Rise of Rurik - Chapter 743

[Chapter 744 “German” Ludwig Furious]

The next journey is impossible to take a boat, but fortunately the journey is no longer dangerous.

The bodies of the attackers were thrown in the forest, and all their weapons were confiscated.

As long as the bodies of Frankish soldiers who died in battle could be found, Eskil personally prayed for them in the last mercy, and watched them be buried.

He even prayed over the attacker’s body, saying it was inhumane to leave it in the wild.

Harald Clark looked indifferent, urging Eskil to leave without complaining.

They first took a walk in the forest by the river, and after arriving at the forest camp in Harald, they began to ride in a carriage.

Harald’s mission was originally to intercept the bandits in the Alemanni area, but now his mission has completely changed to escort St. Eskil and his party to Regensburg.

This was destined to be a difficult trek, and it was at this moment that the first snow fell in the winter of 835.

People who kept walking could not feel the cold, but Eskil, who was sitting in the carriage, had to wrap himself in a lot of sackcloth.

Even if the blue fox is fat, it will not resist freezing when it is really cold.

There was no need for him to pretend now, and Earl Robert no longer felt that he was a weak priest, but a man who could fight.

A priest is still wearing a robe, but with a sword hanging from his waist and a mandarin shield on his back, which looks awkward no matter how you look at it.

However, this is only an anomaly that happened in the ninth century. When the movement to the Holy Land occurred, the priests who would provide medical help to the pilgrims would take up arms in order to protect themselves, and the Knights Hospitaller was born. This is how they are dressed, the black robes The priest holds a sword.

They marched along the Danube in dense light snow and received an important batch of supplies in the town of Ulm.

Another week later, the team arrived in the town of Ingolstadt on foot, and once again bought a batch of bread and even some live chickens from the local lord.

Those tattered weapons captured were used as coins, which made it easy for Harald to get supplies.

How far is the road to Regensburg?

Blue Fox felt that he had not traveled as much as during this period of time in his life. He had already worn out a pair of boots, so he had no choice but to continue on the road with the captured boots.

He could sit in the carriage, but it would be cold again.

He didn’t realize that he was losing weight rapidly. The long-distance march every day was nothing to the Viking-born Harald’s team. Businessmen like Blue Fox had to persevere.

Gradually he was able to catch up with the team very well, and gradually he was no longer obese, replaced by hard legs.

The Danube is tortuous. It has been half a month since the group left Frankfurt and entered the main channel of the Danube until they arrived in Ingolstadt. They were passively constrained by the winding of the river and took a lot of detours. The reason why they did not take Harald Clark, who took the shortcut purely to lead the way, worried about getting lost in the dense forest of the Baden region.

The snow has stopped, but the Danube is still flowing quietly.

The previous boat plan was completely cancelled, and it was impossible to reach Regensburg quickly.

One snow was followed by another, and the snow on the river bank blocked the progress.

The difficult journey has an end, when the dense forest turns into a large area of open land, it indicates that Regensburg is ahead.

The time has entered November.

But Regensburg is not a huge city!

For the first time in his life, the blue fox with a round face can accurately touch his square chin. There was an unexpected harvest during the long journey. He was passive and thin, so that his belly became extremely slack.

He saw a stone city wall taller than Bremen, as well as a tall wooden tower and a cross on top of the city.

That was St. Peter’s Cathedral in Regensburg, in an age before it had been restored to pure stone after a catastrophic fire, and no one really worried that the great cathedral would be consumed by fire.

There is a group of wooden buildings attached to the outside of the city wall. Although it is winter, some figures are still shaking.

The real road has appeared, the snow has fallen very solidly, and there are horse-drawn sleighs moving in the distance.

“What is that? A man on a horse?” Blue Fox asked subconsciously.

The Earl of Hamburg immediately explained: “It’s the patrolling cavalry. This is already the prince’s domain, and a thousand elite cavalry guard the prince’s safety. Joseph, I know you are not a pious priest, at least you have to re-disguise now.”

Blue Fox had nothing to say. He managed to learn a little Frankish along the way and understood the warning, so he took off his arms.

Sure enough, because the team led by Harald was too ostentatious, the patrolling cavalry naturally came to check when they saw the flag of the cross mixed with ravens, and learned that it was the famous Norman mercenary Harald and his gang who let them go without asking.

Until the patrolling cavalry suddenly realized that there was another flag here.

Earl of Hamburg?

Why is it here?

And Saint-Esquil?

The entire team is allowed to enter the city, and the soldiers will be collectively arranged to rest in a hotel (actually a barn) where they can get drinking water and food.

Eskil didn’t care about the follow-up of the soldiers. He took a few entourages into the church in the city, and this was his home!

Blue Fox, Vardy, the Earl of Hamburg, and the few accompanying soldiers who survived the sneak attack all entered the church to eat communion.

