Rise of Rurik

Seeing his son again, the old king could not hide the joy in his heart.

When I learned that my son was going to start a new war, I felt excited and worried at the same time.

Rurik was sitting here, and old Otto could look down on his son's handsome face that looked exactly like his own when he was young.

"You achieved great success in the previous expedition. Our footsteps have reached incredibly far away places. I sometimes wonder, are our actions too radical?"

"Father." Rurik said with a serious face, "This is my decision after careful consideration. It is an extension of the last war."

"But it's too radical. We are even fighting for others. Is this... very beneficial to us?"

"Of course it is full of opportunities. Father, please listen to me slowly..."

Now, Rurik wants to convince his father and also himself.

What is the purpose of continuing to use troops in the Franks and participating in their civil war with high intensity? Of course it's for profit.

The Ross Army will be entrenched in Nassau and will nominally form an alliance with the Nassau Baron Army. However, it would have made more sense to call him Count of Nassau in 842.

That Henry Nassau was a pragmatic man who relied on marriage to strengthen their bonds, and modern Ross had even more reasons to protect him.

The fat black fox had objectively given up his identity as a Gould family and inherited the name of Nassau. Rurik had never expected to control that area as his son-in-law. Rurik couldn't even think of Count Ingol's selling land and retreating, as well as his actual betrayal of the Eastern Kingdom.

Ross did a lot of things when he launched the invasion carelessly.

Frank is at least a "civilized world", and there is not even a high-sounding reason for launching an invasion. It is really difficult to accept.

The big nobles wanted to evacuate, even all the way to Tours in the Western Kingdom. For this reason, they even offered an olive branch to the Russian merchants. When the big nobles evacuate, what will happen to the small nobles who have the remaining land? Are those people willing to surrender to Nassau? If they don't comply, they need to be forced to comply by force.

At the beginning of the period, Rurik's plan was divided into three parts. The first was to establish a Ross store in Nassau, the second was to increase troops and carry out sabotage operations in the Middle Kingdom, and the third was to form an alliance with the Eastern Kingdom to join the civil war.

Naturally, the Ross army would not obey Ludwig of the Eastern Kingdom. That guy had better keep paying for his services, so that Ross would fight for him in the manner of a Norman mercenary. In fact, everyone can accept this. Ludwig has been raising Norman mercenaries for a long time, but the unit has been disbanded. Especially now that his strength has been severely damaged, that man needs new mercenaries.

Rurik explained all this to his father as usual...

Otto's body is aging, but his mind is still clear.

The expedition to Frank was beyond the knowledge of the old king. He was getting older and had the idea of ​​​​defending the status quo, but he also realized that tens of thousands of the new generation of Russians who were growing up and howling, their battle axes and swords had not yet drank blood. Carrying the glory of their ancestors, they urgently need glory.

"How many troops do you... plan to send? Is it still a national war this time? I am very worried about your risk-taking. I am afraid that you will be too radical and cause disaster."

Faced with Old Otto's heartfelt words, Rurik had a meaningless hesitation on his face. He knew what he was thinking and replied with a serious face: "We are facing a somewhat responsible situation and we really don't dare to be radical. I plan to dispatch a thousand people." Expedition to the Franks.”

"A thousand men? Not too much, not too little. Ah, looking back at my life, launching a thousand men to fight is already a big deal! With you, a thousand warriors are no longer a big army. Only you can fight with this kind of wealth battle."

"Especially those young people." Rurik continued: "Askard took my newly established seventh flag team to the expedition. When they reach age, it is time to accept the test."

"They are very young...especially the boy Askard. Like Arik, they should be brave and fierce people. I am afraid of him..."

"Father, don't worry. Askard may be reckless. I also plan to let the First Standard Army of the Standing Army go into battle. Grund, he has proven his loyalty in ten years. I am willing to believe him! The Standing Army and the Seventh Standard Army, together Enough for a thousand troops, of which as many as 700 have the blood of our Ross tribe, even if they are very young. However, within three years at most, they will be young and extremely strong warriors. By that time, we will have lost not only the number of troops in the war, but Completely restored and even stronger.”

"Let's do it! Ah... I wish I was thirty years younger. It's a pity that I am old."

"Father……"

Faced with his own weakness, Otto would become speechless and choke in quiet moments. He sometimes fantasized about dying in battle, but now he couldn't bear to part with his numerous grandchildren and the howling young clansmen.

Otto composed himself: "What should you do? Stay in the capital? Or here?"

"I... plan to stay in Novgorod."

"Oh?" Otto's gloomy blush reappeared, and he asked deliberately: "Are you going to run this place, or continue to expand the army and prepare for war?"

"My father still understands me. Naturally, I want to expand the army and prepare for war! I want to expand my influence in Frank, from the rich western trade to a large number of useful things to meet our needs. In the east, our biggest threat is still Smolensk. Maybe they won't attack us, but they block our trade line to the south. That's why they have to be eliminated."

