This is clearly a big island, and its lush appearance makes it not outstanding in the Gulf of Finland.

The island itself has no freshwater runoff, which puts the entire fleet into a small embarrassment.

The Ross fighters all carry water bags made of animal stomach pouches. Under normal circumstances, drinking water is not a big problem.

Naihe now has a whole new problem-oats.

Boiled wheat is really delicious. If you like it, you will love it. If you like it, you can't stop it. In order to cook wheat, they consume a lot of fresh water. Although the water in the Gulf of Finland has very low salt content, it is salt water after all. Drinking it to quench my thirst, the result is still very bad.

A bonfire was lit on the desert island, and the fuel was readily available oil-rich pine trees. The firewood was tossed and crackled, and even though the fresh water was tense, the hungry people still carried their own pottery to hold on to their own wheat.

Under the night, the tide flooded the sandy ground near the sea, and the long boats deliberately stranded were soaked in the knee-less sea again.

Rurik saw that there were people squatting on the seashore. They were not so comfortable to appreciate the moonlight and the sea waves. They actually used Tao Weng to ride the sea to cook wheat!

"Arik, this is how they eat? They actually use sea water?" Rurik wanted to stand up and stop the stupidity of his fellows.

Arik told the excited brother to sit down and let him not be too surprised with a nearly indifferent attitude.

"Why? You just watch them eat sea water? They will get sick."

"But, what about Freshwater? You know the situation too. Damn it. I knew I should prepare a few oak barrels to fill up Lake Mlaren."

Doesn't Arik see the crisis? He knows, but he can do nothing.

"Rurik, you think they are cooking a bowl of salty porridge with sea water. Anyway, they use fresh water to cook wheat, they still have to add salt."

"Oh, it's..." Rurik was speechless and speechless, but this expedient should not last long.

Although the Varangians represented by the Ross people generally have extremely tenacious beliefs and amazing endurance, I am afraid that these are the last resort to endure in a difficult state.

Whether it is voyage trade or looting, the risks are staggering. If everyone can find a warm place, even this warmth can guarantee the wheat ears with a high probability, so of course everyone is willing to settle down and become a farmer with a **** and a pickaxe.

That's what the Mellaren people did. They don't want to be pirates anymore.

As a noble person, Rlik has no worries about having no fresh water to drink. He didn't have to work hard for the long voyage, and only a few grilled fish could satisfy his otherwise small stomach.

When the boat was about to dock, someone dropped some hemp ropes with bait, not to mention the miraculous catch of cod.

"Maybe the fish here are also abundant?"

The vast number of soldiers originally settled on Tombstone Island, and their main way of making a living was to fish for fish. Everyone can't help but think of a lot. Since the South Got Fishing Club and the Gotland people are in conflict, fishing north is also in competition with the tribesmen.

Wouldn't it be a good choice to look east for new fishing grounds? As for the Baltic people, the young Roths couldn't listen to the old man's instruction to be cautious. It's okay if they don't show up, if they show up, they will be destroyed.

The freshwater problem really bothered the Ross people.

Tombstone Island, there is no natural fresh water (if they are willing to dig deep wells). They get fresh water by taking a large number of wooden barrels to the eastern land and fetching water from the dotted streams.

Arik thought for a while: "Since there is still the fastest two-day voyage, it is indeed dangerous for us to have no water to drink. Simply this, what is the south... It is the territory of the Baltic people. We rowed over and found a creek. , Won't the problem be solved?"

Rurik nodded: "It seems that this is the only thing, but I'm just worried about being attacked by the enemy."

"Are you kidding?" Arik asked dismissively.

"I"

Arik slapped his chest vigorously: "Look at this sturdy leather armor. I hope to encounter some kind of attack, so that we have unexpected surprises."

"I hope there will be no casualties."

Arik pinched Rurik's neck suddenly: "How can there be casualties? You can go to bed as soon as you continue to eat."

"Oh fine."

What Baltic people? If they exist, they must be Estonians.

