Viking: Master of the Icy Sea

Chapter 278: The Price of High Rewards

The next day, Niels obtained a loan. From the five hundred men following him, he selected three hundred to serve as sword-and-shield infantry, uniformly equipping them with two short spears each.

Over the following month, his life was busy and fulfilling. Besides training the troops, he frequently accompanied the Emperor to public events, especially the chariot races, which were immensely popular with the populace of Constantinople.

The hippodrome's track was about four hundred meters long and two hundred meters wide. Shaped like a U with a closed top, it could accommodate up to sixty thousand spectators.

Various rare artifacts adorned the center of the arena, including sculptures of past emperors, an Egyptian obelisk, the Serpent Column of Delphi, and a gilded chariot drawn by four bronze horses (following the Fourth Crusade, these four bronze horses would be taken to Venice to decorate St. Mark's Basilica).

The rules of the competition were simple: eight chariots, each pulled by four horses, raced to complete seven laps as quickly as possible to claim victory.

During the intermissions, various equestrian performances entertained the crowd. Occasionally, the Emperor would bestow rewards, eliciting thunderous cheers from the populace. Countless people would chant the name of Michael III, making the purple-robed figure appear akin to a god.

"An interesting activity," Niels commented initially, which drew a stern warning from Tytus.

"My lord, your focus should not be on the races, but on His Majesty's security. In the year 532, spectators in the hippodrome grew dissatisfied with Emperor Justinian's policies. The ensuing riots engulfed nearly half the city, and the spreading fires even reached the Hagia Sophia.

"Alas, these arena events are fraught with chaos, yet they are an indispensable part of Rome. In the past, there were gladiator matches, but due to their excessive bloodshed, they faced fierce opposition from the Church and gradually evolved into chariot races.

"However, chariot racing is far from safe, especially around the turns. If vehicles collide, the charioteer is highly likely to be thrown to the ground, either trampled by horses or dragged to death by the reins. Furthermore, some underhanded charioteers deliberately crash into their opponents' vehicles or scatter irritating powders to cause their rivals' horses to lose control."Niels glanced up at the Emperor's back. "Why not establish rules to strictly prohibit such behavior?"

Tytus squeezed out a helpless expression. "Because the audience loves these bloody, thrilling spectacles. If a race ended without any casualties, they would actually feel dissatisfied and protest with loud boos. Some fanatical spectators will even rush onto the field to obstruct certain chariots."

By February, just as Niels was growing accustomed to his new duties, a sudden upheaval struck the northern borders of the empire. Reports indicated that a certain noble was attempting to coerce his territory into a rebellion, intending to switch allegiance to the Kingdom of Bulgaria.

Faced with this thorny issue, Michael III immediately sought out his co-emperor, Bardas, to discuss how to handle it.

The two deliberated for a long time before the attendant Basil abruptly interjected. "The terrain there is rugged and entirely unsuitable for cavalry deployment. I suggest dispatching the Varangian Guard, who excel at infantry combat. Have them rush to the frontlines; they should arrive within two days. As long as we quell the rebellion before Bulgaria has time to react, there is a high probability of avoiding a subsequent war."

Bardas pondered Basil's words and nodded in agreement. He had never thought highly of this opportunistic sycophant, instead tacitly allowing the man to lead the Emperor into extravagant indulgence.

'This favored courtier is seeking even greater power,' Bardas mused inwardly. 'It is a pity he has lost his mind, daring to actively involve himself in such a dangerous affair. Whatever. After he dies, I will just recommend another attendant to keep Michael entertained.'

Persuaded by the co-emperor and his trusted confidant, Michael III agreed to deploy the Varangian Guard, nominally placing Basil in command.

"Do well, and after the war, I shall appoint you as Protospatharios, my Imperial Sword Guard."

Basil bowed submissively. "Thank you for your trust, Your Majesty."

Upon receiving the orders, Niels led his troops out of the barracks. Under Basil's arrangements, the entire force boarded supply wagons and departed Constantinople along smooth, paved roads. During the journey, Basil dispatched riders to notify the towns and waystations ahead, demanding they provide grain and fresh horses to maintain the convoy's maximum speed.

By the following afternoon, the army crossed the Maritsa River and arrived on the West Bank. As the terrain grew increasingly rugged, the wagons' pace slowed drastically. Fortunately, Basil's exceptional eloquence, employing both threats and bribes, allowed him to temporarily requisition fifteen hundred mounts, ranging from warhorses to draft horses and packhorses.

At dawn on the third day, the guards transitioned to horseback, keeping only twenty wagons loaded with long ladders. Braving the bitter cold, they pressed onward, reaching the mountainous region held by the rebellious noble by noon.

A light snow had fallen the previous night. Beneath the gleaming sun, remnants of snow still clung to the mountain path. Rounding a col, a stone fortress came into view to the north. It guarded the south-to-north mountain pass, the iconic red military flag of the Eastern Roman Empire fluttering from its peak.

"We have arrived."

Basil pointed at the fortress ahead, ordering the soldiers to dismount and assemble the thirty long ladders they had brought. Concurrently, he sent an envoy to the fortress to deliver a message, demanding the noble disarm and proceed to Constantinople to explain himself to the Emperor in person.

Not long after, the envoy's severed head was tossed over the wall, and the flag atop the ramparts was swapped for the banner of the Kingdom of Bulgaria.

"The intelligence was correct. This man is indeed a traitor."

Basil exhaled a cloud of white mist and spoke solemnly to Niels, "My mission is complete. You will take command from here."

"Understood!" Niels dared not offend the Emperor's favored confidant, accepting the order as a subordinate.

The situation was dire; there was no time to employ alternative tactics. He immediately launched an all-out assault, ordering three centuries to hoist the long ladders and charge the stone wall, while another century was tasked with battering down the gates.

For the next ten minutes, the Varangian Guard found themselves on the receiving end of a brutal beating. The defenders poured boiling water and hurled stones from the battlements, inflicting heavy casualties on the soldiers assigned to ram the gate.

"Seventh Century, push forward!" Niels roared, his face ashen with fury as he dispatched more troops to continue battering the fortress doors.

Meanwhile, the forces scaling the long ladders were locked in a bitter struggle. Every soldier who crested the wall faced a multi-directional siege. Although the Vikings' heavy armor was sufficient to negate most slashes and thrusts, the defenders specifically targeted vulnerable areas like the face, armpits, and calves. Sometimes, several men would swarm a heavy infantryman, pinning him to the ground and stabbing daggers through the gaps in his armor until the body beneath stopped thrashing.

"Tenth, Eleventh, and Twelfth Centuries, relieve the vanguard!"

With the battle reaching this stage, Niels realized his command abilities were virtually useless. He seized an opportunity to shoot dead an enemy military officer with his bow and arrow, but it yielded little overall impact.

Lowering his weapon, he turned to the remnants of his forces resting on the ground, hastily reorganizing the able-bodied soldiers into fresh squads to hurl into the next wave of the assault.

Through the relentless slaughter, the defenders' stamina drained rapidly, allowing an increasing number of heavy infantrymen to scale the walls. From that moment on, the outcome of the siege was no longer in suspense.