The three large ships raised their sails and drifted towards the Western Baltic Sea. There was no need for any camouflage. The flags of the three ships were very clear, all with white background and blue stripes.
Ragnar finally got a big ship at his disposal, so the Russian ships were no longer mysterious, just because he was now standing in the position of the Russians. No, even his own clothes were Russian-style.
He named the two ships "Stonewall" and "Ring" respectively, one after his tribe and the other after his father.
The wooden strips are coated with chalk powder and then a layer of pine gum is applied. As long as it takes a little longer, the white color will become stable and a solid film will be formed on the surface of the wooden strips.
The bows of the two ships have the names of the ships and their specific hull numbers spelled out with white wooden strips. They are not Ragnar's ships, and this group of exiles only have permission to use them.
However, after obtaining this treasure, Ragnar did not want to become a murderous pirate. Even if he attacked the King of Denmark, he had to pay attention to targeted attacks.
The three ships passed Tombstone Island for supplies, and the next stop was Saaremaa Island.
To the west is the Western Baltic Sea and to the south is the Gulf of Riga.
Regarding the fact that the Rus Principality planted a flag on the island to declare its rule, the surrounding tribes of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania have already learned about it.
Rus? Not another Vikings?
The poor alliance of three tribes did not have the ability to make ocean-going paddle boats. At most, they only had a few brave men who carried sampans and floated to the island.
Especially among the Estonian tribes, as many as twenty tribes formed a loose alliance and were not tied to each other. They were self-contained groups and their knowledge of the outside world was really limited.
At least they figured out one thing. Regarding the outsiders who occupied Saaremaa Island, they were Rus. About the oarsmen who attacked the tribes on the Killing Sea Coast many years ago, they were also Rus.
Time has erased a lot of things, and the attack seems to have happened ten years ago. Those Estonians who recently drifted to Saaremaa Island, they learned about Ross from the locals, but it was a different look.
For the various tribes in Estonia, the Rus are still a mysterious existence, and they have no intention of sending official envoys to represent everyone to break the alliance.
A small group of Estonians have long since left their own tribe and become fishermen and pirates on Saaremaa Island. Now the brothers have returned to Russia, and everyone is looking forward to carrying out robberies at sea in the new year.
A deep bay on Saaremaa Island was designated as an anchorage, and three ships anchored there.
This island welcomes their Earl—Lord Siputu!
"Daddy!" A toddler greeted his little hand with a smile on his face.
That was the one-year-old son of Si Puyou District. He took over his cub and kissed and gnawed it.
The people welcomed their count to land, and as soon as he landed on the island, everyone asked when the fleet would set out for robbery.
Another group of people disembarking also attracted everyone's attention. Ragnar, the leader, was a Danish nobleman, which surprised everyone.
Danish nobles? He and his men were clearly wearing Russian-style shirts! They were also holding Russian crossbows.
Some people speculated that these Danes were mercenaries of the Prince of Rus.
It was Spyot, Tralan explained, and Ragnar showed up to explain, and he was strangled to death in the cradle by misunderstanding.
We were ordered to join forces to rob. No matter where the brothers came from, we are all royal pirates of the Principality of Ross.
Now is indeed a good time to open the sea for robbery.
Saaremaa Island has become a fortress. The fortress is as solid as a turtle shell, which gives the pirates an absolute sense of security and makes them willing to do things extremely well.
The three ships unloaded a large amount of supplies, and a group of ragged guys quickly changed into uniforms, the so-called white robes with blue stitching, and tailored shirts made of white and blue linen mixed fabric worn inside.
The latter is the so-called sea soul shirt.
Why are they Royal Pirates? Their essence is still the Navy of the Principality of Ross, so at least their attire must be standardized.
Everyone's mental outlook has changed drastically due to this, and their ambitions have further expanded.
They ate and drank in the fortress, and then gathered together to discuss plans.
Someone shouted loudly: "We will seize the Danish ship, and we will also seize Bernholm. Let's focus on seizing Bernholm!"
As soon as this person said this, everyone started to cheer. Seeing this grand occasion, Spuyote raised his glass and shouted a victory slogan.
Ragnar laughed, but he had no intention of doing so.
Siputu is the master of the island, and he has the right to decide who will be killed first this year.
He slapped his thighs vigorously: "Quiet, everyone, listen to me now. Seeing how enthusiastic you are, we will chase after the fishing boats of the Bernholm people and beat them hard. Anyway, they are servants of the Danes, so we will continue to attack them."
!”
At least there is no risk in the crusade against Bornholm Island. We have attacked it many times in the past. If we continue to do it this time, if we can lure the main Danish force out, with the combat power of three large ships, it will not be a random killing?