They had to wait, even the honorable Northern Eskil would not be able to meet Prince Ludwig casually, and even the loyal Earl Robert could not be overstepped.

Ludwig holds an ace troop in his hand, which is the heavy cavalry corps guarding Regensburg. Although the strength is only 1,000, with the addition of retinues and auxiliary troops, he can immediately pull out an army of 5,000 men. A legion of mixed heavy cavalry, light cavalry, infantry, and archers.

Exactly four hundred years ago, the Third Legion of Western Rome was stationed in Regensburg.

At that time, the Third Army was full of blond Goths and Franks. Today, the “Legion Fort” is still the same “Legion Fort”. the Frankish nobility.

Sometimes, Ludwig lived like the grand master of the legion. He really liked the feeling of commanding thousands of troops, and he looked down on his elder brother Lothair who liked to play tricks and tricks the most.

He conspired with another brother, Pepin, to free his imprisoned father, as well as his youngest brother, Charlie.

The pious Louis was still the king of the Franks. After this experience, the old king was exhausted, although the king was no longer able to govern the government.

The three princes are actively wooing the nobles and recruiting troops to prepare for the future war.

Ludwig, who used to pursue a fist policy, had to change his strategy.

It was cold, and the thirty-year-old top nobleman in the kingdom had no intention of hunting. He was busy with his wife continuing to create successors for the territory, and the rest of the time was spent on the training of his own cavalry regiment.

The cavalry prefect, a count who had not yet been fiefd, personally reported important events to the prince.

Ludwig was not too surprised. He first climbed up the stone tower of the castle and glanced at the church. Standing on the high ground to let the cold wind calm his mind, he gave the order: “Let Harald the Norman, Saint Esquiere, the Count of Hamburg came to see me. Only these three came to see me.”

Apart from his own trusted army, Ludwig was wary of many nobles.

The lords of various places will suddenly turn against each other for the sake of profit. After all, the old king looks like he is running out of time. The three princes all have the right to inherit the Frankish king. The one who kills all relatives is king.

The orderly arrived at the door of the church and handed over the prince’s oral order written on silk to the little priest in charge of the door.

Letters reach people who have been waiting all day.

Eskil was very relieved to read the letter, and the Earl of Hamburg also happily pointed out that he cherished this opportunity to meet the prince.

Blue Fox naturally felt that he could get a chance to meet the top nobles, but Eskil poured cold water on it.

“Why? Why can’t I have an audience?! I still have to sign a covenant with him!”

“Joseph, don’t have any unreasonable thoughts, you are just a little priest. You can stay in the monastery with peace of mind, remember, don’t go out. This is a legion city, not a trade fair…” Eskil’s words carried a warning, Blue Fox had no choice but to give up considering the situation.

In his own castle, Ludwig sat on a stone seat paved with bearskin, and he sat on a high place in a battle robe, overlooking the three people who had an audience.

Eskil personally carried the wooden box, which naturally contained the letters that must be delivered on this trip, as well as the sword.

The other two met their monarchs, they first performed the warrior salute and then fell flat.

“It turned out to be you, Saint Eskil. How about your achievements in the north? I heard that something happened. Don’t worry, I sent the pious Horik Krall to deal with those ignorant people, and soon the whole of Denmark refuge.”

It seems that the prince is very confident in controlling the situation, and everything is under his remote command thousands of miles away?

Eskil was polite first, and then bluntly stated a fact: “Your Highness, Horik, whom you trust, has betrayed his faith and believed in a barbaric god of a foreign race.”

“You’re joking!” The prince’s expression changed instantly.

“Your Highness, why do you think I am here? I was driven away by your trusted Horik, the priests were displaced, and even faced death threats. The church I ran in Hedeby is gone, and the Danish believers fled dead. escape.”

This is really a huge blow. The prince had confidently put the loyal Horik back. He thought it would kill more birds with one stone. Could it be true?

Eskill opened the wooden box and enshrined Horik’s letter on it.

The prince couldn’t sit still anymore. He hurried down from the throne, grabbed the parchment, and carefully read the “Declaration of Freedom” on it.

There is something special on the letter, a very abstract bird pattern, which is actually a raven, this must be Horick’s handwriting, and that guy uses this to mark the letter to prevent counterfeiting.

The prince became more and more angry. For a moment, he felt that this was absurd, but seeing that the Earl of Hamburg, who was far away from the northern border, had come in person, it can only be said that the ambition described in the letter by Horick is indeed true.

The prince dropped the letter and stomped his feet: “Reverse! Reverse! Damn Horik, I gave you my trust, and this is how you repay me! You betrayed me! You betrayed the Lord! You must go to hell .No! I will hack you to death!”

