Rise of Rurik

The linen besieged the city, and after the snow was cleared, some leather cushions were laid.

The horses of the cavalry team are all treasures. Since it was the first time that the cavalry had fought in extreme cold, Kagan did not dare to neglect.

Of course, the horses can doze up standing up, although it is cold now, they can sense that it is very safe to leave the country, so they gather together and sleep on their sides.

Tianyu is still shining with the aurora, and from the perspective of the Rus, the gods are indeed paying attention to the actions of the army, which is a good omen.

When the sky turned dark blue, the resting horses were awakened.

It was extremely cold in the early morning. The current temperature had plummeted to minus ten degrees, and exposed limbs could easily be frostbitten. This extreme cold like a knife also made Kagan feel a little suspicious of the morning raid.

Fortunately, the porridge that was already being boiled gave everyone full confidence. After eating hot food, the cold seemed to have disappeared by more than half.

Horses are not picky about energy-dense grains, and they're happy to gorge on cooked wheat if they can. Cooked wheat is also easier to absorb based on the structure of their stomach sacs and intestines.

Is it bad to feed your own war horse cold oats? After all, the horses were going to run wild to launch a raid. I don’t know who started the battle. The Russ cavalry hurriedly boiled the wheat. They didn’t ask for it to be cooked.

They are more willing to use their own hands to hold warm wheat and stuff them into the horse's mouth, while at the same time saying some encouraging words to try to motivate their special comrades.

Kagan didn't care, he knew that the horses he brought over were hard-working, and if they were humans, they would all be tough warriors.

Horses must maintain very sufficient physical strength, so although the food for the war horses this morning is not very large, the nutrition is not ordinary.

After breakfast, the Russ army assembled the whole army. They quickly threw the main supplies for building the camp to the sleigh, and hurriedly checked their weapons and equipment.

On the other hand, the Ross cavalry had already mounted.

Such as the noble Rurik, Aric, and Yevlo, all rode on horses to review the entire cavalry.

Check them out! Including those Pechenegs also put on the standard clothing of the Rus army. The horses were all equipped with integral leather jackets to keep out the cold, and at the same time they put on a layer of white cloth with blue stripes. The entire mixed cavalry has full snow camouflage and a wide variety of weaponry.

Short wooden bows, recurve bows and crossbows are listed,

Another spear is pressed diagonally to the saddle.

They had two round shields hanging from their thighs, diametrical armor on their calves, and buckskin iron armor in their upper body uniforms. Although their helmets were riveted from iron, a layer of iron was hung around their necks.

Humans are like this. Although the warhorse does not have large-scale iron armor, it has a deerskin with a riveted iron sheet on the front chest.

From Rurik's point of view, the armor he gave his cavalry by the assault didn't really upgrade them to heavy cavalry, but they weren't quite light cavalry either.

In a sense, they are a kind of heavy hussars. They do have weapons and equipment and riders, and the load on the horses has increased significantly.

This unit must complete the combat mission as soon as possible, ordering the horses to stand on all four hooves with a high-intensity load for a long time, which will cause too much damage to the horses.

The cavalry lined up in two rows, and the horses unconsciously twisted their thick necks, breathing a heavy white mist.

Rurik rode his horse to review each soldier, and he had almost finished what he had to say, and he still had to say two more words.

"I have only one task for you! Raid the Karelian camp and slash mercilessly! This is the only way for you to become true warriors, now follow Prince Kagan and go the way of Pecheneg Fight! Only one thing! Don't be too busy looting loot."

Will they follow through on the orders they receive? Rurik suddenly drew his sword, causing them to draw their swords subconsciously.

"Now! Go and fight!"

Kagan took another look at his Rurik brother, he didn't speak, it was the sharp eyes that killed people, and the eyes explained everything. He yanked his hands to give birth, his feet slammed into the belly of the horse, and his mount immediately reversed direction, causing the entire team to turn.

"Looks like the battle has already started?" Arik couldn't help but mutter to himself as he watched the backs of them gradually leaving.

"It's the beginning." Rurik's eyes were like eagles: "Maybe..."

"What's wrong?"

"We still look too high on the Karelians, and I think the cavalry alone will solve the battle."

