A longship composed of thirty warriors was rushing towards New Roseburg at the craziest speed.
Ross's unique concave oars are creating astonishing waves in the sea water. The order given to this ship is that it must rush directly to Fort New Ross in four days, so the selected oarsmen not only know the road, but also have endurance.
Strong.
They knew their mission well, and the longship rushed to Fort New Rose at the planned time.
The residents of New Roseburg who were actively engaged in internal construction never expected that when the wheat seedlings began to grow rapidly, the leader actually issued an assembly order.
Konuson, the commander stationed here, was surprised to learn that 500 Novgorodians would join the Russian army as Russian allies. It was an unprecedented news.
"Is it possible that the war we are facing is beyond our ability to compete alone?"
The people who sent the message did not know any more details. They quickly recruited a hundred Novgorod immigrant men in Novorosberg who were interested in joining the war. Their mission was not over yet, because General Arik was unexpectedly not here.
.
Arik must be in Novgorod, serving as the eldest son of his father-in-law!
Indeed, Arik and his group of battle-hardened men are now the well-deserved kings of the Novgorod region. What he learned about the political ecology of Novgorod is this, and the White Tree Manor is a stable servant.
, Pine Needle Manor is a wealthy but unstable dog that has not been well-tamed, and the other manors are a group of fence-sitters.
Arik's army was stationed at White Tree Manor, and this area also became a "warehouse area" for collecting tributes. A large amount of leather was the most critical spring tribute that the locals could provide.
Oh, and a batch of honey, of course.
The sweet taste made Arik unable to extricate himself. He really fell in love with the days when he was highly respected in Novgorod. He drank honey water and ate barbecue every day.
After all, the brave Ross elite arrived in Novgorod carrying ten pairs of steel-armed crossbows. Soon they led their brothers to shoot and kill as many as twenty brown bears in the dense forests of Eastern Europe. Such results shocked the entire White House.
The tree manor also adds new offerings to the upcoming Slavic festival.
But when it comes to feelings, the manor owner Ligus does not think Arik is very noble. In fact, based on local tradition, he regards the blacksmith Kawi as his second son, and his mixed-race grandson Kuzneslav, who is babbling,
As the apple of his eye, he is even more looking forward to Rurik, who is about to turn twelve, and even more so, that child will really grow up and inherit the throne of Russia, so that when his beautiful little daughter gets married, he can proudly call himself Rurik.
Ke is also considered his own son.
Suddenly, an incredible call for troops from the Rus tribe reached Novgorod.
Arik was shocked, and Ligus was so shocked that he almost fainted.
Because the messenger still asked White Tree Manor to send 400 men to fight for the Russians, and these were almost the vast majority of the men in the manor. When thinking of war, Ligus thought of death, and he subconsciously made the most extreme thought, that is
All his men were wiped out, and the entire White Tree Manor collapsed.
For a moment, he felt that this was a conspiracy of the Russians. After all the men died in the battle, wouldn't all the women in the manor become the wives of the Russians?
"No, the loss cannot be borne solely by the White Tree Manor."
Ligus did not take the initiative to flatter others and become other people's hunting dogs. His people could not stand the bullying of Pine Needle Manor, so they looked for an outside backer. He needed to rely on the force of the Ross people to maintain the status quo of White Tree Manor. If it was because of the Ross people
In the war, a large number of men from the manor died in battle. Isn't it putting the cart before the horse?
No, he, an old fellow, had a quick wit and gave the commander Arik a plan that he couldn't refuse: summon the brave men from various estates and gather 400 people to fight for the Russians.
Take a look at the current situation of Baishu Manor. Most of the men are also thin and weak. You can see clear ribs when you lift their linen clothes. Are such people worthy of being warriors? However, some men make Arik feel that they meet the bottom line of a warrior's physical fitness.
, it’s a pity that there are too few such people in White Tree Manor.
If you want to fulfill your uncle's great leadership, oh, he should be called Duke of Ross now, and if you want to fulfill the Duke's orders, you can't just pretend to be false.
Therefore, a war call order was issued urgently, and each manor began to send out their strong men with great reluctance. They were forced by the power of the Russians and did not dare to disobey. The scene now can be said to be a scene where wives and children were held in arms and forced
The husbands who went on the expedition cried bitterly, while some skinny guys who were not favored by the Russians secretly enjoyed themselves. They prepared their own weapons, most of which were spearheads with bone fragments and stone flakes stuck on them. After all, there was still no real iron tool in this area.