Although Ludwig’s fury was expected by Eskil, he did not expect that the prince would draw his sword and slash at the furniture to show his vent.

The prince yelled for a while, leaving many marks on the wooden table and chairs, and smashed three vases to pieces, even bending his sword.

“Damn Horik, dare to call himself king and break away from my management. I’m still a duke, he dares to call himself king, you…” The prince looked at everyone, especially the Earl of Hamburg: “Robert, tell me!”

“Yes! Your Highness… Regarding this matter, I think the Danes will take action, and they will attack our country. You know, Horik and his gang are pirates themselves, and all the Danes are pirates.” The earl was going to mutter A few words “it is a stupid decision to let Horik go back”, this is definitely not a suitable occasion for such a straightforward description.

Anyway, the prince must be extremely wise, and that Horick is a white-eyed wolf.

The count hastily changed the subject: “I can corroborate Saint Esquier’s description. There are many farmers, merchants, and craftsmen who have fled back in my territory. They all said that they saw Horik’s people killing people casually, even using living people. blood sacrificed to their Odin.”

“It’s…absurd!”

The prince was so angry that his teeth itch.

How could he be so furious?

Obviously it was a mad dog raised by himself, and the mad dog became a bit loyal. As a result, the mad dog transformed itself and claimed to be more noble than its owner.

It really doesn’t make sense.

As soon as the subject changed, the prince stared at Harald Clark again with sharp eyes: “That’s your nephew, unexpectedly it’s a mad dog. You are also responsible for this matter.”

Harald’s face suddenly looked as embarrassing as if he had been constipated for a month. He had thousands of reasons, and he quickly knelt down on one knee and made the cross on his chest: “I am devout. Horik, my betrayer, is not my nephew. If you want to attack Denmark, I will personally fight for you.”

Although these words made him feel comfortable, the Harald in front of him was also a Norman, and his identity could no longer make the prince fully trust him.

He picked up the heart that was trampled on the ground. For the top Frankish nobleman who was expected to be the “protector of all Romans” and the king of all Farak, Ludwig could not bear his authority to be usurped and desecrated.

In fact, there is no insulting language in Horik’s letter, but only to emphasize that Denmark and Frank have a clear relationship between kingdoms and kingdoms.

It was this emphasis which aroused the most extreme outrage, for no Frankish king recognized such a thing as a “Danish kingdom,” but only a large group of barbarian chieftains and chieftains among them.

Therefore, in the Frankish literature of this era, Denmark does not have the suffix “Kingdom”.

A small state is not qualified to be compared with a huge kingdom, and Horik must be crusaded.

Ludwig only made the decision to send troops after a little thought, but a full-scale war is not advisable. He does not want to lose out in the competition among the princes. If he can send a large army to force him to surrender again, Pay tribute, and things can be put on hold for a while.

He is a top nobleman, not a pedantic priest. He only asks Horik to continue to be his own mad dog, and it is the mission of the priests to persuade all of them to convert.

He claimed that he would set off with the main force of the elite cavalry from Regensburg, and then gather a group of soldiers from the lords of Munich, Nuremberg, and Frankfurt to go to the Earl of Hamburg to frighten the soldiers, and even symbolically launch a powerful cavalry attack.

The Earl of Hamburg burst into tears with joy. With the support of the prince’s absolute military strength, wouldn’t the dangers of Hamburg and Bremen be lifted?

After calming down a bit from the initial anger, Prince Ludwig held his bent iron sword and couldn’t help but blame himself: “Maybe I should restrain my temper, my sword is bent again, and I need a blacksmith to straighten it for me… ”

Eskil has been waiting for an opportunity, and now is not the best opportunity.

There is a leather roll on his back, and now is the opportunity to show the baby.

“Your Highness, please calm down. I want to offer you a treasure I got from the Northland.”

“There is still a baby?” The prince forced a smile on his unsteady face, “What is it?”

“A sword.”

“Sword? Wait a minute… You are a saint in the north who actually carries a weapon. You? Enter my palace with a weapon?”

Ludwig was naturally not afraid of being assassinated by a decadent bishop, but a big loophole in the procedure was exposed.

The soldiers didn’t dare to check the priests. If the assassin Qiao Zhuang was really a priest, wouldn’t it be…

Let’s take a look at the sword first.

As the leather is opened, the hilt is inlaid with gems, gold patterns, and silver, the sword is inlaid with gold and silver, and the scabbard is inlaid with amber, ruby, and the whole body is silver. Ludwig has never enjoyed this kind of treasure. The inside of the scabbard is empty, and it shows its glory when it is hung on the body.

The prince snatched the sword frantically, and drew it deftly, with a bright white blade and a violent buzzing sound.

“Ah! What a sword! It’s a perfect sword. You… got it from the Northland?”

“Yes. And this sword is very elastic, it will not break or chip, I hope you like it.”