"Very good. Alas! I was too kind and spared that Vadim's life. That man is older than you, and there are rumors that he has become a chief. You must kill him! You will definitely succeed."

"Yes. Considering that they are not weak, I intend to intensify training in Novgorod and the capital."

"You will prevail, and what will happen in the end? What are you going to do to the people of Smolensk?"

"Them?" Rurik answered without thinking: "The old rule is, those who disobey will be killed, and those who surrender will live and work in peace and contentment. Nobles who resist me must die! Anyone who surrenders to me, I can canonize them as boyars, and ordinary residents will also become Rus my subjects. I have an obligation to protect them, and they have an obligation to pay me tribute and serve.”

"A very smart choice, it depends on whether you do it. Maybe..."

"How is Father?"

"nothing."

Otto learned about the death of old Gould, and his tomb is in the cemetery. It is a unique tomb. The stone monument erected is directly a statue, and the abstract carving is like a bust of a fat seal, which expresses it very well. The image of that big businessman in the minds of the world.

He had to think carefully about his fate.

After all, how can I see Rose continuing to expand? At least, he had to live to see Rurik defeat Smolensk, thereby clearing the big obstacle on the road to Rome in one fell swoop.

…

The agreed date has arrived.

Rus Dumane of Novgorod, Rurik invited all the elites of Rus.

Princess Carlotta of Ostara, Captain Fisk of the 1st Standing Army Cavalry, Captain Grund of the 1st Standing Army Infantry Standard and Captain of the Guards, Captains Askard and Mstisk, Captains of the 7th Infantry Standard City Lord Arik, Pecheneg Princess Bejashir, Novgorod Governor Medvet, Rotstadros Shop Chief Red Fox, Gothenburg Count Blue Fox.

Wladyslav, the Kiev horseman, Quetzal, the Pecheneg nobleman, and Stekander, the leader of the Danish community in Riga.

They were either Rurik's relatives or relatives, loyal generals, or all-around allies, all gathered in the same spacious council chamber.

Rurik is undoubtedly the protagonist, and everyone knows more or less what he is going to talk about.

Just as everyone was busy waiting for Rurik to speak, they saw him clapping his hands: "Brothers and friends, don't be impatient. Please see a distinguished guest."

He gave a verbal signal to the waiter outside, and soon a human-powered sleigh pulled a Venerable to the door. After a while, an old man with a white beard and a wooden stick stood in front of everyone.

The old man is none other than the old King Otto.

Upon seeing this, everyone stood up one after another, took off their hats, and carried their luggage to the old king with a smile.

"Everyone, please sit down." Otto waved his hand in a slightly hoarse voice.

What is the old king doing here? Also related to war? But he is too old. He can't be led by this old man in new military operations? It's also possible that a truly brave man doesn't want to admit his own aging. He's afraid that even if he has to carry a sedan chair, Otto still wants to be brave again.

Many people think so.

In fact, it was not the case. Otto came here firstly to meet the hard-working young people, secondly to endorse his son's determination, and thirdly to have some fun. The so-called son gave up part of his glory, and the old king announced "launch". war".

"Everyone, please sit down." Rurik said again.

The layout of the Rosduma in Novgorod is like an ordinary student classroom or a church oratory. There is a wooden platform and podium here, and the rest of the people sit on spacious wooden benches on both sides. There is a corridor in the middle of the room, so that the speaker can express his excitement and go directly to the stage to talk to everyone at close range.

Here, Rurik repeated the conversation with his father yesterday.

The content of his decision was extremely important. Since part of the information had been revealed, especially Askard happily telling his father and uncle's arrangement, Arik understood a lot.

Could it be that we won’t use troops against Smolensk this year?

Rurik's answer is clear: don't take the initiative to attack.

Another explanation is that Ross does not take the lead in attacking. If Smolensk takes the initiative to attack, then it will counterattack with all its strength. Based on this strategy, Rurik announced in a high-profile manner that he would stay in Novgorod and personally handle infrastructure construction, agricultural development, and training of new militiamen. He restricted the continued expansion of the Principality of Ostara and ordered Carlotta to digest the success of the expansion. It is said that it is safest to expand after internal stability.

Therefore, Lukiholm and Vitebsk must strengthen their defenses because they are too close to Smolensk, especially Vitebsk in the south.

Carlotta did not object. She was self-aware. Although the principality's strength was rapidly expanding, the principality still had a very realistic task of completely ruling the Polotsk community, and it was indeed impossible to allocate troops to continue expanding eastward.

Arik also explained that he took his brothers on an expedition in the east and discovered a very well-controlled hunting ground. However, the world was vaster than people expected. People explored the lake area throughout the warm season and did not find the real Volga River channel. Everything Still need to continue to explore. It is equivalent to him showing weakness, using this language to imply that he can accept the strategic arrangement of not attacking this year.

Even so, Arik was still a little unwilling.

