Chapter 400： Team from Novgorod

A long ship composed of thirty soldiers is rushing towards Shilla Fort at the craziest speed.

Rost's sunken oars were splashing amazing waves in the sea. The ship was ordered to rush to Fort Shilla in four days, so the selected paddling fighters not only know the road, but are also strong in endurance.

They knew their mission well, and the long ship rushed to Shilla Fort at the planned time.

The residents of Shilla Fort, who are actively engaged in internal construction, never expected that when the wheat seedlings began to grow rapidly, the leader actually issued an assembly order.

The chief Knudson stationed here was surprised to learn that there would be five hundred Novgorods who would join the Russian army as the Russian Allied Forces. This is truly an unheard of.

"Could it be that the war we face is already beyond our own strength?"

The people who sent the letter did not know more details. They quickly recruited a hundred immigrant men from Novgorod who were interested in participating in the war in Shilla Fort. Their mission is not over yet, just because General Arik is not here by accident.

Arik must be in Novgorod, as the uncle in his father-in-law's house!

Indeed, Arik and his experienced fellows are now the well-deserved kings of the Novgorod region. The political ecology of Novgorod that he learned is like this. The White Tree Manor is a stable servant, the Pine Needle Manor is a wealthy but unstable dog that has not been domesticated, and the other manors are a group of fencers.

Arik’s army is stationed in White Tree Manor, which has also become a "warehouse area" for collecting tributes. A large amount of leather is the most critical spring tribute that locals can provide.

Oh, of course there is a batch of honey.

The sweet taste made Arik unable to extricate himself. He really fell in love with the revered days in Novgorod. He drank honey water every day and ate barbecue every day.

After all, the brave and brave Ross elites, they arrived in Novgorod with ten steel-armed crossbows, and soon they took their brothers to shoot as many as twenty brown bears in the dense forests of Eastern Europe. The tree manor also adds new offerings to the upcoming Slavic festival.

But when it comes to feelings, Rigus, the owner of the manor, doesn't think Arik is very noble. In fact, based on local traditions, he regarded the blacksmith Kawi as his second son, and his mixed-race grandson, Kuznetslav, as his jewel in his hand. He is even more looking forward to Rurik, who is about to grow up to twelve years old, and he also expects that the child will really grow up to inherit the Ross Datong, so that when his beautiful little daughter marries, he can proudly claim that Rurik is himself. Son.

Suddenly, the summoning order of the Rus tribe's army reached Novgorod in an incredible way.

Arik was taken aback, and Rigus was almost fainted.

Because, the messenger still asked White Tree Manor to send four hundred men to fight for the Russ, and this was almost the majority of the men in the Manor. Thinking of war, Rigus thought of death. He subconsciously made the most extreme thinking, that is, his male army was annihilated, and the entire White Tree Manor also fell apart.

For a moment, he felt that this was a conspiracy of the Russ. After the so-called men died in battle, wouldn't all the women in the manor become the wives of the Russ?

"No, the loss can't just be borne by White Tree Manor."

Rigus didn't take the initiative to flatter and be someone else's hunting dog. His people couldn't bear the bullying of Pine Needle Manor, so they found a foreign backer. He needs to rely on the strength of the Rus to maintain the status quo of the White Tree Manor. If because of the Rus war, a large number of mans from the manor died in battle.

No, he, an old guy who is anxious and wise, taught Commander Arik a plan that he couldn't refuse: summon the brave men from each manor, summon four hundred people, and fight for the Ross people.

Look at the current situation of the White Tree Manor. Most men are also thin and weak. They can see clear ribs when they open the linen clothes. This kind of person is also worthy of being a fighter? However, some men made Arik feel that they met the bottom line of a fighter's physical fitness, but unfortunately there were too few such people in White Tree Manor.

To complete the uncle's chief, oh, it should be called Duke Ross now, and to complete the Duke’s orders, it’s not a good idea to fill the numbers.

Therefore, an order to convene a war was issued urgently, and the various manors began to reluctantly dispatch their strong men. They were forced by the lewdness of the Rus people and did not dare to obey. The husband who went on the expedition was crying bitterly, and the skinny guys who weren't seen by the Ross people were secretly happy. They prepare weapons by themselves, almost all of which are spearheads with bone and stone fragments glued to them. After all, iron tools are still not really popular in this area, and stone tools are still extremely important tools and weapons. They are more like hunters than fighters.

