After days of trekking, Carl Eriksson wanted to take a good rest in Greater Luke, and all he got was

"A comfortable night's sleep" license. His status is very special now, not that he is a descendant of the old Ostara tribe, but that his existence as an emissary running wildly from the Vitebsk fortress is evidence. He must personally report to Liuli as a witness of the war. K himself reported.

This is the arrangement of Duchess Carlotta. The war broke out at an unexpected time, and Carlotta was unprepared, and now even the prerequisites for quickly mobilizing the army to counteract do not exist.

"My fortress has been deliberately strengthened, and summer's concerns have come true. As long as Jellinger does not get hotheaded and attack without authorization, the fortress will definitely be able to defend until next spring. However, if the Smolensk people feel that attacking the fortress is not enough, Will they attack my Polotsk? Those peasants have nothing to do with the Smolensk people, maybe they will raise their families to vote for that Vadim and then join forces to attack my new Polotsk fortress. If Polotsk Will the peasants in Croatia face retaliation if they refuse to join forces with those people? Vadim will continue to fight for his army and loot the food of the Polotsk people. Even if the Polotsk people are still loyal to me afterwards, they will consume a lot After planting grain, how can I extract the wheat from them next year?" Carlotta had to think a lot, she hoped that there would be one or two wise advisers by her side, but...

"At least time is still on my side. As long as the cavalry is fast enough, everything will be fine. And when the weather is cold... maybe the war will be beneficial to me." Pessimism will immediately dampen morale. Carlotta pretended to be optimistic and assembled overnight A capable man from Greater Luke City.

At night, the north wind blew the flames of the torches to tremble violently, as if they could burn a warrior's face if he didn't pay attention.

More than 30 elite soldiers assembled urgently, except for a few older veterans, all of them were thirteen or fourteen-year-old boys.

Although he is a teenager, even ordinary Slavic boys eat more food when their lives get better. They eat a lot during the critical period of growth and development and are diligent in physical exercise. Even **** wars with long swords are hidden deep in the genes. Burst of power.

The fourteen-year-old Slav boy has already reached the height of his biological father, and there is still a tendency to continue to grow taller.

As for the real Nordic immigrants after they have grown into

"Muscleless man". The youthful face was filled with fortitude, and the entire Great Lukicheng learned of the crisis encountered by the Southern Fortress, and one after another understood their position in the crisis.

The situation in the city is very tense. Anyone who can afford a weapon is obliged to fight, but no one is nervous, because they have no fear of war in their long-term military reclamation life.

Even the sojourner hunters are eagerly looking forward to the new battle, after all, this is an opportunity to improve the living conditions of themselves and their families in an instant, and thankful that they are in the southern settlement of Great Luki and have the advantage of being close to the water.

Carlotta examined every face, briefly described the details she had learned, and then told them her decision.

Then on the second day, when snow began to fall from the sky, a small cavalry team was assembled.

The entire army does not wear armor, and everyone puts on thick leather clothes, and the helmet is replaced by a special Usanka leather cap sewn with turned leather that can protect the entire face.

If it would have been more dramatic to sew a metal badge or a piece of amber on the leather cap, Carlotta did not do it, and Rurik has not done so, although he had thought about it.

Turkic horses have naturally put on their winter clothes. The mane on the neck is obviously longer, and the hair on the whole body has become thicker. It seems that this kind of horse looks bigger than it actually is. feel comfortable.

After all, Rurik's second son, Karl, who is still unaware of his facts, has already been arranged by his mother for a marriage. The unmarried daughter-in-law, the granddaughter of the old Polotsk leader, Solkina, Carlota intends to arrange for this daughter to have an audience with him. king.

The little girl is also a princess high and low, and the only highest noble in Polotsk that has been deliberately preserved.

She changed into a thick leather jacket, put on a first hat, and wrapped her face in a linen scarf, revealing only a pair of blue eyes.

Carl's situation is better, he imitated his father's appearance and saved money.

"Golden ponytail", although wearing a hat, her blond hair is deliberately exposed. Karl and Solkina rode a group of well-trained and docile horses, and the reins were attached to another Pecheneg cavalryman.

