At the end of the Tang Dynasty, it was a feudal town, but in Western Europe

Glancing at Feng Sen and then at Theodoric, Hadrad stretched out two fingers: "Give them the right to appoint bishops or revoke the inspectors of their territories, choose one."

Needless to say, the right to appoint bishops, the so-called Kingdom Inspector System is a reform of Charlemagne's attempt to centralize power.

Although in theory Charlemagne is the successor of the Roman Empire, earls and dukes are only public offices, and Charlemagne can revoke them at will, but in fact, data shows that the earls in many places are directly monopolized by local nobles, and Charles cannot effectively interfere.

The only vassals that Charlemagne can directly influence are the vassals in his royal territory, and it is difficult to interfere in the place. In order to restrain those vassals outside the royal territory, Charlemagne established a tour supervisor like the governor of the Central Plains, that is, Kingdom inspector.

Inspectors can check the financial expenses of the duke and earl, select judges, supervise bishops and monasteries in various places, and even accept public petitions. With the full support of Charlemagne, inspectors can often be seen pulling the earl or even the duke down.

However, in the later period of Charlemagne's administration, this system inevitably went to the old path of "I supervise myself", but at least now, under Charles' authority, these inspectors seem to be a stick in the eyes of these hereditary earls. Root thorn, very uncomfortable.

"It's ridiculous!" Theodoric scolded first.

But unfortunately, no one answered the conversation. Both Feng Sen and Hadrad stared at Theodoric with scorching eyes, sweating profusely from behind him.

"It's impossible for us to accept this kind of condition." Theodoric shook his head firmly. "It's absolutely impossible! Your Excellency, how about this? Tomorrow morning, call these nobles and soldiers to hold a rally, and I will try to persuade them. If it doesn't work, how about we discuss it again?"

"Of course." Hadlard smiled happily, poured himself a large glass of wine, and respected the two of them, "Talking for too long, the food will be cold, let's eat first, do it!"

"Come!"

"Please."

Chapter 156 I am Pepin, the hunchbacked Pepin

Among the rolling hills, a wave of soldiers and horses rumbled forward. The horses snorted and crossed the avenue outside Hanover, heading north in the slanting drizzle.

The horseshoes raised dust, the footsteps shook the gravel, and the shouts from far and near were mixed with the sound of horns. Tens of catties of armor or chain mail were draped on the body, and the sound of metal rubbing against each other was endless.

Wearing a wolf-skin cloak, Feng Sen stood on the city wall of Hanover, leaning on the parapet with his elbows and resting his chin, looking at the troops going away. This was the first batch of troops to build an outpost in the north. There were a total of 2000 people, half of them It's Yi Cong, half of them are prisoners of war.

It is now noon of the next day, and Feng Sen didn't go to the morning meeting at all. That Hadrad looked like a treacherous minister, Feng Sen was loyal, how could he join forces with him?

Moreover, the nobles of East Francia have an ambiguous attitude, and their attitude is ambiguous when the lord is at stake. It is already clear what kind of attitude this is.

Feng Sen had already given up on the first plan of calling the Frankish defenders to go north together, and switched to the second plan of cooperating with the local Saxons, but this second plan was much more dangerous than the first plan, after all, the first plan was Relying on strength, the second plan has to take risks, and it also has to take the risk of offending Charlie, so you still have to plan carefully.

Going down from the city wall to the city gate, Feng Sen saw the hunchbacked Pepin in a cloak at a glance.

Pepin is only 15 years old this year. Although it is a bit late to treat rickets at this time, the effect is better than treatment in adults, after all, the bones are not yet fully developed.

After eating a lot of herring, egg yolks and mushrooms every day, and basking in the sun every day, although Pepin is still hunchbacked, the X-shaped valgus legs have improved a lot, and now he can ride a pony. People are also much more energetic.

"His Royal Highness is still waiting?" Riding a flying mane, Feng Sen walked through the city gate and came to the hunchbacked Pepin.

"En." Nodding heavily, Pepin rode on the horse, staring at the barracks of the Frankish defenders in the distance.

The slanting rain was like a fine veil, swinging back and forth between the sky and the earth, while Pepin rode on the horse, straining his body with all his strength. Although he did not speak, his tightly pursed lips still revealed his inner thoughts.

Pepin also went to the aristocratic gathering this morning. On the high platform, first Theodoric understood the truth, and then Pepin was moved by emotion. Countless nobles responded loudly, wishing to go to Bremen immediately. look like.

