Chapter 938: The alliance between the Duchy of Saxony, the Kingdom of Rus, and the Kingdom of Denmark

Is the present Hamburg, for Ludoff, important for the Frankish kingdom?

The prisoner of war Liudov in front of him begged the Rus army not to attack Hamburg. There must be some hidden secrets. However, according to the information provided by Blue Fox a few years ago, it is pointed out that Hamburg is just a small fortress by the river, which has certain commercial value. Other than that nothing special.

Of course, this is also completely different from the burger in Rurik's concept.

What is Imperial Free City? Hamburg is the star of the Hanseatic League.

Rurik didn't rush to ask Liudov, he described his own knowledge of Hamburg as if it didn't matter: "It's a small town, nothing special. There is no gold and silver, at most there are some fields. It is those wheat fields that cause got my attention."

These words are inexplicable, and Liudov is really puzzled, but he still wants to emphasize: "I beg you, do not attack Hamburg. Since it is so barren, it is pointless for your army to fight."

"Is it really barren?" Rurik rolled his eyes at him. "I said it. My army is large and needs a lot of food to satisfy their appetite. I won't rob the Danes of their fields, but hamburgers are what I can do. The nearest supply point I saw."

"So, do you have to fight?"

"Yes! But it's not." At this time, Rurik stuck his head out and asked slowly: "You... care about the people there? Hope I don't kill? If so, you are really a good person."

"Am I really that kind?"

"Maybe. I noticed that you are clearly an outsider, but you have a lot of support from the locals. It's incredible, maybe you have a natural commander."

"I'm not worthy of your Norman's praise." Liudov forced his mouth to be stubborn, but his heart was a little dark.

"Let's tell the truth? Could it be that there are your friends there?"

"A friend, at least for supporting me. He is the Earl of Hamburg, and his name is Robert."

"He?!" Rurik slapped his thighs and stood upright, because the name was not unfamiliar.

"What? You...know this man."

"I know. My subordinates had a deep conversation with this person, and everything is a long story..."

"Then, let's talk about it." Ludov was quite surprised by the incident. He didn't believe that this was Rurik, the king of Russ, which was almost a trick, but it was really too bizarre. How could that old guy, Robert, have the experience of chatting and laughing with the Rus among the Normans.

It was a long night, and Rurik planned to tell Liudov, who was in a "bare veteran" state, through a mouthful of bitterness, and then turn against him, at least to ensure that this person would not be an enemy of Ross and Denmark. Any set that is close is almost impossible to miss.

Rurik deliberately said more, the unknown things really made Ludov unable to believe it. Think again, what kind of character is Robert, Earl of Hamburg? A pure Frankish man was appointed as a magistrate in the hometown of the barbarian Saxony duchy. If this man was not well-rounded, the local Saxons might not have once again rebelled against the partnership and chopped down his entire family.

On the contrary, the local conquered Saxon populace did not oppose the foreign lord.

Count Robert may not be smart, but he is definitely not stupid.

Robert actually had secret talks with Ross businessman Blue Fox on business issues? ! Robert has been carrying all the nobles behind his back, and quietly contacted the Rus many years ago?

And this is even more puzzling.

"Since you...have been in contact with the Earl of Hamburg, and even about business. Why should you attack your business partner? There is absolutely no need. You can have a good talk with Robert in Hamburg."

"Indeed." Rurik shrugged, "But, my army needs food supplies. You know!" Suddenly, Rurik showed a threatening look: "When people are hungry, they turn into beasts, I need food, And I know that the Elbe Valley where Hamburg is located has a lot of fields. It's your wheat harvest season, and this year's new McDonald's is mine."

"Ah! So savage. You...you can't."

Liudov looked embarrassed, he was stammering, but he was powerless to organize Rurik.

Rurik did not make it difficult for the man, after all, "looting the new wheat in the Hamburg area" was not really necessary. As a very particular king, it would be too much of a failure if the army was reduced to the point where it needed to rely on local looting to solve the imminent shortage of food. On the contrary, the food reserves of the Rus army before the war were enough to feed an army of 10,000 people for five months, and now everything is fine.

This is a tactic of extreme pressure. Rurik turned his face to the side and pretended to be arrogant: "It's not impossible not to beat hamburgers, unless you tell me where there is more food. My army can't come to Frank for nothing. If you can’t grab gold and silver, you will take away a lot of food.”

"..." Liudov fell into silence, but his eyes were trembling while he lowered his head.

