The siege curtain was laid with linen, and after the snow was cleared from the snow, some leather mats were laid.
The horses of the cavalry are all treasures. Since it is the first time for cavalry to fight in extremely cold conditions, Kagan does not dare to neglect them at all.
Of course the horses can take a nap standing up. Although it is cold now, they can realize that it is very safe for them to leave the country, so they gather together and sleep on their sides.
The sky is still shining with auroras. From the perspective of the Russians, the gods are indeed paying attention to the army's actions, which is a good omen.
When the sky turns dark blue, the resting horses are awakened.
It is extremely cold in the early morning. The current temperature has plummeted to minus ten degrees. Exposed limbs can easily get frostbite. This extreme cold like a knife also makes Kagan worried about the morning raid. A hint of doubt.
Fortunately, the wheat porridge that was already being cooked gave everyone enough confidence. After eating hot food, most of the cold seemed to disappear.
Horses are not picky about high-energy grains and will happily munch on cooked wheat if they can. Based on the structure of their stomach and intestines, cooked wheat is also easier to absorb.
Isn’t it bad to give your war horse some cold oats? After all, they had to gallop their horses to launch a surprise attack. I don’t know who started it. The Ross cavalry began to cook the wheat in a hurry. They didn’t ask for it to be cooked. They just picked it up when it was hot. They fed their horses and sprinkled some salt with it.
They are more willing to grab warm wheat with their own hands and stuff it into the horse's mouth, while at the same time saying some inspiring words to try to inspire their special comrades.
Kagan didn’t take it seriously. He knew that the horses he brought over were all hard-working. If they were humans, they would all be tough warriors.
The horses must maintain sufficient physical strength, so although the morning meal given to the war horses is not very large, it is of extraordinary nutrition.
The Ross army assembled after breakfast. They quickly threw the main materials for building the camp onto the sled and hurriedly checked their weapons and equipment.
On the other hand, the Ross cavalry have already mounted their horses.
Nobles such as Rurik, Arik, and Jevlo rode on horseback to review the entire cavalry.
Look at them! Including the Pechenegs, they also put on the standard clothing of the Russian army. The horses were equipped with integral cold-proof leather jackets and a layer of white cloth sewn with blue patterns. The entire mixed cavalry team has full snow camouflage and a variety of weapons and equipment.
Short wooden bows, recurve bows and crossbows are all listed, and there are also spears leaning against the saddle.
There are two round shields hanging on their thighs, calf armor, and deerskin iron plate armor on their upper body uniforms. Although their helmets are made of riveted iron sheets, there is another layer of iron hanging on their necks. piece.
People are like this. Although the war horse does not have large-scale iron armor, it does have a piece of deerskin riveted with iron sheets on the front chest.
From Rurik’s perspective, he assaulted his cavalry with these armors.Yi didn't really upgrade them to heavy cavalry, but they weren't fully light cavalry either.
In a sense, they are a kind of heavily armored hussars. They do have weapons and equipment and riders, and the weight of the war horses has increased significantly.
This unit must complete the combat mission as soon as possible. Ordering the horses to stand on four hooves with a high-intensity load for a long time will cause too much damage to the horses.
The cavalry lined up in two lines, and the horses twisted their thick necks unconsciously, breathing thick white mist.
Rurik rode on horseback to review each soldier. He had mostly finished what he needed to say, but he still had to say a few more words.
"I only give you one mission! Raid the Karelian camp and kill them mercilessly! This is the only way for you to become a true warrior. Now follow Prince Kagan to Fight the Pecheneg way! Just one thing! Don’t be too busy grabbing the loot.”
Will they implement the order? Rurik suddenly pulled out his sword, causing them to subconsciously draw their swords.
"Now! Go fight!"
Kagan looked at his Rurik brothers again. He didn't speak. He had a sharp look that had killed people. He just said it with his eyes. everything. He jerked the horse with both hands, and clamped the horse's belly with his feet. His mount immediately reversed its direction, causing the entire team of horses to turn around.
"It seems that the battle has begun?" Arik couldn't help but said to himself as he watched their retreating figures.
"It's begun." Rurik's eyes widened like an eagle: "Maybe..."
"What's wrong?"
"We are still too high. After seeing the Karelians, I feel that the battle can be solved by the cavalry alone."