"That's fine. I don't think it's an honor to fight a group of poor wildlings. The battle is over soon, so we can go and see how many ferrets we can catch."

Rurik glanced sideways at his cousin, and although it was arrogant to despise the Karelians so much, the weakness of the enemy was real.

The cavalry team set off first, and the large troops in the rear needed some time to prepare.

"It's better to think of the enemy as a strong force." Rurik said, "If we really encounter a crisis, we won't be in a hurry."

Arik shrugged: "Whatever you want. I'll go to the team." After that, he turned around...

When the cavalry was ready to launch an assault, Kagan ordered the cavalry to go fast at the starting position.

Thanks to the high-energy meal at breakfast, the horses did not feel tired. The horses formed a four-column column with the Pechenegs in front of the Rus cavalry in the rear, and they formed a moving matrix.

This battle was the first battle for the boyar noble boys who were ordered to join the army. Even if their father was a native aristocrat canonized by a prince, he was still essentially the son of a peasant. As their identity, they could have stayed away from the war. Honored to be a soldier in the first battle.

Thanks to the experience of military career, even weak people have their inner wildness inspired.

They have no experience in killing enemies at all, and they only have experience in killing deer and chickens in order to practice courage.

They are generally only sixteen years old, and even some twenty-year-old men still lack experience in killing enemies.

Only the Slavic people in the cavalry looked like this. The young cubs selected from the old Rus had participated in many wars, and it was the first time that they had been engaged in combat in the form of cavalry.

"Prepare your bows, prepare your arrows! If you have my recurve bow, use it well! Kill the enemy without mercy, obey your prince's orders, and kill! Show no mercy!"

Kagan gave orders in broken Slavic, and everyone understood the main vocabulary, so they were all ready to arm themselves while riding.

Now they can't see the big army, in fact they have seen a long distance from the rear army. Although walking on the glacier was full of spruce and red pine, in fact they were very close to Lake Onega.

Finally, the world opens up!

A huge new ice lake appeared in front of them, and the cavalry team walked out of the forest area and stood by the frozen lake of Lake Onega.

But everyone didn't have time to sigh about the vastness of the new world, because just to the south of everyone, a large-scale residential settlement appeared before us.

Those with excellent eyesight saw the herd of reindeer again, and there were people who seemed to be fishing on the ice.

The cavalry, who was wearing white camouflage even with their horses and men, adjusted their direction, and everyone knew that a fierce battle was about to break out.

Kagan hurriedly summoned everyone, holding up the Ross steel swords he had ordered and giving orders: "All of them fire three arrows, then charge with their spears, and finally draw their swords and slash. Go and kill everyone you see! Now follow me! "

Everyone has learned the rapid-fire arrow method, and since everyone has a wrench, the rapid-fire genre of the right-handed bow becomes easy to control.

At first the Karelian exiles were unaware of the imminent danger as a group of white objects moved across the snow by the lake.

On the other hand, the cavalry team, now they have resumed small steps and fast running, each cavalryman not only holds the bow in the left hand, but also holds the three arrows at the same time, and only the right hand holds the reins.

Those Karelians had been slaughtered in large numbers by men in previous wars, and most of those who had fled were women.

A stronghold of up to 2,000 people, they began to use riverside gravel to reinforce tent foundations and build houses out of leather and wood.

They didn't bring many deer, and thanks to the adjoining lake they were able to hunt for food in winter. Because they have done some deals with the Perm people and Rudi people who have set foot here, life will not be ugly.

One thing is true, they are not rich, they are just lingering on.

The exiles did not even elect a recognized leader, and some survivors of the three major tribes are present here. Men have the highest voice, and women rely on these men. They are already actively rebuilding the tribe, and many women are pregnant again. It seems that this area where the powerful enemy can't find it can live safely, and the armed guard has also been ignored.

In fact, even if they are on guard, it is meaningless!

The former allies and servants of the Rudi people turned into vassals of the Principality of Rus, and now in 838 AD, they killed them as enemies.

Of course, they never imagined that the first attack wave of the pursuers of the Principality of Ross was actually cavalry from the warm prairie more than a thousand kilometers away!

