Rise of Rurik

From March to early April, the Danish world welcomes their spring plowing.

Many leaders gathered in the Øresund Strait to meet with their past Ragnar. While the Ross army had not yet left, they took advantage of the situation to discuss the next major events.

A door is open to all of Denmark!

Although according to the treaty the Danes could not cross the Schleswig Wall to colonize the Saxon territory, the control of the town of Schleswig already belonged entirely to the Kingdom of Denmark, or Ragnar himself had sovereignty over the city.

The Schleswig area has been Danish territory since ancient times. With the Frankish invasion, it has become the opponent's base of attack. For this reason, Denmark's trade center had to move north, and in fact Hedeby was also very close to Schleswig.

One is at the deepest point of the bay and the other is at the outlet of the bay.

The spare Hedeby tended to prosper but was eventually destroyed by the war. Now everything is back to the past, and Schleswig can once again become the first trading town in Denmark.

Even if the entire Jutland Peninsula suffered heavy losses due to the war, as long as all the Danish nobles work together, it is not a problem to restore the past prosperity.

Even all lords should boldly go out.

The salt boiling camp at the mouth of the Elbe River and Rotterstad at the mouth of the Rhine River were territories that the Kingdom of Denmark could legally occupy according to the treaty. The brothers wanted a safe trading point and a city that could be directly controlled by the Danish nobles. Most of them lack confidence in going deep into the Franks to plunder, but they have great ideas about doing business in the direction of the Franks and making a fortune.

However, this group of people immediately became suspicious of the plan to plunder the Kingdom of Wessex.

Their hearts were on fire, and they were trembling with excitement at the thought of plundering and making a fortune.

Because Ragnar himself told these guys an important piece of information - the Wessex people do not have any naval power.

The longships could arrive at the seaside of Wessex like ghosts, and the army would plunder and then depart, leaving the Wessex army with no chance of counterattack. After grabbing the property, the fleet immediately crossed the North Sea and sold the stolen goods at the stronghold at the mouth of the Rhine and Elbe rivers. Everything was described so wonderfully that it seemed as if future robberies would always be successful.

For Ragnar, as long as he can continue to bring wealth to the Danish nobles, his personal prestige will increase day by day.

Just like those praised great chiefs in the past, the chief would always point out the way to get rich for his brothers, and then the brothers would flock to them and make a fortune.

But now, Ragnar is content to be the leader of all the chieftains in Denmark.

In the past year of war, the once psychedelic Frankish Kingdom has lost its mysterious aura. Frank's army is not weak, it can only be said that the Ross-Danish coalition is too strong.

Ludwig was a captured king. Even so, he still had the confidence to yell at his former ministers.

Even facing this defeated man, King Rurik of Rus maintained a friendly attitude toward him.

Is this the aura a king should have? Even though he was defeated and captured, Ludwig was still king. Unlike here in Denmark, if a great chieftain is defeated, the brothers who follow him often change their ways.

"Becoming a real king, I can give various orders to these nobles. They will respect me and be used by me. I am by no means an alliance leader. Yes, my family is a hereditary king."

Ragnar is still very confused about all this, and there are several real-life examples here. Even if these kings are not in the country, they still have supreme power.

Unlike Ragnar now, he still needs to gather the leaders together to have a good chat to ensure that his kingship is truly stable.

Because he can never maintain his royal power only by relying on foreign plunder and war.

What he wanted was a real feudal revolution.

Rurik was well aware of Ragnar's budding ambition, and the Danes' Viking craze would be a "historical necessity."

But the course of history has changed dramatically, and the rise of Rus has made the Viking Age outrageous.

Rurik feels that future historians will not describe these years as the age of Viking piracy.

Because Ross is not a barbarian at all, her rise is just like Rome's expansion from a small city-state to an inland sea a thousand years ago...

At least now Ross has a stable western environment, and an overall peaceful maritime trade environment has been born. Then, after Ross recuperates, he can fully explore the East.

"My brothers Kagan and my friends in Kiev, how are they doing?"

Now after achieving a strategic victory over East Francia, Rurik had to think about his layout in the east before the war began.

What about the Smolensk people who were deliberately oppressed by attacks from the north and the south, fled and defected to their enemy Vadim? Was there a war in the east? Have the Slavic armed farmers and the Russian army in Novgorod protected their living space?

"The people of Smolensk will definitely be unable to stand up. The raiding force I arranged will perform meritorious service. Perhaps a large number of prisoners have been transported to the north, and Kagan and his Pechenegs will make a lot of money." Rurik Thinking like this.

He had been away from his hometown for a long time, and now it was time to return home. He was not overjoyed, but was just increasingly tired from traveling and traveling. The army's rest and recuperation in Mahoubi is very important. The topics quietly chatted among the soldiers are worth pondering.

Apparently the warriors were warlike because it made the brave rich. They are also very tired and eager to take a long rest after returning to their hometown and turn the looted wealth into fixed family assets.

There is also a very real topic - spring plowing.

The end of April is the spring plowing period in Novgorod and Novorosberg, both of which are the kingdom’s grain producing areas. If food could not be obtained through raiding, Rus could only meet its needs through its own agriculture.

