King of Mercenaries

Chapter 20: Choosing some servants

Because of financial resources, Marin intends to increase the number of attendants from two to five. Because Kohler has a good brain, but his body is too thin. When a military officer is still successful, the combat power is very bad. Therefore, Marin felt that it was better to find another fighting force instead of Kohler's position. But Kohler continued to follow him as a quartermaster and steward. So, shortly after the news of the Frenchman's march into Italy, Marin asked Old Hoffman to help him choose a waiter in the manor!

Hearing that Marin was going to the battlefield. At this time, the old Hoffman was not happy. Why? Because of his second son, the business talents that he showed, made Old Hoffman feel that Marlin could have a good life even if he did not go to war. Before, he drove Marin out of the house to cast his army, also for the survival of his son. But now, Marin's ability is so strong, obviously no need to go to work hard. Therefore, neither the old Hoffman nor Mrs. Mary are willing to let Marin take another risk. However, this time Marin's attitude is very determined. He is very clear that with his own skills, it is not difficult to be a rich man in the future. However, in the age when the nobles in the Middle Ages took everything, the rich could not control their own destiny. Adler later wanted to inherit the Hoffman Manor and become a landed knight. Marin and two younger brothers will become wandering knight. In order to have the ability to dominate his own destiny in this dark age, Marin had to go to the battlefield to take risks. Besides, the success of Wallenstein and Tilly can always stimulate him. Therefore, Marin insisted on going to the emperor and fighting for the emperor.

In fact, Marin is so determined, in addition to his own fame, there is another important factor - he knows that the first round of the Italian war France will be defeated. Followed by the winning side, still afraid that there is no warfare? Moreover, on this battlefield there is actually the Holy Roman Empire, the Italian princes of Venice, the Papal States, the Principality of Milan and Florence, together against France and Savoy. It can be said that Maximilian I was not alone in the fight. Moreover, when the French army entered the Italian peninsula with arrogance, at the beginning, the Emperor did not send troops to block. Even the Italian princes and the Papal States did not stop at the beginning. Only Naples sent troops to block it and was defeated.

In Marin's view, the choices of the Holy Roman Empire and the Italian princes were not exactly what they wanted, but they were so accurate. After all, at the beginning, the French and Savoy coalition forces, as many as 60,000 people (37,000 French troops, 23,000 Savoyards), such a huge army, is extremely rare in the Middle Ages. At that time, whoever resisted was absolutely killing itself. Even if Naples sent troops to block it, but the French army was too strong, the result was direct defeat.

When the French army conquered the kingdom of Naples, the Italian princes gathered under the call of Venice and the Papal States and invited the Holy Roman Empire to participate. After all, Italy is torn apart and there is not enough power to confront the French. Venice was the first local tyrant in Italy. As the commercial overlord of the Mediterranean, Venice's fiscal revenue was not under France, and even higher. In the era when mercenaries began to rise, as long as you have money, you can recruit enough troops. Therefore, the rich Venice is the most powerful prince in Italy. Only the power of the Pope's special appeal can be compared with Venice.

Marin estimates that in order to win over the Holy Roman Empire, Venice may pay a portion of the bill. However, it will be until the establishment of the Holy Alliance in March next year.

Marlin was reluctant to wait until then, because Emperor Maximilian I would certainly be able to raise some military expenses this year. Other than that, his own territory, Austria and Burgundy, can also search for some war taxes. And for him, he must strive to enter the emperor's army as soon as possible.

Mix some qualifications. In addition, the emperor is also sure to pay more attention to those who are "starting" early, and may be trained as an officer. The army that will be temporarily recruited after the "sponsorship" of Venice next year is estimated to be more than the cannon fodder. Because, the batch of mercenaries, it is estimated that there is no training time, it is necessary to enter the battlefield.

...

Seeing that Marin was so determined, Old Hoffman did not say anything at all. After all, he also knows that the title and the cover are played on the battlefield. So, in the end, Old Hoffman decided to cooperate with Marin and choose a waiter. To this end, the old Hoffman summoned a young man in the manor, as well as the young man who was a serf, for Marin to pick.

Marin's request for the attendant is very high. He wants a warrior who can fight with him and loyal. Just like the stupid boldness of Kahn, although he eats a bit, he is brave and loyal. Unfortunately, not everyone is as brave as Kahn. When Marin chose the attendant, let the boys challenge Kahn and wrestle with them. As a result, none of them was Kahn's opponent. In desperation, Marin had to lower the requirement and no longer use the Kahn meal as the standard. After picking the right and left, Marlin finally selected only three young, strong, and obedient boys. Originally, he wanted to pick four. However, except for the three people selected, others are either too thin, too timid, or too sinister to meet the requirements. You know, in Marlin's view, his attendant is basically his own meat shield. At dangerous times, the attendant should protect him and fight with him. Therefore, if the combat power is too low, it will be easy to be killed; if it is timid, they will easily escape, and a traitors will not do it; in times of crisis, such people may abandon them. Therefore, Marin is rather lacking.

