Rise of Rurik

Just as Liudov proclaimed his rule in Hamburg, Rurik arrived in the far north of Jutland.

Now, after nearly half a year of war, Sweden's Allied forces have actually reached the limit of their campaign.

Duke Bjorn of the Mellaren tribe led his troops to rob the land of Robard in Denmark, and led his tribe to vent their grudges over the past few decades. The other Swedish tribes behaved exactly the same way. They were busy looting and destroying, and completely ignored Rurik's strategy of continuing the war.

To this day, each tribe can basically distinguish who is the enemy and who is the friend. With a new Danish war that was friendly to Sweden, there would be no reason to continue using troops against Denmark.

As for continuing the war to attack the Frankish Kingdom? forget it!

As for the Jutland Peninsula, it is bounded by the Isthmus of Lindholm, and the peninsula area north of the isthmus is a free plundering zone. Whatever the external Swedish and Götaland troops do, they will be controlled by various Danish lords, Especially the new Danish King Ragnar who acquiesced.

They killed people and stole property, even taking pots and pans away with great precision.

Especially the Jotaland people from the Jota River Basin, they plundered the women in this area and started transshipment work spontaneously.

It's really a turn of events. Once upon a time, the armies of the Robard tribe crossed the strait and entered the mouth of the Göta River in Scandinavia, plundering the local Götalanders as slaves. Now they are on the offensive.

The once very powerful Robard tribe, its star-chain-like villages and wooden castles were uprooted one after another. They collapsed under the combined stranglehold of the Northern Allied Forces, and all their glory was reduced to ashes.

In the end, there are only a large number of tombs like cone-shaped mounds, silently recording the glory of this place.

The climate is getting colder, and a large number of captives and trophies are being transported to the other side of the strait by sea.

For example, Count Gorm of Wienerenstad, who was canonized as an earl, has not yet adapted to his current noble status. He organized his own fleet as before and greedily brought the looted materials back to the north.

In principle, Blue Fox is the Earl of Gothenburg, and he also has an army composed of local Götalans.

Although the residents of the lower reaches of the Göta River had basically not suffered any losses in the war, the army composed of these people used a small political entity that had spontaneously formed in their hometown to plunder the northern end of Jutland.

When Rurik's main fleet and Ragnar's army arrived in the north of Jutland, what they saw was still a chaotic scene of robbery.

It cannot be said that the public security here has collapsed, it can only be said that there are bandits everywhere.

Of course, many Danish lords were happy to see this kind of chaos. Because the Robard tribe is already a traitor to all of Denmark, when they choose to tie up with the forces of the trespasser Horik, they should have the consciousness to welcome the current collapse.

There are densely packed ships floating on the sea, and a large number of Russian ships are hunting with flags.

The leading nobles of the Swedish and Götaland armies, who were busy distributing the spoils of war, suspended their "work" and gathered at the initial landing site, waiting for the arrival of the King of Rus and the King of Denmark.

It was in a dimly lit longhouse at the initial landing site that many nobles gathered together.

These nobles were dressed in leather and had furry bodies. Many of them were not very particular about their clothing. They wore captured clothes and armor on their bodies. Overall, they had no sense of beauty. But they are willing to do this to show their conquest of the losers.

This was a complete "spoils-sharing" meeting. Rurik and Ragnar gave instructions with the same meaning. The so-called Swedish and Götaland armies must immediately leave the Jutland Peninsula with the spoils. After that, in addition to normal commercial exchanges, Troops are not allowed to arrive in the Danish world without permission.

This is the so-called expulsion order! Fortunately, neither party has any intention of spending the winter in the Danish world for Hanukkah.

Similarly, this is Rurik's order to withdraw troops from his loyal army.

"I know you think this year's war is enough. I invite you to attack the Robard tribe as your last ditch effort. Now it's enough. Next, I will lead the Ross army to challenge the powerful Frankish army. You lack I am prepared to fight a vicious war, but I am also afraid of the cold winter. I am very satisfied with your contribution this year. You can go back to your hometown for the winter. I do not blame you. However, I still implore you to be brave enough to continue to follow me south. We can Try to defeat the Frankish army and gain great glory."

