Rise of Rurik

The snow finally stopped, but the sun did not hang high. The army marched through the snow under the gray sky. They had to spontaneously form a long and narrow team, and the rear team stepped on the footsteps of the front team to advance as smoothly as possible.

Most soldiers still don't know how difficult the road ahead will be. Using spears as weapons, they made improvised sleds to drag their supplies, and moved mightily through the snow along the river.

No one has been to the Polotsk village. They only know that if they walk downstream along the river, they will definitely reach their destination.

Not following the leader is a betrayal! Traitors will be executed. More people didn't even think about fleeing. They attacked the damn fortress and lost many brothers but failed. Instead of continuing to fight, everyone's survival was already facing severe challenges.

Since the leader Vadim said that the Polotsk people have enough food, let's believe this statement. Otherwise, what else is there to believe in?

The people marching in the snow held a belief that our army could successfully spend the winter in the village of Polotsk.

However, it was only at the end of the first day of marching and camping that the soldiers realized what an embarrassing dilemma they had encountered.

Small pine trees were cut down one after another, and they struggled to make a fire with the help of specially prepared dry firewood. It took a lot of effort to light the first bonfire. Then in the riverside forest, the Smolensk army was finally warmed by the fire. Bake and enjoy the warmth all night long.

They had to take off their boots and bake their feet. After melting the snow water, boil some wheat in a pottery urn and sprinkle with a little salt to make your own comfortable dinner.

Many people have already suffered from frostbite, the worst of which is their feet. The simple pontoon bridge on the West Dvina River did not work well. The cold river water penetrated into the boots, so that in the initial stage everyone seemed to be walking on ice with their feet. The situation improved only after the body warmed up in the subsequent steps.

They continued to care for their frostbitten feet and dried their boots. So, in the vast uninhabited forest, a bonfire area appeared in a corner of the river.

The march is so difficult on the first day. How long will we have to walk in the future? Vadim endured hardships along with his warriors.

"Perhaps this war was a mistake from the beginning. I should really take action next year. But I have no way of turning back. Now I am not even qualified to return without success..." Vadim did not dare to express his worries. Showing it to others, his elite warriors wearing leather armor were silent, either with looks or silent doubts.

Finally, the other brother couldn't bear the pressure and came over cautiously. He straightened his leather robe and sat next to Vadim, spreading his hands as if to warm himself up to the fire.

"Is there something wrong? Let me guess, you are asking me how long the march will take?" The visitor was stunned for a moment and said hurriedly: "Since the leader knows, I won't ask any more questions."

"It's better to ask! Brothers must want to know."

"So, how long will it take? Many brothers have frostbite and their feet are hard to use. Each ear begins to swell. The worst thing is that we really don't have much food." Vadim did not dare to sigh, he raised his chest: " Let brothers be patient! As long as we get to Polotsk, everything will be fine."

"So, how long will we have to march? At least, you have to give everyone something to think about, otherwise I'm worried about morale collapse."

"Three days!" Vadim decisively stretched out three fingers to face the brother: "We should be there in three days."

"Ah? Three more days? This! This..."

"How? Why should you be surprised?"

"It's been too long, I'm afraid the brothers will be discouraged now."

"Then let them have the courage." Vadim said harshly: "Look at the reality. Evacuation will only mean freezing to death in the snow. Even for me, my fate is tied to you. Only if I go to Poirot Only in Tsk can we survive. While there is still food, we really can't wait. I hope everyone can act quickly. I believe we will arrive within three days." In other words, Vadim is not sure that the entire army will arrive within three days. can reach the destination.

The brother who came to talk to him withdrew in despair. He did not inform the others of the actual situation, but only declared on behalf of the leader: We will arrive within three days.

This is a moment that is enough to make people collapse. Fortunately, the Smolensk army can endure it. Among them are soldiers who have great hatred for the Russians. They turn their hatred into strength. Since the leader has given a clear time, there is no need for more think.

The morale of the whole army had improved, because they finally had a clear idea of ​​the march time, and because they were able to recover from their fatigue after a night of roasting.

The most important thing was the feet. Because of the fire, a pair of feet were pulled back from the edge of frostbite and necrosis.

Optimism was spreading, and they trudged through the snow at an average speed of three kilometers per hour, which was hardly fast.

Little did they know that the riverside path waiting for the army was one hundred and thirty kilometers long! Although the straight-line distance from Vitebsk Fortress to Polotsk Village is only 80 kilometers, if the clear path is known, the army can reach it in two days by sprinting in a straight line.