Just as Marin had a headache for the attendant, a selected waiter named Sauer suddenly said:

"Master Marin, are you looking for a brave, reliable follower? Well?" Marin slammed, but still replied:

"Yes!"

"I know such a person, I met when I was working hard in Bochum. His name is Schwartz. He is a very strong hard worker. He has great strength and is very loyal to people." Sauer is heavy because of his family. When I went to Bochum City the year before, I worked hard to earn money. The friend he knew was also a coolie.

"What is the way?"

"He is actually a descendant of the knight, but his grandfather did not have the right to inherit the territory, so he left the manor and went to Bochum City to do business. However, his father was not good at business, doing business at a loss, owing a lot of money. In desperation, Schwartz had to work hard in adulthood to help people earn money to raise their families and pay debts."

"After being a nobleman?"

"Well, Schwartz is physically strong, tall and tall, and probably as strong as Kahn. And he seems to know a little about martial arts."

"In this case, why didn't he go to be a wandering knight and go to a lord?"

"Young Master, when the knight want to fight horses and armor they buy it. Can you afford to buy Schwartz's current family situation?"

"Oh...and..."

"And, because their family owes a lot of money, the creditors don't allow their family to leave Bochum City, and avoid them escaping to escape."

"It turns out that, so, Sauer, will you ride a horse? If you will, lead the way, I will go see this Schwartz in person."

"Only a little..."

"Young imprudent, you told him to come over, why wouldn't they go to see him personally!" Kahn did not understand.

"Stupid, you didn't listen to Sauer saying that their family's creditors don't allow their family to leave Bochum City?"

"Oh..." Kahn groaned and touched the back of his head. This IQ made Marin very speechless.

Then, Marin, Kahn and Sauer, riding a horse, went to Bochum City and saw Schwartz who was licking rye at the door of a granary in Bochum. He saw a black-haired, tall man about 1 meter 83, who is full of muscles. He is carrying two bags of rye in a relaxed face. This bag of rye, at least 100 pounds. And Schwartz, there is a bag on the left shoulder, a bag on the right shoulder, and a relaxed face.

"The strength is not small!" Kahn could not help but admire.

After the end of Schwarz labor, Marin asked Sauer to invite him to a beer hall to discuss things.

"Excuse me, are you looking for me?" After Schwartz came to the beer hall, he first introduced himself to Marin and then asked politely.

"Mr. Lange, I heard that you are a descendant of the aristocracy?" Schwartz has a surname, surnamed Lange. In the Middle Ages, only nobles and identities had surnames. The general serfs, such as Kahn and Sauer, have only names and no surnames. Some senior aristocrats, in the middle of the surname, will also add a "Von".

"Yes, my great-grandfather was a picking knight, but my grandfather was not an heir. Moreover, our one is declining. You have seen it, I am a coolie now!" Schwartz looked depressed Answered.

"I heard that you will have some knight martial arts, why not go to be a knight?" Ma Linming asked.

"Mr. Hoffman, you know, the situation in our family, can I afford the horses and the armor? In fact, don't say that I have a horse, and our family does not. As for my martial arts, it is basically ancestral Some of the horses are fighting martial arts. As for martial arts, because there are no horses, I have no chance to practice and have only learned some theory. Strictly speaking, I have not been riding horses until now." He replied earnestly.

"Oh..." Marin was stunned by Schwartz's honesty. In later generations, Marin participated in many interviews and interviewed others. Ever, only people have to praise themselves, and there is no self-destructive shortcoming. Schwartz's sincerity makes Marin a little unaccustomed. However, Marin turned to be overjoyed. Isn't such an honest person exactly what he wants?

"I want to hire you to serve as my knight. Are you willing?"

Schwartz was silent and did not answer immediately.

"Given you have a certain martial arts, you pay 4 Finneys a day, eat and drink are counted as me." Marin opened the conditions.

Schwartz is still silent, seemingly thinking.

"Young Master, why do I only have 3 Finneys a day, but you give him 4 Finney?" Kahn grumbled dissatisfiedly.

"You are still very stupid to say that when you eat three people's meals alone. The cost of your meal is much more than others. When you can eat as much as others, and I will pay you 4 Finney a day!" Kahn didn't talk.

