Chapter 858： Yotaran

The nobles attending the meeting certainly support the decree of King Rurik, and they will benefit greatly from the privilege of tax exemption. At the same time, the king with strong military power is naturally a mediator. After Birka’s name is changed to Stockholm, Ross’s army will be stationed in the city. The trading port belongs to the king. The nobles do business in the port area according to the rules set by the king. When the merchants disagree, someone immediately mediates, and the contradiction will not rise between the nobles.

Within Sweden, there will be peace with each other. An absolutely peaceful environment under the rule of Ross is extremely conducive for everyone to make money together.

But under the appearance of peace, how can there be no danger?

Lurik got what he hoped and received praise from many nobles.

He opened his arms and paced in front of everyone, accepting everyone's congratulations.

He stood up slowly, all his preaching about this meeting was recorded, and finally it will be printed on hard paper and become a legally effective document.

"You have all made smart choices, now let’s talk about your opinions! I welcome your suggestions. Are you...coming one by one?"

Lurik immediately gestured with his eyes, and looking at the nobles who were being stared at, what he said was still pure praise.

The announcement made by the king greatly exceeded their estimates. The king gave everyone a tremendous amount of freedom. In a sense, it is enough to publicly admit that he is the king. So what else can you hunger for?

Until Rurik's eyes were fixed on Yelmalen's Langstall.

"You? Lord Yilmallen, I have been following you a long time ago. You seem to have a lot to say."

Langstall waited for this opportunity. He suddenly got up and said bluntly: "Exactly! King! I have a warning for you."

"There is a warning? What is that?" Ruri Kliw smiled to cover up his embarrassment.

"It is related to the safety of the kingdom."

"Comfort? Could it be that you realized that we are facing... the danger of being attacked? Don't worry, the Danes have been beaten weak by me."

I heard that all the nobles burst into laughter, and they danced and echoed Rurik's words, saying that the kingdom of Denmark had no fear.

Lurik raised his hand to signal everyone to shut up, his brows furrowed, thinking that the brawny man in front of him was not like the kind of fuss, and what he reported should not be underestimated.

"What the **** is going on? What are you... afraid of?"

"It's your enemy, the Gotaran."

"Yotaran? What is that?"

"It's your enemy to the south. Perhaps..." Longstall looked at the Duchess of Ostara, Carlotta, who was present, and he bluntly said: "Actually, no one is better than your wife, Duchess of Ostara. , Understand the Gotaran people better."

Yotaran, or the term Rurik, is not completely unfamiliar. This area is at the southeastern end of Scandinavia, and it is a large area in a macroscopic view. Now that Longstall had named Carlotta, Rurik thought for a while and made Carlotta speak out.

A weak woman stood in front of the Swedish nobles, somewhat abruptly. Carlotta today does not have the heroic appearance of a female warrior. She deliberately dresses up and is busy emphasizing the necessary martial arts as a woman. She also wants to decorate herself with gorgeous jewelry, so that the nobles can know that the Ostrava tribe has gone through hardships. , Everything is fine for them who immigrated to the new world.

Carlotta held his chin up high: "Of course I know the Gotalans! They are all people from the south, occupying the lakes and grasslands in the south. They are all greedy and have been trying to erode our land. But, we are old Ostara has been destroyed, and all the tribes in the south either emigrated or moved north. In the past, we Ostarans have been carrying their invasion of Svealand. As for the current situation, I don’t know anymore. "

She seems to only emphasize that the Gotaran people in the south are greedy, and there is no way to describe the details.

Langstolcha needed her description, and made a fuss about it.

"King, you have heard it! You all, you have heard it too! The Ostras pointed out that the Jotalans are greedy and have been trying to erode our land. The current situation is that we Yelmaren It has essentially become the southern border of Sweden. In recent years, our cattlemen have been attacked and stolen by the Gotarans. They killed my people and stole my cattle and sheep. I have been trying to fight back against them, but... my population Still too little."

Speaking of which, Rurik has probably already guessed his demands.

"Are you...still being harassed by them now?"

"Exactly! I hope to get your help. I hope the king can protect us and defeat the Gotaran people thoroughly."

"You? Is this asking me to open up new territory?"

Langstall stared at Rurik's sharp eyes, and energized: "That's it. Let everything stop! As long as you conquer the South, you can eliminate the war. Besides..."

"how?"

"As a king, don't you need a victory to prove your authority?"

Liu Rikwan didn't expect that he would be hit by the radical general law. This man smashed a war and asked the king to prove his majesty, which immediately attracted the support and uproar of the nobles.

Or all the nobles, large and small, living on the southern shore of Lake Mälaren, clapped their thighs and made loud noises, asking the king to summon an army to attack the Gotarans.