Then when the Karelian exiles noticed the wriggling snow, they didn't know how to describe it, and someone began to subconsciously shout: "A large group of white bears are coming!"

Some of the people in the settlements went out to look for resources, such as hunting animals and skinning them to sell to the Perm people. There were a large number of women and children left behind in the camp, and there were less than 100 men and ten-year-old boys who could be armed, or the entire population of exiles. Only one-sixth of all combatable men are.

But that's cavalry!

"Let the arrows! Run!" Kagan gave an order, and the whole team unconditionally launched into the air.

Iron cluster arrows fell from the sky, smashing through the leather and linen tents sheltering from the wind and cold, and began to cause casualties.

The cavalry unleashed the first and only round of arrow rain in the mode of rapid three arrows.

One hundred and thirty cavalrymen with spears were already running with all their strength, and they had no scruples about dealing with the enemy Kagan, who clearly had no time to prepare.

The sluggish Karelians were pierced by spears, and those standing outside the tents were either stabbed by spears or run over by horses.

When the spear stabbed one person, the rider immediately let go, and immediately drew his sword or hand axe, and continued to ride his horse to kill.

The Pechenegs are the most experienced, they can easily overturn the whole tent with a rope around one of the supporting wooden pieces of the tent. Then the other cavalry rushed over and slashed at the women and children.

There were cries everywhere. Although men and women tried to resist with wooden sticks and short spears, they were suddenly slashed and killed by tall cavalrymen. The white robes of the war horses were stained with blood...

One hundred and thirty "death gods" were making a big noise in the camp, and a group of Karelians had already started to flee.

Having tasted fresh blood for the first time, the young Rus cavalry soldiers have forgotten that they are the sons of the Boyar nobles. The hearts of killing them for the first time are beating wildly, and the desire for destruction in their hearts has been thoroughly stimulated.

In desperation, some people fled to the ice, and none of them were killed by the overtaking cavalry, or shot by arrows. At least the men who were fishing had the strength to resist, standing on their side, although it was unknown who the strange attacker was, resistance was necessary. In the end, this humble resistance was easily ended by bow and sword.

People fleeing along the lake were caught up, and many were knocked down by horses, and their hooves collapsed to the point of broken bones.

Those who tried to run to the forest were also intercepted by Kagan and the Pechenegs, who were frightened and fled to the camp.

The men who resisted were killed on a large scale, and those women who had to escape with their children undoubtedly slowed down the speed. What awaited them was still ruthless beheading.

Many women simply sat on the ground, shivering with their young, infant children in their arms, waiting for the fate of being killed.

Seeing this scene of being slaughtered by the neck, the Ross soldiers couldn't help but soften their hearts.

The whole camp rebellion never really took place, and now there is no one who tried to resist.

A large number of large and small corpses lay on the ground, and the white snow was dyed red. Most of the wooden sheds and tents were overturned, and a group of women and children were captured.

The Ross cavalry had already stopped the killing first. After Kagan had dealt with the fugitives he could see, he had no intention of chasing down those who ran further. Cowards, let them get out of the way and escape into the icy forest with bare hands, fearing that they will become an ice sculpture tomorrow.

The cavalry roamed the village and looked at the shivering women who had no intention of fleeing.

Who dares to escape when things become like this? However, someone stood up and pulled the child to seize the opportunity to escape, but was not shot by the attacker?

Until this time, because of the extremely clear pattern, the Karelian people understood that the man riding the monster was still a fierce Rus.

Looking at the dilapidated camp, all the cavalry who made their fortunes by plundering the spoils were disappointed. The Pecheneg warriors were the most disappointed, didn't it mean that this group of people had mastered a lot of precious leather? Where's the leather? There is a truth, but there are not many in number at all. This group of people also domesticated reindeer, and the number is also pitiful.

The only ones who can make them happy are these captured women.

Kagan ordered the cavalry to drive all the captives together and sit down so they could watch.

Five hundred people may have been captured, a number that surprised Kagan. But the truth is definitely more serious, the prisoners are still carrying many children!

However, what happened next deeply shocked all the Ross cavalry soldiers present!

They saw that the Pechenegs dismounted to check on the captives, and took the boy from the woman with great precision, and was given death by a sword like no other.

