Rise of Rurik

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The children were holding pieces of bread and nibbling bit by bit, while their parents were holding bowls and slowly tasting the soup and red wine.

The food and wine prepared by the monastery are so abundant that even if the entire Shannon area comes to share the food, the monastery can still cope with it.

Because Lord Regrave spent a large amount of food out of his own pocket this time, the mass wedding and Halloween mass became the most lively in the memory of the people in the Shannon area.

The oldest people in the whole region have never seen such a grand occasion, because the Normans are coming, and everyone who comes to the Saint-Maximin Monastery can enjoy a three-day feast.

At least what they heard was a three-day party.

Different from the strange interpretations of Halloween thousands of years later, in the era of 843 AD, this festival was originally to praise the Virgin, then to praise the angels, and now to praise the Holy Trinity, the so-called High Mass of All Saints.

In other words, this festival originated in the Roman era. It started on a certain day in late autumn and lasted for a month until the end of the winter solstice. If the Apennines had a good harvest, it would not be unusual for people to eat and drink for two months.

Halloween is about a month after the harvest of rye and oats. The fully Romanized Gauls combined their own ancient festivals with those of the Romans, and now added Catholic faith, and Halloween evolved.

The Benedictine order throughout Frankfurt emphasizes asceticism. For example, carnival in the old Roman era was defined as the sin of greed and gluttony. Although everyone must follow the priests as ascetics, there are always some days every year when they can revel.

Saturn, the **** of agriculture, was already a pagan god. His sacrifices were replaced by praising God. What remained unchanged was that poor peasants could enjoy a generous donation from the monastery.

We happily ate for three days, but things didn’t end there.

Shannon as a whole is not big, but the forest in this area is too dense, which makes communication between villages difficult.

After a day of fermentation, the most remote village of Ruwaf got the news about Lord Reglaf's joint donation with the monastery. The locals also took their families and their families to the village of Shannon to eat and drink.

"My lord, all your subjects are here, and the food prepared for them...may not be enough. What should I do?" Old Eric asked his lord.

"It may be a good thing to have more people. It reminds me more of Novgorod. I can tell my father in the future that my Shannon can also prosper." Reglaf's attitude is very clear. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to win over people. A three-day banquet is no longer appropriate. A week-long banquet may be better.

Reglaf has been lingering at the alms site. He is dressed in majestic military uniform, and behind him is the King of Mercia's flag, so that all the people who come to receive alms can clearly see their master's face.

The lively situation gradually became more and more chaotic. Old Eric, who had just married his wife and indulged himself, was ordered to organize a group of soldiers to maintain order. The elite warriors all wore orange cloth robes and carried round shields with a blue background and a large yellow cross.

The pattern of the King of Mercia's flag is the serious "St. Andrew's Cross", which the Benedictine Order on the European continent is very aware of. Now that the legitimate King of Mercia is in exile in Shannon, the senior Benedictine priests in Britain know this. After this winter, some priests will safely cross the sea to inform their colleagues on the island.

The branch of the order in Utrecht will complete the crossing of the letter. Since it has always been very ambiguous with the Danish army stationed there, and even connived at the Danish plunder, the priests will simply cross the sea on Danish ships. As if the priests were too absorbed in their own affairs to hear anything else, King Ragnar of the Danes continued his plundering happily.

So when Reglaf entertained his subjects on Halloween, the city of Metz was being besieged by the Ross army, and the middle and upper reaches of the Moselle River were filled with Ross troops.

Reglaf had already learned some history about Caesar and Augustus from his father Rurik.

The Rubicon River is real! Rome is still the seat of the Holy See!

Caesar conquered Gaul, including the Shannon region at his feet, and the locals became part of Rome from that time on.

caesar surrenders himself

The Gauls ceded a lot of power, so a large number of captured Gaulish warriors turned into Roman soldiers. They were collectively loyal to Caesar. Together with Caesar's own legions, Caesar, known as an army of 300,000, crossed the Rubicon River and entered Rome.

