The goods shipped by the Ross fleet are all in-demand commodities for the Balmoks.
The open-air shopping mall was crowded with people. Those big shots with high status bought the best batch at the first time, and a considerable number of ordinary people also got something.
However, Rurik still underestimated their desire to buy. The sale was just around the corner, but they were still holding up their pockets filled with salt and intending to buy.
In a small warehouse, a large number of oak barrels are filled with white salt.
Rurik was invited in. He dug out the soft salt with his own hands and put it in his mouth to taste.
"Look, it is indeed good salt." Magnute was quite proud, but he subconsciously stroked Rurik's golden ponytail from behind.
"It is indeed good salt."
"It is also good hair. Not bad, it feels like my daughter..."
"Let's talk about business." Rick turned his head and demanded, "The army must gather as soon as possible. This time we must..."
Magnut then laughed: "I will urge it now. This batch of two thousand pounds of salt It's yours. When do you plan to ship it?"
"We will return home after the battle."
Magnut didn't say much, and the two of them started their own work after leaving the warehouse.
The Russian army is making final preparations at the port, and the Balmoks are also mobilizing their troops.
Rurik made up a very legitimate reason for this expedition, that is, the Kingdom of Northumbria not only refused to cede territory and pay tribute, but also dared to recruit troops to fight.
If those people are really like this, Ryuri respects them as a group of men, but their failure is simply fate. Even if the Ross-Balmok coalition does not come, the Danes from all walks of life will have to kill them and cede territory and pay tribute. It can still survive, but it will only perish quickly if it persists in resisting.
When will the expedition begin?
Rurik set the day on the twentieth day of July. It is said that according to last year's experience, the army can rush to the eastern coast of Northumbria in ten days.
But wait, only large sail warships can do this. Traditional leading warships cannot be as fast as this.
It may be the best choice to divide the coalition forces into two parts. After some discussion, the two sides will make a decision on the priority of the coalition's attack in the early stage of the expedition.
The agreed date is today!
Glory belongs to the soldiers of the expedition. They are not stingy in promoting the spoils obtained by this expedition and the new warm living space.
The youngest and strongest young men in the entire Balmok tribe, armed with the best weapons they have prepared, accept the leadership of the leaders of various families and communities, forming this behemoth with a strength of 3,000 people.
Balmok is a huge Viking force of 25,000 people! This is the first time that they have assembled such a large force, and they even have greater war potential. There is no problem in recruiting 6,000 men to join the war.
OneAltars of wood and stone were built by surprise, and hundreds of ships drifted in the bay.
The beach near the altar is full of Balmok warriors carrying spears and shields.
They are the most traditional Viking warriors. Many of them wear iron helmets on their heads, and more of them have blond hair and beards in braids. A group of young people even deliberately took off their leather clothes, revealing their horrific tattoos, thick chest hair, and strong muscles.
The majestic army numbered up to 4,000 people. There was a huge fleet on the sea, and a large number of fishermen watched and saw off.
With such a grand occasion, Rurik felt that he could completely sweep across Britain.
Nine reindeer, nine calves, nine sheep and nine ponies were sacrificed. This scale of sacrifice was the first of its kind for the Balmok people.
Magnut rarely put on his battle robe, chainmail, and gold-rimmed leather helmet, and he seemed to have regained his youth.
The blood of the sacrifice was soaked in the sea water, and the grand sacrifice ended amidst the shouts of tens of thousands of soldiers and people. Magnut raised his arms and boarded the ship!
The sun was rising, and the longships were gradually filled with warriors carrying a large number of weapons. Each long boat is pulled by a cable, which is also commonly equipped with tools for building tents, tools for logging and digging, and even large hemp rope nets for fishing.
This is not just an expedition for the Balmoks, but many of them do not plan to evacuate once they land.
They decided to colonize. Although York was the main direction of attack, a large area centered on Bamburgh must be regarded as the "New Balmok".
On the mast of the big ship named Balmok, a raven flag with a white background was flying.
Why represents the glory of Balmok? Everyone claimed that Odin's warriors and their souls should arrive in Valhalla after death. Magnut easily made a decision that everyone accepted and mobilized women to sew multiple raven flags.
The Balmock will bring two hundred longships to the east coast of Northumbria at a relatively slow speed. Magnute himself is also the commander of this fleet.
This is the main force of Balmok but not the vanguard of the coalition. Rurik's fleet is rushing out of Narvik Harbor as the vanguard.