Her own child was killed, and the mother screamed heart-to-heart, and even rushed to the executioner desperately, only to be ruthlessly kicked down by the Pechenegs.

They couldn't hide their children at all, and as a result, the boys in the entire captive group were slaughtered, and only a group of Karelian women survived here...

Why it came out like this? The Russ cavalry warriors dare not ask why, the so-called if the prince is here, there is a high probability that this kind of behavior will be terminated. But everyone thought about it, the prince's order was ruthless killing, and everyone's hand in hand now can be regarded as kind, so what the Pecheneg people are doing now can also be regarded as a kind of "kindness".

Kagan has his own reasons for doing this, and the means are rough. This is the way of the Pecheneg people's grassland warfare.

Finally, Rurik's army has arrived!

The reindeer sleigh team, hunting with flags and flags, was shocked by the army of the destroyed Karelian camp.

Did a mere 130 cavalry achieve a complete victory?

The army immediately took control of the scene, seeing the bright red scene in this place, most of the people had no sense of it after hundreds of battles, only the Ludi people were deeply shocked. The female leader of Lu Di even felt a little self-blame and fear. When she saw the boys who were deliberately killed and a group of female prisoners in a trance, she was shocked and fainted after a scream.

Rurik was speechless even though the situation had become like this. Although the Russ army had won a great victory, there was no joy in that victory at all.

Especially the corpses of some slain boys were piled up together. These deceased were not killed while fleeing, but their subordinates deliberately killed prisoners!

He found Kagan, and without mentioning the capture in this battle, he pointed to the corpse and asked, "They must have been captured, so what about killing them?"

Kagan pouted helplessly: "You asked us to kill everything, you see, I spared the lives of a large number of female prisoners. It seems that I should implement the request..."

"No need!" Rurik slapped a hand on his face sharply. "It's my fault, I should have ordered you to capture as many as you can, not kill them all. These boys were captured and killed, maybe..."

"Inappropriate?"

"Yes, inappropriate."

Kagan sighed: "You have arranged for me to be merciful. However, in the grasslands, the enemy's men taller than the wheel must be killed, otherwise they will soon grow into warriors and will take revenge. We are brothers, it seems If you don’t want to do these things, I will help you to do it for you, and I will cut you off those who are lower than the wheels. Your enemies now have and only women, and your people can possess them, and your children will be your children. You don't have to worry about the enemy's retaliation."

This is a cruel truth. It is absolutely rational to say that Kagan solved a calamity for himself, and Rurik simply did not mention it.

Seeing this, Kagan hurriedly asked for credit: "I won this battle with my cavalry unscathed, and I have to get some trophies."

"The spoils? Of course, it's..." Rurik looked around: "The Ludi people are right, these guys are really poor."

"But those women, I like them."

"A group of dwarfs, you actually like it?"

Kagan smiled and said, "Otherwise, returning empty-handed is not our style. I also want to bring some women back to the grassland. Brother, you at least make my subordinates happy, or they will not work for me honestly. You know , we came from the faraway steppe to fight in this icy north, everyone is taking a huge risk, you..."

"I understand. You can choose whatever you want, that's what you deserve. In principle, all the prisoners must be managed by me, and you can freely choose one of your people, even if their food in the future will be paid by your people. "

"no problem!"

Kagan was full of joy, wouldn't his subordinates be even more joyful? If Ross and other Vikings are not picky about women, the Pecheneg people are even less picky. In principle, the slaves don't even have the chance to be a father. Now there is an opportunity to "marry a wife". In front of them, the Pecheneg warriors were mad with joy.

After all, all the female prisoners will be digested by the Principality of Ross, they will be scattered and sold, and all the profits will be returned to the national treasury.

In addition to other spoils, Rurik ordered to count the total amount and distribute it twice.

He personally didn't need any trophies. The trophy cavalry team, which was mainly made of leather, got the most.

The remnants of the Karelian people are so poor that they have less than 500 domesticated reindeer.

This situation is still in everyone's expectations, the seized materials are only a small profit, everyone has already stood on the shore of the legendary Onega Lake, this is a brand new world!

Although the main force of the army will not stay here for too long, the Suomi and Ross hunters who have arrived here will start their hunting expeditions.

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