Chapter 1,467 Esenberg on the Elbe

Bishop Adam of Ratzeburg, who was riding on horseback, was always depressed. Even though the rainy weather had weakened, his heart was still full of grievances.

When the army was resting, the bishop would take the food provided by Mistui and reprimand him for being rude and disrespectful to God. After all, life would go on.

When he learned that the legendary King of Rus was in the army and saw the northern king directly, he couldn't help but develop a strong interest.

As the letter sent by Eskil said, King Rus, who was more powerful than all the Danish chiefs, was really young and promising.

"That man calls himself Augustus of the North. I don't think this is a conceit. He knows Rome and longs to recreate Rome, but he is not Rome. He has a certain interest in the Lord. I tried to persuade him to convert to the right path but failed. Encountered persecution. Fortunately, my students still took root in Ross. With the blessing of the Lord, the future will be beneficial to us..."

When the content of the letter, which he had almost forgotten, was recalled, Adam felt that Eskil was too optimistic. Considering the persecution he had suffered, he did not dare to anger King Rus by saying something wrong. He only dared to look at King Rus's face from a distance. and the army under his command.

Compared with the local army in Ratzeburg, which he knew well, and the more familiar Lübeck Cavalry Corps, the Russians were not the stereotyped northern rowing barbarians at all.

They were uniformly and neatly dressed. When resting, the Russian soldiers would go to the river to wash their faces and hair. They cooked wheat in a magical iron pot, mixed it with salt and honey, and ate it with a spoon. It seemed very taboo. Take food directly with your hands.

Just by being able to uniformly dress in uniform, you can estimate King Rus's preferences, and they all wear a kind of iron plate armor, which can better demonstrate King Rus' financial resources.

"Such a powerful army, their flag looks like a rendition of Andre's Cross, but it is a pity that they do not believe in the Lord, but believe in the barbaric gods of the north. It is so stupid and such a pity."

Even though he and his subordinate priests were accustomed to asceticism and were very poor in material life, they were spiritually unparalleled in arrogance towards the northerners.

Because the diocese of Ratzeburg that Adam is responsible for also belongs to the Benedictine order. This order is controlled by the Archbishop of Reims, and its lifestyle is also promoted and promoted. The most important thing is the asceticism of material life, indulging in poverty and prohibiting all kinds of desires, in order to achieve a transcendent state and get closer to the realm of God.

This ascetic life is most highly praised by the old guy such as the northern saint Eskil, and the Archbishop of Cologne has directly managed all affairs in the entire Westphalia region and an expanded version of the Cologne Diocese in the post-war treaty. It is said that the archbishop does not agree with the Benedictine order, and the life of the senior priests is also more luxurious.

The allied forces were supported by the barons as they passed through the barony of Morne.

Baron Morn Odowolf, he is a mixture of Mrs. Oberlidy Tesla and Saxon, and his mother's family is from Essen.

The Baron of Essen is a staged destination for the coalition forces.

They first arrived at a very important place in the journey - Gust.

This is a huge rural area. What is different from the rural areas encountered before is that this settlement is legally under the jurisdiction of Baron Morne of Oberlidit, and the local residents are almost all Saxons.

It is very easy to distinguish Saxons from Slavs, just listen to the daily conversations of the locals and you can make a clear distinction.

It was certainly a good thing for the Ross army to camp here with its friendly forces. The army could get some supplies on the spot, but what happened next was unexpected by Rurik.

The horse team and the reindeer herd camped close to the forest. The soldiers lit the bonfire and continued to bake their wet clothes. Even if they were smoked heavily, the smoke from the smoke was stronger than the cold and damp.

Rurik was very interested in this settlement and he was interested in chatting with Mistui, who also wanted to talk.

He came with a small pot of honey and a pot of cooked oats. He also brought a few extra wooden spoons for this purpose, which made Mistui very happy as he was busy eating dry food.

The old guy held the wooden bowl and scooped out the sweet oats with enthusiasm and ate them. He was surprised that there must be some more delicious wheat mixed in them.

Although Rurik was an ally, the barons who were warming up with Mistuy had always had a grudge against him. Once they had dinner together and continued the conversation in Slavic, those grudges quickly dissipated.

"What? What is this settlement like? Do you think it is new?" Mistuy asked with a smile.

"I noticed that the residents here speak a language other than yours. Have we arrived in Saxon territory?" Rurik asked again.