The tactical goal of a thousand Russian troops and 500 Balmok elites led by Biyongni is to rush to Bamburgh in Northumbria as soon as possible, and then immediately declare an attack on this place. The permanent rule of the army will wait until the main force from the rear arrives, and then the main force of the army will attack York.
They are Vikings. As long as they have a successful sailing experience, they will basically memorize the route.
Magnut had no regrets about his slow troops. He stood on the huge Balmok and witnessed the large number of longships guarding him, and he has been indulging in inextricable narcissism.
The huge coalition army set out to see off their elders in their hometown. They gradually left the harbor and entered the vast Atlantic Ocean with weapons, construction materials and a large amount of dried meat from their hometown.
LiuliAs a vanguard, Katsumi's goal was to establish a solid landing ground first.
However, the strength of this team has surpassed that of the last time. If Northumbria suddenly kills three or four thousand people, it will not be in vain.
The distance between the fleet and the subsequent Balmok main fleet is getting wider and wider. Biyongni stood at the stern of the Aurora and looked at his people in the distance, and couldn't help but feel regretful.
Rurik happened to be standing here. He took off his helmet and complained: "We are too fast and they are too slow. If we can maintain a constant speed..."
"We are asked to accommodate them. "?" Rurik muttered casually.
"No need. All the best warriors in Balmok are in my hands. We brothers will control the landing place first, and then we will start doing big things."
Rurik has no intention Looking at the ships behind him, he walked off the stern deck and went straight to the lounge. He added: "It's time for us to rest. The rest of the voyage will be very boring. Just wait, even if we get help from the God of Wind, we will go as fast as we can. It will take ten days to arrive."
What Rurik said is true. They will almost drift across the entire western coast of Scandinavia, and for the sake of safety they will not continue along the offshore waters.
Advancing against the southwesterly wind, the Ross fleet moved against the wind, its huge triangle sail constantly adjusting.
But in the vast Atlantic Ocean, thunderstorms always come suddenly even in the warm season.
When the fleet was about to arrive in Bergen, the sky began to rain, and a sudden north wind caused the temperature to drop sharply.
People hid in the cabins and allowed the ship to sway in the big waves.
It seems that the sea in this area always suddenly becomes violent? Or is this actually Odin's special love?
A large number of soldiers hid in the cabin and prayed, but Rurik himself didn't care. He believed that his big ship could quickly pass through the ** zone.
After all, this is not the Atlantic Ocean of America. The most violent Atlantic hurricanes cannot reach high latitudes like Britain, not to mention that the fleet is still located off the coast of Norway.
This airflow from the Arctic brings rain to the entire Baltic Sea from Bergen to the east, including Novgorod. The rain has washed the ship's Class A clean, and the sealing measures have been done well. The soldiers in the cabin are still enjoying dryness.
The fleet is running wildly against the north wind, and everyone is no longer able to consider the situation of the subsequent fleet, because the so-called Gem Islands are ahead.
This is the second time Rurik and Biyoni have passed through this archipelago.
The Shetland Islands are here. Look, there is a fishing boat floating in the distance.
After a seven-day voyage, we finally saw land! People on each ship stood on the railing of the ship and commented on the islands. The talk of landing and plundering also reached Biyongni's ears.
"How about it? Brothers have been holding back these days. It's time to let the sword see blood." He encouraged Rurik.
Rurik just squinted his eyes a few times and waved.Waving his hands, "Forget it. It's a waste of our time."
"Since we are not attacking, we will recruit soldiers from the island. They are no longer Bergen people."
Rurik shook his head again and asked, "Will you give those people the spoils?"
"This...I don't want to."
"Then leave it alone. They." Rurik pointed to the south and faced the blowing south wind, "We continue to move forward, and ahead of us is Scotland, and ahead of us is England, which is Northumbria."
These terms. Biyongni is already familiar with it. He is not interested in Scotland for the time being. The main reason is that he doesn't think of how much benefit he can get there.
The brothers are eager for gold, silver and women. It is best to seize a batch of wheat, because the Balmoks have to cultivate the land themselves.
The fleet quickly entered the eastern coast of Scotland and drifted across the mouth of the River Tay in just two and a half days.
The fleet did not enter this coast at all, and Rurik had no intention of going back to what Edinburgh, which had quietly experienced the war, looked like now.
He even lost sight of Lindisfarne. After all, the old monastery there, all the monks and priests were killed, and the beach was still an old battlefield.
Has the monastery been destroyed?
On the tenth day of the voyage, the Ross fleet quickly rushed to the ruins of Lindisfarne Abbey.
It was abandoned, at least in Rurik's opinion.
The white stone really blinks in the sun. If you look closely, there is a touch of green on the ruins.