However, Vadim and his army did not know shortcuts. They only had to advance along the winding West Dvina River in the most stupid way, and the journey was forced to be greatly lengthened.

During the warm period, marching like this would have been a waste of leg strength and would have made the legs and feet sore. But now, marching in the snow in winter, the entire army is at risk of dying on the way.

The daylight hours were already very short, and they spent almost the entire day marching, so that they were finally able to barely reach the goal of marching thirty kilometers a day.

"high speed". But it's not enough. The only good news is that the long-lost sun finally appears! Even the winter sunshine feels extremely warm when it shines on the faces that are numb from the cold.

In the vast white world, a dark team wearing leather jackets marched on the right bank of the frozen river.

The biggest bad news is that the three-day period is approaching, and the once optimistic mood is quickly turning into pessimism.

Until now, no trace of the settlement has been found. Could it be that the leader deceived everyone? However, the march passed by the ruins of a village, which once caused concern.

Considering that it is a small village, it is not worth mentioning compared to the huge community of Polotsk. After all, it is a ruin set in the snow, and its existence is considered ominous.

Finally, the appointed day has arrived, the sun has set, the bright starry sky is accompanied by the bright moon, and the strong reflection from the white earth makes it difficult to see the five fingers.

The bonfire was lit as usual, and the tired warriors stopped. The leader made a mistake. There was no mutiny, no loud complaints, everything was kept silent.

Because the vast majority of soldiers know very well that even if they find the leader to complain now, it will not help. Many brothers have exhausted their food supply, and those who still have food reserves have to distribute it to those who are short of food.

This can be regarded as a life-saving move in a crisis, but for someone who has food, what does it mean even if he finishes eating it a day later?

No one knows what the future holds. On the other hand, the leader, Vadim, still has a sullen face as if he is indifferent to everyone's situation.

The “keep marching” rhetoric. So the hungry warrior killed the last horse in the team, cut up the horse meat, and even pulled out the horse's internal organs and grilled them. Even if the smell was too strong, he pinched his nose and ate it.

The people who are good at making decisions are the nephews of local nobles in Smolensk, and only they dare to do this without the consent of the leader.

They thought that Vadim would be furious when they found out, so they took this opportunity to ask him why.

Unexpectedly, Vadim clearly acquiesced to this matter. I saw this distinguished leader approaching a horse killing scene with vigilant eyes watching. The people who were still cutting up the horse meat and handing it to the hungry companions who were watching did not pay any attention to the leader's arrival.

"What are you doing here? Do you want to scold me for killing your horse?" The knife-wielder turned back sharply, his tone a bit vulgar.

"It's nothing, give me a share. The cavalry is meaningless, and the last horse is gone." After saying this, the horse killer suddenly didn't know how to answer the question.

The man put down the knife and stood up slowly. In front of a crowd of onlookers, he asked the leader bluntly: "Vadim! Brothers walked with you all the way. The three-day period has come. Where is your promise? You didn't Fulfill your promise." But Vadim did not want to admit his mistake and did not shout loudly to scare him.

He knew that the brothers were all holding their breath, fearing that if they didn't do it properly, they would be cut into pieces like this.

He thought of something to say: "Actually, we moved really quickly, and three days was enough. However, our marching speed in the snow was slow, and everyone didn't have much food. We didn't have enough physical strength, so we walked even slower. I didn't What he said was wrong, but our army moved too slowly."

"Huh? It turns out it's still our fault?"

"No one is at fault, the fault lies with the enemy. Listen!" Vadim looked around at the growing crowd, spread his hands to try to quell the noise, and then publicly announced: "It's already the end! Brothers, you Hold on a little longer. Don't worry about having nothing to eat. Now, kill all the horses and select all the edible parts. Hold on a little longer. When you get to Polotsk, there will be everything you want." Even Vadim Maybe I have to break my promise again, what else can I do?

Retreating is tantamount to committing suicide. It is better to eat the last war horse now and gamble on reaching the destination before the food is completely exhausted.

Indeed, the Smolensk army was not far from the Polotsk villages on the Polota River.

At the same time, there is another small world. After the thick wooden door was closed, the Ostara garrison huddled in the Novopolodsk Fortress lived a boring life unable to stand out.

The snow finally stopped, and the people on the other side of the river seemed to have not resumed production and life. There was clearly a war warning, but for many days the whole world became so quiet that it made people feel that the so-called warning was a farce.