So, who wants to continue going south?

Speaking of the Swedish army, various Swedish nobles mainly focused on the attitude of Bjorn, Duke of Mälaren, who had the largest number of troops. Bjorn's troops currently have a large number of members who come from tenant farmers who owe taxes and rent, and others are simple mercenaries. They fought mainly to pay off their debts and make a fortune at the same time. Now that the debts have been paid off, those who survived have gotten some spoils. They are essentially eager to return home and use the spoils to immediately improve the lives of themselves and their families. Because their wives and children are still waiting at home, they are really unwilling to take any more risks.

This is true of the Mellaren army, and the armies of other Swedish tribes, as well as the Götalans, are similar in this regard.

They are simply a group of tribal soldiers who lack organization. Unlike Rurik's Rus' army, at least they have completed the formation of citizen soldiers for the old Rus', just like the Roman Kingdom in the city-state era.

This group of allies needs to be coerced and coaxed. When attacking enemies that are very close, these allies are still of good use value. But when the front is stretched far south and deep into Frankish territory, these allies continue to follow and it can be described as a burden.

The more troops in the army, the better. A group of troops who cannot obey orders well and are obviously war-weary is forced to continue fighting. They will definitely not work hard and will still be a strong constraint on the main army.

It is better to strengthen your own essence and absorb at most the brave warriors among these allies.

Therefore, Rurik did not absorb almost any heroic individuals here. If it were not for the fact that the control of the Swedish Unclas Army was in the hands of Blue Fox, and the army had joined the land forces and entered outside Hamburg, other Swedish nobles would have one Counting one and all, they all praised the king's wisdom, and then they took the time to moisten up the spoils, and ran away faster than their summer breakout speed.

Compared with the Swedish nobles, the Götaland army had already evacuated almost as quickly as possible. When the meeting ended, the last Götaland army withdrew immediately.

Such an obedient withdrawal really made all the Danish lords breathe a sigh of relief. As the saying goes, it is easy to invite guest troops but not easy to persuade them to leave. The "light speed evacuation" of these allies also directly attracted a large number of Danish lords to withdraw directly to Zealand where they settled. They appealed to their king, Ragnar, that the so-called Danish Restoration War was over, and the Principality of Saxony had also been restored. With the existence of such a buffer state, the Danes did not have to go south again. It was better to live their lives in peace first, and wait until When the weather returns next year, it won't be too late to row a boat to the coastal areas of the Frankish Kingdom to rob.

However, Ross and New Denmark had already had a secret agreement.

Rurik and Ragnar did not stay in Jutland. A Ross squadron evacuated first carrying the wounded and loot. The Ross navy, which still had an extremely large number of ships, led Ragnar's thirty longships, pulled a thousand warriors who supported the new Danish king, and special transport Following the lame fat pig in a cage, Horik himself walked around the northernmost tip of the peninsula and quickly arrived in Hamburg.

This was Rurik's last move on the Juland Peninsula. The huge navy completed the division meeting with friendly forces in Hamburg on the Elbe River.

Rurik was very happy, and his ally, Duke Liudolf of Saxony, began to fulfill his promise.

A large number of Franks were imprisoned and their wealth was completely plundered. These Frankish immigrants, who were forcibly inserted by Charlemagne a long time ago, unparalleledly gave priority to the mature fields opened by the Saxon natives. They suppressed the revenge of the Saxons by ruthlessly killing them, and suppressed the survival of the Saxons by seizing the best survival resources. space. Now aggrieved was repaid with unjust, and the fields belonging to the Frankish villages were completely returned to the hands of the Saxons. Of course, the ownership of the fields was seized by Duke Liudolf.

In an instant, Liudov became a big landowner. He then distributed the captured Frankish farmland and residences to the Saxon warriors who returned to the country with him, making them tenant farmers directly responsible to the Duke himself, and immediately controlled a large amount of land. means of production.