In order to win over the people of Rome, Caesar spent his own money to hold a banquet in the city for thirty days. It is said that men, women and children ate and drank for free for a month. After receiving the benefits, they all believed that the general was towards him, so they collectively pledged their allegiance.

Although Caesar died of murder, his grandson inherited everything and created a great empire. Frank inherited the legacy of the Roman Empire...

Such a story is like a legend from another world, a bedtime story from my father.

However, Archbishop Gregory of Tours compiled a history book two hundred years ago, and his father's story about Rome and Caesar almost matched the records in the ancient parchment books in the library of St. Martin's Cathedral!

There are also relevant descriptions in the collection of the local monastery in Shannon. Caesar and Augustus were deliberately described as benevolent people. Although they did not believe in God, their related qualities were still praised by the priests.

How was he born? Schizophrenia!

How was Caesar born? Schizophrenia too!

"I was born with a split belly, and my mother died for it. I have a noble status, and I was sent to Gaul to seek my own development. What Caesar did, I can imitate..."

In the past, his father called him "born like Caesar," but now that he thinks about it, Reglaf feels that this is no longer his father's wish—it can become a reality.

Reglaf couldn't do a thirty-day banquet for the farmers in Xiang, but he could still do it by counting the supplies and holding a feast for seven days.

During the day on All Hallows' Day, the Abbey of Saint-Maximin leads a grand procession. The priests were walking along the branches of the old Roman avenues with various sacred vessels. Dean Bode was mumbling words while using newly broken cypress branches, dipped in holy oil and sprinkled them on the ground and all the people gathered around him.

In this way, the entire Shannon received divine blessings, and people believed that with the blessings, they would be able to survive the winter smoothly.

Faith is one aspect. Smart people realize who has given them the material basis to live safely.

With an unprecedented abundance of wood, people can freely burn fires to keep warm every day, and freezing to death may become impossible.

Lord Reglaf gave him a lot of food, and the whole family ate and drank for seven days. In this way, everyone saved a lot of food.

All this makes people believe that Lord Reglaf's promise is true - miscellaneous taxes will be abolished from 844, and only two tithes will be collected.

In fact, many people have heard that the Lord will prepare for a new war next year. The Lord will organize an army and hint that the soldiers can loot freely, and whatever they rob will be theirs.

Ordinary people don't understand what the Frankish Civil War has to do with them. Serfs and free people have the obligation to provide military service to their lords. If Master Reglaf forced conscription, the people would have no choice but to carry weapons modified from farm tools.

In the past few years, freedmen from the village of Awane have joined the infantry of the Turbo Kingdom. In order to get a sum of money, they went to Robert and died fighting for the money.

The serfs in the village of Shannon did not participate in the war. They were all private property of the Earl's family, and they were the cattle and horses that farmed the land to provide military food. The serfs were all emaciated and pale. With such a population, the army might be easily killed by the Orleans army.

So it is not unusual for people throughout the Shannon region to participate in the war. In the past, they were forced to serve as soldiers, but now... their attitude towards the war has changed.

After seven days of feasting and drinking, Reglaf suffered huge losses in the food he brought!

He also believed that he would gain great popularity in his fiefdom by following the envisioned procedure.

The priests believed that the baron was a kind man. Only senior figures such as Abbot Bode could slightly guess the murderous intention behind such kindness.

On the last day of the party, the carnival is coming to an end.

More than 20,000 people gathered in the village of Shannon. Since the mountains and forests were open to the people, the people simply cut down the trees and built a large number of shacks.

People are still eating and drinking, and since the reserved bread cubes have been used up, they are now replaced by salty wheat porridge mixed with a lot of vegetables and mushrooms. As for the taste, this

Salty porridge is more comforting.

People had a free meal once a day, and then took their own dry food to log wood. After building shacks, they made bonfires every night and spontaneously got together to dance. Everything was quite carnival.

