This war basically has nothing to do with women, but it is about a new and wonderful future. The women of White Tree Manor sincerely want to make a contribution to the men who are going on the war.
They cooked for the more than 3,000 soldiers who had gathered. Regardless of whether they took the initiative or not, a large amount of surplus grain and wheat were taken out.
These women set up a large number of pottery urns to cook Novgorod's characteristic wheat porridge.
In fact, it is just boiled oatmeal and topped with some salt. This kind of bland food is no longer rare in the Principality of Ross.
More than 3,000 bloody mouths can swallow fifty cows in one day, and they can also eat all the poultry brought from the Calf Manor.
The Calf Estate offers ten cows, which will be used first as sacrifices.
This was the last day before the war started. In the early morning, Rurik had sent the surrendered Danes Grund and his group to take a boat as sentries to the mouth of the Volkhov River.
This riverside location is very close to Pine Needle Manor, and they can see it with the naked eye.
"Boss, do the Russians just want us to stand guard? I think we can launch a sneak attack and get some treasures along the way." A guy said, unable to restrain his desire to kill and plunder.
Grund looked at his old friends and couldn't help but barked his teeth and ordered: "Don't be too hasty. The Russians are too lazy to investigate. Rurik's army of three thousand people is simply invincible. Let's follow this financial owner and do things with peace of mind."
"But boss, my ax thirsts for blood."
"No! Karl. No matter how weak the enemy is, there are too many of them. If we rush forward, we may be seeking death. Rurik just asked us to monitor on the shore."
"Then why not capture a tongue? If we capture a prisoner and sacrifice it to Rurik, we can also get some reward money. Besides, who are we brothers afraid of? Who would be afraid of death if he is a desperate man?"
Indeed, Grund and his gang are a bunch of outlaws. Rurik had seen this a long time ago and gave them a lot of money without really trusting them.
This group of people can have some freedom of action, and they are placed at the mouth of the river as so-called sentinels, which has Rurik's deep meaning.
However, Rurik did not bother to conduct further reconnaissance on Pine Needle Manor at first. He had already learned a lot of detailed information from other people, and had a clear understanding of the enemy's possible maximum strength and armament status, so he was very confident. .
This is the arrogance of a king, and Rurik's arrogance comes from his own strength.
Unable to resist the instigation of the guys, Grund and a group of old mercenaries who were killed among twenty dead people still took action.
They carried round shields on their backs, wrapped reeds around their iron helmets on the spot, and inserted reeds into the gaps in the mail on their bodies. They looked like a group of green turtles. It was this camouflage that made the grass cover up the metal reflection, and they could hide themselves by running into the reeds on the spot.
They rushed to the outskirts of Pine Needle Manor in the white heaven. Knowing that the enemy was most likely to have deployed peripheral defenses, they still bravely broke through. This action was completely beyond Rurik's expectations and was really a variable.
So what is Rurik doing?
He was busy executing the cattle sacrificed as sacrifices with his own hands, and in front of many Rus, Balmok, Ostara and other Vikings, he, the "holy one blessed by Odin", sacrificed to Odin.
A sacrificial ceremony is necessary, it has deep mysticism, and its most important significance is to calm people's hearts.
Everyone always believes in metaphysics. If the great Duke personally presides over the priestly ceremony, Odin will definitely be able to pay attention to everyone's upcoming feats and will pay attention to who is the most heroic in the fierce battle. People feel at ease and have no scruples about tomorrow's all-out war.
After that, there were Slavic sacrificial activities. They executed the new cattle, and a group of wizards with feathers on their heads and faces painted pale with chalk mud stood up and jumped around a bonfire, mumbling something.
Who knows what they are talking about?
Rurik didn't care about this, he cared more about these dead cows. Thousands of pairs of eager eyes were staring at the cows, waiting for a small piece of meat.
The mighty posture of the Rus' army was hidden by the dense cedar forest, and the huge fleet was anchored in the Volkhov River. A large number of bonfires appeared on the river beach, and the entire area was filled with green smoke. They were all covered by the blue sky.