What does this mean? He was hesitant, I was afraid that he had already thought a lot in his heart.

Thinking that the condom is almost at this point, a real man doesn't have to dawdle anymore, Rurik felt that when the time came, he took out the prepared king bomb.

"You! Ludov. I heard that you Saxons have the legendary hero Widukind, you are a direct descendant of him, maybe he is your grandfather."

In an instant, Liudov suddenly raised his head like an electric shock, his trembling eyes widened like copper bells, and stared straight at Rurik's face: "It's my father's father's father. His tomb is in mine. Westphalian fief."

It is a fact that Widukind was defeated and surrendered and was forced to convert to God. The family was exiled to Lake Reichenau under the Alps. After his death, the family moved to Westphalia with the coffin.

Ludov was born in the current fief, and he couldn't let go of the past and glory of his ancestors. He was indignant when the Frankish king confiscated the title of Duke of Saxony.

"In that case, how did your title become a count? It's ridiculous, you were a duke. Oh, but if you look like this, even if I let you go, you have suffered a big defeat against the so-called Normans, King of the Franks. There must be a decree to demote you to a baron, or even abolish the title to become a farmer. No, maybe the situation is worse. You may be ordered to be executed out of anger, and your family will become slaves."

Rurik's words were frivolous and playful, and the words were like swords, piercing the softness of Ludov's heart.

Originally, the reason for Ludov to make up for himself after his defeat was mainly the political frame-up of his master Ludwig. Everything was a despicable conspiracy!

Unexpectedly, Rurik, the king of Ross, penetrated into his heart. Do not! Rurik was no confidant. However, even all the Normans understood this matter, and everything was a conspiracy of the great Frankish nobles.

A desolate nobleman patted his thigh and stood up suddenly, his face full of anger, and roared: "It's all damned Franks! The country they took! Kill my people! Cause me to lose my title! I'm the only one! The real Duke of Saxony! That Ludwig is not worthy."

The sudden quarrel in the tent made the guards rush into the tent with weapons to protect their king.

The guards rushed in, only to see Liudov gasping for breath, and to see his king still sitting upright.

"Who let you in?!" Rurik turned his head and heard the news displeased.

"Your Majesty, brothers are worried about you..."

"Go back!"

The guards withdrew.

Liudov was still angry, he sat down and covered his head again, and after a while he burst into tears. He beat his chest while crying: "That's my title! I'm obviously very popular with the Saxons! Why am I not the Duke of Saxony? I'm still thinking about my merits in Denmark and getting the support of a large number of people, everything is over! Ludwig Won't give me the title back. What should I do?"

"What else can I do?" Rurik laughed when he saw that this guy suddenly became a clown, heard his painful self-report, and realized that this was an opportunity to find a needle: "Stupid! Can't you see it? Why go to ask that Luther Vichy returns the title to you? If you have an army, you can immediately announce the restoration of the title. If Ludwig does not agree and sends troops to beat you, you defeat his army, you are the real Duke of Saxony, and the lost Duchy of Saxony is reborn already."

It's as simple and clear as the narration "it takes three steps to put an elephant in the refrigerator", and it's full of hilarity and impossibility.

"Defeat Ludwig's army? Easier said than done? I can't. As you can see, I don't even have a bodyguard, I'm just your prisoner."

"No. Actually...it could be an ally."

"ally?"

"Of course." Everything was ready, Rurik solemnly poked his head, his blue eyes looked sincerely at Ludov's face: "We should take a long-term view on this matter. You are worried that you won't be able to beat Ludwig, mine The army went to beat him. Even if it wasn't to help you, I wanted to take revenge on this Frankish prince. And you...you recruit Saxons in Jutland immediately, as many as you can. You immediately put up the title of Duke of Saxony, To declare that you have broken with Frank, to declare the resurrection of the fallen Duchy of Saxony, and to declare that you are the descendant of Widukind."

"Maybe that's all I can do. But...I have a wife and children in Westphalia. I...don't want them in danger."

"Huh?" Rurik felt that this was indeed human nature, but those who did great things should not be constrained by the love of their children. "Then, is the life of your wife and children more important than resurrecting the Duchy of Saxony and getting rid of the Frankish occupation? If you think so, it can only show that you are a coward. But I have missed the eye. I thought you were Brave real man."

Therefore, Rurik said this again: "The daughter-in-law can be remarried, and the child can be reborn. If Ludwig killed your wife and children out of revenge, it can only show that Ludwig is the real villain. Behind you are thousands of Saxons who will sympathize with your experience and support you without hesitation. This is your family's only chance! Otherwise, you will not even be able to keep the title of earl."

