Only a dozen people fled the battlefield, paddling desperately in the dusk with the terrible news.
The outpost in Karelia was breached, and the escapees saw the tragedy of their companions being killed. They had no illusions as to how many more people had managed to escape.
The lakeside adjacent to Isotalwa is not big or small. It takes some time for a boat to reach the exit of the lake. When night falls, the tired escapees take a detour in the night and find the campground using the campfire array as a reference.
If there had been no war, tonight would have been a peaceful night.
However, the weather was indeed unfavorable. There was a haze in the sky, and most of the stars and moonlight were obscured. The heavy rain in a few days was not a problem, but a weak north wind blew around the world, and the temperature dropped a lot.
Although it is August, autumn clothes are already blooming around Lake Ladoga. The large tribes in Karelia have recently mobilized for war, but the morale of the army has not exploded.
Ordinary herdsmen are very supportive of competing with their western neighbors for living space, but the details of the new enemies are still unclear. It seems that they are very powerful, and the herdsmen would rather continue to accumulate strength.
The calmness of the past few days has made people lazy. Sentinels have been placed in the forest and at the mouth of the river, but no alarm has been sent. Does this mean that the unknown enemy is just occupying the bear altar?
Aesailas, who was guarding the big camp, had fallen asleep surrounded by female slaves. The pressure of the war in recent days forced him to rely on physical catharsis to suppress his head that was about to explode with anxiety.
Because it was a bear altar! The loss of the altar caused the regular autumn gatherings of each tribe to be postponed or rescheduled.
The exhausted defeated soldiers landed. They first encountered some night fishermen, and then brought the surprised candlelight night fishermen who were shouting on the shore.
Some people who were sleeping soundly in the tents were awakened. They were no longer sleepy after learning the news about the enemy's invasion.
Someone frantically broke into Aesailas' big tent, knowing full well that this was trespassing, but the situation was urgent and the messenger could not care less about his own life.
"Something serious has happened! The enemy has arrived at the mouth of the river!"
The messenger yelled for a while, and Aesailas finally woke up. He pushed the slave girl away and yelled: "Where did you come from, this lowly beast, get out of here!"
"Sir!" The messenger didn't care too much and rushed forward, trembling: "You...your two sons have been killed in the battle. Thousands of attackers are entering the lake in big boats, our outpost...
It’s over!”
Aesailas suddenly lost his temper. He only felt that the world was absurd, and asked again: "You are so bold. Do you know what you are going to say?"
"Sir." The messenger immediately sat down and punched his chest with his right fist. "The enemies who attacked the bear altar are here. Your two sons have died in the battle, and almost all the four hundred brothers at the outpost have died! Sir, listen.
Listening to the sounds outside, the people who escaped were already telling everything. People were frightened."
"Absurd, this is ridiculous."
Aesailas stood up with all his strength, put on his leather coat and walked out of the tent. He saw a large group of panicked people walking around holding torches. He tried to control the situation, but how could the panic of such a large tribe be easily suppressed?
Seeing the garrison leader standing up, the frightened herdsmen gathered one after another and begged for a good solution.
What is a good strategy? Where can I find a good strategy to defend against enemies?
He first called those who had escaped to the battalion commander, and interrogated these tearful people fiercely.
This time, he got more shocking news than before.
Huge boats like mounds floated on the river, and their numbers were astonishing. The enemies all had white flags with blue stripes, even their clothes. The enemies still had sharp arrows, which even turned the Karelian hunters into
joke.
Could it be that even an ambush of four hundred people could not inflict heavy damage on the enemy, and for this reason my beloved son died in battle?
At least they died like men, but this bad news made Aesailas blush with anger, and he vowed to fight the invaders to the end in anger!
Thousands of people were waiting outside the war, with bonfires and torches lighting up the dark world.
The people were not sleepy at all, and the roar of discussions only intensified their fear and anxiety.
Aesailas finally appeared again, and the scene suddenly became quiet.
Thousands of eyes looked at his shadow and listened to his violent words.
"Brothers! The attackers who desecrated the altar are coming. The decisive battle is earlier than we expected. They are a group of the most ferocious bears or ferocious wolves. Our outpost has been breached, and they are about to attack our camp! He attacked
Those who want to kill us all! Kill all the men, possess all the women, they kill the elderly and children, and take away our herds of deer. We have no way to escape, and I will fight them to the end!"
The people with their eyes wide open were trembling. They didn't know which god they had offended and provoked such punishment.
Is it really impossible to evacuate the whole family?
Aesailas claimed that the entire Isotalwa people were guilty of the loss of the sacred bear altar. Any man who escaped was a traitor to his ancestors and gods, and would be immediately executed.
But women and children must evacuate the herd immediately!
Esailas felt that he had made the most correct decision in the critical situation. It was impossible for him to flee with his tribe. After all, only the real chief had the authority to issue this order. However, it was conceivable that the chief would not retreat without a fight.
As the chief's brother, if he can't hold the camp, then he should come and see him. Besides, the two cowardly sons can still die for the tribe. For their courage, he would rather die fighting for the tribe.