The soldiers had a sumptuous meal, including roast beef, fish, and wheat porridge that they could never tire of. They even ate the dry food they brought with them, especially those who bought the "honey biscuits" baked by Asilaqi and were happy to share them with their friends.
Vadim of Pine Needle Manor is still kept in the dark about all this.
The power foundation of this patricide was not stable. He was hired by Pine Needle Manor because he resolutely led everyone to resist Ross. His initiative to assassinate Otto coerced everyone and broke all previous peace agreements with Ross.
Vadim chose war. He knew that the Russians had not really left. The opponent must be recruiting troops, but he was also actively planning a war!
Pine Needle Manor has a large population, but unfortunately no iron ore has ever been discovered in the area around Lake Ilmen. The locals exchange iron ore or mature iron tools through trade.
In recent years, Ross has started selling ironware in this area. The biggest beneficiary is White Tree Manor, while other manors have to buy it at very high prices. As for the poor Pine Needle Estate, past acts of resistance led to the Russians' salt and iron embargo.
This is not a problem for Pine Needle Manor, because where there is demand, there is trade. The ordinary people of White Tree Manor actually sold some ironware to friendly manors, and those manors then sold it to Pine Needle Manor at a high price.
It was a pity that Vadim had mobilized all the men of suitable age in the farm to pick up weapons. When he checked his soldiers, he found that the amount of iron equipment was not ideal.
There is really no other way to use a sharpened wooden pole as a spear.
After all, Vadim is a young man, the son of a seventeen-year-old manor owner.
He was aware of the lack of his military equipment, and was pleasantly surprised that thousands of soldiers could obey his orders.
This feeling of having power and solemnity was so comfortable that almost instantly, there were a group of women around him.
How could a Novgorod prince not have many wives and concubines?
Many days ago, he led his army on a parade around the lake, ordered the farms he passed to be loyal to him, and raised his troops to participate in the war against the Rus. The first thing to do was to work together at the right time to eradicate the White Tree Manor, which contained a large amount of iron tools.
He asked many farms for women to be actual concubines. Due to the military strength of the other side, each farm could only ask young girls to stand up and recognize the newly promoted prince.
In response to this crazy move, Vadim's pregnant wife stamped her feet in anger. Unfortunately, what can be done?
Vadim selected five people, and the young man did not hesitate to lift his robe and have fun with them, including the dead father Borudny who kept two maids. With seven women serving him, Vadim indulged himself to his heart's content. He felt that he was indeed the king of this lake area and could enjoy all the pleasures of men.
As for training your own team, giving them at least a certain degree of combat effectiveness can also make up for deficiencies in various aspects. Harold, the leader of the thirty Varyag businessmen from Pskov, was hired as a coach.
These thirty people are all coaches! They took a sum of money, and Vadim placed two women around them to deal with it at will.
Due to the generosity of this young prince, Harold had to do something good, but it was impossible for them to think highly of Vadim. "This is the stupid son of an arrogant manor owner. Brothers are working for you for money. Why are you really fighting against the Russians?"
The infantry tactics that Harold and his gang knew were entirely in line with the Viking tradition, the so-called pure barbarian tactics.
He has two tricks: first, the brothers form a shield wall and fight the enemy together. Second, the shield wall is broken down, and the brothers can fight freely with the enemy based on their own skills.
With their excellent physical fitness, this group of people was not afraid of fighting with the same number of local Slavs in Pskov. It was just that the locals were obviously more organized than the guys they saw on Lake Ilmen. Forcing them not to dare to make mistakes.
Harold actually wanted to get money, so he took the opportunity to grab some beautiful local women and row away in a boat. Look at this stupid Vadim. He gave his brothers a total of sixty young women, saying they were entertainment rewards. Isn't Vadim afraid that his brothers will run away with the women? After all, it is not a very long journey to Smolensk if you follow the lake-like river in the south.
They do have some professionalism and have really trained the farmer warriors of Pine Needle Manor.
