The Aurora adjusted its course slightly and headed directly for the crescent-shaped bay where Visby was sitting.
Looking at the five fishing boats, it was obvious that something was wrong. They began to move desperately towards the port area, but their speed could not match the Avora.
The situation in front of them was suddenly beyond everyone's expectations. There were more than just a few ships moored in the port area!
"Most of the old ships have been destroyed. These ships are foreign. If they are allies of Mellaren, they will not be afraid of us." Rurik muttered to himself.
Jevro asked in real time: "Sir, do you want to show our flag?"
"No! They are allies, so they know our big ships. Damn it, those ships..."
"A large number of enemies have occupied this place?" Biyongni asked eagerly.
"It seems so. We may face many enemies. I think I should adjust. I am not afraid of them. It's just that fighting a large number of ships is not part of our plan. I only want to hunt lone ships."
"That won't work, listen to my opinion!" Biyongni said something that Rurik could not refute.
The so-called letting the Avora participate in the battle, at least one against ten, allows the Balmoks to see how powerful the "Ross Battleship" is, so as to make the sale of the ship smoother.
So, an unplanned "attack with less" became a major opportunity for Rurik to demonstrate the quality of his products to customers? Why not do it?
The Aurora is just "killing a lot with a small amount". In essence, it is like a tabby cat facing a bunch of mice. No matter how many mice there are, the tabby cat will still kill them one by one.
Rurik did not want to expose himself during this trip, so the ship was replaced with a brand new sail, thus losing the iconic blue cross stripes of the Russians.
However, he ignored one extremely obvious thing!
Looking at the entire Baltic Sea, whose ships use Latin triangle sails? Not only that, whose ship is a behemoth?
As the fishing boat rushed towards the coast, the people on board thought of those terrible legends.
These people were indeed all Danes, and they came prepared. More than three hundred people followed the direct orders of their leader, Hafgen, and entered Gotland to verify the truth of those legends.
Did Gotland, which exports wool, leather and dairy products to Denmark, really suffer a war disaster? If true, how many islanders survived? What is the situation in Visby, the largest settlement?
After they landed on Gotland, they immediately encountered the Mellaren people who had stayed behind. The Danes thought they were friends, but were the first to be attacked by the Mellarens. With absolute superiority in military strength, the Danish army achieved victory. There was no glory in this victory. The Danes stood on the ruins of Visby and climbed the slopes in the subsequent search. The stench filled the air was nauseating, while vultures and gulls flew in the sky. Finally, they saw the most terrifying scene - a wilderness filled with rotten corpses in an extreme state.
The entire island of Gotland seemed to have been attacked by monsters overflowing from the underworld. After seeing the corpses everywhere, the ruins of Visby were considered acceptable by the Danes.
The island was dead, and some captured Mälarens claimed it as territory of the Kingdom of Sweden before being executed.
The Danes did not hesitate to identify the large-scale war launched by the northern Svealand Alliance last year, including the massacre of Gotland.
But this is very different from what the small number of Gotland refugees who fled madly to Bornholm Island said.
It was the Rus who started the war, and they had big ships? The ships were all strange triangular sails.
Because the captured Malaren people claimed that Rus was also part of Sweden, these Danish armed explorers under the orders of Lord Hafgen? They boasted that they had the correct answer for this trip.
The Danes have put the return home on the agenda? After all, as the temperature continues to rise, the stench of corpses from the horrific battlefield not far away will continue to permeate Visby. The stench is a terrifying curse? Anyone who stays here will People will definitely die suddenly from sudden illness.
Unexpectedly? A large ship with a triangular sail suddenly rushed over.
Rurik has completely exposed his identity - the comer! Russians!
"They are running away like crazy! How stupid. Yevlo! Are you okay?" Rurik yelled from the bow of the ship.
"Almost ready!"
"Adjust to 200 stikas and try your luck!"
"As you command!"
All ten bull trebuchets were carried to the bow deck, and they were densely arranged to form a launch matrix. Due to the obstacles caused by the space for tying ropes in the bow, and the fixed-position torsion slingshots installed on the sides of the bow? The space in the bow is still too tight.
Seeing that his men were basically ready, Rurik gave the order to fire.
The trebuchets were arranged in a three-four-three formation, and the launch was also divided into three waves.
How effective can ten fist-sized pebbles be? Rurik hoped that all ten stones would hit, but unfortunately, the distance was too far.