However, if women and children are killed by war, it is also the most serious disaster. A large number of men die in battle. Women who successfully escape can continue to have children. Although the population has dropped sharply, the tribe can quickly recover.
The men who were hesitant had to stay, and the more men were determined to stay for the decisive battle.
The Karelian tribe began an evacuation movement. The wives cried farewell to their husbands and the children bid farewell to their fathers. The time given to them was very limited. Women and children woke up the sleeping deer and forced them to start moving to the north.
There are still some women who are determined to stay and would rather die fighting together with their husbands.
It also includes a large group of old people who decide to die for the tribe and will do whatever they can to kill an enemy...
Aesailas was moved to tears. He never imagined that he did not actually commit violence in the end, and that the people really took up arms and stood up because of their honor.
He promised all his male and female slaves that they would pick up sharpened sticks and fight, and if they defeated the invaders, they would be free and become free herders.
It's a pity that the August night is not long. Isotalva, led by the rational leader, took correct precautions, but it was already too late!
On the other hand, the Russian army, which had won the first battle, had the courage to clean up the battlefield before the sun set.
The corpses of the enemy were roughly patted, and the prisoners were hanged after the results of the trial.
The entire Ross army landed for the night, and all the enemy's weapons were confiscated. Through the large number of bone arrow clusters and even the status of his own casualties, Rurik judged the level of the enemy's army - it was on the same level as the Tavastians.
Rurik did not want to expose himself. His subordinates had already chased him to the lakeside. He especially ordered his subordinates to prohibit lighting bonfires by the lakeside.
The Russian army relied on the river and lit a large number of bonfires on the battlefield in the forest.
This could only obscure their presence to a limited extent, as the clouds in the sky were illuminated by numerous bonfires.
The Karelian people are not simple fools. How can they just listen to the words of those who have returned and believe that the enemy has invaded?
Look at the sky in the south, it is illuminated. Although it is covered by forests, who can deny that there is not a large army hidden there?
The enemy's corpses were removed, and our own corpses were temporarily placed. The injured soldiers' wounds were cleaned with strong alcohol, then violently sutured with linen thread, and finally tied with linen cloth.
There were brothers casualties, and the Russian soldiers were furious. The enemy dared to launch a sneak attack. Only the Russian army had the right to conduct a sneak attack.
At a big bonfire, Rurik gathered all the banner captains and centurions.
As he walked among the brothers, he talked about the fleet tactics that would be implemented. There were no sonorous and powerful words, but only specific tactical arrangements.
Everyone basically listened attentively and listened to the end.
"That's the arrangement, do you have any other suggestions?" Rurik asked.
Everyone looked at each other. The flames illuminated everyone's expressions, and it was obvious that people were supportive.
"In that case, let's arrange it this way..."
Arik suddenly raised his head: "Brother, do we really want to let those women and brats go?"
"Yes. We should let it go this time."
"Why? Those brats will grow up to take revenge and must be eradicated."
"Maybe so. However, I don't believe you will be afraid of a group of grown-up cubs. Brother, you were too violent before, and you were really killing indiscriminately."
"Did I do anything wrong?" Aric asked.
Rurik knew he would say this, but what he said made sense. "It may be wrong or it may be right. I intend to conquer Karelia, so I can't kill them indiscriminately. I want them to surrender, and we want a group of slaves. I
We have already thought about it. Now that we have reached their lair, we will arrest all those who gave up resistance."
"I'm afraid your kindness will raise a pack of jackals." Arik shook his head.
"It doesn't matter." Rurik faced everyone again, "Aren't you angry about being ambushed and attacked? You should also understand that the enemy is not stupid. Please be careful, I don't want any of you to be injured in tomorrow's battle.
Remember, if you die in battle due to stupidity, your soul cannot go to Valhalla."
The first banner team composed of pure old Russians just wants to kill people, while the other banner teams are more willing to rob and rob women.
Rurik had no time to restrain the troops, so everyone fell down to sleep. When the sky turned gray and blue, people woke up one after another, ate dry food and got on the boat.
The third flag team composed of Balmoq people blew the walrus horns one after another, and the sound of leather drums heightened the solemnity.
The fleets in a long snake formation entered the lake one after another, and a gust of north wind blew in. The coolness made Rurik feel chilled.
North wind will reduce the range of arrows, but the biggest advantage is that the sailing ship can sail freely.
"Lower the sails!" Rurik raised his head and ordered.
The Aurora took out her huge triangular sail, which was deliberately kept at an angle to the ship's central axis, and she began to sail against the wind.
All sail cruisers, sail destroyers, and armed cargo ships formed a line array and struck the other side of the lake like a wall.
Behind it, there is an array of as many as forty longships. The first, third, and a group of veterans of the Second Flag are mixed among them, and even a group of heavily armored mercenaries from Rurik. They are Ross.
Literally Marines.
Rurik deliberately looked down on the enemy and tried to imagine this assault as a beach landing in Normandy, imagining that the enemy had already prepared defenses on the beach.
