Chapter 939 Attack on Schleswig

The army's journey south is bound to pass through the port of Heideby.

This formerly prosperous port truly reflects the glory of Godfrey, Denmark's great old leader.

Things have really changed. The alliance leader has long since passed away. After his death, the port became an absolutely free port. Now, green grass covers the charred ruins, and only some black building remains are left here, telling the horror of many years ago.

Facing the devastated Hedebe, which has traces of being smoothed away by nature, the viewer does not feel sad, but rather recalls the past.

As the army marched by sea and land all the way south, a large number of Danish villages and a small number of Saxon villages along the way announced to change their ways due to their own safety.

Danish villages have announced that they have canceled their belief in God and returned to the embrace of Odin. They worshiped Ragnar as their king, as they had worshiped Horik as their king.

But this time it's really different.

Because Horik was a prisoner of war who had his hand tendons and hamstrings broken, this man was a prisoner of Rurik, and even more so a prisoner of Ragnar. The key was that the existence of this prisoner was very useful.

The thing with a rope around its neck, no fig leaf on its body, and a squirming thing like a hairless wild boar, is actually Horik, who rode a horse to show off his power and force everyone to surrender a few years ago?

Is Horik really a descendant of Lord Godfrey? No one knows this.

But all the village lords knew that Horik was definitely a blood relative of Harald Clark. The latter was voted out of the alliance leader by everyone and expelled by force.

The reason for the expulsion was very simple - Harald Clark was forcing everyone to convert to God.

However, those lords and their tribesmen who were unwilling to convert were either killed or had no choice but to go into exile, such as to the nearest island of Zealand.

A large number of villages chose to convert and be baptized en masse to save their lives, and now they are rebelling. How can he prove that he believes in Odin again? They began killing young priests in the villages, even those of their own race.

This kind of persecution against priests made Esquier heartbroken. Out of practical considerations, he suppressed the anger and sorrow in his heart, as if he was unaware of it all, and only held his cross tightly in the silence and no one. The stick prays constantly.

The Danish villages were aware of the influence of Christ in their independent territories. They destroyed monasteries, killed priests, and then dug stone statues representing gods such as Odin and Thor back from the pits.

This scene really made Rurik laugh and cry.

He and Ragnar witnessed the re-erecting of stone statues, the re-construction of the stone ship altar, and even witnessed the ritual in which young priests tied with ropes were sacrificed to the blood of an owl.

"What do you think?" Rurik deliberately asked Ragnar: "I think they have already made two preparations."

"I think so. What a group of smart people..."

Of course Ragnar despises such talents who adapt to changing beliefs, but now he needs the support of these fellow Danes.

At least they returned Odin with actual actions, and all that was left was to force them to contribute a group of strong men to join the army as warriors.

The southern Danish villages on the Jutland Peninsula have made such decisions one after another, and the lords also know very well that Ragnar is a real ruthless person. Besides, Horik, who was so arrogant and mighty, has now degenerated into a pig and a dog, and he can be walked by Ragnar on a leash.

But I saw that this man in his thirties was the powerful King Ragnar. He shouted when he met everyone: "Horik is my prisoner, I was chosen by Odin, and I avenged Odin!"

People respect the strong, and Ragnar is the real strong one.

Of course, no one can ignore the more powerful power behind this king-Russian King Rurik and the Russian army.

No one can ignore the Russian army. They are neatly dressed and well-equipped, with infantry and cavalry, and a huge fleet floating offshore. The legendary King Rurik of Rus also revealed his true identity, and all the rumors that had been circulated became true. The man who killed King Hafgen turned out to be him!

Everyone knows that the Ross people opened shops in the old Hedeby Port, and they also know that the fire in Hedeby Port is largely related to the fact that Horik sent troops to clean out the Ross shops. The outcome of that battle directly led to a commercial disaster in the Danish world, so that many merchants had to go further south to do business in Schleswig.

Schleswig was originally a town shared by the Danes and Saxons. The indigenous people in the town believed in Sirius, or in other words, they believed that Sirius was not a star, but "the shining point of Asgard in the sky."

