Chapter 395 Our weapons are not comparable to the rubbish of the Granites
War in the European Middle Ages often took place in the summer. This was never a deliberate agreement between the warring parties, but was entirely dictated by nature.
All countries are located at high latitudes, so only summer has long daylight hours and warm weather. Such climate conditions are suitable for military operations. Wars often stop or suspend as winter approaches. After all, in winter, large armies cannot fight during the day.
The time is often less than six hours, and the temperature is below freezing.
Even if it is necessary to fight in winter, a force can only organize a small force to carry out military operations.
Olegin disclosed the war decision to the Russians in advance, and Rurik concluded that the day of departure would be within a month at the earliest.
Rurik was not prophetic, his decision was even overestimating Origen.
This was in the Middle Ages! Even if each tribe had the convenience of ship navigation, they organized their troops, prepared weapons, and adjusted their personnel. Even if they generally did not pay special attention to logistics issues, the above preparation issues would definitely consume too much of their time.
Compared with other forces, Rurik feels that his Ross tribe is better than them in terms of organization and execution. However, he cannot think too highly of his Ross tribe. He can only say that at this stage, everyone is still in the same boat.
The Russian people will continue to strengthen internal affairs construction and will have stronger organizational and mobilization capabilities in a few years.
The two longships were ordered to leave Lake Mälaren urgently, and the sailors rushed to their respective destinations carrying the letter from Chief Ross.
The fleet set out early in the morning. Taking advantage of the mild southerly wind, they arrived at Tombstone Island in the afternoon of the next day.
The leader's war order instantly spread throughout the settlement. A group of warriors with rich combat experience raised their battle axes and responded to the leader's call. According to the opportunity, thirty of them brought their heavy weapons and equipment.
, planning to quickly sail to Lake Mälaren and land on Gould Island to report.
The fleet continued to go north. They rode the waves like flying on the wide sea with the help of the strong south wind. In a short time, they reached a speed of ten nautical miles, and soon met the Ross fishermen who fished on a daily basis.
They risked their lives by sailing day and night, and managed to reach the gate of Rossberg Fjord in just two days. The two ships parted ways here, one heading to Ellenborg in the north, and the other returning to their hometown.
Otto, who is far away on Gould Island, has great trust in his men to complete the task properly, and he is currently waiting for the day of the alliance.
That day is not far away.
However, before the agreed date of the alliance, which is May 1st in the Julian calendar, the Russians and the Mellarens will be the first to complete the preliminary agreement they negotiated.
Olegin didn't want to make too much publicity about his massive import of Russian weapons, so he sent a capable mercenary squad leader named Svard, who brought Olegin's latest "certificate" to handle the matter.
Good thing. On the evening of April 29th in the Julian calendar, ten longships quietly left the port of Mälaren under the guise of doing business.
They did not encounter any accidents. After all other merchant ships left, the fleet arrived at Gould Island quite unexpectedly.
The Ross mercenaries who were patrolling at night as usual, that is, circling around Gould Island, which was only slightly larger than two football fields, discovered these uninvited guests who suddenly broke in. As warriors, they instinctively pulled out their weapons.
The steel sword with a strong buzzing sound really attracted the attention of Swald, who was also a mercenary.
"Don't get me wrong, we are the Alliance Leader's people! We fulfill the contract on behalf of the Alliance Leader!"
After hearing these words, the vigilant Ross mercenary put away his weapon.
After a while, the mercenary captain Yevluo arrived.
"What's wrong with you?"
Swald pointed to the ship docking at the port: "My master asked me to accept those goods. Please let us meet with the leader of Ross."
"That's it?"
"Yes."
Yevluo thought for a while: "Let your men stay here. You can warm up around the campfire, but you must temporarily remove all weapons. Especially you, remove your weapons, and I will take you to meet my master alone."
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Since Otto used Gould Island as his "palace", all management has actually become stricter under Rurik's instructions. For example, the patrol personnel have become mercenaries or simply Rus warriors. They have been organized into
They form small groups and change groups every five times they walk around the island at night. This is a kind of bright sentry.
Rurik also set up secret sentries, people who were ordered to stand on the wooden walls. They also rotated their posts regularly. Their task was to keep their eyes open and their ears pricked up to detect any abnormalities.
Even the Avlora, with its sails furled and tied up with a large number of ropes, had some sentries arranged to protect the largest ship of the Russians.
At this moment, Otto, Rurik and others were enjoying their sumptuous dinner - sizzling and oily roasted lamb legs.
Otto himself had quite a lot to eat, not to mention that the Gould family's dining custom was to "fatten the kid." The roasted lamb plate with the fragrant aroma and whole-wheat bread slices was really good.
It had only been three or four days since Otto and his party arrived at Gould Island, but he was actually a guest at the "base" that the Gould family had operated for decades. He had fallen in love with the delicious food here, and lamented that it was only a big boat and a small boat until now.