Rurik, who was sleeping in a blanket of animal skins, suddenly had an idea.

Knock on their own tribesmen, they all changed into weapons, and they were clearly prepared for battle.

Arik's relationship with these fighters is too close! In a daze, Rurik felt that all this was a cousin's scheme. Maybe he already knows that there are other people who may be very bully living in the southern land, so he took the opportunity to go to the east to visit Roseburg, and took the opportunity to grab another wave?

Arik must be able to do such a thing.

This is not the case for Reurik. If you really want to fight, you must determine the enemy, let's know a little bit of the enemy's details, preferably basic tactical planning, and even unable to control the b plan after the battle. When the battle is over, the follow-up work must also be arranged in advance.

Taking risks to rob unknown people, Rurik didn't like it.

After all, this fleet was under the command of his cousin Arik, and he was always full of confidence, who had never failed.

A new day is coming soon.

After Rurik woke up, he quickly forgot the dream. He vaguely remembered that it was not a good dream, as if his tribe had failed.

"Dream? They are the most superstitious. When I talk about dreams, doesn't it disturb the military's mind?"

Rurik was inevitably anxious, or that he didn't sleep well overnight on the island.

Arik, who was busy grilling the cod meat, looked at his apathetic younger brother: "Your face is terrible, what's the matter?"

"It's nothing."

Arik was chewing the fish while muttering: "Brothers are all ready, we will set off soon."

"Oh." Rurik sat down, nibbling on fish, and desperately chewing on a small bowl of almost cooked oats.

People are basically tight for their fresh water, but don't panic. Everyone knows the structure of this small world. As long as you find the coast of the land, you can easily find the river.

Taking advantage of the rising tide in the morning, three long boats slid into the sea.

People put down their oars, and the bow directed them straight to start a new voyage.

The land was hazy in the morning mist, and the three long boats in a horizontal line wanted to quickly rush to the stalls, find fresh water and then drove away.

Of course, it would be great to catch a wild deer or two on the shore.

Some fighters carry short hunting bows made of oak, and have made a batch of rough arrows. It is really difficult to expect this kind of bow and arrow to shoot enemies wearing leather armor and chain mail. Hunting rabbits and deer, the effect of shooting at close range is not bad.

Everyone must get to the shore, is there any interesting unknown on the shore? The morning mist makes the land feel like it is separated, and it deepens everyone's sense of anticipation.

In fact, the island where the fleet is anchored is Naysar Island. Now, the fleet is heading straight for Tallinn Bay.

The sea fog obscured the phantom of the Rus, but the watchful Russ sailed in the unknown waters. They kept their eyes open, not letting go of any clues.

Vaguely, someone saw some vague shadows on the sea.

"What's that? Arik!" shouted a soldier.

Arik was almost instinctively wary, and he stood up and looked at it.

"Couldn't it be a boat! Ah! It must be a boat."

For a moment, Arik was not excited. He remained vigilant and said to his subordinates: "Brothers, maybe they are fishermen in Gotland again. Odin really blessed us and let us meet them here? How about? , Destroy them?"

Gotlanders, when hearing this word, the Ross warriors were full of enthusiasm. The blood feud can't be eliminated once or twice with a vengeance.

With the three boats close together, everyone's attitude became very unified.

fighting! If you don't work hard after discovering the war, you are not considered a man.

Seeing that the brothers are so excited, they are almost out of control. Rurik frowned, which worried Jeflo.

"My lord, don't be afraid. If there is a fight, my brothers and I will swear to protect your safety."

Ruriek, the guard of twenty elite mercenaries, was naturally very relieved. He regretted not taking ten crossbows. With it, it was the greatest safety.

Rurik said: "My cousin and the Gotland people do not share the same sky. Since they have been found, it is necessary to fight. If they find the enemy's stronghold, they must go looting. But you, before the battle becomes clear , You don't want to rob."

Arik nodded, "I will persuade my brothers to remain calm."

"Don't worry, keep my destiny, your benefits are indispensable."

