A longship composed of thirty warriors is running towards New Roseburg at the craziest speed.
Ross’s unique concave paddle is creating amazing waves in the sea. The order given to this ship was to rush directly to Fort New Rose within four days, so the selected oarsmen not only knew the road, but were also strong in endurance.
They knew their mission well, and the longship rushed to Fort New Ross at the planned time.
The residents of New Roseburg who were actively engaged in internal construction never expected that when the wheat seedlings began to grow rapidly, the leader actually issued an assembly order.
Kenuson, the commander stationed here, was surprised to learn that five hundred Novgorodians would join the Russian army as Russian allies. It was an unprecedented news.
"Could it be that the war we are facing is already beyond our ability to compete alone?"
The people who sent the message did not know more details, and they quickly sent a message to New Rus' The fort locally recruited one hundred Novgorod immigrant men who were interested in joining the war. Their mission is not over yet, because General Arik is unexpectedly not here.
Arik must be in Novgorod, serving as the eldest son of his father-in-law!
Indeed, Arik and his team of battle-hardened men are now the well-deserved kings of the Novgorod region. What he learned about the political ecology of Novgorod is this: White Tree Manor is a stable servant, Pine Needle Manor is a wealthy but unstable dog that has not been well-tamed, and the other manors are a group of fence-sitters.
Arik's army was stationed at White Tree Manor, and this area also became a "warehouse area" for collecting tributes. A large amount of leather is the most critical spring tribute that the locals can provide.
Oh, and a batch of honey, of course.
The sweet taste made Arik unable to extricate himself. He really fell in love with the days when he was highly respected in Novgorod. He drank honey water and ate barbecue every day.
After all, the brave Ross elite arrived in Novgorod carrying ten pairs of steel-armed crossbows, and soon they led their brothers to shoot and kill as many as twenty brown bears in the dense forests of Eastern Europe. , such results shocked the entire White Tree Manor, and also added new sacrifices to the upcoming Slavic festival.
But when it comes to feelings, the owner of the manor, Rigus, does not think Arik is very noble. In fact, based on local tradition, he regarded the blacksmith Kavey as his second son, and his half-babble grandson Kuzneslav as the apple of his eye. He is even more looking forward to Rurik, who is about to turn twelve, and is even more looking forward to that child really growing up and inheriting the throne of Russia, so that when his beautiful little daughter gets married, he can proudly call himself Rurik. son.
Suddenly, the Rus tribe’s army call-up order unexpectedly reached Novgorod.
Aric was shocked, and Ligus was so shocked that he almost fainted.
Because, the messenger still asked White Tree Manor to send four hundred men to fight for the Russians., and this is almost the vast majority of the men in the manor. When Ligus thought of war, he thought of death. He subconsciously made the most extreme thought, that is, all his men would be wiped out and the entire White Tree Manor would collapse.
For a moment, he felt that this was a conspiracy of the Russians. After all the so-called men died in battle, wouldn’t all the women in the manor become the wives of the Russians?
"No, the loss cannot be borne by White Tree Manor alone."
Ligus did not take the initiative to flatter others and become other people's hunting dogs. His people could not stand the bullying of Pine Needle Manor. Only then did he look for a foreign backer. He needs to rely on the force of the Russians to maintain the status quo of White Tree Manor. If a large number of men from the manor die because of the Russian war, wouldn't it be putting the cart before the horse.
No, he, an old fellow, had a quick wit and gave Commander Arik an irresistible plan: to gather brave men from various manors and gather 400 people to fight for the Russians.
Look at the current situation of Baishu Manor. Most of the men are also thin and weak. You can see clear ribs when you lift their linen clothes. Are such people worthy of being soldiers? There were some men who Arik felt met the bottom line of a warrior's physical fitness. Unfortunately, there were too few such men in White Tree Manor.
To fulfill the role of the great leader of my uncle, oh, he should be called the Duke of Ross now, and to fulfill the Duke’s orders, it’s not enough to just pretend.
Therefore, a war call order was issued urgently, and each manor began to send out their strong men with great reluctance. They were forced by the power of the Russians and did not dare to disobey. The scene now is really described as It was the wives and children who cried bitterly while holding their husbands who were forced to go off to war, while the skinny guys who were not favored by the Russians secretly enjoyed themselves. They prepared their own weapons, most of which were spearheads with bone and stone flakes stuck on them. After all, iron tools were not really popular in this area, and stone tools were still extremely important tools and weapons. They are more like hunters than warriors.
