Rise of Rurik - Chapter 717

[Chapter 718 The King of Denmark in His Loyal Port Hedeby]

It was already August, and Hadeby, who had been caught in the war for a while, seemed to have finally settled down.

Some did not escape too far, and returned with their soft clothes when the disaster was over.

Few people came back, at least they brought some vitality to the dead city.

The fortresses of Ross’ shops were breached, and the corpses of the Ross people killed in battle were burned to ashes.

As for the corpses of those dead gangsters, they were either burned or buried, and many were thrown directly into the sea.

Although the war is over, Stade is still not sure whether there are really Ross people who escaped along the tunnel.

He eradicated the biggest leader of the local bandit gang this time, and the other small leaders also suffered a lot in the war, and each of them became worthless chickens and dogs.

He relied on more than a hundred brothers to conquer the city on behalf of the King of Denmark, but he really didn’t know how to report to the king after the city turned into a ghost.

The king must be furious!

Stade needs someone to take the blame. The gray wolf Karl who was killed first was a very good “blame-blame man”. The heads of him and all his brothers were chopped off. An explanation.

The second was to find the fleeing Ross. Whether he could find it or not, he did search for it with the mentality of giving it a try.

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The flag of Prince Ludwig of Frank was hung in the monastery, and some unidentified cavalry suggested: “This large building is most suitable for Tibetans, we should check it out.”

“No! Searching here might anger the Franks, and no one would want that.” Stud said so, and his heart really itch.

After some psychological struggle, he did not intend to cross the line, so he comforted his subordinates: “The xenophobic Franks regard you and me as hunting dogs, and have never been their own people. Those Frankish priests will never protect the Rus who do not believe in their gods .”

When the sea waves subsided a little, the fishermen who were living in the forest fled back, found their own small fishing boats and continued fishing.

They make a living by eating fish and selling it for daily necessities.

The fish market, which had disappeared for a while, reopened, and Stad noticed this pleasant scene. He restrained his subordinates from looting, and instead called for money to sell fish.

Everything seems to be going in a good direction.

Meanwhile, the stocky King Horik, who was building a new city in the north, Godfrehagen, finally got around to gathering his troops.

Part of the elite stayed in the city, and he led an army of 1,000 people in fifty dragon-headed longships, and drifted southward along the east coast from the northernmost tip of the Jutland Peninsula along the wind from the North Pole.

It was either a long journey, or the waves of the sea tossed everyone up and down.

Those who are used to sailing will not get seasick, and the exhaustion of boats and cars is still quickly destroying the energy of soldiers.

Until there were signs of large-scale human settlements in the narrow fjords, the sluggish people raised their heads one after another, and showed smiles on their faces aggrieved by the wind.

King Horik was in high spirits, with one arm around the upturned bow of the ship, and the other drawing his sword to look around.

“Haha! We’re back at Hadeby at last. Let’s furl the sails and oars, brothers, let’s go!”

After the flagship got the order, it started to move, and all the companion ships turned around one after another.

The whole fleet headed west, forcibly broke through the fjord with an unstoppable attitude, and quickly entered the waterway leading to Hedeby.

Once upon a time, Hedeby was famous throughout the Danish world for its commercial prosperity, where you can buy all kinds of things from far away places, among which fur, iron, gems and slaves are famous.

Horick’s capable soldiers have been in Flanders in Frank for many years, plundering and exploiting the wealthy landowners made them more or less entangled.

They are eager to buy something useful in this trading city, and their strong curiosity drives their strong desire.

It’s just that things are getting worse…

The huge fleet landed in Hedeby, and only had a close contact with the city. No one thought it could be related to the prosperous city.

This is simply a quiet abandoned city, and there are not a few running figures in sight.

For the time being, Horick can also comfort himself that the so-called city residents have fled because they are afraid of this army.

He took his brothers up to the somewhat empty shore, and approached the same empty housing area.

At this time, Stad personally raised the Raven Banner to meet his king.

Seeing this general, Horick can definitely conclude that this is Hedeby, and the thousands of questions should be answered by this general.

Horik strode forward. In the Viking world, this noble man was a rare short man. He took off his iron helmet, and his face was quite ugly.

It just so happens that this person has already won the approval and support of the Danish lords. Of course, he has paid a great price for this, for example, he may have completely broken with the old Frankish master.

Nothing can be done, Horik will do anything to gain the highest power in Denmark.

Seeing Stadt again, he looked the general up and down, and asked calmly, “I remember that Hedeby was prosperous, but now all I see is depression. I also smell blood and stench…”

“Your Majesty is really wise.” Stud hurriedly complimented, and then said: “War did break out, and the prosperous city suddenly became like this.”

“War? Not necessarily?” Horick narrowed his eyes and realized that there must be a big secret in it, “Based on what I know about you, it must be that you brought your brothers out of control and launched a plunder here. You Too much has been done in Flanders.”

