From March to early April, the Danish world welcomes their spring plowing.
Many leaders gathered in the Øresund Strait to meet with Ragnar, their past. While the Ross army had not yet left, they took advantage of the situation to discuss the next major events.
A door is open to all of Denmark!
Although according to the treaty the Danes could not cross the Schleswig Wall to colonize the Saxon territory, the control of the town of Schleswig already belonged entirely to the Kingdom of Denmark, or Ragnar himself had sovereignty over the city.
The Schleswig area has been Danish territory since ancient times. With the Frankish invasion, it has become the opponent's offensive base. For this reason, Denmark's trade center must move north. In fact, Hedebe is also very close to Schleswig.
One is at the deepest point of the bay, and the other is at the outlet of the bay.
The spare Hedeby tended to be prosperous but was eventually destroyed by the war. Now everything is back to the past, and Schleswig can once again become Denmark's first trading town.
Even if the entire Jutland peninsula suffered heavy losses due to the war, as long as all the Danish nobles work together, it will not be a problem to restore the past prosperity.
Even all lords should boldly go out.
The salt boiling camp at the mouth of the Elbe River and Rotterstad at the mouth of the Rhine River are territories that the Kingdom of Denmark can legally occupy according to the treaty. What the brothers want is a safe trading point, and what they want is a place that can be directly used by Danish nobles.
The city under their control. Most of them lacked confidence in going deep into the Franks to plunder, but they had great ideas about doing business in the direction of the Franks and making a fortune.
However, this group of people immediately became suspicious of the plan to plunder the Kingdom of Wessex.
Their hearts were on fire, and they were trembling with excitement at the thought of plundering and making a fortune.
Because Ragnar himself told these guys an important piece of information - the Wessex people do not have any naval power.
The longships can arrive at the seaside of Wessex like ghosts, and the army plunders and then sails away. The Wessex army has no chance to fight back. After grabbing the property, the fleet immediately rows across the North Sea, that is, on the Rhine River,
The stronghold at the mouth of the Elbe River was sold. Everything was described beautifully, and it seemed that future plundering operations would always be successful.
For Ragnar, as long as he can continue to bring wealth to the Danish nobles, his personal prestige will increase day by day.
Just like those praised great chiefs in the past, the chief would always point out the way to get rich for his brothers, and then the brothers would flock to them and make a fortune.
But now, Ragnar is content to be the leader of all the chieftains in Denmark.
In the past year of war, the once psychedelic Frankish Kingdom has lost its mysterious aura. The Frankish army is not weak, it can only be said that the Ross-Danish coalition is too strong.
Ludwig was a captured king. Even so, he still had the confidence to yell at his former ministers.
Even facing this defeated man, King Rurik of Rus maintained a friendly attitude towards him.
Is this the aura that a king should have? Even if he is defeated and captured, Ludwig is still the king. Unlike here in Denmark, if a chief is defeated, the brothers who follow him often change their ways.
"Becoming a real king, I can issue various orders to these nobles. They will respect me and be used by me. I am by no means an alliance leader. Yes, my family is a hereditary king."
Ragnar is still very ignorant about all this, and there are several real-life examples here. Even if these kings are not in the country, they still have supreme power.
Unlike Ragnar now, he still needs to gather the leaders together to have a good chat to ensure that his royal power is truly stable.
Because he can never maintain his royal power by relying only on foreign plunder and war.
What he wanted was a real feudal revolution.
Rurik was well aware of Ragnar's budding ambition, and the Danish Viking craze would become a "historical necessity".
But the course of history has changed dramatically, and the rise of Rus has made the Viking Age outrageous.
Rurik felt that future historians would not describe these years as the age of Vikings.
Because Ross is not a barbarian at all, her rise is just like Rome's expansion from a small city-state to an inland sea a thousand years ago...
At least now Ross has a stable western environment, and an overall peaceful maritime trade environment has been born. Then, Ross can fully explore the east after recuperating.
"My brothers Kagan and my friends in Kiev, how are their actions going?"
Now after achieving a strategic victory over East Francia, Rurik had to think about his layout in the east before the war began.
What about the Smolensk people who were deliberately oppressed by attacks from the north and the south, fled and defected to their enemy Vadim? Did a war break out in the east? Did the Slavic armed farmers and the Russian army in Novgorod protect their living space?
"The Smolensk people will definitely be unable to stand up. The raiding force I arranged will achieve great results. Maybe a large number of prisoners have been transported to the north, and Kagan and his Pechenegs will make a lot of money." Rurik
Thinking like this.
He had been away from his hometown for a long time, and now it was time for him to return home. He was not overjoyed, only the fatigue of traveling and traveling was getting worse. The army's rest and recuperation in Mahobi was very important, and the topics that the soldiers quietly chatted about were worth pondering.
Obviously, the warriors are warlike, because this can make the brave rich. They are also very tired, eager to take a long rest after returning to their hometown, and turn the looted wealth into fixed family assets.
There is also a very real topic - spring plowing.
The end of April is the spring plowing period in Novgorod and Novorossberg, both of which are the kingdom's food producing areas. If food cannot be obtained through raiding, Rus can only meet its needs through its own agriculture.
