Who would want to fight against strong men with big ships and iron helmets on their heads?
Those Suomi people camping in the forest are looking forward to their leaders negotiating and mediating with the Varyag people to get a reasonable result for themselves. Of course, if the Varangians insist on fighting, everyone has nothing to say, just take advantage of the chaos and row your boat to escape!
As for the war starting again, if the Varyag people fight all the way along the waterway to Kupa Boka (the Suomi activity center), everyone will have to flee back first and continue to escape with their tribesmen.
Where can I escape? Maybe we can escape to the other side of the sea, and the local Estonians will definitely take us in.
In fact, some people had already taken advantage of the night to escape quietly, and five hundred soldiers were lost overnight.
The next day, when Uko and the five village leaders returned, they saw a depressing scene.
It was obviously a warm day when the grass was growing and the orioles were flying, but all he felt was a chill.
The atmosphere in the camp was very bad. After learning that hundreds of people had fled at once, the last thought of resistance in Uko's heart was completely eliminated.
backbone? That's a really luxurious thing.
If a strong man takes over, if he is as heroic as the Tavastians, the tragic consequences will be before his eyes.
Uko summoned the "warriors" who were in great confusion. This group of armed fishermen, small businessmen, farmers and other diverse people expected the leader to deliver a peaceful result.
As a result, nature is peaceful.
It's just that peace is a commodity, and commodities have their prices.
A batch of tributes and women must be paid in order to buy peace? No, if you accept this, the greatest strategic purpose of the brothers' trip will be achieved. In any case, the Suomi people still became the rulers of Tavastia. Of course, they must also kneel down to the more noble Varyag Rus as the supreme ruler.
We are all businessmen. If you think about it, this business can certainly be done.
The dawn of peace is all in Tavastalu, Suomi merges with Tavastia, and history becomes eternal with the rising sun. Suomi, who still retains his strength, can take over from the Russians to deal with the mess after the war from today on. The concept of Suomi should also give way to the new concept of Finland.
On this day, Rurik also announced to all the Russian soldiers that they were prohibited from using force against the Suomi people. Any active attack was equivalent to stabbing a brother in the back.
To get Rus to exercise restraint, Rurik only had to give orders to Arik, Heriger, and Biyoni to restrain their subordinates.
Naturally, everyone still looked down upon those bastards. Since the Duke gave the order, everyone followed it.
There was no point in wasting any more time in Tavastalu. Another day passed, and a brand new order was issued - the Russian army divided its forces!
Still in the parliament center of the occupied Tavastians, Rurik summoned all the centurions, banner captains, key cronies, and even as many as twenty village leaders of the Suomi people who were already de jure servants.
Pair after pair of eyes stared at Rurik's handsome face. Everyone was waiting for the Duke to announce the victory of the expedition, and the army would return home to prepare for a new expedition.
Rurik cleared his throat and said solemnly: "Now, we have conquered the land in the east, and Finland is her name. This year, the expedition to the east has come to an end. This was not my intention, but our achievements are remarkable. Odin also hails us.”
This was just a polite comment. Everyone banged their arms at will, laughed and whistled, and made strange movements just to prove their pleasure.
Rurik opened his arms to signal for silence: "So, I will take you to the south, to Kupa Boka, the core of the Suomi people. Our fleet will also follow the river directly into the southern sea." At this point, , the people who are good at navigation raised their heads one by one.
"I know what you are thinking. Going to the southern ocean? Is it an unknown sea? No! That is the route we take year after year. Entering the southern ocean, as long as we continue eastward, we can reach it in less than two or three days. Fort New Rose. Listen, brothers, our expedition this year has discovered a river route."
"Are you really sure?" Aric asked cautiously but boldly.
"Of course. I'm going to explore it myself to prove...that I understand Odin's revelation correctly."
It's "Odin's revelation" again. This should be the truth, right? Arik smiled and said nothing more.
Rurik added: "I will divide the army into two. One will go north along the river with a large number of captures, and the others will follow me south."
