The Trent River flows quietly, and the farmers living along the river live their quiet and miserable lives.
The wars in recent years are basically internal fights between nobles. After farmers pay grain taxes and land rents, they then pay poll taxes. In addition, they have to bring their own weapons to fight under the orders of the nobles.
However, no matter what kind of war it is, the battlefield will never break out in the Earldom of Lindsay on the lower reaches of the Trent River.
The people's life is becoming more and more peaceful, and all the travelers from far away have revealed that terrible pirates have sacked the villages in East Anglia and Wessex. What does this have to do with the people living in the earldom of Lindsay?
The farmer's vision is limited to the three-thirds of an acre of farmland by the river. It is obviously adjacent to the sea, but almost no one goes fishing.
Because they even forgot the skills of building ships and just built some canoes to float on the Trent River.
Only this year's situation is very special.
Many years ago, the King of Wessex brought troops into the country, and his king immediately swore allegiance to him, so that the farmer's family had to pay another tax to Wessex.
Wessex was in decline, and the King of Mercia was immediately restored. In the past few years, His Majesty has used troops against East Anglia, and the people's financial resources have been severely squeezed.
How long has there been peace? This year, the Earl took his elite armored retinue and conscripted farmers to the north to conquer Northumbria.
When will the expedition people return?
The people didn't think much about it. They counted their surplus grain and actively raised chickens and sheep at the end of the warm summer, so as to alleviate their poverty.
Of course, every weekend on Sunday, people from all over the country gathered in the monasteries in various villages to receive the teachings of priests, and people from nearby Lindsay City flocked to the city.
The lack of information not only brought about their extremely limited understanding of the outside world, but they also had no idea what a Viking was. Although there were rumors, the priests gave them unreliable explanations and described them as Satan's
The little devil of the apostle. So, how to protect yourself from being invaded by devils? Just stay away from the sea and believe in your faith devoutly.
But everything happened too suddenly.
The rainy weather continued, but thanks to the protection of the cabin, the situation of the incoming fleet was not too bad.
This was of course limited to the Rus' army. The open long boats of the Balmok army could not protect themselves from the wind and rain. They endured the discomfort all over because of their strong faith that supported their continued march.
The north wind is not serious, but the temperature is low enough. In such bad weather, the Allied troops continue to "bath", so they don't catch colds and fevers?
Although Rurik was very worried, he could do nothing to help. He could only hope that everyone was in good health.
In this way, it became necessary to conquer Lindsay City, and everyone needed to temporarily stay in a shelter from the wind and rain.
In the rain, all the ships raised their sails, and they were blown upstream by the north wind.
Rurik called the Trent River "Lindsay" out of convenience. The waterway of this river was a little wider than the previous Vuse River and the Aire River.
The fleet suddenly appeared under Lindsay City, which was indeed a stone city built along the river.
"Is this our target?" Arik asked his brother holding a sword while bathing in the drizzle.
"Who knows? We sailed so far and saw this stone-walled city, as it should be."
"It doesn't matter, we just need to break it and capture a few prisoners." Arik danced his sword and was eager to give it a try.
Rurik nodded, "Then let's do it. We really need to take a break."
That being said, Rurik saw an obstacle appearing in front of the river in the drizzle.
What is that? It's obviously a bridge.
"Damn it, a wooden bridge actually blocked my march. It's time to teach the locals a lesson. If they dare to build a bridge to stop me, they should be punished!"
By now, Rurik, who should have made great achievements, has become barbaric and naturally a little arrogant.
Can a mere city protected by low stone walls stop the Ross-Balmok coalition?
Someone blew a horn, and the noise attracted the attention of the entire fleet.
The Aurora has anchored, as have all the other ships.
Rurik stood on the side railing and shouted to his cousin who had already disembarked with the soldiers: "Arik! Remember! Don't kill indiscriminately, don't attack without authorization, wait until I and the shooter are ready before taking action."
"Then come down quickly." Arik shouted disdainfully.
Considering the new plan to attack Tamworth, the royal city of Mercia, Rurik prepared some ladders in advance.
The Russian troops who had disembarked were already working together to carry the long ladder unloaded from the large ship, and the Balmok troops also dragged their wet bodies and gathered in the wet grassland by the river.
Looking at the city of Lindsay, a Saxon-crossing city that was expanded based on a Roman-era fortress, there was only a small group of garrison troops left, and they discovered that an incredible fleet had already arrived at the city.
Yes, in fact, some villages along the river have long noticed this fleet going upstream. When the villagers sensed the danger, they spontaneously avoided it. It was rainy, and there was no villager who was not busy taking care of his own safety and ran fearlessly through the mud.