“Absolutely not.”

“what happened?!”

Stud explained the prepared reasons grandly: “The bandits in the city of no man refused the king’s rule, and the hateful Ross people, when they learned that the king was going to take over here, they immediately attacked my army. Bandits attacked civilians, Ross People attacked me. The whole city fell into chaos, and I resisted desperately, and I also saw the bandits and the Ross people fight together.”

“It sounds interesting, but it doesn’t seem real.” Horick asked anxiously, “And the result?”

“My men were injured but not killed. We won to the end.”

“Really? That’s good. I also heard that Hedeby has activities of the Ross people. All the Danish lords want to attack the Ross people for revenge. Stad, you are the new hero of Denmark, and you are also my loyal subordinate. Is it right?”

These words hit Stard’s heart directly, as if to imply “I know you have long wanted to stand on your own.”

Stard didn’t dare to hesitate, he hurriedly hooked his head and swore, “I am the king’s servant.”

“Very good. Ah… this city is ruined…”

“Rotten wood may also sprout new shoots. King, some of the local big merchants have not left, and many who have fled have not gone far. The merchants support your rule, and each of them will pay a hundred pounds of silver coins. Merchants, craftsmen They will all come back, and soon the food market here will reopen, and everything will be fine.”

“You are very optimistic, that is, the army I brought cannot come in vain. The sealed sword needs new blood. I want to stand up! Since the bandits don’t support me, are there any survivors? I want to chop off some heads to sacrifice to Odin! ”

Seeing this opportunity, Stad hurriedly took advantage of the opportunity to get off the donkey: “It is true that there are small gang leaders who surrendered under your majesty, and they must not be sincere.”

“Then kill them. I’m going to kill the first wolf, and I can recruit wolf cubs.”

It’s not because Horick is a crazy murderer when he lands.

Killing is Liwei, the priest Odin, it is to show other Danish tribal observers that they believe in Odin, and it is also to vent their anger to the disappointed soldiers.

Five gang leaders were tricked into coming here. They saw that Horik was like a pug and asked to join the king’s army, but they were tied up with ropes.

They were hacked to death on stakes one by one by King Horik, and their blood flowed into Hadeby’s own altar.

Even if the local priest escaped cleanly, the priest Odin would not have to commit too much red tape.

The soldiers cheered as they vented their repressed emotions. Horik once again declared to the observers that he was indeed Odin’s warrior. Even though a silver cross was still hanging around his neck and hidden in his clothes, the man made two-handed preparations. .

Unable to get supplies at Hadeby, Horick’s men were doing what they did for a living — fishing.

At the beginning of their landing, they indeed caused great fear to the few people who stayed behind. The open murder and sacrifice to the gods scared the merchants who moved back home.

As time passed, it seemed that the disaster would no longer last, and the returning businessman took the money to buy a security promise from King Horik.

Things also exceeded his expectations. The ten big merchants in front of him each took out one hundred pounds of silver coins. Although the quality of the silver coins was uneven, the total weight was indeed close to one thousand pounds!

This is good, he has a real sum of money to reward the army, and what he distributes a little money buys the stability of the army.

He also got a solid amount of capital for development. Looking at the obedient businessmen, aren’t they like a large herd of fat sheep, and they will not cut their wool every year in the future?

It was the right decision to come to Thorgon, where Hadeby’s depression still has a rich substance.

Horick rode on horseback to appreciate the city that welcomed its master, and Stud got his wish to become Earl of Hedeby and also a taxpayer.

Denmark is a small place, but the internal tribes are very trivial. Horik himself is temporarily not strong enough to perfectly rule Hedeby, a city closest to the Franks. He needs a taxpayer to manage it.

What’s more, he was worried that he would break with Frank, so he couldn’t focus the kingdom on the south.

Is the situation in the north just fine?

Not good.

All the tribes say that the Rus, split from the Swedes, has grown in power rapidly in recent years, and they are already ocean bullies. Their strength lies in the fact that they have a large number of oarless ships, which can sail long distances quickly, which is beyond the reach of long ships.

Horik didn’t know about these statements. Considering that his general annihilated a group of Ross people, and showed a batch of captured Ross flags and clothes, and even gifted himself a wonderful steel sword of the Ross people, he subjectively He thought that the Ross people were obviously inferior to the elites who had experienced many years in Frankland in fighting on land.

As for this sword, it is truly a divine weapon!

The depressed situation in the city was indeed improving, and Horick also keenly saw a well-preserved and unique building in the city.

Is it actually a monastery?

!

Seeing the rough wooden cross on the Gothic roof, Horick’s mouth curled up, and he tightened his grip on the horse’s entourage, saying, “There is also a Frankish monastery here. Let’s go! Let’s see which one Bold fellows dare to preach here.”