A question was put **** in front of Liudov, and he had three choices.

First, he announced his departure from the Franks and established himself as the Duke of Saxony.

Second, commit suicide, so that his son Bruno automatically inherits the title of Earl of Westphalia.

Third, continue to declare his allegiance to Ludwig, and Rurik demanded a ransom from Ludwig, so that the latter would know that Ludov was defeated, and there was a high probability of venting his anger or taking the opportunity to cut down the vassal, so that the descendants of Widukind would completely become common people.

One of the political adventures is a great success. The second choice is very safe, but the restoration of glory is far away. The third is the stupidest choice.

These days are like absurd nightmares. The vicious Normans have destroyed the Aleb Fortress, and nearly 10,000 people have been killed. It is precisely these Normans who are terrorist enemies in the morning and become allies in the night.

Are the Normans really shameless? No, maybe the commander-in-chief of the Normans, Rurik, the King of Rus, all he needs is interest.

So Ludov asked back: "If, I declare against Ludwig, you help me restore the Duchy of Saxony. Is this really good for you? What do you... want? You know, we Saxons You have given up the Shenmu (World Tree) belief, and you are still stubborn about the gods of the past."

"Knowing you'd say that. God's to God, Caesar's to Caesar. Whatever **** you believe in, but we need real security. In the far north, all the lands you can think of and don't know are my Ross. The kingdom's territory. To the south, is the Kingdom of Denmark. We are what you call all the Normans. We don't really want to fight the Franks, but the Franks started the war. I won't give in, the only one The way is to fight for peace, let the Franks know how powerful we are and avoid future wars."

Rurik's grand strategy is indeed the case, but why not send a group of royal pirates to raid the towns of Frank to loot and grab the capital for the development of the Rus Kingdom.

In the official position, it is necessary to make a clear defense with the Frankish forces and require the other party to declare peace with the Viking world. Therefore, there is a buffer country between the two sides, which is very reasonable.

After all, before the "Charlemagne Conquest", the Duchy of Saxony ruled by Widukind was indeed a natural buffer country between the Frankish and Viking worlds.

"God's to God, Caesar's to Caesar..." Ludov lowered his head and was silent for a long time, he thought for a while, then slowly raised his head: "Obviously, I have no reason to hesitate?"

"Make a choice! Horrick has been captured by me, and after your borders, the Frankish forces you represent no longer exist. There are still a large number of Saxons in Jutland! I have no intention of killing and looting them, as is the Danish king Rag. Na will not. I need you to be the Duke of Saxony, as long as you do this, I will be the first to admit you in the Kingdom of Ross, and I will convince Ragnar to admit you.”

"Then do it! I am the Duke of Saxony."

"Okay. I admit you."

Liudov announced that he had defected, or that he had regained his ancestral glory. He entered Jutland last year under the banner of "the grandson of Widukind", so he immediately won over a large number of Saxons.

This banner is very useful, and in fact he is indeed a direct descendant of Widukind's blood.

His life as a prisoner lasted for several hours, and when he declared against Ludwig to proclaim himself Duke of Saxony, he was no longer a prisoner but an ally.

So, when Ragnar the next morning saw the Rurik brothers chatting and laughing with the recovered prisoner of war, it was incredible.

Because, it was Ragnar who captured this man alive, but he didn't think that his good brother called "this man has value" and took special care of him. How did he take care of him?

He could not have imagined that a guy who decided to fight to the death was almost indeed the last person to fight. Rurik had allowed this man to move around casually, without taking precautions against him.

Then came a special meeting in the morning. Ragnar never dreamed that Ludov, a prisoner of war, would freely participate in the military meeting of the Rus-Danish coalition.

"You are a vile captive! How can you be here?! Rurik, what are you doing?!"

Ragnar pointed to Ludov's nose to humiliate, the latter endured anger and said nothing, but Rurik played the game: "Brother Ragnar, the situation has changed. There are no lowly prisoners here, only our allies. ."

"Allies? Could it be this man?"

"Yes. He is now the Duke of Saxony."

At a critical moment, Ludov, who was brave and able to bend and stretch, spoke: "Are you the King of Denmark? And I, the Duke of Saxony. We can be friends, let everything go back decades ago! Friends, I am no longer Vassal of the Franks, I am the Duke of all Saxons. Let us unite against the Franks."