Seeing this turbulent scene, Pepin's passion almost made his whole body burn, and he really wanted to go to the battlefield with Feng Sen, but he also knew that his body was just able to ride a horse, so how dare he ride a horse? What about playing?

Regrets are regrets, but Piping is very satisfied in his heart, so he should be able to save his father, right?

But at this moment, the hot blood in Pepin’s chest seemed to be poured with ice water. At the rally, it was agreed that the vanguard would gather at the gate and set off at noon. But so far, no more than 1000 nobles and free folk soldiers came, and many of them even sneaked away when they saw no one else came.

"Let's go, Your Highness." Theodoric saluted to Pi helplessly.

Pepin shook his head stubbornly, still riding on the horse, looking up into the distance.

More than 2 defenders, there are more than 2 defenders here?There are so many free folk soldiers out there, they're just not ready yet.

The slanting rain fell and receded, and the sun hid and appeared again. From nine o'clock in the morning to five o'clock in the afternoon, the last burst of cold rain passed by, and a round of fiery evening sun appeared on the horizon.

The more than 1000 soldiers had already dispersed, leaving only seven or eight veterans with gray beards and Theodoric accompanied Pepin to stand in the sunset, waiting for the "reinforcement" that was late to arrive.

"Your Highness." Feng Sen led the last batch of soldiers and prisoners of war out of the city. He rode on a horse, and patted him on the shoulder helplessly, "Let's go, Your Highness, they won't come."

Pepin didn't speak, he quietly looked at Hannover, which was splashed with golden light, the towering towers, the rising smoke, he could hear the howling cattle and sheep, he could smell the faint smell of meat, the evening wind blew on his body, curled his golden hair, and hit his hard-stretched chest.

"Your Excellency the Earl." Pepin narrowed his good-looking eyes, "I've been reading your "Three Kingdoms" recently, and I often wonder whether your Excellency the Earl can answer it for me."

"of course."

"What is a 'hero'?"

"He who controls his own destiny is a hero." Feng Sen opened and closed his five fingers, and said to Pepin slowly.

"In your Three Kingdoms, the Prince Seris is called Bei, right? Prince Bei is a gentle and kind person, a kind person, but when he faced the corrupt inspector, he whipped him in anger. For this reason He would not hesitate to lose the title of earl that he had fought so hard for.

Palace Prime Minister Cao is a sinister and cunning man, a man who is rational and spares his life, but when facing the Duke who seized power, he is willing to give up his life, and he is ready to assassinate for justice with a sword, regardless of the danger and benefit that do not match.Both men are heroes. "

"There are a thousand protagonists in the eyes of a thousand readers. If you look at it this way, it is also true." Feng Sen could clearly feel that something was wrong.

"I really like the sentence you left in the book. Knowing that this matter is impossible to succeed, but still challenging it, in my heart, this is a hero."

Closing his eyes, Pepin seemed to be facing the back of his father, so tall and strong, he could defeat all enemies with a spear, and that back seemed to lie in front of him all the time.

Pepin kept thinking, why did he come to Hamburg?For what are you desperately trying to repair your back?What is it for?

for what! ?

Piping slowly opened his eyes, he could hear the heart beating so powerfully in his chest, and a golden road paved by the evening sun emerged under his feet.

Not far from the Golden Avenue, a tall and mighty figure is quietly riding on a horse. That is, is that father? !

In front of his eyes, Charlie's back actually appeared again, but before Pepin could yell out, the back suddenly turned his head, and ran away with his horse's belly.

Seeing that the figure was about to leave again, Pepin swung the long whip in his hand violently, and slammed it on the horse's buttocks, desperately chasing after that figure.

Lowering his body, Pepin heaved up and down following the ups and downs of the horse without a teacher. The strong wind howled, and countless scenery passed by the sides of his eyes.

The trembling ears of the horse, the splashing of flying dust, everything was left behind, Pepin chased the back of the horse like crazy, the sharp spear point came, and the towering horse refused to stop him. Amidst the exclamation of the soldiers and Feng Sen's shouts, Pepin jumped over one by one.

Getting closer, getting closer, Pepin only saw the back of the speeding rider, and finally, Pepin's horse head touched the ponytail of the back, and the ponytail passed through Pepin's horse head, Pepin's speed became faster and faster, and within three to five seconds, he merged with the back.

It was also at this time that Pepin finally saw the scenery in front of his father's eyes. It was a huge tent. Pepin knew that this was Hadrad's camp of the Chinese army.

"Hadrad!"

For the first time, Pepin felt a boundless anger welling up in his heart, his eyes widened, and the corners of his eyes almost burst.