An army was assembled. There was no fighting spirit in their eyes, only the infinite fear of war.
Can these cowards become warriors? Arik was deeply suspicious of this, and he really couldn't figure out the leader's needs.
Soon, the selected men from multiple manors gathered at the Ross people's anchorage in White Tree Manor.
They all brought some dry food from home, small pottery urns for cooking wheat, and even replacement rough leather boots and hemp blankets to keep out the cold. All kinds of things were stuffed into a hemp bag and carried on their backs. The cold blankets were curled up and hung on their short spears.
Many men know that they are going to fight. Regardless of their future fate, they accept the call of the Russians in the same outfit as if they were going into the jungle for hunting.
The only weapon many people have on hand is a simple short spear, and some people also carry slings, short wooden bows and a small number of arrows. Their bone arrows cannot penetrate the Rus' armor, and their spearheads are like toys.
The weapons they call are all rubbish. Let’s look at the number of men among them.The person came from White Tree Manor, so Arik simply didn't make any disgusting remarks. He really didn't want to praise his wife's natal manor.
In any case, such a group of "trash" are also soldiers he is authorized to command.
The Russians’ stay in Novgorod was coming to an end, and it was another tense night. A large number of bonfires were lit at the entrance of the “temple” of the White Tree Manor, that is, a special wooden house. , a large number of people gathered around the bonfires.
Priests from multiple manors gathered here. Even Brudne, the owner of Pine Needle Manor, who had a hatred for the Russians, sent fifty so-called soldiers and manor priests.
Brudne, he is essentially a big landowner. Last year's disaster actually affected the whole of Europe, and the Novgorod region that reached the edge was still affected. Coupled with the intensified exploitation by the Ross people, life at Pine Needle Manor was very difficult. He encouraged a group of peasants who were unable to pay rent to fight against the Russians in order to forgive their debts. After all, these people themselves are also people who depend on the life of Pine Needle Manor. They are not the core. These people were kicked to Ross General Arik almost empty-handed.
The priests were performing rituals in the blazing fire. Many female priests were twitching and chanting obscure prayers. Sometimes they beat the leather drums and wooden sticks in their hands, and made sounds like birds and wolves.
In fact, Arik and his army have just arrived in Novgorod, and the residents of various estates are preparing for their "Dazhbog Festival", which is called sacrificing the sun to pray for good weather when the wheat seedlings grow.
They had just finished the festival, and even the fat of the bear sacrificed to the gods (naturally hunted by the Rus) was still warm, when the Rus' war mobilization order was issued.
This time, all the priests are worshiping their god of war-Peron.
"Peron? What is that? Is our Russian Odin more worthy of awe?"
Aric did not want to take part in the local sacrificial activities at all, and several times Seven hundred serious Russian warriors watched the show with laughter.
He stayed in the home of the manor owner Ligus. The oil lamp illuminated the entire room so that at least he could see his face clearly.
He sat cross-legged on the wooden floor and said casually: "Hey, it's really noisy outdoors. After this sacrifice, I have to take them all away."
"Yes, I have prepared everything you have asked me to do, and I hope this will satisfy you." Ligus's attitude was very complimentary, even though his daughter and son-in-law were all present.
The only thing that makes Rigus happy is that the young Ross Xiao will marry a woman from his own manor. He has learned many Slavic languages, which makes everyone's communication smoother.
But this heroic general could not inherit the rule of Russia. Rigus only feared Arik's anger and had no real respect for him.
Arik nodded: "I have seen the tributes paid by each manor. They are all our wealth. There is one thing I need to tell you.. ”
“Please say. "
"Victory will definitely belong to us. As a reward for your support, maybe the big leader will be very happy to reduce your autumn tribute. Your White Tree Manor has the most loyal hunting dogs, you also send the most troops, and your weapons are in better condition than other manors. "
"Oh, thank you very much for the compliment. "A smile appeared on Ligus's withered face.
Aric looked around, then tilted his head, and made a solemn promise: "My great leader... Oh, it was appointed by the Duke. War Chief, this time I will lead a thousand people to take charge of a very important task. You Novgorodians must do something certain, and as a reward, your people can also seize the real opportunity to get loot for yourself. According to our tradition, the spoils of those who fight for us cannot be taken away by others. "
Hearing this, like a dead tree sprouting new green, Ligus cheered up, and even his eldest son Medvite, who was watching, also straightened up.
