Rise of Rurik

In the Novgorod Palace, two kings, an old man and a young man, sat facing each other.

Under his peaceful and leisurely expression, Old Otto suppressed his inner anxiety, even unexplainable regrets, and a hint of jealousy.

"You can really solve the war in one year if you go this time? Now, what is your purpose of entering Frank... What is your purpose?"

"Father." Rurik calmed down and explained straightforwardly: "I'm afraid it's impossible to solve the problem this year. The expeditionary force will spend the winter in Frankland. As for whether the problem can be solved next year, I... I'm not completely sure."

"So? What do you want? Land? Wealth?"

"It's glorious!"

"Glory? Huh." Otto smiled bitterly and shook his head, thinking that this boy equated robbery with glory, and he was indeed his own son. "Unfortunately, my body no longer allows me to share this glory."

"But father, you are a great king. When we win, you share the glory just as you sit in Novgorod."

Otto shook his head and stared at his son's face with a smile: "I am not qualified to take the honor of giving alms. Besides, the old warriors have all retired. I am a descendant of the old world. I owe my current longevity to the gifts of the gods. .And you decided to lead a brand new group of Russians to the battlefield."

"Father. Without your decision back then, these warriors would not have been born into the world."

"So I can also get part of the glory? Forget it. This is your era, and I can still look after the foundation of the rear for you at the end of my life. Can the war be solved next year? It's still the same problem, you want to Is it just glory?"

This is the most critical question, any

All military actions have a purpose.

Regarding this expedition, as time went by, Ross's reasons for intervening in the Frankish Civil War became increasingly far-fetched.

"According to the treaty I signed with Ludwig three years ago, if that person falls into war, the entire Northern Alliance will have reason to join the war. I lead troops into the war and abide by the covenant. However... it is mine to gain huge wealth on the battlefield. My true wish.”

Hearing this, Otto laughed, and the old guy smiled wildly: "Boy! Admit it! Your purpose is to make a fortune, to make money for a longer period of time, so that you can get more wine from the local area."

"Indeed." Rurik agreed readily.

"But, don't you want to ask for some land as our territory?"

"It... depends on the conditions. I can't manage it if it's beyond my reach. But if Ludwig is defeated by his eldest brother, all my deployments will be in vain. If Lothair is defeated, I don't want the aftermath of the war. Ludwig grows bigger. A Frank who is big but weak, and the big nobles inside have their own ideas, is the most beneficial to us. If you muddy the mire, we can fish in troubled waters."

The words had gone beyond Otto's understanding. The old guy felt that there was no need to continue the conversation. He couldn't help but look at the beams on the roof with his old face: "Frank, the legendary powerful one, has become weak in your eyes." Sick? Perhaps so. What a pity! I am very weak and I don’t know if I can see you triumphant."

Rurik's heart tightened, and he frowned and asserted: "The gods will grant father a longer life! Because your mission has not been completed yet."

"Rose has become powerful, and you have become the king. And I...

…”

"No." Rurik said with a sullen face: "Before I become Augustus, my father's mission is not over. Please take good care of the Eastern World and wait for my triumph."

"Okay." There was no need to talk anymore. Otto waved his hand and said kindly: "Child, crawl over here, just like you did when you were a child. Let me hug you again and hold you in my arms..."

A swaddling baby has long since become a little giant in the north. The former giant is now an old man with a stooped figure. Just like when he was a child, Rurik was held by his father. At the same time, he could also notice that Otto's once thick arms had shrunk greatly. If it weren't for the beard, his withered face would be even more terrifying.

Rurik knew that Otto had been on adventures all over the world when he was young. Although those experiences were not as legendary as his own, he was overstretching his body. How long can the now seventy-year-old man really persist?

At the end of life, some elderly people can sense that their end is approaching. Is it possible...

"You must at least live until my triumph." Rurik suppressed the words in his heart and couldn't bear the atmosphere to become sad.

Shipping in Novgorod has been fully restored, and spring plowing in various places is now coming to an end.

Due to the large volume of war supplies being transported and the need to march with so much equipment, the dock has become a mess.

Today is the day the army sets off!

Before the operation, most of the supplies, especially heavy equipment such as torsion slingshots, bundled arrows and javelins, and the most critical military rations, had been transported to all waiting armed cargo ships and Kirk ships.

