Timber battens were used to reinforce the wooden walls, and some temporary scaffolding was begun. Old mercenaries with considerable combat experience piled rocks and soil at the main entrance of the shop and mansion. The trolleys with goods were also pushed to the wall. The cart shafts were removed and wooden boxes were piled up to temporarily serve as a place for standing, which was enough for the soldiers to carry half of the carts. Stretch out.
Blue Fox checked the weapons of his people. Although most of them were equipped with convenient melee weapons, they also had some crossbows with wooden arms, and another bow of average quality. The arrows have inherited the tradition of the Russians. The carbon steel quenched arrow clusters have good penetrating power and are effective against any enemy.
Ross's Shop became a fortress, with circular wooden walls framing a turtle shell. The wood in their outdoor stalls has been cleared and turned into tools for reinforcement.
It would be too passive to become a turtle and just watch.
One quiet night, Blue Fox summoned all the soldiers in the house.
Although they were isolated and deliberately trapped in a corner, the soldiers showed a fearless aura, as if they didn't care about their own death and just wanted to enjoy the fun of killing.
The ominous atmosphere in Hedeby City can now be detected by soldiers standing on high ground. No one dared to approach the fortress of Rose's shop. Occasionally, ignorant children would poke their heads out and see soldiers approaching indifferently with a wave of their hands. The children were immediately taken away by their families, which undoubtedly revealed an obvious signal of crisis.
The gorgeous clothes were put aside, and the blue fox also put on an iron helmet. His face was squeezed and distorted, but even though this helmet was the largest, it could only barely fit the blue fox's head.
This young man, who looked like a fat seal with a big belly, was very suitable for him to be a big businessman, but it would be too ridiculous for him to be a warrior.
Absurd as it is, businessmen should think about how to protect themselves under the obvious military pressure from the enemy.
Some veterans took the opportunity and said casually: "No one is afraid of the Danes. The new Danes are still our defeat. It's just that we have few people and few weapons in our hands. If we want to kill many enemies, we still have to fight with them." They fought hard."
When talking about fighting, a veteran immediately retorted: "Confused! You want us to fight them head-on? We obviously have few people, so doing this is courting death."
"What's wrong? We are almost certain to die in battle. I want to look like the heads of a group of enemies from the front, instead of standing on a high place and firing cold arrows as planned."
"Do you think it is not honorable to shoot cold arrows? If the enemy is dead and you are alive, it will be honorable. No one cares whether you kill the enemy with an ax or a sword."
"False. A true warrior should chop off his enemy's head with an axe."
"Forget it, if you let the prince choose, he will definitely give us brothers a steel-armed crossbow, and let us line up to shoot arrows. The swords and axes will not be stained with blood, and we will get pieces of enemy corpses."
…
The old mercenaries themselves can start a fight. They each have their own reasons. Blue Fox is very happy with their momentum, but he is unhappy at this juncture. There are still people who want to pursue the so-called fair duel.
Blue Fox spoke: "Now is not the time for us to quarrel. I am the commander here, but I am not a soldier, and I don't understand some tactics. But I only know one principle. There is no need for brothers to fight to the last man. I hope that you can continue to kill the enemy without killing anyone on our side. I hope that you will all give your opinions, guard our wooden wall, and try to think of ideas of killing the enemy through the wall."
The old mercenary who was eager to break through the wall and form a formation to kill the enemy fell silent, and his followers also fell silent.
As for Blue Fox's proposal, everyone really couldn't think of any new tricks other than releasing cold arrows.
"All you think about is archery? Don't you have any more ideas?"
Lan Hu was dissatisfied, and was unable to make irresponsible remarks.
That Wadi Zdalovich suggested: "How about we prepare some stones, which can also kill and injure the enemy."
"Stones...we still have some rocks here." Blue Fox was really speechless.
Vardy asked again: "If we make a batch of slings out of strips of cloth and rope, the small stones will become useful."
"Sling? Are you good at throwing stones? That thing doesn't work at all. It's just a trick that shepherds play."
Vardy immediately became excited: "Sir, do you have any more options? We brothers (referring to the Slavs) all know this trick. If the enemy does not have armor, the stones we throw out will give them a powerful taste."
"Okay." Blue Fox shrugged, "At least it's a way. You..." He looked at the others again, "You should try to find some better ideas."
In fact, some people thought of heating hot water. Some old mercenaries saw what the local defenders did when the Swedish coalition forces besieged Borgholm Fortress. What they poured down was hot oil, which later turned into hot water, but it didn't work. The siege caused a group of people extremely painful blows that they couldn't bear to look at. But there are many problems with this method. For example, they don't have much water, and they also lack pottery urns and fuel wood.
Ross' shop could have had a torsion slingshot available, but Blue Fox required that the armed merchant ships returning home must be equipped just in case something unexpected happened when passing through the waters of Burgundy Island, so there was no one left.
Blue Fox had his own considerations. He didn't want to fight to the death from the beginning. He just wanted to kill a large group of enemies and then escape in a strange way.
No one had any objections to the issue of shooting cold arrows. As for Blue Fox's order, someone finally found a way to make the whole room laugh.
