Viking: Master of the Icy Sea

Chapter 376: Factions Caught in the Middle

Pale golden sunlight pierced through the sparse clouds, casting dappled shadows over the docks outside the city. Catching a strong north wind, an oared longship fully loaded with cargo left the pier, sailing upstream along the Elbe River toward Moravia.

The first day of the voyage went smoothly as the north wind pushed the vessel against the current. By the afternoon of the second day, the river's course began to wind and twist, with shallows appearing more frequently. The captain gripped a long pole, probing the water's depth at the bow to prevent running aground or striking hidden rocks.

On the morning of the third day, a thin mist drifted across the river, and dew condensed on the mast. The crew spotted a capsized fishing boat ahead, half of its hull lodged onto a sandbar. The captain ordered them to row closer to investigate, but they found nothing save for an empty wineskin.

By the fourth day, the merchant ship reached a remote fishing village named Dresden, which served as the traditional border between East Francia and Moravia.

Following the end of the war, the defense of this area was entrusted to the Duke of Bavaria. At the same time, firmly believing in the presence of silver deposits nearby, the Emperor had reserved all mining rights for the region. He had dispatched a massive prospecting team from the homeland, continuously scouring the surroundings for any trace of silver veins.

After resting for the night, the merchant ship continued its journey. Occasionally, Slavic hunters could be seen standing in the woods along the banks. Both sides would lock eyes across the water, the hunters' gazes scrutinizing the crew like aliens trespassing into their territory.

At dusk on the fifth day, a settlement encircled by wooden walls appeared at the river bend ahead. They had arrived at the Moravian border trade station.

Unlike in the past, a river chain barrier now spanned the water. Stone fortresses were being constructed on both banks, and Greek-faced stonemasons and engineers could be seen everywhere across the work sites.

The captain paid the required taxes, slipped the guards an extra bribe, and then continued upstream, eventually arriving at the southern docks of Žatec.

"We are here."Under the captain's orders, twenty sailors prepared to unload the cargo, while five passengers shouldered their luggage and bid him farewell. One of them, a young-looking man, immediately headed east after stepping ashore, searching for the estate of Lord Kotsel.

Inside the lord's hall, after the two successfully exchanged the secret countersign, the lord's expression shifted in shock. He quickly led the young man to a secluded spot in the backyard. "Who are you?"

"Agent, codename Red Snapper. I belong to the Investigation Department of the intelligence system, Moravian Branch. I have been ordered to station myself permanently in Žatec. Why are you so nervous? Have you run into some kind of trouble?"

Along the way, Agent Red Snapper had noticed a highly unusual atmosphere in the streets. Pedestrians hurried along with anxious expressions, most keeping their heads down and walking briskly, rarely speaking to anyone. It was highly likely that some major upheaval had occurred in Moravia.

Kotsel's eyes darted back and forth across the lush garden, and he dropped his voice to a bare whisper.

"Recently, the old King finally made up his mind to fully embrace the faith of the Eastern Romans. He banished the five nobles who voiced the strongest opposition from the royal court.

To the west is Emperor Viggo, and to the east is Emperor Basil. With two powerful monarchs eyeing us at the same time, how could Moravia possibly remain peaceful?"

Kotsel's domain was located in western Moravia, and he had long been dissatisfied with the old King's rule. He asked the question that concerned him most: "When will Emperor Viggo make his move?"

Agent Red Snapper paused for a moment, avoiding a direct answer. "Ah, that depends on the situation."

The agent's clearance level was too low to access such crucial information.

From his perspective, the Empire was not yet ready to launch another full-scale war. The eight thousand soldiers in Magdeburg were only suited for small to medium-scale conflicts and could not capture various towns in a short period. If their sieges accidentally drew the attention of the Croatian army to the south or the Eastern Roman army in the Balkans, it would cause endless trouble.

The most ideal scenario would be for the Moravian nobles to launch a coup in the name of defending tradition. They could swiftly deal with the King, seize control of the entire situation, and then the Viking army would move in to assist the locals with defense.

Kotsel irritably tore off a red flower, crushing it into a ball in his hands. "Fine. I am willing to contact the other nobles. But once this is done, I want the entirety of the western territories. Yes, let's call it the Duke of Bohemia."

Red Snapper spread his hands. "My lord, my rank is not high enough to make such a promise. Of course, the Empire never mistreats its meritorious officials. The greater your contributions, the greater your rewards will be. The exact details will depend on the Emperor's assessment of you." With matters reaching this point, Kotsel finally wagered everything he had and began plotting the rebellion.

In May, when the woods grew lush and green, Kotsel invited four close nobles to hunt on the outskirts of the city. Sunlight filtered through the intertwining branches, and the fragrance of wildflowers permeated the air.

"Look over there!"

Kotsel abruptly reined in his horse, pointing toward a dense thicket of shrubs ahead and to the left. A robust stag was warily raising its head, its massive antlers gleaming with a dark brown luster in the sunlight.

Almost simultaneously, the three nobles behind him drew their bows and arrows in perfect synchronization. Two missed their mark, but the third shot precisely into the stag's abdomen.

"Haha, I hit it!"

The noble let out a loud, piercing whistle and charged into the woods, leading two attendants behind him.

In the afternoon, they halted their horses to rest in an open clearing by the river. The water sparkled brilliantly under the sun, and a vast patch of pale yellow wildflowers bloomed on the opposite bank.

Soon, the servants finished cooking the venison. Kotsel and the four nobles lounged on thick blankets, drinking alcohol and eating meat while listening to a bard's ballads.

More than ten minutes passed. As the guests entered a comfortably tipsy state, Kotsel dismissed the servants and the bard, casually bringing up the recent events in the capital of Velehrad:

"His Majesty cares only about currying favor with Basil, abandoning our ancient traditions. Now his royal court is teeming with Greek priests, advisors, and military officers. Perhaps it won't be long before he starts granting the Greeks territories as lords."

Fueled by the alcohol, the four guests rarely held their tongues, speaking their true feelings. They complained bitterly about a series of measures enacted by the King, particularly the special taxes levied on lords everywhere to fund the creation of a standing army and the construction of churches.

"Why should we be the ones paying? My lands are nestled in a valley. I receive no commercial taxes and can only rely on a meager agricultural tithe. I could barely afford my daughter's dowry."

"Exactly! Since the King has chosen to defect to the Eastern Romans, he should make Basil foot the bill!"

Kotsel remained calm throughout the entire exchange, carefully observing the reactions of his four guests. Once the hunt concluded, he paid a private visit to the young noble who had reacted the most fiercely, inviting him to join his cause.

After two months of tireless networking, Kotsel's conspiratorial circle had expanded to six members. Moreover, he received a message from Londinium: as long as the operation went smoothly, the Emperor promised to appoint him as a Duke.

However, just as he felt the situation was developing perfectly, a messenger suddenly arrived from the capital of Velehrad, claiming that the King was urgently summoning all the nobles to the royal court.

'This is bad!'

Kotsel tracked down Agent Red Snapper. "What should we do now? Exactly how many men are in Magdeburg?"

"Eight thousand soldiers. Additionally, the Duke of Bavaria can muster an army of over four thousand men, but that requires time."

If a war broke out now, Kotsel was not confident in achieving victory. Lacking the courage to fight to the death, he could only cling to a sliver of desperate hope and follow the messenger to seek an audience at the royal court.