Are we going to divide our forces? Is this really good? Arik looked at the Suomi leaders present. He was afraid that his brother would encounter an ambush or other disaster after entering these people's old territory. He couldn't completely trust the Suomi people, so he simply stood up and shouted loudly: "Brother, is this okay? Once we divide our forces, our strength will decline. In that case..."
When his cousin spoke, he glanced at the Suomi sitting on the side. Rurik knew exactly what he meant.
"I still have to divide my troops. Thousands of women, a large number of reindeer, and a lot of ponies, two-wheeled vehicles, and leathers have to be transported back. At least they have to be transported to Covenstad. You don't have to I’m worried, I’m determined.”
Rurik had to admit that his cousin's hint made sense. As the saying goes, knowing people knows faces but doesn't know hearts. What if there is a reckless person among the Suomi who thinks he can fight back and launch a sneak attack regardless of the mess afterwards? The Lion-Hearted King, who had outstanding military exploits, was killed by a hidden arrow.
But the historical trend of honor forced him to take this risk, just as he personally rushed to the Arctic Ocean on a sled and discovered Murmansk.
Naturally, the cousin's words must be carefully understood. Although the troops are divided, at least the core combat power of the Ross army must remain with them.
The key people were all present, and Rurik immediately made arrangements.
The so-called Heligel's Mälaren banner, the people of Kovan Mechasta and Kejas, and all the injured Rus soldiers, escorted them home along the route they came from.
After this arrangement, more than 800 people left the team immediately, and Rurik's number of soldiers decreased by 40%.
The remaining warriors who were in their early 1,000s were still a force that could not be underestimated. With this arrangement, Arik had nothing to say, because he was the first flag force with the strongest fighting ability. Arik continued to lead and protect his younger brother.
Finally, the Russians, who had been raging for a while, retreated as fast as they attacked.
A dark "army" accompanied by as many as 5,000 reindeer began to advance north along the lakeside and river. As many as 2,000 young women, and even some children in their arms, embarked on this less painful but definitely tiring journey. They are all the female relatives of the defeated, and now they all have a new identity.
They were not slaves, but the new wives of the Rus, the Balmoks, and even the Kovins. The men of Tavastia conquered the Kovin people, and the tide turned, and their women now became the Kovin people's women. The Corvin people who escaped destruction came to the Rus and ushered in prosperity. The last Corvin men were very happy because they could choose a woman at will and soon have more newborn Corvin children.
The team heading north will eventually return to their starting point, even if it takes a lot of time. Rurik is quite reassured about them.
It was originally meant to vent the anger of the servants, but the war evolved into the conquest of Finland. As a result, the population of the Principality of Rus instantly increased by 2,000, and the food problem became more serious.
what is this? When the main force rushes to Kupa Boca, the locals will have to donate another 500 young women, and the population of the Principality of Ross will only further expand. Due to the situation, Rurik felt that it was necessary to launch an expedition to plunder Britain and increase the exploitation of Novgorod. If the Principality of Ross wants to survive and avoid possible famine, it must be ruthless.
The sky is clear, the sun is shining, it's almost June, and the warmest summer is about to arrive.
Even if it is not warm enough, many Russians have already taken off their shirts under the scorching sun, exposing their golden chest hair, and then showing their ferocious tattoos to their brothers.
The Suomi canoes are opening the way ahead. The Russian army is led by the Mercury, and a large number of dragon-headed warships are escorting the guards. A river fleet with an astonishing number of people is advancing.
Everyone was worried that the Suomi people would lead the way, so Rurik used the "invitation to build a big ship" as an excuse to send all the Suomi village leaders, together with the newly-canonized "Finnish War Chief of Rus (equivalent to a Marquis)" Wu Ke was detained on the big ship.
The huge ships were an eye-opener for the canoe people like them, and Jevro bluntly said to his future father-in-law Uko that this was nothing.
Father-in-law? Is that Uko really worthy of respect? After staying in Viking society for a long time, Jevro could not think highly of a leader who surrendered without a fight.
