Ross's army marched on the newly grown grass by the river, stepped on gravel and soil, and gradually came to the end of the old gray squirrel fortress.
This is the second time for some soldiers in the team to set foot on this road. Compared with that winter war, this spring expedition has become a bit more strenuous.
If Rurik had not made certain preparations for the army, the army would have been running out of supplies and would have had to find ways to get food on the spot before continuing to move forward.
All soldiers have a backpack made of linen, stuffed with dried salted fish, premade wheat cakes, and even simple oats. These rations generally weigh more than ten pounds.
They actually carried heavy luggage and moved forward. Fortunately, they had strong bodies developed through hunting, logging, and paddling, so they had no complaints about becoming "mules of the principality."
This is not the first time that we have carried out an expeditionary military operation. We have reached a consensus among young and old soldiers to maintain enough food rations to support long-term battles.
The children, whether they were boys or girls, were all carrying heavy bags and panting to catch up with the team. Some children put their equipment on the carts used to transport heavy weapons, which reduced some physical energy consumption, but the effect was limited after all.
Rurik did not comfort them in any way for their encounter. Instead, he urged them harshly, forcing them to stop procrastinating.
But the team's fatigue is gradually showing, and they want to attack immediately under the wooden wall of the target. Obviously this is not a good idea.
"Attacking the city is a bad idea. Maybe when the troops are approaching the city, I should come up with a good way to win."
Rurik walked almost the whole way, and he felt his ankle I gradually began to feel sore, and I thought that most of my fellow soldiers were also feeling the same.
Some soldiers in the Russian army wrapped their calves with linen. This leggings technique was not popular among the entire army. Quite a few soldiers didn't even have time to clean their blood-stained coats, and now the blood stains on their coats have turned black.
The image of the army became a bit sloppy. When the soft light of the setting sun shone on the earth, immersed in the tiring sunset were the swaying figures marching along the river.
Rurik kept moving, and Yevlo didn’t want to make any suggestions, let alone saying goodbye to Arik and his guys who were still moving forward quickly.
It was getting late, and Yevro finally approached his master: "Sir, it seems that we can't reach the enemy's mountain fortress today. Night is coming, and the brothers are very tired. We... "
"Rest? But I want to walk again."
"Wait a minute. : "Go and inform Arik in front, asking him to stop and set up camp when night falls. Run quickly."
"Yes."
The team of Ross's army was lagging behind. It became a long snake formation of nearly three kilometers.
The current Russian army is actually quite weak, and those who were drawn into the battleAfter all, for the children on the field, the previous marches, bloody battles and limited rest had seriously overtaxed their already insufficient physical fitness, and they became the real tail of the crane.
Looking at the First Flag Team led by Arik, this group of unruly and amazingly strong men, they are still fearless bears, charging tirelessly.
The long snake-like team gradually gathered and formed a camp about 500 meters long on a relatively wide river beach.
A large number of bonfires were lit, and people who had walked the winding and rugged road all day could finally sit down and rub their feet.
Beside a huge bonfire, Rurik was busy eating dried fish, while glancing at whether the wheat in the pottery urn was cooked.
Although Arik was also nibbling on the dried fish he brought with him, he was quite critical of today's march and had his own thoughts.
"Brother, we are moving too slowly. I remember that we rushed to Gray Squirrel Hill Castle in one day."
The parties involved in that war were sitting by this bonfire. , Mechasta felt very uncomfortable when he heard it. Over the years, the defeated and surrendered leader learned the Norse language and could basically hear the communication of the Rus.
Mechasta smiled bitterly and said: "That year, you pulled the sled on the glacier. The road was extremely smooth! It seems to me that the Russian army appeared suddenly, and we were not prepared at all."
These words attracted Arik's attention: "So what you mean is that the new Tavastians are not prepared for our attack."
"Maybe. Those They are stronger than us."
"They must be prepared!" Rurik stared at the flames with an extremely determined attitude.
"Are you on guard? You won't be easily defeated by me. I have suggestions." As he said that, Arik turned to glare at his brother.
"You...are you looking at me like this? Are you afraid that you will demolish that mountain fortress if you want to lead a team by yourself?"
"Why not?"
"You should be cautious and follow my large army."
"No! We should appear suddenly and launch a surprise attack." Arik also wanted to give some explanations and talk. Go, he actually expressed his hope to get the first success in conquering the enemy.
Rurik had to think about his cousin's proposal. He was actually worried that the enemy would flee back the same way and then run away with Xinruan Sayazi. If your army delays further, it will not be good if it comes to nothing in the end.
Many people on the march discovered the traces left by the enemy when they fled, and concluded that the march was correct.