Tell Lindsay City that danger is coming.
This small city with a permanent population of eight to nine hundred people, all of whom worked for the earl family, and whose population was reduced to only five hundred people due to the earl's expedition, was suddenly attacked by two thousand Viking troops.
There were no more than fifty armed guards loyal to the count's family. They climbed to the top of the city in the rain, and each and every one of them was so frightened that they trembled all over.
However, the attack of the Russian army has arrived.
Conduct long-range strikes before starting a war. As long as an army has suitable long-range weapons, it would be foolish not to do so.
Cast-iron projectiles and javelins fell from the sky, and neither Rurik nor anyone operating the slingshot could see a clear enemy. It didn't matter. This move was not to kill the enemy, but to create panic in the city.
At first, the women and children who were sheltering from the rain at home felt that dangerous hail was falling from the sky.
Occasionally, there will be extreme weather, and hail can smash through the wooden roofs of residential houses, causing injuries to residents, and even killing poultry in the pens.
However, this time was very different. Residents witnessed their loved ones being stoned to death!
Is that hail? It's a piece of iron! And a javelin!
They were completely baffled, so they hid in fear again.
The projectiles smashed through the tiles of Lindsay Abbey, and even the priests were hiding.
The old priest held up his crutch and banged on the floor to scare the little priest who was running around.
The situation was already chaotic, and soldiers covered in water broke into the monastery and shouted: "Enemies appear out of nowhere and are attacking us. The centurion orders you to hide quickly!"
As soon as we heard about the enemy attack, the confusion intensified.
"Can you be considered pious like this?" The priest scolded again, threw away the crutch himself, picked up the large wooden cross used when celebrating mass, used it as a crutch and walked outside like a saint, and said:
"Don't be afraid, the power of faith will save us. Soldiers, you go and protect the countess and the young master. Everyone else, let's go."
But falling projectiles don’t have eyes!
Some of the young priests who followed the priest anxiously were directly beaten to death while guarding them.
Although the pastor was shocked, adhering to his faith, he dragged his trembling feet and thought of going out of the city to have a good chat with these mass murderers in person.
Pedantic? Indeed, this old guy who has held the position of priest of the monastery in the earldom of Lindsay has been doing this for thirty years. He boasts that he has seen a lot. The Northumbrian army arrived here a long time ago. Even so, they
He did not cause such a massacre. On that occasion, he was the one who mediated, and the then Earl of Lindsay and the Northumbrian army eliminated the troops, and he was proud of it for decades.
Carrying the cross, he climbed up the low stone wall, and the drizzle made his mood desolate.
The priest saw an incredible number of large ships floating on the river below the city, and a huge army standing in a large area.
During this time, Rurik, who had already negotiated with Magnute and Biyoni who had disembarked, exchanged opinions and reached a consensus that the city must be conquered, and then the army entered the city to rest.
The coalition forces were already making final preparations for the attack, when suddenly a large black cross appeared on the city wall.
"Look, it's their priest." Rurik called the priest "priest" smoothly.
Magnute took a quick look and felt murderous intent in his heart.
"Rurik, my son. They don't believe in our Odin, especially the local priests. I will let them know Odin's wrath now."
"Wait!" Rurik said suddenly.
"What's going on? Our army is ready."
"No. I think they intend to negotiate with us."
"Is this necessary?" Biyongni asked disdainfully, but Arik was about to charge.
Rurik squinted his eyes, knowing that he didn't have to look up at the obviously weak enemy in the city. The enemy should be lying down and talking to him.
"Then let's attack." Rurik sighed, then he made up his mind, drew out his dagger and pointed it pointedly: "Attack!"
This is indeed Lindsay City, and its small size cannot but make Rurik suspicious.
Of course, the attack was simple and straightforward, and victory came easily, which made his doubts even more serious.
The stone wall built in the Roman era was not further repaired. After setting up ladders, the Russian army and the Balmoq army successfully climbed to the city without encountering any decent resistance.
The last armed retinue of the Earl family, they were originally salaried thugs and had the nature of mercenaries, so their loyalty itself was psychedelic.
They were frightened, and after sending the priests off the city wall, they refused to listen to the priest's pleas to stay, and ran away with weapons!
When they fled, they didn't even notify the count's family members to evacuate. The guys who were busy escaping for their lives jumped into the ditch like crazy, and fled away in the mud.
Of course, some people had no time to escape and were hacked to death by the Vikings who boarded the city.
The Danish mercenary Grund was a tool man. His armor was once again stained with blood, only to be washed away by the rain. They were the first to land on the city, and they also hacked to death the Mercian soldiers stationed in the city gate, and then bolted the door.
