Jevro led his men in the wilderness to collect all kinds of arrows fired, and carefully checked every dead enemy. When encountering a dying guy, he directly hit them with a last hit.
During this process, the deceased actually had a large amount of silver coins stuffed in his pockets. The unusual situation made the brothers happy, but immediately made them suspicious.
Yevluo scolded several people who were trying to put silver coins into their pockets: "Don't be greedy, and don't break the rules."
The soldiers had no choice but to put all the silver coins they found in the same bag, and Jevlo would present them to the owner.
The battlefield is being cleaned, and some of the corpses have been dragged together, and the Ross soldiers are stacking them up.
After all, the enemy in the sneak attack is already dead. It would be a waste of time to burn him or bury him at sea. Rurik prides himself on not being a ruthless person, so he should build a Jingguan tomb for him.
Those attackers who were lucky enough to survive were in no worse condition.
They suffered serious skin injuries, and the early morning sun shone on their ugly and bruised faces, facing the disdainful onlookers of a large group of Russians. They actually don't care, they just want to die quickly and end the humiliation as soon as possible.
But Rurik really didn’t want to waste a group of laborers in vain.
He personally interrogated the prisoners and learned important information about Borgholm Fortress.
Just as he estimated, after yesterday's bloody battle, the will of the fortress defenders to resist almost collapsed, and no one even bothered to escape. It's like a knife on the neck of a fat sheep. The wound is not big, but the fat sheep still bleeds to death.
The corpses covering the gap were the fortress defenders’ lost will to resist!
The sun had already risen. Otto took a small boat lowered from the big ship and landed unsteadily, without any sea spray getting his boots wet.
Otto knew nothing about the battle at dawn. When he landed, he suddenly saw the victory after the battle.
When he saw a hill piled with corpses near the camp, he was shocked and trembled all over.
Otto subconsciously clenched the hilt of his sword and asked the soldiers gathered around him: "Hey! Who can tell me what happened?"
A moment later, Rurik, who was standing next to a group of captives bound by ropes, faced his father with a confident yet weird smile.
"It's unbelievable that the camp was attacked!"
Rurik replied calmly: "Yes."
"The results of it?"
"As you can see. We eliminated all the enemies without anyone being injured. We captured more than a hundred axes and swords, and even a large amount of silver coins."
"Are these the attackers?" Otto glanced at the tied people with contempt, like looking at slaughtered sheep, "Who are they? Oh, they must be from the fortress."
"They are Gotlanders."
"What? Gotlanders?! Why?"
"Dad, I asked for a lot of information. The people in Borgholm Fortress are all Saxons, and these Gotlanders are working as mercenaries for those people. Now listen to me..."
Saxon, this is really an unfamiliar term to Otto.
Many warriors participating in the battle spontaneously approached their leader, and their words were full of joy.
After listening to my son's introduction, the counterattack against the surprise attack was completed with short arrow shots. Although it was not as smooth as a close-quarters bloody battle, the efficiency of killing the enemy and the zero casualty rate of one's own side was nothing short of a beautiful victory. .
Otto listened to Rurik's explanation and fully understood yesterday's arrow support. The archer was blocked by the high wall and could not see the situation inside the castle, and the Gotland mercenaries who defended the city at that time paid a lot of effort. Big loss.
After a whole day of fighting, only a hundred or so of the five hundred Gotland mercenaries were left. They intended to sneak attack at dawn and seize the ship of the "obviously weaker" Russians to escape the battlefield, but they were easily killed. of annihilation.
When they found themselves exposed to the terrifying rain of arrows again, their last bit of will to fight basically collapsed.
Otto's deep eyes looked at the fortress not far away. Due to the low altitude of Oland Island, his eyesight was also good. Looking at the obvious gap in the fortress, the death warrior swords, axes and iron armor were all there. Reflecting the golden light of the sun.
"Ah! It seems that Olegin is going to win this year. The enemy has lost the will to resist."