"Okay, you lead the first flag team and kill it." Rurik sighed slightly and finally convinced his brother.
"Okay, let's take a rest and take action right away."
"Huh? Are you in such a hurry?"
"I'm afraid that the enemy will escape quickly. I We need to pursue them lightly and capture the fortress as soon as possible."
Rurik frowned slightly again: "We can march lightly without heavy weapons.Not easy to fight. ”
“That’s right. Mechasta shouted deliberately: "That is the mountain fortress we built after all." In our battle many years ago, my people at least caused you casualties. If our army rashly attacks, the Tavastians who are stronger than me will..."
"Shut up! Arik was furious: "You are a defeated general." "
Rurik said with a sullen face: "But what he said is reasonable. "
"It doesn't matter. I just want to appear suddenly and attack suddenly. Brother, please be optimistic. When your large army arrives, you will see our flag flying on the wooden wall of the mountain fort. ”
Rurik really can’t talk about this guy, especially on the issue of war. He knows that even if he is a real duke, he cannot control the strong men of the First Banner Corps with just one order. They are obedient.
The core of the Rus’ Principality are never monolithic! The young people certainly admire Rurik who brings everyone a prosperous life, and they also admire Arik who leads everyone in bloody battles. /p>
Many young people are bloodthirsty guys, and sometimes Rurik would think that they are mentally ill.
Just let this group of guys who are literally not afraid of death fight for their lives, and they end up dead. After all the battles, the remaining growing group of boys were naturally only loyal to the Duke of Ross himself.
Arik didn't know that there was something behind his brother's seemingly cheerful agreement. There was a lot of darkness in this area.
Rose's riverside camp fell asleep. Biyongni verbally supported Arik's decision to raid. He respected Arik, a fighting maniac, and wanted to bring his Balmer. The brothers joined in, but in the end the reality was a cruel slap in the face.
The strong men who boasted of having strong bodies and defeated the Balmercs of Northumbria in Britain finally discovered that they were not good at it. Using two legs to march long distances in a short period of time, they certainly have extremely strong endurance. With the combination of long marches, less sleep, and a big battle, their endurance also has a limit.
The distance between the current campsites is very high. The goal was not far away. After all, everyone had walked all day long, and if they persisted a little longer, they would arrive at the Old Gray Squirrel Hill Castle at night.
The first battle of Vanguard Glory was captured by Arik's First Flag Team. The most experienced combatants in the Principality of Ross, 40% of them were veterans who had participated in all the foreign wars of the Ross people in the past five years. They woke up in the last stage of the night
They abandoned most of their supplies and only took a little fish with them. They set out carrying dry and drinking water bags and light weapons and equipment.
Among the five hundred brothers, there were only more than thirty light crossbowmen seconded from the shooting flag team. Mercenary guards from Rurik), there were also more than 20 people carrying short wooden bows made by themselves.
What is quite strange is that they carried a batch of pieces of wooden boards. "Giant anti-arrow shield", Arik needs this thing to cover his attack.
Arik has a set of siege techniques that will never be reversed. This battle can be regarded as another attack on the Gray Squirrel Fortress. If he repeats the same technique, he will be able to do it quickly. win!
Soon, the first standard group of the attacking Russian warriors encountered the Tavastia Forest Rangers who were stationed in the woods near the mountain fort.
Wateyala suffered defeat but was determined to hold on. He became cautious and even began to place sentries.
In the dim light of the early morning, the sentry spotted the team advancing along the river beach. Feeling that something was wrong, he immediately ran back to the mountain fort.
At that time, the Gray Squirrel Hill Fort had become dilapidated due to the war. After it was occupied by Tavastia, it was expanded, especially in that the city defense work was more rigorous.
Why strengthen wooden walls? Digging!
It doesn’t matter if the earth is dug to strengthen the foundation, a protective trench appears around the entire mountain fort.
A gate and a small door were built into the mountain fort. The woods near the mountain fort were cut down cleanly, and even the humus layer on the surface was cleaned up.
Why? This naturally expands the defender's line of sight. Secondly, some land has been simply dug, and there are a few onions that have just been planted in it!
Although the immigrants were forced to evacuate under Watyala's order, they had already started farming before they evacuated, even though the climate in this area was too cold.
The sentries ran back one after another, shouting as they ran.
Their shouts completely broke the tranquility of the morning, and also completely ruined Watyala's last sweet dream.
The entire mountain fort ended in peace, and all the Tavastian warriors stationed stood up.
Old and young, they guarded the new territory they had just taken with mixed emotions. Now a large number of people holding bows walked up the wooden wall, just like a flock of sparrows covering the branches.
Soon, after walking through the last forest, Arik could fully understand the situation ahead.