Rurik originally intended to refuse to take the initiative to provoke an out-of-the-art battle, but his cousin insisted on going his own way, so he had to keep his attitude. He didn't want his mercenaries to participate in possible fierce battles. If there was a crisis, his own people would also participate. For the time being, the mercenary team will serve as a tactical reserve team when the raiding army encounters danger.

The fleet began to run wildly at the enemy's fishing boat at the fastest speed.

The small fishing boat was clearly aware of the danger, and he also started rowing desperately to escape.

After all, the quality of fishing boats is worrying, and they can only cast nets on the coast to catch fish. Seeing that the unknown big ship had an unruly intention, the fishing boat quickly plunged into a small river and went upstream.

"Damn it, just one step away!" Arik on the boat gritted his teeth like a hunter who lost the deer.

A soldier comforted, "At least the escaped Gotland people led us to a small river. We went deep inland and should be able to find their village."

"Village? Good!" Arik smiled again. "Brothers, we are not busy collecting fresh water. We went upstream, looted their village, and burned it."

Blinded by vengeance, the Ross fighters subjectively believed that it was the Gotland fishermen who had escaped. After all, the Gotland people are not the people trapped in the islands, they themselves are vigorously exploring new living spaces. Their economic conflict with the various tribes of the Northern Alliance was the core factor leading to the war.

But Rurik didn't think it was a Gotland, because it didn't correspond to history.

Rurik remembered that the betrayers of the Varangans, that is, the guys who left their tribes and emigrated with their families, they migrated to the east spontaneously, but also on the island of Saaremaa (which later became the Duchy of Semelia) , And the Latvian territory mixed together, and even continued eastward to Pskov, and merged with the local Pskov Slav tribe.

Almost all of the other Varanges described by the Novgorod people came from Pskov to the west, along the small river channel to Lake Ilmen.

Rurik believed that the fishermen who escaped were Estonians.

The Estonians, who were collectively called the "Eastman" by the Roman Empire, distinguished from the "Fen". In fact, both sides are a family, or the Finns are the ancient Estonians who crossed the sea to the north.

Following the escaped fishing boat, the fleet began to enter an unknown river.

The forests around the river are lush and lush, no one can see the ups and downs, and the river water flows into the sea at a very relaxing flow rate.

Fresh water has become readily available, and as for the fishermen who escaped, there is no reason to rush to catch up. No one believes that a single Gotland fisherman will settle alone, and there must be many fishermen living together.

Their villages must be built along rivers or lakes. They are like a group of lambs waiting to be slaughtered, waiting for the fully armed Russ to harvest.

However, people from top to bottom, including Arik, underestimated the twists and turns of the river.

It may have a name, but when historical Danes settled here and built their own Reval Castle, or Tallinn (meaning the Danish castle), they gave the river an exact name-Pirita River.

Pirita means pyrite. Although minerals are scarce in the entire Estonia, miracles will occur in individual places.

Near the Gulf of Tallinn, there is a rare pyrite in this area, and because of this, the ancient Estonians were able to smelt iron without relying on outsiders.

Now, the Ross army led by Arik broke into the river by mistake, and a fateful encounter is about to happen.

The ship was advancing fast along the winding river, and the soldiers were paddling while gazing at the surrounding scene.

Finally, the fleet made another huge turn, and the village along the river suddenly appeared.

Arik's eyes widened. He didn't think these strange houses were like the work of Gotlanders. Everyone finds it strange that the houses that are obviously made of wood are small houses, but they are not the most common wooden long houses on Gotland.

The village is built along the river, and there is obviously some farmland on the riverside. Even if the crops have been harvested, whether it is farmland can be seen by anyone who knows it.

There are also a small number of canoes tied with twine to wooden stakes on the shore. The style of the boats is also very different from what everyone knows.

Many signs have shown that the Ruths may have encountered a group of unknown guys.

"They can build such a ruined house. They should be no better than the Gotlanders."