"Let me tell you." Baron Morne boldly answered. He glanced at the sunset and recalled what happened three years ago: "Since you are the ruler of Ross, no one knows the war three years ago better than you, because it was your war. At that time, a large number of Saxons fled to the east to avoid the war. Many people crossed the Elbe River and arrived in Essen. They still felt that it was not safe enough and continued to move forward."

"Not many." Mistuy continued: "I did not order to participate in the war, and I do not want the war to harm myself. As for the fleeing Saxons, I ordered them to be taken in."

Baron Morn continued: "So I drew a piece of land in the south of my territory for the refugees to build a shelter. In our terms, they are all guests. So the name of the settlement is Gust."

"Here? It's called the city of guests? It's appropriate. Now that the war is over, they haven't left yet." Rurik looked back at the villages living in normal rural life and was still surprised: "They are not afraid of us at all."

Baron Morne smiled, showing a kind of confidence: "They don't have to be afraid of us. Many Saxons settled in Essen after leaving their hometown, and these people live in my territory. They pay food taxes and live a peaceful life. As a lord, I have no reason to force them, because...my wife comes from the castle over Essen. And..."

Baron Morn looked at Rurik's face sincerely: "Sir, before your army arrived at our place, some of your news had been widely circulated."

"Really? Could it be the news that I defeated Ludwig's army?"

"It also includes your marriage to the Count of Westphalia. Oh no, now it's time to call him the Duke of Saxony. As for Essen on the Elbe River... the Baron of Essen, or the little earl of Essen, they are better than A branch of the Lenger family, and a woman from this family is the wife of Liudov."

"Ah?!" Rurik was shocked, "You mean Liudov?"

"It's absolutely true." Mistuy shrugged and said proudly: "What my people said is a fact. Obviously you really don't know about this."

"I really don't know. So, can I still get married to that Essen noble?" Rurik also showed a proud smile.

"The sister of this generation of Baron is Liudov's wife. I heard that your son is engaged to Liudov's daughter. Liudov thinks highly of your son." Mistuy said again.

"You also know about this?"

"I have no choice but to know that all this is what that guy Liudolf is preaching everywhere, and what Baron Essen is willing to preach. It's not like I live in Lübeck and don't care about worldly affairs!"

"What else do you know?!"

"I also know that your son is the legal king of Mercia, and that the boy went to France and Aquitaine with Liudov's eldest son. Based on the information I obtained, these two boys should have achieved some achievements. I can't believe that, Ross The king is so young, you..." Mistuy laughed rudely, and the barons sitting there also laughed, and it was self-evident what they were laughing at.

"Indeed, I was born with divine power. I will not be bound by your rules, so I have many women. The Great God of the North gave me divine power, which made me a complete man when I just started to grow a beard. I am indeed stronger than mortals." In this Regarding the issue, Rurik does have the capital to be arrogant.

Mistuy sighed softly: "I don't envy you in this regard, everyone has his own ambitions. But I still envy such a young and promising person. Ah! Next we will arrive in Essen, and you can be brothers with Baron Essen, I’m sure we’ll be welcomed there.”

"I hope so."

Rurik didn't pay attention to the matters between Essen and the local nobles. He really ignored too many things.

Fifty years ago, when Charlemagne's army swept across the Saxony region, and then brutally crushed the rebellion of the great chief Widukind, the Saxony region was divided into three.

Vidukind's direct descendants were given counts of Westphalia, and a number of baronies were granted to the central region. Eastphalia in the east was legally governed by the "Roman Emperor", and now the local church manages everything. In terms of government affairs, there is no local vassal.

Among the baronies in the central region is Baron Essen.

According to the Saxons' own language, they called such a nobleman graf, which means "possessor of all power in the area", hence the name baron but in essence he was a count.

The trade route from ancient times directly connected Essen Castle. Lüneburg, which is still in the state of an ordinary village and has no glory of later generations, is also under the jurisdiction of Essen on the Elbe River.

(This Essen Castle in 843 coincides with Lauenburg am Elbe. This is not Essen near Cologne.)

Knowing this situation, Rurik estimated that he would be treated politely in Essen.

On the other hand, the arrival of the huge northern cavalry regiment in Essen must have caused a sensation in the local area. In order to avoid unnecessary trouble, it was necessary for the coalition to send a cavalry squad to inform Baron Essen as an envoy and appeal to him not to be nervous. , open the door wide to welcome friendly troops.

Who is the key informant? The answer is already coming.