After everything was removed and the gate was opened, the main force of the coalition troops filed in.
The Rus and Balmoks who rushed into the city looted and looted everywhere wildly.
Arik really obeyed his brother's request. He called on his subordinates not to kill indiscriminately, but the fact was so special that the violent warriors could not kill indiscriminately.
Because there are too many women in this city.
They controlled the women, and then they only cared about their own pleasure while they screamed. The scene was very chaotic for a time.
The city had collapsed, and the aggressive army rushed into the worst stone castle, killing the guards and breaking in.
The countess hugged her youngest son with a mournful face, but her eldest son had already bravely taken out a sword.
However, Biyongni, who led the team to break in, just wanted to kill as fast as he could.
"Boy, you are too young. If you dare to duel with me, then go to hell!" He shouted in Norse. Although he admired the young man, he quickly killed him.
Even the countess pulled out a meat-cutting knife to defend herself in times of crisis. It was such a move that the Balmoks present did not hesitate to regard this woman as a brave female warrior.
Not killing a woman? Once she picks up any form of weapon, she is a warrior and she should be prepared to be killed.
Especially when dealing with an armed enemy warrior, the greatest respect is to kill them all.
At this glance, Biyongni led his brothers to bloodbath the Earl of Lindsay's mansion, and really carried out the brutality to the end, followed by looting and looting of gold and silver.
As for Rurik, he still maintained his sanity in the extremely cruel battlefield.
As of now, he is no longer afraid of the corpses strewn on the ground and the red rust-smelling mud. He ignores the chaos and killing, as well as the woman who is being chased by a group of laughing Balmok warriors.
Rurik deliberately indulged the Russian soldiers, and he had no right to restrain the theoretical discipline of the Balmok allies. After all, this place will be regarded as the territory of the Balmok Kingdom of York from now on. The Balmok people are wreaking havoc, so why should he interfere?
Rurik led a group of cronies to the monastery, where it was temporarily surrounded by a group of Russian soldiers.
Arik greeted his brother with a smile: "Look, I didn't kill indiscriminately. Many people fled to this building. This is their temple. You decide their life or death."
"Good job!" Things were far better than Rurik thought. Unexpectedly, my brother was smarter.
At the same time, more than sixty women and children and more than a dozen priests were hiding in the monastery, praying in vain, hoping that the Lord would protect the devout believers with divine power.
The pastor who had escaped had a manuscript Bible in his arms, forcing himself to sit still and busy reading scriptures, like an ostrich with its head buried in the sand.
After all, the door was knocked open.
The people in the room screamed wildly, and the priest who tried to remain calm was dumbfounded.
Several soldiers wearing white robes with blue stripes broke in. Unbelievably, the barbaric army just stood there, like a guard of honor.
After a while, a short man who looked frail came in.
"You! You have failed! If you surrender now, you will get my protection."
Rurik's words were in Latin, and the priest was shocked because this sacred language was actually spoken by a barbarian warrior.
Rurik spoke again, and the panic of the people was relieved.
The pastor closed the Bible and hugged it, and cautiously walked towards the blond boy who had taken off his iron helmet. He subconsciously felt how different this boy was from the attackers.
The priest had to admit that this young man was really handsome and his complexion was similar to that of the locals, but the soldiers who attacked the city had special clothes.
"Who are you?" the priest asked in Latin.
"Russ! The Principality of Rus and the new Kingdom of York. Where is this place?"
"It's Lindsay."
Lindsay? Such a dilapidated city is Lindsay? Rurik shook his head, and immediately kicked the priest, knocking the old man down. The sudden scene made the whole monastery feel suffocating and silent.
Rurik pointed his sword at all the stunned people: "People of Lindsay, you have been conquered! Lindsay no longer exists! Now, you are all our servants!"
The words were in Latin, so ordinary people couldn't understand them, but most priests could understand them vaguely.
Rurik gave another order, and Arik naturally misinterpreted his brother's meaning. The tying of ordinary priests turned into killing, just like what the most ordinary Viking invaders would do. The wood of the monastery
The floor was stained red...
The old priest was left trembling and cursing in Latin that this young man had a demonic nature underneath his handsome appearance.
"You know the sacred language, but you are blaspheming the sacred. You will go to hell."
"Hell? Maybe. Your god did not protect you." Rurik shook his head, "You know Latin, you are still useful. Thank me, I will spare you, and the people of this entire monastery will be safe."
Then he ordered his brother: "Brother! Stop killing indiscriminately, tie up the others and take them away."
"Alright alright……"
Arik was a little surprised, so he wiped the blood from the sword blade, wiped it on his clothes and put it back into the scabbard, signaling his obedience.