"The matter in Smolensk is over for now." Rurik cleared his throat and simply walked off the podium. He motioned to the young Askard and the veteran Grund to stand up. Then he said: "The First Infantry Corps and the Seventh Banner Corps of the Standing Army will cross the ocean to reach Nassau deep in the Rhine River! One thousand people will go straight into the heart of the Franks! There are already five hundred northern brothers there, including some The existence of our old Russian people, they are commanded by the fat black fox, and the black fox is also your old friend. The king arranges for you to be stationed there to continue the sabotage of the Middle Kingdom. I authorize you to loot freely and loot the property One-tenth is handed over to the treasury, and the rest is yours!”

They plundered and had to pay a tithe. What shocked the hearts of the black fox and red fox present was that the king only asked for a tithe. You must know that the previous robberies were based on a 50-50 split. I really didn’t expect that the king would be so kind when he revised the rules?

"There must be something inside!" Black Fox used his brain to figure it out. After all, there are a large number of new generation Russians in this team, and they need wealth.

Arik also understood this. The First Flag Team he was responsible for also had many new recruits from the Russian ethnic group. With such an opportunity to make a fortune, how could one of his own people let it go.

"Has the standing army really been fully staffed with 500 people in a standard corps? At present, there is not. Rurik, I want to arrange for some young people from the first standard corps to join temporarily. Since they are training our young people in Ross, they should let them Young people should go as far as possible”

"Okay." Rurik nodded: "I have the same intention."

And the existing northern military strength in Nassau is up to 1,500.

It sounds like a lot, but I'm afraid it won't be a force that both sides of the civil war take seriously.

Rurik asked Blue Fox and Red Fox to get up again: "I ask the Earl of Gothenburg to send out another thousand Jotalans to fight, and arrange for five hundred Jotalans to immigrate to Rotterstad, which is at the mouth of the Inn River. Everyone speaks Norse and worships the gods Odin, Thor, and Frey. Their identity is the Gothenburg Army, our allies. In this way, we can gather 2,500 troops in Nassau, and another There are reserve troops! Even..."

Although Rus and Denmark were in an alliance, when they were still in the capital, Blue Fox and Red Fox reported to Rurik about the good things Ragnar had done in Britain. The Danes made a surprise attack on Dover Beach and captured a lot of money. They took advantage and wanted to continue plundering in 842. In this way, the Danes were active in the so-called Pas de Calais area. They were all snobs. If there was any profit in the Frankish Civil War, they would rush over just smelling the smell of copper.

Denmark is just an ally of Ross, and there is a high probability that it will not obey orders in a war. It doesn’t matter! Those people seek money, and at critical moments they go to inland areas to carry out sabotage and create greater chaos, so that the Russian army can fish in troubled waters.

Then Rurik said that the combat troops that Ross could mobilize alone reached 3,000 people, and there were also uncountable Danish allies.

It sounds like the three thousand Russian troops gathered in Nassau, Rus, and Gothenburg can do whatever they want there.

So, who is the commander-in-chief, and what are the military’s primary goals on the ground?

Whatever everyone can think of, Rurik has already figured it out for everyone.

"Our troops heading to the local area still adhere to the belief in the gods, and do not need to believe in the gods of the Franks. I appointed Blue Fox Gouldson as the commander of the operation. The first task is to obtain the entire Earldom of Leiingau, and the second task is Take the initiative to attack the Middle Kingdom. Don't worry about military rations. I will allocate enough wheat to feed a thousand people for six months. Why six months?" He looked at the blue fox in particular: "Of course, I will only give it to the pure Russian army. There is enough food, and others should raise their own food.”

Rurik didn't say much. His meaning was clear. The blue fox, the red fox, and even the black fox who had been staying in Nassau were already nobles with territory and should receive food supplies from the areas under their control.

Blue Fox had no objection to this. He knew the situation in the Göta River Basin where Gothenburg is located. Although the local agriculture is underdeveloped, the fishing industry is prosperous. The fishing environment in the estuary of the Rhine River is even more superior. With the technical advantages of trawl fishing, it supports a thousand people. Feeding multiple people is not difficult. There is even another line of insurance: Cologne, the Netherlands, Flanders.

The thinking of a businessman is different from that of a pure martial artist. Lan Hu thought of borrowing money. Anyway, Flanders' wool relies on shipping, and the labor fees for transportation can be used as money to buy grain in Cologne. Another way of thinking is to borrow food first to deduct the material transportation costs.

Of course, there is a simpler and more violent method - the enemy's village is my granary.

The plan has been finalized, and the selected warriors must arrive in the capital before spring plowing, especially when the ice has not yet melted, to gather and wait for shipping.

This determines that the army must set off by the end of February at the latest, and Rurik will personally see them off.

Even the old King Otto will once again visit the colonial point built by him and the current capital of New Roseburg.

Because there is a miraculous ship that will be launched and complete its maiden voyage this spring.