"Edinburgh County is located in the northernmost part of the region. There is a threat from the Picts (Scotland) in the north. It has always been unwilling to participate in wars, so it remains neutral and does not enter the dispute between the two kings.
There are many lords and mixed forces in this place, and there are thousands of Vikings who stayed here to establish their homes.
There are some landless knights who have also settled here. When we become stronger, I will send people to win over the lords here.
Next is Yewei County.
Yerwei is located below the county of Edinburgh. The nominal county lord is 'Earle Sacks'.
He had accepted Ella. Norn's help, so recognizes Aela's rule,
But it was only in name. I heard that Ella asked Earl and Sachs for supplies last time but failed.
Yewei County has little contact with us, and we are not afraid of him attacking us. This man's "cowardlessness" is well-known throughout the region. Even when his own wife and children are sick, he is not willing to spend more money. For one silver coin, the cemetery was widened.
Then came Carlisle County.
Carlisle County is located in the southwest of Yewei County, and the lord of this county truly supports Ella.
Northumbria is located in the center of the region and has the same name as the region, Ella. Norn himself directly belongs to the territory.
Two of these four counties support or belong to Ella.
For the other four counties, let’s look at County Durham first.
County Durham - We currently control 40% of the land in the county, and two barons and some independent small estate owners co-exist with us.
There are about 3,000 registered citizens in our territory. If we add in the undocumented beggars, vagrants, and criminals, the number can reach 4,000 to 4,500, and we can dispatch up to 600 troops.
Unless the other two barons attack us at the same time, we have no opponent in this county.
Our county nobles are currently neutral and do not support either of the two kings.
The remaining three counties are in the south of the region, namely Aldborough, York, and Manchester.
These three counties are the base camp of Ella's brother 'Osbert'. Although there are many counties supporting Osbert, the territory and population are significantly smaller than the above five counties. They are also under pressure from the 'Kingdom of Mercia', one of the seven countries further south. .
In the battle between two kings, both sides, excluding necessary garrison troops and border personnel, can each draw no more than 3,000 combat troops, and the total number cannot exceed 6,000.
With such a small number of people, once the Viking offensive increases, they will bow their heads to the nobles in their territory and fight against the enemy together.
During his lifetime, his father relied on force to become an independent and powerful baron.
But I feel that we have come to an end. At this moment, we should change our position. It is better to be independent. Relying on stronger forces also gives us more choices.
We choose a new monarch and use his name to expand.
Osbert is too far away from us, and he is several years older than Ella. He has one foot that cannot walk, and he has no idea how long he will live. He has suffered repeated defeats against the Vikings, so it is not suitable to choose him.
If Ella is willing to ally with us, then we will not be too troubled by sending troops to the other two barons, and the unified 'Durham County' will become Ella's supporter and help him unify the eight counties (nominally).
This was a good business, and Ella would not refuse it if she valued the real benefits. "
After listening to this long list, Ulf's drunkenness had already dissipated. He was about to say something, but Oran did not give him a chance to speak, and set his sights on "Yewei County" in the north of the territory.
"Yewei County" is the territory of the "Beauty Adisha" mentioned by the traitor Sauger before.
"Ulf, Adisha was originally a baroness in this county, wasn't she?"
"Yes, as an only daughter, she inherited the castle and title left by her father."
According to the memory absorbed by Oran, King Ella wanted to form an alliance with Oran's father because of the unstable battle for the throne. However, due to the slander of his cousin Sogg, he asked his father to send troops to snatch the woman Adisha, which made them hostile to each other. In the end, my father also died of battle wounds.
"Women are trouble."
Oran recalled this incident and blurted it out in front of Mi'er.
This frightened the timid Mi'er who was fanning herself. She wondered what she had done to annoy the lord?
Hearing Mr. Oran discuss Mrs. Adisha again, I felt a little jealous.
Legend has it that there was no more beautiful woman in Northumbria or even England than Lady Adisha.
A bard who had seen her face said two words that were widely circulated.
"No matter how fierce a warrior is, he will turn into a sheep under her tears."
"No matter how weak a man is, under her smile, he becomes a lion guarding him."
Mi'er has never seen him, but Oran has seen him once in his memory. He followed his father to a meeting of regional lords who resisted the Vikings.
That was three years ago.
According to Oran standards, she is fair-skinned and beautiful, with charming eyes and a well-proportioned body.
But this is a cultural statement and not grounded.
If you use a blacksmith, a farmer, or his knights:
"I can sleep with her in bed and not get out of bed for a year."
…
"Sir, Your Majesty Ella is the Lord of Northumbria. This marriage may be... or we can find a Frank noble? Based on your prestige, strength, and appearance, we can actually find many old nobles who are willing..."
Ulf thought it was difficult because the dead old baron accidentally killed one of Ella's nephews and illegitimate son when he sent troops to snatch women. If he was really sent to propose marriage, he was afraid of dying in Ella's hands.
"You are a priest, does Ella dare to kill you?"
"Far water cannot extinguish the Viking fire. The Vikings have unimpeded access to the land of Ella. Even his mother and wife were brought to the Viking area as a 'guest'. As long as he thinks calmly, he will agree."
Oran could see what Ulf was worried about.
"Sir, half a year ago Baron Westmore, who is from the same county as us, went to visit Her Majesty Ella with a cart full of gifts, but Her Majesty Ella's relatives laughed at Baron West, and even insects wanted to fly high. The tower almost triggered a banquet duel..."
"That's enough! If you're thinking of convincing me, why not think of how to convince others? I'll ask you to bring a gift, and Ella will agree."
Ulf understood that this gift should be Adisha.
Swapping women for women means that Oran already knows the whereabouts of Adisha?
Seeing that Oran had made up his mind, Father Ulf changed his words and said, "Then we have to decide the size of the bride price and who the bride is going to be. Her Majesty Ella has four daughters."
Ulf prayed again in his heart not to choose the third daughter.
This is what he fears most. It is said that the third daughter and Ella have a relationship that goes beyond the normal relationship between father and daughter.
Last time, West was sixty years old. Baron Moore sent someone to ask for his third daughter.
As a result, the envoy encountered an accident on his way back to the city. Who knows if it was Ella's fault?
"I will marry his eldest daughter, Malm, according to the bride price of the baron on the island."
Ulf was even more confused. Although his eldest daughter was also beautiful, she had been insulted by the Vikings...
Lord Oran is famous for hating Vikings, so why would he want to find such a woman?
He almost said the words "The lord is stupid"...
At night, the stars dimmed, and only a few rooms in the castle were lit with candles.
Oran was looking at the parchment brought up by the people below, thinking about how to improve the paper.
He has many technical improvement plans in his mind, but they are all fragmented and cannot be formed. It will take time and experience to gradually materialize the things in his mind.
He scrawled and made corrections on the papyrus he bought, leaving his ideas behind.
