living in 16th century england

Chapter 60 Muscle Archer

Matthew didn't want to bother to drill soldiers.Isn't this a joke?Isn't it just for comfort to make money and become an aristocrat?

So he quickly thought of some unlucky guy.

Although the various buildings in Plymouth have basically been completed, Matthew still lives in the "thatched mansion".

Anna and her mother were cooking, but Andrew hadn't come back yet, and Daniel was fighting with a soldier in the distance.Those off-duty soldiers are polishing their armor.

Matthew sat on a stump by the door and smoked.The son-in-law came very quickly.He is an excellent equestrian.The horse had turned over and dismounted before it could stop.

"Ha, brother-in-law, you are finally back... What are you going to do next? Soon they will have nothing to do..."

Matthew held the cigarette stick: "I'm not your brother-in-law yet... Let me ask you, the construction team won't fall apart after you leave, right?"

The door-to-door son-in-law boasted without thinking: "My role is useless..."

Speaking of which, he got stuck. As an experienced manager, he still has some experience.This kind of problem obviously has another mystery.What's more, he doesn't need any credit.

"...Never mind, you know, I've picked out some foremen, and they're very capable. . . . . . . . . . . . "

Matthew didn't talk nonsense, and handed him the military service license directly.

It is still a test of ability to organize a plate of vagrants who are scattered in the sand to work correctly.

"Conscript and train 250 soldiers?... My Baron, you have found the right man. Just tell me where they are? In three months I can refresh them..."

Matthew: "There are so many people in the construction team, you can pick some who are not so quick to work, just train them to be archers."

The door-to-door son-in-law is looking down at the permit: "Wow, I recognize the handwriting... signed by the king himself...Watt...Mason??"

"No, no, longbowmen are not so picky, unless you want to be scolded by the villagers every day."

Matthew: "...huh?"

"A longbow master needs to take time out for training every day. Day after day, year after year. Now, they finally have a place to use, but you are going to tell them...you chose 250 masons?"

The door-to-door son-in-law looked serious: "...you will be a laughing stock!"

Matthew: "..."

He immediately realized that he might have underestimated the enthusiasm of farmers to join the army, after all, this is also a shortcut to become a nobleman.

For hundreds of years, there are not too many deeds of English farmers relying on military exploits to raise their ranks. Even if they have no chance to make meritorious service, they are still very rich~ It is normal to plunder in the enemy's territory.It is not normal for Qiu to commit no crime.

"Well, do as you please, I will let the Plymouth Council cooperate with this conscription operation. In this case...there is only one requirement, and it must be a volunteer to join the army."

The door-to-door son-in-law smiled and said, "Volunteer? No problem at all...Many longbowmen only have one bow. Can you solve the other weapons?"

Matthew was a little puzzled: "...other weapons?"

"dagger?"

The son-in-law who came to visit: "It seems that you don't care at all... The standard equipment is a purple shirt longbow, no less than 24 arrows, and a long sword, hook sickle, and an ax are also indispensable."

"And a five-foot gavel."

Matthew was stunned: "Gallet? Five feet?... Is this an archer?"

The son-in-law who came to the door wondered: "Father-in-law used to be a longbowman, you don't know this?"

Matthew became a little annoyed: "Shut up...he only has one bow!"

Son-in-law at the door: "Well... more than that... preferably a light helmet with a mail hood, a leather coat, gloves and arm armor."

Matthew: "...Didn't you mean to bring your own weapons?"

"That's right, farmers usually have longbows..."

Matthew: "..."

The so-called English longbow is basically a wooden stick when it is not hung.Compared with other types of bows in the world, it is actually not outstanding.But suitable for England's humid climate, especially cheap, this is definitely the point.Coupled with appropriate tactics, the longbow has achieved a great reputation.

Since it is a cheap product, the requirements for people are also higher.Mainly strength.It is said that the pulling force starts at 120 pounds.So, all English longbowmen are powerful muscular men - no exceptions.

All kinds of pole weapons and heavy weapons have become their first choice for secondary weapons.If you think that "agility" is the first thing you need to play bow and arrow, it only means that you have been "brainwashed".

Since a longbow is used to deal with canned Frenchmen, it is obvious that bows and arrows can penetrate armor.

It is recorded that longbow arrows can penetrate 10 cm of oak board.

There is another record that is more intuitive-a knight was shot by a longbow, and the arrow penetrated the chain mail skirt, leg armor, thigh, inner leg armor and wooden saddle in turn, and finally shot into the horse's back.But this distance should not be too far.Some sources say that a longbowman is qualified if he can hit a humanoid target 200 yards away...(_?)
For some reason, English longbowmen usually have a high will to fight.Not only the morale is high, but also brave and tenacious.Even if the arrows are exhausted, they will use their melee weapons to face the French armored corps of this era.

There is a legend like this, because the French like to chop off the index and middle fingers of the longbowmen captives, abolishing their martial arts.Therefore, they would rather die than surrender.

Henry VIII asked me to conscript and lent me money? ... This kid is still thick-skinned.But Matthew had the final say, and it would cost less than ten thousand pounds.But without these loans, arming 250 longbowmen in this way might turn into three digits.

