On the last day of July, just before the expedition, Rurik reviewed his army on Tombstone Island.
All the soldiers who were eager to go out gathered together. They were dressed in battle armor and their outer gods wore blue and white gowns. They were arranged into a rectangular formation according to the flag team and conducted a tactical drill.
How to fight the decisive battle? Of course, it was a group fight between the two armies face to face.
Yes, wars in this era are no different from gang fights.
Will the Gotlanders use any tactics? They must have gathered together, formed a shield wall with roars, and rushed towards the opponent to break out into a melee.
This kind of battle has a basic order at the beginning, but as it drags on, it turns into a big brawl that tests personal bravery. Those with strong armor and excellent physical endurance will win the final victory.
Otto stood at a high place and saw this army composed of his own tribe and servants passing by him in a neat line. His nose felt sour and he was moved to tears. .
This is just the beginning.
Rurik formulated a relatively simple tactic for the Ross army, and he also gave it a name - the Horn Formation.
The two most elite Russian warrior flag teams were arranged on the wings, with the Slavic flag team and the shooting flag team in the middle.
Rurik's one hundred berserkers wearing silver armor are also at the center of the formation. They are to stabilize the Chinese army's position and suppress possible escapees (Rurik is currently unable to attack the Slavic Spear Team) Don't worry), and use your armor to fight the enemy before rushing into the battle.
As for some personnel in charge of baggage, such as those who herded deer, they followed the commanding personnel to prevent being attacked by the enemy.
According to Rurik's plan, the enemies should hit them one after another. They would hit the center of the Russian army formation as a matter of course. After being hit by arrows and slingshots, they would collide with the Slavic flag troops.
After obtaining this fighter plane, the Ross flag troops on both wings immediately launched a two-wing encirclement, attacking the enemy's fragile two wings, and finally completed an encirclement circle, eating all the enemies.
No, the Russians are practicing this tactic right now, pushing forward like a bull's horns, and finally retracting their wings to launch this pincer-shaped offensive.
Rurik also knows a lesson: once the cannon goes off, the plan is halved.
The battlefield is ever-changing, and no matter how stupid the enemy is, they will not really follow the plan made by the opponent and jump into the fire pit.
The enemy is a fish, and you need bait to get it to take the bait.
Who is the bait? Naturally, they were mercenaries composed of the moneyless and powerless people of Melalen led by Herriger. This Malaren flag force was the vanguard officer in the decisive battle.
They are testing the enemy's strength. No matter how strong the enemy is, they must pretend to retreat, or simply show retreat to lure the enemy into full pursuit.
Rurik had no expectations for these Mellaren people from the beginning. They were hundreds of tool men. They withdrew behind the Russian lines, and then launched a counterattack with the Russians.
This is called pretending to retreat to lure the enemy into an ambush position, and then massing a pincer attack to annihilate them.
Looking at this tactic, Rurik thinks there is no big problem.
For a huge army to advance in unison, it is a test of organization. Of course, one flag team of the Russian Army can keep pace, but the movement of several flag teams will be out of sync. This time, Rurik decided to use defense as offense and let the enemy run into his military formation! They must collide.
For the future war, the soldiers on Tombstone Island are very enthusiastic. Rurik and other commanders are very optimistic about the future war.
The army had better end the war as soon as possible, reap the benefits at the end of the month and then gather together, because the army still has to go home to harvest wheat.
The agreed date is today!
The night last night was still relatively short. Many soldiers just lay down quietly. Their restless hearts drove their sober minds, and they just spent the five hours of the night watching the bright starry sky.
The temperature in the early morning was only 15℃, which seemed to be low temperature, but it was really comfortable for the soldiers.
Everyone woke up in the early morning light. The sun shone on the mist in the forest on the island, and the golden curtains gave the world a holy feeling.
Rumia, who was wearing an antlered helmet, woke up early. She first made a memorial ceremony for the deceased at the warrior cemetery on the island, and then made another small sacrifice at a temporary altar by the sea.
For a whole month, all parties have been preparing for this moment.
In the absence of any impassioned speech, Rurik did not want to make a loud noise in his voice, which was beginning to change. In the sanctity and solemnity of the early morning, the soldiers on the expedition had a meal of fresh fish and began to board the boat one after another.
The army spent a lot of time landing on Tombstone Island, and getting on the ship also consumed time.