It is a fool's errand to try to buy food from the outside world to meet one's own needs. Ross has already developed a huge appetite. No outside force can satisfy this growing mouth, unless Ross himself continues to expand and open up fertile land. Only Ross can satisfy Ross's appetite.
On your own, external plunder is a powerful aid, but in the end you have to rely on your own endogenous strength.
As long as the troops return home at the end of April, they will transform into farmers carrying shovels.
Thousands of laborers were disarmed and returned to the fields. Only by rushing to this special battlefield could they lay the foundation for a good harvest in 841.
The rest in Mahoubi finally came to an end, during which the army also encountered a spring rain that lasted for several days.
This rain is more beneficial to Denmark who are plowing in the spring, but it is really bad for the resting army.
Fortunately, after one rainfall, there is a high probability that there will not be another one, and people firmly believe that the weather will be sunny for at least a week.
It was a quiet night. The campfire was baking wet clothes and cloth. The soldiers slept in the open air around the campfire. The air was filled with the smell of earth, sea, and the burning smell of charcoal ashes.
The climate is no longer harsh, and the sensitive warriors are aware of the pure south wind.
That morning, the red sun broke through the east. When people who got up early to enjoy the sunrise washed their faces in the cool stream, they gradually felt the breeze caressing their cheeks like a mother's hand.
It’s the south wind! It’s definitely the south wind!
Although the sails of the anchored ship were furled and tied up, Ross's oar flag was still flying at the top of the mast.
The north wind blows all the flags towards the north. This wind is definitely the south wind!
Today is the last day of rest, and the gentle breeze caressing his face makes Rurik very happy.
The south wind must be the help of the gods. People's desire to return home has been fully mobilized, and they plan to pull anchor and set sail early tomorrow morning.
That night, a fierce bonfire crackled.
The King of Denmark and the King of Rus were sitting cross-legged here again. Now that there was no ale, they had to have a long and final conversation over grilled fish.
"I will lead my brothers on an expedition to Wessex after the spring plowing. This is not a large-scale attack by Denmark. We will be divided into many small groups to launch attacks. We are only for looting and making money."
What Ragnar said was very candid. Rurik was surprised at first and then quickly softened his attitude: "Haha, it would be bad if you really launch a large-scale invasion and cause a large-scale war."
"I don't have that idea, and I don't have the ability for the time being, but...it won't be easy to say in the future."
"That's fine. What do you want to rob? A large amount of gold and silver?" Rurik asked calmly.
"Of course. We are only here to make a fortune. Or..." Ragnar looked at Rurik's face again, "Brother, you seem to have some suggestions?"
"Me? Nothing. Or rather... a little bit."
"What is it."
"population."
"Slaves?" Ragnar pinched his chin and pretended to think deeply, "It's okay to rob people, and we can digest some of them. But those people don't believe in Odin, and catching them back will pollute our faith. I'm not as generous as you, I
They cannot be tolerated."
As if he was criticizing himself for not being pious enough, Rurik smiled and said nothing, thinking about it: "It is understandable for slaves to believe in other gods. They are just slaves. Since you are so thoughtful, you can sell it to me, or sell it to Liudof
."
"That guy?!"
"It's definitely not a problem for you. Wessex is a Saxon, and the people in Liudolf are also Saxons. It's just that some people went to the island, and some people didn't leave. You go to Wessex to arrest people,
I don’t believe that Liudov refused to buy it. After all, many people died in the war. If he wants to become bigger, he can only cooperate with you."
In the final analysis, killing was not Ragnar's original intention. He longed for wealth and power.
Rurik's words gave him a major reminder, and he slapped his thigh: "Okay! The silver coins are searched everywhere, and the slaves in Wessex should be easy to catch. I will sell a slave for one pound of silver coins, and I hope Liudolf is willing to give it up."
Pay for it or exchange it for wheat."
"He will at least give you wheat and drive the carriage directly to Schleswig to complete the delivery."
"I hope so." Ragna smiled and shrugged: "You are like my biological brother. Helping me like this regardless of past grudges is obviously very good for you."
"Yes. A Denmark that is friendly to Russia is of course beneficial to Russia, and an alliance between our two countries is equally beneficial to you."
This was a polite statement. Ragnar did not make any rebuttal and said: "Now that the people I left behind in Novgorod can go home, I will build my new home in Mahobi. As for my
Two sons, maybe it’s more appropriate for them to stay with you.”
"Ivar and Bjorn? Are you really willing to give up?"
"Why are you reluctant? After all, I plan to lead a sneak attack on Wessex with my brothers. I don't know them. If I die in a failed sneak attack, someone must inherit my throne." Ragnar looked at Liuli with complicated emotions.
Grams, "As wise as you are, I don't need to say anything. You should understand everything."
"Oh~ I understand everything." Rurik said no more and nodded: "I will cultivate them. Even if Ivar cannot stand, he is your son, and I will cultivate his wisdom. As for your throne
Who will succeed him, obviously the sound Bjorn, no one can question him."