"You're not accurate!" yelled the anxious Biyongni.
"I know!" Rurik turned his head and roared, and urgently ordered Yevro to reduce the torque slightly.
How far can a trebuchet throw stones? The adjustment mechanism is the ratchet that controls the downward pressure of the torsion lever.
"Keep firing! Hurry!" Rurik ordered again. He bared his teeth and muttered in his mind: "I don't believe it? After ten consecutive rounds, not a single one is successful."
Sorry, the reality is very realistic, there really is no hit.
However, the unlucky fishing boat was already completely within the range of the trebuchet. In the previous round of shooting, rocks splashed around the boat. The nearest impact point of the rock was less than two meters away from the rowers.
"Continue! Let's continue the pursuit! Prepare the torque slingshot!"
Rurik almost gave up the trebuchet to hit the moving target. It seemed that this new weapon was used in naval warfare. In the absence of the most basic "fire control calculation method", it was launched completely based on feeling. It would be a miracle to hit even one.
Biyonyi roared: "Rurik, let your big ship rush up! We are sailing very fast, and the wind is strong against me, and I will sink their ship!"
Rurik didn't talk nonsense. He ordered the third round of shooting. This was considered the third tenth company. If he didn't hit, it would be too bad.
It was as if God responded to Rurik's words.
There were only ten people on board the enemy ship that was used as a target. They were frightened by the sudden rocks. For a moment, they couldn't understand why rocks fell from the clear sky. They paddled frantically, and noticed that the brothers on the shore were on guard. Look at those people, they were already running towards the ship. The so-called trend was to attack the incoming large ship.
The stone came again, quietly.
A Danish rower with a disheveled head was hit in the head and was ejected on the spot. The scene was extremely terrifying!
Only two stones hit, one killing the enemy and the other piercing the ship's sail. The deceased was pushed into the water urgently. The remaining people paddled harder, but unfortunately the escape route was ended.
What are the hydrological conditions like offshore Visby? After all, the Russians had fought in this area. What's even more amazing is that last year, the Avora defeated the Visby escape fleet in this area of water with almost the strength of the ship. Some of the sailors on the ship at that time are now Standing here again.
Everything is like history repeating itself. One year later, the more powerful Avora comes again!
The wide sails blew the Aurora wildly, and she was riding the waves. The battle distance is less than fifty meters, it's time for the torque slingshot and crossbow to show off!
With a deft left full rudder, the Aurora turned sharply. She faced the enemy on one side, and a variety of long-range firepower mercilessly unleashed a volley on the people on board!
There were as many as five cone-headed cast-iron bullets specially designed for destroying ships, and they all hit, immediately creating two large leaky holes in the enemy ship.
The enemies on the ship were hit by arrows again, and in the end only two helpless people were left. They saw the big ship adjusting its course again, walking in an arc, and the bow of the ship slid sideways and rushed over.
After the Aurora fired a salvo, it suddenly turned its rudder to starboard. Rurik himself only held on to the ship's railing to avoid being thrown out.
The bow of the big ship was squeezed by the angle. She squeezed the side of the enemy ship at a tilted angle, and with her astonishing size, she forced the enemy ship into the water. Those two helpless people, just as they jumped into the sea to survive, they were smashed to pieces by the hard and thick bottom of the Aurora, and became fish feed...
"It's really hard work, and I finally defeated an enemy." The Avora tended to resume its steady sailing, and Rurik held on to the railing and couldn't help but breathe.
Biyongni and Floki, both brothers, were holding on to the side railings and looking at the enemy ship that had been smashed into wreckage, their eyes widened with emotion.
Rurik bowed slightly again, turned around and screamed at the Yongni brothers: "You all, be careful! A large enemy force has appeared! Stay away from the side of the ship and put on your helmets! We are going to fight them!"
Almost all the Danes on the shore were dispatched. They boarded ten more longships and bravely rushed towards the deadly bow of the Aurora with a variety of weapons. Seeing the momentum of the friendly forces, the other fleeing ships immediately changed their course.
Everyone aboard the Avrora was a warrior, and now even all the Balmoks were ordered to take up steel-armed crossbows.
Rurik was confident in his large ships, but it was always good to be cautious on the battlefield. Under special circumstances, any "crossbow restrictions" imposed on the Balmoks would weaken their own combat effectiveness, and there was no longer any hesitation.