Rurik had already boarded the Avrora first. He was able to stand on a high place and witness the longships being pushed into the sea. The extended oars drove the ships to slowly drift in. Inland sea, entering the fleet array.
"Just forming a formation consumes time. Sure enough, I made the right decision not to directly land on the beach in Visby."
Rurik's eyes were fixed on the movements of his own people. , a big hand covered his shoulder.
He turned his head and flicked his flowing ponytail: "Father."
Otto looked solemn: "Now, let's start. Once we leave here, there is no way back. ."
"Yes, I know, we will win."
Otto's deep eyes stared in the direction of the island: "You don't have to promise anything anymore, of course we must. Victory. Look! After the brothers have entered the team, we set off."
It would be great to add the whistle of the ship. The Russians have a few small horns made of horns. It's not big, but its penetrating power is quite large.
There are mercenaries on the Aurora who serve as good guys, and they have been going through a period of time., the sun was already shining, the huge fleet had already assembled in the sea off the island, and the melodious sound of the trumpet reminded me of it.
The furled huge triangular sail was lowered under the control of the cable, and the Aurora shook violently.
An old sailor with a cloth wrapped around his head roared: "Adjust the direction, let's move forward!"
Each cargo ship loaded with people and supplies lowered its sails and joined the middle of the ship. The shaft assumes a specific angle and they begin sailing upwind.
As for all the long boats, the people holding the oars raised their huge oars, like centipedes moving on the water. They used the "Duke of Ross Flag" flying on the huge and towering mast of the Aurora as their symbol. For reference, start the great journey.
This is the Russian war! The war begins.
The war has indeed begun. The most intense battle will be in the future. The Russians must float on the sea for two to three days. Will the morale of the soldiers be worn away by boredom?
The rainfall in recent days has been less than in previous years, and it may rain more in September.
The sunny day is really a good time to fight, and what makes Rurik deeply surprised is that King Olegin, who led the army to the south for a month, did not send anyone to return to Mela. Lun Lake.
What exactly is happening to the southern army? Is it just to recharge their batteries, or have they already organized a fleet to conquer the rumored "Silver Castle"?
The Ross fleet waited until about noon before officially starting the expedition. As the fleet completely entered the depths of the ocean, the oarsmen closed their oars one after another and relied on the pure wind to move forward.
Every ship in the entire fleet is doing a zigzag movement, and every ship must be very careful to avoid colliding with neighboring ships.
The fleet gradually and inevitably became loose. Fortunately, each ship was flying a clearly visible flag. At this time, everyone suddenly realized that it turned out to be the "oar" owned by the leader's flagship. Flag" is to avoid getting separated.
Due to the zigzag line, the brisk ships had to accommodate the cargo ships carrying a large amount of supplies and personnel. The speed of the entire fleet dropped to a mere four knots.
Rurik could not accurately judge the speed of the fleet. He could only deeply feel that the speed was really unsatisfactory.
Of course some ships can speed up, but the Ross fleet is not the suture monster of the previous Swedish coalition.
The Mellaren Army took the lead, only to make a group of allied armies stare with anger.
The Ross fleet is a whole, and the fast ships must accommodate the slow ships.
The fleet basically stabilized at a speed of four knots. After passing through the dense island group of the Åland Islands, it advanced all night on the edge of the Gulf of Finland.
The setting sun guides the west, and the natural stars, especially the unique Big Dipper, also guide the direction.
No one was worried about getting lost, especially Rurik. He was not worried at all about his confidant being in the wrong place while sailing at night.
A new dayIn the early morning, the noise on the deck woke Rurik up.
Jevro hurriedly walked into the captain's lounge.
Rurik sat upright and covered Lumia, who was sleeping beside him, with the deerskin. At this moment, Otto was still snoring slightly unconsciously.
"Sir, something happened on the distant sea, we..."
"You? The situation? What is it?" Rurik asked, rubbing his head.
"It's land. Some people say we have reached our destination, I don't know! Now I have my brothers on the deck, and the torsion slingshot is ready."
"Why Maybe." Rurik raised his head, and there was indeed a constant thumping above his head. "Let's go and see the situation."
Rurik stood on the bow deck, and he could see the distance. But there was a hazy coastline, and Avora was surrounded by her own ships. The ships still raised their sails, and the army just drifted in the vast sea all night.
Jevro boldly pointed to the hazy place: "Isn't that the enemy's territory?"