Carlotta rode in person, and Carl Ericsson and two other hard-working fellows were asked to accompany the duchess.

The sky was gray, and the north wind blew Xuezi's face sorely. It was under such harsh conditions that, for the sake of safety, they gave up sailing downstream, and a total of fifty riders began to march northward.

Everyone knows that when the snow starts to fall, it is only a short time before the real snow falls. They had a good meal in the morning, and they even stood there deliberately to add more salt to the boiled oats. The overall state of man and horse was very good, and it was really suitable for rapid advancement.

With one man and two horses, Carlotta has already put down the capital in order to reach Novgorod quickly. That very afternoon, the bad wind had finally died down, and another bad thing had happenedthe snow had begun.

The horseshoes were sick in the winter snow, and the cavalry did not dare to take a breath. Everyone even felt that the Duke was abusing the horsepower.

Little Karl tried his best to hold the rein tightly, and Solkina tried to hold the little Karl's waist tightly. The two children couldn't help lowering their bodies, and tied each other with ropes, for fear of falling and being injured due to the tremor of the galloping horse.

"My lord, we are so fast...does it hurt horsepower?! I didn't dare to go so fast when I came."

"What did you say?" Carlota turned her head and glared at Carl Ericsson angrily, "So you wasted some time before you got to Grand Luki?"

"I... I did my best."

"Damn it. You should be faster. Now I have to make up for the lost time. Haha!" After all, she pinched the horse's belly with both feet, and after a roar, the speed of the mount was obviously faster.

There is no armor and helmet, only a saber for body protection, and not much dry food is carried. The cavalry team with one man and two horses was hitting the limit of the so-called prairie cavalry running wildly in a single day, so it became inevitable that some horses would be exhausted to death.

Because of the emergency in the south and the strong appearance of the villain Vadim, Carlota, who did not dare to dawdle any longer, had no choice but to make a bad move.

Maybe she didn't need to be so anxious, because she had another worry - if the snow gradually turned into a blizzard, and the army marched in the wilderness staring at the blizzard, they would freeze to death with all their horses.

"We must return to Nuovo Stara before dark on the third day!" This was the resounding slogan Carlotta gave to her subordinates, and she truly implemented her determination.

On the first day, they spent the night at outpost Snakul. The appearance of the Duchess surprised the defenders of the outpost who were busy coping with the winter, and they were also surprised by the brothers who were running all the way.

On the first day of the march, it was a tragedy that the horses were tired and died halfway, but it was a miracle to reach this outpost.

Because this meant that they had reached the great bend in the lower reaches of the Lovati River. After resting overnight, the horse team set foot on the snow-covered road to continue their gallop.

The difference from yesterday was that the cavalry soldiers who were preparing for the snow march took out their wooden framed sunglasses from their wooden boxes and cloth bags one after another.

The simple oak stand is quick to assemble, it reduces some light, but it really protects your eyes.

Because the snowflakes have become too dense. On this day they spent the night at Millsham Outpost. The military miracle of two marches was impossible, for Carlotta had lost a total of ten horses as a price.

Facts have proved that not all Turkic horses purchased and bred are the best horses to ride.

The "Snow Rally March" is a huge test for war horses. After all, prairie people would not take the risk of encountering a snowstorm to ride around outdoors unless necessary.

However, the Rus and Ostara have the opposite winter life. What is Winter Hunting?

It is a group of warriors who are not afraid of blizzards to hunt big animals in severe winters, because they think they can do it after calculating the risks and benefits.

Not only did Carlotta not feel the danger, but she also believed that when her husband Rurik learned of the disaster in the south, he would go south to fight in the snow and storm in a rage.

Under her order, when the third day was about to get dark, after taking off her sunglasses, Carlotta squinted and tried to distinguish the shadow blurred by the fog and snow, and she was sure that it was the city of New Ostara. Specially constructed city gate tower.

And the riverside area trampled by the horseshoes of the cavalry was indeed a hard rammed earth road made by her own order.

"The city of Ostara has arrived! Brothers, let's go home!" Her high-pitched voice cheered everyone up, and after losing some horses, they finally arrived at their destination.

The city of Ostara is indeed Carlota's stage destination. The duchess returned from the surprise attack excited the whole city, especially Bejahir, the acting lord of the city. She was overjoyed at the triumphant return of her sister.