"The arrow clusters smear our excrement. The prince said that excrement is a kind of filth, and there are some invisible bad things in it. When it comes into contact with bleeding skin and flesh, it will cause redness and swelling, and eventually people will die of fever. If there is no strong Wine cleans the wound, it is certain death.”
Someone said this, and everyone was really happy.
This is a method after all. Since the prince said that this trick is effective and explained the principle inside, the brothers don't have to use it in vain.
This was a meeting to discuss more ways to kill enemies, but the result of the research was nothing more than fancy archery and slings with unknown effects. They also developed some new tactics in terms of tactics, such as making some ladders and assembling wooden slats on the roofs of the houses within the walls to form platforms for crossbow-wielding warriors to lie down and shoot arrows.
According to this plan, the Russians will consume arrows on a large scale. The arrows in Blue Fox's hand are actually not many. There are forty cross lunge bows in total, and the arrows can barely make up a thousand. Since arrows were the main force in killing enemies, Blue Fox had no choice but to mobilize his men to do more.
How to make more arrows? Soldiers are good at using their ingenuity in difficult situations. At first, long arrows were cut into two pieces, thick iron nails in the wooden sticks, leftover food bones, and even pottery fragments were polished and trapped on the wooden poles with ropes. It doesn't matter whether they have tail feathers or not. These can only be fired with a crossbow. If you can hit them at close range, you will win.
They haven't come to the point of inventing the split arrow on their own, but they have realized that one arrow can be used as a double weapon.
On the other hand, Wadi Zdalovich also led his hometown people to build their slings, which were just hemp ropes tied to a cloth bag, and their power was unknown in terms of simplicity.
They still have a way to escape unscathed. Blue Fox is a businessman, and when doing business, he must be cautious. Big businessmen are often the coveted targets of powerful gangs. If the other party comes to rob them by force, the wealthy businessmen must have an escape route to escape.
An alleyway was excavated just beneath Rose's shop. The interior was pitch black, but the passageway was reinforced with wooden bars. It's not very narrow, and it's just right for the fat guy like Blue Fox to run in one direction, which is enough.
The alleyway leads to about 200 meters away. It is said that when the shop was first built, the old guy Gould told his second son Blue Fox that it was similar to the "cunning rabbit's three burrows". The alleyway and the shop were built at the same time, and a large number of excavated The soil was conveniently placed next to the wooden wall, and the wall was reinforced.
Even if there is an escape route, many old mercenaries are like sharks that smell blood. You can say that they are ignorant, but they have their own opinions. They always feel that they are not ordinary mercenaries, but personal soldiers of the Son of God. It allows the enemy to see his escaping back.
The Russians have given up all illusions. They stay behind closed doors and hang the white-and-blue-striped Russian flag on the wall. There is more than one flag, which is a mockery of Stade.
Since a group of big businessmen and a group of gang leaders described the legend of Roseburg's gold and silver mountains, Stade and his brothers were also actively preparing for war.
Attacking a wooden fortress? Based on his experience in robbing wealthy locals in Flanders, Stade knew nothing about sieges.
The wealthy people in Flanders or some villages would build walls to create shelters.
In a substantial sense, Horik's group who invaded Flanders were among the first "Norman conquerors". However, as Horik led his troops back to Denmark, the territory they occupied in Flanders was destined to decline rapidly, and they did not achieve long-term conquest. These years of ravages have greatly changed the lives of the locals in Flanders. They were afraid of being robbed by the Norman bandits of Durist, so powerful people began to build defensive measures, such as building strong buildings, setting up defensive towers and digging tunnels. Ditches, buildings stored enough food to keep many people alive for a long time and wells dug.
It was the ravages of the Vikings that led to the "Castle Age" in Western Europe. Any capable village lord with financial resources would build defensive buildings of wood and stone to shelter the fleeing people when the Vikings invaded.
Changes first occurred in Flanders, where locals began to build wooden fortresses. While it became more difficult for the Normans to rob, they also began to practice engineering skills.
Stud only knew two tricks: piling logs on a wheelbarrow to break through walls. There are also long ladders made so that warriors can climb directly into the wall.
Another trick that is generally not easy to use is to throw a rope with a loop and wrap it around some protrusions of the wooden wall. The brothers swarm up and pull the rope to forcefully collapse the wall.
The new armored Danes are actually chopping wood?
The gray wolf Karl, who wanted to participate in the war as a form of submission, had already summoned 500 people with coaxing and deception! A large group of ragged locals, carrying their own various weapons, formed a menacing army and came towards the Stade soldiers.
The appearance of a large army really surprised Stud. The gray wolf Karl, wearing an iron helmet on his head, reported to his new master with great pride.
"Look, these are my people. Don't look at them. They are a little slovenly. They will be like hungry wolves and mad dogs. They will even use their teeth to bite in order to fight."
"Mad dog and hungry wolf? Why do I feel like they are a group of beggars?" Stud's words were very aggressive, and the gray wolf Karl was speechless for a moment.