In Arik's mind, the "Gotlanders" are regarded as a unit of measurement. Going deep here is purely an adventure, even if the possible enemy is weak, Arik doesn't want the situation to continue to be complicated.

While still on the boat, he yelled: "Brothers! We are going to land in this village! They may be powerful enemies, or they will be killed by us. I only hope that no brothers will be injured after you win. Be vigilant. Ready to fight!"

It is the old guys who have fought with Arik. They are well-trained. Every man knows his position after landing.

Arik's plan is to form a classic Viking shield wall after landing. Each warrior performed his duties, some stood in the first row as swords and shields, and some stood in the back row to kill the enemy with long-handled weapons. In fact, these are all conventional things, and there is no need for Arik to make plans.

Rurik clenched the hilt of his sword tightly. In the tense atmosphere, he really thought that the army would fight with the enemy after landing.

He saw that some warriors were wiping their swords and axes. These weapons were still made of ordinary wrought iron. It was a pity that the warriors of Tombstone Island did not replace them with new equipment in the first time because of geographical barriers.

When the soldiers of Roseburg had purchased steel swords, steel axes, and even more wicked chrome steel weapons, the brothers who guarded Ross's "South Gate" were still using old weapons.

Even so, this clumsy "toy" is enough for a group of wild men in animal skins.

Here, Rurik was surprised to see that some fighters took off the spearheads of the short spears, and then took off the axe heads of the hand axe, and forced them on the sticks. In this way, the short spear became a very strange one with a length of more than two meters. Long long-handled axe.

"How can this weapon be used?"

Rurik didn't care so much, his slender but powerful arm was caught by his cousin. Arik and disregarding the intimacy between his brothers, he is basically admonishing a young fighter: "Once you fight, you stay behind. It's best to let your people protect you. When you fight, I can't take care of you."

The three long boats docked slowly at the quiet dock.

be quiet! Very quiet!

It is quiet and scary, as if behind every wooden house, there are hidden fighters who are armed with weapons and want to fight for their lives.

One of the keys to winning a battle is to be vigilant and to maintain basic discipline at all times after the battle breaks out.

Arik summed up these useful experiences in battle, and he believed that his victory had experience.

No, after the soldiers went ashore, they quickly burst into a hemispherical formation.

The sword and shield players in the front row unloaded the shield hung on the ship gang and put them on their left arm. The shields that were enough to protect most of the torso were intertwined to form a solid wall.

Rurik finally understood the usefulness of those axes. It turned out that the usefulness of these weapons was like Ge. It was the method used by the soldiers in the back row to output force after the battle broke out-the aid of the axe pecking attack. In this way, the enemy has to face the fighters in the front, and beware of the axe from the sky. Rurik admires his cousin's tactics a bit, he will be a little pity, if he brought more than a dozen crossbows on this trip, let the mercenaries equip them, wouldn't the team's combat effectiveness be greatly improved?

The heavily armed soldiers are ready to fight, everyone is waiting for Arik's order, and Arik is also waiting for the enemy's attack.

The scene fell into a weird stalemate.

What about the enemy? It seems that it does not exist~www.mtlnovel.com~ But intuition tells Arik that this small-scale village chief still has popularity and there is no possibility of it being abandoned.

He finally couldn't bear it, but he didn't want his people to encounter a possible ambush.

"Ruriek!"

"Ah!" Rurik roared, hiding behind the team.

"Let your mercenaries investigate. Quickly!"

"Ah? Why are they my people?" To be honest, Rurik didn't want his people to be used as a flesh detective that could easily be attacked by fire.

Arik became impatient: "What? I didn't listen to your brother? Brother, this is a war! Let the mercenaries find the way, hurry!"

Jeflo no longer cared about his master's hesitation. In his heart, he didn't dislike Arik at all. Everything is the fate of mercenaries. Adventure reconnaissance is itself the job of mercenaries.

Yevro unhesitatingly took a few guys, lined up in a skirmish line, with a steel sword against a wooden shield, and went deep into the village in a highly vigilant position...