Vadim gathered a large army in just five days, with teams from every estate, with a total strength of seven to eight thousand people!
After all, Pine Needle Manor has the largest population, and the troops Vadim pulled from his own manor accounted for half of the total force. With such hard power, each manor had to recognize the rule of this tyrant.
Vadim calls himself a prince and is surrounded by a group of loyal guards and a group of allied Varyag warriors.
Novgorod has never seen such a grand occasion. They were shocked by their strength and full of confidence.
It is not enough to just rely on the army to press the border and force the manors to send troops. Vadim promised the manor owners that after defeating and expelling the Ross forces, the manors would not have to ask him, Nov. The Prince of Gorod paid taxes.
Some people are tempted, and some are suspicious. At least on the surface their attitude is unanimously supportive.
Vadim is still too young, and he cannot grasp the power of the prince...
The Pine Needle Manor is recruiting troops to expand its armaments, and the arrogant Vadim cannot avoid his actions. .
Vadim even deliberately kept a high profile in order to frighten the Russian ships that were unwilling to leave.
He had no intention of negotiating with the Russians. When the war was about to begin, he did not even send out scouts to find out the details of the Russians.
Vadim knew nothing about the strength of the Russian army, and was too arrogant to understand it.
He is busy gathering his own troops, but is it really monolithic to attack the unbreakable anti-Russian alliance built on military power?
Some manors were supportive on the surface, but secretly, after Vadim left with his troops, the manor owner gathered all the men in the farm for a secret meeting.
Fighting with Ross? This is asking for death! Besides, Vadim, who killed his father and seized power, chose the war. Pine Needle Manor is seeking death by dragging other manors along!
The strength of this farm called "Niu Calf" is weak. If men over twelve years old are gathered together, they can barely make up 200 warriors. Everyone is either a cattle herder or a farmer. Although they pay tribute to the Rus every year, the amount of tribute has always been within a tolerable range.
Moreover, the people were "rewarded" by the Russians.
Axes for cutting wood, sickles for cutting grass, and spearheads for hunting. Although these excellent iron tools were bought at a high price, if the Russians did not sell these, the people would still have to cherish the few iron tools they had. .
The Novgorod region lacks ore due to geographical reasons. Even if the Rus began to sell iron tools, the huge metal demand in the entire region would be a drop in the bucket. While collecting tributes, giving the locals some iron tools could effectively soothe their emotions. Otto had already noticed this.
The men gathered together to discuss whether they were partly noble or inferior, or there was no clear distinction between noble and inferior.
This is the Rada meeting of the Slavs, which is slightly different from the Duma.
Someone suggested taking Xinrou to escape from the war, and everyone burst into roars.
When someone suggested that not only should they escape with Xinrui, but also simply escape to the White Tree Manor controlled by the Ross people, this suggestion received the loudest shout from the entire manor.
This is how the Rada meeting is. Everyone can propose a proposal. The loudest roar of the people on a proposal is equal to the passage of the motion.
The men of Calf Manor made their choice, that is, since war is inevitable, they firmly believe that the powerful Russians will win, and after victory, the Russians will inevitably take terrible revenge. In this life-and-death battle, At the critical moment, he quickly took refuge with the Rus, and what he got from Calf Manor might be like a good life like White Tree Manor.
People seek advantages and avoid disadvantages, and they are also full of doubts about the unknown.
Calf Manor made a difficult choice, risking the lives of the entire manor people. They temporarily gave up the farmland and the sprouting wheat seedlings. The men took the women and children to drive the thousands of cattle and a small group of sheep and reindeer. Every household put all the more than 3,000 free-range chickens into cages, and then Pushing and pulling the trolley, we secretly moved towards the White Tree Manor at the northernmost point of the lake.
The Calf Manor left behind a lot of woodcuts and a large field in their village.
The owner of the manor was elected by everyone as a man who could speak well and steer the ship. His name was Uski Salinovich.
This Uski is very confident, and feels that handing over the information he has to the Ross people will immediately bring security to the entire manor, and even a better future.
He believed that the Russians must not know about the big move of the patricide Vadim.
They deliberately fled for their lives in the village one evening, driving their cattle, sheep and cattle silently north through the woods.
However, the men at the outpost soon noticed another group of guys who were also running for their lives with their clothes on.
Uski was in a complicated mood. He speculated that the escapees in front might be the group of fishing men from the "Fisherman" Manor.
The contact between the two parties in the dark night was extremely awkward, and they were wary of each other and almost caused a misunderstanding.
"Is it Tori Msievich? Where are you? I am your cattle herder to the south." Uski called, and he revealed his identity in exchange for the other party's trust. .
Dense pine forests cover the campsites of the two small farm refugees. Even if they light bonfires, they cannot be seen in the distance.
"I didn't expect that you wouldn't want to work for that Vadim. Eat, grilled fish."
Tori from the Fisherman's Farm threw grilled bass, but Usky had no intention of feasting on it. .
"Patricide Vadim is a tyrant. Do you believe his lies?" he asked.