With the popularity of people, stone tools are still extremely important tools and weapons. They are more like hunters than warriors.
An army was assembled, but there was no fighting spirit in their eyes, only infinite fear of war.
Could this group of cowards also become warriors? Arik deeply doubted this, and he really couldn't figure out what the leader wanted.
Soon, the selected men from multiple manors gathered at the Ross people's anchorage in White Tree Manor.
They all carried some dry food from home, small pottery urns for cooking wheat, even replacement rough leather boots, and hemp blankets to keep out the cold. All kinds of things were stuffed into a hemp bag and carried on their backs, and the blankets were curled up to keep out the cold.
hung in bundles on their short spears.
Many men know that they are going to fight. Regardless of their future fate, they accept the summons of the Russians in the attire of hunting in the dense forest.
The weapons on hand for many people were only a simple short spear, and some also carried slings, short wooden bows and a small number of arrows. Their bone arrow clusters could not penetrate the Russian armor, and their spearheads were like toys.
Their so-called weapons were all rubbish. Considering that 200 of the men among them were from White Tree Manor, Aric simply did not make any disgusting remarks. He really did not want to talk about his wife's natal manor.
In any case, such a group of "trash" were also soldiers he was authorized to command.
The Russians' stay in Novgorod was coming to an end, and it was another tense night. A large number of bonfires were lit at the door of the White Tree Manor's "temple", a special wooden house, and people gathered around the bonfires.
holding a large number of people.
Priests from multiple manors gathered here, and even Brudne, the owner of Pine Needle Manor, who had a hatred for the Russians, sent fifty so-called soldiers and manor priests.
Brudne, he is essentially a big landowner. Last year's disaster actually affected the whole of Europe, and the Novgorod area that reached the edge was still affected by the disaster. Coupled with the intensified exploitation of the Russians, the life of Pine Needle Manor was very difficult.
. He encouraged a group of peasants who were unable to pay rent to fight for the Russians in order to forgive their debts. After all, these people themselves were also people who depended on the life of Pine Needle Manor. They were not the core. These people were kicked to General Ross almost empty-handed.
Arik.
The priests were performing rituals in the blazing fire, and the numerous priestesses were chanting obscure prayers while their whole bodies were twitching. From time to time they were beating the leather drums and wooden sticks in their hands, and emitting the sounds of birds and wolves.
In fact, Arik and his army have just arrived in Novgorod, and the residents of various estates are preparing for their "Dazhbog Festival", which is called sacrificing the sun to pray for good weather when the wheat seedlings grow.
They had just finished the festival, and even the fat of the bear sacrificed to the gods (naturally hunted by the Rus) was still warm, when the Rus' war mobilization order was issued.
This time, all the priests are worshiping their god of war-Peron.
"Peron? What is that? But Odin from us Rus is more worthy of awe?"
Arik wanted nothing to do with the local sacrificial activities, and hundreds of serious Rus warriors watched the show with laughter.
He stayed in the home of the manor owner Rigus, and the oil lamp illuminated the whole room so that at least his face could be seen clearly.
He sat cross-legged on the wooden floor and said casually: "Hey, it's really noisy outdoors. After this sacrifice, I have to take them all away."
"Yes, I have prepared everything you asked me to do. I hope everything will satisfy you." Ligus's attitude was very complimentary, even though his daughter and son-in-law were all present.
The only thing that made Rigus happy was that the young Ross general was marrying a woman from his own manor. He had already learned many Slavic languages, which made communication between everyone quite smooth.
However, this heroic general could not inherit the rule of Rus. Rigus only feared Arik's anger and had no real respect for him.
Arik nodded: "I have seen the tributes paid by each manor. They are all our wealth. There is one thing I need to tell you."
"Please say."
"Victory will definitely belong to us. As a reward for your support, maybe the big leader will be very happy to reduce your autumn tribute. Your White Tree Manor is the most loyal hunting dog, and you also send the most troops. Compared with other manors, the weapons are in poor condition.
better."
"Oh, thank you very much for the compliment." A smile appeared on Ligus's withered face.
Arik looked around, then raised his head, and made a solemn promise: "My chief...oh, he is the war chief appointed by the Duke. This time I will lead a thousand people to take charge of a very important task.
You Novgorodians must do certain things. In return, your people can also seize the opportunity to get trophies for yourself. According to our tradition, whoever fights for us will not be able to plunder the trophies that others can
Take away."
Hearing this, like a dead tree sprouting new green, Ligus cheered up, and even his eldest son Medvit, who was watching, also straightened up.
