Chapter 428 The brothers who attacked Gotland are looking forward to this day
While the Swedish allied forces were fighting their way through the south, Arik, who was ordered to garrison Tombstone Island, was certainly not idle either.
He has always lacked the mobile forces that can be mobilized, but there are still five long ships that cruise the waters south of the islands for a long time, guarding Ross's fishermen, and also taking the initiative to attack the "intruding" Gotland ships.
With the crossbow, the Russian soldiers no longer have to fight in gangs. Arik does not have many steel-armed crossbows at hand, but they can fire a variety of arrows, and their power is always amazing, so that the soldiers do not have to approach the enemy ship at all, and both sides remain on the same page.
After a certain distance, the Russians fired unilaterally.
It has been more than ten days since the Swedish allied forces went south to fight. The longships sent by Arik only plundered three Gotlander fishing boats. They killed the fishermen, seized a few fish and towed the boats back to the port.
Other than that, they gained nothing more.
"Damn it, it would be better if I personally lead the brothers to attack the island and win. If the war cannot be resolved quickly, the leader will blame me." From the beginning, Arik hoped to bring the war to Gotland.
, this is not only to avenge his biological father, but also to exert his great power, just because he has won a major victory in the previous battle.
The prerequisites for the expedition were not yet mature, but he always had a very strong premonition that the so-called Swedish coalition's attack on Gotland would inevitably happen in the foreseeable future.
King Olegin was pretentious and longed to pursue greater glory in his lifetime, and Arik knew this well.
The guys on Gotland have betrayed the Alliance, and it makes sense to raise an army to attack them.
So, in the new battle, the Mellarens will be the main force?
Bah! The Russians are no longer willing to huddle in the narrow fjord. The Russians must show their strength in front of the world.
Based on this mentality, in the past days, he not only provided fish, meat and wheat to the conscripted Slavs, but also deliberately sent them to do heavy manual labor.
They are getting stronger and stronger while logging, but these people must not think that they can train a group of capable sword and shield hands in a month.
The five hundred Slavs were all from the same village. Speaking of which, their commander, Medvet, was related to Arik by marriage. This man was the brother of his future sister-in-law.
So what is the attitude of ordinary Slavic warriors? Most of them come from White Tree Manor, and according to their habits, they have regarded Arik, a Varangian who married a woman from White Tree Manor, as one of their own.
Arik also had no ability to teach a group of simple farmers much combat skills. The Slavic warriors from White Tree Manor had only one trick they trained, that is, when a group of people were facing a fight, all their spears were aimed at one person.
direction, and then shouted neat chants and directly pierced the wall with spears.
The Slavic farmers became stronger and stronger, and it wasn't until he began to train them carefully that Arik realized the trouble.
At least the Russians realized the importance of discipline during the battle. Arik even observed the tricks used by his brother Rurik to train the brats. He learned some new things, so he also wrote about discipline training.
However, more than ten days have passed, and these spear-wielding farmers are still nervous when facing the opponent's battle formation. Even when the shield-wielding Ross warriors organized by Arik attack with a shield wall, they are still shocked by the advantage of the weapon's characteristics.
The Slavs retreated.
"They are definitely not good warriors. If such people really fight fiercely with the Gotlanders, they will be defeated and become slaves..."
Tomorrow should be a normal day again. The ships that seized the Gotlanders' fishing grounds will return one after another in the morning. Soon, soldiers' training will begin again on Tombstone Island.
Arik's peaceful rest and the tranquility of the island also made most Russians less wary.
It was in this atmosphere that the Ross fleet headed by the Aurora quietly arrived at Tombstone Island and trimmed its sails at the island's natural cove.
Everything happened without warning. People who got up early subconsciously thought that the fishing boat was back, but they didn't expect it to be this boat!
Only a very small number of people know the Latin alphabet, but those who know how to write know very well that the "avrora" painted with dye and nailed to the side of the ship is definitely not the rune alphabet.
In fact, there is nothing more memorable than the visual stimulation. The Aurora challenged everyone's concept of a big ship, and she started berthing at Tombstone Island for the second time since her commissioning.
To the surprise of the onlookers who came after hearing the news, the leader and his son successfully landed along the wooden planks laid down.
Arik, who was sleeping soundly, learned of this amazing news. He hurriedly changed his clothes and hurriedly left the island wooden castle to meet the leader of the dock.
"Chief, aren't you fighting in the south? Why are you back now?!"