“I like it so much. Tell me, you got the details of this sword. I want the sword forging master in the Northland to make me a long sword according to this.”

“It’s from Ross.”

“Russian? Who is that?”

“Just like the Danes, they are another group of Normans, but the Ross people have a deep hatred with the Danes. The leader of Ross claims to be the Duke, and he has sent an envoy to request… an alliance with you.”

“Is there such a thing?” Realizing that the matter was a little complicated, the prince put the sword back into the scabbard and eavesdropped on Esquier’s detailed description.

The prince did not see the barbarians, and it happened that the messenger was a convert.

This will summon the blue fox?

However, Harald Clarke, who claimed to know Ross very well, explained to the prince: “Saints are not warriors after all, and no amount of praise is too much praise. I know the Ross people very well, and they can send out a thousand warriors at most. , has been suppressed by Denmark for a long time. It is impossible for Ross to defeat Denmark. When I was the leader of Denmark, some subordinates reported that they attacked the Ross fleet. It was a group of barbarians who stayed in the north. As for the tribute to this sword , it must be the sword of their leader. They should be asking you to send troops to attack Denmark to relieve their crisis.”

“So, there are barbarian chiefs teaching me how to do things?”

“Exactly.”

“Arrogance! Tell them to go away.”

Eskil was just listening, this Harald used his past cognition to judge the crazy Ross people, and even used these descriptions to trick the prince.

But he really didn’t want to get involved anymore. The prince’s criticism just now was very direct. Eskil just wanted to eat honestly, and he didn’t want to have anything to do with the army or weapons, so he simply shut up completely.

Eskil didn’t speak, and now it became the stage for Harald Clark to perform.

The Dane Harald portrayed the Rus as little-known thugs, regardless of the fact that the Rus were already Baltic or bullies.

In recent years, Harald has been active near the Alps, and has never been to the north since he was expelled.

He was absolutely correct in describing the Rus people ten years ago, but since AD 828, everything has changed.

It’s all like this, and you still want to allow Ross’s envoy, Joseph Blue Fox, to have an audience?

Pooh!

Don’t think that a small tribe can meet the heir to the Frankish throne with just one convert.

Since the prince was so determined, Eskil didn’t say a word, but faithfully recorded what he heard and heard.

He didn’t dare to lie, and would tell Blue Fox clearly about this matter, and in the future, he would also tell Duke Rurik of Ross the true attitude of Prince Ludwig of Frank himself.

He didn’t think it would lead to a war incident or any other extreme situation, and he didn’t even need to think about it.

Eskil only hoped to win the favor of the Prince of Ross with his honest image, so that the work that was once blocked in Ross could be started.

Eskil returned to the church and explained the situation to the anxiously waiting Blue Fox.

Like pouring cold water into a pot, “Ludwig despises us Ross like this?”

“After all, the prince is the most noble member of the royal family. He has already withdrawn his sword. Even so, you can’t see him. As for signing the covenant, you should give up your mind.”

“Then, Prince Rurik will be punished with war!” Blue Fox clenched his fists, seeing the anger of this man whose figure was completely different from that of more than three months ago, Eskil was sure that Rurik would really Use force to vent your anger.

Even so, still…

Eskil thought for a while, even if he still wanted to go to Ross, arrogance and rage were one of the seven deadly sins, it would be his fate if the prince received the punishment from the Lord, and it would be his fate if his army suffered setbacks.

Worldly things have nothing to do with saints.

There is no need to stay in Regensburg. Blue Fox can’t wait to go back to New Roseburg to report to the prince. However, this is impossible. He can realize that he is extremely far away from Ross’s territory. If he wants to go back, he can only find him next year. The boat has another adventure.

He asked what was next for Eskill.

“Don’t worry, Joseph. I’m going to Reims, you go with me. Secular matters have nothing to do with us. Going to Reims to register your religious membership is one thing. There is also the important matter entrusted to me by Prince Rurik , you know about this.”

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“The matter of Princess Mary, and Regalaf…”

“Ah… In the end, I still have to get in touch with worldly affairs. At least this is a good thing. Mercia has a real and legitimate heir to the throne.”

Well, they’re leaving soon.

Eskil, Blue Fox, Wadi, three real ascetics, three people in a carriage, carrying some supplies donated by the prince, in the attitude of ascetics, in the Bavarian Forest in December, along the glacier Go forward, to Reims under the rule of Prince Lothair.

Eskil has to report to Archbishop Sinkelmar of Reims and implement many things.

They each have their own plans, and Blue Fox will record what he sees and hears, and provide first-hand investigation materials for Prince Rurik’s crusade against Frank.

Only Prince Ludwig, no one told him the truth of the matter, relying on the existing information he has made a huge strategic misjudgment.

[End of this Chapter]