How about the Yotaran people? I only heard of their names in the past, but when Sweden, Ross, and Denmark fought on the Baltic Sea, the so-called Gotarans didn't seem to exist.

They seem to have been doing sly things. As thieves and robbers on the land, they attacked the Swedish tribes, and they did not take any measures such as the "Kingdom of Gotaland" by military annexation. Are they just a group of people with no ambitions?

A country was born, beating an enemy violently and making military exploits in favor of the king's rule.

The battle for the founding of the Duchy of Ross was to sweep Gotland, relying on horrible and merciless killings, to make a big name in the Swedish world.

After being upgraded to a kingdom, will Rose have to take Jotalan a knife?

Rurik’s plan for himself was to contact the great local Danish nobleman Ragnar, and finally organize a joint army to completely destroy Horrick’s power as the Frankish agent entrenched in Denmark. After Denmark signed the peace treaty, peace is doing trade. Shouldn't the real nation-building battle be to destroy the new Denmark supported by the Kingdom of Denmark?

Denmark is a long-standing problem, it seems that the Gotaland problem is a mange disease.

While having a mange is not fatal, the constant itching is still uncomfortable. Valley

The nobles eagerly hoped that King Rurik would make a major decision. Faced with the enthusiastic eyes of everyone, they thought that the Swedish part of the kingdom should not be limited to the region around Mälaren, and indeed need to expand the frontier south, just like Sweden. When there is a territorial scope, the southern end of the territory must be drawn all the way to the Jutland Peninsula in Denmark across the sea.

What kind of natives are the Jotalan forces? ! Fight over and conquer them!

Rurik made up his mind. He clenched his fists: "Then fight! Attack the Gotarans and make them surrender. Everyone, my kingdom needs to conquer all the Gotas and sign a treaty with them. The Gotaland forces live in their territory, and cannot invade the Svealand area to the north of us. Of course they will not listen to my withering, so I will defeat them and let them know who the king is."

The king’s statement was very serious. Thinking of the past wars, Langstall was convinced that Rurik was really determined to do it.

Since it is destined to start a war, it is better to fight as early as possible.

Longstall continued to fight the fire: "It's only July, and there is still some time before winter. King! Your army and your fleet are stationed here, and we can launch actions immediately. We can kill before winter begins. Running over and looting their villages, I can take back the cattle and sheep looted by them, and even some slaves."

He wanted to continue, but Liurik motioned to shut up.

People noticed that the atmosphere became subtle, and Rurik said with a sullen face: "The crusade against the Jotalans is inevitable, but not now. Langstall, do you want me to send troops to conquer now? I still don't know much about the enemy. I can tell you clearly that this year will not work! If you want to fight, it will be next year."

"Why not? Your army is here, and..."

"Next year." Rurik shook his head: "Don't think about teaching me to do things, I am your monarch. You! And you!"

Facing many nobles, Rurik emphasized a power that they lost after surrendering to the king: "In principle, you have no right to start a war. You have no right to fight against another country. Whether you start a war depends on my will. If you go to war without authorization, then Fight yourself! Whether you win or lose is a sin. If you dare to launch an attacker without authorization, I will cancel his tax exemption. What you have is only qualified to defend me, like against the people of the Gotalans and don’t listen to me. Order, you take the initiative and you will be punished."

These warnings made Longstall speechless. The king was willing to prove for himself that he was the real king, even if he had no power to lead his troops to war, wouldn't he be very embarrassed?

He immediately asked again: "King! What if those yotalans come to find fault before winter? Will you not let us fight back?"

"For the time being, you are not allowed to go against my orders. Listen, this year's war and crusades are not enough. We will form a coalition next year, and Odin will give us the opportunity! You all listen, we are not against Gotaland. To avenge the gangsters who stole cattle and sheep, I want to conquer them and solve the problem of Götaland as directly as possible through a war. Langstall, I am not helping you counterattack anymore, I want to expand a whole new territory."

Lurik showed a very large pattern, which amazed the nobles.

Everyone remembered the past when King Olekin summoned the coalition forces to crusade against Denmark. As a result, the coalition forces won, but the king died.

Because the Rus army was the main force of the coalition at that time, without the assistance of the heavy weapons of the Rus, the coalition could not have the power to capture the Borgholm fortress on the island of Öland, let alone quickly break through the city of Kalmar. As for the death of King Olegin, it was precisely because the Russian army was humiliated by his compatriots, and the army withdrew in anger.

If you are discussing the past, everyone can sit here and talk for three days and three nights.

Especially when talking about King Olequin’s death in battle, it is precisely because this matter is regarded as a shame to Sweden, and everyone does not want to talk more, and for Rurik, this aspect should not be talked about.