Otto looked at his nephew's somewhat fat face, and realized that this boy had definitely lived a happy life on Tombstone Island. After all, he was his relative, and Otto's old face couldn't help but smile.
"Arik, the war in which we participated is over."
"Ah! So the army has returned?!" Looking at the five large ships parked, Arik couldn't help but said: "Some time ago, a ship returned with some loot, and now the ship has returned to Rossburg."
"Really? That's great. Aric, you've gained some weight..."
"Me?" Arik stroked his beard: "Yes, without the war, of course I am getting fatter. I hope that the Gotlanders can take the initiative to invade, but it is a pity that the patrol boat I dispatched took so many days.
Three fishing boats were discovered. My men killed less than ten enemies, it was so boring."
Arik said it carelessly, and both Otto and Rurik were happy in their hearts. After all, Arik is a veritable warrior. A warrior is eager to fight. Doesn't it also mean that the soldiers of Tombstone Island are also eager to fight?
Rurik deliberately raised his head and said affectionately: "Brother, are you eager to fight? Then your desire will soon come true."
"Ah?! War, really? Who to fight?! Tell me quickly."
"Who else can it be?" Rurik pointed to the south casually, "I can't hide it from you. What do you think, do you want to organize an army to sweep across that hateful island?"
"Of course! Gotland Island, the guys on the island must be punished, brothers can't wait."
For a few moments, Otto was worried that his people lacked confidence in a decisive battle. Now looking at Arik's confident and eager face, this worry has disappeared.
Arik looked up at the huge Aurora, with a sense of pride on his face: "Great ship! Chief, I will arrange for people to move the loot sparsely. I know that the coalition forces will definitely gain something from attacking the enemies in the south.
Quite a lot of money, this time we Russians have made a fortune."
Want to get rich? Otto looked bitter, but the bitterness was covered by his beard, so that outsiders could only see a melancholy old face.
In front of everyone, Rurik spoke on behalf of his father. He couldn't say "nothing", so he simply changed the subject: "Try to put the loot on the boat, which is the best warehouse. Brother, let's go into the comfortable wooden castle and let
The brothers who are working on the expedition will live in the new wooden houses you built and have a good sleep. We have sailed non-stop for many days to arrive here to tell you that our Ross tribe will launch an unprecedented scale attack on Gotland. Regarding this matter, we still
Let’s discuss it carefully in the council chamber. Brother, everyone knows your bravery, and you are indispensable for making great achievements this time.”
"Okay!" Arik excitedly picked up his already heavy little brother, lifted him up and put him down again.
Although this made Rurik extremely embarrassed, he could at least be sure that Arik himself had an extremely positive attitude towards a large-scale war.
Indeed, Arik's heart longed for revenge. He felt that only by conquering the entire island of Gotland and killing people would the end of his revenge in this life be achieved. To be extremely realistic, he would have no trouble staying on Tombstone Island all day long.
, training new warriors will only give him a short-term headache. He urgently needs someone to vent his frustration and boredom.
A legitimate opportunity to vent is at hand!
It is already June 22nd, only six short days before the summer solstice.
The summer solstice is an important sacrificial day of the year for the Rus tribe. It worships the great god Odin and prays to the gods to grant the Rus people safety and a bright future.
Rurik was thinking about the future war, and the thought suddenly passed by him. He felt that it was necessary to make good use of this summer solstice sacrifice and turn it into a strategic mobilization for the entire tribe.
Considering that the main force of the Ross people has actually been stranded on Tombstone Island for a long time at this moment, the order for the decisive battle should be informed to them.
When the soldiers fighting abroad got off the ship, they were immediately surrounded by curious people, asking about the battle. However, they just wanted to have a good rest after landing, even if the sun was getting higher and higher at the moment.
Some strange warriors also disembarked from the ship carrying their bows and arrows. Their short stature confirmed their Corvin nature.
Some timid girls stepped off the boat. They curled up their arms and looked around. Their ragged appearance proved that they were prisoners again.
Except for the people who disembarked, it seems that the fleet led by the leader did not get much loot. The settlers who still thought they could take the opportunity to improve their lives were a little disappointed.
Soon, Otto, Rurik, Carlota, and even a group of mercenaries came to the wooden castle on Tombstone Island with great pride.
When he was there, Otto was struck by the scene. He looked around subconsciously and couldn't help but sigh: "The wooden wall is too thin. Arik!"
"exist!"
"Maybe you should organize the manpower to install another wooden wall."
