Chapter 562 Arik and Ross Scout Binghai rushed to beat them
At the end of the meeting of the Tavastian people, the women brought by the three chiefs of Corvin and the children they brought were all shared by many villages, and the very few men were also completely absorbed.
Bakan, Hortai and Ojedo actually lost their tribes. They did not really become ordinary people, nor did they encounter any humiliation. The reason for this was that they were not a threat at all.
The displaced people finally found peace among the Tavastians.
The existence of these three people forms a great symbol, that is, Chief Watkard has enough power, and he can use this power to make the diggers actively attach themselves to him!
What leader doesn't want flatterers? What's more, these three people obviously have a huge role in the journey to the north.
I heard from what these three people said that once winter comes, the active Rus people huddle in their hometowns west of the sea, and the camps they stay in the river become defenseless.
Winter became a major opportunity for assault. Watkard, who felt he had the opportunity, organized a real expeditionary force in the first winter after the three leaders surrendered.
He ordered his brother Vatyala (Strong Feet) to take as many as five hundred carefully selected warriors, so-called shrewd winter hunters, to form an expeditionary force with his own full-metal weapons. In Bakan, Hall
Under the guidance of Tai and Ojedo, they launched a surprise attack on the Oulu River Basin.
It can be said that the three defeated leaders finally got a chance to fight back. Didn't the Tavastians they saw also have iron spears, iron arrow clusters, and strong bodies?
They naturally believed that their defeat was due to the lack of troops and insufficient preparation. Now it seems that the Tavastian warriors should be as fierce as the Rus. The expeditionary force has so many troops, and the Tavastians have more warriors. They
Naturally, it is expected that this force will wipe out the Russian forces and end the grudges with the Salmon Man.
As for his own tribe, it was meant to be destroyed.
The three of them fled with the surviving women and children of the tribe. They lived for revenge. As long as the great revenge was avenged, what would happen if they died?
Now, the Tavastia expeditionary force is like a sharp arrow, heading north in the ice and snow forest, aiming directly at the mountain fortress of the Salmon Lord tribe.
They killed as many as fifty people (and more than sixty people were injured to varying degrees), and finally won the victory through fire and smoke tactics. They became the masters of the Oulu River Basin, seized a large number of iron tools, and just watched.
The other Covin people, who were frantically running for their lives on deer-drawn sleighs on the vast sea ice, just watched them leave.
The hunters of the expeditionary force had already obtained their trophies of iron tools and immediately began to hunt in winter.
The mountain fort was burned beyond recognition, and many of the leathers that could have been taken away were also reduced to ashes in the fire.
The mountain fortress of the Salmon Lord tribe had basically lost its use value, so the Tavastians who came here from the expedition began to use the hill fort left by the Gray Squirrel tribe.
In order to plunder loot, they dug up graves everywhere. Although they didn't find anything good, they were shocked by the staggering number of highly decomposed corpses.
They are a large number of stacked bones, and there is always a thick layer of earth on them.
According to the three people who surrendered, these bones were probably the dead of their own tribes.
So many people died in the battle? Are the Russians really enemies?
Commander Vatyala captured a strange, elastic iron sword, and his soldiers brought in several strange corpses.
According to the surrenderers, these people who were stabbed with spears were Russians.
The Russians were killed just like that. Maybe they were not strong in the first place. As for the huge number of skeletons produced, he didn't understand what kind of fierce battles had taken place here, and he didn't want to worry about whether they were there or not.
Based on tradition, the Tavastians began to transform the old mountain fort of the Gray Squirrel tribe into a camp that could be maintained for a long time. Of course, the old camp of the Salmon Lord was also reused to a certain extent.
While sending a messenger back with the good news, Vateyala also declared this river area to be Tavastia's new territory.
Hunters capture squirrels and ferrets, and explore as far as the frozen coast.
Looking at the boundless sea of ice, these hunters in the mountains and forests all opened their mouths and marveled at the wonders of the world.
They discovered that they could reach an island ahead by walking on a path made of ice, where there were already many wooden sheds.
Is that also the camp of the Kovin people?
Some brave men put their arrows on their bows and moved over cautiously. After finding that the place was empty, they happily occupied it.
Isn't this a treasure given by God? The Kovin people fled, and all their camps were occupied by the new conquerors!
The Tavastians also discovered five strange ships parked on the coast of the frozen island. They had upturned heads and a mast in the middle. The ships were firmly fixed with ropes and covered with snow.
It seems that the Corvins fled for their lives and abandoned their ships here.
Even though there are many lakes in the territory of the Tavastia Tribal Alliance, their shipbuilding technology is really primitive. They can only cut down big trees and use an ax to carve out canoes. For example, it is too difficult to make a Viking longship. This shipbuilding technology is really continuous.
The Suomi people, their neighbors to the south, are not as good. At least the latter can go to the Gulf of Finland to fish and meet the passing Ross fleet.
Life became stable for the conquerors of Tavastia, and Vatyala enjoyed roasted squirrel, mink, and even bear meat.
