When everything was over, the entire forest became silent again.
The next day, Alfred's army camp discovered that a small team escorting food failed to report to the army camp on time. Alfred immediately ordered someone to investigate.
A knight led several cavalrymen and rushed out of the camp towards the direction where the grain transport team should come. Soon, they found the forest where the accident occurred.
"Gada." The war horse stepped on a burnt corpse and made a crisp sound. The smell of burnt wood immediately filled the forest.
"God, what happened?" The knight wearing an iron helmet looked at the scene in front of him on his horse and felt a chill climbing up his spine.
Because, in addition to the burnt corpses in the forest, the bark of several large trees was scraped off, and some pagan words were smeared with brown blood on them. It looked like some kind of witchcraft, which made the knight The soldiers and soldiers felt terrified, as if something terrifying would jump out of a hidden corner at the next moment.
"Sir, look here." Suddenly, a soldier stood next to the bushes, with a look of fear on his face, and pointed behind the bushes with his raised right hand.
"Ride it~~." The knight immediately kicked the belly of the war horse under his crotch and headed in the direction pointed by the soldier. When the knight came to the soldier, he could see the situation clearly from the height of the war horse.
When the knight's sight fell behind the bushes, he saw a naked corpse hanging upside down on a big tree. As the linen rope swayed creaking, the corpse gradually turned around, with its chest wide open. , the heart inside has disappeared.
"Oh wow." The soldier next to him immediately covered his mouth, turned his face to the side and vomited.
"God." The knight looked pale and couldn't help but stretched out his hand and crossed himself on his chest. What kind of cruel behavior could he do to kill an animal like this?
At this time, several other soldiers found a heart placed on the rock on the other side, with various strange symbols drawn around the heart.
"Vikings, damn Vikings." The soldiers began to shout, because only evil Vikings would use such weird words and bloody sacrificial rituals.
The knight immediately turned his horse's head and headed towards Alfred's camp. He wanted to report the matter to his king immediately, not only the terrible and bloody ritual of the Vikings, but also the entire Wessex army. The grain transport team was seriously threatened.
at this time
From the mountain stream, the Wessex envoy came out with the flag. After leaving the sight of the Vikings, the attendant flew towards the Wessex camp without looking back.
Soon, several soldiers came out of the camp and stepped forward to take him inside.
In Alfred's tent, the attendant stood in front of Alfred and reported to the king what happened in the mountain stream.
"You mean, there was a schism among the Vikings?" After listening to the attendant's report, Alfred was also confused. Although after a long period of research on the Vikings, Alfred also roughly understood that these things had never happened before. The northerners who came from the east were by no means monolithic, and would even kill each other. However, in the face of a powerful enemy, they still fell into divisions, which was a bit strange.
"Yes, there are differences among them about being baptized," the squire said to Alfred.
"That's understandable." Alfred nodded lightly. For this group of Vikings who had always believed in wrong religions, Alfred himself did not want them to all surrender to Christianity at once.
"Approximately how many people have agreed to be baptized?" At this time, Yin Sak, who had been listening silently, raised his eyebrows slightly and asked the attendant.
"Half of the North leaders agreed to the baptism. Of course, maybe they were attracted by the generous tribute." The attendant thought for a while and then said to Yinsak and Alfred.
"Half the people are already pretty good, but we still have to guard against the Vikings going back on their word." Yinsak glanced at Alfred. In fact, this appeasement strategy also has great differences among the Wessex people. Opinion, many people do not believe that the Vikings will obediently take the tribute, leave the territory of the Kingdom of Wessex, and return to the Danfa District.
"Do you think our nobles are willing to send troops to attack the Vikings?" After Alfred waved away his attendants, he turned to Yinsak and said.
"Your Majesty?" Yinsak was slightly startled. He originally thought that Alfred provided the tribute just to settle the matter. Could there be some hidden secret in it?
"Look at this." Alfred walked to the wooden table and handed a rolled-up parchment document in front of Yinsak.
Yinsak took the parchment doubtfully, and after opening it, he discovered that it was an urgent request for help from the Earl of East Saxon. It described the movements from the neighboring Suffolk and Cambridgeshires, where the Vikings seemed to have Plans to invade his territory.
"I originally thought they wouldn't make any move so soon, or that the war would end soon." Alfred sighed. Although as a king, Alfred could gather the armies of his vassals, but at the same time Responsible for protecting the security of the vassal's territory.