The so-called training is unparalleled, which is to make them gather into a group and rush in one direction in a relatively neat group. Among them, those holding simple wooden shields, hand axes, and iron swords were in the front, and the shieldless warriors behind were assisted by various spears.
As a result, the shouts of killing in Pine Needle Manor were loud, and more than 3,000 armed farmers of all ages were split into more than 20 groups, supervised by a Varyag warrior who could speak some Slavic language.
Their cries of killing could not spread far, and they mostly moved at the intersection of farms and woods, just to avoid trampling on the young crops in the farmland near the lake.
As Ross Army Grund's group approached, they heard these suspicious agitation with every ear, and instinctively became vigilant.
"They really have an army. Boss, are we in danger?"
"That's right. If you continue to try to grab your tongue, you may be seeking death."
"No! We are all here. Besides, I was reluctant at first because you had to ask for it. Now I am very motivated. You are trying to amuse me by retreating!" Grund gritted his teeth and took off his shield. , showing the raven pattern on it to everyone: "Don't forget our faith. Also, I'm afraid that kid Rurik has been blessed by Odin. If we back down now, it will be bad if Odin is angry. ”
They are life-threatening guys, and the simplest reason why they dare to fight their enemies is their worship of Odin.
When Grund said this, the guys were all stunned. He added: "You have all spent a lot of money to buy new iron armor. The chain armor is hung with iron or bronze plates. Your helmets are stronger and your shoulders are also protected by mail. Have you heard about it? Oh, That old guy Ding was assassinated, and it was because this armor suit was unscathed that this big battle started. We rushed forward and fought with these Slavs."
The brothers squatting in the reeds looked at each other and still felt something was wrong.
Grund shook his head: "Don't say you are timid. Don't worry, our brothers are basically still happy after all these years."
But what he said is not the truth. Some of his friends died in Gotland and some died in Britain. Our lives are indeed very legendary, so can the legend continue?
Grund was so stubborn that the brothers had no choice but to move on with him.
Fortunately, luck came to his head.
This group of Danish mercenaries under Ross can use their commissions to exchange for the excellent weapons that Ross deserves. They are all well-known warriors in Eastern Rome.
They can break out of the woods and grass to attack and fight the Slavs openly.
Grund did not do this, and his men were forced to remain on guard due to the situation.
Why? In the forest where they were hiding, they saw the wasteland near the farmland in front of them. A group of men in cloth gathered together and charged back and forth with various weapons.
Everyone also saw an amazing character, a Viking brother? !
"Damn it, is there anyone working for these people? Vikings don't fight Vikings!" Someone crawled to Grund's side to comfort him.
"Damn it." Grund gritted his teeth, "That kid Rurik is so arrogant that he doesn't need to investigate. If our brothers hadn't boldly touched here, how would we have known that there were Vikings in the enemy's team?"
"Then do you still want to fight?"
"Fight! Why not fight? However, if the Vikings don't fight the Vikings, they just leave their hometown to make a living. Maybe that guy is also a Dane. If you insist on fighting him, you have to ask for his identity."
"This... what if it's a Svealan guy?" someone asked again.
"Then we can't fight! If that kid Rurik wants to become king in Svealand (Sweden), who can stop him? I don't want to get burned. In my opinion, these people will definitely get tired from running around. Wait. We take action while they are resting."
Just like a pride of lions hiding in the wormwood, the wildebeests are busy grazing unnoticed.
More than two hundred men from Pine Needle Manor ran for most of the morning. Their movements were more coordinated than in the previous days, and they were able to keep the team together while running. Whether they are willing or not, it is every man's obligation to participate in the war. Many farmers do not want to fight at all. They are coerced into it. Just because those who do not want to fight are killed along with their families, and fear forces them to take up arms.
Exhausted, they sat on the grass to rest and talk, and then planned to go home and eat cooked wheat.
At this moment, Grund came out with the guys!
Twenty strong men were uniformly dressed in iron armor with many reeds inserted into them. The men had raven-painted bucklers strapped to their left arms, and all of them held Ross steel swords in their right hands. Their iron helmets were still hung with thatch.