"That's fine. I don't think it's an honor to fight against a group of poor savages. The battle will be over as soon as possible so that we can go. Let’s see how many ferrets we can catch.”
Rurik glanced sideways at his cousin. Although it seemed arrogant to despise the Karelia people so much, the enemy’s weakness was real.
The cavalry will set off first, and the rear troops will still need some time to prepare.
"It's better to think of the enemy as a powerful force." Rurik said, "This way we won't be in a hurry when there is a real crisis."
Arik shrugged: "Whatever you want . I'm going to organize the team." After that, he turned the horse's head...
When the cavalry was ready to launch an assault, Kagan ordered the cavalry to move quickly from the starting position.
Thanks to the high-energy breakfast, the horses do not feel tired. The cavalry formed a four-row column with the Pechenegs in front and the Russian cavalry behind. They formed a moving matrix.
This battle was the first battle for the boyar aristocratic boys who were ordered to join the army. Even though their fathers were aristocrats canonized by the prince, they were still essentially the sons of farmers. Based on their status, they But far away from the war, it is better now, gloriously becoming a soldier participating in the first battle.
Thanks to the experience of military career, even weak people have wild hearts.Be inspired.
They had no experience in killing enemies at all. They only had the experience of killing deer and chickens under orders to practice their courage.
They are generally only sixteen years old, and even some twenty-year-old men also lack experience in killing enemies.
Only the Slavic members of the cavalry look like this. The young boys selected from the old Rus's have participated in many wars, and this is the first time they have been put into combat as cavalry.
"Get your bows ready, get your arrows ready! Use my recurve bow well! Kill your enemies without mercy. Follow your prince's orders and kill without mercy!"
Kagan gave orders in broken Slavic, and everyone understood the main vocabulary, so they immediately prepared their weapons while riding on horseback.
Now they can no longer see the large army. In fact, they are already far away from the army in the rear. Although walking on the glacier, everything around them was spruce and red pine, but in fact they were already very close to Lake Onega.
Finally, the world is open!
The huge new glacial lake suddenly appeared in front of them, and the cavalry walked out of the forest area and stood on the frozen shore of Lake Onega.
But we don’t have time to feel the vastness of the new world, because just to our south, a large-scale residential settlement suddenly appears in front of us.
People with excellent eyesight saw reindeer herds again, and there seemed to be people fishing on the ice.
The cavalry, both men and horses camouflaged in white, adjusted their direction again, and everyone understood that a fierce battle was about to break out.
Kagan hurriedly summoned everyone, holding up the Ross steel sword he had ordered and giving orders: "Everyone shoot three arrows, then attack with lances, and finally draw your swords to chop. Go and kill everything you see. People! Come with me now!"
Everyone has learned the rapid-fire archery technique. Since everyone has a trigger, the rapid-fire archery style with a right-hand bow becomes easy to control.
A group of white objects were moving on the snow by the lake. At first, the exiled Karelia people were unaware of the imminent danger.
Looking at the cavalry team, they are now back to running at a trot. Each cavalryman holds not only the bow but also the three arrows in his left hand, and only his right hand holds the reins.
Those Karelia people had already killed a large number of men in previous wars, and most of the people who fled were women.
This is a stronghold with a population of up to 2,000 people. They began to use riverside gravel to strengthen the foundations of tents and build houses with leather and wood.
The deer they brought were not many, thanks to the fact that they were adjacent to the lake and could hunt for food in the winter. Because we have made some deals with the Perm and Lüdi people who have set foot here, life is not so ugly.
One thing is true, they are indeed not rich, they are just defeated exiles lingering on.
The exiled people did not even elect a recognized leader. Some survivors of the three major tribes exist here. Men have the highest say, and women rely on these men.They were already actively rebuilding the tribe, and many women were pregnant again. It seemed that they could live safely in this area where powerful enemies could not find, and the matter of armed vigilance was ignored.
In fact, even if they are on guard, it is meaningless!
The former allies and servants of the Ludi people turned into vassals of the Principality of Rus. Now in 838 AD, they came over as enemies.
Of course, they would never have imagined that the first wave of attacks from the Ross Principality’s pursuers would actually be cavalry from the warm prairie more than a thousand kilometers away!
When the Karelian exiles noticed the wriggling snow masses, they didn’t know how to describe it, and some began to subconsciously shout: “A large group of white bears are coming!”
