Rise of Rurik

The Avlora steered slightly, heading straight for the crescent-shaped bay where Visby sat.

Looking at the five fishing boats, they clearly found an abnormality, and they began to move desperately towards the port area, but the speed was completely inferior to the Avlora.

The situation in front of them suddenly exceeded everyone's expectations. It was not just a few boats that were parked in the port area!

"Most of the old ships have been destroyed. These ships are foreign. If they are allies of Melalen, they will not fear us." Rurik muttered to himself.

Yevro asked in real time: "Sir, are we showing our flag?"

"No! Allies, they know our big ships. Damn, those ships..."

"A large number of enemies occupied this place?" asked Biyonni eagerly.

"It seems so. We may face a lot of enemies, I think I should adjust, I'm not afraid of them, just fighting a lot of ships, not in our plan. I just want to hunt down the lone ships."

"That won't work, listen to my opinion!" Biyonny, he said something that Rurik couldn't refute.

The so-called let the Avlora participate in the war, at least one against ten, let the Balmers see the power of the "Ross battleship", so as to make the sale of ships more smoothly.

So, an unplanned "beating the crowd with less" has become a major opportunity for Rurik to demonstrate the quality of the products to customers? Why not do it?

The Avlora is just "beating the crowd with less". In essence, it is like a cat facing a bunch of small mice. No matter how many mice, the cat will still be killed one by one.

Rurik didn't want to expose himself on this trip. The big ship was replaced with a new sail, which also lost the iconic blue cross stripes of the Rus.

However, he overlooked a very obvious thing!

Throughout the Baltic Sea, whose ships use Latin-style jibs? Not only that, whose ship is a behemoth?

The fishing boats rushing towards the coast, the people on the boats have thought of those terrible legends.

These people were indeed all Danes, and they came prepared. More than 300 people obeyed the direct orders of their leader, Hafgen, and went to Gotland to verify the truth of those legends.

Gotland, which exports wool, leather and dairy products to Denmark,

Is there really a disaster of war? If true, how many islanders survived? What exactly is the situation in Visby, the largest settlement?

Immediately after they landed on Gotland, they encountered the Mellarens who remained behind. The Danes thought it was a friend, but unexpectedly they were the first to be attacked by the Mellarens. In line with the absolute superiority of the force, the Danish army won the victory. There was nothing glorious about this victory, as the Danes stood on the ruins of Visby and climbed the dirt slopes in the follow-up search, the stench in the air was disgusting, and vultures and gulls flew in the sky. Finally, they saw the most terrifying scene - a field full of carrion in extreme state.

The entire Gotland Island seemed to be attacked by monsters overflowing from the underworld. After seeing the carrion everywhere, the ruins of Visby were regarded as acceptable by the Danes.

The island is dead, and some captured Mélaren claim to have been part of the Kingdom of Sweden before being executed.

The Danes did not hesitate to identify the large-scale war launched last year by the Svealan alliance in the north, including the slaughter of Gotland.

It's just that this is a huge departure from what the small number of Gotland refugees who fled wildly to Bornholm Island.

It was the Rus who started the war, and they had big ships with strange triangular sails.

Between the captured Mélarens claiming that Rus was also part of Sweden, these armed Danish explorers, who were under the command of Lord Hafgen, boasted that they had the right answer to their trip.

The Danes have put the return home on the agenda. After all, as the temperature continues to rise, the corpse stench of the terrifying battlefield not far away will continue to permeate Visby. The stench is a terrible curse. People will die suddenly from disease.

Unexpectedly, a big ship with a jib suddenly rushed over.

Rurik has completely exposed his identity - the comer! Ross!

"They're running like crazy! That's stupid. Yevro! Are you all right?" shouted Rurik in the bow.

"Coming soon!"

"Tune to 200 stika, try your luck!"

"As ordered!"

All ten bull catapults were transported to the bow deck, and they were densely arranged to form a launch matrix. Due to the obstacles caused by the bow and the space for lashing ropes, and the torsion slingshot installed in a fixed position on the bow broadside, the bow space is still too compact.

Seeing that his subordinates were basically ready, Rurik gave the order to fire.

The trebuchets were arranged in a formation of three, four and three, and the launch was also divided into three waves.

How much can ten fist-sized pebbles produce? Rurik hoped that all ten stones would hit, but unfortunately, the distances were all too far.