Deep in his heart, Jevlo has been holding a breath. It is the robbery he encountered in his childhood by the Varangians (he estimated to be the old Gotlanders). The various leaders of Suomi did not care at all and only wanted to pay attention. own little village. Letting this Uko be the "War Chief" is just a reward to ensure that the Suomi people don't get into chaos. Javlo had anticipated his master's hint, saying that when he was too old to fight anymore, he would retire to his hometown and become a "Margrave of Finland", and his heirs would inherit the title from generation to generation.
Just by detaining a group of noble people can other Suomi people lead the way? Rurik at least noticed that after a day and a half of sailing, the flow of the river had changed significantly.
After all, water flows downwards. The lakes in central Finland are only slightly higher than the coastal areas. The lakes are surrounded by ice-eroded mounds, which are like sponges absorbing a large amount of winter snowmelt every year. A water tower of practical significance is formed to store water in the lakes. "Water towers" in the highlands diverted runoff, and Ross's fleet now sailed the waterways leading to the southern river estuaries.
Because they were traveling downstream, this huge team arrived at Kupaboka, the core of the Suomi people, a day early, a trading center standing on an island in the lake.
The people who stayed behind were shocked, and then they rowed boats and fled. Many people fled into the waterways as dense as spider webs and hid in places unknown to others.
Rurik, who was standing on the deck, was no different from those escaping fishing boats, so Uko, who looked complicated, ordered: "I am your master, is this your home? Very good, I like it very much."
From what he said, it sounded as if the Russians wanted to plunder.
Uko raised his head with a very high emotional intelligence and signaled: "Sir, I will provide food and accommodation for everyone, and I will also provide... women for the soldiers to meet their men's... needs."
This was too humble to say, and such a submissive performance even made Rurik feel a little disgusted.
He wanted to call this Uko spineless, but he had to say that this old boy was a loyal dog.
"Women? My brothers have already obtained women in Tavastia, and they have been tattooed with names. They don't need new women for the time being, you just need to provide enough food and tribute."
Uko breathed a sigh of relief, and when he thought about what these Rus people did to the Tavastian woman, he also felt a chill on the back of his neck.
Is that called a tattoo? Use a knife to cut the skin and then apply toner? The woman cried out in pain, but the Russian conqueror must do this. It is said that the tattooed pictures are actually some words, representing the name of "Torturer". This move is just to brand the reindeer with a pattern to prove who is its owner!
So, be sure not to anger these people!
The Ross army camped on a flat lake with sparse trees near Kupaboka Island in the middle of the lake. Long boats washed up on the beach one after another, with ropes tied to the bow of the ship and the other side tied to a big tree.
Those Suomi people should have completely surrendered, but staying alert is a must for an army.
Rurik unloaded the heavy weapons from the ship as usual and scattered them in the four corners of the camp.
Two-man saws and big axes were quickly cutting down the trees, and a large number of simple wooden sheds and linen tents were being quickly constructed.
In fact, the Russians can of course invade the homes of the locals, but they have already adapted to the wood-carving huts with floors from afar. How will they get used to sleeping in the Suomi straw huts? In that case, it is better for the brothers to build a field camp by themselves to guard against possible sneak attacks.
The Ross people had just begun construction here, and soon Uko and the village leaders followed the request and began paddling canoes to present fresh catches to the Ross camp.
That night, the sky was filled with stars, and the lake reflected the starlight and moonlight. It was like a sea of lights on the lakeside!
Those were bonfires ordered by Rurik to be deliberately lit in large quantities. Many of the bonfires were just piles of burning pine branches unattended. He also used a strategy of suspicion to deliberately frighten the Suomi people.
The Suomi people mainly live in Kupaboka, the island in the middle of the lake, and its surrounding areas. There are also some villages along the river leading to the sea.
They seem to be a group with a vast territory, but in fact the total population is only 20,000 to 30,000 people. Up to 15,000 people have settled in Kupa Boca and the surrounding areas, and the main Suomi village is within this range.
