novelraw Chapter 102: The Duke
Chapter 102: The Duke
Ch 102: The Duke
Seeing Vig’s compliance, Queen Sola, after a long absence, smiled, and responded before Ragnar: “Of course, a loyal subject like you deserves a large sum as a reward.”
On the other side, Aslaug also intended to secure a territory for her son, Sigurd. Since Vig was willing to withdraw from the competition for Wales, she might as well help him.
“Your Majesty, Vig has outstanding military merit; you should indeed reward him handsomely.”
The two queens reached an agreement. The maids and attendants in the hall looked at each other; this situation seemed unprecedented.
Hearing Vig’s request for money, Ragnar readily agreed, providing 400 pounds of silver as war funds.
From past experience, Ragnar believed Vig was capable of defeating the Picts; the key lay in how he would rule.
In his estimation, the Northern Border had complex terrain. Vig would fall into the same predicament as Ivar, constantly dealing with rebellions, and probably wouldn’t be able to spare himself to help him fight wars.
Oh well, let these two newly appointed dukes handle it. His recent focus was on domestic affairs, and he didn’t intend to engage in external wars.
“Do well, I await your good news.” “Thank you for your generosity,” Vig bowed in gratitude.
In last year’s Mercia-Wessex war, he gained 200 pounds of silver. In the first half of the year’s Francia war, he obtained 600 pounds. Added to the 400 pounds Ragnar had given, it totaled 1200 pounds of silver. Furthermore, Tyne had fully implemented the three-field system, accumulating a large amount of grain; it was more than enough to capture the Northern Border.
As he pondered how to use this large sum, Halfdan, standing at the front of the steps, spoke:
“Your Grace, I heard that the surrender list includes ‘Shrike’, ‘Viper’, and ‘Brecon’. Is this true?”
“Yes,” Vig calmly met his gaze, responding:
“At the Mathrafal gathering, Oleg, in Your Majesty’s name, pardoned everyone, naturally including those three. Later, the three chieftains worried that you would become the Duke of Wales and feared retaliation, requesting to collectively move to the Northern Border. Forced by the circumstances, I agreed.”
As the envoy, Oleg knew he couldn’t escape responsibility, and quickly stepped forward to explain:
“After I read Your Majesty’s decree, Shrike suddenly brought up the issue of the Duke of Wales, worrying that you would retaliate against them after becoming Duke. The atmosphere was tense, and someone suggested that the three of them hide in Tyne to avoid disaster. Vig could only agree.”
Halfdan: “How could you agree to such a thing? What about my left arm…”
“Don’t say it!” Ragnar helplessly looked at his son. “The King cannot take back his words; reneging will only cause Wales to erupt in rebellion again. Vig did nothing wrong.”
After a series of disastrous performances, Halfdan was no longer suitable to be the Duke of Wales. As compensation, Ragnar gave him Gothenburg, his old home in Northern Europe, letting him learn more about Viking traditions, so as not to let him continue to waste away in the palace with the Anglo-Saxon maids.
Halfdan incredulously lifted his head, “Gothenburg?”
Due to long-term population loss, Gothenburg had been in a state of stagnation. Its annual tax revenue was only equivalent to ten or so pounds of silver. After deducting basic expenses, it couldn’t even maintain his current standard of living.
“Father, you’re exiling me just because I lost one battle?”
“Northern Europe is where you grew up. You live there as the Lord of Gothenburg. Why would you call this exile?”
“How much can that broken place earn? It’s not even comparable to a Flemish wool merchant’s annual income. Since you say it’s a good place, why not give it to Ubbe or Sigurd?”
Subsequently, a fierce conflict erupted between father and son. Eventually, Halfdan was severely reprimanded and given one week to go to Northern Europe to take over his fiefdom.
“Father, one day you will realize this was a terribly wrong decision.” Halfdan’s eyes swept across the hall, then he quickly walked out, just happening to brush shoulders with Æthelwolf.
“Your Highness, where are you going?”
“Just call me Halfdan, Your Grace. Be careful when you enter; there aren’t many good people inside.”
Æthelwolf stood there for a few seconds, then entered the hall and paid homage to the throne.
“Your Majesty, last month you sent an envoy ordering me to thoroughly investigate the Frankish spies. After a preliminary investigation, two were arrested, five abandoned their family estates and fled, and one attempted resistance and was executed on the spot. Here is the investigation report and confession.”
An attendant stepped forward to receive the ledger, went up the steps, and handed it to Ragnar. Ragnar couldn’t understand Latin, so he had his wife, Sola, help him read it.
During this time, he secretly muttered to himself:
Spy, I think you’re the biggest Frankish spy, especially for leaking the blueprint of the siege engine and the approximate time of the military expedition. These two alone are enough to sentence you to hanging.
However, Ragnar could only go as far as muttering. Without substantial evidence, he couldn’t convict Æthelwolf. If he forcefully executed him, it could very well trigger a civil war.
“Viking nobles, Anglo-Saxon nobles, the newly subdued Welsh nobles, and the people of the West. Odin above, once a civil war erupts, I don’t know how many people would stand by my side.”
After Æthelwolf finished reading the report, Ragnar, having found no handle, threw out a bait as a probe:
“I recently conquered Wales. How do you think we should handle this place? Should we appoint an outsider to supervise it, or let the Welsh people elect their own ruler?”
Æthelwolf: “Wales has complex terrain and doesn’t generate much yield. Pacification should be the priority. You personally serve as the ruler, and have them internally elect seven members to form a council to handle various disputes among the nobles. Even if some harbor discontent, at least there’s a council as a buffer.”
Council.
At first glance, it seemed reasonable. Ragnar couldn’t tell whether this person was helping with ideas or secretly laying down some hidden dangers. He asked Pascal, the prime minister who had recently recovered from an illness, and Vig, who was standing in the queue in a daze. The two mumbled and did not give any valuable suggestions.
After a long time of consideration, Ragnar felt a wave of weariness. “Forget it, we’ll talk about it later.”
He temporarily put aside his worries and brought up Æthelwolf’s family matters. Hearing that his wife was pregnant, he had a maid fetch a bracelet forged from gold.
“May she give birth to a strong and intelligent offspring.”
Æthelwolf bowed: “Thank you for your gift. I have a premonition that it’s a boy. For some reason, the word ‘Alfred’ keeps appearing in my mind these days. It seems like a suitable name for him.”
“Alfred, Alfred.”
Ragnar repeated the Anglo-Saxon name. Its literal meaning represents intelligence, without other special connotations. Soon, he felt increasingly tired and declared the audience over, dismissing everyone in the hall.
Leaving the Royal Palace, Vig went to the Treasury to collect 400 pounds of silver. After signing his name at the end of the supply delivery slip, the clerk told him not to leave in a hurry.
“Sir, ‘Bald Head’ Charles sent a batch of silver and mounts. The ship is unloading at the dock. Do you want to go take a look?”