Because of Lord Reglaf's tacit approval, the priests did not step forward to stop this indulgence. The emotions suppressed by the poor life and strict discipline were suddenly released. Some priests pessimistically denounced this as the "destruction of Sodom", while the people could not care less. Lord Reglaf was there to do anything happy for many days in a row. support.

People's hearts are made of flesh. Serfs who have lived a life of poverty are treated as human beings by their new lord for the first time. Working for him in the war is considered a gift. And... what if they get rich from the war like those blond warriors? As for going to hell... Lord Reglaf doesn't care, so why should I, who is loyal to him, care.

Everyone's emotions are afraid to be released because there is no one to take the lead. They are looking forward to the military recruitment order, and then...

On the eve of the last day of the banquet, a group of soldiers gathered in the military camp. The large village outside the wooden wall was lit with bright bonfires and the laughter of the people was everywhere.

"You are too merciful. If this continues, our food reserves will be gone." Others did not dare to say that, but Old Eric had seniority. On behalf of everyone, he took the opportunity to advise Regraf not to continue to be merciful.

"It doesn't matter. At worst, we can go hunting. Or we can go to Tours to buy some food. I would like to imitate Caesar's banquet for thirty days. Seven days of banquet is enough." Regraf paused and pursed his lips: " We bought people's hearts."

Regraf said this with a guilty conscience, because his own food and the monastery's grain warehouse were severely depleted.

"It's just that the price is a bit high."

Regraf looked at everyone and said: "So we are gathering tonight. I plan to go to recruit soldiers tomorrow and tell the people who are eating my decision."

"It finally started." Old Eric sighed happily: "How many people do you plan to recruit?"

"Five hundred, or more."

"so much?"

"I still think it's missing. If it weren't for this massacre, I wouldn't have known there were so many people in my fief."

"Then you have to pay for their food during the war."

"It doesn't matter. I let them loot freely, and whatever they get is mine. Let them fight like we do." Reglaf's eyes were trembling, and the bonfire illuminated his face.

Old Eric was a little confused. This kind of Reglaf was indeed very similar to his father Rurik. Not only do they look alike, their tactics of setting up troops and plundering are exactly the same.

Everyone in the military camp reached an agreement and thought pragmatically. Now their elite soldiers' food reserves have been stretched due to the adults' banquet. If the war starts later, everyone will be at risk of starvation. Either go rob the Count of Orleans, or change your benevolent attitude and step up your demands from the local people.

Robbery of one's own people is far less enjoyable than the robbery of Orleans. Moreover, everyone is having trouble attacking the city, but the army has gained quite a lot outside the city.

So, on a new day, while the people were feasting on the last free lunch, accompanied by the low horns and crisp drums, the King of Mercia, dressed in orange, made a high-profile appearance!

Regrave was not only Baron Shannon, but also the King of Mercia. Today he plans to officially recruit troops, and his identity is that of the king.

Pairs of eyes glanced at him. Many people heard the message and realized that the opportunity to become a soldier was now. A group of men happily rushed to Reglaf, and they stopped in front of the orange soldiers.

Before Lauregraf opened his mouth, some men couldn't wait to ask in Frankish with a strong nasal accent: "Sir, are you here to recruit soldiers? I am willing to do anything for you."

Regraf remained silent for a while until the situation escalated further.

It seemed that five thousand men and women had gathered, and it was only then that he publicly issued a conscription order.

His order was simple: "I want a thousand men!"

It was enough for him to say this, and the rest was like old Eric doing things for him.

Reglaf wanted to recruit troops, and insisted on recruiting a thousand soldiers despite all objections, even though the food pressure would be great if he did this.

Reglaf decided to go his own way, and he had his own reasons: "Back then, my father organized two flag teams, each with 500 people. My father succeeded, and I will do the same."

Because among the veterans brought by Reglaf, there are soldiers who left the Russian army. In a sense, these people inherit the military spirit of the Russian regular army.

Old Eric retired from the army because he was too old, but he was still old-hearted, so he changed his identity and worked for the eldest son of King Rus.