This is not the case with horses. Nearly a thousand war horses will be driven on the day of the expedition.

Walking through the seesaw and entering the Kirk ship, ten horses on a ship is the safe limit. Otherwise, if the horses are too crowded and get sick, it will be a tragedy.

Based on reality, most of the horses still have to be driven onto traditional rowing long boats. A maximum of four horses can be placed on each boat, and then they move forward under the surveillance of thirty warriors.

At the dock and nearby waters, today there are all kinds of crouching dragons and phoenix chicks gathered here, which has really turned into a grand prize for the strength of the "River Fleet" of the Kingdom of Ross.

In addition to common ships, human-powered waterwheels and catamarans, local shipyards have developed boats more suitable for lake operations based on the needs of fishermen. They pursue stability and flexibility that can be achieved with a small number of people, and this has led to the emergence of waterwheelers. .

A catamaran is a splicing of two long boats. The wooden beams in the middle are laid with wooden planks, turning it into a barge. Its movement basically relies on rowing and manpower to step on the curved board to drive the water wheel.

Compared with ordinary long ships, this kind of ship can not only easily seat fifty people, but also can stack a large amount of cargo. The seaworthiness of this kind of ship is poor, and everything is normal only in rivers and lakes.

There are many such catamarans, and even a small number of oddballs like trimarans.

There are always some strange boats floating on Lake Ilmen. This is really a local characteristic. People who have lived and grown here have become accustomed to it over the years, but those foreign businessmen must be amazed by the genius and wisdom of the Russians.

The catamaran is like a large and stable raft, and the larger one is equivalent to a barge. The cargo on it is mostly the wartime daily necessities of the soldiers, especially a large number of linen and leather blankets, as well as the personal belongings of the people on board. Backpack as well as in person

of a large number of personal belongings.

The sudden winter war provided another valuable experience for Ross. Before this, Ross did not fight on land for a long time. The war lasted for half a year. The problems encountered in the inland expedition should be resolved before the new expedition.

Accommodation is a big problem, and it can even be fatal if not done well.

Moisture-proof leather mats are standard equipment for soldiers, and the tent material is light linen, and the linen is oiled, making the tent lightweight and waterproof at the same time.

Now, tens of thousands of people have gathered on the river bank. Women are holding their children to bid farewell to the expeditionary force. Some mothers have found their sons who are eager to go on the expedition and are still forcing newly made dry food into their hands.

Many people from faraway estates gathered in Novgorod, and the city's population soared to 50,000 in a short period of time!

Governor Medved had to organize the remaining troops. The soldiers flattened their spears and grasped each other's wooden poles. The soldiers built a long and narrow human wall to control the increasingly agitated crowd. The spears were like railings. Avoid agitated people from crossing the line.

This is an expedition after all! Especially in the White Tree Manor, a large number of mixed-race boys marched with the king in the name of Rus. The children were Rus and their Slavic mothers were proud of them.

Flags were flying on the shore, and the soldiers who were eager to get on board lined up. At the same time, Volkhov was also filled with large and small ships.

The boarding operation has begun. In order to avoid causing a "big traffic jam", those who board the ship at the head of the team are organized into a flag team. The flag captain will take the lead after confirming that his subordinates have been assembled.

At this moment, the horn sounds, and the expeditionary force has begun to take action.

!

There are still many soldiers in the rear who are still boarding the ship.

Rurik was still standing on the shore, and gathered in front of him were the royal family members and the most noble old king Otto.

Today, Otto is still wearing that golden armor and still stands tall with the help of his guards.

The "Destroyer" sword is still in Rurik's hand. It has become a lucky charm for Ross to win. As for using it to kill enemies, Rurik never expects it.

Enough was said about what should be said to the women, just the last words of love to Queen Svetlana.

The queen held her infant daughter in her arms. Even though the world was noisy, the child was calm and waiting with her round blue eyes, looking at the long queue of ships, at the soldiers boarding the ship one after another, and at her father. king. The baby didn't cry. All her brothers were standing here. The boys were not nervous or scared at all. Instead, they all just hated themselves for being too young to embark on this great expedition.

Suddenly, there was a commotion in the crowd. The armored warriors beat and beat with wooden sticks in the chaotic crowd, and then opened a path to the river bank.

"Get out of the way! If you ruin the king's important task, killing you will not help!"