For the first time, he felt infinite pleasure and madness. Holding the rein of the horse, Pepin's head was almost level with the saddle. He drew out the armed sword at his waist and charged towards the large tent of the Chinese army.

"Hadrad!!"

Two feathered arrows flew out and pierced the throats of the two guards at the entrance of the tent. Pepin split the curtain at the entrance of the tent with a sword, and then the horse under his crotch neighed and crashed into Hadrad's camp of the Chinese army.

The white horse kicked away the brazier in the tent, sparks flew, and the horse's hooves crushed the precious mahogany furniture, rushing towards Hadlard crazily.

Before Hadlard could react, a deafening roar rang in his ears.

"Hadrad!!!"

"Charlie?!" Hadlard screamed as he was taking a nap in the tent, and stepped back in horror, but unfortunately, when the horseman stood up and fell to the ground, an armed sword was already lying on the ground. Between Hadrard's necks.

There was a mess in the chaotic camp. Pepin hunched over and sat on the saddle hard. Surrounded by guards and nobles who fell down, they stared wide-eyed and looked at everything in front of them in shock.

"Charlie?" Haddard asked softly in disbelief.

"I'm not Charlie, I'm Pepin." Pepin's eyes were bloodshot, he gasped violently, and the veins in his hand holding the armed sword bulged, "Humpbacked Pepin!"

Chapter 157

Feng Sen never thought that Pepin could give him a good-handed remonstrance. When he saw Pepin rushing into the city of Hanover, he thought it was just that Pepin was too aggrieved and wanted to let off steam, but as the kid advanced more and more, Feng Sen felt that something was wrong.

This is not the way to the racecourse, this is the way to Hadrad's camp.

It was at this time that Feng Sen discovered Pepin's purpose - to remonstrate with soldiers, or to force Hadrad to send troops.

If Feng Sen were to do this, it would definitely not work. First of all, the main reason why Pepin was able to rush into Hadrad’s camp was because Pepin was Charlie’s son, everyone knew him, and no one dared to hurt him.

Secondly, Pepin, as the Frankish prince, naturally has prestige and security. In other words, during the process of remonstrating or even seizing power, the people below will not panic because of this, because the Frankish prince is the superior replacement of Duke Hadrad.

If it is Feng Sen's remonstrance, 100% of the people below are "Who are you?" They need someone who is binding and can protect their interests. Although these East Frankish nobles have formed an alliance, it is still too difficult for you to ask them to dedicate their loyalty to Hadrad.

Thinking about it this way, Pepin is really the best candidate for a military remonstrance. If this military remonstrance is successful, although there will be some difficulties in subduing the Saxon nobles and prisoners of war, the security will be improved a lot.

So in order to add another insurance to his second plan, Feng Sen changed his mind again, led his cavalry to follow Pepin, escorted him, and successfully rushed into Hadrad's camp.

Riding the horse, Feng Sen slowly entered through the opening of the tent, and what he saw was a wonderful scene.

The golden evening sun shot in from the gap in the tent, and time seemed to stand still. The nobles and guards in the tent were at a loss, as if they were getting to know Pepin for the first time, and they couldn’t believe it. His eyes were fixed on Pepin.

In the huge tent, there was a mess, and in the middle of this mess, Pepin rode a white horse as if, staring at the burning eyes, put the long sword on Hadrad's neck, and watched condescendingly. he.

Looking at Hadrad whose face was turning livid, Pepin's chest heaved violently. He took a breath of the burnt-smelling air, and gradually regained his composure.

"Your Highness Pepin, what are you trying to do?" Hadlard straightened his chest, "Could it be that I have committed some crime?"

"Never," replied Pepin loudly.

Hadlard snorted coldly: "Since I am not guilty, Sir Pepin, why did you enter our army tent?"

"I want you to send troops north to rescue father!"

"Then let me tell you, Your Royal Highness." Hadlard roared loudly, "Your Highness Charlie is besieged, I am as anxious as you, but have you ever thought that if you want to maintain the combat effectiveness, the entire [-] troops will go out? , how much grain and grass are needed.

During this period, Saxony is rebelling, and Friesland is rebelling. Do you know how much farming has been delayed? So far, I still have to worry about tomorrow's food and grass. You just want me to go north? "

Pepin was stuck in an instant. Although he fought all the way from the city gate to the camp of the Chinese army with his blood, he never thought about how to force Hadrad to send troops and put the long sword on Hadrad's neck. This is the limit of his plan.

