The messenger holding the kingdom's flag moved tremblingly. Even more nervous than him were the two priests behind him.
The priest carried a cross made of black wooden boards and read scriptures while walking to seek God's blessing.
They are very worried that the other party will not appreciate their negotiations.
After all, those guys are barbarians from the sea. They want to kill them as soon as they land. I hope they can be sent away by giving them a sum of money. As for my own life...
At this moment, Jacques, the envoy, blamed himself very much for not making suggestions. Even if he was an envoy, why should he go there himself?
Seeing three seemingly unarmed men approaching the camp, the Vikings, eager for battle, jumped out of the shacks they had built and approached them with various weapons.
Jevro and his brothers were ordered to go first, and they easily controlled the trio of visiting envoys.
It is the shame of a mercenary to let suspicious people approach the financial owner.
He and his brothers first punched the envoy several times, then pushed the three people to the ground and carefully checked whether they had any weapons.
In the end, the three envoys had their hands tied and were escorted to kneel in front of Rurik and others.
Seeing that the church members were beaten into panda eyes and with blood hanging from the corners of their mouths, even though Paul thought he had joined the Viking camp, he was still not shocked by the barbaric behavior of these guys.
"Are you stupid?!" Rurik casually asked Paul who was in a daze.
"No, I'm fine."
"Ask them what their intentions are."
"Yes! Sir."
Of course, Paul felt guilty as a traitor. He and the three messengers looked at each other, and the scene was extremely absurd for both parties.
There are rebel priests in the enemy camp? A priest betrayed his faith and stood up for barbarians?
The messenger Jacques secretly cursed that this man would go to hell.
However, the messenger came with a mission, and Jacques tried his best to remain calm, like a repeater with no emotion, repeating the request of the palace minister John.
After hearing Paul's retelling, Rurik not only pinched his chin with golden hair: "Put out a sum of money to let us retreat? They really think so. Paul, continue to ask them how much money they can give? "
Originally, the messenger Jacques was not completely sure about spending money to eliminate disasters. He did not expect that this handsome but heroic young boy, who looked like a barbarian leader, would be extremely interested in taking the ransom and retreating.
So, how much ransom should be paid?
The palace minister John did not give a specific number, and Jacques boldly gave what he thought was a very large number tentatively.
"Five thousand silver coins. What do you think?"
"Five thousand coins? Just fifty pounds?" Rurik once felt that there was a fallacy in Paul's translation. He asked the messenger to explain the number carefully, and he listened carefully to the ancient Saxon vocabulary to make sure it was correct.
"You want to send us away with just five thousand silver coins?" Rurik immediately pulled out his bright white steel sword inlaid with gems, and pointed the tip of the sword directly at the messenger's nose.
"Then ten thousand! This is already a very large amount!"
Rurik shook his head, looking extremely impatient. He pouted, then shouted: "Bring that noble prisoner here."
The messenger didn't know what was going on, but after a while, a man in coarse linen clothes was pulled over by a rope.
Along with it, there was a severely bent long sword with a ruby hilt.
The messenger Jacques had of course seen King Eynred himself, and now he was shocked by the sight before him. His mouth was wide open, his whole body was twitching as if he was suffering from a disease, and his throat was so whimpering that he didn't know what he wanted to say.
The real king Eynred was sitting dejectedly. His emotions were extremely complicated. Although he was cruel in his heart, his anger would only cause the wound on his broken arm to ooze blood.
People like him who suffered serious arm injuries would often die of fever within three or four days, but he clearly received a more terrible treatment. It had been many days since the battle ended, and he showed no signs of fever. It was as if this Life is protected by God.
In this case, it is not advisable to allow the disease to take your life. But now there is no trace of the disease.
Eynred stared at the wooden wall of Bamburgh and then into the eyes of the messenger, and for a moment he was speechless.
Rurik carelessly stroked the king's dog head and said arrogantly: "Your people plan to buy peace with ten thousand silver coins. Are you despising me? I didn't plan to attack the city, but in the face of this insult..."
Aynred shook his head suddenly and raised his head to indicate: "There is something strange here. How could anyone issue such an order without my authorization."
Rurik was also a little surprised: "It's strange? You sent the crown to this city, but hasn't your son already succeeded you as the king?"
