Chapter 601 Peace Treaty and Diversion of Disaster to the South

With her son standing next to her, maybe Ella also felt that her mother was nothing but an empty shell of a useless person.

The fact is almost the same. Biyongni possesses this noble woman. He is as strong as a bull and has completely conquered this woman's mind. He used this as something to show off, even though many people thought it was unnecessary.

With his son by his side, Eynred's nervous heart finally calmed down a little.

"As you can see, I keep my word." Rurik said solemnly: "Now, let's start our peace talks. Eynred, you should understand that the so-called opportunity for peace talks is my You can only accept what the army gives you, and you have no right to refuse."

"Why? This is unreasonable. If this is the case, it is not a peace negotiation. I still have the right to propose conditions. King of Northumbria. Also, the whole of Britain and the kingdoms will not recognize your claim to be king."

Rurik was quite surprised, fearing that this guy had not seen him. The prince suddenly became angry while he was still alive?

"Why do we need their recognition? We are all a bunch of weak sheep." Rurik paused again, stood up and stuck out half of his head: "You are all weak countries, and weak countries have no diplomacy. . And the strong don't need diplomacy."

"Latin?" Eynred was shocked, he couldn't believe that the word "Latin" came from a barbarian boy's mouth. Say it here.

"Vici! Vidi! Veni!" Rurik blurted out without a moment's hesitation

At least Eynred knew this phrase. He suddenly broke into a sweat and said: "You really speak Latin. You killed my Bishop of York, and it seems you killed all the priests. If the Bishop hadn't died, he would have communicated with you in Latin."

Stay Rick nodded: "It is true that my people were impulsive. As decisive as Caesar, does our army need to get permission from the kingdoms of your island to attack? We are not attacking you because Northumbria is the weakest. , completely because you are closest to our hometown."

"Huh? Your goal is to conquer the entire island?"

" Maybe." Rurik shrugged. He turned to ask: "Do you know history?"

"..."

"A long time ago, we were a family. You left three hundred years ago, and we Stay in your homeland. Since you can land on the island in a small boat, we now have a big ship. Isn’t it easy to come? But we have indeed become different. You betrayed Odin and converted to the faith of the Romans, but we are still here. Believe in Odin. "

What Rurik said is of course true. If the Saxons, Angles and Jutes had not crossed the sea on a large scale, the remaining Jutland Peninsula would not have been filled with Danes.

Eynred doesn’t know this. He has never experienced any historical education and only hears about the past. Now he regards what Rurik said as a way to get close and to find occupation.Legal bullshit.

Eynred simply shouted: "Tell me your purpose. No matter what our relationship is, we are still in a state of war. Tell us how you want to end this dispute. What do you think? What will happen to Northumbria?"

"Okay! Now listen to our terms. We want all the land east of the Ouse, around Bamburgh and Lindisfarne. The lands and towns, and all the people of this region, shall be our servants, and I require you to give us an annual tribute of not less than three million Roman pounds of wheat, and five thousand more for us. Young woman."

Hearing this, Aynred stood up furiously: "This is a great shame!"

"But , do you have any choice?" Rurik said coldly.

Yes! The truth is so cruel.

Aynred sat down again and said coldly: "My army fled and Earl Roydis died in the battle. They may think that I am also dead. Soon, many The earl will support Osbot's succession to the throne and will continue to fight against you even if you own the above-mentioned lands. They will not accept this humiliation."

"Then kill. They. Wait, did you just mention a name?"

Eynred did not hesitate to explain the existence of a man named Osbot, and even claimed that if his family was extinct, that man would die. He will inherit the throne naturally. "That is a man who will fight to the last soldier. Either you kill him and even his men, otherwise the war will never stop."

"Really? We still have one person left in Bamburgh. A big army." Rurik looked arrogant, but he was naturally more cautious.

"That man and his army are in the north. Many of the northern territories you are asking for belong to him. Even if I make a promise, he..."

"Then we have to fight. "

As for the life and death of Osbert and his family, Eynred doesn't care. Anyway, that family wants him to have no heir to inherit the throne. Besides, in peacetime, he only controls Edinburgh and Bamburgh. , most of the rest of the northern land belongs to Osbot's family, and even the noble lords who support his family.

In addition, there is also the abominable Strathclyde problem. In the northwest of the country is a large group of Picts who have surrendered to the kingdom. Once the kingdom's strength is weakened, the locals will surely rebel.

Eynred thought for a while and made some calculations in his mind about the gains and losses after making the trade-offs. If this group of Vikings must do this, they also succeeded in destroying Osbot in the north, and then Strathclyde rebelled. Isn’t it true that only a quarter of the territory belonging to Northumbria is left?

The Viking army wants to take Penicia and Deira (the place where Northumbria made its fortune) as their own! Northumbria, once the overlord of Britain, actually wanted to shrink to the west of the Ouse River. The kingdom finallyThe territory is actually the former place of Reged and Emmett.

The previous kings destroyed the Kingdom of Reged and the Kingdom of Emmet established by the Britons, and the last Strathclyde swore surrender. Northumbria used its military power to move southward and ruled East Anglia and Mercia. The Kingdom of Kent also surrendered to the previous king. The prosperity of the past is gone, and the great kingdom is actually going to survive in a tiny place?