"Boss, we are here." A soldier pointed his sword at the exposed mountain fortress.
"Okay!" Arik glanced at the sun that was beginning to rise. The morning fog was quickly dissipating, and the hazy figure of the mountain fortress was also flashing.
He was carrying a round shield like a tortoise shell, and with his back turned to the brothers behind him, he slowly drew out his swords.
The buzz of drawing swords is simply the most wonderful echo. The brothers of the First Flag Team are overjoyed. We are all lucky enough to fight under the rising sun. Glory is inevitable. This defeats the enemy. Naturally, the brothers have The first choice is to choose the loot.
Arik, holding two swords, suddenly walked out of the edge of the forest with more than a dozen brothers and stepped into the open space outside Gray Squirrel Mountain Castle.
Although the situation had undergone some changes, he saw that the overall structure of the mountain fort was still the same.
"Look! Brothers. Look at those wooden walls with a group of turtledoves standing on them."
"Our defeated generals actually want to defend the city." Someone shouted disdainfully.
Someone also cautioned: "They are really prepared. If we attack rashly, we will still be injured by arrows. Even if we are all wearing armor, their arrows can still cause trouble when they reach the bottom of the wall."
p>"It doesn't matter, we are here well prepared. Now follow me up and scare them!"
Arik was really determined to win. He led more than ten people forward and walked more than ten cloths, and then Screaming.
Looking at the mountain fort again, Vatyala stood cautiously on the wall and frowned.
"Are the Russians mocking us? Does anyone know the language of the Varyags?"
I feel sorry for these Tavastian warriors who saw the sea for the first time. Do you understand the cry of the heroes of the sea?
But the behavior of the Russians they saw next, everyone knew that it must be humiliating.
It turns out that Arik deliberately took his brothers to lift up their pants, and to the Tavastians, there was a group of white things in the distance, and that one turned out to be...
"It's time to humiliate us! Come here! Shoot them!" Vatyala ordered with bared teeth.
Although the distance is relatively far, how can you not fight back after being so humiliated?
Wateyala gathered all the archers on the wooden wall. There were nearly 200 archers under his command and as many as 5,000 arrows.
The weight of a short wooden bow is only around 20 pounds. Thanks to the light arrow it shoots, the arrow can fly a long distance.
There was a whooshing sound in the sky, and Arik hurriedly lifted up his pants. Unexpectedly, one of the unlucky brothers was hit in the buttocks. He knelt down holding the wound and was dragged back by the brothers.
Who would have thought that the first wounded person in the Ross Army appeared, and the injured person was still injured in the buttocks?
This man only suffered minor flesh injuries. Arik personally pulled out the bone arrow cluster and asked the warrior to stay aside and rest.
The shocked people looked at Arik and suddenly laughed again, which caused more people to giggle.
"Why are you laughing?! Damn it, I really underestimated them."
"It doesn't matter." The first laughing soldier shouted: "The big tree will be chopped down soon. Fallen. Their arrows are indeed stronger than those of the Corvins, but their wooden doors will be knocked open by us."
"Very good" Arik nodded. Suddenly, a big tree collapsed, shaking the forest ground.
Russians seem to come out just for butt humiliation? Vateara felt that his counterattack had severely dampened the energy of the Russians, and the Tavastian warriors who had fought cowardly cheered for this volley.
There were more than a hundred arrows stuck on the flat ground. In fact, only two arrows took advantage of the wind, and only one of them caused insignificant losses to the Russians.
Wateyala knew that the enemy would not give up and only appeared as a scout. There must be a large number of enemies hidden in the forest ahead, and the war would inevitably break out today.
"Brothers! Get ready to fight."
He felt the shaking of the earth and sensed the crisis. Soon, Ross's army really left the woods, which shocked all the mountain fort defenders to become alert, and their string-controlling hands trembled.
ArikStill holding up his two swords, he swung the steel sword in his right hand: "Russians! Let's go!"
More than twenty strong men wearing chainmail and black bear skins attacked, reasonably. He tied it with hemp rope and carried a large pine tree that had just been cut down.
Beside him were a group of people holding shields, and in front were more than thirty soldiers holding large anti-arrow shields. A large number of ordinary warriors advanced with shields, and those holding bows and crossbows followed closely behind the shield bearers.
Arik's men formed a large formation that looked loose but was actually guarding the "pine battering ram" and began to attack in the face of arrows thrown by the enemy.
Although as soon as the battle started, Arik suddenly noticed that this group of enemies suddenly became braver. He felt that it was a little difficult, but he was also satisfied that he could fight enemies who showed their true strength.
Because this kind of battle will make everyone’s victory glorious!