The ruined Hedebe no longer existed, and Schleswig began to take over its economic status, but it was already firmly controlled by the Franks and became a border city.

Thanks to the conversion of many villages to God, the converted Danes and Saxons were able to do business freely. They could finally safely import northern goods into the Frankish hinterland at the cost of heavy taxes.

The Saxons who still stay north of the Schleswig Wall have always been guests to Denmark. Everything changed with the arrival of Liudov, a descendant of Vidukind.

However, they welcomed their leader and learned of the war a year later. Because many Saxons converted to God, they abandoned their villages, took their families, drove cattle and sheep, and stuffed the poultry into cages. They entered Schleswig and suddenly became people under Frankish rule, or in other words, they entered the territory of the people. The rare Earldom of Hamburg.

Because they converted to God, the Count of Hamburg not only had no reason to conquer them, but had to fulfill the obligation of military protection.

It was these people who escaped the Great Wall who talked about the war in the north, which suddenly caused tension in the north and made the attitude of a large number of lower-level nobles of Saxon origin in the region become hysterical.

As for those Saxon villages that had not had time to leave, the villagers had already thought of countermeasures.

The so-called false conversion will regret it every day.

The army from the north really appeared, but they were not demons seeking their lives. Lord Liudov is not dead! Even if the fortress fell, Liudov did not die. Not only that, Liudov also raised the flag of the Principality of Saxony. He was the Duke of everyone! What's more, the northern saint Eskil was also in the army, and no one forced the Saxons to give up God.

But the Saxons must make a decision - to recognize Liudolf as the Duke of Saxony, and to follow the path of the great hero Widukind, resist the rule of the Frankish Kingdom, and restore the Principality of Saxony.

Do the people have a choice? They didn't object at all. It was entirely because the Saxons who escaped the Great Wall used their actions to prove their opposition to the Frankish Kingdom's military conquest. As the saying goes, if they can't be defeated, just run away and continue to oppose.

Deep in everyone's heart lies an anger that cannot be quelled even in fifty years. Everyone can believe in God, and restoring the Principality of Saxony is not contradictory to believing in God. They supported Liudov a year ago because this man had the banner of "The Grandson of Vidukind". Now this hero has decided to return to the country and formed an alliance with the new King of Denmark and the King of Rus. People fully support Liudov's rebellion. , a Saxon army was born.

…

In just four days, the army arrived at the ruins of Hedebe from the battlefield of Aleb Fortress.

The coalition forces camped here, and Liudov suddenly had more than a thousand Saxon warriors of widely varying ages who had become Vikings under his command. He was no longer a bare-bones general. It's just that his own army doesn't even have any Frankish characteristics.

Ragnar's troops suffered more than 2,000 casualties in previous battles. After many Sealand lords arranged for some people to return to the island, the army he could theoretically control had shrunk a lot. Thanks to the troops recruited during the march south, the New Danish Royal Army still maintained an exaggerated size of five thousand soldiers.

The largest number of troops is naturally Rurik's army of the Kingdom of Rus. To hell with the Swedish troops and the Götalanders! Rurik was no longer too lazy to wait for the guys who were looting and taking revenge in the northernmost part of the Jutland Peninsula. The structure of those people was too small, and they were destined not to do much.

At night, the bonfires near the ruins are as dense as stars.

The three kings gathered at a campfire. They ate the newly caught oily grilled cod and talked about the upcoming battle.

"The facts are clear. A large number of Danes fled to the south." Ragnar said.

"My Saxon statement is the clearest. A large number of people have been evacuated. Another point is that based on my understanding of the Count of Hamburg, his reinforcements will definitely go north. We will definitely encounter the Count of Hamburg's army, and a battle is almost inevitable." Liu Doufu's solemn oath actually aroused doubts.

"Is the news reliable? How do you determine that the Count of Hamburg will definitely go north?" Rurik asked.

"No reason. Hahaha!" I saw Liu Dofu laughing up to the sky, and his smile was mixed with helplessness: "When you started to attack my fortress, I sent people out of the city urgently to report the news. It was I who asked the Count of Hamburg for help. I That’s the person involved!”