"You're inaccurate!" The anxious Biyongni yelled.

"I know!" Rurik turned his head and roared, and hurriedly ordered Yevro to reduce his torque slightly.

How far the catapult can throw the stone, the adjustment mechanism is the ratchet that controls the depression of the torsion lever.

"Continue to launch! Hurry!" Rurik ordered again, and he pouted in his heart: "I don't believe it anymore, there is no one who has won a ten consecutive draws."

Sorry, the reality is very realistic, there is really not a single hit.

However, the unfortunate fishing boat was completely within the range of the catapult. In that round of shooting, the stone splattered around the boat, and the nearest stone was less than two meters away from the rower.

"Go on! Let's keep going! Torsion slingshot ready!"

Rurik almost gave up the trebuchet to hit the moving target. It seems that this new type of weapon used in naval warfare, in the absence of the most basic "fire control calculation method", is completely launched by feeling, and it is a miracle to hit one.

Biyonni roared: "Rurik, let your big ship rush up! We are sailing fast, the wind is on me, and sink their ship!"

Rurik didn't talk nonsense. He ordered the third round of shooting. This was the third ten company. If it didn't hit, it would be too wrong.

As if God answered Rurik's words.

The enemy ship that was beaten as a target had only ten people on board. They were frightened by the sudden stones, and for a while they could not understand how the clear sky would drop stones? They rowed frantically, and also noticed that the brothers on the shore were on guard. Look at those people, they are already running towards the boat, and the so-called trend is to attack the rushing big boat.

The stone came again, silently.

A shaggy Danish rower was hit in the head and was fired on the spot. The scene was extremely terrifying!

Only two rocks hit, one killing the enemy and the other smashing through the ship's sail. The deceased was pushed into the water urgently, and the remaining people paddled more desperately, but unfortunately the escape route has been ended.

What is the hydrology like offshore Visby? After all, the Russ fought in this area. What's even more amazing is that last year, the Avlora was in this waters, and it almost beat the Visby escape fleet with almost all the strength of the ship. Standing here again.

Everything is like history repeating itself. After a year, the more powerful Avrora is here again!

The wide sails blew the Avlora furiously, and she was riding the waves. The fighting distance is already less than 50 meters, it is time for the torsion slingshot and crossbow to show their power!

With a deft left full rudder, the Avlora turned sharply. Against the enemy on her side, multiple long-range firepower mercilessly unleashes a salvo of those on board!

There were as many as five rounds of cone-headed cast-iron bullets for destroying ships. All of them hit, and two large leaking holes were immediately cut into the enemy ship.

The enemy on the ship was struck by arrows again, and in the end there were only two helpless people left. Seeing that the large ship, which had adjusted its course, was walking in an arc, the bow of the ship slid sideways and rushed over.

After the Avlora fired a salvo, it slammed the rudder to the right, and Rurik himself only held on to the railing of the ship and was not thrown out.

The bow collision angle of the big ship was squeezed, and she squeezed the broadside of the enemy ship at an inclined angle. With her amazing size, she forced the enemy ship into the water. Those two helpless people, who had just jumped into the sea to survive, were smashed into pieces by the hard and thick bottom of the Avlora, which became food for fish...

"It's really hard work, and I finally solved an enemy." The Avlora was about to resume smooth sailing, and Rurik couldn't breathe while leaning on the railing.

Biyonny and Flokey, the brothers all held on to the side rails, looking at the enemy ship that was smashed into wrecks, their eyes widened with emotion.

Rurik bowed slightly again, turned his head and screamed at Brother Biyonni: "You all be careful! The enemy army has appeared! Stay away from the ship's rail, put on my helmets! We are going to fight them!"

The Danes on the shore were almost in full force, and they boarded ten more longships and, armed with assorted weapons, galloped valiantly toward the deadly bow of the Avlora. Seeing the momentum of the friendly forces, the other fleeing ships immediately changed their course.

Everyone on the Avlora was a warrior, and now even all Balmerks were ordered to take up steel-armed crossbows.

Rurik was confident in his ship, but it was always good to be cautious on the battlefield. Under special circumstances, any "crossbow restrictions" imposed on the Balmers would weaken their combat effectiveness, and there was no longer any hesitation.