Rurik also turned his head and looked at the fortress: "Olegin should try to persuade the opponent to surrender! If he can avoid fighting and force the opponent to surrender, he should try so. There is no point in continuing the battle, just like these twenty prisoners, I decided to spare their lives."
As soon as these words came out, the hope of survival suddenly appeared in the eyes of the mentally broken prisoner!
Otto looked at these hateful guys with contempt again and curled his lips to express his rejection.
"Why?"
"Because your uncle was killed by these Gotlanders. Don't think that they don't understand us. Our war with them cannot be easily ended. We still want revenge."
"But..." Rurik pointed at the mountains of corpses. "At least too many enemies have died here. Maybe we should hold off on revenge. These men can work for us as slaves."
"Slave? At least not now." Otto's heart was as hard as a rock: "You don't need mercy now, not at all. They must die."
"No! I object. They can go logging and do many things."
"You don't want to do it? Then I'll help you."
"No. If they must die, we don't have to do it ourselves. Give them to Olegin and let that guy do it."
Otto sighed deeply: "I think you just don't want your hands to be stained with blood. No matter what, someone will help you do it. Rurik, remember, your kindness is always good, but this We don't need any prisoners in this battle. You should imagine how many people would be killed by the brothers if they were a little lazy? Today I will teach you that a man must be as ruthless as an iron ingot."
After hearing this, Rurik grinned and couldn't say anything.
The simple act of killing prisoners made Rurik, who had received another kind of education, feel it was a shameful thing, but for the typical Vikings around him, everyone's thoughts were very simple. Revenge is revenge, and things should be done simply.
Someone needs to kill these guys who have become useless after handing over the information. Otto pointed at the two boys with a clear target: "Kanulf, Fisk. Your boss can't bear to do it himself, now you go ahead!"
At least Kanuf hesitated, while Fisk walked right into Otto.
Otto casually threw a dagger to the boy: "Now avenge your father who died in the battle."
The short sword was stuck in the ground, but Fisk calmly took off the sword on his back. He quickly held a long sword in his hand: "Big boss, this is my father's sword, and now I want to use it for revenge."
“Great, do it!”
Fisk was extremely proactive, but Kanuf's timidity made Otto worried. The new generation of the Ross tribe must be brave. Otto can say that Harold Johnson has never been timid or hesitant when fighting. Why is his youngest son timid?
Twenty prisoners had their eyes covered with cloth strips and were assassinated by Fisk one after another. The Ross soldiers and mercenary soldiers who were watching were all applauding. But this horrific scene left all the Corvin warriors from the Gray Squirrel Tribe in Ironburg speechless.
Rurik really didn't want to say anything, so he simply stopped watching the execution. But hearing the soldiers' wanton shouting, they obviously had no compassion, or in other words, it was unnecessary, and their kindness had become alien.
But Rurik still rushed over and kicked away Fisk who was about to stab his sword again. "That's enough! Spare his life for the last guy. Let's take the prisoners and tell Olegin the details of the enemy."
The red-eyed bald Fisk couldn't listen to Rurik's words at all. He wanted to continue killing, but Rurik immediately tightened his grip on the hilt of the sword.
"Then let's stop here!" Otto yelled, as if everything was over.
At this moment, Rurik, who was still holding the sharp sword with a bloodstained blade, sat cross-legged on the ground, feeling really unhappy about what he was thinking.
Because there is a principled issue here, that is, he is clearly a "battlefield commander" who was given power by his father. Why does he no longer have power?
He bared his teeth and faced Otto in a commanding tone: "Next time if something like this happens, you must listen to my opinion. In my opinion, the constant use of force will only make the Gotlanders completely fall to Denmark. People, since we were allies, we should find a way to bring them back. I don’t want the Gotlanders to be killed, we should recognize their submission, at least let them be slaves, but kill them.”
Otto didn't change his expression: "I expected you to have such an idea. The Gotlanders are different. They killed my brother, and I will take revenge for the rest of my life. If your cousin was here, he would not care. Hesitant to take action. Look, your Fisk is so decisive. This kid will also be a strong soldier of my Ross in the future. You should be happy."