"It's not like a farce. If it's not a war, it's an exercise by the Duchess. No matter what the situation, I'm still invulnerable." Guard Visuend estimated.

Many people were relaxed. Thanks to the fortress standing tall in the snow-covered land, even if the enemy launched a sneak attack, the troops hiding in the fortress could still take advantage and hold on.

Even if the ice of the Polota River, a tributary of the river, covers the entire river course after the snow stops, it is still not suitable for people to walk on foot. It is still possible to force a boat through the ice. The sky above the river is empty, and those Polotsk people have stopped coming.

The defenders of the fortress on the other side of the river did not know that the villagers had made their own claims. They thought that the Smolensk people were the saviors. However, considering the long distance and the lack of movement for days, everyone had to think: they Probably not planning to come at all.

Come or not, life has to go on. Polotsk villagers only move within their own village, and the most they do is to take out the dry firewood stored in advance from their own woodsheds for heating and cooking.

Gradually they no longer had any thoughts about the so-called Smolensk Army. Think about it carefully, even if those people stormed the Russian stronghold, how bold would they be to force a long march in the snow to Polotsk after they succeeded?

Gradually, many people no longer care about this matter. It was at this time that a huge hungry army, in a state of extreme ecstasy, discovered that under their feet were genuine wheat fields that had been abandoned in winter, and what loomed due west was a village, wasn't it?

Vadim could not hide his joy. He was as hungry as the other brothers. You suffered from hunger as the leader. Now was the time to fulfill your promise, and you must have a good meal.

People gathered around Vadim, who took off his hat and pointed his sword directly at the village in the distance.

"Brothers, that's Polotsk. Take everything you want! Take the wealth that belongs to you!" There is no need to emphasize anything else, especially requirements such as maintaining military discipline.

How can military discipline be maintained? The current situation is to allow his subordinates to loot. Only in this way can the army on the verge of collapse recover.

As for whether this move will hurt the people of Polotsk... what does that have to do with Smolensk? Not an ally anyway.

Suddenly, there was a low roar outside the village. People who didn't know what was going on left the village one after another. At the entrance of the village, they saw a dark crowd rushing towards them, shouting.

"It doesn't look like a Smolensk. An enemy attack?"

"No... Could it be that they are really those Eastern guys? They are not friends!"... All delusions eventually turned into delusions.

Three thousand hungry wolves came charging with weapons. They did not come here to kill people, but to rob food.

Of course, if any villagers interfere with their plunder, they will kill them without mercy. The killings occurred immediately after the army rushed into the village.

The Smolensk army rushed into the houses and immediately began to collect food. Those who protected the food, both men and women, encountered violence.

Villagers often use the large public clay oven in the village to bake some huge loaves in batches, cut them and let them dry to become a food that is as hard as a wooden board and is extremely durable.

When eating, smash it into bread crumbs and chew it slowly in your mouth, or mix it with reserved dried mushrooms and some edible dried vegetables to make a thick porridge.

When these are finished, it’s time to cook the oats. It is not easy to eat dry and hard bread. The hungry warrior does not care too much. It does not matter if his teeth are torn and refuses, and his mouth is cut by food and bleeds.

It happened that some villagers and families were cooking wheat, and the delicious meal immediately rushed into the mouths of the residents, while the body of the owner of the house was lying next to the stove... There were shouts and cries everywhere.

The largest village at the intersection of the tributary and the main river naturally became the target of the Smolensk army's attack. It has the largest population and the most wealth.

In the critical moment, villagers fled one after another. Some fled to neighboring villages in the north, while others simply gathered at the docks by the river and began to forcibly cross the river.

Escape is instinct, and whether we can get help from the fortress defenders on the other side of the river is not something we need to consider for the time being.

However, the current ice layer is thick or thin, and there are too many people forcing themselves to walk on the ice.

Not to mention, a light-bodied woman stumbled to the other side with her child. Many people were unlucky enough to fall into ice caves and died quickly due to the double blow of extreme cold and drowning... There were more and more ice caves, and attempts to cross the river on foot were suspended.

The people trapped by the river were at a loss, but they were completely forgotten. After all, the Smolensk army mustered up its last strength. If they couldn't get food, the final attack would be the last song of the army.

The army composed of Slavic farmers knew the other Boslavian farmers best, so some villagers and families hugged each other and watched the intruders gnawing bread and dry meat. When they heard that there was food somewhere, the owner of the house pointed out He pointed his finger, and when he found the food, he had no choice but to continue watching him eat in fear.