Looking at this strange building ruins, the soldiers of the First Flag Team of the Ross Army who came here for the first time were really amazed.
On the contrary, a group of Balmok soldiers got the opportunity and began to explain to the surrounding brothers that they were the parties involved in last year's battle and that everyone destroyed this place.
In fact, Northumbria has not given up here. Lindisfarne Abbey is a holy place after all. The Broken Arm King Aynred is now busy blocking the territories of Mercia and Wessex. How can we have enough financial resources to rebuild the monastery?
One thing Rurik really guessed was right. After Eynred was defeated last year, he first sent the unclean queen to the monastery in York City, and then he showed off his iron power in front of the people. bowl.
Northumbria is indeed recruiting troops, and all farmers must report to the local lord at critical moments.
He spent a lot of money to retrain the cavalry, and also learned some experience from the battle against the Viking army. For example, he ordered the infantry to form a wall with mandarin duck shields, and a hundred-man team had to advance and retreat together.
God knows whether these reforms can withstand the new Viking offensive, at least in the recent border conflict with Mercia.
Maybe the Vikings won’t come this year?
The seaside has been calm for more than half a year. Although the repairs of the Edinburgh and Bamberg strongholds were extremely slow, there was no more trouble.
Eynred had a fluke mentality. He felt that coastal defense was not the most important. In fact, southern Mercia still wanted to annex Northumbria, just like what happened in history.
But the Vikings are coming again.
Why do Rurik and Magnute want to learn about the "Spring and Autumn of the Seven Kingdoms" on the British Isles? What does conquering them have to do with them?
Originally the fleet maintained a stable formation, but suddenly Rurik ordered the pilot flagship Aurora to take the lead.
The sudden change of the flagship forced other ships to adjust accordingly, and the formation of the fleet also turned into an arrow.
Everything changed for one reason, the Ross fleet arrived for the first battle of their expedition.
Rurik recognized this tiny bay. Look, there were fishing boats escaping in the bay.
"It's really strange. I remember that Bamberg has been destroyed by us." Rurik from the bow class was a little strange.
Byony patted his brother on the shoulder: "Brother Rurik, it seems they are repairing this fortress. I guess this is a fierce battle given to us by Odin. This time our swords and spears should see the light of day." Bloody."
"Okay, let's prepare for landing." After that, Rurik said casually, "Ready to dock! Prepare to release the boat! Um... maybe I should prepare more boats. ”
The water level in this small bay is relatively deep. Rurik already understood the water level situation, so he boldly led the fleet to directly attack the coast.
On the near shore, the Aurora put down the four small boats placed on the side and began to transport troops to the shore. Due to the capacity of this small boat, transporting five or six people at a time is probably the limit.
But the four sail destroyers at the rear are even bolder.
The tide has not yet risen, and the destroyers directly hit the beach, and finally all of them were deliberately stranded near the shore. They are not afraid of being stranded. When the tide comes in, all stranded ships will have to float again and anchoring will be necessary.
On the sail destroyer, one soldier after another jumped directly into the water, dripping water close to his chest, and gradually walked ashore.
The entire landing process seemed slow due to the small number of boats he carried. Rurik blamed himself for this as an oversight on his part.
But these are not big problems.
It is almost evening, and Rurik has stood here for the second time.
Most of the soldiers of the First Flag Team came ashore through water, and then, regardless of lighting a fire to dry off the wet, they demanded that Bamburgh be captured immediately.
The distance from the current landing site to Bamburgh City Gate is only a maximum of three kilometers. Since this area has been developed by local people, the originally dense forest has been turned into a large amount of farmland (almost all farmland has been abandoned), and only a few clusters of woods exist. The soldiers who landed can clearly see the stone city not far away, which is the so-called Bamburgh.
Look, Arik has raised his two swords high, giving the warriors a majestic momentum.
Although it was evening, I saw at least eight people who had landed.There were more than a hundred people, but without Arik's urging, Rurik had already launched an attack on Bamburgh with these brave men and brave men.
Is Bamburgh defended today? It shouldn’t be! Rurik was very surprised when he landed. He couldn't feel the presence of other people's activities here. Except for the sound of wind, waves and the noise of the army, the world was extremely quiet.
Bamburgh is just ahead, is it really a ruins under the setting sun?
No! There's someone in front!
Originally, Arik had already gathered most of the soldiers of the First Flag Team, and Biyongni also brought more than 200 wet men.
They remained on alert, forming a shield wall and preparing to attack the city.