, living every day more fulfillingly than ever before.
Rurik played a new trick in eating. He used a knife to cut off a piece of mutton leg for later use, and cut off two pieces of bread. The mutton was sandwiched between the bread, and he sprinkled a little salt powder on the meat, and a little
The cheese slices are euphemistically called "Rosberg-style meat buns". The name seems a bit weird, Rurik could have called it a "hamburger". However, considering that this "Western meat bun" is originally a specialty of the Hamburg region
The dish got the name "Hamburger". Since the inventor of this time and space became a Russian, it should be called "Rossberg".
Being able to eat several products together reasonably, Otto took a bite of his son's masterpiece and couldn't stop eating it. It actually tasted more complex and diverse than when it was separated.
Otto was thinking about the alliance in the near future. When the leaders of various tribes will gather together, will it be a little awkward for everyone to meet?
Otto needed political assistance from Gould to help him understand the political ecology of the region.
He put down the half-eaten third "Rosberg" and ordered his son and Carlotta not to continue making it.
"What's going on? Is something big happening?"
Jevro, who was kneeling on one knee, made a serious report: "Big Chief, the envoy from Melalen is here, and he is here to pick up the goods."
"Cargo?" Rurik raised his head suddenly, "Dad, it's those weapons."
"Oh, so it's to pick up the goods? Okay, where is the messenger?"
"The man is waiting outside. He is the only one."
"Then let him in quickly."
Swald, the mercenary squad leader of Malaren, had never met Otto, but he had met Rurik. At a glance last year, a boy with a golden ponytail caught his attention, but he did not expect that the boy was indeed of noble status.
.
Svard couldn't help but glance at Rurik as he entered the restaurant. He was moved by the aroma in the room, and was also a little unhappy. Leader Ross looked wily and cunning, and actually received him in the restaurant. Did he show his respect for the envoy?
Disrespect to Mellaren?
Swald still complimented: "The great Ross is the leader. I am Swald. I am following the order of my master, that is, the order of the great and glorious king, to obtain those weapons and transport them away tonight."
This man is already calling Olegin the king! Otto's expression did not change, his deep eyes revealed ferocity, "You raise your head and let me see your face."
Seeing the messenger's face, Otto could tell from his appearance alone that this person was a warrior and must have killed people.
Since many things that are kept secret from others are not secrets to the Russians, Otto asked directly: "When the war begins, will you follow your master to the battlefield?"
"Yes! That is my destiny, and it is also my responsibility."
"Very good." Otto stood up and said to Gould on the other side of the table: "I'm full, and now I have to solve a big problem. Come with me..."
As a veteran warrior, Otto didn't want to have any trouble now, so the island's meeting hall quickly became the place to fulfill the contract, and it was also here that Otto formally received the envoy.
A large number of wooden boxes were carried into the meeting hall by Russian warriors wearing chain mail. They were all boxes made of pine wood, fitted together with mortise and tenon joints, and tied together with hemp ropes.
All the weapons are here, and the wooden lids of a batch of boxes are opened and inspected by the messenger Swald.
Swald was very excited at first, but when he saw the goods, especially the axes, he couldn't help but frown.
Why? These hand axes are not very big.
For a moment, he felt that the Russians might be scheming with the Mellaren people.
"Great leader Ross, are these all weapons?"
Swald's frown was simply a form of protest, and Otto deliberately asked: "Do you have an opinion? If you have an opinion, say it immediately. You are a warrior, not a businessman."
"Yes! These axes are different from what my master expected. They are smaller overall."
"Huh? Really?"
"Maybe the ax should be bigger so that it can effectively kill the enemy. And there is no hole in the middle of these ax blades that can pass through the wooden handle..."
Otto didn't want to hear it anymore, he stamped his foot vigorously: "Can't the young one satisfy Olegin?"
"Ah! That's not what I meant."
"Does he think that only huge weapons can kill enemies? You have to understand that our weapons are not comparable to the garbage of the Gran people."
Rurik, who was standing aside, estimated that the envoy must have thought that the Russians were potential profiteers, and that his father's strength was more like covering up a guilty conscience. To be fair, Rurik himself was also concerned about these axes and
Spearhead was not very satisfied. They were all made by the gray squirrel tribe in Kewen. The locals had to make a large batch in a limited time, so naturally they could not move too many materials.
However, even quenched ferrochrome is far superior to ordinary wrought iron.
Rurik stood up and said deliberately: "Please don't look at our weapons from a mortal perspective. These axes are designed like this for a purpose. We Russians fight with the most terrifying bears, mysterious giants, and
There are unexplainable monsters to fight, and the weapons here are used. Do you think they are not good? You can try it, any weapon here can directly cut off your iron sword. Oh, if you have a sword."
