In May, the rushing Oulu River is no longer violent. After the flood season caused by the melting of a large amount of winter ice and snow, the river basin is calm enough for the Russian longships to drift freely.
In a sense, the Eastern Land (Finland) is more like an island separated by rivers and lakes. The waterways extending in all directions can even allow ships from the Gulf of Bothnia to reach Lake Ladoga in the east.
The Tavastian people did not know the right time to migrate to the lakes in central Finland. Since they discovered a large lake in the north and the traces of the Kovin people this year, they began to move north along the waterways.
There are thousands of lakes in the central lake group. This is a large group of natural reservoirs. Most of the derived rivers flow into the Gulf of Finland and Lake Ladoga.
There are also many rivers that meander into Lake Oulu, and then the Oulu River flows into the sea known to the Russians.
Once they learned of the existence of a waterway leading directly to the heart of Tavastia's rule, all the Rus had to do was gather their forces and launch a quick raid straight into the Yellow Dragon.
The Duke's orders had reached Fort Ross.
Although Lord Rurik has long said that this year the brothers will sharpen their swords and go on an expedition to plunder Britain. Since there is unprecedented expansion in the east, there is no reason why the brothers should not cooperate.
The Ross fishermen cruising on the sea learned the news that when they arrived at Covinstad, which was under construction, they could find a large lake by tracing back to the source along the river. This lake has a large number of fish, which is comparable to the brothers filling the sea. There is more hope in casting the net.
Rurik planned to recruit a hundred longships and estimated that this would take some time.
The truth was far beyond his expectation, because a large ship was suddenly traveling upstream on the river.
That was the Mercury, the only ship with a human propeller as auxiliary power. Her name is hung on the side of the ship. In addition to the Russian flag, there is also a flag with the name sewn on the main mast of the bow sail.
How could she swim against the current simply by relying on a few strong men to keep pedaling? The real core of power comes from the two long boats that tow her, and the people on the long boats who have been ordered to reinforce are busy paddling.
The fully loaded longboat used cables to pull two or three boats up the river. Although this wasted some time, the boats gradually arrived at the Ross army's camp on the riverside outside the old Gray Squirrel Hill Fort.
For a time, the bend in the river was filled with long boats. With one hundred and twenty longships and the sailing destroyer Mercury, the Russians formed a powerful river fleet in an assault!
It was a very clear day, and Rurik proudly boarded his temporary flagship.
He stood on the stern deck of the Mercury, overlooking the dragon-headed warships filling the river from this high point.
In this situation, who dares to say that the Russian army is not invincible?
At least in this Nordic world, the Russians are invincible in all directions.
Arik was infected by this grand occasion. He faced the warm south wind and shouted proudly: "We are not going to fight! We are easily occupying the entire Tavastia. They are all our slaves."
"Yes! We will make a fortune." Herriger also agreed.
At this time, if Rurik said that he did not like excessive killing, it would be the purest hypocrisy.
The main achievements in foreign wars are naturally attributed to the commander-in-chief. In everyone's mind, Rurik is a "human killer" and the hero that people are most proud of.
Rurik really didn't want the war to become more bloody. He needed Tavastia to become a new servant to replace the economic role of the Corvin people. If such a large army is deployed to invade the enemy's territory, the enemy will probably surrender, right? I hope so. If the enemy wants to fight even though the beast is trapped, he will not show mercy.
The people of Kovin have been saying that Tavastia is unruly. In this case, Rurik had no choice but to fight to the death to prevent his opponent. He prepared more weapons and equipment, including fifty sets of "silver scale armor", which can defeat fifty strong men. Han transformed into an invulnerable ruthless man and charged into battle.
Looking at the brothers again, each ship is waiting for the order for the flagship to set sail.
There was nothing left to hesitate. Rurik waved his hand, and the sailor standing at the bow shouted to the tow boat in front: "Let's go!"
Two thousand people and more than 300 prisoners of war took a total of 121 ships. The ships also carried some wheat and dried fish, as well as deliberately empty space for storing loot.
Terho, who surrendered again, and the five Tavastia village chiefs, who were forced to surrender with very complicated emotions, became the guides of the Russian army, and they pointed out the correct river course.
Are these people worthy of trust? Rurik was not worried, he knew he had a correct escape route. Because the end point of the rivers in this area is the mouth of the river, which is the Gulf of Bothnia of the Russians.
The Russian soldiers were in high spirits, and they were followed by as many as 200 fishing boats. What was going on with them?
The fishermen are not there to fight, not to mention that there are many female fishermen and elderly people among them.
The main reason is that the Covin people who fled to Fort Ross said that the lakes in the upper reaches of the river in their hometown were rich in game fish. Everyone believed it to be true, and regardless of whether there was a war or not, everyone wanted to go find out. Now led by the Duke's expedition fleet, the fishermen are full of confidence. Not to mention, they have actually been given a new mission - logistical suppliers.
Not to mention that there are some special businessmen among the fishermen.
The merchants all come from Lake Mälaren, and in fact, almost all of them are dependents of the big families of the Mälaren tribe. The merchants actually wanted to do the work of a group of slave traders, and they decided to try their luck closely following the Duke's fleet.