On-site son-in-law: "I'm going to hold an archery competition, and prepare a few prizes, and pick out the best guy, what do you think?"

Matthew knocked on the cigarette pot: "...you can figure it out."

The door-to-door son-in-law has bright eyes: "..."

Matthew: "..."

"Don't even think about it...pay for it yourself first. Don't tell me you're a pauper!"

The door-to-door son-in-law is not ashamed: "I have no money now... my salary is used to make furniture."

Matthew: "..."

In the 13th century, all the yew trees in England had been felled.Later all bow materials were imported from various European countries.In order to encourage the English to play the longbow, Edward III ordered that football be banned on Sundays, and everyone had nothing to do but go to archery.Those who violated the order squatted.

Uh... the so-called football game evolved from kicking the enemy's head. There were no rules at that time. If there were any, it was just... kicking the head for fun.

Matthew took out two gold coins to save his future brother-in-law. A few shillings from the champion would be enough. The money saved could buy a few barrels of beer. Please drink free beer, the effect is better than bonuses.

In order to ensure the supply of yew wood bows, merchants can use this to pay taxes for many years.As long as there are materials, a skilled craftsman can make a bow in two hours.This is actually a huge strategic advantage.The bow of a certain oriental country is good, but it may take a year just to make it.

Watching someone go away on horseback, Matthew was thinking about a question... Why can England have longbowmen everywhere, but other European countries can't do it?Or, don't want to do it?

From a distance, Andrew could be heard scolding: "Shet, who is riding the horse in my manor?"

Matthew raised his voice and laughed, "Of course it's your future son-in-law."

Andrew's voice came: "Matthew? Let me tell you something, I passed the proposal in the parliament today... It is the sewer and toilet you mentioned... The cost will be shared by the major households..."

Matthew: "... Watt!"

Andrew smiled and said, "Not much, our family only needs to pay 100 gold coins."

Buy Karma, Matthew raised his forehead: "..."

Andrew: "Didn't it mean that the construction team will be idle soon? So, the project I have already won, hahaha, can still make a lot of money back."

Matthew was a little surprised when he heard the words: "Yes, yes, Dad, your skills have improved."

Andrew said with a hey hey: "The best of both worlds...Let's go."

Matthew moved his butt, and Andrew also sat on the stump and hammered his legs.

"Gold coins are not a problem, but there are some furs from the goods yard, you can sell them by the way."

The door opened, and the father and son turned their heads together.Daisy came out and stuffed a glass of beer into Andrew's hand, then turned around and went back.

Andrew: "Another fur? Is there a sable?"

Matthew: "There should be. You can pick one. I haven't watched it yet."

Andrew nodded.

Matthew: "I have a question, but I haven't figured it out."

Andrew gulped down half a glass: "What is it?"

Matthew put away the cigarette stick in his hand: "Tell me, why is there only longbowmen in England everywhere in Europe? Why doesn't France do it? There are so many yew trees in Spain and Venice, why don't they do it?"

Andrew put down his glass and fell silent for no reason.

Matthew looked at the old man in surprise.

In fact, Andrew is not that old, only 46 years old.No way, it looks old.

Andrew: "My grandfather said that the English..."

Matthew was confused: "Your grandpa...?"

Andrew said: "Don't interrupt... If farmers in England rebel, the slogan is often "No one else should have privileges except the king."

Matthew's surprised eyeballs almost fell off.Nima true or false?
"Every king of England knows that we are on his side, so no king has ever restricted farmers from having weapons...never."

Fuck!Matthew's thoughts turned... What is this?This is "only against corrupt officials, not against the emperor"! ?

"How did I not hear it being said?"

Andrew: "You haven't heard much about it."

He chuckled: "For example, when I was your age, I was a longbowman of Richard III. I participated in the Battle of Bosworth."

Matthew suddenly jumped up: "...Watt?!"

Andrew laughed loudly: "Surprised, isn't it?"

Matthew asked again: "Why didn't I hear you say that before?"

Andrew replied again: "There are so many things you don't know."

Matthew was stunned for a while: "Why do you say it now?"

Andrew smiled and said, "I'm the mayor now, and my son is the Baron of England. There's nothing we can't talk about."

"If it wasn't for those bastards who betrayed Richard III, the former king would not have won. It has always been the nobles who made troubles in England."

Matthew was very surprised, and asked a question that he really wanted to know: "You were there at the time? Before Richard III died in battle, did you say that you would trade the kingdom for a horse?"

"fart!"

Andrew said angrily: "Who did you listen to? It's just fart! Richard III charged in front of the former king alone, shouting..."

"Treason, treason, treason, treason, treason."

Matthew thought to himself: Falk, people like Shakespeare are really unreliable.

Andrew suddenly choked up: "I guess the late king understood."

What do you mean?
Matthew's thoughts turned, and suddenly his scalp tingled.Could it be that Henry VII killed William Stanley and killed so many old nobles in order to avenge Richard III?
(End of this chapter)