To prepare for an expedition, Rurik knew that he had to think deeply about the issue of food and fodder.
The general medieval army would not plunder the place to solve the problem of supplies. The reason is that what kind of supplies can be obtained depends entirely on the enemy's reserves. If one's own side is not well prepared, does it mean that logistics
Is the real problem being taken advantage of by the enemy? If they create a fortified wall and clear the country, the army will have to starve to death in a foreign land or return home quickly.
At least the Balmoks don't pay much attention to logistical issues.
This is reasonable. The allies simply do not know that logistical issues are related to the success or failure of the army.
Rurik planned to stockpile enough wheat to feed a thousand people for two months, and this was just wheat. He planned to stockpile at the standard of two pounds per person per day, which meant he would have to stockpile 120,000 pounds of oats.
In his plan, it would take the Ross Army three weeks to reach Balmok at the earliest from their hometown, and another two weeks to land in Britain. Although there are probably opportunities to catch fish during the journey, no one can expect surprises.
I am happy to solve certain problems.
But wait! Maybe the army can attack Burgundy Island first and force the local fishermen to provide a batch of catch.
After some consideration, Rurik did not reject the possibility of robbery midway, but it was no longer a necessary means.
The best way is to reserve food, whether it is wheat or dried fish, or even dried young pine leaves to prevent scurvy. These should be stored for two months, so as to avoid the dilemma of quickly running out of food when the army lands in Britain.
.
Although more than two million pounds of wheat were obtained from various places last year, the huge amounts of wheat were piled up in mountains, and the dry and cold climate made people not worry about their winter storage problems. However, this batch of wheat can only feed the Russians for more than half a year, and ordinary people still
Going out to sea for fishing.
Controlling grain in one's own hands is tantamount to taking the military initiative! Rurik can decide the total amount of wheat released to the market every month. Since there is war, this time he directly ordered to stockpile 200,000 pounds or more
oatmeal is no problem either.
Rurik naturally only considered the problems of his own people. As for the Balmok allies, of course they had to solve their own logistical problems. Of course, the allies could follow the old tradition and bring a small amount of dried fish or even catch fish to eat on the way.
Raw fish and meat were plundered immediately after landing to replenish physical energy. The Russians had no intention of helping them in this regard.
As the saying goes, even if they are allies, helping them with logistics is a matter of friendship and not Rurik's duty.
But the future commander-in-chief of the Balmok Army, Biyoni, became smart in actual combat. Since the Rurik brothers were stocking up on supplies for the expedition, they themselves should also be prepared for any eventuality.
There is still some time before the sea ice melts, but the Russians have begun to select men for the expedition, and some people have begun spontaneous fighting training.
It was a sunny afternoon and the temperature was still low, but no longer aggressive.
In the past days, the Balmok travelers who came as miners received good and scientific food and passively exercised their muscles in the mines. They all became stronger. Now this group of people are holding brand-new steel swords and officially
Get fighting training from Jevlo!
Regarding how to form a formation to fight, Rurik was not worried that the Balmoks would cause trouble.
On this basis, they should receive better training in fighting alone.
The Balmok travelers began to learn Frankish swordsmanship from Jevlo, and the joint fighting technique of sword and shield was refreshing to everyone.
The boys of Rurik also received military training as expected, and some of the very young and outstanding ones were selected by Rurik to become members of the expeditionary force.
It would be too hasty to expect these teenagers to go into battle and fight.
No one can deny their courage, but with their thin body, short stature and childish face, this kind of warrior is really weak on the battlefield. The position for people like them is the auxiliary force! It happened that Rurik went to battle.
A full-time shooting force must be brought along, and important responsibilities must be entrusted.
This is all a war, and only those who are too naive will seek to win in a one-on-one duel with the enemy warriors.
The essence of war is to use whatever means necessary to win with minimal losses. A wise commander will avoid even close combat. It is great to be able to kill the enemy without guarding them and make them stand on their backs.
A group of boys were selected. They all carried steel-armed crossbows, and a single shoulder bag hung on each shoulder. There were as many as ten crossbow arrows in the bag. What kind of weight is this? Three arrows weigh two pounds!
Coupled with the crossbow, which weighs an average of twelve pounds, and the portable winch, which weighs two pounds, the weight of these boys can be staggering in terms of weapons alone! Not to mention that they also need small shovels and multifunctional tools for digging.
A small dagger, and a backpack with a hemp rope top, which must also contain food. A circle of these linen blankets must also be tied around the backpack.
Rurik was really particular about this aspect. He was pursuing the needs of future generations of armies for clothing and materials.
Not only these children, but also belts, linen shoulder bags, linen blankets, shovels and daggers, water bags made from stomach pouches and other items that seem to have nothing to do with battle, every Russian who is about to go on an expedition must have a set of them.
The majority of Russian women also received direct tailoring orders from Rurik. He naturally took a special liking to Vodgen, who immigrated to Russia with his entire tailoring workshop, and instructed this man to undertake an important job - making military uniforms for the Russian army.