He also wore a helmet himself, which must have been a very ordinary Viking-style tin helmet that covered half of his face. He was dressed in an unpretentious way, hoping that he would not become the target of public criticism on the battlefield. It was the crossbow in his hand that made the whole person turn into a deadly warrior.

One against fourteen?

Who is the final winner?

In fact, until now, neither side of the battle can fully determine the identity of the other side. Since both sides are hostile to each other, there is no need for any reason to fight, not even the minimum verbal negotiation.

Those paddling long boats, where the paddlers can directly touch the icy water!

But the Avrora, the so-called mid-deck of the ship is the closest to the waterline, and the height of the side rails is also as high as three meters.

The Danes who were ordered were all warriors of the tribe of Hafgen, the leader of the Danish alliance, and every man played a ruthless role of one against ten on the battlefield.

Unfortunately, it was not personal bravery at all that determined the victory of this battle.

The imposing Danes imagined that after arriving at the other party's large ship, they climbed directly onto the ship with their hands and feet, seized the large ship and drove back. Wouldn't it be the best gift for the leader of the alliance, Hafgen. It's a pity that when they saw the true face of the big ship, they knew the danger was coming.

Rurik roared again: "Hold on to the wood! Hold on to the rope! Meet the collision!"

The copper-clad bow ram of the Avlora was a battering ram that could smash the city wall. The protruding weapon directly smashed the bow of the enemy ship, and then the entire hard bar of the Avlora The keel rode directly on the enemy ship, and everyone on it was crushed into minced meat, and even the sails and masts were completely shattered.

As if the heavy cavalry collided with a group of light cavalry, or a Tiger King collided with fourteen T26s, the result was obvious. In the first round of confrontation, the Avrolla literally crushed an enemy ship, and the battle had just begun.

When realizing what terror was, the Danes suddenly lost more than half of their courage. Some ships were shaken, and others were ready to fight again.

However, before the Avlora turned around, it was the various ammunition fired from the large ship that responded to the Danes.

Thanks to this excellent weather, Rurik put a heavy steel-armed crossbow on the side rail. He pulled the trigger in time with the swing of the boat. After a strong recoil and tremor, a heavy head. The crossbow bolt pierced the head of a rower on the enemy boat about forty meters away.

With only torsion slingshots and crossbow shots, the two Danish longships stopped moving and began to sink gradually.

After the big ship adjusted its direction, the huge jib flexibly used the wind force, and she rear-ended an enemy ship with a strong momentum, and once again tore the ship into wreckage.

Following this strong momentum, another enemy ship was rammed into two pieces.

The Danes are paying a terrible price for their recklessness, and in the same waters, the Avlora is re-enacting the unparalleled killing of a year ago.

There is no suspense in the next battle. Brother Biyonni, even with all the Balmers, they are all sullen, constantly manipulating the crossbow to shoot, accurately shooting one enemy after another. And the heavy weapons of the Rus gave the enemy a deadly knife, so-called digging a big hole and letting it sink.

If the battle started from the collision between the two sides, it lasted for about half an hour and still did not end. Even during such a long time, the Avlora was actually adjusting its course most of the time. The really deadly battle took place in a very short period of time, and it was precisely this short contact that the Avrolla frequently performed deadly attacks.

The real battle is just like this. To seize the opportunity is to chase and fight the enemy. Rurik did not, and could not, grant the enemy the opportunity to fight himself.

From the melee until now, there are a lot of broken wood and some pieces of sails floating on the sea. Some people who were still alive in the water were holding the driftwood and wailing. Unfortunately, instead of saving them, Arik ordered the attack to continue.

Biyonny has never understood why his Rurik brothers placed some extremely long spears under the side rails on the deck of the big ship. It turns out that their function is...

The sailor skillfully grasped the spear and stabbed at the enemy who fell into the water. Some Rurik's men also fitted crossbows with the cheapest bone cluster bolts without fins to accurately shoot drowning people.

After the last two enemy ships, they were about to flee back to the coast.

"Don't let them go, but stay alive!" Rurik gave the final battle order.

Everything is under his control. The performance of the Avrora is very outstanding and normal. A total of thirteen ships have turned into pieces of driftwood on the sea surface, and a large number of dead bodies have been dragged by water-absorbing clothes and armor pieces. fell directly to the bottom of the sea.