"Get out of the way! Otherwise we won't be responsible for breaking your arms with the wooden sticks."

…

The words were very rude, and the soldiers were also rough in their tactics, because everyone underestimated the excitement today, so the reindeer and cows as sacrifices were delayed, and they had to face the overwhelming crowd.

Ten deer, ten cows, and twenty large animals were finally led to the river.

Rurik turned his head in surprise: "Sacrifice? What I planned was to hold a big sacrifice in the capital."

"this

It's my decision. Governor Medved stepped forward, and after giving a standard Russian military salute, he said: "This is the expectation of the people." Although it is necessary to hold large sacrifices in the capital, people here cannot see the grand occasion of the capital. Please also... Your Majesty, please draw your sword and kill all these sacrifices to the river god, the lake god, and the Slavic gods. "

"Is this impromptu? You should have told me earlier." Rurik frowned deliberately, pretending to be harsh.

"Sorry. It's really the people's request."

"Just do this." Old Otto spoke in a hoarse voice, and emphasized again: "Just use my sword to help me perform this sacrifice."

Looking at his father's determined eyes and listening to the cheers of the people in his ears, Rurik lowered his head deeply and suddenly pulled out the "Destroyer" and raised it high. The buzzing sound of the sword wind was endless.

Rurik's movements were very skillful, but he still couldn't avoid being splashed with cow blood. And isn't this what everyone is crazy about?

Considering practical needs, the traditional Slavic priests in Novgorod were "re-employed" one after another after they were disbanded. Most of them were retained, but this group of women had to convert to the seven gods respected by the Kingdom of Rus. In other words, the seven most noble gods must be believed in. Those strange little Slavic gods are defined as "too low in godhood", but they can still be believed by the locals.

Only Peron, the Slavic master of fire and thunder, was absorbed into the god system of the Rus Kingdom.

So they lit a bonfire by the river, and beside the bonfire, Rurik bled the sacrificial animals one by one.

His face was sprayed red with cow blood, and even the golden laurel crown on his head

Also stained with blood.

The Rus priests stationed in Novgorod, just like those in the capital, have also absorbed some girls to serve as lower-level priests, and then work under the command of the local old priests (some old women).

The priestesses of different ages obviously made an agreement, and they shouted loudly: "The sword is stained with blood! The expedition will be won! The glory belongs to Ross! The glory is with us!"

They kept chanting one word: sva.

Ox blood and deer blood turned into small streams and flowed into the quietly flowing Volkhov River. Rurik wiped a sword and then wiped the sword clean. However, the blood stains on the front armor and laurel wreath were not wiped off. This was interpreted as "the meaning of blood sacrifice", which was indeed a good omen.

"It's time to get on board!"

Rurik made a gesture, and the drummer on standby on a longship began to play "Farewell to the Slavic Women."

Just like its name, how appropriate is this scene? !

The soldiers of this Russian expeditionary force almost all bid farewell to their respective Slavic mothers. Although this tune is a bit sad, it is full of tragedy and hope.

When the drum music started, those flag soldiers who had not yet been ordered to move out, they felt the music and sang its lyrics along with the music.

"Maybe it's time to fly some red flags. It doesn't matter. As far as you can see, they are all Andrei naval flags. Troops! It's my Ross oar flag..." Rurik raised his head slightly and thought for a while.

He raised his head sharply again and slowly backed away facing the elders in his hometown.

Suddenly, the noble king dressed in cow's blood knelt down in fear in front of everyone. As a king, he gave a grand ceremony and nominally bid farewell to the entire Novgorod and the entire Lake Ilmen.

he

Stand up and pat the dirt off your body.

"Go to war! Our army will win!"

After saying that, he turned his head and resolutely boarded the waiting longship, then stood on the bow of the ship and held the Drike dragon's head on the bow with one hand like a performance art.

Seeing his son's move, Otto Sr. was deeply touched. "This kid is exactly like me from forty years ago!"

Finally, a voyage planned to last five days and nights began.

The channel of the Volkhov River has always maintained a width of more than 200 meters. In addition, it is now flowing downstream, and everything is wonderful for the expeditionary force. The warriors did not need to paddle for propulsion. All they needed was to control the rudder to avoid collisions between ships sailing side by side.

If there was a land route, people walking on the road would have to walk the equivalent of 200 kilometers to reach Lake Ladoga.