The neighing of horses is extremely rare in Hedeby, and it is not surprising to the priests who have seen horses, but hearing the neighing in this depressed city is undoubtedly not a nervous feeling.

Knowing that Horik had arrived, Eskill organized the priests to avoid for the time being, especially the two Ross people who were sheltered by him.

There was chaos in the monastery, and many people did not believe that those barbarians dared to ignore the prince’s flag hanging at the door and force their way in. Eskill still gave an order to prepare for the worst.

How does the still obese blue fox want to leave?

He decided to stay by Eskil’s side, and said bluntly: “I won’t go! I want to see what the culprit Horik is, and then tell Prince Rurik the face of the man who must be killed!”

“Confused! You are very fat, and you don’t fit in with other priests! If they suspect you and take you away, I have no ability to drag you out.”

The words were stopped by Lan Hu immediately, and he was no longer stubborn and hastily followed the footsteps of others to avoid them.

Eskil wasn’t sure who came, it was the sound of horses’ hoofs stamping on the ground outside the wall, and the noise caused by the neighing of horses was very violent.

He took two humble and frail little priests with him, and stood behind the wooden wall and did not open the door for the time being.

At the same time, King Horik was also in trouble.

Someone suggested: “The little wooden walls won’t stop us. There’s always some gold and silver in the monastery that we can plunder.”

Horick shook his head regretfully, then pointed to the flag hanging on the wall: “Are you blind? You actually forgot the flag of Prince Ludwig? And this one, the flag of the Earl of Hamburg.”

The soldier said casually again: “My lord, haven’t we already broken with those guys? We are free now, why do you need to fear the Franks?”

Horik immediately turned his head and glared at the nonchalant entourage, and yelled with regret: “I don’t want to provoke the Franks to cause unnecessary wars, especially Ludwig. If this is the monastery in Prince Lothar’s jurisdiction I snatched it, but this is clearly…”

Horik was too lazy to say anything. He called his brothers to dismount and sent someone to call the door.

Eskil arrived late, and he didn’t hear the chatter of the people outside the door.

When someone called the door, he asked respectfully himself, explaining his noble status by the way.

“I am the Bishop of the Northland Diocese appointed by Cardinal Reims, the next Bishop of Bremen, I am Saint Eskil. You stand at the gate of the monastery sheltered by the Duke of Saxony and Bavaria (referring to Prince Ludwig), Barbarians who don’t believe in the Lord are not allowed to be presumptuous and not allowed to enter!”

The words were spoken in Frankish, which Horik could not have expected to speak in this place.

Saint-Esquil?

After thinking about it, Horick seemed to have heard of this person, and he was actually a character, but it was amazing to meet him in Hedeby.

How to deal with priests, Horik has his own way.

He ordered his subordinates to stay outside, and one of his followers cautiously advised: “Your Majesty, we are all afraid that they are hiding sharp weapons.”

“Confused. These priests are the most taboo to use weapons. They don’t eat with knives but with their hands. You all stay outside and don’t come in. I will personally meet this man who claims to be a bishop.”

Then, Horik took off his helmet, hurriedly pulled out the cross where his clothes were hidden, and knocked on the door himself, and said in a rare and gentle voice in Frankish: “I am Horik Klarsson, King of Denmark, Gord Grandson of Frey, also… servant of the Lord. Saint-Esquil, I have heard your name in Frank, and now at least open a door to see my cross. I am not a barbarian.”

Is it really King Horik of Denmark?

Of course, Eskil prefers to call this person “the usurper of Flanders”, “the false Earl of Flanders”, or even “the prince’s loyal dog”.

Because vulgar language should not be used, Eskil had known this man and his dirty work, and how hypocritical and dirty he was now calling himself a “servant of the Lord.”

There is no way, this man has an army in armor, if he provokes them, he will be smashed to pieces.

The wooden door opened, and Eskiel saw a short, fat man with sharp eyes. He had a big and swollen beard, and the silver cross displayed on his chest was polished and shiny.

This is Horrick?

Isn’t he a tall and strong warrior?

Eskil was very surprised, but Horik continued to speak with a smile on his face: “I am a lost lamb, St. Eskil, and I want to repent. You… you must give the lamb a chance to repent.”

This was a reason that Eskill could not refuse. He had no choice but to bite the bullet and open the door, and he had to look at King Horik with a kind face: “My child, come to the confession room. Only You alone, unless your… your followers are willing to convert.”

“No need. They are all outdoors, I…” Horik also unloaded all weapons with interest, including the meat cleaver and the hidden dagger stuffed in the right leather boot.

He added, “You see, I am indeed religious.”

Eskill didn’t know what to say, hoping to finish the business in a peaceful and safe manner according to the traditional process, and then send this guy out at last, so he could only say: “Come on, the Lord will forgive your sins.”

[End of this Chapter]