"Ah?! Are our people also allowed to..."
"Yes. Because they are warriors, as long as they are brave enough." Arik still had a serious face: "Think about it, the best of them will fight for wealth. Listen, we Russians only worship those on the battlefield.
The strong. The cowards and timid ones will only be driven away by their companions. I hope your people are not short of brave men. Oh, there is a brave man here."
Arik suddenly raised his right hand and pointed at Medvet, and gave orders in ancient Slavic: "You! You are a strong man and also my sister-in-law (referring to the girl Svetalana who is leaning on Ligus)
Brother, your status is noble enough. Follow me as the commander of all Novgorod armies!"
Before Arik gave the order, Medvit had no idea about it.
Arik's order was absolute. Even though Medvit did not want to leave his homeland rashly, for the sake of honor and the future of the manor, he accepted the arrangement in a thrilling manner.
I'm afraid it's all fate!
At night, Arik lived in a luxurious bedroom in the main mansion of White Tree Manor. He hugged his Peravina, listening to her soft breathing, and the hanging basket next to him, which was only over one year old.
The eldest son Askard's breathing was even weaker.
He once felt that commanding five hundred soldiers was already his limit, but now, he has been authorized to command a thousand soldiers.
But wait! Are there really only a thousand people? There are so many brothers on Tombstone Island, and they have all been recruited away for the expedition?
Although he has no right to lead an expedition, more than a thousand people will still be gathered on Tombstone Island. If the women and children who are pioneering on the island are included, the number of people under his direct control will be close to 2,000. This battle may not be possible.
Everyone participated in the war and was able to command such a huge force. Arik judged that his life had reached a peak.
He...had begun to dream of something particularly great.
In the dark night, the faint moonlight filtered through the gap in the closed wooden window, and his eyes used the dim light to look at the cradle carrying his son. "Askard, maybe you can do something greater."
The next day, the white coals at the entrance of the temple were still burning slowly, and a large number of long boats were assembled and on standby.
Times have indeed changed. Because of the important stronghold of Novorossberg, the Russians can stay in Novgorod for a long time and travel frequently across the Neva River-Lake Ladoga-Volkhov River.
waterway.
They had to deliver the tribute twice a year, but the Russians did not have to travel twice a year to get it.
Arik left two hundred Russian soldiers behind and continued to eat and drink their food here. These two hundred people were actually very particular, because one hundred of their wives were women from White Tree Manor. Because of this marriage relationship, Arik was very
Rest assured that they can control the entire Novgorod region and will also gain the love of White Tree Manor.
People embarking on the expedition began to board the ship one after another. It was the first time in their lives that many Slavic "warriors" set foot on a Varyag warship. They were ordered to unload their bags temporarily, and under the orders of the Russians with rude voices, they were not allowed to leave.
Carelessly he held the heavy oar in his hands.
It seems that the action of paddling is no different from the rowing boats they used to do, but the Russians' oars surpassed their imagination.
There was no need to perform the sacrifice a second time, but all the residents of Baishu Manor gathered at the riverside.
There were as many as thirty long boats, carrying nearly a thousand people of various types and a batch of looted tributes in a completely overweight posture. They formed a compact, long snake formation, floating along the Volkhov River towards La
Lake Doga.
"Now, leave your hometown, we are going to fight." Kawei put away the oar, hugged his somewhat sad wife, and looked towards the north.
"Are you going to fight too?" Lilia held her child in her arms again and looked at her husband's beard.
"Of course. I am a craftsman and a warrior. My people need me to repair various weapons for them."
"But, that's war!"
"What? Are you suddenly worried about me?"
Lilia lowered her head slightly, looking at the babbling baby with mixed feelings.
In the past, she was indeed not worried about the expedition that Kawe [567中文 www.567zw.top] participated in. After seeing the might of the Russians, who dared to say that they would not be able to win? Now that she is a mother, she has a
Instinctively, I hope my husband will not take risks.
How can the current situation change because of the expectations of one or more women?
Kawei, he couldn't let go of his wife and children, let alone his brothers in the tribe.
A few days later, a fleet with a larger number of people and more ships, led by the Ross general Arik, unloaded a batch of tributes at New Ross Fort, and received a batch of supplies of weapons and tools. The fleet entered
to the Gulf of Finland.
They all adjusted the sails in the appropriate direction and moved forward at a very fast speed under the blow of the south wind.
After sailing for three consecutive days and nights, they saw the fire at the Misty Islands and rushed towards it...