"Mr. Hoffman, I am very tempted by the conditions you open. However, our family owes a lot of money to others. The creditors do not allow members of our family to leave Bochum." Schwartz said helplessly.

"How much is your family owing to others?" Marin asked curiously.

"50 marks..." Schwartz said helplessly.

50 marks, equivalent to 8,000 Finney, may not be too much for a manor, but for a poor family, it is a huge sum. You know, Schwartz is a coolie, twice the amount of labor per day, but only earns 4 Finney days. Moreover, the money for eating has to pay for it. Although his appetite is not comparable to Kahn's meal, it is much more than normal. Moreover, the Schwarz family, whose father was dying because of business failure. The family, now only adult Schwartz, and her mother make money. In addition to the father lying in bed at home, there are two younger brothers. Schwartz couldn't make a few money when he was struggling, and his mother helped people to mend their clothes and earned less. Therefore, the debt of 50 marks almost collapsed his family.

"So... Mr. Lange, do you mind trying to wrestle with my attendant?"

"Oh... well..." Schwartz stood up and went outside the beer hall, and the three Marlins followed the past.

On the open space next to the beer hall, Kahn and Schwartz both stood and began to wrestle...

"Ah--" Kahn yelled and rushed forward, trying to catch Schwartz and fall.

Schwartz was very cautious and did not immediately face Kahn attack, but evaded it. Then he grabbed Kahn's arm and began to test Kahn's strength. Although Kahn is a rice bucket, his strength is naturally great and heavier than Schwartz. Schwartz tested and found that Kahn was stronger than himself. If he fight, he may suffer. So he began to use some combat skills to avoid Kahn's collision. The two men's matchups are very long, and it's common that Kahn is slamming, and Schwartz tries to avoid direct collisions. Marin saw it here and knew that if he dragged it down, Kahn's loss would be fixed. Because, Kahn does not know how to save energy, the front is too strong, and the consumption is too great. Sure enough, after a long time, Kahn gasped. After a while, Kahn didn't seem to be so fierce. Then, taking advantage of Kahn's chance to breathe, Schwartz shunned Kahn's frontal charge and violently slammed him to the ground with his skill.

"Yes, strong, and more thoughtful." Marlin was very satisfied.

After the test, Marin extended his right hand:

"Welcome to you, Mr. Lange, I need a powerful attendant like you!"

"But... Mr. Hoffman, I can't leave Bochum..." Schwartz said with dismay. He knows that following a knight may be dangerous, but it is also a rare opportunity. Because, he is confident that he can have a piece land with his own skills. As a descendant of a knight, he is not willing to be a humble person forever.

"Nothing, as long as you swear allegiance to me, I will help you pay off!" Marin said carelessly.

"That is 50 marks..." Sauer stayed a little.

Schwartz also had some stays, but he did not respond immediately, but first went home to discuss with his father. The next day, Schwartz rushed to the hotel where Marin lived, officially responded to Marin, expressed his willingness to become a Marin's attendant, and sworn and signed a contract document on the spot. Marin also went home and took 50 marks to help the Schwarz family pay off their debts. Moreover, Marin also arranged Schwartz's parents and two younger brothers, lived in Hoffman Estate to help manage the coal mine.

Schwartz's father, Quincy Lange, as a descendant of the nobility, is literate and understands calculations. Although he does not have a business talent, it is still possible to settle accounts.

Moreover, although the old Quincy body is not good, it is actually overwhelmed by the mental pressure of debt. After arriving at Hoffman Estate, I saw hope and his body immediately began to improve. His new job is actually the entrance to the coal mine ground, counting the number of coal miners mining. Because the Hoffman mine has such a rule - coal miners (except for newcomers) if you dig more than 10 tons coal every day, every time you dig a charcoal, there will be half a Finney bonus. And these are the statistics of people who can count on writing. Previously, this thing was done by Old Hoffman himself. However, as a manor, it is inevitable that some of the identity will be lost. For the descendants of the aristocrats like Old Quincy, it is just right to do this. Moreover, this work is not heavy, it can be done in the shed above the mine. Even if the gas explosion or landslide under the mine does not affect the people above the mine.

Not only that, Marin also promised Schwartz, allowing Schwartz's two younger brothers to follow Marin's two brothers, Simon and Albert, to practice martial arts and practice equestrianism. In the future, when they grow up, they will become the attendants and assistants of Simon and Albert.

For such a draw, Schwartz was naturally touched and expressed his willingness to apply. So, Marin's men finally had a general (Kahn can only be regarded as a brave bodyguard, such as Dian Wei).

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