Instructional version for the women of Ross to copy in this style.
Rurik really noticed during last year's war that the Northumbrian army tried its best to uniformly dress, but in fact they could not fully achieve it.
The Northumbrian army has a distinct earthy-orange color scheme. On the other hand, the Balmoq people are really unkempt and dressed in a variety of colors. Gorgeous clothing demonstrates military might and deters the enemy, enhances one's own sense of glory and boosts morale, and is most important for distinguishing oneself on the battlefield.
Friend or foe.
The Russian military uniform does not need to be modified. It is still a white robe that can be worn on the body, with staggered blue strips sewn on the chest and back.
This obviously requires fine tailoring. Ilyurik required that characters such as centurions should have epaulettes dyed red with cinnabar sewn on their shoulders. As usual, feathers must be inserted on the top of their helmets.
So it can be easily seen by soldiers during the battle. If he didn't think it was too silly to put a small flag on his back, Rurik would have done it. Of course there is a flag, and since a flag team is going to be dispatched, of course the flag captain
The one who refused was my cousin Arik, and there were also professionals in charge of the flag.
A subtle atmosphere envelopes the entire Roseburg.
The Duke is going to war! Everyone who participates in the war has the opportunity to gain wealth and glory!
Rurik set the date of the expedition as soon as June. He would not go straight to Britain when the ice and snow melted. He had a lot of time to train the troops, including but not limited to training the three hundred Balmok travelers into real soldiers.
Brave, in order to adapt to the Russians' fighting style that is different from that of ordinary Vikings.
Considering that Northumbria has cavalry, Rurik has no doubt that the released Eynred will rebuild his cavalry. Since there is a decisive battle, fighting between one's own and the enemy's cavalry on the battlefield is essential.
. I guess based on that guy’s elm head, of course he still ordered the cavalry to charge according to traditional tactics. Maybe they didn’t intend to break through the formation, and an assassination with a spear was indispensable.
Therefore, the Russians should prepare a batch of spears, and also sell a batch of spears to the Balmoks. The coalition forces would form a "hedgehog formation", which should be able to cause heavy casualties to the British cavalry in this time and space.
If there are sufficient preparations, there are no problems with armaments and logistics, and there is a grain officer Paul who leads the way, and they really kill York this time, Northumbria may be defeated and the country will be destroyed!
However, in so-called wars, half of the plans are often scrapped once the war begins.
Rurik was preparing for an expedition that could be called an adventure, with crazy goals, and success would bring huge rewards and great glory, but the east encountered big trouble.
A group of sleigh teams suddenly rushed north to Fort Ross. Look at them, looking as dejected as cocks that had lost a fight.
They were indeed defeated! They took a long circuit around the icy coastline of the Gulf of Bothnia, and after receiving a batch of supplies at Ironburg, they successfully arrived at Fort Ross.
Kejas came, he was caught off guard.
This old guy had a face full of vicissitudes of life, and his eyes were filled with the sadness of defeat.
There are only over a hundred of his followers, men, women and children, and these are already the last members of the "Lord of Salmon" tribe.
As soon as they arrived, a bombshell news began to spread from their mouths.
It turned out that the Salmon Lord Tribe of the Corvin people, who had completely surrendered to the Rus, was attacked by a powerful enemy! They lost their mountain fortress, the last male was almost killed in the battle, and the remaining people were forced to abandon themselves.
They escaped with their belongings. Among them were squirrel skins and ferret skins that were supposed to be tribute to Ross in the warm period. Now everything is lost!
Rurik was overwhelmed by such a major incident, and he could not think of any other enemy that could attack Kejas.
Rurik urgently summoned the old guy who had fled for his life, and because he was worried that the man would lose control of his emotions, he specially brought Lumi with him.
Daughter Rumi has been working as a priest among the Russians, and now it seems that her relationship with Rurik is even closer.
Seeing his daughter, Kehas was overcome with grief. He stamped his feet, beat his chest, and cried loudly. It took Rurik a long while to understand the reason for his crying.
"Your mountain fortress! It was actually breached by the enemy. Your wife was killed by them?! Is there such a tragic thing?"
Rurik tried his best to remain calm, but he couldn't.
Kejas wiped away his tears again, "They did it..."
"who are they."
"It's the Tavastians. They came, they noticed us, and now they occupy our territory. The leather stored in our mountain fortress has now been robbed by them. And..."
"Then what?" Rurik asked urgently.
"They didn't leave. They occupied our territory and didn't want to leave. Now I need you... to fulfill your agreement."
"Promise! I will carry it out! People of Tavastia, I heard you said that there is no point in me attacking them. Now they are looking for death!"
Rurik said this without hesitation, his clenched fists seemed to crush the iron block into powder.
He temporarily resettled Cajas and the tribesmen who had successfully escaped, and then sent Lumi to comfort her poor father.
That night, Cajas, whose mood had stabilized, was invited to the meeting hall on the first floor of the palace. He entered the Rossburg for the first time. While he was shocked by this huge city, he was also full of joy for the future counterattack.