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Some of the people in the settlements went out to look for resources, such as hunting animals and skinning them to sell to the Perm people. There were a large number of women and children left behind in the camp. There were less than a hundred armed men and ten-year-old boys, or It is said that the combatable men of the entire exile population only account for one-sixth of the total.
But that’s the cavalry!
"Fire arrows! Run!" Kagan gave the order, and the entire team fired into the air unconditionally.
Iron arrows fell from the sky, smashing through the leather and linen tents that were sheltered from the wind and cold, and began to cause casualties.
The cavalry released the first and only round of arrow rain in a rapid three-shot pattern, then closed their bows and immediately took up their spears.
One hundred and thirty spear-wielding cavalry were already running at full speed, and Kagan had no scruples against the enemy who clearly had no time to prepare.
The sluggish Karelians were pierced by spears, and those standing outside the tents were either stabbed to death by spears or knocked down by horses.
When the spear stabbed one person, the rider immediately let go, then immediately pulled out his sword or hand axe, and continued to ride the horse to kill.
Those Pechenegs were the most experienced. They tied a rope to a wooden support of the tent and easily overturned the entire tent. Then other cavalrymen rushed over and killed the women and children.
There were cries and howls everywhere. Although some men and women tried to resist with wooden sticks and short spears, they were suddenly killed by tall cavalry. The white robes of the war horses were stained red with blood...
< p>One hundred and thirty "gods of death" were making a fuss in the camp, and a group of Karelians began to flee regardless of their softness.After tasting blood for the first time, the young Ross cavalry soldiers had forgotten that they were the sons of Boyar nobles. Their hearts were beating wildly for the first killing, and the desire for destruction in their hearts was completely aroused.
In desperation, some people fled towards the ice. These people who were incomparable were killed by the cavalry who caught up, or shot and killed by arrows. At least the men fishing had the ability to resist. From their standpoint, even though they didn’t know who the strange attacker was, resistance was necessary. In the end, this humble resistance was easily ended with the bow and sword.
People who fled along the lake were overtaken, and many were knocked down by horses and left with broken bones and gasps from the horses' hooves.
Those who tried to run to the forest were also led by KaganThe Pechenegs intercepted them and frightened them into fleeing towards the camp.
The men who resisted were massacred, and the women who had to take their children to escape were undoubtedly slowed down. What awaited them was still ruthless killing.
Many women simply sat on the ground, holding their young, swaddled children and shivering, waiting for the fate of being killed.
Seeing this scene of being slaughtered, the Russian soldiers couldn't help but soften their hearts.
Resistance throughout the camp never really took off, and now anyone who tried to resist is gone.
A large number of dead bodies, large and small, lay on the ground, and the white snow was dyed red. Most of the wooden sheds and tents were overturned, and a group of women and children were captured.
The Ross cavalry had taken the lead to stop the killing. After Kagan had dealt with the escapees within sight, he had no intention of pursuing those who had run further. Cowards, just let them go and escape into the ice and snow forest with bare hands, fearing that they will become an ice sculpture tomorrow.
The cavalry patrolled the village, and the trembling women showed no intention of fleeing.
Who dares to escape now that things have become like this? On the other hand, someone stood up, grabbed the child, and took the opportunity to escape. Wasn't he shot dead by the attacker?
It was not until this time that the Karelia people realized that the people riding the monster were still fierce Russians because they saw very clear patterns.
Looking at this dilapidated camp, all the cavalrymen who wanted to make a fortune from looting were disappointed. The Pecheneg soldiers were the most disappointed. Didn't it mean that this group of people had mastered a large amount of precious leather? Where is the leather? There is a way, but the number cannot be said to be large at all. This group of people also domesticated reindeer, and their numbers were pitiful.
The only thing that makes them happy is these captured women.
Kagan ordered the cavalry to drive all the prisoners to sit together for easier supervision.
Perhaps five hundred people were captured, a number that really surprised Kagan. But the reality is definitely more serious. The captives also have many children with them!
However, what happened next deeply shocked all the Ross cavalry soldiers present!
When they saw it, the Pechenegs dismounted one after another to check the prisoners, and very accurately took the boy away from the woman, and was killed by a sword like no other.
When her child was killed, the mother screamed heartbreakingly, and even rushed to fight the executioner, but was kicked down mercilessly by the Pechenegs.
