Chapter 287 New Tactics Against the Enemies of Gotland

Otto's big hand rested on Rurik's shoulders, a sign that he should take it easy.

Otto said deliberately: "Is Rurik really young? Or do you think that just being young is not worthy of being a warrior?"

"Yes!" Arik replied decisively, "At least five years later, my brother can truly be like a warrior."

"Forget it. Arik, you're still too reckless. Those Kovins, those guarding the fort, there were eight-year-old boys, even girls. They were involved in the battle, and the arrows they shot were as dangerous. "

"But you can't expect eight-year-old Rurik to take part in the attack on the Gotlanders. We have to fight a strong enemy, and Rurik is not the place to go."

"Even so, I still want to give him this position." Otto ignored Arik's doubts, and even ignored the doubts of others.

Otto made a very simple explanation: "Don't you think that you have to fight when you have a job? Rurik is the chief of our tribe. He went to the battlefield and participated in the Glacier War of our Rus. Arik , Although your brother is only eight years old, his courage is no worse than yours. This time, Rurik will take a group of people to the north after the snow melts.

We Rus are going to build a new settlement in the north, and that is Elrond. There is an unknown world, there may be dangerous aliens, and there must be a large number of dangerous beasts.

Rurik would be in charge of building that settlement and had the right to lead some warriors to fend off possible dangers.

As for you..."

Having said that, Otto made a deliberate pause.

Realizing that the atmosphere was very delicate, Arik straightened his back instantly: "How am I?"

"You! You're going to be a war chief too."

"Huh?!" Arik was so surprised that he almost stood up.

Otto still did not change his face: "I understand. For a month, you have been lobbying me to attack the benefits of the Gotland people. I can't convince you, I can only agree. Since young people have a fighting spirit, this Very good. I give you permission to bring someone against the Gotlanders."

"Dad! You finally agreed?!" Arik excitedly called Otto his father.

Otto remained calm: "I am your father and your leader. You can go to war, but you must accept my control. I can only give you two hundred soldiers, and you can't expect more troops."

"This..." A fire suddenly erupted in Arik's heart,

It was like being doused by a bucket of water. "Two hundred people, I... what can I do?!"

Looking at his aggrieved face, Otto's seriousness did not change in any way: "What else do you want? If you give you two hundred people, you won't be able to do great things?"

"However, I want to land on that damn island and destroy those wicked people. Chief, we still have something to do to avenge the Ostarans."

"No! We are not the leader of the alliance for the time being, and we do not have the authority to do what the Mellaren people should do."

Otto's words were a little subtle, and Arik suddenly realized that the leader's ambition was never a joke.

"So, what do you want me to do?" Arik demanded, "I can't sack the Gotlanders' fishing boats at sea?!"

"Hey! That's what I really meant." Speaking of this, Otto's tense face finally showed joy, and he patted his son Rurik on the shoulder, as if playing with a toy. "Arik, your thoughts coincide with your brother's. I also ask you to hear Rurik's opinion."

"His opinion? All right."

Arik sat down slowly, folded his arms and waited for the clever words from the younger brother.

In this regard, if Rurik held back for a long time, he finally had the opportunity to explain it to the second person other than Dad.

"My brother, war is inevitable, but we must control the intensity of the war. I am also against your chance to dispatch a thousand people, but I am very supportive of you to take some actions."

Rurik spoke in a childish voice, his face was as serious as his biological father, but it sounded like he said something, but he didn't say anything.

"You...really support it." Arik asked.

"Yes, I support your attack on the Gotland fishing boats, because, although these are not in your plan, they are in my plan."

"Huh? Very interesting, go on."

"Arik, in fact, your main task is to build our Tombstone Island settlement this year as a war chief. You will bring your brothers and slaves to build there. One day, when our strength becomes strong enough , we must launch an all-out attack that will ultimately take away the wealth of the entire Gotland.

Our large fleet could not all set out from Roseburg to attack after a long voyage, and the soldiers would be too tired.

We badly need Tombstone Island as a staging point for the army, I heard it's only a two-day flight to Gotland from there? "

"Exactly," Arik asserted.