Eynred has no choice, but he must make a final resistance, at least to gain some power for the last kingdom, so as not to be bullied too badly by the Vikings.

He initially agreed with Rurik's request for territory, but he really didn't want to give it to him regarding food and women.

"It is difficult for me to give you three million pounds of wheat a year. If I give you five thousand women, my kingdom will soon be depopulated! You have taken away the last part of my territory. Young women, even the farm uniforms will no longer exist! Don’t you have any hands or feet? You can only lift the sword to kill, but you can’t lift the hoeing tool?"

He said this? Asked, Rurik also felt that his request was too much. Northumbria is not yet a country with a large population. If it cuts off a large territory, plunders a large amount of wheat from the remaining people, and then takes away a group of women, wouldn't this kingdom exist in name only?

It is okay to make concessions, but you must give in decently.

"But we must get five thousand young women. I can promise not to deprive them of their faith, no matter what. You must give us three million pounds of wheat every year, and an additional five thousand A young woman. As long as you do this, we can ensure the safety of your final power."

"This! You are making things difficult for me, knowing that I can't do it now."

"Wait a minute !" Aynred immediately waved his hand and said: "I really can't afford so many women, and asking me to hand them over would be a betrayal of my faith and I will definitely fall into hell. But, Maizi, I can work hard. ""

Of course what Rurik hopes to get most is wheat, so that he can bring his fleet to this area every year to buy it from the Balmoks in the colonial fields. Asking for three million pounds of wheat is really a huge amount. As long as Northumbria is willing to pay it, it means that this kingdom that will shrink in the future will lose its war potential.

They used all the remaining grain as tribute, how could they accumulate strength.

Eynred also noticed that this blond Rurik looked young, but how could he be as vicious as Satan? What the Vikings want is not a peace treaty, but probably an armistice treaty lasting several years. But, how can I have the strength to expel them now?

Unless you do this...

Eynred sighed and said: "I can be the king of a small country, and I can cooperate with you.Do it, but I want you to swear that you will not attack me again after I do it. Northumbria is already too weak. Attacking us will not get any more treasures, it will only increase killings. It is not good for you to kill potential servants. I would like to warn you not to think that you can live peacefully in your new territory. ”

“Hey? Is it a threat from those approaching kingdoms? "Rurik asked knowingly.

"Exactly! As you know, I have been leading troops to confront the Mercian army in the south. Once they learn of the decline of my kingdom, they will invade in force. They are stronger than my Northumbria, with a mild climate and high wheat yields. It has a large population, a large number of young women you desire, and mountains of gold and silver. Why must you desperately plunder our bitter cold land? You have incomparable fighting power. Why don't you go to war with Mercia? If you don't start a fight, they will take the initiative to attack. ”

Things have become complicated.

Although the grain officer Paul has been acting as a translator, he translated the negotiations between Rurik and Eynred into Norse and told the audience, Everyone could basically understand it, but when Eynred said this, he became hesitant.

Rurik had to think carefully. After all, the war against Mercia was not his own. The original intention, at least, was not in this year’s plan.

Seeing the other party’s hesitation, Eynred immediately suggested seriously: “This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity! The king of Mercia is called Wiglaf. He and his army are just south of the Don River, facing each other across the river on the border between our two countries. Wait! In fact, it is a confrontation with your new kingdom across the river! This is not Northumbria's war with Mercia, but yours with Mercia. You can take the opportunity to kill their king and seize a large and rich territory. ”

A new war?

To be honest, Rurik’s heart was moved, just because Eynred’s continued description explained a situation that was very beneficial to the Ross-Balmok coalition. The fact is that the coalition fleet can sail up the Don River and directly reach the Dole Village, catching the Mercians by surprise. From then on, there will be a major strategic opportunity for southward invasion and plunder.

Now that the wheat harvest has just been completed on the entire island, this Eynred also said that the Mercians are a hybrid of wheat and oats. It is mainly the problem of eating that makes Rurik's heart

Rurik has to. After urgent discussions with Magnute and others, the lengthy explanation was meaningless. As soon as they heard that a new war would bring greater benefits, Magnute and Biyongni both slapped their thighs and demanded that they immediately Fight to the death with Mercia and personally kill the passing Wiglaf who appeared at an untimely time.

Their attitude was so determined that Rurik could not say anything. There is a new goal, and the army is eager to gain new benefits after the new war, so they should continue to fight.

The peace talks with the King of Northumbria themselves are nothing to talk about, Ironley. After all, virtue is not a king who dies in the country., nor is he a person of great righteousness.

If this person doesn’t want to be a groveling minister, then he shouldn’t be a minister. It’s better to be a king of a small country and save his life for the time being in this increasingly magnificent Viking Age.

The Kingdom of York, controlled by the Balmok Vikings, was born. Eynred recognized that this martial kingdom established by despicable outsiders on his own land was obviously his palace. , he respected the old man Magnute as the "great king", which is the original meaning of the term "Magnute", and also recognized Biyongni as the crown prince of the Kingdom of York.

