Eagle Byzantium

Although Amalfi is not far away, and Bohemond's siege position is also there, but Haverley only sent messengers to communicate with each other.

Subsequently, the entire detachment began to cross the area crisscrossed by several rivers to capture the main force of the Greek rebels. In front of the core mountainous area of ​​Lucania, under the white mist, the Normans and their servants repaired a bridge that had been hastily demolished. Then, with a high degree of vigilance, several teenagers fired under the banner of Haverley. As the war drums sounded, the Calabrian light troops in front carefully held up their shields, crossed the slightly trembling river shaken by the drums, and arrived there.

But Gawain left only some messy flags on various hills to confuse people. In the end, Harvey drove his horse angrily to a high ground where he could have a bird's eye view of the surrounding passages. He could only see the deep and dark place under the mist in front A winding ravine.

"Why have we been running away?" After walking for fifteen miles in a row, at the camp behind the dense forest, many Greeks who came to accompany the army could no longer bear it. They walked from the Greek district of Calabria to Lei Jiao, then went around to Trupusa, then to Brangado, and then here, sandwiched between the high mountains between Lucania and Taranto, from late autumn to frost, and now the cold winter, But he is always being chased.

It was the request of many Greek nobles and soldiers to fight to the death with the small group of Norman pursuers, so they surrounded the "Grand Duke of Calabria and Lucania" and strongly demanded to turn around and fight.

Gawain, who stood under the authentic Red Hand War banner, leaned on Sabina and was feeling tired. When faced with the questions from everyone, his answer was very straightforward, "Because we can't fight, we have to keep running." , but as long as we keep running, the Normans will be the losing side."

"But the opponent only has two to three hundred Norman knights, and I estimate that half of them are just Italian natives who have received knight training. We have a fighting strength of four to five thousand people." A Greek minor nobleman was impassioned.

Then Gawain thought for a while, then nodded and said okay: We will form a formation and fight the Normans in this place called Constantiam. Gawain waved to Diogenes and Andodate, indicating that the responsibility of forming the array would be given to the former, while the latter was responsible for recording the memo.

Diogenes dusted off the frost on his turban, half-knelt on the ground, and said in front of everyone, "Constantian is a narrow and gradually rising highland. We can divide the general formation into three rows. The Romans who came to serve the Archduke lined up in a line, using spears and shields to resist the Norman charge. I took the Tecopo mercenaries and Titicius' Cuman cavalry, all of them. Dismounted and positioned himself on a slightly higher ground to attack the enemy with bows and arrows, while the Count...the Archduke Commander, with all the Italian companies and Varangian guards, was at the highest point to protect the general's standards and baggage. , and act as a reserve force - Finally, I hope that His Excellency Tatisius will pull out 60 cavalry to guard the hillside behind Constantian to protect our retreat. "

Titicius nodded, and Gawain behind him applauded, saying that this arrangement could not be more exquisite, and explained, "This kind of narrow long bag-shaped position, set up step by step, I think can just offset Norman The charge of people is conducive to the battle, and the enemy can be suppressed with military superiority." Then the self-proclaimed Grand Duke said. He also knelt down on one knee and pointed with his finger at Diogenes' "Defense Plan" - "I think that two hundred Tecopo people on horseback can be in the second column with General Taticius's Cuman cavalry. , and the remaining three hundred skirmishers on foot moved to the high ground on the cliff three hundred feet to the left of our army."

After speaking, Gawain pointed to the actual scene of the high ground behind. The other officers looked at the terrain there and nodded in agreement with the Grand Duke, "This will make it easier for the archers to have a wider shooting range."

After the calculation was settled, the military servants began to push the baggage and luggage rumblingly up the mountain, sweating like rain. The Red Hand Company followed Diognis's formation and spent about half an hour turning to face Nuo. The Man people were pursuing them and formed a huge formation.

Among them, the first column has the largest number of people. All the Greeks are sixty or eighty people, arranged in five or six columns in depth, with shields and spears set up. They stand there densely. The leading nobles ride on horseback to supervise each other. array.

Gawain, who was sitting at the top, looked at the undulating mountains around him, and then issued an order to the guards, Titicius and Francesco, "In order to ensure smooth command, the largest red hand cross sword flag is responsible for guidance." The whole army is fighting, and my red hand battle flag is aimed at you. Once it is waved, you have to come over to discuss with me and adjust your deployment and strategy. "

Several people agreed.

Then the thick fog slowly dissipated. At about the third hour in the morning, the Calabrian cavalry who came to report the news rushed out of the other side's valley and ran in front of the Greek formation. Then he shouted to everyone: ,

"The noble Count Humphrey de Aguilus, I ask you if you are willing to continue fighting. If you are not willing, there is no need to form a formation anymore. All of you should come down the mountain and surrender to the count."

"Fight on!" All the Greeks and nobles collectively roared, and the sound shook the mountains and fields.

So the Calabrian cavalry also shouted, "I will convey your wishes to the count. He should come to talk to you in person right away, using lances and swords." After saying that, the cavalry cackled. The clatter of hooves ran to the other side of the valley.

Soon, the sound of war drums and trumpets rang out. In the wilderness, between the mountains, knights holding lances, wearing Norman-style chain mail and helmets, formed a neat and wide team on horseback, swaying and slightly shaking the tip of their spears, and calmly approached the Greek position in Constantine.

"Resist me." The drums of the Greek formation at the front also sounded, and the small nobles continued to encourage their subordinates.

At this moment, the red hand flag was waving on the top of the mountain. Seeing this, Diogenes, who was urging the Tekopo mercenaries to check their equipment, remembered Gawain's instructions in advance, and quickly came to Gawain's location on the top of the mountain with Taitsius, who was supervising the battle at the same time.

"How far is our third formation from the second formation?" The self-proclaimed Grand Duke commander asked specifically.

"About 500 feet." Diogenes replied.

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"What about the second and first formations?"

"Farther away, about 700 to 800 feet."

Then, Gawain nodded and said something shocking to the guard, "Okay, when the battle starts, the second and third formations under my direct command will be able to evacuate in time."