"No! My son can only be legally crowned king in York. Besides, I am still alive, and I am still the king of Northumbria. You... Vikings, at least give me the courtesy of a king. At least. , I am also on the same level as you."
Eynred was protesting against Rurik himself. Indeed, in the Western European environment, the title of "principle" held by Rurik was on the same level as the title of "king".
As soon as he finished speaking, Eynred was slapped by Rurik.
"Defeated King, what are you thinking about? Well, Bamburgh's envoy is here, and you can fulfill your agreement immediately."
Eynred vowed to never forget this repeated humiliation by the Vikings. As long as he could escape, his descendants would try their best to avenge this great revenge, but now he still has to pretend to be his grandson to survive.
Eynred suddenly asked the envoy deeply: "Tell me quickly what's going on in the city!"
The messenger Jacques still kept his mouth open and kept talking.
"Tell me the situation!" Eynred shouted loudly. Although his wound was bleeding again, he couldn't care less now.
The messenger finally came to his senses, hurriedly knelt down and reported: "It's the Prime Minister who ordered me to ask the barbarians how much money they can get to leave."
"The Prime Minister?! The Prime Minister, Edward, is in York. I didn't take him with me when I set off."
"New."
"New? Who appointed it?!"
"Yes..." Suddenly, Jacques felt that he had been trapped in the huge whirlpool of palace politics. If he said something that he shouldn't say, even if the barbarian didn't chop himself with an axe, he would be hanged by the king himself afterwards.
Seeing the cowardice of the envoy, Eynred immediately promised: "Speak boldly, I want to know the truest situation. Don't worry, you will be rewarded with a sum of money afterwards."
"Ah! Yes! It's the knight John Stockwood. The queen appointed him as the minister of the palace and was responsible for the defense of Bamburgh. He gave all the orders."
"What? It's him?!"
With more detailed questioning, Eynred learned of a series of huge events in the city in extreme shock. Thinking about it, only two or three days after the defeat, the judges within the kingdom jumped out!
The biggest enemy is not outside the country, but by his own side!
Aynred covered Yin Hongbai's left arm and whispered tremblingly: "I asked you why you are so determined to be the king, but you are actually coveting my kingship! Anna, you are a dirty whore! John Stockwood, Once this matter is resolved, I will execute your family completely!"
Rurik and others have been listening. Although Paul's translation is not very accurate, everyone has heard it very well.
Why should the vikings care about those troublemakers in the kingdom's court?
Of course, as a man, especially as a ruler with wives and concubines that could be counted on one hand today, Rurik felt sorry for the cuckold king for a second.
Rurik immediately gathered with several family leaders to discuss new strategies to face the new situation.
Biyonyi, who had a strong voice, shouted casually: "I can't believe that someone has proclaimed himself a king, and he wants to fight us to the end. Rurik, give up your illusions and prepare to fight."
A family leader shouted: "I didn't expect that the enemy is still bloody. They actually immediately selected a leader to fight us."
"Bah! Someone proclaimed himself king, and a group of cowards actually recognized an ambitious man as king."
…
They talked a lot, and what they said was either contempt for the chaos in the enemy camp, or they were wary of the battle.
"Make up your mind, Rurik." Biyoni said.
Everyone's focus was on Rurik, and he did suddenly have a new plan.
Originally, according to the plan, Eynred's order was sent to Bamburgh City, and they handed over their property, food, and women as agreed. This Viking expedition should have come to an end, and the brothers should have returned home with full load.
Regardless of whether he admits it or not, Rurik is sure that he was indeed involved in the chaos of the Northumbria throne.
What are the low wooden walls in Bamburgh? The siege and ramming can be done quickly. For example, tomorrow the brothers will arrange the military formation, ram the ram against the wooden wall, and then the army will break through the city.
But wait! Now Eynred's throne has been taken away by a careerist. If he helps this guy regain the throne, he should ask for more wealth.
On the other hand, the messenger Jacques told all the news he knew, and of course there were a lot of embellished things. Eynred had no intention of judging the authenticity and took it all as true.
For example, Queen Anna took the initiative to sleep with the "fake prime minister" John, John decided to defeat the barbarians and return to York to be crowned king, John intentionally demoted Prince Ella into a slave and even intentionally killed him, and John also took possession of the Earl of Bamburgh's wife and maid. They ravaged and even occupied the gold and silverware of Bamburgh Abbey.