The returning village chiefs took the men back to their villages overnight, and had to select more than ten beautiful girls overnight and send them to the Rus.
If peace can be exchanged, handing over a group of women is an acceptable outcome. Besides, some men have been staying in Tavastalu to control the remaining women of local Tavastia. If women are a resource in this barbaric era, no matter the Rus or Suomi people, everyone is fighting for them based on animal instinct.
On this same night, Uko was very lucky that Rurik, the Duke of Rus, only wanted to catch fish. It was great that the Rus' people promised that the army would not land on the island and the market would not be damaged.
His home is located on an island in the lake. Even though he is now a nobleman canonized by the Russians, he is still only regarded as a wealthy man from a well-off family in his hometown.
His youngest daughter Hermi (meaning gem) is only fifteen years old. This girl has reached the age of marriage. It is the father's responsibility to choose a suitable husband for her.
A large number of outsiders entered the lake area, and they took boats owned by the Varyags! The people on the island in the lake were panicked, and many wanted to escape. When a large number of tribesmen in canoes landed on the island to report that they were safe, the chaos was eliminated.
Hermi had flowing black hair, a very smooth amber necklace hanging around her neck, and she was dressed in a patterned cloth that fit neatly on her body. She has learned the tasks that a woman should do, such as cooking food, sewing leather, and making linen. She also feels that doing the splits and drawing water is something she must do.
A noble lady who rejects labor? She doesn't have this knowledge yet, but she is expecting that the man her father chooses for her will be a good man.
She, her mother, and brother walked out of the house to welcome her father. Suddenly, Hermi's eyes caught sight of the large ships floating on the lake, especially one huge ship that was incredibly big.
"Dad, you are finally back. Did you go to Tavastia well?"
Seeing his still beautiful little daughter, Uko suddenly had mixed emotions. He put his hands on his daughter's shoulders and was speechless for a long time when he saw his daughter's confused expression.
When he entered the house, he immediately mentioned something important about his daughter's life.
"I have decided, Hermi, that your man's name will be Jevlo, a strong and reliable warrior."
"Soldier?" Helmi pushed her hair away and covered her mouth in shock.
"It's us Suomi warriors, but..." Uko finally sighed and explained his experiences in the north to his family members who were looking forward to knowing what happened these days, as well as the reasons for the Varyag ships coming all the way.
The facts were so shocking that the family couldn't believe it was true.
Both of his sons were questioning it. The eldest son felt that his father was luring a wolf into the house, and the second son felt that he could organize the men to launch a sneak attack.
"You are all idiots!" Uko was furious without warning. He picked up a clay pot and threw it at his sons. Then he stood up and pointed at his nose and cursed: "Do you know? Tavastians! Five thousand people...that's not right. ! All six thousand warriors were killed by the Varangians! At least two thousand women were kidnapped! Those Varangians are Rus, the owners of the terrible fleet that cruises in our southern waters every year. They suffered no losses , Tavastia was destroyed. You two fools who don’t want to fight, your uncles and I sold too many things in exchange for peace."
Uko was not only scolding his sons, he was also scolding himself and Suomi for being so weak and could only survive by being loyal to his master like a dog.
At this moment, Hermi was frightened and cried, holding her mother at a loss, and her mother was equally helpless.
Uko, who had calmed down a little, sat down and called his daughter over.
"Tomorrow, I will take you to Ross's camp. Don't worry, your man is also one of our Suomi people. That Yevluo is serving as the captain of the guard for the leader of Ross. That soldier has no marriage, and you are destined to be his official wife. You want Hurry up and give him a child, so that our family can permanently consolidate the power we have now."
Uko said so many words that Hermi was confused and confused.
She was originally full of expectations for her man but extremely shy, but now she could only say tremblingly: "I...I will do it."
"Ah! Don't be afraid, good daughter. At least for our family, you will be a hero. You will save our Suomi, and only you can do it."
The girl couldn't understand Uko's emotion even more.
What else could Hermione say, but she nodded and indicated that if this was her fate, she would accept it.