The reason is quite simple, because the man who cut off King Olekin's head with his own hands is in Sweden.

Ragna, he ran to Lake Mälaren in an assault, and after arriving in Uppsala to participate in the enthronement ceremony of Lurik, he and his fellow Spuyut arrived at Gould Island on the lake. Ragner’s return briefly reported to Rurik about his recruitment and purchase of horses on Bornholm Island, and then bought a batch of cheap weapons (mostly cast iron axes) on Gould Island. He took the opportunity to return by boat and returned to his Bornholm armed forces.

He himself did not reveal his identity and did not leave Sweden. It would be embarrassing to let the Swedish nobles learn of Ragnar’s deeds and his becoming the king’s strategic ally.

The nobles listened carefully to Rurik’s exact arrangements and received this order: After you go back to reorganize the army, I will convene the army in the spring of next year. By then, even if you bring ten soldiers, you must lead your troops to join the war. I will lead you to victory!

All this is like Olekin’s convening of a convocation against Denmark, and the real organization of an offensive in the second year.

In 840 AD, when the goal of the strategy was to conquer the Gotaland Heights in southern Scandinavia, it became one of the national policies of the Rose Kingdom.

As it is said, once a decision is made to go to war, the wise monarch will not be arrogant.

In principle, after this meeting, the king's enthronement ceremony has been completely concluded. Many nobles who have been summoned can go back to their homes to wait for the wheat harvest, and then take the new wheat to Stockholm Port to do business freely.

It was precisely for this reason, Ruriek very decisively denied Langstall’s request to start war this year.

There are about 30 days left before the wheat harvest. Who can guarantee that great results will be achieved within 30 days? Who can guarantee that the wheat harvest will not be delayed. The Russian soldiers in Uppsala are mainly young men, and the strong labor force of Ross is waiting to harvest the wheat in the east. Ross's army is gorgeously dressed and equipped to bluff, which is a good cover for the soldiers' immaturity. To be honest, Rurik is convinced that these young fighters have a strong fighting spirit, that is, their bodies are still too immature, and they urgently need to eat more meat and bread for another three or four years to grow into the peak Nordic brawny. They are the powerful soldiers.

All the nobles will be busy harvesting wheat at this point in time, and they will definitely not risk delaying the farming time to sing with the Duke of Yilmallen. What's more, the Yalmalun tribe is the one who is threatened by the erosion of the Gotarans. The brothers in the north have always been indifferent. As for everyone's support for the war, it is naturally because following the invincible Ross army can get a lot of fat and fresh meat to fill the stomach.

Some nobles have already rowed away, and Longstall was left behind.

Life seems to be calming down, and the noisy Uppsala is also quiet.

The Ross army is still stationed in the walled city they built by themselves, but it is destined to be handed over to Swinned, Governor of Uppsala.

Many nobles leave, Longstall is authorized to continue to live in the walled city temporarily. He was able to have a good chat with the elderly Otto, and he met Rurik's surprising number of wives and concubines, as well as the princes and princesses. Obviously it has been a long time for the separation of people. Although the Ross people are from Swedish society, their customs have been significantly different from everyone else, especially in terms of dressing. When the Ross people remove the white background and blue robes that they must wear on formal occasions , It reveals the colorful linen with various patterns and the leather clothing with unique decoration Weaving pattern cloth has always been the traditional craft of Slavs. Due to geographical factors, it is easier to obtain dyeing materials in the area around Ilmen Lake. Naturally, the bright yellow and bright red that are rare in the Nordic world can be obtained cheaply.

There were an astonishing number of young men in the Ross Warriors. Most of them were still childish. They took off their shirts and showed their true faces. Langstall was taken aback. His surprise is manifold. For example, such fighters constitute an army and their combat effectiveness is doubtful, but they are too young, which is also a huge advantage. But what is extremely frightening is that King Rurik can come up with hundreds of extremely young male warriors, they are really full of stamina.

Langstall was ordered to stay here, just accepting Rurik's order.

He was asked to think carefully about all things about the Gotaran people, and was given paper and a quill, dipped in ink, and then wrote down what he knew in runi words on hard paper to strengthen his memory, and then bring it with him. Take this piece of paper to chat secretly with the king.

Secret chat is a great honor! He was nervous and excited, and he also learned that Duchess of Ostara Carlotta and Duke of Gran Svalgard were also involved in the secret chat.

Just because of the identities of these two, Longstall fully understands the king's use.

It can be said that in the past era, they knew the most about the Jotalan forces. Then the conquest of the enemy requires detailed information from insiders.

Paper replaced the wooden board as a writing tool. This shocked Langstall, but he adapted right away and wrote a long document with very scribbled fonts, rolled it up and tied it with a string, and took him with him. Towards the secret meeting place designated by the king...