He himself also wore a helmet, which must have been a very ordinary, typical Viking ball-top iron helmet that covered half of his face. He was dressed in an unassuming way, hoping that he would not become the target of public criticism on the battlefield. The crossbow he held in his hand turned him into a deadly warrior.
One against fourteen?
Who is the ultimate winner?
In fact, until now, neither side of the battle is completely sure of the identity of the other party. Since both sides are hostile to each other, there is no need for any reason to fight, not even the minimum verbal negotiation is necessary.
Those long paddle boats where paddlers can touch the cold water directly!
But on the Aurora, the so-called middle deck of the ship is closest to the waterline, and the height of the side railings is also as high as three meters.
These Danes who were ordered were all tribal warriors of the Danish leader Hafgen. Every man was a ruthless figure on the battlefield, one against ten.
Unfortunately, it was not personal bravery that determined victory in this battle.
The menacing Danes imagined that after arriving at the opponent's ship, they could climb directly onto the ship with the strength of their hands and feet, seize the ship and sail back. Wouldn't it be the best gift to the leader Hafgen? Unfortunately, when they saw the true appearance of the big ship, they knew the danger was coming.
Rurik roared again: "Hold on to the wood! Hold on to the rope! Welcome the collision!"
The bronze-clad bow of the Aurora was a battering ram that could break down the city wall. This convex weapon directly knocked down the bow of the enemy ship, and then the entire hard bow of the Aurora was The keel directly rode on the enemy ship, and everyone on it was crushed into minced meat, and even the sails and masts were completely broken.
Just like a heavy cavalry confronting a group of light cavalry, or a King Tiger colliding with fourteen T26s, the result is obvious. In the first round of confrontation, the Aurora literally crushed an enemy ship, and the battle had just begun.
When they realized what terror was, the Danes suddenly lost more than half of their courage. Some ships faltered, while others prepared to put up another fight.
However, before the Aurora turned around, the Danes were given the emergency response by various ammunition fired from the big ship.
Thanks to the excellent weather, Rurik placed the heavy steel-arm crossbow on the side railing. He pulled the trigger in time with the swing of the ship. After a strong recoil and trembling, a heavy head The crossbow arrow hit the head of an oarsman on an enemy ship about forty meters away.
With nothing more than torsion slingshots and crossbow shots, the two Danish longships stopped moving and began to sink.
The big ship finished adjusting its direction, and the huge triangle sail used the wind force flexibly. She chased an enemy ship with great force, and once again tore the ship and the people into wreckage.
Following this strong momentum, another enemy ship was blocked and smashed into two pieces.
The Danes are paying a terrible price for their recklessness. Still in the same sea area, the Avora is reenacting the unparalleled killings a year ago.
There was no suspense in the ensuing battle. The Biyoni brothers and all the Balmoks also had sullen faces and kept manipulating the crossbows to shoot, accurately killing one enemy after another. The heavy weapons of the Russians gave the enemy fatal finishing blows, so-called digging a big hole and letting them sink.
If the battle started from the time when the two sides collided with each other, it lasted for about half an hour and still did not end. During this long time, the Avora was actually adjusting its course most of the time. The truly fatal battle took place in a very short period of time. It was precisely during this brief period of contact that the Avora frequently launched fatal attacks.
This is what real combat is all about. Seizing the opportunity means chasing down the enemy and fighting fiercely. Rurik would never and could not give his enemies a chance to fight with him.
Since the melee, there are a lot of debris floating on the sea, as well as some sail fragments. Some people who were still alive after falling into the water were holding driftwood and wailing. Unfortunately, instead of saving them, Arik ordered the attack to continue.
Biyoni never understood why his Rurik brothers arranged some extremely long spears under the side railings of the ship's deck. It turned out that their purpose was...
The sailor skillfully held the spear and stabbed the enemy in the water. Some of Rurik's men also installed the cheapest bone-cluster crossbows without tail fins on their crossbows to accurately shoot those who fell into the water.
Then the last two enemy ships arrived and they were about to escape back to the coast.
"Don't let them go, but leave one alive!" Rurik issued the final battle order.
Everything was under his control, and the performance of the Aurora was very outstanding and normal. A total of thirteen ships turned into pieces of driftwood on the sea, and a large number of dead bodies were dragged by water-absorbed clothes and armor. Falling directly to the bottom of the sea.
The last two enemy ships were destroyed, and the people who fell into the water were chased and beaten. Only one person who fell into the water grabbed the rope that seemed to be a lifeline.