Seeing that the brothers are in full swing, it will really hurt morale if they are not decisive at this moment. Rurik suddenly drew his sword and pointed it at Bamburgh, "Brothers! They must have abandoned this fortress! Come on, let's occupy this place."
Under the watchful eyes of everyone, Rurik was already leading the way with his sword. Yevluo, who was walking alone and feared that something might happen to his financial lord, hurriedly led fifty or sixty people to follow and attack.
Seeing this, Arik and others had no intention of advancing any further.
The Viking army is coming, and they launched a surprise attack on Bamburgh!
The battle ends when the sun sets, if a mini-conflict is considered a battle. As a result, a small group of craftsmen who were rebuilding the fortress were captured. A Northumbrian centurion who had intended to resist and wore orange warrior uniforms was frightened and fled after a little resistance. After a group of soldiers were killed in this group, ten others were captured.
Rurik stood here again, and the dilapidated scene made him extremely confused. Is Bamburgh really being rebuilt? There are a collection of tools, wood and stones to be processed scattered on the ground, and there are also tents that are obviously the residence of craftsmen. It only lacks the atmosphere of life in a residential area, as if the civilians' flight since the attack last year has gone forever.
As the trembling grain officer Paul approached Rurik, this man began to interrogate the captives on behalf of the Vikings who were afraid that they were about to be executed.
Yes, Arik, Biyongni and even most of the soldiers do not intend to keep alive unless the captive is a woman.
They did capture two women. Just by looking at their clothes, you can tell that they are just cooks. The wrinkles on their heads really make the strong young soldiers uninterested, but in theory, cooks I can cook fish for my brothers.
Paul has completed the interrogation. Although the truth was revealed, it really made the Viking army eager to fight furious.
Banburg was captured for the second time without any casualties. The army encountered almost no resistance, so there was no glory in this victory.
Aric was sharpening his sword and said to his brother who was organizing mercenaries to set up the camp tonight: "Rurik, we can't be merciful this time, we must sacrifice blood to Odin. Do you know? Cowards are not worthy. There are several captured Northumbrian warriors, they should be executed." "No! There is still use for us to keep the prisoners." Rurik was also worried because he was afraid that his cousin would be violent. .
"Be a slave? Maybe. "
"Since they are building a fortress, we should take advantage of it. After all, this will be our territory from now on. ”
“This is Balmok! I don't care. I just want to kill enemies and cowards. "Aric chased and said.
"It just can't be killed. Walk! Look at the condition of the prisoners now. "
Rurik was also worried that the Balmoks would take action, but what he worried about still happened.
Because the cook couldn't understand Norse, and she screamed like crazy because of fear. , who refused to cooperate with the fish cooking work, the Balmok warriors killed them in anger.
The captured craftsmen cursed in Saxon that the Vikings would go to hell and the Balmok people would go to hell. I didn’t understand it but I knew it was a curse.
Many craftsmen were killed, and more Balmoks began to look for loot at this huge construction site, dreaming of breaking wood through the gaps in the stone wall.
In fact, many craftsmen and farmers who were recruited to work fled when they first saw a large number of ships, including the newly promoted Earl of Bamburgh and Eynred's distant nephew. The donkey cart fled towards York. The captured craftsman was not caught because of his integrity, but because he was running slowly.
Rurik stopped the angry Biyoni at the last moment. He knew that he could not complain. Order the remaining men to be released.
"Why? Biyongni asked, "Mercy?" "
"No! It's fear-mongering. Let them flee back to York and tell them we are coming. "
"Is it necessary? I noticed that some people had fled into the woods, where would they pass the message? Oh, York. "Byony's expression told Rurik that he didn't care.
"But the newly released prisoners will tell the broken-armed king that our sword will stab York. It can be regarded as telling him to prepare gold, silver and women, and kneel at the gate of York to greet us. ”
Having said that, Biyongni thought about it too.
Ryurik then found Paul and told the pardoned captives that the so-called Vikings were not only here, but also The first step was to attack York.
The freed prisoners escaped overnight, and Bamburgh fell into the hands of the Vikings again.
However, Rurik soon found that what he got was one. There are large construction sites and a lot of abandoned fields. The farmers nearby were either killed or fled during the war, so there is a good thing: there is still a good harvest here! It was the Balmoks who were able to control the fields immediately and plunder the local fishery resources in preparation for next year's spring farming. Bamburgh, which was being rebuilt, could quickly turn into the Vikings' new castle. Britain's first permanent stronghold
Rurik even thought of a very clear name for this future stronghold, but it had no special meaning. Simply put, it was the so-called "New Fortress". Another way to say it is "Newcastle"