"It's Bjorn!" Ragnar looked up at the stars and sighed: "Rurik, I don't have your wisdom. I don't know why, but I think you are very fond of my two sons. You are like theirs."
Even if they are biological uncles, you can teach them wisdom and fighting."
"Hey, maybe you have more than two sons. I will send your people back and you will be reunited with your wife. In fact, you can marry again if you want."
Hearing this, Ragnar gave Rurik a ruthless look, "Of all the kings I have ever heard of, you are the only one who is the most philanthropic. Obviously only Odin is the greatest. Odin has twelve wives, but as a
Those blessed by Odin actually have more wives than the God-King. You are a bull and you have many children. Obviously I can't."
"Thank you for your boast, but there is no need to demean yourself." After saying that, Rurik happily slapped his thigh: "I predict that you will have at least two sons. One is called Upa and the other is Hastein.
, they will all be great warriors, just as brave as their father you."
"Really? Thank you very much. I'm very happy now."
For Ragnar, the course of his family's history has completely changed.
In the original historical trajectory, Horik Haraldsson was still the chief of Denmark, but a chief who believed in God. Those chiefs who refused to convert retreated to islands such as Zealand to continue their lives. In order to survive
Space then expanded aggressively. Ragnar was the leader of this Viking wave, but behind this glory was that his home in Denmark was completely confiscated by Horik. The landless people were eager for territory, and Ragnar and him
The friends eventually became pirates who were in trouble.
Nowadays, Ragnar in time and space has become the king of Denmark, and his family does not have to wander around. He enjoys Denmark but has greater strategic initiative, and he no longer even needs to engage in piracy in a standard rogue manner.
Sitting by the campfire on the last night, having a detailed discussion with King Rurik of Rus, Ragnar made two decisions: to make Bjorn, who was just three years old, the crown prince of Denmark, and to place Bjorn and Ivar in Rus.
of protons.
There is no need to say those things that each other knows well politically. At this moment, Ragnar and Rurik maintain a full tacit understanding.
The next day, the south wind was stronger than yesterday. The wind swept away the winter cold, and the frozen Scandinavia began to recover.
The huge peninsula was the first to recover from the southernmost Götaland region.
People began to board the ship, and the horses were pulled into the clean cabin.
After much procrastination, Rurik returned to the flagship. Here he took off his hat, let his iconic golden horse tail flutter in the wind, and then put on a golden laurel crown to show his status as a king.
The huge Ross fleet is about to set sail, and each ship is recovering the anchor, and then raising the sail.
Rurik was not alone in his return journey. His fleet was extremely large, and now there were a large number of longships following him to see him off.
Those longships have a variety of beautiful bows, which are completely different from the Ross jib, which is purely the original traditional hengsail, with unique patterns or a domineering saying or vocabulary painted on it.
These are the ships of various Danish tribes in Zealand, and most of the leaders participated in the farewell. They did not receive any orders from Ragnar, and only because they knew the specific time for the Russian army to return home, they came to see them off in advance.
They sent some freshly caught herring as gifts, and the greatest gift was their farewell.
People are not stupid. Who is helping the part of Denmark that believes in Odin to rebuild the mountains and rivers? It is King Rurik of Rus.
They shouted "Odin", "Friendship" and other words, paddling their oars and following the entire Ross fleet.
Until their paddling speed gradually surpassed the force of the wind, the huge fleet of all-colored triangular sails completely left the Oresund Strait and headed straight to the island of Bornholm due east.
Although the fleet will no longer rest on this island, Spyut and his men will be separated from the Grand Fleet.
From Bornholm Island to Saaremaa Island, the security of this area of the sea is responsible for the royal explorer Spyut, who was named the Count of Saaremaa.
For this ruthless man who is no longer young and has been to the Arctic Circle and Britain, the era of crazy adventures may be over. The squadron under his control will cruise throughout the eastern and southern Baltic Seas, fishing for herring and fighting pirates.
After all, this sea area does not allow for a pirate group more powerful than itself! Spyut still has the right to launch pirate attacks, but the target excludes allies.
He still has the opportunity to launch piracy, targeting the Oberlitids, Pomeranians, Prussians, Kurlanders, Livonians and Estonians. Some of these have strange names.
The ethnic group Spuute doesn't understand, thanks to the king's popular science and the terms he heard from the Saxons. Are they rich? I don't know. It seems profitable to launch an attack on the ships of these tribes.
The entire royal pirate group uses Saaremaa and Bornholm islands as bases, and they become the coastal defense force responsible for the southern waters of Russia. They will punish illegal pirates, collect some security fees for escorting their own and allied merchant ships, and harvest a large amount of herring to make fish.
Dried and boiled salt is sold and is also an important means of generating income.
Rurik was assured of the comfort of the southern seaboard, but for the most insurance, Ross had to detach a fleet to station at the Tombstone Island base in the Åland Islands at the T-junction of the Baltic Sea. This move was very important, because even the deceased Great
Priest Vilia has never heard of winter ice south of the Åland Islands in her extremely long life.
Tombstone Island has huge strategic value, so the fleet quickly sailed northward against the increasingly strong southerly wind, and returned home just a few days later.