The length of the Volkhov River is longer than that. It is early summer in the north, and the daylight hours have exceeded fourteen hours.

The river has certain twists and turns, and its actual length is 230 kilometers.

But during the wet season, the river can easily push boats forward at a speed equivalent to two knots per hour. This time point is very unfriendly for merchant ships going to Novgorod via traditional waterways, and they have to paddle against the current, but it is great for merchant ships going to the capital.

So smart businessmen have now begun to take the newly developed and very quiet Luga River waterway, and then take the canal to finally enter Lake Ilmen.

The speed of two knots is equivalent to a human walking, which is too slow.

Each ship lowered its sails and rowed in unison, eventually marching at an average speed of six knots.

They were in action throughout the day, and on the second day

In the evening, the long and narrow fleet began to pass through the town of Ladoga at the mouth of the river.

The fishermen living here had long known that the king's army was about to pass, so they prepared some dried fish and waited for the opportunity to sell it to the king. Because everyone knows that the king has always had an attitude that the more the better when it comes to food supplies.

The fishermen achieved their goal, and the Ross Army also spent the night in the riverside open spaces that can be seen everywhere near this estuary fishing village.

The army completely entered Lake Ladoga. With the help of this huge sea-like water area, it was already the morning of the third day of the operation. The Ross army was reorganizing the fleet on the lake.

The ships of each flag team formed a group, and the large ships that were fully transporting supplies became independent groups.

If an eagle flies over, it can get a bird's eye view of a fleet of ships suddenly appearing on the water.

They kept their distance from each other and floated on Lake Ladoga until the afternoon of the fourth day, when they began to arrive at the mouth of Lake Ladoga on the Neva River. The estuary is like a huge funnel and a black hole. As soon as it enters the mouth of the river, the boat begins to drift slowly until it is pushed into the Neva River by the current.

It was not yet evening, and under Rurik's order, the entire army stayed at the Walnut Fort stronghold, the only island at the mouth of the river.

Walnut Fort Fortress, which has the name of a fortress, is just an observation post for Ross. Rather than its military value, it is now more appropriately called an observation station for observing lake hydrology and a seasonal fishing village.

This is the special prison where Catherine II imprisoned her only rival. The little baby who had the right to inherit the throne of the Tsar finally grew up to the age of twenty without anyone to care for or educate him. A normal boy was

A living fool.

It is precisely a small island in the estuary area. Its unique geographical location determines that it can be used as a fortress to guard the fortress. It is also the collective anchorage of the Ross fleet.

There are only a few fishermen stationed on the island, and an even smaller number of sentries with salaries from the Governor's Palace in New Fort Ross.

sentinel? They're all older guys. After all, young and strong young men are not willing to watch the sunrise and sunset on a broken island for a salary that is only enough to survive.

The boring life of the old guys guarding the island was broken by the sudden arrival of Master Wang. All the people stranded on the island saw the majesty and honor of King Rus, and even wiped their eyes hard before noticing the big beasts standing on the ships. It's actually a war horse.

War horses also need to sail on a large scale? What an eye-opener.

Rurik was still unwilling to wait. After paying his condolences to the "defenders" of Walnut Castle Island, he looked forward to tomorrow's sprint.

This night, the entire island was brightly lit. There were also stars on the lake. The warriors who wanted to eat fresh grilled fish relied on this technique of catching fish by fire. They had a good meal on the last night after arriving in the capital, and they were looking forward to eating more sumptuously after arriving in the capital. feast. After all, after starting the official expedition, you may have to eat and sleep in the open air.

After the meal, everyone's restless mood could not be calmed down, so that many people went to bed very late. When the morning fog began to rise from the Great Lake, people got up in the wet again until the morning sun dried the moisture from their bodies.

The Neva River is only 70 kilometers long and its flow rate is faster than that of the Volkhov River.

According to the previous arrangement, after the Ross army reorganized the fleet at the mouth of the river, the six groups had to head towards the river one after another.

The Neva River plunged into it.

They were racing on the Neva River, and the horses finally began to get restless.

A large number of catamarans began to encounter challenges on the Neva River, but the difficult times ended in just one day.

Because of the huge capital city of New Rossburg, the phantom of the tall city wall stretching between the sky and the earth has appeared in front of the expeditionary army.