This kind of plunder was welcomed by the Saxon people and was also tacitly approved by the local Saxon nobles. After all, Liudolf dared to openly persecute the Franks. He confiscated their wealth and naturally bore the wrath of the Frankish nobles, especially Ludwig. If the latter raises troops to attack, it must be against Liudov's rebellion, and Liudov must defeat it.

Therefore, for these local Saxon nobles who surrendered to the Franks long ago, they relied on forbearance, compromise, and even groveling to act as servants of the Frank army for half a century to maintain their power. To this day, some Saxon nobles are still ordered to lead the army to the southern part of East Francia and stationed in Mainz and other places to prove their loyalty to Ludwig with practical actions.

But Ludwig could not completely trust them. The Saxon nobles who stayed in the north welcomed Liudov's restoration of the country, and were afraid that Liudov's defeat would implicate themselves in future wars.

A large number of Saxon aristocrats were pretending, but they did personally attend the grand meeting in Hamburg to support Liudolf as the king, and they indeed began to hand over a large part of the grain in their fiefdoms to Hamburg to show their loyalty.

but! This is a very important point!

Liudolf held a ceremony to become a duke in Hamburg. However, the noble northern saint Eskil did not attend the coronation ceremony, and even all the priests did not attend. Because this is illegal, according to traditional regulations, Liudov must go to the Holy See in person. Only when the Pope recognizes the Principality of Saxony and Liudov's new identity will it be considered legal.

To get to the Holy See, Liudov must cross the Frankish Kingdom, which is in the middle of a civil war. This journey is dangerous and completely unrealistic this year.

It is undeniable that Liudov fulfilled the long-cherished wish of the majority of Saxons. Even if a large number of poor Saxons expressed their desire for revenge, they would stand by Liudov's side. Especially because they were the perpetrators of the persecution of local Frankish immigrants, they would naturally be on the Frankish army's blacklist.

When Charlemagne punished the hero Widukind for his Saxon uprising, he killed all 4,500 prisoners of war and carried out frantic persecution of their families.

The poor people of Saxony who retain painful memories have already shed blood, and now they can only follow Liudov and continue down the road resolutely. They have no possibility of turning back.

Fortunately, the huge Russian-Danish coalition is entrenched in Hamburg, and its military power is reassuring.

Even though these Saxons knew that it was the Russian-Danish coalition that destroyed Bremen many years ago, their brutal killing was exactly the same as that of the Frankish army.

This time it was completely different, and miraculously, the Rus' army behaved with mercy. The powerful army did not invade any Saxon villages. The army stayed in designated camps. However, they completely took over the Elbe River as their own and began large-scale fishing operations.

…

Rurikon had just arrived in Hamburg, and Liudolf explained to him that "I sent an envoy to Westphalia to bring my family back."

This surprised Rurik.

The two talked secretly in the stone room in Hamburg, and even intended to talk about a lot of private matters.

The lights were brightly lit outside, and the camp of the Rus-Danish army was bustling with activity. The air was filled with the intoxicating aroma of boiled wheat and grilled fish, which made people salivate.

In the stone room high up in the castle, Rurik brought a delicious meal, especially a little boy, to have dinner with Liudov, who was alone for the time being.

This little boy is none other than Rurik's eldest son Reglav.

Rurik actually hugged a boy very intimately, ordered all the entourage to leave, and entered the stone room that served as the banquet hall.

"This child?" Liu Doufu was confused for a while.

"What? My friend, you don't think this child looks like me."

"You...ah?! Could it be your son?!"

"He is my son." Rurik put down Reglaf, stroked his eldest son's head, and said proudly, "His mother is extraordinary, she is the princess of the Kingdom of Mercia! Liudov, maybe you know Something happened in Britain."

"Yes. War! And the executor of the war... is you!"

"It's me!" Rurik shrugged, his expression full of arrogance, and added: "He is Reglaf, but not only was he baptized, but his identity was also confirmed by the Pope. He is the legal king of Mercia. He also received a Latin education. Listen, this son of mine is a warrior and a wise man. When he grows up, he will successfully inherit the throne of Mercia. Moreover, the northern kingdom of Northumbria recognizes My son’s status. My kingdom of York in Britain also recognizes my son’s status. So what do you do? Do you recognize him?”