Test? It must be tested! Swald, who was ordered to pick up the goods, didn’t want to return with a pile of garbage. He didn’t want to be the target of his master’s anger.
His iron sword was kept by the Russians for the time being, so they simply used it as a "sacrifice".
No, Swald casually carried a hand ax and waved his arm vigorously in front of his fire-warming brothers. His sword was punched with deep dents. After all, he was an old warrior. Not only was he good at
He was good at chopping and rowing, but his fencing was useless, and he broke it again and it was completely broken into two pieces.
Just a random ax could complete such a critical attack? Could it be that only fifty silver coins could be exchanged for this treasure? In an instant, Swald's three views were subverted.
Svard left as quietly as he came, armed with all his weapons.
Olegin stayed at his mansion and stayed awake waiting for the shipment.
Finally, the goods came back. Facing these unattractive hand axes and spearheads, for a moment he felt that he had been betrayed by the Russians. However, when Svard easily destroyed a pile of iron tools, these were all black and special.
Rus' iron completely conquered Olegin.
How big are they?
Olegin called it "black iron" based on its color, and black iron weapons were owned by elites.
The next day, he gathered all the mercenaries, which was a team of up to 800 people! The gathering of so many people shocked several leaders who arrived in Melalen in advance and stayed with the local wealthy families. It's not like they didn't
They knew about the rumors of the war, but they didn't dare to believe them all since the news was not confirmed yet.
Fortunately, Olegin is gathering his troops, but he doesn't know what he is going to do.
Olegin is actually completing the team's equipment change. No, all the mercenaries, that is, his personal guards, are all equipped with imported Russian weapons. He does not wear blackened iron, 26% of which is
Chromium is a metal that the people of Maclaren have not seen for hundreds of years, which is why it is overall black. He only knows that these weapons can turn ordinary iron tools into garbage, and its price is not very expensive.
In this way, he felt that the dagger he spent 200 gold coins on was the most losing business.
Olegin's personal guards changed their uniforms. In addition to a standard round shield and a long iron sword, these warriors also added black iron hand axes and short black iron spears.
The Guards also generally wear cowhide armor that has been smoked black by carbon, and blackened cowhide helmets with copper or iron sheets attached. Only the most elite, less than a hundred people, have chainmail armor.
Black cowhide armor accompanied by black weapons, and even black cowhide boots, the whole team looked quite neat at first glance, and the neatness was shocking. But if you look closely, you can find that their clothes are only similar in color, and are diverse in other aspects.
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The Vikings quickly appeared in the form of "horses". They jumped off the ship and fought directly, or fought in gangs on the sea. In such a special environment, they tended to use swords and axes. However, when the army was organized, they fought on land.
When in the mode, the spear becomes very important.
They quickly came with long-handled battle axes. The so-called rear support was based on the brothers arranging a shield wall, so that the axes fell from the sky and smashed the enemy's heads.
Fortunately, the black iron spearheads of the Russians are essentially sheets, and the prefabricated grooves allow them to be quickly tied to wooden sticks.
At this time, a batch of hybrid weapons of spears and axes suddenly appeared in Olegin's personal guard, that is, halberds that were generally up to two stikas in length, and the black spearheads made it even more terrifying.
Everyone knows that as long as the Melalen people participate in a war, the personal guards of the chief family will be the core combat force.
After completing the change of clothes, Olegin's self-confidence exploded. He ordered his team to line up in a column and parade through the entire Malaren under his leadership. He passed through the main streets and alleys, especially the stretch in the market.
The long streets swaggered through the streets in order to show his might to everyone.
After all, he must consolidate his position by demonstrating military strength. He must intimidate the big families in the tribe and hint to them in this way: When I lead my troops to fight, those of you who stay in your homeland, don't expect to have the strength to challenge me.
Power.
He also demonstrated his strength to the leaders of other clans who arrived in advance, implying: Seeing my army, you can only believe that we will win.
Olegin needs to further demonstrate his strength, and the agreed date for the alliance is tomorrow. Of course, that is also the first day of the preliminary alliance, and it will be held as a grand sacrifice on May 2 of the Julian calendar.
A group of capable generals are already handling all matters related to the alliance and sacrifices, together with his son Karl, who has been ordered to take good care of the slaves needed for the sacrifices, and ultimately to perform these special sacrifices in the sacrifices.
Because war requires blood sacrifice, it must not be the snow of cattle and sheep, it must be the blood of the captives of the enemy chiefs.
This group of soldiers who have changed their uniforms will gather again tomorrow. Olegin wants to let all the leaders in the alliance, especially the stronger Hjärmalen people, the Onkras people, and the Uppsala people see Merlaren.
Humans are truly the strongest.
Of course, except for the Russians, tomorrow's alliance will see the Russians' Afrola ship dock at the port of Mälaren, thus formally showing that "Oligen is only worthy of this ship." Of course, this is a bit pretentious.