Coincidentally, Normandy was formed after Danish immigrants colonized an area from the Frankish Kingdom and accepted imperial decrees.
There were a large number of warriors holding crossbows and infantry bows standing on the decks of large ships. They stood so densely together that even some heavy weapons seemed to have a cramped space to maneuver.
Before the war broke out, Rurik fantasized about a decisive land battle with the enemy, so that he could demonstrate the superiority of his own heavy weapons.
Rurik could now foresee that the enemy would be waiting in their large camp that had been completely exposed. After all, the captured enemies said that they had better prepare for a decisive battle. It seems that heavy weapons can only be used on ships, which is a good thing.
The cart-mounted torsion slingshots prepared for land warfare were placed on the ship, and the bull trebuchets were basically evenly distributed among each ship.
The decks at the bow and stern of the ship are mainly used to house heavy weapons, and the middle deck is densely packed with people holding crossbows.
This time Suomi and the Vips will shoot arrows at the enemy. Their generally poor bows cannot create a very long killing range, so it is no problem to use them as a cover to land.
The sky gradually dawned, and the entire Russian army rushed towards Isotalva.
Many women and children had just taken their children, and the deer had left, so they could not go far.
A large number of men stayed up all night. Many people said that the decisive battle would not be tomorrow morning but the day after tomorrow. There would be a big war within a few days.
The men in Karelia no longer dare to have illusions, because those optimistic illusions have been completely shattered by a group of shadows approaching quickly after dawn!
The man on the lakeside saw the big ship and the weird triangular sail. Even though the distance was approaching, the huge blue lines on the sail were clearly visible!
The totem of the Russian people is two interlaced blue lines, which symbolizes the oars.
Ross means oar. This fleet, which once crossed the ocean to conquer Britain, suddenly appeared in the small lake Isotalva in the north of Lake Ladoga.
This incident completely overturned the cognition of most Karelia people. This was the first time they saw the true appearance of the invader. The strange thing is that many people did not feel fear, but lamented that the big ship must not be a mortal.
Made.
"Perhaps they are the apostles of the Lake God. We did not worship the God well and incurred God's punishment?" A priest made a seemingly reasonable speculation.
Aesailas is not that stupid. Even if he really blasphemed God and was punished, it would be worse than what he should be. The approaching attackers were either God's apostles or despicable foreigners!
He shouted in the camp and summoned the men to gather at the lakeside with spears, axes and shields.
Those terrifying large ships put an end to the Karelian people's thoughts of water warfare. They gathered on the lakeside and soon formed a black army. Their roars caused the world to rumble, and they seemed to be able to scare away the enemy with their momentum.
But in the eyes of all the Viking troops in the Russian army, this was the most classic Viking provocation.
"They are provoking you. I see that they have gathered a lot of people, and they are looking for death!" Yevro shouted to Rurik in the strong wind.
Rurik squinted his eyes and looked solemn. The gold-plated leather helmet had covered most of his face, and the whole person was also covered in chain mail reinforced with bronze sheets, making the whole person look glittering and noble. This kind of defense is indeed somewhat
Overdone.
Rurik remained calm and ordered: "Let the brothers prepare for battle. Your flag bearer will be on standby immediately."
"As you command, my lord."
More than 3,000 Karelia people have gathered at the lakeside. They are shivering in the coolness of the morning breeze. They are not cold, but fear, excitement, hesitation, and various emotions. Most of them are carrying
Regarding their own bows, when it comes to the equipment rate of long-range weapons, the Great Tribe of Karelia is really strong, even over the top. Unfortunately, their wooden bows are too bad. Even when hunting bears, they mostly play a supporting role and are fatal.
The blows all come from spears.
The Karelian army has the most equipment with spears and bows. They shoot arrows desperately and stab with spear holders. This is their magic weapon to win in battle. These tricks are often used by the Tavastians and Suomis at least in battles.
Cheap.
However, the Ross fleet suddenly dropped its spear, and Rurik relied on his intuition to determine that the flagship had moved into a suitable position.
The sails were adjusted to a suitable angle, and coupled with the ship's sailing inertia, the flagship quickly reached the port side to confront the enemy. The Avora entered the battle array, and soon all the battleships were in place.
Standing on the deck, Rurik could basically see his opponent's hair and face clearly. The distance between the two sides seemed to be 150 meters, which was enough.
The flagship communicated with the other ships through semaphores, conveying Rurik's personal wishes. The enemy was very strangely stationary. Instead, they formed a dense formation. This formation naturally took advantage of the group fighting. However, in the face of intensive attacks from long-range weapons, they could not help but
Are you just looking for death?!
Rurik felt that he had quietly stumbled upon a huge opportunity, so he ordered the flag signal to inform each ship of the last message: pay attention to the signal flag and shoot freely.
A black flag was quickly raised to the top of the flagpole. After all weapons were charged, the shooters all stared at the flagship.
When the black flag reached the top, each ship launched a bombardment in unison...