"That's all. I hope that Gotland can surrender to us, pay us tribute every year, and cede the northern sea area of the island as our fishing ground. Instead of completely wiping them out, this is the biggest problem between us and the Malaren people. Different, we are not and should not be pirates, we are the Principality of Rus. Under my rule, I want the Gotlanders to kneel in front of me and swear allegiance. I don’t want to face a lot of bones. So, Dad, I must be sure one thing."
"What's the matter?"
"If I am the military commander in a normal battle, I should have enough power. It is also my power to deal with prisoners."
"Huh?" Otto suddenly realized, "You mean, I did something wrong?"
"Future battles are all at my disposal. I can do everything well. No one is allowed to kill any prisoners they capture without my permission."
Otto neither approved nor refused. He said nothing and looked at the fortress with a deep gaze, as if he had acquiesced.
The last prisoner was tied up more tightly, and he was led closer to the main camp of the Melalen Army (in the end, he was taken away and chopped down by Karl).
The Russian army came with their crossbows, and Otto also offered the prisoner of war. The appearance of the prisoners of war really surprised Olegin, and he learned a lot of information about the fortress.
The Dukes present are preparing for a big battle for a while, but the battle may not start.
Olegin decided to put on his armor and take his followers to persuade him to surrender in person. If he succeeded, the fortress would be conquered today.
No one realized that the Russians easily defeated the enemy's sneak attack. Everyone's focus was on the empty situation inside the enemy. Suddenly, everyone had great hopes for the success of persuading them to surrender.
The soldiers of the Swedish army all woke up. They moved their stiff bodies and ate boring dried fish to satisfy their hunger. Many of them fantasized about hunting some wild deer for tusking ceremony, but on this bare island, they probably only hunted a few rabbits at most.
After yesterday's bloody battle, the soldiers who were once in shock felt much better after a night's rest. After eating, avenging the brothers who died in the battle became the purpose of everyone's fighting, although Fort Borgholm was only a temporary stronghold to be attacked.
Olegin was full of confidence. He looked at the Dukes: "Let me reiterate to you, I hope those Saxons, oh, it seems to be the name. As long as those Saxons surrender to us, they will no longer be enemies. They Fight for me and attack Kalma, and we will spare their lives. But their wealth must be used to redeem their lives, and your tribes do not have to worry about not getting money or food."
A still large army was assembled. They gathered on the beach to the north of the fortress. Facing the gap covered by corpses, they did not launch a fatal blow.
However, there was already a wailing inside the Borgholm Fortress. A shirtless blond man was preparing to die generously under the sad gaze of his tribe.
Stein Saxon, carrying his ancestral bronze dagger, did not even bring a single entourage, and wanted to sign a city alliance with the enemy.
At this moment, Olegin only brought a dozen followers with him and walked swaggeringly towards the gap.
I saw a bare-backed man standing on the pile of gray corpses in the gap. He raised his hands and the dagger, and shouted as he walked: "I am the leader, and I want to see your leader!"
Stein quickly noticed Olegin, who was dressed compactly and arrogantly. Because Olegin had a few dye-dyed feathers on his helmet, he looked extremely noble.
Stein walked cautiously, and when he saw the black-clothed warriors on guard, he stepped closer.
Olegin raised his hand and told his men to relax: "Don't be stupid. This man has been scared out of his wits. He is not hostile at all."
He held his waist and stood arrogantly. When the shirtless man got close enough, he shouted sharply: "Are you a Saxon? Are you the leader of the fortress?"
Stein was taken aback and calmly replied: "Yes."
"Put down your weapons and kneel down! Crawl up to me like a dog!"
Stein felt humiliated by having a warrior kneel down as a hunting dog, but he had no choice. He knelt down, pulled out the well-maintained bronze sword, and stuck it in the mud.
Olegin could see at a glance that the sword was unusual, "Wait a minute! Hold your sword and crawl in front of me!"