This explanation was too darkly humorous. Rurik and Ragnar were first silent out of embarrassment, and then the whole room burst into laughter.

Rurik smiled and put down the fish with a rather disdainful attitude: "Count of Hamburg, how many people can that Robert bring? I will defeat him easily. Do you believe it? Liudov, I can easily win as long as I send the cavalry." .”

Rurik's words were too provocative. Liudov tried his best to cover up his embarrassment and fear, and echoed: "I have many more cavalry than Robert. I personally led the cavalry and was defeated. Naturally, your cavalry can still survive." Easily win. Damn it, how can you fight like this? You shoot like crazy, the cavalry shoot like crazy, and you also shoot like crazy when attacking my fortress. I have never seen this tactic. No Frank noble has ever seen this tactic."

"This is my army." Rurik put on an arrogant face and said nothing more.

"I only have one thing to ask for."

"Say it."

"The Counts of Hamburg are not pedantic people, and they have no subjective ill will towards you. Besides, when I restore the Principality of Saxony, Hamburg will be within my territory. Since we have formed an alliance now, we will arrive in Schleswig soon. If There is fighting, and I beg you to let all the Saxons go. I will not pursue the past, I just hope there will be no needless killings in the future."

Saying these words, Liudov looked more at Ragnar.

"What...are you looking at me for? Do you suspect that I led troops into your old Saxony area and killed people everywhere?"

Liu Doufu's face was sullen, half-smiling, and his eyes answered in the affirmative.

"Whatever!" Ragnar shrugged, "My original intention was to fight until the Great Wall. I want Schleswig to be used as my Danish border town again. I support your plan to revive the Principality of Saxony. From then on, our two countries will use the Great Wall to Make a boundary so that both of us agree.”

Hearing such a promise, Liu Doufu was very satisfied. For him, since he had raised the flag of rebellion and decided to risk his life to revive the Principality of Saxony, he was convinced that he had seized the God-given opportunity of the Frankish Civil War. If he did not take advantage of this strategic opportunity, he would really have no chance of restoring the country.

Therefore, it is very important for Ragnar's Danish army to continue to move south, but he is only borrowing troops to help him regain his country. If necessary, he can defeat Ludwig's crusade. He really doesn't want the northern heroes to plunder Saxony and make trouble for himself after his restoration. It is a country with a declining population.

It was at this campfire that Rus, Denmark and Saxony reached a new verbal agreement.

The so-called no unnecessary killings, the killings are directed at the resisters, and the right to life of any noble or civilian who recognizes Liudov as the Duke of Saxony will be protected.

As for property rights? That's another matter.

There is a price to pay for borrowing troops to help restore the country. Liudov has to pay for the rations of foreign armies such as Russia and Denmark, as well as benefits that can be deferred.

Therefore, the new goal has been determined, and the army must quickly capture the town of Schleswig.

The coalition forces have no time to delay their advance!

The army has been moving south along the eastern coastline of the Jutland Peninsula. Theoretically, the south path is the shortest. However, the practical factor is that there are a large number of forest areas in the middle of the peninsula. This is really a disaster for the army of tens of thousands of people.

The coalition forces actually made some detours. The Hedebe ruins where they are currently located are at the mouth of Schlei Bay. This bay is deep and narrow. It is not like a bay, but more like a wide river inside.

The deep Schlei Bay is a bay formed by ice erosion, and there is an ice erosion lake in the deepest part. Due to the intrusion of sea water, the lake is the sea water of the Baltic Sea. It is a natural haven. However, the biggest problem is that the water channel from the inside to the outside is too narrow. While the seaside at the mouth of the sea is prosperous, there is no business in the deepest part of the bay. value. Nowadays, merchants pursue safe trading points, and spare towns have suddenly become new commodity distribution centers.

The deepest lagoon in the bay is the town of Schleswig, where the eastern end of the Great Wall is located. An inappropriate metaphor, the current Schleswig town and Shanhaiguan have the same meaning.