After an army was assembled, there was no fighting spirit in their eyes, only infinite fear of war.

Could this group of cowards also become fighters? Arik was deeply skeptical about this, and he really didn't know the leader's needs.

Soon, the selected males from multiple manors gathered at the Russ' berth in the White Tree Manor.

They all brought a little bit of dry food from home, a small pottery urn for cooking wheat, and even replacement crude leather boots, and a hemp blanket to keep out the cold. Many things were stuffed into a hemp pocket and carried on their backs, and the cold-proof blankets were curled into bundles and hung on their short spears.

Many men, they know that they are going to war, not to talk about their fate in the future, they just accept the call of the Ross people in a suit of hunting in the jungle.

Many people only have a simple short spear. Some people also carry slings, short wooden bows and a few arrows. The clusters of arrows from their bones cannot penetrate the armor of the Rus, and their spearheads are like toys.

Their so-called weapons are all rubbish. For the first time, there are two hundred males from the White Tree Manor. Alix didn't make any disgusting remarks. He really didn't want to talk to his wife's family manor.

In any case, such a group of "junk" is also the soldier he is authorized to govern.

The Rus’s stay in Novgorod was coming to an end. It was another tense night. The "temple" of the White Tree Manor, which is a special wooden house, lit up a large number of bonfires, gathering in groups of bonfires. With a large number of people.

Priests from many manor houses gathered here, and even Brodne, the owner of Pine Needle Manor, who hated the Ross people, sent fifty so-called soldiers, as well as manor priests.

Brodne, he is essentially a big landlord. Last year’s disaster actually affected the whole of Europe, and the Novgorod region, which arrived on the edge, was still affected. Coupled with the intensified exploitation of the Ross people, life in Pine Needle Manor is very difficult. He encouraged a group of farmers who could not afford to pay rent to fight for the Ross people, in order to forgive debts. After all, these people themselves are also people who depend on the life of Pine Needle Manor. They are not the core. These people are almost empty-handed and kicked to General Arik.

The priests were performing rituals in the raging fire, and many priestesses chanted obscure prayers in twitching all over, sometimes beating the drums and wooden sticks in their hands, and screaming birds and wolves.

In fact, Arik and his army have just arrived in Novgorod, and the residents of various manors are preparing to welcome their "Darborg Festival", the so-called worship of the sun to pray for the smooth weather when the wheat seedlings grow.

They had just finished the festival, and even the grease of the bear sacrificed to the gods (naturally hunted by the Ruths) was still warm, and the Russ issued a war mobilization order.

This time, all the priests are offering sacrifices to their **** of war-Perron.

"Peron? What is that? But Odin, who has us from the Ross, is more awe-inspiring?"

Arik didn't want to pay attention to the sacrifices of the local people, and there were 700 serious Ross soldiers watching the big show amidst laughter.

He stayed in the home of the manor Rigus, and the oil lamp illuminated the entire room so that at least the other's face could be seen clearly.

He sat cross-legged on the wooden floor and said casually: "Hey, the outdoors is really noisy. To end this sacrifice, I must take them all away."

"Yes, I have prepared everything you ordered, I hope all this will satisfy you." Rigus' attitude was very flattering, even though all his daughters and sons-in-law were present.

The only thing that made Rigus happy is that this young Rose Xiao will also marry a woman from his own estate. He has learned a lot of Slavic languages, which makes the communication between everyone quite smooth.

But this member of the team will not be able to inherit the Russ command. What Rigus has for Arik is only the fear of madness, and no real awe.

Arik nodded: "I have seen the tributes paid by the manors. They are our wealth. There is one thing I need to tell you."

"Please speak."

"Victory will belong to us. As a reward for your support, perhaps the chief leader will be very happy to reduce or exempt your autumn tribute. Your White Tree Manor is the most loyal hound, and you have sent the most troops. Compared with other manors, the weapon status is also better. better."

"Oh, thank you so much for your compliment." Rigus's shriveled face showed a slight smile.

Arik looked around, then poked his head, and made a serious promise: "My chief...oh, he is the war chief appointed by the duke, this time I will lead a thousand people to take charge of a very important task. You people of Novgorod must do something. As a reward, your people can also take a real chance to get their own spoils. According to our tradition, whoever fights for us, the spoils they looted are not allowed by others. Snatch away."

Hearing this, like a big dead tree emerging green, Rigus cheered up, and even his eldest son Medvedt straightened up.