Spyot nudged Ragnar: "Now, listen to what our Danish lord has to say."
Upon hearing "Lord of Denmark", all the enthusiastic people shut up. Indeed, they had been shouting about killing the Danes, but a real Dane was sitting here, and it was obviously inappropriate to say those words.
"What can I say?" Ragnar smiled bitterly: "I thought you pirates would really go to trouble the King of Denmark, but I didn't expect you would attack the weak instead."
"Are you mocking us?" a drunk guy muttered.
Of course Ragnar refused: "I just look down on you! Do you think that killing the Danes is considered powerful? If you really fight against the Danish King's army, what chance do you pirates have of winning? If you don't use crossbows and big ships, look at you
A bunch of weak guys can only be defeated."
These irritating words made everyone feel uncomfortable, but if the wise people thought about it carefully, I am afraid that what Chief Ragnar said might have some truth to it.
There are still brave people who do not believe in evil: "You are Danes, why don't you make gestures with us?"
"You? You are so thin." Ragna would not even look at this person, and this was a huge provocation.
The islanders are also lacking in fun, especially after they have been holding back all winter. Apart from being busy giving birth, what else can they do to express their power?
Under the influence of alcohol, a group of islanders wanted to compete with Ragnar's men, a so-called group fight with bare hands, to see who could surrender first.
Things have become like this, and Spyot is unwilling to stop it. He needs to let the islanders truly understand the ferocity of real Danish warriors.
The two sides really got into a fight under the influence of alcohol, and the result was obvious. The islanders who took the lead in booing were all knocked down with fists, and they announced their surrender one after another.
Thanks to this group fight, Ragnar proved the strength of the real Danes with his fists. So what was the reason for the Danes' successive defeats before? Just because the Russian ships were strong? This is one reason, and he also cares about the real old Russians.
Stronger than the Danish warriors.
The islanders were convinced, and then they were willing to calm down and listen to Ragnar's attitude again.
"I have a close relationship with the Prince of Rus, and I have broken away from any relationship with the King of Denmark! Brothers, find out your enemies. You must rob in a planned way, don't rob randomly. For example, the people of Bernholm obviously
It’s someone you can win over…”
When Ragnar said these words, Spyot couldn't sit still anymore: "Wait a minute, you are saying good things to the guy on that island."
"Not a good word."
"that is."
Ragnar frowned and shook his head: "As far as I know, the people of Bernholm are not loyal to that Horik. Horik is the dog raised by the Frankish Kingdom. The Denmark under this man's rule is to be given to the Franks."
I was a slave. I opposed him and I was attacked and many people were killed. I think the people of Bernholm also rejected that man's rule. I also know that at least five lords left with their own people.
"
"You mean Bernholm has seceded from Denmark?" Spyot asked.
"Maybe. I don't know, but I don't want to see you robbing them. They are the ones you can win over. I think the prince is here and he will agree with me."
What Ragnar said was not convincing. Since he said it could be pulled, why not let him try?
The first big target that the pirate fleet encounters heading west must be Bernholm. The locals are indeed not Danish. At this time, Count Spyot has the highest decision-making power, and Ragnar also has discretion.
.
Rurik appointed two royal pirate gangs, and it was up to them whether they moved freely or worked together as a joint venture.
After all, Si Puyot is a famous explorer who can drink spirits with the prince. It would be too cheap to become a pirate with the people of this island.
He knows that the kingdom likes the surrender of ethnic groups outside the region, and uses this method to expand its sphere of influence. If the people of Bernholm dedicated their island to it, wouldn't he have done a great job?
"Ragnar," he said.
"I am here."
"You can try it."
"What are you trying to do? Get Bernholm to ally with us? Let us go further west without worries?"
Spyot shook his head: "No. I want you to try to persuade them to surrender. Aren't you very confident? You should handle this matter yourself. I..." He deliberately looked into Ragna's eyes again: "I believe it.
You are a real man."
Ragnar hated people most in his life for saying that he was not a man. His fists were still aching, but when faced with doubts, this was something that could not be solved with fists.
"Okay! Let's rush to that sea area, and I will try to land on the island and chat with the locals."
Ragnar's appearance today has accomplished one thing, which is to point out the differences between the Danes and the Danes, as well as the tangled attitude of the Prince of Rus towards the Kingdom of Denmark. The so-called kingdom originally wanted to end the endless hostility, but it just
Some stupid Danish lords are looking for trouble in the north.
Now that we have a target, the fleet sets off.
Ragnar's previous assertion that "Russ's advantage is based on ships and crossbows", first of all, he believed in it. Because his current identity is the mercenary of the Prince of Rus, the fact that he dresses and operates large ships proves it.
everything.
The three ships formed a column and rushed toward the target sea area with great swagger.