The last two enemy ships ushered in destruction, the drowning people were chased and beaten, and only one drowning person grabbed the rope that seemed to be alive.

A hapless man was rescued, who became the first Dane to board the Avlora, but was also doomed to death.

This person was first punched and kicked by Rurik's indulgent subordinates, and when he was beaten to death, Rurik arrogantly asked about their background.

"Who are you? All seem to be enemies. Remnants of Gotland? Danes? Or..."

Binding hands and feet and covered in blood, he faltered and claimed to be a Dane, and as to the significance of his presence in the ruins of Visby, Gotland, after Rurik claimed he could live by telling the truth. 1510 all recruited.

"Ah! It's so!" Rurik was not surprised at all when he heard the news, but...

Biyonni was also taken aback. He was excited for the first battle, the first kill, and now he had to worry about his Rurik brothers: "The Danes are going to use force against you, Rurik, things have become serious."

"Yes. If the Danes launch an attack this year, they will definitely attack Melalen. According to the covenant between us Russ and Melalen, we need to send troops to participate in the exhibition. Damn, this year's big battle is really out of time."

Rurik's pouting little appearance seemed anxious to Biyonni.

It's time to show your reliability as an older brother. Biyonni patted Rurik on the shoulder: "We are brothers. If the Danes attack Ross, we Balmerk warriors will definitely organize an expedition. For example, I will take a thousand soldiers to cross the mountains or help by sea. you."

"Oh, thank you. But even if the Danes have a large-scale attack, maybe..." Rurik got up and smiled confidently: "If it's a naval battle, as you can see, we Russ have big ships, and the enemy counts. What? What do you think? Buy a ship like this with 2,000 pounds of salt, and you can be as strong as me."

Facts speak louder than words. The current Biyonni has no hesitation at all. He has made up his mind that even if he sells iron, his tribe must have a warship similar to the Avlora.

The captives revealed that the Danish leader intends to retaliate against the entire northern Svealan alliance. Before, Rurik only deduced that the enemy wanted to retaliate. The old Danish businessman, Eric, also described such as Hafgen’s anger over the years. terrorism. The captive was so certain that it seemed that things were real.

"What's next? Land and see? And this captive?" Biyonni asked cautiously.

Rurik gave Yevlo a random look, and Yevlo stabbed the prisoner to death with his sword without hesitation, and then threw him into the sea.

Being so clean and decisive, he once again surprised Biyonni. In his eyes, his little brother Rurik, who was calm, beautiful and seemingly kind-hearted, did hide a fierce heart.

Rurik turned his head and said with the above breath: "The encounter has had a windfall, and now we're going to continue sailing."

"You seem to have some new plans?" Biyoney asked again.

"The plan remains the same, but creating chaos in the waters of the Danes has more significance."

Considering the serious nature of the matter, Rurik stood on the bow deck, facing his men with different expressions after the victory: "Brothers! The prisoner said that the Danish leader was going to attack our kingdom of Sweden. I won't allow that to happen this year, it's not good for us that we can't get a lot of wheat in the fall if the people of Meralen are busy fighting. Go ahead with me and make terror in the Danish waters! Show no mercy! Let those The guy attacked us with lousy ships, and then we were all run over by our Avlora. Let's use the force of one ship to destroy the delusions of the Danish chief! Ulla!"

Rurik, who drew his sword, shouted Ulla, and his mercenaries had long since adapted to this special battle cry. People chanted Ulla rhythmically, and even the Balmers were infected by the uplifting atmosphere and shouted Ulla.

The Avrora also steered and headed straight for the Kalmar Strait, vowing to sweep the entire 150-kilometer narrow stretch of water, sweeping any ships it encountered. Rurik no longer had any concerns, because the Meralen merchant, and the very important new Swedish king Karl, mentioned the news of the rebellion of a group of Saxons at the Borgholm fortress. Whether the news was true or not, Rurik decided it had to be true.

Continuing the voyage like this, the Avlora will never encounter friendly forces again. Rurik decided to make things even more extreme. The so-called chasing and fighting for a period of time in the waters near the southern silver castle where the Swedish army was smashed was no longer a simple act of piracy, but it was no longer a simple act of piracy. It's an exhausting tactic.

Rurik, is to disrupt the plan of the Danes' massive counter-offensive.