"Oh, that's great. Tombstone Island is our staging point, we're going to build it, we're going to turn it into a fort. So if the Gotlanders counterattack, they won't be able to break our fort. Eventually we In order to gather the army in the port of the fortress, in the end, only we choose when to go out, and the enemy can only be beaten passively."

The younger brother's words were very encouraging, and he spread out a very wonderful picture of the future.

Although he knew that it could not be realized quickly, Arik saw hope, and the war frenzy that lacked the bottom line in his heart finally subsided.

Arik asked about another important thing: "My brother, you said those ships. As you mean, attacking ships is necessary? Is it necessary to do pirate work? In fact, real warriors are not I don't like to do that."

pirate? Aren't you, and me, all pirates?

Now, Rurik, who has experienced real battles, doesn't feel how bad the word "pirate" is. In such an environment, any fisherman is equivalent to a pirate, and the reason why he did not choose to loot first is simply because he is worried about being attacked by the other side. He felt that the fishermen were in harmony as a whole, just because in the huge sea area, the fishermen's boats had reached a crisis balance with each other.

Fishermen are brave people.

Rurik didn't have the heart to discuss the topic of "piracy right", it was meaningless.

"My purpose is very simple. I hope that your boat can only actively attack the enemy's fishing boat. You can kill all the enemies and take away all the useful things on the boat. Only..."

"Only what?" Arik demanded.

"You're going to bring me the boat back."

"Ah?! This..." Arik was very surprised: "According to tradition, those ships are directly destroyed. I won't tow enemy ships without special requirements. What? You actually need those ships?"

"Yes!" Rurik finally stood up to show his determination. He went straight to Arik, standing upright like a red pine: "I'm not interested in how much gold, how much leather, or what good things you grab. I just want those boats, and right now, in my eyes, nothing is better than boats. important."

Arik was suddenly amused by the little brother's words, and the others also snickered.

The solemn atmosphere is more cheerful, and the reason for the joy is very simple.

As a Rus, there is no one who does not love boats.

Rurik looked at the happy people, he moved his delicate little face over, and continued to stare at Arik's face that had begun to grow up: "I just want those boats, and your men will drag the boats back to me."

"As long as this is the case, are you satisfied?"

Hearing this, Rurik's mind had to think more.

He felt that his brother wanted to ask for some compensation, but in fact, Arik was willing to do something for his little brother.

Arik really loves his younger brother. Just as Rurik was weaker, Arik was always happy to hug him when he was sleeping. Being able to hug his younger brother would make Arik feel a little warm and proud.

After a mere battle, it took a little effort to pull back the enemy ships that were not very useful, and it was done.

Rurik didn't know what his brother was thinking. It was said that his own brother had to settle accounts clearly. He had already planned a remuneration standard, so he said: "I can't let you and your people do things in vain. You go to war and seize the I will give you two hundred silver coins per ship, no matter any enemy ship, as long as it is towed back.”

"Ah? So many?!" Rurik's words were completely beyond Arik's expectations, and also beyond the expectations of many elders.

"What? A lot? Arik, as long as you can do this, it will be a great achievement for my tribe. I repeat, no matter how big or small the enemy ship is, it is the same price, two hundred silver coins, you and your warriors share , it's up to you how to share!"

To put it bluntly, Arik hopes that the tribe will launch a huge offensive. In his heart, he mainly wants to make a fortune based on the war, and to avenge all kinds of people, mainly as a war excuse.

The influx of silver coins into Roseburg caused the tribe to inflate in an instant. Rurik frantically searched for silver coins and hoarded them, or used various means to control the money of the priests. In addition to deliberately collecting money to build a "treasury", he was also objectively contributing to stabilizing prices.

Even so, life in the Rus has changed dramatically, and the prices of many things have risen somewhat, especially in the shipbuilding market, which has become hot, and the price of new ships has been rising steadily. It is not impossible now to buy a new and larger fishing boat for two hundred silver coins.

The price level is changing so fast that both the Ross and the guest residents have to adapt, and those who are more conservative have become a little uncomfortable.

Can you earn two hundred silver coins for towing back a fishing boat? and many more? Why does it have to be two hundred?