"It's not, but I know where it is."
"Where is it?"
"It should be Saaremaa Island or Hiiuma Island. I marked it on the sand table."
"Sand table?"
"Huh?" Rurik glanced at Yevlo's eyes and realized that this person had not participated in the pre-war meeting. He sighed slightly: "Well done, you made the brothers prepare for the naval battle in advance, and we have the first advantage in case of trouble."
"Then, shall we..."
"Are you still planning to land?" Rurik shook his head: "There may be some enemies there, or they may be friends. There are indeed people there, people who have been exiled by various tribes, including those who once rebelled against the Rus. Maybe. I will deal with them in the future, but not now."
Jevro nodded and did not speak.
The sun in the east has risen, and the mist on the sea has disappeared.
The clear air allowed Rurik to clearly see everything within a radius of thirty nautical miles. Now he gradually saw the so-called hazy coastline clearly, which was clearly two large islands!
He couldn't help laughing.
"Master, why are you laughing?" Jevro asked.
"Nothing, I already know the correct position of the fleet. It's time for us to adjust the direction!"
The majority of the Ross fleet is indeed very interested in the islands ahead and curious to explore. Heart trends they want to log in and see.
Can anything good be found on Saaremaa Island, or Semelia Island? Maybe there are some, fellow villagers who speak the same Norse language. This unseemly fellow countryman will of course kill him when he meets a fellow countryman.
Conquering Saaremaa Island is not in Rurik's plan, and this small island has no minerals and is difficult to attract people.
Every ship in the fleet stared at the movement of the Avora, and she began to change direction. Soon the entire fleet corrected its new course.Towards.
The army began to move toward the southwest, facing the southwest wind!
Rurik was confident. He felt that after a day and night of sailing, he would be able to reach the eastern coast of Gotland tomorrow morning. The Russians must find a suitable landing site.
With more than 200 large and small ships, their front is becoming increasingly dangerous.
Although it was unlikely, Rurik ordered the nearby ships to prepare for a naval battle. The ships communicated with each other by shouting. Soon, all the ships and everyone were clearly aware of the risks ahead.
Everyone was ready for a naval battle. The ships of Arik’s Warriors First Flag took the initiative to engage in battle with the enemy ships that came into view. They fired first with steel-armed crossbows and then joined the ship to complete the final The jump gang beheaded.
This set of tactics is already Arik’s specialty. He and his brothers from the First Flag Team have been so brutal in this sea area for the past two years that the enemies dare not go to the fishing grounds in the north of the island. Caught fish.
However, when he invaded the eastern sea of the island, Arik only had one encounter experience. In that thrilling and fierce battle, his people were successful.
Arik expected to see the enemy's fishing boats, but only the Ross army was riding the waves in the vast sea.
Night finally fell again, and no one knew how far the fleet had traveled during the day and how long it would take to sail in the future.
But there really was only one full day of sailing ahead.
It is another early morning, and the sun shines on the people sleeping together on the long boat.
Some noise woke up Rurik again. This time he got up quickly and bumped into Yevro who had reported the news at the door of the lounge.
"Ah, sir! Something big happened!"
"We...have arrived at Gotland?"
"Yes! I was about to report This matter. And..."
Rurik immediately cheered up: "What happened?"
"It was your brother Arik. He saw a fishing port and returned. There are some fishing boats. The brothers of the first flag team have completely separated from the fleet and are taking the lead in attacking." "Huh?" Arik was so shocked that he rudely kicked his father awake. I drank some strong wine and am now sleeping soundly).
"You...you kid." Otto subconsciously grabbed Rurik's neck.
Rurik suddenly broke away: "The war has begun. Arik has already started the landing battle. Let's get ready."
"The fight finally started." Otto He let go of his hand and looked serious.
The father and son quickly boarded the bow deck, and now they could clearly see the scene ahead.
Nearly thirty long boats all lowered their large wooden oars and headed towards the village between the two mounds.
There are indeed enemy fishing boats running frantically for their lives, but unfortunately this escape is meaningless.
No one knows what the fishing village in front of them is like.The only thing that can be judged is that the long coastline in front of us belongs to Gotland!
The fishing port in front is not only located between two mounds, it also has a small bay. This place is really unique as a anchorage.
The battle began with a unilateral attack by the Russians, and the victory was no longer in suspense...