"Ah? Is it necessary? My walls are impenetrable."
When Otto thought of the wall, he thought of the difficult battle to capture the Biliholm Fortress. The enemy's wooden wall was double-layered, with some soil deliberately inserted as a sandwich in the middle, so that it was very strong.
"Aric." Otto said seriously: "You don't know what kind of powerful enemy we have encountered in the south. You will have to strengthen the wooden wall sooner or later, but not today. Let's go! Go to the meeting hall you built and let's discuss it carefully."
"Yes! I'll call Medvit back right now."
A moment later, in the meeting hall in the Tombstone Island Fortress, Otto, as a duke, casually sat cross-legged on the leather cushions on the solid wooden floor, and the others also sat down casually.
This was an out-and-out military meeting, and Otto, who opened his mouth, immediately understood the new identity of the Russians.
"I am not just your leader now, I am a duke. We have also become the Principality of Ross. We are more noble than before."
Otto tried to explain the similarities and differences between the two terms: duchy and tribe, but unfortunately he ran out of words.
Also sitting at the meeting were the Slavic Medvit and the Kovanian Terravis. They were not outsiders. They were both Rurik's in-laws, and they also represented the ethnic groups controlled by the Rus' Principality.
Rurik didn't want to see his father stumbling around now, so he ended up saying: "The so-called principality is of course nobler than our tribe. Now the Slavs in Kovin and Novgorod are both members of the principality. What if
The principality is at war with outsiders, and the Kovins and the Slavs must join in the war, and that's why...that's why you two are sitting here."
Rurik deliberately looked at the young Tyravis and Medvet in his prime.
The people sitting here knew exactly what they were going to discuss, and Arik couldn't wait.
"Brother, don't talk about these things anymore. The brothers are all looking forward to this day to attack Gotland. Since the leader...ah! It's the Duke. The Duke appointed you as the military commander. Tell me, when will we start?"
"Huh? Are you so anxious?" Rurik wanted to say a few more words in a polite way, but now it seems that the heroic Arik doesn't understand and doesn't bother to listen.
"Why aren't you in a hurry?" Arik said with a bitter smile: "Brothers, you don't just lie down on the island every day. Even the farmers from the east have been trained as warriors by me. They have paid so much. I really wish I could take them with me now."
Brothers, land on the island."
"Oh, really? So, how many people do you think can defeat the Gotlanders?"
"This..." Arik thought for a moment: "Three years ago, I defeated that settlement with five hundred people. This time, a thousand warriors are almost enough! Yes! That's a thousand people."
"But, I learned from the Gotland captives that the guys on the island can assemble an army of five thousand people. Do you think a thousand people can really defeat five thousand people?"
After all, Arik was a ruthless character who licked blood on the battlefield. He stood up suddenly and looked down at his little brother proudly: "A thousand warriors are enough, just..." He couldn't help but glance at Otto and said weakly.
: "A thousand Ross warriors, this is our strongest combat force. I'm afraid the Duke will not completely hand over the command to me."
Rurik didn't want to talk nonsense, he shrugged: "Yes, I am the real commander, and I don't think that the Gotlanders can be defeated by a thousand strongest warriors. Brother,
Three years ago, you made a sneak attack with force. You were very successful, but the enemy had no intention of surrendering. This time, I plan to have a decisive battle with the enemy. You...should understand what I mean."
"Are you betting everything on us? Oh, great!" Arik laughed, his laughter was extremely unrestrained, "Either life or death. Rurik, my brother, this kind of decision is indeed yours to make.
Come down. To fight and defeat the assembled army of the whole island of Gotland? Yes! I can't ask for more."
In Arik's mind, every battle he participated in was won quickly with the violent strength of the Russians. He never knew what it meant to fight hard and what it meant to be unable to conquer for a long time. He had never seen any form of defeat, that is,
eager for war.
Rurik couldn't help but laugh. He knew very well how historic the decision he was about to officially announce was.
In fact, there was not a single opponent at the meeting, and there was not even a hint of doubt.
Otto now even handed over the power to declare war to his son, so Rurik was essentially the Duke at this moment, and Otto became a veritable "Grand Duke".
It has to be said that Rurik has gained great power in this war. Power is intoxicating. Power can corrode people's hearts and lead them to do whatever they want.
Rurik also became violent unknowingly. Not only was he unable to help but indulge in power, but he also lost his former innocence and realized that he must show his violent side to make his tribe cheer.