Sure enough, a fishing boat appeared in front, and the boat was running for its life.
All three ships communicated in semaphores, and Ragnar's men used some of the knowledge they learned at Fort New Rose.
After discovering the target, the big ship Salmon Chief was running wildly, but Ragnar's Stonewall flashed its semaphore.
"Boss, the Danes asked us not to attack," the boatswain shouted.
Siputu's hands were itching to take action, and he could only bar his teeth when he saw this: "Just do what he wants. Let's rush over and intercept the fishing boat!"
If it were to attack, the side torsion slingshot would fire a salvo, and the fishing boat would leak and sink.
The Salmon Chief passed by, and a high speed maneuver crossed in front of the fishing boat. A slight collision occurred, and the shivering fishermen found themselves unable to retreat.
After this, two boats also surrounded him, and the fishing boat had no chance to escape.
The fishermen had no choice but to surrender and demanded the herring they caught in exchange for their lives.
"Exchange your life? Fortunately, people of Bornholm, you won't die today." Spuot said this with disdain in his heart.
The three ships approached each other, and Ragnar put down the planks and boarded the largest ship, where he also saw three prisoners.
He opened his mouth and said: "Are you islanders? What is your attitude towards the Danes?"
The captives were busy begging for mercy, and were deeply puzzled to hear such words from a Russian.
"Do you islanders submit to the King of Denmark?"
He asked this, and the prisoner's mouth trembled, claiming that he had nothing to do with Denmark.
Ragnar shrugged and looked at Spyot again: "Look, I just said that they have nothing to do with the King of Denmark."
"Are you kidding? They were all frightened and naturally followed your words."
"Maybe."
After that, Ragnar revealed his identity: "Fisherman! You don't know me. Let me tell you, I am Ragnar, the famous woolen pants of the Danish Stonewall tribe. My father is Sigurd the Ring. When I was fifteen years old, I
Even when I chopped off the heads of the two lords, it was I who chopped off the head of the leader Svealan."
Then a fisherman suddenly realized: "Ah! You! The beheaded Ragnar? That's you? It was you who beheaded King Svealan?!"
"Yes, it's me."
"Then you... you are obviously a Dane and a noble. We all heard from people who fled to the island that your Stonewall tribe was killed by Horik. You are still alive?"
"Absurd! Look around me, we are obviously alive. We have formed an alliance with Ross to counterattack Horik. Wait! Are there any escapees on the island?"
Feeling that they had found a life-saving straw, the fishermen knew that their value lay in the information they had. They were smart people, so they volunteered: "We are very useful. If you want to have some exchanges with the island leaders, we can serve as guides."
"
"Very good!" Ragnar slapped his thigh: "What I'm waiting for is your words. I want to meet the nobles on the island in person, especially the exiles."
From Ragnar's point of view, he has always had his own opinions. Although he is now a pirate for the Prince of Rus, Rurik has already made it clear that he will support him in competing to be the new king of Denmark.
Become the new king of Denmark, change the anxious situation in the north, and unite everyone's strength to fight back against the Franks!
Ragnar had deep exchanges with Rurik, and believed that Rurik was busy conquering the East and only had a strong desire for trade with Denmark, which was full of martial virtue.
He didn't really want to rob, but he was using the might of the Russians to recruit troops. He wanted to build an anti-King Horik army, intending to wipe out the Frankish forces in Jutland and surrounding islands, including their lackeys.
.
Then there are a large number of people on Bernholm Island, so they are the ones who should be attracted most.
Three ships towed the captured fishing boats and approached the island. This move scared the islanders into thinking that the Russians were about to land and fight.
Are the Russians already so arrogant? Are they finally going to land and kill?
Nowadays, the island with more than 10,000 people is mainly due to the endless harassment of the Russians. The angry fishermen who make a living are forced to immigrate to the north or enter Denmark. They rush to the southern tip of Scandinavia in large numbers.
to large settlements such as Silver Castle, or directly to Oslo and Bergen.
Even though a group of Danish exiles have arrived, the population has plummeted to just over 6,000 people.
This number is not small in this era, but the reappearance of the Russian pirate ship really made the fishermen furious.
Various families, communities, and exiled tribes spontaneously organized manpower, and a thousand warriors were gathered and rushed to the beach.
Ragnar only had two of his subordinates accompanying him. Three boats anchored offshore, and the three of them took the fishermen's boats and drifted to the island.
Before setting off, Ragnar also said that if he did not return for three days, it meant that the islanders had taken action. Then, as a complete commander, Spyot would directly attack the locals' ports and frantically destroy their livelihoods.
paddle boats and further blockade.
He was gambling with his life, even though he saw a shield wall of bucklers appearing on the coast.