Chapter 628: A New Must-Attack Target

When caring people such as old Clavassen and his blacksmith guys discuss these crazy events that are happening in their old council, they all pat their thighs and bluntly say that the so-called Rurik going to Balmerk is of course not simply recruiting locals, It is to organize an army far beyond the expedition to Gotland. Because those slogans are not just slogans, Rurik has made his ambition very clear.

Someone also mentioned that at a certain meeting the year before last, if it wasn't for the unexpected incident last year, the Duchy of Ross would have gone on strike to recharge its batteries for a whole year.

The purpose of the planned truce was to conduct an expedition this year.

Now, the blacksmiths are willing to believe that an expedition against the Danes is about to begin, and they also believe that the army will take the fleet to attack the wheat-rich Britain.

In short, there are many possibilities, and everyone can discuss it for a long time without a definite result.

But the sense of oppression of the war is acting on them, the blacksmiths who are deep in the front line of weapon manufacturing. In the first year of 834 AD, the entire principality basically put all its energy into making weapons. If a person holding a sword and a spear is regarded as a warrior, the Principality of Ross can arm 10,000 people within a year!

Several old blacksmiths and elders of the traditional Ross blacksmithing family completely underestimated Rurik's requirements for fierce fighters.

Because the new generation of Ross warriors are still a group of babies who are good at crying, so the youngsters who are thriving and the strong men in their prime, their large number of battle losses are still frightening to Rurik. The Principality of Ross must adapt to the current era and adopt a strategy of elite soldiers. It must arm the first and second banner teams of the warriors and the Mellaren banner team into heavy infantry in various senses.

In order to facilitate internal coordination, the Mellaren Banner Team should be renamed the Warriors' Third Banner Team, and when a new Jianyong is recruited from Balmerk, it can become the Warriors' Fourth Banner Team.

They are soldiers as soldiers, fishermen, herders, planters, loggers, miners and so on in peacetime. They are a militia whose militia strength is far beyond the general meaning. The Principality of Ross basically implements a strategy of almost all soldiers based on the old tradition.

As for the real standing soldiers, of course, there are also mercenary troops around Rurik who have expanded to nearly 300 people.

Perhaps it is more appropriate to call this group of people the Guards.

In the real Rome, the Guards are always good at rebelling because of greed, but the Guards are extremely important to the emperor.

Many of them are already married, and as their benefactor and monarch, Rurik naturally treats (monitors) other family members kindly. Especially focusing on Yevro's wife,

Hermi from Suomi serves as a benchmark for other mercenaries.

The days are getting longer and longer, and because Roseburg has been desperately producing artifacts related to weapons and tools, rumors about Rose's new expedition are also rampant.

People were waiting for Rurik to release a realistic statement, but after waiting for almost a month, nothing happened?

It wasn't until early February, when the ice and snow crisis was not far away, that Rurik finally issued a major order—a meeting.

Because the Ross Duma building, which looks like a huge traditional Viking longhouse, is about to be completed. Although the inside is quite simple, it is already appropriate as a public meeting hall.

So, in the huge new council chamber, will Rurik really announce plans for an expedition?

That must be true, otherwise the whole of Ross wouldn't be able to make steel weapons and warships.

It was a sunny morning, and the construction of the Ross Duma with its stone foundation was finally completed.

There is a small empty field at the entrance of this traditional longhouse, where thousands of people gathered to participate in the inauguration ceremony of the Ross Duma.

After all, it is a large public building, and it is even more sacred. The gilded statue of Odin in the temple was brought out, and Rumia organized a ceremony wearing an antler helmet.

A bucket of deer blood was deliberately spilled on the ground in front of the Rosduma gate to give the building a divinity.

Rurik was standing in the crowd, and he was the first to step into the building at the end.

He climbed up the wooden steps, pushed open the closed wooden door, and subconsciously raised his head to stare at the hanging plaque.

A piece of carbonized oak board is nailed with bronze flakes, which together form the words RUSDUMA.

The wooden door was opened wide, and a strong smell of turpentine came in.

Rurik subconsciously covered his mouth, he wanted to complain, but still endured the discomfort and walked in.

For many people, the smell of turpentine is actually a kind of fragrance, and good loggers do not shy away from it.

Just like old Otto and a group of old Ross elites, they walked into the new sanctuary blessed by the gods in colorful costumes.

Odin represents the majesty of justice, and the longhouse of Ross Duma will implement this majesty of justice.

"It's a bit empty inside." Old Otto said after looking left and right, and shouted that the turpentine gas was still too strong.

Rurik raised his head and pointed casually: "Those bronze lamp holders, do you have anointing oil inside?"

Then some attendants came with kindling, and after a while the walls were brightly lit.