However, Feng Sen was still standing behind Pepin. He stepped out of the crowd and stood in front of Hadrad: "Although Your Excellency is hunchbacked, you are willing to fight on the battlefield and attack you for the slightest possibility of existence." Your Excellency Hadrad, although you have a strong body and sound limbs, you have a heart like a rabbit."

Hadlard tore his face today, but he sneered and said: "Your Excellency the Earl of Hamburg is a good means, Your Highness Pepin is really in your hands."

"Hahaha." Feng Sen laughed loudly, "Your Excellency Hadrad, do you think I planned this? I can tell you that most of my soldiers have already left the city. This matter is His Highness Pepin's own intention."

"Really?" A somewhat old voice sounded, "Your Highness Pepin, please don't underestimate His Excellency the Earl of Hamburg, and let you think it's your own idea without saying a word."

"Good evening, Father Balda." Feng Sen smiled and nodded to the old man in priest's robe.

"Father bless you, Father Balda." Pepin also nodded to Father Balda, "This is indeed my own idea, and has nothing to do with the Earl of Hamburg."

At the same time that Balda appeared, all the nobles in the Frankish garrison appeared around the tent, staring at everything in front of them in amazement.

"Your Highness Pepin, since Your Excellency Hadrad is innocent, why do you still put the long sword on his shoulder? This is not the way the Heavenly Father taught us to treat a believer." Father Balda bowed gently to Pepin.

Pepin shook his head stubbornly: "No, unless he agrees to go north with me to rescue father."

"What can you do if you go to the battlefield?" A sharp voice came from the dim crowd.

"Who?" Pepin was furious, staring in that direction.

A tall and thin young man in leather armor squeezed out from the crowd: "Since this is the case now, let's talk about it.

Ladies and gentlemen, I know the life of Prince Pepin very well. I have been with King Charles before. Prince Pepin did not have the courage to go to battle at all. He peed his pants the first time he went to the battlefield. He was still in the barracks, and he was scared by the troops far away.

He is Charlie's son, gentlemen, even if he went to the front line hungry, in the end, he went to the battlefield and hid in the back, no one dared to say anything, we still fought.He wants to hide behind and trade our lives for his glory and wealth. No matter what you do, I won't do it! "

Hearing the young man's words, the surrounding nobles immediately erupted into chatter.

"Isn't this Griffin?!" Pepin stared, and he also recognized the tall and thin boy, "Everyone, I also know him, he used to be one of my father's personal guards, but because of alcoholism, He accidentally burned the grain depot, and refused to admit it, so he was kicked out!"

In an instant, the tall and thin young man's face quickly flushed red: "How dare you?! Is it fake that you peed your pants when you went to the battlefield?"

For a moment, Pepin was silent. He looked at the soldiers and nobles who were constantly coming, and then looked at Hadrad in front of him.

Hadlard still had the same expression as before: "Your Highness Pepin, I believe Geffili has made it very clear. You said you have courage, but you swung your sword at your father's loyal vassals. What about us?" Believe you? We want to go north because we hope to win. If under your leadership, we encounter enemy troops and are defeated, we might as well stay where we are and wait until the food and grass are collected before going north.”

Pepin turned his gaze to Father Balda: "Father, are you willing to send troops as long as I prove my courage?"

"Heavenly Father praises courage."

"I swear in the name of my father, I hope that Heavenly Father and all of you will bear witness to me: I will go to the battlefield in person this time, and I will never retreat unless the whole army retreats!" Pepin swore to the cross in the distance, Afterwards, he looked at Hadrad, "Is Your Excellency the Duke satisfied now? Are you willing to send troops?"

"Keep food..."

"I will send [-] catties of rye, [-] pigs, and [-] sheep as food, and you only need to send [-] troops. Is this enough?"

Feng Sen stared fixedly at Hadrad, and Hadrad turned his head to look at Bauerda, seeing that he was still looking kindly and kindly. After a dead silence, Hadrad gritted his teeth and replied: "Everyone, prepare well. We will send troops immediately when the Earl of Hamburg's food and grass arrives!"

Chapter 158 Charlie's Reaction

The cold rain slapped randomly on the dilapidated castle wall of Bremen, and the cold rain fell on the brazier for heating, and a trace of blue smoke rose.

Looking down from the sky, with Bremen as the center, within a range of about three to five miles, white tents popped up like mushrooms on rotten wood after rain, densely wrapping Bremen in the center.

There are almost 2 soldiers here, of course, including the transferred masters and slaves, and the real army is about [-].

In the city of Bremen, there are almost 1000 defenders, and there are only more than [-] troops that can really fight.