Still in Hedeby, after the three kings had a small meeting, Rurik called another meeting with his subordinates.

"Bald" Fisk is called a star. According to the new mission set by the king, everyone feels that the king attaches great importance to him.

Under the attention of many generals and nobles, the young Fisk simply issued a military order.

"I will lead the cavalry to take Schleswig! I will kill those who resist and spare the lives of those who surrender. I will win! If I fail, I will... commit suicide to apologize!"

"You speak too harshly." Rurik smiled and hit the old man on the shoulder. "You can't die. However, if I really entrust you with the task of capturing Schleswig, you will represent our Russian independence." Enjoy the glory.”

Now Arik does not have any title. On the surface, his true identity is just the captain of the First Flag Troop. Let's take the Frankish Kingdom as a reference. Rurik is the king of Rus, so a person like Arik must be at least a duke-level figure. He was assigned a special attack mission.

From the ruins of Hezeby to the town of Schleswig, it only takes about thirty kilometers to walk along the coastline of the harbor toward the hinterland in the southwest direction.

Such a distance would only take half a day for the cavalry to advance quickly, and it could even be faster for ships.

Ross's cavalry selected 200 cavalry, and Fisk led his troops to advance rapidly as a land force.

Ragnar led a squadron. Considering the convenience of landing operations, except for a sail destroyer as necessary support, the other ships were all traditional leading warships.

The leading warship best demonstrates the characteristics of the Vikings. It is the most suitable landing craft in this time and space for beach landing operations.

Without further ado, a special detachment of the rebel army was quickly formed the next morning.

After breakfast, the cavalry moved forward lightly. They carried a large number of arrows, but only one meal of rations. This was a land force.

The sea route troops were led by Aric, who had experienced hundreds of battles. His soldiers were more than 400 veterans of the First Banner Corps, and were accompanied by the Saxon army with twenty leading warships. There were thirty-six oar warships in the maritime detachment. The ships flew the flag of Ross, and only one ship was seen flying the flag of the so-called Principality of Saxony.

Liudov couldn't fully believe Rurik and Ragnar's promise not to kill indiscriminately. He couldn't express his distrust in person, so he might as well take a boat and quickly go south in person, with his own people to supervise it, forcing his allies to be thief-minded but not courageous. . Of course, he also had to reach Schleswig as soon as possible. Although he might not be able to meet the Count of Hamburg there, he would definitely be able to meet the local baron.

A man must leave a way out. Although he raised the flag of rebellion, his purpose was actually to restore the Duchy of Saxony. As for whether this duchy existed independently as a grand duchy, or as a principality as a great vassal of the Frankish Kingdom, as long as things did not Don’t be afraid, there will be many opportunities for negotiation in the future.

He hoped to directly capture the local baron, who was a Frank, and save his life as a bargaining chip in future negotiations. However, many of the local garrison in Schleswig were Saxons. As a self-reliant duke, Liudov could not really count on recruiting some militiamen from the north to incorporate the garrison in Schleswig under his command. This was to expand his strength. shortcut. More than that? The Count of Hamburg also wanted to hand over his army, especially all its Saxon soldiers. Find Shuyuan www.zhaoshuyuan.com

It is said that the Frankish power in the entire Saxony region must recede, and the Saxon soldiers who immigrated and were trained by the Frankish nobles must join the true king.

For Liudov, he hoped to start with Schleswig as the real starting point for his restoration, or at least the starting point for regaining regular soldiers.

Such a joint force of sea and land was dispatched! The only thing missing from this coalition was the Danes. This was a favor done by Ragnar to his allies. Because the war had reached this point, Ragnar really needed to make some long-term diplomatic plans for the future Kingdom of Denmark. He killed so many people during the siege of Aleb Fortress that he really had to consider the feelings of Liudov, another party involved in the war and now his ally.

Liu Duofu's words were very clear. As long as he helped him regain his country, the past grudges would be forgotten.

Ragnar deliberately slowed down his advance, and he and Rurik himself advanced slowly as if for amusement. Even at this speed, it would take the next day to reach Schleswig.

By then, the vanguard army would have already captured the town.

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