As if the grass could speak, their sudden appearance startled the Slavs who noticed them and stood up hastily.
Grund and others were ruthless, and they arbitrarily killed these unprepared and unarmed farmers. The steel swords were quickly stained with blood, and their armor was also stained with a lot of blood.
The frightened farmer's first thought was to run away!
One of his men was about to kill the fallen man, but Grund, whose face was covered with blood, hurriedly stopped him: "Don't be impulsive, we have to catch a few alive and take them back to collect the reward."
"That's fine." The man stuck his sword on the ground, knocked the man unconscious and captured him.
This was a boring raid. Twenty tough men attacked and drove away the peasant soldiers of Pine Needle Manor who were ten times their size. The opponent's cowardly charge showed their inferior and weak nature.
But the strange Varangian was surrounded by many of Grund's men.
The scene fell directly into an indescribable embarrassment, because both sides maintained a confrontation with no intention of fighting.
At this time, someone took off his helmet and shouted: "Hey! Are you Danish?"
Upon hearing this, the Varangians who were in dire straits also hurriedly took off their helmets: "What? You are also Danes. Why are you here?"
"Who are you working for?"
"I only give it to myself. I just take money from the Slavs to do things. I have no enmity with you. For the sake of being Danish, let's let our brothers go for once."
"Of course I can let you go." Grund, who was covered in blood, came over aggressively, took off his helmet and said with a smile: "The Danes don't fight the Danes, we all just take money from our masters, and there is no need to fight each other. How about that? Let's Sit down and have a quick chat?"
"That's fine."
The scene was so strange. There were many corpses of murdered Slavs lying on the ground. A group of Danish Varangians didn't care about the other's position at this moment. They were all Danes who had left their hometown and met again to chat about their respective lives.
The situation of the conversation surprised Grund. He had never imagined that the Slavs also had a group of Varangian coaches. But this time, through the introduction of this Danish friend, Grund and his gang completely understood the enemy's strength - the main force of Pine Needle Manor was 3,000 people, and 3,000 idiots with worrisome combat effectiveness! The Russians actually seriously overestimated their enemies.
The Dane was also shocked that the main Russian army not only arrived, but was also led by Rurik himself.
The Danish king Hafgen was hit by a Russian ship and disappeared into the sea. He must have become fish feed. The person who killed him was said to be Rurik of Rus.
"Your financial backer, Rurik, is going to wipe out the entire Pine Needle Manor this time?" the Dane asked cautiously.
"Of course! All living creatures, including poultry and livestock, will be killed. They want to eradicate traitors. Brothers, we are all Danes, and there is no point in killing each other, but the Russians are different. The Russians and Svealans We all work together, and if you are caught by them on the battlefield, you are likely to be killed. Go back and tell your boss that we will launch a strong attack tomorrow, and you'd better retreat quickly to avoid accidental injury."
This was clearly what he said from the bottom of his heart, and the Dane nodded in agreement: "You saved our brother's life. My name is Karl Krasson, and I come from the Sigurd tribe. I have been wandering around for many years."
"I'm different. My grandfather was a fish seller in Hezeby. I've been working as a mercenary for people since I came out to make a living." Grund said.
"Then we can be considered neighbors."
"You should withdraw quickly, I have a suggestion."
"Please speak," said Kalkrasson.
"You all hide first and then come out when the battle is over. You are all working for the sponsor. It would be good for you to work for him afterwards."
"Thank you for your kindness. We still like the days of freedom. Next we plan to go to the south. Maybe we can meet again in the future. Friends, I have to leave quickly. We will evacuate tonight. Don't worry, we will not deal with the Ross army. Tell that to the Slavs.”
"It doesn't matter." Grund said with a smile: "It doesn't matter whether they know it or not. They will all die tomorrow. I have to escort the prisoners back to collect the reward quickly. Let's say goodbye. Goodbye friends, maybe we can meet again in the future. Goodbye Heideby."
They said goodbye, and only the dead bodies lying on the grass silently told the horror just now.