After thinking for a while, Arik felt that he understood the intention of his brother. The co-authoring bounty is one silver coin per fighter, right? If this is the case, Arik believes that everyone is absolutely motivated to attack the fishing boats everywhere, and they have to drag the empty boats back.

As long as he can make money, he doesn't have to fight the enemy, even though he doesn't think it's appropriate to earn his brother's money.

Arik deliberately tried to show his timidity and said, "I don't need so much money, you are my brother after all."

"That won't work! I'm very particular about contracts. You and I are brothers. Even so, you have to make a contract. This is my attitude, and I won't change it."

"Since you insist, I will agree." With that being said, Arik was completely ecstatic.

Rurik didn't finish his words, adding: "I hope that in future battles our tribe will not lose a single warrior."

Arik said in surprise: "This... I'm afraid it's a bit difficult. The enemy is not weak, they will protect their catch and fight desperately, we..."

"Just listen to me. I'll give you a special batch of weapons."

"What weapon is that?"

"It's my steel-armed crossbow!" Rurik said, referring to the phrase "krosebage", but the crossbow was still very unfamiliar to Arik.

"You mean crossbow? I've seen your experiment and it seems pretty good, just..."

"Do you think its performance in actual combat is doubtful?" Rurik shook his head. "It's really good. The arrows it fires can penetrate the enemy's wooden shield, and it must also penetrate the hull of the ship. The arrows hit the enemy. , can cause death. My crossbow doesn't even require much training compared to a bow to use it. Shoot those people with a crossbow and take their ships, that's what I designed for Gotland Man's new tactics."

This is very dreamy, and Arik also pays attention to seeing is believing, so he hesitated for the time being. Otto, who never wanted to shut up, is now standing for Rurik, praising the strength of the crossbow.

It was also within Rurik's expectation that his brother would question him.

"My mercenary captain participated in the battle in the East and made achievements. At least 20 mercenaries are now worthy of our trust. Arik, maybe you don't know, our chief has appointed these 20 people to become Warriors of our tribe."

"Is there such a thing?!" Arik had never heard of it. "Are they reliable?"

"Three hundred people fought against eight hundred people, they were never cowardly! They were trained by me to be masters of using the crossbow, they shot many enemies, they can be trusted! Therefore, they will join your team as our tribal warriors. ."

"Big Chief, is that so?" Aric asked Otto suspiciously, and got a very positive answer.

Yes, Otto kept his promise. When the army was still triumphant in the frozen Oulu River, he made a promise to give the mercenaries who made military exploits the identity of "Russians". Back in Roseburg, Otto kept his promise, but the ceremony of joining was too low-key.

Right here, Rurik announced that his mercenary captain and a group of mercenaries would form a team of twenty to join Arik's crusade. Rurik also mentioned a new naval battle routine, that is, don't give priority to the use of rushing and jumping gang fighting tactics.

The arrows of the Gotlanders are not strong, even worse than the Finns and the Kovins. The new tactic was that the ship approached quickly with the tactical advantage of Ross' oars, and suddenly fired crossbow arrows at the enemy ship to kill the enemy. After all, the enemy ship also had no deck.

What Rurik wanted was a ship, and his bottom line was that the ship was not leaking, so that the hull was so pierced with crossbow arrows that even the mast was broken, and such a terrible ship was still worth two hundred silver coins.

Rurik was actually thinking about another thing, which was to let Arik lead his brothers to fight, and use actual combat to test whether the crossbow he developed was really a weapon in naval warfare as he imagined.

Rurik clearly had multiple plans. For the tactical use of the crossbow, he was stunned to come up with a lot of money, as many as 2,000 arrows!

Of course, some of these arrows participated in the battle against the Kewen people. Among the 1,000 arrows recovered after the war, their arrow clusters were relatively intact, most of the arrow shafts had to be redone, and almost all the tail feathers had fallen off. .

On the contrary, these heavier crossbow arrows do not need tail feathers at all when used at short distances. It is even said that a piece of wood is deliberately cut with a knife, and the end is cut into a slightly tailed posture, so that most of the arrows can maintain a stable flight at a long distance.

In the final analysis Rurik's concept, his crossbow is a tactical weapon used within fifty meters. Beyond this distance, the accuracy will be somewhat reduced, and the worst thing is actually the reduced power caused by the loss of kinetic energy.