The servants of the Rus' "Eastern Land" were massacred?! How unreasonable!
The news has spread throughout Roseburg. Although most people don't even know who the attacker is, the brothers have begun to spread the word that the Duke will definitely issue an order to send troops.
This is not an expedition, but a crusade against the invaders to regain the wealth belonging to Russia that was stolen by the enemies.
The entire Rossburg has exactly the same atmosphere, which is to send troops to kill the enemy early and take revenge.
In Rurik's forum, the atmosphere of revenge was very strong, including the large Balmok armed mission, who were also very interested in a sudden war.
The elites of the Rus are all here, as well as the Balmok hero Biyoni, the Duchess of Ostara Carlotta, and Kejas. The political significance of this can be seen at a glance.
Kejas accepted Rurik's request and told everyone personally what had happened to him. He was frightened and filled with a desire for revenge, so much so that he went too far in describing the enemy.
"There are a thousand of them, and each warrior has an iron spear. They throw javelins and shoot arrows. They are also good at setting fires. Because they couldn't take down our mountain fortress, they set it on fire. We took advantage of the chaos to escape..."
In its description, the old gray squirrel tribe's hillfort was captured by Tavastian expeditioners, who then attacked Kaihas' territory.
Rurik felt a little strange, "Your fortress located on a mound should be very strong. Even if they set fire, is it really reasonable in this snow-covered world?"
"My lord, there were so many of them that they piled firewood to create thick smoke, which set some pine trees on fire...some people choked to death from the thick smoke."
Rurik stared, knowing that the thick smoke in a fire was often more dangerous than the flames.
Rurik was still asking the key question: "Are there really a thousand of them?"
"It's absolutely true. I'm afraid there will be warriors later. As far as I know, the Tavastians hunt prey in their territory everywhere. The more they have, the more wealth they need. We Corvin people have been getting rid of them, but I didn't expect them to come again.
Already."
"This sounds like a fateful battle."
"Yes. They know that if they want to rob the leather resources in the north, they must annihilate us. But all these leathers belong to Ross, and we are Ross's servants. The Tavastians are humiliating Ross!"
Kejas' words were very irritating to everyone. Now Biyongni looked sideways and spoke, "Brother, your servant was attacked by the enemy, which means that you are also humiliating us Balmoks. I don't know what kind of villains the Tavastians are.
, now I declare that I will take my brothers to help you fight."
Is that the new ally of the Russians? Wouldn’t the Russian army be stronger in this way?
Kejas took this opportunity to add fuel to the fire, "They also did an evil thing!"
"What's the matter?"
"The enemy destroyed our cemetery, and also destroyed Ross's summer camp. I understand that the intruders must be destroyed, otherwise Ross's fishermen will..."
Rurik stood up suddenly when he heard that the cemetery was destroyed: "I heard that two children of Russian fishermen died on your side. Could it be that their cemetery was also destroyed?!"
Kejas nodded hurriedly, "There are also the Ross warriors who stayed at my place this winter. They helped our daughter to be conceived. They are all our heroes. But these Ross heroes all died in the battle!"
"Are they dead too? Damn it!"
"The boats that were pulled ashore were all taken away by the enemy."
"That's enough." Rurik stood up and raised his hand to signal, and everyone else also stood up, their eyes filled with hatred.
What Kejas told was the truth, but he deliberately made things miserable, for example, describing the brutal enemies as mad dogs tearing at the corpses of dead Russian soldiers, or even vultures pecking at the livers.
The details of the facts are no longer important. Rurik ordered on behalf of everyone, "It seems that before the expedition to Britain, we have to attack the Tavastians first. When the ice melts and the snow melts, our fleet will rush directly to the other side of the sea to let
Let all the young men of Rus join the battle as much as possible, and let the blood of the Tavastian invaders be sacrificed to Odin!"
People roared, and soon the news spread.
Now it is no longer a question of who is qualified to go to the battlefield, but that the Russians can go out to attack him.
Theoretically, Rurik can send an advance army now, but wait, it would be bad if the enemy feels that the battle situation is unfavorable and flees.
To fight a war, we must either fight a war of annihilation or create opportunities to fight a war of annihilation.
And this battle makes everything more subtle.
Rurik was afraid that this battle would delay the expedition to Britain, and he was also worried that after the army was assembled and ready to go out, the enemy would escape.
Spring will definitely come early this year, and the ice will melt enough for navigation in April. Of course, a land expedition is not as efficient as taking a ship, and the army must sail directly!
Now, Arik, who was eager for new military exploits, stepped forward. He took the lead in organizing a fifty-person reconnaissance team and ran wildly on the sea ice on a sled. Following the direction determined by Rurik based on his geographical knowledge, he rushed directly to Oulu.
The mouth of the river, and then went deep into the robbed territory of the Salmon Lord tribe, revisited the old territory to spy on the invaders, and then ordered his men to rush back on the reindeer sleigh to report the news...