" ah? ! Are our people also allowed to..."
"Yes. Because they are warriors, as long as they are brave enough. Arik still had a serious face: "Think about it, the best among them will fight for wealth." Listen, we Rus only worship the strong on the battlefield. Cowards and cowards will only be expelled from their peers. May your people have no shortage of warriors. Oh, there is a warrior here. "
Aric suddenly raised his right hand and pointed at Medvet, and gave orders in ancient Slavic: "You! You are a strong man and the brother of my sister-in-law (referring to the girl Svetalana who is leaning on Ligus). Your status is noble enough. Follow me, as commander of all Novgorod armies! ”
Before Arik gave the order, Medvit had no idea about it.
Arik’s order was absolute, even if Medvit did not want to leave his homeland rashly, for the sake of honor and the future of the manor, he accepted this arrangement in a thrilling way
I'm afraid it's all fate!
At night, Arik lived in the manor's mansion in White Tree Manor. In a luxurious bedroom, he hugged his Peravina and listened to her soft breathing, as well as the weaker breathing of his eldest son Askard, who was only over one year old in the hanging basket.
He once thought that commanding five hundred soldiers was a limit, but now he has been authorized to command a thousand people.
But wait! Is there really only a thousand people on Tombstone Island? There are so many brothers, and they are all recruited for the expedition?
Although he has no right to lead the expedition, Tombstone Island will still gather more than a thousand people. If the women and children who are pioneering the island are included, they can The number of people under his direct control was close to 2,000. I am afraid that not all of them will participate in the war. Being able to command such a huge force, Arik judged that his life had reached a peak.
He...has begun to fantasize about something particularly great.Big things.
In the dark night, the faint moonlight filtered through the gap of the closed wooden window, and his eyes looked at the cradle carrying his son with the help of the dim light. "Askard, maybe you can do something greater."
The next day, the white coals at the door of the temple were still burning slowly, and a large number of longships gathered on standby.
Times have indeed changed. Because of the important stronghold of Novorossberg, the Russians can stay in Novgorod for a long time and shuttle frequently between the Neva River and Lake Ladoga. The entire waterway of the Volkhov River.
They must deliver the tribute twice a year, but the Russians do not have to make two trips a year to get it.
Aric left two hundred Rus warriors behind and continued to eat and drink their food here. These two hundred people are actually very particular, because one hundred of their wives are women from the White Tree Manor. Because of this marriage relationship, Arik is assured that they can control the entire Novgorod area and will also get the White Tree Manor. Adored.
The people going on the expedition began to board the ship one after another. It was the first time in their lives that many Slavic "warriors" set foot on a Varyag warship. They were ordered to unload their luggage temporarily, and under the orders of the Russians with rude voices, they had to hold the heavy oars cautiously with both hands.
It seems that the act of paddling is no different from the rowing boats they used to do, but the Russians' oars surpassed their imagination.
There was no need to perform the sacrifice a second time, but the entire residents of Baishu Manor gathered at the riverside.
There are as many as thirty long ships, carrying nearly a thousand people of various types and a batch of looted tributes in a completely overweight posture. They form a compact long snake formation, along the Wo River. The Erkhov River drifts towards Lake Ladoga.
"Now, leave your hometown, we are going to fight." Kawei put away the oar, hugged his somewhat sad wife, and looked towards the north.
"Are you going to fight too?" Lilia held her child in her arms again and looked at her husband's beard.
"Of course. I am a craftsman and a warrior, and my people need me to repair various weapons for them."
"But, that is war!"
< p>"What? Are you suddenly worried about me?"Lilia lowered her head slightly and looked at the baby's babbling with mixed feelings.
In the past, she was not worried about the expedition that Kawei participated in. After seeing the might of the Russians, who dared to say that they would not be able to win? Now that she is a mother, she instinctively hopes that her husband will not take risks.
How can the current situation change because of the expectations of one or more women?
Kawei, he can’t let go of his wife and children, let alone his brothers in the tribe.
A few days later, a fleet with a larger number of people and more ships, led by the Ross general Arik, unloaded a batch of tributes at New Ross Fort, and obtained a batch of weapons, Supplied with tools, the fleet entered the Gulf of Finland.
They all adjusted the sails in the appropriate direction.Driven by the south wind, Leng was moving forward at a very fast speed.
After three consecutive days and nights of sailing, they saw the fire at the Misty Islands and rushed towards it...