"Trust?" Tori laughed, "If I trust him, I won't take my people to evacuate. The Ross people are very powerful. If more than a hundred of my men rush up, they will be easily killed by them." Vadim is a madman. If there is a war, he will force me to fight with the Russians, and eventually my manor will fall apart!"
"He is indeed a madman, and I guess even if he wins! ,byIn the end, he still had to order other manors to pay taxes to him. "
"But he definitely can't win. Tori's attitude was determined, and then he said something shocking: "That parricide dared to call himself a prince." The brothers support him on the surface, but secretly they are not running away like you and me. We can join the Russian army. I heard that the new leader of the Russian people is the son-in-law of Gus in White Tree Manor. In my opinion, we can also get benefits by dedicating my daughter. "
Uski suddenly realized it, but he hung his head with regret: "Unfortunately, I don't have a daughter. "
"You have no brain! Get a girl from among your friends and tell the Rus that this is your daughter and give it to their new leader. "
"Alas! That's true. Then I have to choose a pretty girl. ”
Sacrificing daughters, offering treasures and swearing allegiance, the two farms believed that their actions could obtain the gift of peace from the Russians.
It took them a day and a half to finally touch the white gold. On the outskirts of the White Tree Manor, their sneaky whereabouts had been noticed by the scouts assigned by Otto.
The wrong news reached the White Tree Manor, and the already nervous farmer's armed forces exploded. < /p>
Men and women picked up their spears one after another, and Medved and his three hundred men were already in formation.
Otto was sure that it was not an army at all from the scout's description. . A group of people were driving cattle and sheep, and there were obviously children crying among them. Is this a group of refugees?
Otto had a rough guess.
First of all, the mature old leader aggressively stopped the farmer soldiers from being agitated and ordered them not to be nervous.
He hurriedly summoned Medved at the critical moment and ordered: “There is a refugee movement moving toward your estate. You organize 200 people and welcome them. Remember, stay vigilant and beware of traps but don’t attack suddenly. What to do you know. "
"Yes. ”
Medved immediately organized a small army. The soldiers under his command would fight hard to protect their farmland and even prove to the Russians.
But this happened After being intercepted and not allowed to take the initiative to fight, they deliberately showed their teeth and claws, suddenly sprang out of the woods, and appeared in front of the refugee team with weapons.
Tori and Uski had expected it. In this situation, the two people raised their hands and kept writing, shouting: "We are not enemies! We support Ross! "
"Do you support Rose? "Medved took off the iron helmet that was unique to the Russians and stepped forward menacingly, while his warriors were still on guard with spears and crossbows.
Medved must be white. The owners of Tree Manor, Uski and Tori both know him. Likewise, Medved also knows these two leaders.
“You are the cowherds and the fishermen! What on earth are you here for! ? You seem to be fleeing as a family. Medved, who squinted his eyes to see clearly, warned.
“We want to see Ross.Leader of men, we have something important to pay back. " Uski said eagerly.
Medved hesitated: "Meet the leader of Ross? No, the leader will not see you. "
He must remain cautious. After all, Otto escaped from a despicable assassination a few days ago and is wary of people outside the White Tree Manor.
Uski also watched Knowing that this was perfunctory, he was so anxious that he sweated: "Medved! Do you know what else Pine Needles Manor wants to do? They gather everyone to attack you White Tree, they want to kill you all, they want war. We just want to tell the Russian people that Vadim, who killed his father, is coming with an army of 10,000 people! ”
The amount of information is very huge. After carefully studying some important information, Medved extracted the most shocking news-war.
He is not afraid of war, even I am willing to attack Pine Needle Manor. Besides, the Rus are going to expedition to Karelia this year, and the Rus Principality has assembled a huge combat force. Unexpectedly, at this critical moment, Medvedt is still worried about the assassination of Pine Needle Manor. , and immediately ordered: "Let me believe you can. Disarm you and follow me. "
Uski and Tori looked at each other and both agreed deeply.
The two also said that in order to show their sincerity, they would dedicate their daughters to become Rose. The new leader's maid.
Isn't a maid the same as a concubine?
They don't know that they can say this to anyone, but they can't say it to Medved.
But Medved’s forehead suddenly burst with veins. His biological sister is the official wife of Rurik, Duke of Ross. The existence of his biological sister has made the White Tree Manor enjoy huge benefits. Could it be that the fisherman and the cowherd also Want a share of the pie? He doesn't care about other women. The daughter of a local noble in Novgorod has no right to compete with his sister.
Wait a minute, maybe this is the case...
Medved had an idea: "Then dedicate your daughter to me! I am the flag captain of the Duke of Ross, and I am someone who is highly regarded by the Duke of Ross. If you meet my request, I can give you a few kind words. ”
The two looked at each other again. It was obvious that Medved must be satisfied before the refugee team could really get shelter from the Russians.
Because the Russians are the people in this country. The master of the lake area, Vadim, was just a violent parricide, a young villain.