Just aware of my sister's overly anxious attitude, a bad premonition arises spontaneously. Back in her palace, Carlota quickly changed into a suit of clothes.

She's back, and after just drinking some boiled milk and eating some stinky cubes of cheese, she's assembled the city's elite for a special council of war.

Beyahir naturally sat here, and even included another Pecheneg nobleman, another brother of Khan Kagan, and Nurg, a grassland man who was in charge of escorting commercial horses in 842.

The duchess lacked the joy of returning home, and everyone noticed that two children, a boy and a girl, were sitting beside her.

One of them is the next generation Duke Karl Unmistakable, and what about the other brown-haired girl with Nordic braids?

Bejahir was straightforward, and hurriedly reported: "Sister, I have managed Ostara in an orderly manner. Moreover, the king gave me Count Demyansk, my future territory... just east of Ostara, right in By the Haven River." She hoped that her sister would be happy, but Carlotta didn't care about it, at most there was a tremor in her eyes.

"You can talk about anything later." Carlota slapped her thigh suddenly, her face was sullen and did not lock tightly, she was still very young and unexpectedly squeezed out deep wrinkles: "Now, we have to face a very serious situation. The situation..." The war came very suddenly, and it did happen at a terrible time.

Hearing Carlota's description, the people present showed all kinds of life. The young Pecheneg noble Nurg could only speak a small amount of Slavic and Norse words. He couldn't help clenching his fists and blaming himself for his negligence: "If I knew it would be like this, I would march eastward for the border crossing. Disrupting the plans of the Smolensk people can avoid the current troubles. The enemy has cut off the line of communication. If the situation cannot be resolved, we will face risks when we return next year." He chattered a lot, and it was Carlotta who was upset Can't understand at all.

"What did your kin say?" she asked of Belahir.

"Nurg...he said that the current situation cannot be resolved, and it will affect the trade between our two parties."

"Of course!" Carlotta slammed the wooden floor in anger: "That's why I gathered you here. That's why I suddenly came back early from Grand Luki. Brothers!" Nonsense, Carlotta rose up vigorously, which also caused other people to stand up one after another.

She clenched her sword hilt as if she was going to fight immediately: "Tomorrow I will set off to meet the king. All of you immediately assemble the army! Remember, all men who can ride horses must prepare. Check our existing horses , Immediately choose a suitable horse to prepare for battle."

"Of order." All the men present said yes.

"What about me? There is no reason for me to be absent if there is a war." Beja Hill asked anxiously.

"Maybe Rurik will let you join the battle. You should prepare immediately! Bring your grassland guards. And..." Carlota took a good look at Nurg, the grassland man whom he had met in Big Luki before, and then looked at Looking at his eyes deeply, he suggested: "Brother, the enemy's rebellion has hurt us each other. As the wife of King Ross, I beg you to lead your men to the battle and defend our trade lines and our alliance together." The words were captured by Bei Yashir translated it, and Nuerge was greatly moved.

Of course he knew Carlotta's noble status, not just his wife, who was the adopted daughter of the old King Ross.

Khan Kagan respectfully called old Otto his father, and Rurik also respected old Pecheneg Khan as his father. The two sworn brothers were in harmony.

Based on these relationships, Nuerge can call Carlota a sister, and he will never be so presumptuous. I'm just an ordinary prairie noble, wouldn't it be a great face to be begged by the top nobles of the Ross Kingdom?

Nuerge didn't think too much, he slammed his right fist on his chest,

"For the sake of the alliance, I will bring my brothers into battle."

"That's the work. After the war is won, you are entitled to freely plunder the spoils." Participating in the war is out of alliance friendship on the one hand, and benefits on the other.

as Pecheneg intended

"United with brotherhood", Kagan and Rurik's blood sworn alliance six years ago is really reproducing a Pechenegian alliance in the north, but the only thing that can maintain the stability of the alliance is mutual benefit.

It is said that the Smolensk people gathered 5,000 troops to besiege the Vitebsk fortress. After all, Nurge had seen the fortress, and asked himself that if he commanded an army, he would never be able to break through the city.

