Chapter 932 The Battle of the Army
East Rome also had a powerful cavalry group, and its heavy infantry was also very good. The Roman legion was invincible, but the East Rome was divided from the West Rome, which led to the decline of Rome's strength, and the West Rome was directly destroyed by the barbarians.
The surviving Eastern Rome has never been able to restore its strength at its peak. The biggest problem is that after losing the half of Western Rome, this half of Rome is too small in size and insufficient in population. But about one hundred thousand.
At the most, there were only 129,000 people, less than 150,000, and the number of soldiers in the Tang Dynasty was 600,000 to 700,000. There are 490,000 standing soldiers in China.
The Byzantines had to fight both the barbarians in the west and the north, as well as Persia in the east, and Egypt, the imperial granary in the south, often had problems. in the case of.
Especially in the deadly clash with Persia, they continued to lose blood.
Persia and Byzantium have fought for hundreds of years, and if they lose tens of thousands of people, they may be in danger of subjugation. Even if they barely block foreign enemies, civil strife will inevitably break out. It is either royal internal strife, or local governors and generals usurping the throne and rebelling. Both countries have experienced many this kind of thing.
In contrast, since the time of Empress Gao Zongwu, Datang has fought many defeats in which more than 100,000 people were wiped out when facing Tubo, Khitan, etc., but still quickly organized a larger-scale counterattack .
Even Goguryeo, Baekje, Eastern Turks, and Western Turks were destroyed.
So sometimes, it is useless to equip it well.
The heavy cavalry of the Persians and the naval fleet of Byzantium were both very powerful. However, Persia’s successive wars and serious annexation of domestic land led to the bankruptcy of the cavalry.
In contrast, although the government soldiers of the Tang Dynasty also provided their own equipment, under the implementation of the land equalization system in the early stage, the government soldiers from the rich peasant and landlord class could still guarantee excellent equipment. Excellent military casting capabilities can ensure the supply of standard military equipment to the soldiers.
Even on motorized animals such as war horses and pack horses, it can be guaranteed.
Even in the mid-Tang Dynasty, the government military system had collapsed, but the imperial court switched to the recruitment system and the vassal system, which could still supply a huge number of troops.
Money is not only very important to an individual. A penny of money is difficult for a hero, but it is even more important to a country and a dynasty.
The demise of a country is the financial collapse first.
"Saburo!"
Zhang Chao’s voice came from outside the door.
"Come in."
"Sanlang, the person you want has been brought."
Qin Lang nodded, and Zhang Chao withdrew.
"Good knife!"
In front of Qin Lang, a middle-aged man stared at the knife in Qin Lang's hand and praised.
Qin Lang handed him the knife, "You are rewarded!"
The man took it carefully, "It's too expensive, I dare not accept the small ones."
"As long as your task is completed this time, an Uzi knife is nothing."
The man watched carefully the precious sword in his hand for a while, then carefully put it back into the sheath, and put it back on Qin Lang's case.
"The little one is fortunate to be appreciated by Saburo, even if he goes down the mountain of swords and the sea of fire."
"Actually, it's not that serious. I just let you go back to your old job and do your old job again."
"Don't dare, I made an oath early on, I won't dare to smuggle again."
"This is a top-secret mission. Your return to your old job is just a cover, and it doesn't really let you go back to your old job."
"Saburo has orders, just confess."
The middle-aged man used to be a sea smuggler. Of course, he often played a cameo role as a pirate, and occasionally as a sea merchant intermediary. Anyway, he can do whatever he wants to make money.
In the South China Sea, it was also very famous.
But in the end, it still fell into Qin Lang's hands, but Qin Lang heard that although this person was very wild, he was still a good thief. It is a Hu merchant's ship, and it only robs goods and does not hurt people.
Not only that, he even has a good reputation in Lingnan, often paving roads and building bridges, helping orphans and widows, and winning the name of a great benevolent person.
Because of these, Qin Lang spared his life and handed him over to Li Junxian, thus becoming a secret stake in Datang.
"I know that after you were an official, it was helpless to do this job later. As long as you complete this task for me, I will recommend you as a seventh-rank official."
The man's face was flushed with excitement, and the scars on his face were purple and swollen, which became more obvious.
"What do you need small ones for?"
"Actually, it's nothing. Tomorrow you will pick up people at the pier. After you pick them up, you will quietly send them to Anshi City in Liaodong. You will send them safely and ensure that they enter Anshi safely."
The man was a little surprised.
Sending people to Anshi City in Liaodong is not a task at all.
"Things are not that simple. That person is a wanted criminal by the Guangfu. The three major naval forces at sea will chase him, so you have to find a way to escape the pursuit and send him to Anshi City safely."
Qin Lang smiled, "You have to rely on your own ability to avoid being hunted down and send people to Anshi. If you fall into the hands of the navy, I will not protect you. Your identity as the governor of the township department is hidden, and the township governor The Secretary will not admit it, understand?"
The man was taken aback by these words, and he couldn't help guessing wildly in his heart.
Could it be that the Duke of Wei secretly had an affair with the Goguryeo people, but it is impossible to think about it, and he couldn't figure it out for a while.
"Why, hesitated?"
"I know you have a lot of doubts, but sometimes, the more you know, the better, but the less you know, the better. On the way, don't ask around, remember that your task is to give someone away, and don't ask about other things .When the task is completed, you will be protected as a seventh-rank official, and then you will no longer have to be a hidden pile."
After the man left, Zhang Chao came in.