More than a hundred immigrants from their hometown came with their families in reindeer sleighs along the road explored by the expedition. The speed of their immigration also shocked the three surrenders.
The Oulu River has become the living space of the Tavastia people, and their expansion to the north seems to be unstoppable.
Immigrants came with various production tools and started life immediately upon arrival.
Vatyala lay comfortably on the newly skinned bear skin, his mouth full of delicious food grease, and his big rough hands pointed at the three surrendered Kovin leaders.
"My eldest brother is the leader of the alliance, and I am now the leader of the Flood (Oulu) River. This was originally your home, and I am your master. The old land of Kovin is now the northern border of our Tavastia people.
."
Embarrassed? Helpless? Embarrassed?
Bukan, Hortey and Ojedo, these three have become lonely and miserable commanders. They are poor people who have no real power and have even been deprived of their names. But at least they managed to survive.
The three of them all flattered and congratulated the old man Vatyala on his successful conquest.
They were willing to be loyal servants, and Vatyala laughed heartily and mentally after being complimented.
"You three are very smart. As my loyal subordinates, I will naturally give you rewards. I can find three women from my subordinates. We are all men, and men will not embarrass men."
Upon hearing this, the three of them all knelt down, danced and praised the wisdom of the leader of the expedition, Vatyala.
But, is this really wise?
Did the "hero" of the expedition really think that after the Covins escaped, the Russians, the masters behind them, abandoned this place?
Of course he knew that the Russians had a high probability of retaliating, but immersed in the first real victory in his life, Vatyala even felt that his achievements might be higher than those of his elder brother Vatkader.
After all, the eldest brother is the eldest brother, and he is older than himself. If the eldest brother suddenly dies of illness, he will have enough strength to fight for the position of alliance leader.
Then let the Russians rush over! The brothers waited for work, seized the Russian iron weapons, made military exploits, and gained new bargaining chips for future battles.
However, something unusual happened!
The small island at the mouth of the Oulu River that can only be reached through the ice sea is Hailuoto Island.
The island has a natural bay facing the river estuary, which is a unique anchorage for ships. In this tiny bay, Ross fishermen naturally built a summer camp. It is entirely because the winter climate here is too harsh that there are no fishermen for a long time.
Settlement. A small number of boats were thrown here. When the weather got colder and the fishermen caught enough migratory salmon locally, they happily returned to Roseburg on the other side of the sea to spend the winter.
Since the Rus conquered the Oulu River Basin, fishermen have begun to carve up the fishery resources here, but no one expected that the Tavastians, who only heard of them by name, would become a strong competitor.
Maybe, those guys are really powerful?
No!
In Arik's view, the strongest enemy was the Danes at that time. But the feats of his younger brother Rurik fully demonstrated that the current Principality of Rus could defeat Denmark like an ant.
Arik has been sent to do some dangerous jobs over the years, and this is not the first time he has been a scout. He really enjoys it.
He naturally loves taking risks and fighting unknown enemies. After performing such missions many times, his mind has become more flexible than a ferret sneaking in the snow.
Yes! Ferrets! Since the world is completely white, the fifty warriors should dress like ferrets.
They spent some time preparing, all put on white cloth cloaks, and then rode six reindeer sleighs on the ice sea.
Why are you lost in the vast sea of ice? It’s because many of these selected people are fishermen. In the summer, they like to fish in the sea near the Oulu River and repair boats and screens in the summer camp. They are by no means simple.
Armed reconnaissance, and the task of restoring summer camps.
These fifty people were all carrying crossbows, including the surprisingly powerful but rather heavy steel-armed crossbows, and the very lightweight wooden-armed crossbows converted from short wooden bows with little power.
They also carried shields, short spears, steel swords, and a few even slings.
After a day of running wildly on the ice, they climbed over the ice pack on the ridge of the bay and spent the night on the ice.
People were nibbling on pre-made wheat cakes, and even the reindeer were munching oats.
In terms of logistics, Arik's reconnaissance team does not have to worry at all.
The flames were dancing, and he shouted to his brothers: "I guess those villains have occupied the river. We set up camp when we arrived at the summer camp, leaving some brothers to guard the camp, while others penetrated into the mountain forest near the glacier."
Someone casually shouted: "If we encounter the enemy, should we wait and see what happens, or should we pursue and kill them?"
"Of course, kill!" Arik decided on this strategy without even thinking about it.
Someone else mentioned: "But the Duke asked us to report the enemy's intelligence. If we really fight, the number of brothers will be too small."
"What's there to worry about? Are the crossbows in your hands just firewood? Some of you will follow me through the entire island of Gotland. We have experienced the most dangerous things. Who else is worried about a group of incompetents?"
How can a scholar be so strong?"
When Arik said this, many young warriors who really killed everyone in Gotland deeply agreed.
He added: "Just follow my plan! We are all covered in white cloth and can hide in the snowdrift. We sneak up on the exposed enemy and shoot with the crossbow, just like shooting a wild deer or bear."
The plan has been made, and the first task is to successfully arrive at the summer camp.
Of course, Arik is no longer a completely reckless man now. He still has terrible scars on his arms, which is the consequences of underestimating the enemy and advancing rashly on Gotland.