"I understand." At this time, Yinsak understood why Alfred suddenly proposed peace talks, because once the attack on Guzlen's army turned into a long war, other Vikings would take advantage of it, and by then Alfred would Fred would be in a dilemma.
In the mountain stream, although Ulf saw Alfred's intention to divide them, more Northmen were just deceived by the tribute and were willing to accept baptism and leave here with rich gold and silver. , Ulf only felt a deep sense of powerlessness, unable to lead his teammates.
"Ulf, maybe we can baptize and then regret it later." Guzrun seemed puzzled by Ulf's worries. As long as he doesn't accept Christianity deep down, what does the superficial form matter?
"Lord Guzrun, I have already said that this is poison. Once licked, it cannot be changed." Ulf frowned slightly and persuaded Guzrun.
Christianity looks mild and harmless on the surface, but it is extremely corrosive. The Vikings' beliefs are primitive and pure. They may look bloody at first glance, but they are a reverence for nature. As long as a small number of Vikings follow If you accept Christianity in your heart, it will be as unstoppable as the plague. The contradiction between traditional and emerging religions will make the already loose Vikings even more divided.
"Just those lamb-like Christians?" Guzrun sneered. Since he was young, Guzrun has followed Ragnar's sons to rob churches everywhere. Those Christians who can only kneel on the ground and clasp their hands , is simply at the mercy of others, without the slightest ability to resist.
Seeing this, Ulf could only remain silent. Under the temptation of money and faith, most of the North leaders would succumb. Even if they regretted it in the future, they would fall into the Wessex excuse and prove their capriciousness. Despicable reputation.
The next day Gutzlen sent to the Wessex camp and expressed to them his willingness to accept peace terms.
Alfred immediately agreed and arranged for people to go to the nearby lake to select a place for baptism. The bishop led the servants to build an altar on the shore to facilitate prayers and the giving of holy blood and holy bread.
"Traitor." In the mountain stream, the Norwegian leader looked at the North soldiers who left the camp and walked towards the lake. He couldn't help but spit in their direction, and then cursed in a low voice.
"The gods will punish them." Vargas also looked angrily, playing with the skull in his hand, glancing at the sky and then said.
"Sir, after we finish fighting here, we will leave. What are your plans?" Ulf sighed softly, and he turned to the Norwegian leader and said.
"My name is Orf, I come from Sogn. We originally planned to find a fertile land to settle here, but it seems impossible. I wonder where Sir Ulf is going to adventure?" The Norwegian leader Orf said this He admired Ulf very much at that time. If Ulf hadn't acted righteously, he and his men would have been killed by Wessex.
"Just in time, we want to return to East Hamar first. It would be my honor if you are willing to join my territory." Ulf said to Orff calmly.
"That's great." Orff seemed to have some unspeakable secrets and was unwilling to return to the Sogn territory in Norway. When he heard that Ulf had his own territory, his expression became much more cheerful.
"Well, there is nothing left to miss here." Ulf frowned and looked at many North warriors walking towards the lake, where the bishop Alfred was holding a pastoral staff and solemnly praying for each North warrior. Baptize them and declare them Christians.
Although some North warriors laughed and seemed nonchalant, Ulf was very sure that after accepting this set of rituals, these North warriors would change deep in their hearts.
"We can't let them get the souls of the Norse so easily." Suddenly, Ulf felt a dull feeling in his heart, and there was always an unhappiness in his heart. He turned around and walked down the wooden wall a few steps and came to In his tent, he carried the box containing the war hammer on his back.
Immediately afterwards, he led a war horse, got on the horse, and galloped towards the lake.
Everyone was very surprised. They didn't understand what Ulf was going to do, so they could only watch his actions blankly.
"Grey Law~~."
With the sound of a war horse neighing, Alfred and others who were watching the baptism by the lake couldn't help but look in the direction of the sound. They saw a man wearing animal skins, chainmail, and carrying an iron box. Viking warriors came galloping on horseback.
"Your Majesty, be careful." The Wesac nobles and knights hurriedly surrounded Alfred, fearing that the Vikings would suddenly change their mind and attack Alfred.
"Who is this?" However, Alfred's expression did not change. Instead, he asked Yinsak beside him in a low voice.
"Ulf, a young leader of the Vikings." Yinsak narrowed his eyes and said to Alfred quickly.