"Sanlang really wants to pass on the method of forging this Uzi sword to the Goguryeo people?"
Qin Lang smiled, "Not only the method of forging the Uzi knife, but also the method of forging Persian iron chain mail."
"Why?"
When the two countries are at war, isn’t this collaborating with the enemy and capitalizing on the enemy?
"I know what you are worried about, but don't worry, I don't need to cooperate with the enemy. This matter has been secretly reported to the saint, and the saint has also approved it, but it must be carried out in secret."
"I don't understand." Zhang Chao frowned, wondering what the **** was going on.
Qin Lang took out an Uzi knife, "Is this a good knife?"
"certainly."
"What about the Persian iron mail?"
"Nature is also a treasure for protection."
Qin Lang smiled slightly, "That's right, both are treasures."
"Then why do you still send the craftsman who knows how to make these two treasures to Liaodong?"
"I'm not only going to send those craftsmen to Liaodong, I'm even going to let that scarface reopen the smuggling route in the future, smuggling Uzi steel ingots and mail armor wires to the Goguryeo people."
"What kind of trick is Saburo playing?"
"It's just a very interesting game. The Goguryeo people want to build the Great Wall. I don't think it's enough, so I add some fun to them. First give them a few Uzi steel knives and Persian mail armor craftsmen, and then let the smuggler If you smuggle Uzi steel ingots and mail armor wires for them, if there are craftsmen and no materials, you can’t make Uzi steel knives and Persian mail armor.”
This made Zhang Chao even more puzzled.
"Why?"
"Actually, if you think about it carefully, you can understand it, but you are still confused. This shows that you are not careful, or you are not born smart enough."
"Just say it straight, what kind of tricks are you playing?"
Qin Lang said leisurely, "Didn't I ask you to read more books? Sun Tzu's Art of War has a saying. Firstly, soldiers attack strategy, secondly attack enemies, secondly attack soldiers, and secondly attack cities. War is an art, not just fighting and killing. .Especially in wars between major powers, they are getting more and more particular.”
"As early as a thousand years ago, Sun Wu told us that siege is a last resort, and that is the last step. In war, the first priority is strategy. We must deploy superb strategies, or defeat the opponent's strategic intentions in time. Furthermore, Use diplomatic means to win over allies, divide and attack enemies, and once again decide the outcome by field battles. Do not attack the city as a last resort. At this point, you are actually sending soldiers to the meat grinder. Every moment, there will be countless The sacrifice of soldiers under the city, not to mention the siege battle, is often protracted and consumes countless money, food and materials, which is the most costly way of war."
Zhang Chao was puzzled, "But now you give the enemy the foundry craftsman of the magic weapon armor, and smuggle steel ingots and wires to them. Is this still some top-level strategy and tactic? Why can't I understand it?"
"That shows that your level is not high enough. At best, you are a centurion, obeying the orders of the horn and leading the troops to charge into battle, because you still don't know how to think."
Zhang Chao, who was said to be brainless, was a little annoyed, but he really couldn't figure it out.
No matter how you look at it, Qin Lang always plays bad chess.
Uzi sword and Persian mail armor are top-notch items. How can someone give them to the enemy?
"Of course the Uzi steel knife and Persian mail armor are sharp weapons of war, but these sharp weapons have material restrictions. The Goguryeo people can't make these materials by themselves, do you understand?"
Zhang Chao nodded blankly, "That's right, what then?"
"Then, you said that the Goguryeo people can think of a way to make such treasures and good things? Can they think of a way to equip the army? But they can't produce these Utz steel and mail armor wire themselves, what should they do?"
"what to do?"
"We're smuggling them!"
Zhang Chao was angry, "You know I don't understand, why don't you explain clearly?"
Qin Lang shook his head, "You are really hopeless. You don't understand what I said so clearly? This is fishing. We gave them good things they couldn't refuse, and they would naturally find ways to manufacture these equipment troops. They The Great Wall of Liaodong is about to be built, so how can we refuse such good things as Uzi steel knife and Persian chain mail?"
"But after they have a craftsman, they have no materials. At this time, if the scar-faced smuggler is willing to return to his old business and smuggle materials such as woozi steel to the Goguryeo people, can the Goguryeo people refuse?"
"The Goguryeo people will be overjoyed, and then try their best to smuggle..."
But all of this is actually a bureau set up by Qin Lang. No matter how good the treasured sword or armor is, in fact, it does not play a decisive role in a country. The key lies in the people.
To put it simply, the Persian Sasanian Dynasty has less Uzi knives and iron mail armor? But why are they always hanged and beaten by the Romans? It's not because those soldiers are poor and can't afford these good things.
The Persian court could not provide these good equipment to the soldiers.
Are the Koguryo people able to equip it?
For war, it is not that the more sophisticated the weapons and equipment, the better, but the quantity is more important. If it cannot be equipped on a large scale, a few sophisticated weapons are actually useless, or even counterproductive.
The money for making one thousand Uzi knives may be used to make one hundred thousand ordinary iron knives, or more spear heads and arrowheads.
Equipping a hundred people with fine iron mail is far worse than equipping a thousand people with leather armor.
"The Goguryeo people spend a lot of money to make Uzi knives and iron mail armor. After they spend countless money and craftsmen's materials and time, they will lose their strength in the end. activities, to infiltrate, to infiltrate our people quietly..."
Qin Lang patted Zhang Chao on the shoulder, "I suggest you eat more walnuts."
"Eat walnuts?"
"Fix your brain!"
(end of this chapter)