After a while, someone untied the iron chain of the chandelier, and a lamp with sixty-four lamp sockets arranged in a radial pattern was lowered, which brought ultimate light to the entire longhouse.

However, in Rurik's view, a 40-watt energy-saving lamp is more reliable than these hot things, so don't pursue more based on this era.

Otto clapped his hands and cheered: "I saw three chandeliers here! The blacksmiths and carpenters are really good at their work! Why didn't I think of doing this before?"

Old Clavassen and his old buddy were there too, and everyone was delighted to be praised so much by the old Duke.

Rurik pinched his waist: "Isn't it because we were poor before? This huge court room needs to be further renovated. I paid for the construction of it. It is the property of the Duke's family."

Everyone agrees with this point.

He also publicly said: "However, we are here to discuss Ross's future path. That's okay! I think today is the right time! You have long realized that Ross will choose a new target and chop the ax on it. "

The people who had been whispering for a long time immediately began to talk loudly, and some people couldn't hold back their enthusiasm and shouted: "Your Excellency, just order! Are you hitting the Danes? My big ax is waiting to drink blood!"

Someone spoke so boldly that the hundreds of people present were so excited that they all lifted their coats and showed their muscles bursting with eagerness to fight.

Old Otto was also immersed in pleasure, and he opened his arms to signal everyone to be quiet.

In the end, Otto still has a strong say in whether he has been the old leader for more than ten years.

The crowd fell silent, and Otto asked again: "Don't dawdle any longer. Tell me, who shall we hit? Could it be Denmark?"

Denmark? Do not! It is inappropriate to intervene in Denmark now, or really attacking Denmark Ross will not gain any real benefits.

Public opinion has become clear to him, and the brothers are all talking about attacking Danish forces. But my plan is not to beat them up.

Rurik turned around, called out the names of some senior old guys one by one, and then recruited the banner captains of the Calvary Banner Team to Ross Duma.

There was even another woman, Jeflo's pregnant wife Hermi.

Why would an ordinary woman come to the sacred place of discussion of the Ross people? Wait a minute, is the Duke still interested in the East?

What enemies can there be in the East? Aren't the guys there all obedient?

In the afternoon, more than forty people gathered in Ross Dumari. Sitting everywhere were strong men exuding a strong body odor. Fortunately, the smell of turpentine dispelled the discomfort because the smell was stronger.

Hermi tremblingly sat next to her husband Yeflo. How could she never think that she, as an ordinary woman, is qualified to participate in this place?

Or are women entitled to men's councils?

She seems to be a small character, and everyone's eyes are still fixed on the current Duke Rurik who is still keeping a secret.

"Just say it, son! Do you want your father to continue to wait?" Otto had the highest status, and he expressed his dissatisfaction on behalf of the old guys.

Rurik looked around again, no longer intending to talk nonsense, and said bluntly: "Who are you attacking? Karelia!"

As soon as the voice fell, the people who were about to cheer were all dumb.

Karelia, what is that?

People have different opinions, until Otto suddenly realized: "You said Karelia. Rurik, those guys really exist? Are those guys really going to attack? We have been going to Novgorod every year for decades, and we have Didn’t know there were Karelians on the north side of that big lake. Even if you keep saying they exist, it’s still a threat.”

Rurik was also surprised by his father's reaction: "Dad! The Karelians not only exist, but they also make other Finns fearful."

"The Finns? The Suomi and the Tavastians, don't they all submit to us?"

"That's right. But Karelia is very strong. I believe what the chiefs Suomi said are true, so I invited Hermi here. She is the only daughter of Chief Suomi, so he must know a lot."

"Well, let the woman speak. I hope she has learned Norse."

So, poor Hermi was pushed out, facing a group of Varyag men with strong backs, she felt that she was a rabbit among wolves, pitiful and helpless.

Yes, even her husband Yevro was urging her to explain what Karelia was.

Hermi, she finally stammered and muttered...

Although she was born in a lake in southern Finland, almost all her understanding of the Karelians, her neighbors in the west, comes from her people.

Hermi's Norse language was still blunt, so she subconsciously changed the context of some important words.

The Karelians in her mouth are rebellious and tenacious in combat, and she even claims that they have a strong population, but these words are repeated over and over again.

"Are these the only ones?" Old Otto blew his beard and stared.

Hermi shrank into a ball tremblingly, her mouth trembled uncontrollably, but she couldn't say anything.

"Father, you scared her." Rurik poked his head slightly, then turned his head again: "Hermi, can you provide more details?"

Hermi raised her head after a while. She seemed to be about to say something, but she still didn't speak in the end, and her black hair covered her face again.