"Huh?! Are our people allowed to..."

"Yes. Because they are fighters, as long as they are brave enough." Arik still had a serious face: "Think about it. The best of them will fight for wealth. Listen, we only worship the people in the battlefield." The strong. For the cowards and the timid, they will only be expelled by their companions. I hope you have no shortage of warriors. Oh, there is a warrior here."

Arik suddenly raised his right finger to Medvedt, and gave orders in Cyslavian: "You! You are a strong man and also my brother-in-law (referring to the girl Svetalana who is leaning against Rigus) Brother, you are noble enough. Follow me as the commander of all the Novgorod army!"

Medvedt had no idea about this before Arik ordered it.

Arik's order is absolute, even if Medveit didn't want to leave his homeland rashly, he accepted this arrangement in a thrilling manner for the sake of honor and the future of the manor.

I'm afraid all this is destiny!

At night, Arik lived in a luxurious bedroom in the manor’s mansion of White Tree Manor. He hugged his Peravina, listening to her soft breath, and the hanging basket next to him, only over a year old. The eldest son Askad breathed weaker.

He once felt that commanding five hundred soldiers was already a limit, and now he has been authorized to rule over a thousand people.

But wait a minute! Is there really only a thousand people? There are so many brothers on Tombstone Island, they have all been called off for the expedition?

Although he has no right to lead his troops on an expedition, Tombstone Island will still gather more than 1,000 people. If you add in the women and children who have pioneered the island, the people who can be directly controlled by yourself will approach 2,000 at one time. I am afraid that this battle will not all participate in the battle. To control such a huge force, Arik judges that his life has reached a peak again.

He...has begun to fantasize about something particularly great.

In the dark night, the faint moonlight passed through the gaps in the closed wooden windows, and his eyes looked at the cradle that carried his son with the help of faint light. "Ascade, maybe you can do something greater."

The next day, the white charcoal at the entrance of the temple was still burning slowly, and a large number of long boats assembled on standby.

The times have indeed changed. Because of the important stronghold of Novgorod, the Rus people can stay in Novgorod for a long time and travel more frequently across the Neva River-Lake Ladoga-Volkhov River. Waterway.

They must deliver the tribute twice a year, but the Ross people can't make two trips a year to get it.

Arik left two hundred Ross soldiers and continued to eat and drink theirs here. These two hundred people are actually very particular, because there are 100 people whose wives are women from White Tree Manor. Because of this in-law relationship, Arik is assured that they can control the entire Novgorod area and get White Tree Manor. Love it.

People on the expedition began to board the ship one after another, and many Slavic "warriors" could be said to set foot on the warship of the Varangans for the first time in their lives. They were ordered to temporarily unload their bags, and under the order of the rude-sounding Ross, they had to hold the heavy oars in both hands cautiously.

It seemed that the oars were no different from their past rowing boats, but the Ross people's oars exceeded their imagination.

The ritual could not be carried out a second time, but the residents of the entire White Tree Manor gathered at the riverside.

There are as many as thirty long boats, carrying nearly a thousand people of all types and a batch of tributes in a completely overweight posture. They form a compact long snake formation that floats along the Volkhov River. Doga Lake.

"Now, leaving your hometown, we are going to war." Kawei took the oars, put his arms around his somewhat sad wife, and looked north.

"Fight, do you want to go too?" Lilia was holding her child again and looking at her husband's beard.

"Of course. I am a craftsman and a warrior. My people need me to repair various weapons for them."

"But that's war!"

"What? Are you suddenly worried about me?"

Lilia shook her head gently, looking at the babble of the infant child, her mood was complicated.

Before, she did not worry about the expedition that Kawei participated in. After seeing the mighty force of the Rus people, who would dare to say that they would not win? Now as a mother, she hopes her husband will not take risks out of an instinct.

How can the current situation change because of the expectations of one or more women?

Kawei, he couldn't let go of his wife and children, let alone his brothers.

A few days later, a fleet with a larger number of ships and more ships, under the leadership of Arik by Ross Snap, they unloaded a batch of tributes in Shilla Fort, and received a batch of weapons and tools. The fleet entered To the Gulf of Finland.

They all adjusted their sails to the proper direction, and under the blowing of the south wind, they moved forward at a very fast speed.

After sailing for three consecutive days and nights, they saw the fire from the misty islands and rushed over...