"Him?" Looking at Reglaf, whose brows were full of energy and a hint of melancholy, Liu Dou couldn't believe it. The fact is that he has listened to Eskil's ramblings and retrieved his memory that there was indeed a child named Reglaf. This name is very particular, referring directly to Wiglaf, the late king of Mercia. Unfortunately, many Frank nobles know that Mercia has entered chaos.

"Of course I recognize him."

Rurik deliberately touched his son's shoulder again and asked Liudov about extremely private matters: "Do you... have a younger daughter?"

This question was so enlightening that Liu Dofu, who had been sitting down, jumped up instantly.

"Yes! I sent an envoy to Westphalia to pick him up. As expected, my family will arrive in Hamburg soon, and even the graves of my ancestors. The great Widukind's coffin will be reburied in the monastery in Hamburg. .I also have children, my son’s name is Bruno, and my daughter’s name is Alice.”

"Alice? What a beautiful name."

"Yes. My daughter is beautiful too."

A father would never criticize his daughter's appearance. Even if Liu Dofu was middle-aged, his daughter would probably be married. No! If that Alice was married, he would indicate it.

Rurik asked tentatively: "Your daughter is not young anymore."

"I thank God that my daughter survived this ordeal. In fact, she was only ten years old."

Hearing this, Rurik's eyes lit up: "In other words, your daughter is actually two years older than my Reglaf? That's great! We are both fathers, so we should get married!"

"Okay, let's get married!"

With that said, Liudof directly approached Reglaf, who was only eight or nine years old but looked at least ten years old.

After all, a boy of Nordic descent who is fully educated and has no worries about food and clothing can grow into a tall man at a young age.

There were many things that didn't require Rurik's advice. Liudov pinched Reglaf's little face affectionately, which naturally got a strong response from the boy.

Rurik hurriedly corrected him: "Silly boy, he will be your other father from now on."

"That's him?" Reglaf's eyes were full of disdain: "Dad, isn't he your defeated general?"

"I dare not say that. You are going to marry his daughter, and soon a sister named Alice will come here. In the future, you will get married, and you will inherit the throne of Mercia. From now on, Alice will be your queen."

"Is that so? Okay."

Liudov had a very clear understanding of his own situation. The ceremony he held was not recognized by Eskil, so legally his Duke of Saxony was just for his own entertainment. Even in this era, strength is king. If you are strong, you can lead the army to the city of Rome and use the Pope as a puppet. After all, that's what Charlemagne did back then.

He has no strength in this area, but it is okay to use the army to protect his vested interests.

The restored Principality of Saxony needs recognition from the outside world. First of all, Frankish Prince Ludwig will definitely not recognize it, and Lothair and Charles the Bald will not necessarily reject it. What is certain is that the Kingdom of Rus, the Kingdom of New Denmark, and the Viking Kingdom of York in Britain have recognized the Duchy of Saxony out of their alliance interests.

It's a pity that they are all barbarian countries that believe in Odin. In this way, by marrying his daughter to this boy, he was equivalent to gaining recognition from the Kingdom of Mercia, which also believed in God. Also due to the delicate relationship between Mercia and Northumbria, Northumbria must also recognize the legitimacy of the Principality of Saxony due to its own national defense security.

In this way, many countries recognized the political entity of the Principality of Saxony and could not tolerate the destruction of this country by Frank. Saxony was reduced to a buffer state between the Franks and the Normans. This is not sad, but history returns to its proper path. Because since ancient times, the power of the Saxons has been the buffer between the south and the north.

In fact, in terms of blood, Reglaf's mother, Princess Mary, must be an Anglo, but her blood must also be mixed with Saxon blood. It is a fact that a large number of Saxons immigrated to Britain and established many kingdoms. In this way, his daughter's marriage to Reglaf was not only legal in terms of belief, but also the bloodlines of both parties were similar, even though Rurik was a Norman Rus.