The two immediately offered up the women they had prepared. In fact, the two girls were not their daughters.
p>
Medved had no intention of screening. What he actually wanted was the sincerity of the other party, so he accepted the women and immediately announced that they would be members of the White Tree Manor from now on.
The total number of people was only nine. The refugee team of a hundred people all disarmed and arrived at White Tree Manor under the supervision of Medved's subordinates.
The real people of White Tree Manor are very repulsive to these outsiders, and there is no need for them on either side. Clear hatred, this is the local people's subconscious fear that outsiders will come to encroach on their own interests.
Otto is still very surprised by this.A group of refugees, taking into account the concerns of the locals, ordered the refugees to camp in an unowned forest farther away.
However, all their children have not been "arrested" for the time being, and are placed in a barn controlled by the Rus, with a steady supply of food and drinking water.
Usky and Tori knew that the children had become hostages, and apparently their strange experiences all stemmed from Vadim's stupid assassination.
The two were searched closely and were able to enter the meeting room of the White Tree Manor under the surveillance of many Ross warriors. They met with the owner of the manor, Rigus, and the real owner, the old Duke of Ross, Otto.
Uski and Tori have met Otto many times, but Otto has never bothered to remember the names of some minor characters, even though he went to the two farms to collect physical tribute.
The two noticed that the aging nobleman was wearing iron armor, and the armor shimmered under the light of the oil lamp.
With such armor, it would be amazing if Vadim could successfully assassinate him.
Otto put on the shirt on purpose. This is his habit, and it is very necessary now.
The Russians were too lazy to be polite. The warriors on both sides of the row bared their teeth and ordered the visitors to get out as soon as they said their intention.
In great panic, Tori and Uski began to stutter about what they knew.
Vadim of Pine Needle Manor was not only the mastermind of the assassination, but also killed his father Borudne afterwards.
Vadim chose to declare war on Rus, killed all opponents and their families, and led his army to force other estates to send troops.
Calf Manor and Fisherman Manor know that they are weak and are afraid of war. They do not want to work for Pine Needle Manor, let alone be enemies with Ross.
Such important information does not shock Otto. As an old guy who has been on the battlefield for a long time, he has already guessed such a result.
"Vadim? I remember this kid, when he threatened to kill me, he really did it. Unfortunately, he was very reckless and a complete bastard. He actually dared to kill his father, and he actually did it indiscriminately. Kill his people. Tell me how many troops he has gathered." Uski felt happy and said hurriedly: "Vadim claimed to have ten thousand people."
"So many?" Otto was slightly surprised.
Looking at Ligus and Medved, both of them opened their eyes wide in astonishment.
In the Slavic concept, the army is equal to all those who take up arms, but in the current concept of the Russians, the army is an armored team with a standard formation similar to that of a flag force.
Of course Otto knew the situation of the Slavs. Their army was essentially a group of armed peasants, a rabble! Even his son Rurik would not even look at them.
But they actually organized 10,000 people!
The pragmatic Otto felt that this troop strength value was true, because the Novgorod region had a huge population, and they could unite to form 10,000 armed farmers, but he did not know that there was a lot of water in it. .
“There are so many of them, and it’s not me who wants to kill them.will. I still have to keep these people to pay my taxes! "
Otto said this deliberately, and Xuligus responded hurriedly: "Sir, they dare to resist you but they don't want to pay tribute. Kill them! If we don't do this, the war will not end. ”
To put it bluntly, Ligus coveted those fields. Enemies died in battle and a large number of acres were left vacant. Now White Tree Manor has absorbed a lot of people from other manors, and the total population is already quite large. Is there any ready-made grab for land reclamation? The developed mature fields are a hot asset in this area. Every farmer wants to expand his acres, and the men of the entire White Tree Manor are eyeing it.
The Calf Manor and the Fisherman Manor. The major intelligence forced Otto, who was temporarily stretched thin, to be more cautious. Since they hoped to get Ross's protection and the promise of future peace, they could not just wait for victory and enjoy the fruits of victory.
Otto finally gave the order: "Your men. Armed again, now under my command. I won't let you take the initiative to attack them, but if they take the initiative to challenge us, we must fight together. "
The two immediately supported Otto's wise governance.
Tori asked tremblingly: "Sir, it seems that your army does not have many troops. If you want to defeat them, do you rely on this small force? "
Otto laughed, Rigus and Medved both laughed, and the other soldiers present laughed wildly.
Otto explained slowly, Medved An accurate translation into Slavic: "When we were gathering an army to attack the Karelia people in the north, this fool Vadim actually chose rebellion and war. Rurik's army is about to arrive, and Pine Needle Manor will no longer exist. ”
Finally, Otto added: “If those manors who are being held hostage can abandon the dark side and turn to the bright side, they will be forgiven. If they follow Vadim to cause rebellion, all men and women will be executed!” ”
Otto believed that his messenger had already contacted Rurik, and the main army in New Roseburg would go south first.
But the reinforcements from Konuf and his son will only arrive tomorrow. It's here. As long as the reinforcements from Fort New Rose arrive first, the defense strength of White Tree Manor will make Otto completely at ease.