Of course, Ragnar is also a man who can bend and stretch. He was willing to sit down and listen to Liudov's narration, and it was this narration that resonated with his extraordinary spirituality.

Revenge, if you just kill the little gangster and let the black hand behind you continue to live happily, what kind of revenge is that?

Ludov was not the enemy, Ludwig and the great Frankish nobles were the enemy.

When the war hit here, the slogan "Restore Odin's glory" has changed, and it has been quietly replaced by another called "Restore the glory of ancestors".

Denmark wants to restore the old order, Saxony wants to restore the country, and Rus wants to shape a stable Baltic trade network.

Leaving aside the Norwegians in Bergen who have not been involved in the Baltic political circle due to their geographical location, the three strong men who can decide the future of the Pan-Germanic nation in northern Europe are sitting together.

Ragnar is self-aware, his own tribe survived only by the protection of the Rus, and now as the king of Denmark, his power is not stable.

Ludov has a fief, and has a strong appeal in the old Saxony, which is stronger than Ragnar.

No matter what the two of them are, facing a behemoth like the Kingdom of Ross, they are both younger brothers.

In order to maintain their respective power and avoid future retaliation by the Franks, the three parties are in the Isthmus of Lindholm, under the ruins of the Aleb fortress, regardless of the similarities and differences of beliefs, they make an oath of alliance.

The three faced the sun and swore that they would not fight each other. If one family was attacked, the others immediately sent troops to help. This is an alliance treaty without a written document, but in the Nordic world, written documents are still new, and the lords are more concerned about oral oaths. The oath has mana benefits, which is enough to make Ragnar change his attitude towards Ludov, who is alone.

Since then, the Russian army's attack on Hamburg has become illegal.

There is no other reason. According to the territory of the Old Saxony Duchy, Hamburg has been Saxon since ancient times.

Therefore, the Russ army still had to enter Hamburg, and use this as a starting point to invade Ludwig's territory in Frankish against the Elbe River. At that time, as the Duke of Saxony to restore his title, Liudov will not only send troops to help the Ross-Denmark revenge coalition, but also provide a batch of food to reward his allies.

Liudov was already dreaming that he would return to his hometown of Saxony, and a large number of living civilians would join him, and those Saxon barons who had become Frankish ministers would also declare their surrender, and in an instant he would be able to organize 10,000 peasant soldiers.

The big problem now is that to solve the mess on the battlefield, a large number of dead must at least be buried.

The Rus-Danish coalition will continue to move south along the coastline, pushing directly to the Schleswig stone wall (built on the Isthmus of Holstein), the natural dividing line between Denmark and Saxony since ancient times.

In this way, even if the Kingdom of Denmark has recovered all its lost territory, it can then turn around and invade the Frankish territory.

As long as the army goes south, Ludov is given a huge opportunity. Because the farther south there are, there are a large number of Saxon villages. These villagers have a deep-seated hatred against the Franks, and it will be easy to ask them to surrender. Liudov wanted to use these southern villagers to organize an army. He knew that there was no turning back. In order to lead the Saxons back to the country, he began to act.

A special flag is shown, that is, a cross flag smeared with carbon blocks, but the Roman letters "SAKSON" are written in carbon blocks in the upper left corner of the flag.

And this became the official national flag of the Duchy of Saxony, and soon Liudov was not alone.

With no one able to withstand the army from the north, the Danish village of Zytland immediately converted and re-proclaimed itself a warrior of Odin, recognizing Ragnar as high king. All the Saxon villages, without having to renounce the Catholic faith they had converted, immediately recognized Ludov as their duke.

Therefore, the northern saint Eskil, who was lying on the carriage and went south with the army, had an extremely complicated mood.

Liudov betrayed Frank announced the revival of the Duke of Saxony and in fact declared war on Frank, but did not give up the sacred Catholic faith, which means that Liudov did not betray the Holy See.

But he actually formed an alliance with the Normans. Is this a betrayal?

Eskil dared not think about it, because there was no precedent for the nobles who believed in God to ally with the barbarians to attack another God's country.

He couldn't help himself, and it was impossible for him to run away with his injured leg. Fortunately, Rurik, a barbarian cub, had a conscience to give himself food and drink. Hold on! Maybe……

As a senior missionary, Eskil stubbornly misjudged—perhaps this kid Rurik could still be persuaded by me to be baptized.

After all, he has learned to be smart, and he doesn't want to talk much for the time being. He noticed that the army that is advancing by sea and land is marching south, and maybe this kid Rurik will take the opportunity to release himself.

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