An unlucky man was rescued. He became the first Dane to board the Aurora, but he was also destined to die.
This person was first beaten and kicked by Rurik's indulgent men. When he was beaten to death, Rurik arrogantly asked about their origins.
"Who are you? You all seem to be enemies. Are you the remnants of Gotland? Or the Danes? Or..."
A man with his hands and feet tied and covered with bruises, he hesitated and claimed to be a Dane. As for the significance of his appearance in the ruins of Visby, Gotland, after Rurik claimed that telling the truth could survive, this man One, five, ten, all recruited.
"Ah! That's how it is!" Rurik was not surprised at all when he heard the news, but...
Biyoni was also shocked. He was excited for his first battle and his first kill. Now he had to worry about his Rurik brothers: "The Danes are going to use force against you, Rurik, things have become... serious."
"Yes. If the Danes launch an attack this year, they will definitely attack Mälaren mainly. According to the covenant between us Rus people and Mälaren people, we need to send troops to participate in the exhibition. Damn it, it is really inappropriate for a decisive battle to break out this year."
Rurik's tight-lipped look seemed to Biyonyi like anxiety.
It's time to show your reliability as an older brother. Biyony patted Rurik on the shoulder: "We are brothers. If the Danes attack Rus, we Balmok warriors will definitely organize an expeditionary force. For example, I will take a thousand warriors to cross the mountains or take the sea route to help. you."
"Oh, thank you. But even if the Danes attack on a large scale, maybe..." Rurik cheered up and smiled confidently: "If it is a naval battle, as you can see, we Russians have big ships, and the enemy is not What? What do you think? Brother Biyongni, if you buy such a big ship with two thousand pounds of salt, you can be as powerful as me."
Facts speak louder than words, and now Biyongni has no hesitation at all. He has made up his mind that even if he is trying to sell iron, his tribe must have a war ship similar to the Aurora.
The prisoner revealed that the Danish leader intended to retaliate against the entire Northern Svealan Alliance. Rurik had only deduced before and concluded that the enemy would retaliate massively. The Danish businessman Old Eric also described such things as Hafgen's anger in recent years. terrorist actions. The prisoner was so sure, it seemed that the matter was real.
"What to do next? Do you want to land and see? Is there still this prisoner?" Biyongni asked cautiously.
Rurik gave Gevro a casual look, and Yevro stabbed the prisoner to death with his sword without hesitation, and then threw him into the sea.
Being so clean and decisive once again shocked Biyongni. In his eyes, his little brother Rurik, with his calm, beautiful and seemingly kind appearance, did indeed hide a vicious heart.
Rurik turned around and said in one breath: "The encounter has yielded unexpected results. Now we have to continue sailing."
"You seem to have any new plans?" Biyongni asked again.
"The plan remains the same, but going to the Danish waters to create chaos has a more important meaning."
Considering that the nature of the matter had become very serious, Rurik stood on the bow deck of the ship, facing his men with different expressions after the victory: "Brothers! The prisoner said that the Danish leader was going to attack the Kingdom of Sweden where we are. I won't let that happen this year. If the Mälarens are too busy fighting, we won't be able to get a lot of wheat in the fall, which won't be a good thing for us. Keep going with me and wreak terror in the Danish waters! No mercy! Let those They attacked us with inferior ships, and then were crushed by our Aurora. Let us use one ship to destroy the delusion of the Danish leader! Ula!"
Rurik, who drew his sword, shouted "Ula". His capable mercenaries had long been accustomed to this special war cry. People chanted Umrah rhythmically, and even the Balmoks were infected by this exciting atmosphere and shouted Umrah.
The Avora also adjusted its course. She headed straight for the Kalmar Strait, vowing to sweep across the entire 150-kilometer-long narrow water area and sweep away any ships it encountered. Rurik no longer had any worries, because the Merlaren merchants and the very important King Karl of New Sweden all mentioned the news of the rebellion of a group of Saxons in Borgholm Fortress. Regardless of whether the information was true or not, Rurik concluded that it had to be true.
As the voyage continues like this, the Aurora will never encounter friendly forces again. Rurik decided to do something even more extreme. In the waters near Silver Castle in the south where the Swedish army was defeated, he chased and attacked merchant ships and fishing boats for a period of time. This was no longer a simple piracy of killing people and stealing goods, but It's a tactic that wears down the enemy.
Rurik wanted to disrupt the Danes' plan to launch a massive counterattack.