Due to the complicated marriage of nobles, Rurik and the little Baron Morne also have a legal affinity by marriage.

Baron Morne was obligated to take the cavalry with him, and then quickly left the Gust settlement before the large army. They set off early in the morning, and one man and two horses arrived at their destination in just one morning.

The arrival of cavalry from the north surprises the otherwise peaceful castle of Essen.

When Baron Johann Ordolf Anderwalt Bierenger Essenberg learned of this, he was not surprised. Baron Morn, who reported the news in person, could not help but sigh: "Finally, the fight started, and you finally don't want to fight anymore." Watch from the sidelines."

Baron Oudolf of Essenberg also hoped to become the overlord of a party like his brother-in-law. Unfortunately, his bloodline was not as noble as the Widukind family. What's more, the army nominally organized by his brother-in-law Liudolf worked with the northern allies to defeat the Frankish army. To avenge his shame, Liudov's attack has become as equal as the great hero Widukind in the hearts of the Saxons.

Baron Esenberg flaunted himself as a noble man and made a big fuss about his name.

Because the Bierenger family of Saxony is a large family, it has many nobles who have become local lords throughout Saxony. Esenburg on the Elbe River is the first direct line of the family, and the family has completed extensive marriages with many Saxon nobles. There is me in you and you in me.

Today, family marriages are not limited to Saxons at all.

Baron Oudolf was extremely surprised to learn that King Rus himself came from the distant eastern world with his cavalry.

"It's like Moses' Exodus. They must have gone through a lot of hardships to reach me. They didn't come by boat or horseback. They were measuring the size of the known world. Those who could reach me must be brave warriors."

He really envied Rurik and knew very well that he was a blond hero. Now three years later, King Rus will only become stronger.

At the end of 840, the northern coalition led by Ross fought fiercely with Ludwig's Frankish army, and most of the Saxon barons from the central region participated in the battle. Ludwig's first identity was the Duke of Bavaria, not the "Roman Emperor", so the legality of this crusade was very far-fetched.

The Saxons still remembered the bloody massacre of them by the Frankish army. Seeing that most of the people had crossed the Elbe River, the truly bloody people organized militiamen to go to Hamburg to join forces with their new Duke of Saxony. The coalition finally won a great victory.

At that time, Baron Essen was the leader of the eastern reinforcements, Liudolf was his brother-in-law, and they were of the same race, so increasing troops for rescue became an inevitable obligation.

Rurik and Baron Essen had a close relationship, and it can be said that they fought side by side in the "Battle of the Glacier" that broke out on the frozen Elbe River.

At that time, Rurik only focused on the safety of Liudov, who directly led his troops to fight at the risk of being killed, and ignored the many Saxon barons who led troops to support him.

Rurik ignored many people, but Baron Essen still had memories of the past.

The memory of the past was as intoxicating as honey, and the baron decided to open the door to welcome friends who had fought alongside him, as well as the army from Lübeck.

The baron was sincere to Rurik, and he was equally sincere to Baron Morne, who was related by marriage. As for Mistuy of Lübeck, he was even more afraid.

The baron hurried out of the castle and shouted in the empty small square: "Here comes! All the soldiers gather! Organize the cavalry to follow me to greet our friends!"

Unlike the large-scale horse breeding in Lübeck under the leadership of Mistuy, the number of horses raised in Essen Castle is limited. The horses only need to meet the needs of the baron, so Baron Oudorf barely organized a hundred horses, but continued to Spear's militia quickly gathered 300 people.

In fact, in the entire riverside settlement that lives near the castle, all the boys who look like adults have also been temporarily organized, and most of them bring short spears for hunting and gather outside the castle.

This is the strength of the Baron's assault organization. Now of course it is not three years ago. Oudorf, who accepted a large number of refugees, is already a hegemon in central Saxony. If this guy learns that there is a large salt mine underground in the village of Runa (Lüneburg) that he takes over, he can be even more arrogant.

The four hundred soldiers looked like they were going to fight, but in fact they were just a guard of honor for the baron.

They raised cross flags and lined up in formation. The local church stood in front of the formation in robes and carrying crosses. The Essen Baron Army and the newly arrived Baron Morne Army waited in a peaceful manner for the reportedly extremely large Northern Cavalry Corps. welcome.

Baron Ordolf was looking forward to seeing Rurik here and talking about the glorious years together. He knew that the coalition forces would arrive before evening.