The Ross fleet, with high morale and sufficient rest, set off in the morning. It only took them the entire day to see the vast expanse ahead in the evening.
The gorgeous sunset dyed the world in mid-spring into a lazy tone. The Ross Expeditionary Force naturally camped on the shore, and the two hundred ships following it occupied the river like crazy, lighting oil lamps and preparing for night fishing.
Everything was simply a blessing from God, and those newly cast baits soon attracted fish to take the bait.
The Russians used the tools used to catch cod in the sea in the lakes, and large European seabass bit the hooks one after another.
The Kewen people who originally lived here have long known about the fish resources here, but they were unable to make more flexible fishing lines and high-quality barbed fishhooks. Facing the vast lake, they could only stare blankly most of the time and try their luck at near-shore fishing.
The Ross Expeditionary Force camped and slept on the spot, and there were "stars shining brightly" on the lake.
The Russian fishermen gained a huge harvest after a night of night fishing. When Rurik woke up in the morning, the fishermen had spontaneously set up a fish market on the shore.
“They’re really business-savvy.”
A market suddenly formed, Rurik was very happy, and he happily ate delicious grilled bass this morning.
The best-selling fish in the market is actually freshwater cod. In fact, many people don’t know what name to use to call this fish, but its thick fish oil and huge size are really coveted.
A large freshwater cod can weigh up to twenty pounds! Who would refuse a fish sold for as low as one silver coin? Several brothers bought it together and then divided it up to eat this sizzling feast. It was really a powerful breakfast.
If there is no need to eat wheat, the Russian army reached such a consensus.
Thanks to the gift of Lake Oulu and the superb fishing skills of the Russians who were forced to develop during their long production life, Rurik was delighted to receive a crucial supply.
European seabass, freshwater cod, and white pike were piled directly on the boat. The Russians who were accustomed to eating fish were no longer sensitive to the smell of fish, but this was really uncomfortable for the prisoners of war.
Although it is May, the temperature throughout the day is relatively high at noon, and it is good to get 5℃ at night. The lower temperature allows the catch to be preserved for a longer period of time, but the majority of Russians are not picky about lightly rotten fish meat. It can only be said that this is forced by life.
Lake Oulu is the limit of exploration by the Russians in the "Land of the East". The rivers and lakes ahead are all unfamiliar.
Rurik only knew the basic geographical structure of the wide world, and knew that if everyone insists on going east, they must reach Lake Ladoga, and then they can reach Novorosberg or Novgorod by moving along the lake.
Now he relied heavily on the guidance of Terho and other surrenders. The Ross Expeditionary Force raised its sails against the south wind on the sea as wide as the ocean, and spent a morning heading towards the river at the southernmost end of the lake. Hukou.
All six surrenderers were controlled on the Mercury. They pointed to the river and claimed that by going upstream from here, they could avoid breaking into the wrong tributaries by sticking to the widest river and finally arrived at Tavasti. Asia's sacrificial center.
"Are your directions correct? Anyway, if you lie, I will just kill all the prisoners, including you. When I find your village, I will kill everyone in revenge."
Rurik's words were a threat, and he was capable of doing so.
Especially the five village leaders who still had families and tribesmen, they all knelt down on the deck and begged the supreme ruler of the Russians to show mercy.
"Be merciful? It depends on how you behave afterwards. You must hand over a batch of property and bring out some young women to prove your surrender."
Rurik left his words here. He was not afraid that these surrenders would not cooperate. Really uncooperative? At worst, the brothers would put in the effort to search for it themselves.
In this Ross expeditionary force advancing on the river, people really have their own thoughts.
The Russians, Melalens and Balmoks all have the common identity of "Vikings". Ordinary warriors are too lazy to care about the grand plans of the big shots. What they want to do most now is to rush to Tavasti. In the hinterland of Asia, first shoot some leather, dried meat, etc., and then kidnap a young woman to immediately satisfy the desire for the lower body, and then take her back to her home to be her second wife.
The few Korvans, Kehas and Mechasta, are driven by pure revenge. Let's look at these two guys who once led their respective tribesmen to beat each other to a bloody head. Now they are "like father and son." The two men were sitting on the Russian dragon-headed warship, and they were all dressed up like Vikings. The two of them were not rowing, but they were holding a short spear with a Guizhou head stuck on each spear head.
The heads of Tavastia's most powerful commander, Watkard, and his younger brother, Vatyala, were stuck on spearheads and became the trophies of the Kovin people.
The young soldiers, boys and girls, who were looking at Rurik, once again experienced a cruel battle, and simply ensured that no one died in the battle.
Carlotta, Duchess of Ostara. She wanted to talk to her man Rurik again, but due to her mission, she had to manage the "human Valkyries" under her command and keep in step with the young warriors managed by the bald Fisk.
Their youth does not mean they lack strength. The long boat they are riding in is pulled by the ropes of the ship in front. The children continued paddling, talking and laughing along the way.
On the other hand, the Dane John Ingvar still has a cross made of silver hanging on his chest. But is it still necessary to maintain this belief now?