During the "North Hunting" period, Kravassen's blacksmith shop was not idle at all. He must continue to fulfill Rurik's production requirements for the crossbow, as well as the steel sword requirements for the tribal warriors. With a lot of wealth, Kravassen got busier, and he had to start squeezing Kamnee's labor force at the age of eight, forcing such a child to strike iron and manipulate poker. There is also a pregnant daughter-in-law, who will not be able to rest and make glassware and wine.

Clavasson produced many new crossbow arrows, and it was these arrows that filled the imagination.

Because their arrow clusters are the glass arrow clusters after the glass liquid cast in the bronze mold has condensed.

According to the knowledge of this old blacksmith, because the crossbow is too strong, the excellent steel arrow cluster is always safe, and the arrow shaft must be replaced with a new one after almost one use. You Dao is the arrow shaft of the constant stream of arrows. Based on this reason, it still sticks to what the iron arrow cluster does.

A large number of crossbow arrows with glass arrow clusters are still mass-produced. Finally, with the cut wooden sticks that are not very straight, they are tied with pine glue and hemp ropes, so that a low-quality disposable crossbow arrow that does not even have tail feathers is completed. Not to mention, it is really inferior, and it is better than the high production capacity.

After all, it was a battle, and all Rurik gave his brother were iron clusters of arrows. The issue of battle was vague, that is, abusing his own soldiers, Rurik dared not do that. Finally, those inferior crossbow arrows with glass arrow clusters must be useful for hunting, but they are basically never used again.

It doesn't matter! Rurik even felt that he could equip his own people with more glass crossbow arrows. After all, the team only wears leather for a densely charged enemy, and glass crossbow arrows can kill the enemy, so there is no need to use expensive iron cluster arrows.

It seems that at this point, the arrangements for the war this year have come to fruition.

After all, today's meeting is not just about how to fight a war.

Otto seemed to give him a headache and finally ended in Arik's compromise and joy.

Otto made two other plans.

First, Otto, as the leader, will lead the fleet, doing the tribal traditional voyage to the spring Sorgon in Novgorod.

Second, Rurik needs to lead a group of clansmen, and all the Kowens of the surrendered gray squirrel clan, to the mine in the north to establish a permanent settlement. It is best to quickly use the rich local iron ore resources to smelt iron.

The meeting was over. Immediately after the meeting, Arik met the mercenary captain Yevlo, and also saw with his own eyes the so-called crossbow use routine invented by Rurik.

Rurik organized all of his mercenaries, as well as some soldiers who had participated in the decisive battle of the Glacier. Rurik was stunned to organize as many as seventy crossbowmen, and being able to use so many crossbows was a miracle in itself.

Such a battle not only shocked Otto, but also made all the onlookers hooked. I am afraid, this is the true state of Rurik's so-called "Ross Arrow Formation"!

They lined up in two rows, they pulled the trigger at the same time, and the wooden planks erected fifty paces away were instantly smashed into holes by the iron cluster arrows, and many arrows directly penetrated the planks. Of course, this board is also made of specially selected materials, and it is inherently fragile. It was smashed so that sawdust flew all over the place, it was a good show.

The onlookers were stunned, especially the craftsmen who were professional shipbuilders. When they saw such a scene, they had to think of a very realistic thing: "We must use thicker oak boards that have been dried in the shade for many years. Use it to build big ships. Even if the material is hard to find, it's better than being smashed by a crossbow arrow and leaking."

The craftsmen subconsciously thought of the possibility of technology leakage. In order to ensure the sturdiness of Ross' ships and not smash their own signs, they decided to improve the processing and manufacturing process.

It cannot be said that their ideas are unfounded, but the fact is that there is no second European nation around the Baltic Sea, the whole of Europe, and even the Mediterranean Sea. There is no second European nation that knows how to forge steel, and it is even less imaginative to use its elasticity as a powerful weapon.

With the strongest long-range weapon, Arik is full of hope for the future looting operations. Just in the hope of countless people, everyone ushered in the thawing of the ice sea and the big sacrifice that the Rus people were forced to postpone.