Fearing that he might stoke a hornet's nest with limited force, he ordered his brothers to be on alert, assuming that they would fight the enemy upon arrival at the summer camp.
They ran wildly on the ice for more than two days. It was a sunny afternoon. The Ross scouts on the sled saw the frozen coast in the distance and even the island.
The island has no name and is known as "Eastern Summer Camp".
They had already seen the straw huts left by their own people on the island, and were very alert to spy on the curling smoke.
"Oops! There are enemies!" Someone on the sled was shocked.
Arik raised his head, his whole face immediately twisted into a cracked earth.
He bared his teeth and said ferociously: "It seems that the enemy has occupied our camp. Brothers, prepare to fight, we will kill them all!"
People are going crazy after a long journey. Suddenly there is an opportunity to kill the enemy and make meritorious deeds. Who wants to be left behind by the guys?
Besides, look at the sunny weather. The great sun, the incarnation of Odin, is in the sky, and the eyes of God are watching the fighting heroes.
What warrior doesn’t want to show bravery in front of God?
There are more than twenty Tavastians staying on Hailuoto Island at the moment. At first they discovered the strange camp and the wonderful ships here, and now the camp serves as an outpost.
Vatyala was still arrogant enough to ignore the possibility of a Russian attack, so he left such an informant.
But for this group of people who saw the vast sea of ice for the first time, their initial awe has turned into boredom.
These twenty people stayed in the summer camp left by the Russians. They liked to stay warm in the shed, or light firewood to roast squirrel meat, or even bear meat or wolf meat.
Compared to the Corvin people, this group of Tavastians has stronger hunting capabilities. In addition to being good at archery, they also dare to gather together to hunt black bears.
Now the Russians are coming!
Arik and his men landed, and the reindeer sleigh stopped on the frozen coast.
"Brothers, follow me."
"The arrows are all ready, everyone spreads out, we surround the camp."
"Remember, wooden crossbowmen, after shooting the arrow, immediately string it before shooting. Steel crossbowmen, after shooting the arrow, throw it away. Draw your sword and charge me!"
Hailuoto Island is not a small island. Arik and others landed from the north of the island, which is only three kilometers away from the summer camp.
This distance seems very far, but it is not so when you look at it.
The Russians climbed onto the snow hill with their crossbows in hand, and sure enough they saw someone moving.
They lay down one after another and hid themselves in white cloth cloaks.
Soon after, Alik squinted his eyes and observed, and determined that there were not many moving figures, so he simply made a quick surprise attack.
He stood up and called to his brothers: "Get up and charge at me! Kill them all."
The Russians were impressed by the surprise attack, and no one shouted any slogans. They just naturally formed a wider skirmish line and rushed towards the camp.
When the Tavastia garrison spotted the attacker covered in white, they thought it was a monster jumping out of the snow.
No! Suddenly, Xue actually spoke.
When the two sides were close enough, the Rus began a spontaneous Viking war cry, accompanied by angry arrows.
The Tavastians were caught off guard and tried to fight back with their bows and arrows, but to no avail.
An arrow whizzed past Arik's ear, but he, who had experienced many battles, ignored it at all.
Relying on their advanced weapons and superior strength, the Russians quickly rushed to the summer camp.
The warrior who threw away his crossbow began to slash with his sword. The stunned Tavastians suddenly realized that they had lost even the chance to fight back.
Only one person hurriedly took a reindeer sleigh and tried to rush back to the river area to inform the boss.
It is very helpless that this unlucky guy has become the target of public criticism.
The reindeer pulling the sled were also hit by many arrows and fell to death. The man was hit by three heavy crossbow arrows in the back and died miserably.
However, no Russians suffered any casualties.
The brothers gasped with smiles, and some began to examine the wooden bows and scattered arrows of the dead bodies.
Someone showed Arik the captured arrows with a contemptuous attitude: "Boss, are these their arrows? Look at the arrow clusters, which are all rusty and so small, like a small iron nail."
Another person came with arrows: "Look, there are bone arrow clusters here. I checked the corpses and found that no one was wearing armor. The corpses were all much shorter than us. It seems that these enemies are without armor. We have many brothers."
He was also wearing chainmail armor reinforced with thin iron sheets, so he was really over-prepared."
Arik looked at the arrows brought by his men, broke them with disdain, and looked at Binghe again: "We won this battle too easily. I think that Kejas is exaggerating. We actually fought against the Danish warriors."
attitude towards dealing with these guys.”
"Boss, what should we do? Rush into the glacier now?"
Arik shook his head: "We'll spend the night first. We'll eat and move tomorrow. Listen!" He asked everyone to gather around and ordered: "Leave twenty brothers to guard the camp, and the other thirty people will follow me into the forest. We
Go hunting!"
Hunting? What is hunting? Bear hunting?
Arik gave a simple explanation, and all the brothers were happy. He indeed regarded attacking the Tavastian invaders as hunting wild beasts, so naturally he wanted to form a hunter group, which was to keep an eye on the lone enemies and attack them in large numbers, exploring the way.