria came over. She said hello, "Yo!", and then looked at Assassin next to her.

"your friend?"

"My bodyguard, Hans, is here too?"

"Yes, that's why I came to find you."

"Sure enough." I turned to Asa and smiled hard. ____________________________________________ Some children said that France is a big agricultural country, so it can make eggs, and Rome can use olive oil... In fact, during the Russian campaign, Napoleon's Grand Army used eggs

None of them were shipped from France. Those eggs were kindly snatched from the hands of the old Russian uncle by French bankers holding high the tricolor flag of "freedom," "democracy," and "revolution."

Of course, the big wave of [meat] toilets in Europe also contributed a part, and Prussia also contributed a part... Also, I read a piece of information a few days ago. During a certain period in 1830, the price of oil was at

There are seven times more eggs in London...5 times more in North America....
Chapter completed!