His identity is that of a clergyman. If he had not experienced what he experienced now, his fate would have been to become a priest in a monastery, and even have the qualifications to become a regional bishop.
Clerics must not touch their hands with the blood of others! Unfortunately, he had already broken his command on the battlefield.
As he walked around the smelly, muddy and terrifying battlefield, he subconsciously wanted to make a last prayer for the dying, and suddenly thought about what these barbarians in the forest believed in.
The war dead were everywhere. Lord Rurik gave an order, and the burly warriors chopped off the heads of the dead just to make statistics to calculate their merits, while the corpses drifted with the tide...
John Yingvall's mind was deeply stimulated. Now he just kept rowing, and he really didn't want to get involved in the fact that others joked about killing enemies.
Another break at the shore. Now the river has become relatively narrow. Fortunately, the depth of the river is still satisfactory, and the Mercury, which has a shallow draft, can still drift smoothly.
Rurik knew that even if he drove the Avora into the river, it would be okay. Just imagine that a large ship appeared in the enemy's hinterland. What kind of forceful oppression would this be?
They camped on both sides of the river, and people ate the last of the raw fish. Even though the fish meat was no longer fresh, it was burnt black and oily by the fire and sprinkled with salt, everyone still ate happily.
Sitting by the campfire, Rurik talked to his cronies: "I heard that the enemy walked for six or seven days before arriving at the battlefield along the same road as us. They rely on a pair of feet, we have a boat, we faster.”
Arik took advantage of the situation and said, "You can't just think of arriving tomorrow?"
"If that's for the best. The way I see it, we're already there in the next three days."
The brothers once again had wonderful fantasies about occupying the enemy's hinterland, imagining how much benefit they could get and how many captured women could be stuffed into the empty space on the ship.
When it comes to women's issues, men talk about it without any reservation or even at the lowest level. Unsurprisingly, Aric deliberately started the conversation and took advantage of Carlotta's presence to praise his brother for becoming a real man before he reached adulthood.
The brothers laughed, and Arik also expressed his best wishes: "Carlotta, you have to give birth to many sons for Rurik. Your tribe needs your sons to inherit, so you have to please your Rurik."
This was true. Although Carlotta blushed, she didn't shy away from anything. Instead, she insisted on raising her chest and claiming that she could do it, and then she took Rurik's arm.
The women of the Rus, or all Viking tribes, are the same. They fight on the battlefield just like men, and they also take on the responsibility of taking care of their families. It is their duty to safeguard the interests of the tribe. They are naturally proactive.
Carlotta took the initiative, and Rurik was not passive. Carlotta's accumulated pressure needed to be released, and Arik's words really stirred her heart.
This night, the two of them...
The next morning, the sun came out. Rurik was very happy, and so was Carlotta.
As the saying goes, what goes up leads to deeds. Among the large group of young warriors in Rurik, men and women work together in daily training and work. On the battlefield, they cooperate to defend against the enemy. It would be strange if they did not develop feelings for each other.
Rurik wanted the same effect. Just like a Spartan culture, a resolute mother and a brave father would naturally give birth to the strongest warriors to defend the tribe. To put it bluntly, the girls of the "Valkyrie Legion" led by Carlotta are destined to be the official wives of the new generation of Ross male soldiers.
The Ross Army's voyage continued, and it seemed that they were not far from their destination.
Now that things have happened, the leaders of the five surrendered villages increasingly feel that they have to perform well. They try their best to prove that they are loyal dogs. The alliance has collapsed anyway, and each village can only show its own magic if it wants to save its life.
They are all pointing out that since the river has become wider, not far ahead is the Tavastia Sacrifice Center, which is also the core of the rule.
This is indeed the case. Rurik, who was standing on the stern deck of the Mercury, saw a lakeside of this long and narrow lake from a distance. There were a large number of wooden houses and thatched houses there. Look at the style of building the houses, which is similar to the Kovin people. The old villages are quite similar.
The destination is like this, and the entire fleet is boiling.
The Rus, the Balmoks, the Melalens, and the Kovins all cheered and shouted that they could make a fortune and kidnap women.
On the other hand, those prisoners of war who were still tied with ropes had ignored the pain of having their fingers cut off, and they all lowered their heads and shed tears.
Without him, this would be the gathering place for their troops more than ten days ago. Who would have thought that more than half a month had passed, and when everyone came back here, the owner had changed hands.
But the Tavastians on the shore and the people in canoes on the lake retreated almost out of instinctive fear.
They had never seen such a scene before. A large number of large ships were traveling across the lake. The raised sails and fluttering flags seemed to have other meanings. Those left behind are basically women, especially those who live in the sacrificial center.
The woman instinctively began to flee, while the Tavastia warriors who stayed behind also took up arms to at least set up their positions to guard against any eventuality.
"Look! Sir, they still have troops, and it looks like they are going to fight us." Jevro pointed his hand very vigilantly, and the implication was to urge Rurik to launch an attack.
"They are seeking their own death, Yevlo, you have a loud voice! Send me an order to let the brothers land on the beach! Remember, try to catch as many people as possible alive."
"As you command!"