It is a fool's errand to try to purchase food from the outside world to meet one's own needs. Ross has already developed a huge appetite. No outside power can satisfy this growing mouth, unless Ross himself continues to expand and open up fertile land. The only one who can satisfy Ross's appetite is Ross himself. External plunder is a powerful boost, but in the end he has to rely on his own endogenous strength.

As long as the troops return home at the end of April, they will transform into farmers carrying shovels.

Thousands of laborers were disarmed and returned to the fields. Only by rushing to this special battlefield could they lay the foundation for a good harvest in 841.

The rest in Mahoubi finally came to an end, during which the army also encountered a spring rain that lasted for several days.

This rain is more beneficial to Denmark who are plowing in the spring, but it is really bad for the resting army.

Fortunately, after one rainfall, there is a high probability that there will not be another one, and people firmly believe that the weather will be sunny for at least a week.

It was a quiet night. The campfire was baking wet clothes and cloth. The soldiers slept in the open air around the campfire. The air was filled with the smell of earth, sea, and the burning smell of charcoal ashes.

The climate is no longer harsh, and the sensitive warriors are aware of the pure south wind.

That morning, the red sun broke through the east. When people who got up early to appreciate the sunrise washed their faces in the cool stream, they gradually felt the breeze caressing their cheeks like a mother's hand.

It's the south wind! Definitely a southerly wind!

Although the sails of the anchored ship were furled and tied up, Ross's oar flag still flew at the top of the mast.

The north wind blows all the flags towards the north. This wind is definitely the south wind!

Today is the last day of rest, and the gentle breeze caressing his face makes Rurik happy.

The south wind must be the help of the gods. People's desire to return home has been fully mobilized, and they plan to pull anchor and set sail early tomorrow morning.

That night, a fierce bonfire crackled.

The King of Denmark and the King of Rus were sitting cross-legged here again. Now that there was no ale, they had to have a long and final conversation over grilled fish.

"I will lead my brothers on an expedition to Wessex after the spring plowing. This will not be a large-scale Danish attack. We will attack in many small groups. We only want to plunder and make money."

What Ragnar said was very candid. Rurik was surprised at first and then quickly softened his attitude: "Haha, it would be bad if you really launch a large-scale invasion and cause a large-scale war."

"I don't have that idea, and I don't have the ability for the time being, but...it won't be easy to say in the future."

"That's fine. What do you want to rob? A large amount of gold and silver?" Rurik asked calmly.

"Of course. We are only here to make a fortune. Or..." Ragnar looked at Rurik's face again, "Brother, you seem to have some suggestions?"

"Me? Nothing. Or...a little bit."

"What is it?"

"population."

"Slaves?" Ragnar pinched his chin and pretended to think deeply, "It's okay to rob people, and we can digest some of them. But those people don't believe in Odin, and catching them back will pollute our faith. I'm not as generous as you, I They cannot be tolerated.”

As if he was criticizing himself for not being pious enough, Rurik smiled and said nothing, thinking about it, he said: "It is understandable for slaves to believe in other gods. They are just slaves. Since you are so thoughtful, you can sell it to me, or sell it to Liudof .”

"That guy?!"

"It's never a problem for you. Wessex is a Saxon, and the people in Liudolf are also Saxons. It's just that some people went to the island, and some people didn't leave. You go to Wessex to capture people, I don’t believe that Liudov refused to buy it. After all, many people died in the war. If he wants to become bigger, he can only cooperate with you."

In the final analysis, killing was not Ragnar's original intention. He longed for wealth and power.

Rurik's words gave him a major reminder, and he slapped his thigh: "Okay! The silver coins are searched everywhere, and the slaves in Wessex should be easy to catch. I will sell a slave for one pound of silver coins, and I hope Liudolf will give it. Pay for it or exchange it for wheat."

"He will at least give you wheat and drive the carriage directly to Schleswig to complete the delivery."

"I hope so." Ragna smiled and shrugged: "You are like my biological brother. Helping me like this regardless of past grudges is obviously very good for you."

"Yes. A Denmark friendly to Rus is of course good for Rus, and an alliance between our two countries is just as good for you."

This was a polite statement. Ragnar did not make any rebuttal and said: "Now that the people I left behind in Novgorod can go home, I will build my new home in Mahobi. As for my Two sons, maybe it’s more appropriate for them to stay with you.”

"Ivar and Bjorn? Are you really willing?"

"Why are you reluctant? After all, I plan to lead a sneak attack on Wessex with my brothers. I don't know them. If I die in a failed sneak attack, someone must inherit my throne." Ragna looked at Liuli with complicated emotions. Grams, "As wise as you are, I don't need to say anything. You should understand everything."

"Oh~ I understand." Rurik said no more and nodded: "I will cultivate them. Even if Ivar cannot stand, he is your son, and I will cultivate his wisdom. As for your throne Who will succeed him, obviously the sound Bjorn, no one can question him."