"Forget it." Stade waved his hand: "I've seen it all. You have a large number of people. I hope these guys who attack the signs are really not afraid of death in battle."
"Ah?! You know everything?"
"You're arresting people in the city and nearby Saxon villages. It's not like you're doing this kind of thing. That's fine..."
Stade became interested. He walked into the group of peasants, traders and even small craftsmen who had been forced to attack, and announced to them: "I am your future lord! You are fighting for me now. When you win, you will All will be rewarded.”
Then some people started shouting and cheering, and then a group frenzy arose.
This was such an unparalleled momentum that even the Russians in the distant fortress noticed that it was the Viking war cry of the soldiers, and it also brought an abrupt end to the peaceful and boring days that had been going on for many days. The war is finally coming?
Gray Wolf Karl did not hesitate to take credit: "I just said, these people are so powerful that they will definitely help you win. Then from now on..."
"Don't worry, we won't treat the meritorious people badly. You can leave with them."
"Yes. It's just..."
"What's wrong?"
"I have a question to ask."
"What's the matter?"
"I saw your warriors chopping wood and preparing a lot of hemp ropes. This..."
Stade didn't bother to explain, thinking that this leader wouldn't be so stupid that he couldn't even attack a city? Maybe that's true.
"You don't need to ask any more questions. You will understand when I decide to go to war. Now I will give you a task."
"As you command!"
"I haven't said it yet!"
"Of course my brothers and I will obey your orders."
This guy's attitude is like that of a pug, and I'm afraid it's just a bit more hypocritical and conciliatory. It doesn't matter whether he was just pretending or not, Stade directly ordered: "Then prepare more bows and collect arrows."
"As commanded."
Is it difficult to dismantle that fortress? The scouts sent by Stade were observing in secret, and those who returned claimed to have seen the Russians actively preparing for war, and even transformed the roofs of their houses into towers.
Stader was quite arrogant at first, but now that the scout reported this unusual information, he had to become serious.
The Russians are by no means confident in their field battles. Do they even think they are good at building defenses? The dress of their soldiers is quite similar to that of the Frankish regular army. If their strength can be compared with that of the Frankish army, I really need to treat them with caution.
He began to respect his opponents. The so-called best respect is to use the greatest strength to drive away the opponents.
What's more, August is not far away, and the wheat harvest will begin throughout Denmark. The Danish heroes who are out robbing will also go home to harvest wheat. These people will see that Denmark has changed when they return, but these people are probably the most unruly people in Denmark. To make these people surrender to the new king, Horik needs some victories.
Horik was preparing. He sent Stade to occupy Hedeby and declare his dominance, and also gave him the qualification to annihilate the rebels. In fact, Horik was also worried that his general would bring all his own men. It would be terrible if Haizebi separated himself from the army.
Horik decided to lead his troops to Hedebe during the wheat harvest season and occupy the trading city founded by his grandfather to show all the Danish lords and pirate leaders what courage was.
In order to please his master, Stade encountered the disgusting thorn of the Ross merchants. If he didn't annihilate them, wouldn't he be disgusting with King Horik in the end?
Those big businessmen lied that there was a mountain of gold and silver in Stad that could be robbed. They gave all the support except help. Even a so-called mercenary did not cooperate. Instead, they guarded their wealth and watched the fight between tigers and tigers.
It is impossible for the gang leader and a group of loyal horsemen to go through fire and water themselves. The brothers also succumbed to the legend of wealth and waited to steal the money after victory.
Since then, a group of poor civilians have been gathered together. Almost all of them have been forcibly recruited. However, after learning that if they win the battle, they will have the right to rob the Russian people of their mountains of silver coins, the civilian farmers are excited because they all know that the Russian merchants are real. of money. They had long envied the wealth of the Russian merchants, just because they would inevitably die if they robbed a weak force. Now, the new king of Denmark is backing them to justify the collective robberies. The so-called this is not robbery but a fight for the honor of Denmark. .
The leaders of various gangs were arresting people, but in the end, a team of thousands of people was gathered in Hedeby and nearby villages! A group of farmers are very much looking forward to plundering a sum of money from the Ross merchants before the wheat harvest, so that they can wipe out the rent they owe the landlord, or get a sum of money to buy new land and farm tools, or even find a wife.
It is true that they are farmers, but they are farmers in Denmark. They are completely different from Frankish farmers and British farmers. This group of people has actually transformed into shirtless Viking pirates. It's just that their weapons are too poor. Their offensive weapons are just hand axes, short spears, harpoons, and rusty iron swords. However, each of them has prepared a round shield that can protect most of their torso. Many people were literally shirtless, with weird braids and even beards in braids.
It is reasonable for Stade to say that they are like beggars, because Horik's old subordinates have completely popularized the armor. Although it is made of cowhide and riveted iron sheets, this method is very similar to the Frankish regular infantry. It is Horik's new Denmark. The army can reflect dazzling light under the sun, and its momentum can't be compared to that of a group of shirtless soldiers?
At least they were outnumbered, and the scale of more than a thousand people was completely beyond his expectation. He thought that this attack would be easy to win. Studd even felt that making his own siege engines and ladders was redundant.