They were unable to hide their children at all, and as a result, all the boys in the captive group were killed. As a result, only a group of Karelian women survived here...
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Why is this? The Ross cavalry soldiers didn't dare to ask why. They said that if the prince was here, he would most likely stop this behavior. But then everyone thought, the prince's order was to kill ruthlessly, and it can be said that everyone stopped taking action now, so what the Pechenegs are doing now can also be regarded as a kind of "mercy".
Kagan has his own reasons for doing this.The rough will return to the rough, this is the Pecheneg people's way of grassland warfare.
Finally, Rurik’s army arrived!
The reindeer sleigh team was hunting with flags, and everyone was shocked when faced with the destroyed Karelian camp army.
Did a mere one hundred and thirty cavalry achieve a complete victory?
The army immediately took control of the scene. Seeing the bright red scene here, most people who had experienced hundreds of battles were indifferent. Only the Ludi people were deeply shocked. The female leader Lu Di even had some self-blame and fear. When she saw the boys who were deliberately killed and a group of female prisoners who were in a trance, she fainted with fear after a burst of screams.
Rurik was speechless when the battle situation turned into this. Although the Russian army won a complete victory, there was no joy of victory at all.
Especially the bodies of some killed boys were piled together. These dead were not killed while escaping, but were deliberately killed by their own subordinates!
He found Kagan. Not mentioning the capture in this battle, he pointed at the pile of corpses and asked: "They must have been captured. Is it okay to kill them again?"
Kagan Gan pouted helplessly: "You asked us to kill all of them. You see, I spared the lives of a large number of female prisoners. It seems that I should implement the request..."
"No need!" Liuli Ke slapped a hand on his face, "It's my fault. I should have ordered you to catch as many alive as possible instead of killing them all. These boys were killed after being captured, maybe..."
"Not suitable?"
"Yes, not suitable."
Kagan sighed: "You have already made arrangements, so I will be merciful. However, in the grassland, the enemy The men who are taller than the wheel must be killed, otherwise they will soon grow into warriors and take revenge. We are brothers. It seems that we are unwilling to do these things, so I will help you do it. Those who are lower than the wheel will help you cut them down. Your enemies now only have women, and your people can possess them, and the children they bear will be your children, so you don’t have to worry about the enemy’s revenge.”
This is a cruel truth, absolutely. Rationally speaking, Kagan helped him solve a trouble, so Rurik simply didn't mention it.
Seeing this, Kagan hurriedly claimed credit: "I won this battle with my cavalry unscathed, so I have to get some spoils."
"Spoils of war? Of course, that's..." Rurik looked around: "The people from Lüdy are right, these guys are really poor."
"But I like those women."
"A group of little guys Dwarf, you actually like it?"
Kagan said with a smile: "Otherwise, it's not our style to return empty-handed. Brother, at least you can make my men happy. , otherwise they would not honestly sacrifice their lives for me. You know, we came from the distant grasslands to fight in the ice and snow in the extreme north, and everyone took huge risks, you..."
" I understand. You can choose whatever you want, that's what you deserve. In principle, all the prisoners must be managed by me. You and your people can choose one of them freely in the future.The meals you start with are also paid for by your person. ”
“No problem! ”
Kagan was filled with joy. Wouldn’t his slave-born subordinates be even happier? If Ross and other Vikings were not picky about women, the Pechenegs would be even less picky. In principle, the slaves among them did not even have the chance to become fathers. Now that an opportunity to "marry a wife" was presented to them, the Pecheneg soldiers were crazy with joy.
After all, all the female prisoners were. If they are all to be digested by the Principality of Ross, they will be broken up and sold, and all the profits will be collected into the treasury.
In addition to the other trophies, Rurik ordered a total of two.
He personally does not need any trophies. The leather-based trophies cavalry team gets the most, and other personnel are distributed according to their status, just like the lowest-level Ludi warriors, at least Two squirrel skins were obtained.
The remnants of the Karelian people are so poor that they don't even have 500 domesticated reindeer.
This situation makes Shang Zai. In everyone's expectation, the seized materials were only a small profit, and everyone was already standing on the shores of the legendary Lake Onega. This is a brand new world.
Of course the main force of the army will not stay here for too long! After a long time, the Suomi and Ross hunters who arrived here will start their hunting expedition.