Stein had no choice but to do so, and he knelt down holding his sword, but Olegin finally snatched it away.
"What a strange sword, actually made of bronze. It is indeed a treasure."
Stein immediately said: "I am Stein, the leader of the Saxons in Borgholm, and I ask the Lord of the North to spare our lives. You can take away our wealth, but please spare the lives of my people." .If you are kind enough, we will be loyal to you..."
Seeing this surrendered man and the sword in his hand, Olegin was overjoyed.
He deliberately said: "I am the King of Sweden, what you call the Lord of the North. I know you are Saxons, and you surrender to Denmark. This is your sin! Anyone who surrenders to Denmark is my enemy, but you With such sincere surrender, I can promise you that your life and that of your people will be protected.”
"Merciful King, thank you..."
"But." Olegin said sharply: "I can make you a duke under me. Before that, you must prove your loyalty with actions. Those Gotland mercenaries escaped, you know? Those guys were all captured I kill easily. At least your wooden wall made me pay, my warriors are very angry, you need to spend enough wealth to quell their anger!"
Stein had long expected that this would happen. In a situation where people were at odds with each other, he had no choice but to agree. "Yes! I am willing to spend all my wealth to redeem my people's lives."
"Not only that! I will attack Kalmar, I will attack you simply because you are an obstacle. You are not Gotlanders, and you are not Danes. I want you to organize an army to fight for me. You can only kill enough Danes." , to prove true loyalty.”
To be honest, Stein did not want to be enemies with the Danes. After all, he was close enough to the Danish forces and far away from Lake Mälaren in the north. The price of trying not to offend both sides is to offend both sides. He found that he did not even have the power to choose sides. In order to survive for his tribe, he had to stand in the Swedish camp.
"Yes! I will organize soldiers to fight for you."
"Okay!" Olegin was indeed one generation older than Stein. He stroked this man's head and promised: "Let your people come out without any weapons, young and old. Don't worry, God is watching. With us, I swear on the honor of the king that I will fulfill my promise. Let them come out, otherwise when my people rush in, they will kill those who have not come out as enemies. "
The Saxons had no choice at all. Stein was put back, and after a while, people began to carefully step on the corpse and leave through the gap. They were indeed bare-handed and didn't even bring anything to eat. Men, women and children gathered together and sat on the ground waiting for their unknown fate.
Stein himself, still shirtless, cautiously asked Olegin what would happen next.
"Let your people sit still and don't think about escaping. I will restrain my men not to attack your people, and you will restrain your men not to do stupid things. Anyone who dares to disobey my orders will be killed. I will send My elite warriors protect you, but this fortress is mine now."
Protect? It is indeed protection, but it is also surveillance.
After the war, as many as 1,800 men, women, and children from the fortress evacuated. They did pay a heavy price in the bloody battle, but the core of the tribe did not collapse. They simply lost their fighting spirit due to the bloody battle, but in fact they still had the strength to fight even if they risked their lives.
Olegin really didn't expect that the so-called persuasion to surrender turned into the enemy's begging for surrender. Both sides were interested in making peace, so the truce naturally hit it off.
As the king of Sweden, he arrogantly led the team towards the gap, and covered his mouth when he saw a large number of corpses from close range.
"Damn it, the money and food are all in the fortress. These people who died in the battle...Brothers, take away the bodies, put them on the boat, push them into the sea and burn them! May their souls rest in peace in the underworld..."
The corpses were cleared one by one, and each tribe began to claim the corpses of their own people and bury them in their own way. Nothing was more important than looting the empty fortress.
At this point, the three-day war at Borgholm Fortress ended with the surrender of the garrison survivors.
In terms of military strength alone, due to the addition of a group of Saxons, the strength of the Swedish army increased, and Olegin regained the confidence to attack Kalmar. Because the Voskars servants, the Saxon surrenderers, and even the few surviving Danish mercenaries, all three parties claimed that the settlement of Kalmar did not have a large-scale wall.
Without the damn difficult wall, the biggest worry of Olegin and the Swedish army disappeared.