Because the Pechenegs existed as a national cavalry, they didn't know how to fight a siege, and they took it for granted that those Smolensk people were also helpless in the face of a strong fortress.

So the 200 grassland people who went to the north in 842 decided to participate in the war as an allied army.

Carlotta immediately announced that the Principality of Ostara has entered a state of emergency. All men over the age of twelve who can ride horses in the entire Principality must hurry up and prepare their weapons and food for battle, even if it is still snowing outdoors.

She even made the worst plan, saying that she assaulted 200 cavalry in the city of Ostara, Bejahir took 50 cavalry guards to join the battle, and Nurg led his 200 people to join the battle, so it was put together After sending out a cavalry team barely reaching 500 men, another 100 cavalry were assembled from the southern Great Luki, and there were 600 cavalry in total.

Carlotta believes that Rurik will be furious when he learns that the villain Vadim has appeared, but does he really intend to drive himself?

Not necessarily. After all, Rurik had already revealed to himself that he would use troops against Frank in 843. If the imperial conquest took part in the struggle for hegemony in the Western world, Ross should be fully preparing for the war now.

She heard the news after arriving in her main cityRoss was indeed preparing for battle on a large scale, and even expanded two cavalry units and four citizen soldiers' flag units, all of which were deliberately aimed at Frank.

"You still want to go to Frank to stir up trouble?! Now Vadim has invaded your wife's territory. You have to help me solve the immediate disaster!" Carlota thought, if Rurik looked forward and backward, she would But it's indecent to play and roll in front of him.

No matter how bad it was, he knelt down in front of old Otto and cried, and it was best to drag Carl and Solkina over to cry together.

In fact, she didn't want to force Rurik to do something so as to ruin his expedition plan. At least the expedition to Frank basically didn't require cavalry, right?

How about letting Fisk bring the tough veterans of the First Cavalry into battle? This is her minimum hope.

"At least one Fisk, if I can still come to Brody's Second Cavalry, it will be even more powerful. When the time comes, I will hand over the specific operations to Fisk's command, just like the previous operations, I will definitely win. Rurik stay Rick, how I wish you could personally conquer. Because you are the most qualified to personally execute that Vadim..." With such a complicated mentality, Carlota took her son, future daughter-in-law, and some entourages with her on the second day , they marched on the east bank of the great lake where the road was flat.

The horse team passed through one Slavic village after another, and then passed through the city of youth and Mstisk, the immigrant city of the old Russians in the afternoon.

Little did they know that the cavalry held the Ross flag and rushed towards Novgorod in a charging posture. Many of the visitors wore helmets decorated with horns, and they could be seen at a glance as soldiers from the Principality of Ostara.

What's happening here? The vigilant old Rus people in Mstisk had to think of a possibilitycouldn't it be that there was war in the south.

It is not surprising that they can think so. After all, throughout 840 and 841, the area around Lake Ilmen was on high military alert, just for fear that the Smolensk people would make a large-scale northern expedition.

At this time, in Novgorod, the second capital of the kingdom, an army was braving the wind and snow for training in an outdoor area covered by thin snow.

King Rurik stood in the snow with a golden crown on his head, as tall and tall as the young Otto.

In line with the principle of sweating more during normal training and less bloodshed during battles, UU Reading www.uukanshu.com's four new banner teams began training in various aspects under the leadership of veterans, and two new cavalry teams also joined the existing standing army cavalry Conduct special training under the leadership.

The younger direct descendants of Old Ross, and most of the descendants of Whitetree Manor, were absorbed into the army by Rurik.

The outdoor area of Nizhny Novgorod was turned into a large military camp, and the shouts of killing during training were deafening. It was under such special circumstances that Carlotta arrived in Novgorod with his entourage, and met Rurik himself at the wasteland training ground outside the city.

After all, their identities are still husband and wife, lacking the etiquette of a monarch and his ministers, Carlotta ran to Rurik after dismounting, and was met with a bear hug before Rurik could recover.

"Carotta, why are you here?!" The girl in front of her suddenly raised her head, and she cried out with a sore nose.

"Rurik!" Carlota said with tears: "Smolensk launched a war. You! Help me."

"Ah?! Now? The war broke out?!"