Political marriage does not mean no feelings. The more Liudov looks at Reglaf, the more he likes him. Because this kid speaks Latin well and is said to know a lot of knowledge, which is much better than his eldest son Bruno!

Therefore, considering that this political marriage is extremely important to Rus, Saxony and Mercia, and considering that Ludwig is likely to persecute Liudov's family after learning the news, he may kill Liudov. Time was running out to bring back the family members in Westphalia.

A squadron was called upon to suspend operations to plunder Atlantic cod at the mouth of the Elbe River.

Rurik's half-brother Arik was ordered to lead the remnants of the First Banner and the young boys of the Second Banner, along with a group of Saxon troops, to quickly arrive in the ruins of Bremen and take control of the local area. That stone bridge.

Because it was Arik who set fire to Bremen back then, he was quite familiar with the local conditions and knew a stone bridge that was difficult to destroy. It is said to be a stone bridge, but it is actually a simple but important bridge with stone piers placed in the river and the stone piers exposed on the water covered with wood.

That bridge is a shortcut for connecting the north and south roads. The bridge is easy to demolish and easier to repair. According to Liudov, the men he sent out rode on horseback and carried axes, but they had to prioritize cutting down trees and repair the bridge directly for borrowing.

It is no longer necessary now. The Russian fleet only needs one day to rush from Hamburg on the Elbe River to the ruins of Bremen on the Weser River.

Rurik still trusts his eldest brother Arik. Since the person to take over involves the marriage of his nephew Reglaf, Arik does not dare to neglect. He is more enthusiastic than arranging for his own son's marriage. In fact, Arik's eldest son Asgard was in the First Standard Corps, receiving the necessary training for a man as an ordinary soldier, even though the child was only twelve years old.

For this reason, Arik arrived in Bremen smoothly, and also successfully received the Count of Westphalia who was heading north, that is, Liudov's entire family, including the local priests and a group of accompanying people. , especially the coffin of Vidukind, which was specially guarded.

Although it is very strange, these people from Westphalia cannot allow them to doubt whether the Russian army is a good person. After all, they stopped to seek death. Considering that there is a Saxon army here and Liudov's token, what about the people? Regardless, he got on a Russian ship and arrived in Hamburg in the evening of the next day.

Of course, since the transshipment was a great success, Arik's work as "transportation captain" cannot stop. Since there are still many Saxons who want to immigrate to the north, the Ross Navy has super transportation capabilities and should bring them back as soon as possible. For this, Liudov will pay extra.

So Rurik met Liudov's youngest daughter, Alice, a ten-year-old girl.

She is timid, and although her blond hair is beautiful, she has a lot of freckles on her face. She was clearly the daughter of an earl-level noble. She seemed to be noble only because of her status. Her dress, speech and behavior made Rurik feel a little regretful.

There is no way, Alice is extremely noble to a village girl, but for girls receiving education in the Kingdom of Ross, the difference is still too big!

It is undeniable that Reglaf is the most elegant boy Alice has ever seen. Looking for Shuyuan www.zhaoshuyuan.com to make her believe that this boy is two years younger than her, she does not want to believe it. Regraf is already taller than Alice, and coupled with his Latin skills, this boy actually understands the "sacred language". He is simply a dream!

She was completely fascinated by her new love, and because of her status as the real crown prince of Mercia, she instantly became greedy for her noble status as queen in the future. After all, his father was an earl, and it was too dreamy for an earl's daughter to become a queen.

She still didn't quite understand what the Duchy of Saxony meant, and she even resisted being forced to leave Westphalia. Alice doesn't understand war at all and just wants to live a peaceful and noble life, just like an ordinary aristocratic woman.

Although it was their first meeting, Reglaf immediately lived with Alice temporarily. Although this was not very etiquette, both fathers of the child needed a tacit understanding. In this way, the relationship between the two children became "unclear", so that Rurik and Liudov had no reason to regret the marriage of their children.

Reglaf must marry Alice, and Alice must marry Reglaf. When the two reach the age of marriage, Reglaf will be officially crowned King of Mercia, and Alice will officially become Queen of Mercia.

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