The old guy can't resist the arrogance of the young people. Thinking about it from another perspective, if this kid succeeds, everyone will get full benefits.

Just as Regrave estimated, the entire Shannon was shaken by the conscription order. The people gathered in the village of Shannon are now even more unable to leave. People who originally resisted joining the army are now actively joining the army.

For the first time, the lords of the Shannon region could be selective about who wanted to serve as soldiers.

People who are not tall enough are kicked off, people who are obviously thin are kicked off, and people who are timid are kicked off.

The results of the conscription were actually not satisfactory to Old Eric. The situation of freemen was better, but that of serfs as a whole was worse. It happened that this group of serfs was the most enthusiastic about fighting. They were convinced that this was an opportunity to change their fate.

In just one day, Reglaf had recruited enough of the thousand men he needed, and the rest of the villagers could go home on their own. However, there were still a large number of men hoping for mercy.

That evening, before the smell of the feast had dissipated, more than a thousand men and more onlookers gathered at the entrance of the military camp.

The majestic blond warrior stood under the banner of the King of Mercia, and now King Regraf of Mercia inspected the new recruits.

The recruits all have dark brown hair, and a few have yellowish hair. Almost all of them have big noses, and they are all thin overall—generally half a head shorter than the veterans in Reglaf.

The recruits proved that they were indeed Gauls. Maybe they would not be so emaciated. If their daily lives were better, their sons would become tall and strong.

Regraf never expected such a warrior to line up the shield wall and fight the enemy in the posture of sword and shield bearer.

First of all, they are too thin and may not have enough physical strength to fight fiercely. Secondly, he didn't have enough swords to arm them.

The best way is to train them into spearmen, just like the Slavic flag team under his father, which is eight hundred spearmen who advance and retreat uniformly! Although the Slavic flag troops always move slowly, maybe this is what the Jungle of Ten Thousand Spears should be like. Countless spears pierce the enemy so that they dare not move forward hastily. Once contact is made, the enemy will be riddled with holes.

The spear formation organized by his father's Slavic banner team and other warriors defeated the attack of the Frankish heavy cavalry in the first battle. Regraf did not seek to organize a group of spearmen to defeat the elites of the hostile nobles. UU Reading www.uukanshu.netｔBut the cost of organizing these thousand people into two spear flag teams was very low.

Under the orange sunset and orange clothes, Regraf inspected the warriors. Such a close range allowed these men to see the young lord's face more clearly.

Regraf turned around and ordered loudly: "Remember your identities! Regardless of your origins, you are all the army of the Kingdom of Mercia! You are loyal to the King of Mercia! I am the king!"

Hearing the word "King", the military morale instantly stirred.

After a while, Reglaf declared again: "I will train you as spearmen! A new war will begin next spring, and I will take you to the battlefield. I promise! If you win the battle, you will loot according to your skills, and the loot will be yours." It's all yours, no need to pay tribute to me.

If any of you die in battle, I will collect the corpse and bury it, and the priest will give the deceased a final eulogy. The children of the deceased will be raised by me and will continue to serve me. "

As a result, the people were even more commotion. They did not cry for joy. People realized that they would have no worries if they served as soldiers for Lord Reglaf. The most important thing was that the Lord publicly promised to "rob and rob with your ability and you will be yours."

Because all the free people who served as soldiers for the old earl, they at most ate some military rations donated by the lords. They may die at any time in the war, but the victory and capture belong to the lords and have nothing to do with the miscellaneous soldiers like themselves. He may even personally participate in a robbery and may be executed by an adult if he seizes valuables but fails to hand them over.

Lord Reglaf's attitude is completely the opposite. For him

Effectiveness is totally the best decision! As for whether he is loyal to Baron Shannon or the King of Mercia, and whether he is going to attack the Count of Orleans or some other enemy.

You can only get rich by following Lord Reglaf, so don't think too much about it, including no longer thinking about the priest's rebuke.

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