"That's Bjorn!" Ragnar looked up at the stars and sighed: "Rurik, I don't have your wisdom. I don't know why, but I think you are very fond of my two sons. You are like theirs." A biological uncle. It’s okay, you can teach them wisdom and fighting.”

"Hey, maybe you have more than two sons. I will send your people back and you will be reunited with your wife. In fact, you can marry again if you want."

Hearing this, Ragnar rolled his eyes at Rurik mercilessly, "Of all the kings I have ever heard of, you are the most philanthropic. Obviously only Odin is the greatest. Odin has twelve wives, but as a Those who are blessed by Odin have more wives than the God-King. You are a bull and you have many children. Obviously I can't."

"Thank you for your boast, but there is no need to depreciate yourself." After saying that, Rurik happily slapped his thigh: "I predict that you will have at least two sons. One is called Upa and the other is Hastein. , they will all be great warriors, just as brave as you, their father."

"Really? Thank you so much, I'm so happy now."

For Ragnar, the course of his family's history has completely changed.

In the original historical trajectory, Horik Haraldsson was still the chief of Denmark, but a chief who believed in God. Those chiefs who refused to convert retreated to islands such as Zealand to continue their lives, and they continued to actively expand in order to survive. Ragnar was the leader of this Viking wave, but behind this glory was the complete confiscation of his homeland in Denmark by Horik. The landless people longed for territory, and Ragnar and his friends eventually became pirates.

In today's time and space, Ragnar has become the king of Denmark, and his family does not have to wander around. He enjoyed Denmark having greater strategic initiative, and no longer even had to engage in piracy in a standard rogue manner.

Sitting by the campfire on the last day of the night, Ragnar had a detailed discussion with King Rurik of Rus. Ragnar made two decisions: to make Bjorn, who was just three years old, the crown prince of Denmark, and to place Bjorn and Ivar in Rus. of protons.

There is no need to say those things that each other knows well politically. At this moment, Ragnar and Rurik maintain a full tacit understanding.

The next day, the south wind was stronger than yesterday. The wind swept away the winter cold, and the frozen Scandinavia began to recover.

The huge peninsula was the first to recover from the southernmost region of Götaland.

People began to board the ship, and the horses were pulled into the clean cabin.

After a while, Rurik returned to the flagship. Here he took off his hat, let his iconic golden ponytail flutter in the wind, and then put on a golden laurel crown to show his status as a king.

The huge Ross fleet is about to set sail, and each ship is recovering the anchor, and then raising the sail.

Rurik was not alone in his return journey. His fleet was extremely large, and now there were a large number of longships following him to see him off.

Those longships have a variety of beautiful bows, which are completely different from the Ross jib and the purely original and traditional hengsail, with unique patterns or domineering words and words painted on them.

These are the ships of various Danish tribes in Zealand, and most of the leaders participated in this farewell. They did not receive any orders from Ragnar. Just because they knew the specific time for the Ross army to return home, they counted the days and came to see them off.

They sent a gift of some freshly caught herring, but the greatest gift was their send-off.

People are not stupid. Who is helping the part of Denmark that believes in Odin to rebuild its mountains and rivers? It was Rurik, king of Rus.

They shouted "Odin", "Friendship" and other words, paddling their oars and following the entire Ross fleet.

Until the speed of their oars gradually exceeded the wind, the huge fleet of all-colored triangular sails completely left the Oresund Strait and headed straight to the island of Bornholm due east.

Although the fleet will no longer rest on this island, Spyut and his men will separate from the Grand Fleet.

From Bornholm Island to Saaremaa Island, the security of this area of ​​​​the sea is responsible for the royal explorer Spyut, who was named the Count of Saaremaa.

For this ruthless man who is no longer young and has been to the Arctic Circle and Britain, the era of crazy adventures may be over. The squadron under his control would cruise throughout the eastern and southern Baltic Seas, fishing for herring and combating piracy.

After all, this sea area does not allow for a pirate group more powerful than myself! Spute still had the right to launch pirate attacks, but the targets were to exclude allies.

He still had the opportunity to launch piracy, targeting the Oberliddites, Pomeranians, Prussians, Kurlanders, Livonians and Estonians. Some of these ethnic groups with strange names are unknown to Spyut, thanks to the king's popular science and the terms he heard from the Saxons. Are they wealthy? have no idea. Attacking the ships of these tribes seemed profitable.

The entire royal pirate group used the islands of Saaremaa and Bornholm as bases, and they became the coastal defense force responsible for the southern waters of Russia. They will punish illegal pirates, collect some security fees for escorting merchant ships of their own and allies, and harvest large amounts of herring to make dried fish and boil salt for sale, which is also an important means of generating income.

Rurik then rested on the comfort of the southern sea area, but for the most insurance, Ross would also detach a fleet to station at the Tombstone Island base in the Åland Islands at the T-junction of the Baltic Sea. This move is very important because even the late High Priest Vilia had never heard of winter ice south of the Åland Islands in her extremely long life.

Tombstone Island has huge strategic value, so the fleet quickly sailed northward, catching the increasingly strong southerly wind like a sharp arrow, and it was only a few days before they returned home.