Put aside the issue of faith for the time being, or in other words, the so-called issue of faith is not a problem at all. In the face of sudden destruction, for his family to have such a result is nothing less than the best choice in the worst situation. At least his family still retains the fire of Ella, which means there is a possibility of revenge for the country, even if the possibility is already very slim.

Five thousand young women, Eynred could not afford, and a supply of three hundred pounds of wheat per year, by squeezing the farmers in the remaining territories and relying on the strength of the Vikings in the war against Mercia He took advantage of the chaos to kidnap local farmers and save military expenses. With this move, he gritted his teeth and felt that he could do it.

The peace talks only ended on the day of the riverside battle, before the warmth of the corpses of the war dead had dissipated. Things developed so fast that Eynred thought it was a nightmare.

The next day, he woke up from the dream. He woke up from the house that was originally the servant's living room with his son in his arms. Only then did he realize that all this was not a dream, but a reality that was worse than a nightmare.

Ella is ignorant. This young boy yells at his father that his mother is a fool. He is bullied by the bald man at will and there is nothing he can do about it.

Eynred gave his son a slap first, and then shouted sharply when he saw him crying: "Don't cry! You are a man! Remember this pain! Remember the humiliation of our kingdom. Wait until I die Now, you are the king of the kingdom. Don’t act out of anger over a woman. You must find a way to support our kingdom. One day, you will drive away the Vikings who invaded our territory.”

Ella. With tears on his face, he covered his face and nodded ignorantly.

Eynred stood up, he still had to personally sign a formal peace treaty for yesterday's peace talks.

Rurik, that son of Rus, actually thought of turning the treaty into text. Do these barbarians have writing? Wait. That kid can speak Latin, and maybe he can also write documents in Latin. If so, wouldn't it be...

The fact is as Eynred expected.

A piece of parchment unearthed from the kingdom's warehouse was cut into three parts, with three characters written on it, namely the rune alphabet of Norse and the Saxon Northumbria written in Latin alphabet. Treaty texts in sub-dialectal and written Latin.

Rurik actually knew both written Latin and colloquial Latin, which was really beyond Eynred's expectation.

"The Kingdom of York, the Duchy of Ross and NorthumbrianThe Treaty of Non-Aggression of the Kingdom of Leia"

Just like the Saxons who immigrated to Britain are no longer Saxons, the Balmoks who decided to immigrate to Britain on a large scale will inevitably have to gradually become like the people in their hometown. no the same. "Kingdom of York", this was the new name given by Magnute to the land where the immigrants lived. He himself was the king of the Viking Kingdom of York.

As for the name of the treaty, it was purely Rurik’s bad taste.

In other words, the name of this treaty already implies its results. This is just a short-term armistice treaty. No one can stop the expansion of the various Vikings. This is the trend of the entire era! The Kingdom of York would personally tear up this treaty and devour Britain with a more powerful Viking army. As for the Viking Danes across the sea, they could never be spectators.

As long as Magnute or his successor decides to tear up the treaty, Ross, as an alliance, will naturally send troops to help.

Ernred signed his name with a quill.

Rurik signed in Latin, and his skillful gesture of holding the pen shocked Eynred. And the writing posture is so regular, it's almost as if he is better at writing than the scribe.

At least this boy is by no means a barbarian.

In comparison, Magnute grasped the quill with all his fingers, like grasping the hilt of a sword, and "engraved" himself on the three texts with simple vertical lines The name, its scrawling says it all.

After signing this document that was humiliating and humiliating the country, Eynred was covered in sweat. He sat down and almost collapsed.

On the other hand, here at the Vikings, no one was ecstatic.

The Ross Army and the Balmok Army are very busy. Signing this treaty is tantamount to stating that the army will temporarily withdraw from York, and then turn around and immediately fight with the remaining Northumbria that Eynred can still control. The troops formed a coalition, and this army, which was sacrilegious to Aenred, would surely kill the Mercian army and its king by surprise.

This has nothing to do with faith. When he signed that treaty, Eynred felt that he would go to hell after death. He himself didn't care anymore. At least the fire of revenge was given to his son Ella.

He needed a stable external environment to accumulate strength. He was also entangled in his past anger towards the King of Mercia and was happy to see the Viking army teach them a lesson.

He stood on the city wall, and now everything has changed.

The big ships are still parked by the river, and the granaries in York City have been emptied, and they have all been captured by Rurik. Aynred was really curious. All the news about the Vikings, they came to seize gold, silver and population. The so-called Balmoks of the Kingdom of York did this. Why were the Rus only interested in wheat.

He saw the Vikings washing their blood-stained robes by the River Ouse, and he couldn't help but lament that the robes that were once stained with the blood of Northumbrians would eventually be stained with Mercia. human blood.

Wiglaf, King of Mercia, will surely suffer for his mistakesAt the edge of time, you have to pay a terrible price, even the death of your country.

Subconsciously, the broken-arm Eynred hopes to bully his own Viking army and attack Mercia. "Only Northumbria is harmed in the world". This is unreasonable! Thinking of this, he couldn't help but laugh, like a crazy fool...