Jacques himself was a loser. Just now he had sworn to support the future new king John, but now facing the still-living king Aynred, he quickly compiled a bunch of charges to put on John's head.
Eynred was finally overcome with anger, and he knew that things had become very difficult.
His menacing appearance was subconsciously interpreted by Rurik's mercenaries as an assassination attempt, and he was firmly controlled.
Rurik, who had already thought of some wonderful countermeasures, could tell that Eynred was suddenly furious. This anger must be directed at a new target.
Rurik pretended to be evil and mocking: "King of Northumbria, let me guess! You must be angry, your throne is being derailed by your men."
"Yes! I'm so angry! My family, my wealth, and my subjects were all usurped by that man!"
"So?" Rurik asked thoughtfully.
"I want to take back what I lost! I am the king!"
"Really? But that man in Bamburgh, he's waiting to hear from me. We're going to get riches, and if that guy's going to give more, you say, who's the king and who's the false king?"
"Of course it is me! I am the King of Northumbria! I am the King of Northumbria recognized by the Franks and the saints of Rome!"
The man spoke very excitedly, but Rurik still shook his head: "What does this have to do with me? I only talk to the highest bidder."
Immediately Eynred understood what he meant, and he hurriedly said: "Help me take back the throne! I will give you more wealth!"
"Really? So, for the sake of money, I will help you regain the throne?"
"Ah! You...what else do you want?"
Rurik thought about it and realized that he actually wanted the king to establish an alliance under the city, such as ceding a piece of land as a "Viking Law Zone". After all, the entire Northumbria would also be a Dan Law Zone in the future.
This idea is too forward-looking. The Balmok Viking army he personally leads is a pirate bandit no matter what, and there is no plan to expand and colonize the territory this year.
But it was necessary to pay a greater price for Northumbria's cooperation.
Rurik suddenly said: "We must enter the city, and I will promise to protect the lives of those who surrender. We want money and wheat, and we do not want to capture slaves. However, we must bring all the young and pure women in Bamburg with us." Walk."
"Ah! How is this move different from destroying Bamberg?!"
Rurik shrugged: "It seems you still haven't figured out the stakes. Let me ask you, do you want the kingship or Bamburgh?"
Eynred wanted to say he wanted it all, but now he really had to make a choice.
He chose kingship correctly.
Rurik nodded: "Smart decision. Your soldiers are fleeing everywhere, and we have captured some prisoners. Now the situation has changed, and I plan to rearm your defeated troops. That is your royal power. If you don't fight for it, What's the difference between us simply helping you and mercenaries? You take your own soldiers to rob, and you stand outside the city, calling on the soldiers in the city to kill the usurper, and then open the city gate. We will take what we need. retreat."
At this moment, Eynred knew that he had no right to hesitate, so he could only support.
As night fell, the captured king was stripped of all his bonds, and he even put on a worn leather coat.
The broken king's sword was confiscated. After the ruby on the hilt was dug out, the sword was beaten with a hammer until it was relatively flat and was replaced with him.
Eynred's intact right hand held the sword. Under the night, he saw an army of more than forty broken soldiers.
They were in the Viking camp, looking out at the campfire!
If he hadn't been there, he would have felt that the enemy's troops were very large. To be fair, the enemy's troops were indeed very high and their combat effectiveness was indeed very strong.
Facing his men, Eynred could not say any impassioned words. He shouted casually: "Tomorrow, I will lead you to attack Bamburgh. I want to take back my kingship, and the barbaric Vikings promise not to take it away again." You are slaves, and I hope the garrison of Bamburgh will not shoot at us.”
This night, the Viking warriors were hiding in the forest to observe. They were ordered to light bonfires around the entire Bamburgh City. The night concealed their true strength, as if an army of more than 10,000 people surrounded this small town.
During the night, more slow-moving soldiers were captured from the forest one after another, and they were turned to Eynred. The people who thought they were dead saw their king in disbelief. Before they could figure out the situation, they learned that the king would attack Bamburgh tomorrow. Of course they don't need to know too much, they are just duckweeds in the world, just drifting with the tide.