It's not that she wants to hide anything, but how does a well-protected daughter of the Suomi chief know the details about the Karelians?

Seeing that he couldn't ask too much information, Rurik lowered his voice and didn't intend to make any more inquiries.

He raised his head and looked forward to everyone: "Although the information is very limited, we can at least confirm two facts. There are many Karelians, and we need to dispatch many people to defeat them."

But this is almost a matter of knowing. The sons of some old guys participated in the war of conquest of the Eastern Land last year. The first news they learned about the Karelians was nothing more than "the number of people and the strength" from the Suomi people. discuss.

Whether it was the Tavastians or the Suomi, the Ross army defeated them quickly.

Following this line of thought, someone stood up and explained his point of view: "Rurik, do you value the Karelians too much? If they are strong enough, they should defeat other people around them. However, our fishing boats have never fought with them. direct encounters with our canoes, all saw our ships and ran away. If they were strong enough, they would beat the other Finns, the fact is that we are the conquerors of Finland."

Rurik gestured for the old man to sit down, and in all fairness he certainly felt that this point of view was reasonable.

However, as the commander-in-chief, Rurik intends to develop steadily, especially in matters related to war.

The atmosphere in the longhouse was already very obvious. The rebellious men regarded the new enemy Karelia as an ant, an enemy that could be easily defeated.

I'm afraid their attitude is completely correct, but Rurik still doesn't want to take risks, even if this caution may be a bit too much.

"I know," he said, "you think I'm being too cautious! Yes, I'm being cautious! We're going to treat the Karelians as if they were Danes, and we have to conquer them. Only by conquering them can New Roseburg get Complete safety. Only by conquering them can we Ross immigrants have a stable living space."

Arik pursed his lips with murderous intent, and shouted: "Brother, you are too cautious. Why don't you leave the work to me. I will row with five hundred brothers, and the enemy you worry about will soon perish. "

Rurik was very annoyed by his cousin's preposterous words. He opened his angry eyes and shouted in a rare way: "I am the Duke! Captain of the First Banner, you must accept my arrangement! If you continue to attack without authorization like before, you Ashamed to be my brother!"

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Arik was stunned by such a yell, not only him, but everyone including Otto was taken aback.

Otto stroked his beard subconsciously again, and couldn't help but think of years ago, when this brat held his sword to deliberately protect Rumia.

"Brave enough, he is my son." Otto was extremely happy in his heart.

Arik's preposterous words were really meaningless. Even though it was a meeting room, everyone present did not dare to say that they had Rurik's wisdom, so they all shut up and listened.

A sense of atmosphere caught his heart, and Rurik simply opened the skylight to speak frankly, expounding on his terror strategy.

He stood up and drew out his dagger, and immediately poked it deeply on the wooden floor in front of him, then sat down cross-legged suddenly.

"War! It is not a fight between warriors! War determines the life and death of everyone on both sides. This is a life-and-death war. If Karelia does not die, it will be like a spearhead at our throat all the time! You can say they are weak , but they have the possibility of launching a sneak attack to make us bleed.

Either no war, or a war of annihilation. This time, I headed east with at least a thousand warriors. Not only this army, but also the army of Suomi's allies. I also want to raise a new army from Novgorod! We must destroy Karelia in one battle. I have nothing against them, but they are just north of New Roseburg, and they either surrender and offer tribute and women, or they all die! "

A bear cub showed its fangs, and people couldn't help but fear Rurik's aura.

In this case, it is the council, and it is Rurik himself who makes the final decision.

It was another war of annihilation, and while it certainly wasn't as exciting as the attack on Denmark's Jutland peninsula, it was still a war enough to attract everyone's attention.

Someone screamed: "Let's fight then! My friends, Karelia threatens our territory after all, and there is no harm in annihilating them."

"Okay, I'm for the war too. It would be nice to get a lot of hide from them."

"Since they claim to be strong, let our warriors see it too. I bet our warriors are really brave."

...

Everyone's attitude is very obvious, since Duke Rurik is determined to send a large army to conquer, even if this battle gives people a long sword to kill the enemy to cut off the mouse's tail, the brothers just obey the order.

Otto asked the last question in a timely manner: "Rurik, when do you plan to act? Are you going to Balmerk?"

"Exactly. Dad, I'm planning to start the operation in early May."

"Oh? Isn't it a time point with our spring voyage to Sorgon? No, you have to come back from Balmerk, and you are more pressed for time."

"It doesn't matter." Rurik said firmly: "It's just right, you recruited troops in Novgorod first, and I arrived casually with the army. We assembled at Novorosburg, then attacked the north shore of the Great Lake, and found Kare Leah settlements attack immediately!"

"That's the decision!"