novelraw Chapter 96: Return
Chapter 96: Return
Ch 96: Return
On the Seine Riverbank, Vig discovered that Young Eric was leading this contingent, a total of fifty ships and two thousand infantry.
“The war is over, why are these people here?”
The seven thousand Vikings were indifferent towards this late-arriving allied troop. Ragnar could not defy the collective will of the people and refused Young Eric’s request to share the spoils, despite him being the Queen Sola’s nephew.
Going out to war and dividing the spoils of war is the most important part. If partiality is shown in this aspect, it will lead to dissatisfaction at best, and mutiny at worst.
“You’re half a month late; there’s nothing left to share.”
“Uncle, it’s not that serious, is it?” Young Eric tried to improve their relationship. “We traveled far from Oslo to Paris. If we return to Northern Europe empty-handed, those bloodthirsty raiders will certainly not let us go.”
“Rules are rules. No one is willing to share their money with you.”
Since Ragnar was adamant, Young Eric was in low spirits and asked if there were any suitable settlements nearby to pillage.
“There are, but I don’t recommend you do it. Your troops are all light infantry, their combat capability is too poor to withstand a Frankish knight’s charge. You’d better find another place.” Hearing this, Young Eric gave a mocking smile, mixed with a touch of sadness, “Change? Where do you suggest we go?”
The Anglo-Saxon Seven Kingdoms have always been the Vikings’ primary target. Now that Ragnar has captured them, there are few targets left for them to choose.
Rus’, Livonia, the future Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, and East Francia.
Young Eric’s mind flashed with names, and he decided to pillage in West Francia. The next day, he led two thousand grumbling raiders downstream, intending to move along the coastline, grabbing whatever they could.
Watching the receding sails on the river surface, Ragnar was expressionless. Soon, Lambert came over and probed whether the Normans had other plans.
“This is Prince Young Eric’s troop from Norway; I have no subordinate relationship with them.”
“It was just a misunderstanding,” Lambert wiped the sweat from his forehead and quickly returned to Île de la Cité to report the news.
“Your Majesty, these are Norwegian raiders, not with Ragnar. Based on what I observed in the camp, the Normans are busy repairing their ships and counting their spoils, seeming eager to return to Britain.”
“That’s very good,” Charles leaned against the throne, deciding to formally sign a treaty with Ragnar two days later.
Given Lambert’s meritorious service in making peace, Charles promoted him to Foreign Minister.
“You’ve done a good job this time, reducing thirty thousand pounds of silver to twenty thousand. Moreover, the twenty thousand pounds of silver includes the ransom of various nobles, nearby monasteries and gentlemen also have to pay, and only five thousand pounds will ultimately fall on the royal family. Good, I underestimated you before.”
The weather gradually became hot, and both sides were unwilling to engage in combat. Finally, a peace treaty was drafted outside the South Bank Bridgehead, agreeing not to invade each other for five years.
Subsequently, Ragnar handed over a roster of prisoners, suggesting that Charles pay the ransom, “I cannot wait too long, why don’t you pay for them?”
“Good idea.”
Charles flipped through the roster with his left hand and held a quill pen in his right hand, occasionally tapping lightly behind a name. There were over five hundred people in total, including nobles, guards, and gentlemen.
Ragnar: “What about the others?”
Charles closed the roster, “The treasury is exhausted. We can only find a way later. Don’t worry; the people are in your hands, and I will certainly pay to redeem them.”
Having received a total of nine hundred warhorses and wealth worth twelve thousand pounds of silver, the Vikings left Paris by ship and returned to Kent on June 10.
For convenience, the remaining five thousand prisoners were settled here, with Gunnar responsible for negotiating with the Franks. He would release the corresponding prisoners after receiving the wealth from the Franks.
Gunnar was chosen to negotiate because he had the greatest reputation in West Francia.
As a cavalry commander, he invented the couched lance charge tactic, defeating the Frankish cavalry with an absolute numerical disadvantage. Afterward, he disrupted the formations of the French army, killing many knights in the shallows, and single-handedly went to the South Bank Bridgehead to challenge, making a great splash. He was called the “Barbarian Bear” by the French army.
As for Vig and Ivar.
One commanded the troops from a high platform throughout, and the other led the heavy infantry slowly advancing, failing to achieve the same earth-shattering effect as Gunnar.
The day after landing, Ragnar divided the spoils of war amidst the expectant gazes of everyone.
The percentage of money distribution was the same as last year: 1.5% for the royal family, 40% for the nobles, and the rest was distributed to the subordinate soldiers.
Thanks to his outstanding contributions on the Seine Riverbank, Vig received the largest share of the spoils of war, with a total value of fourteen hundred pounds of silver.
He thought for a moment and demanded six hundred pounds of silver, one hundred and thirty warhorses, and a large box of Latin scrolls.
The income from this war was far more than last year, and he also gained a nominal ducal title, a high cost-effectiveness. It’s a pity that there won’t be such a good opportunity in the future.
The next morning, Vig went to Goodwin to receive supplies, but only got 60%, and his anger surged instantly, “What’s going on?”
“It’s simple. ‘Bald Head’ Charles only paid twelve thousand pounds and over five hundred warhorses, accounting for 60% of the total, so you can only get 60%, and it’s the same for every noble.”
Goodwin produced the ledger, swearing that he wouldn’t be stupid enough to embezzle at this stage. “The common soldiers can receive 100% because His Majesty paid out of his own pocket. Yes, you heard me right, he not only didn’t get any wealth but also spent gold and silver from the warehouses in Londinium.”
After a lot of explanation, Vig reluctantly accepted reality, took his wealth and horses back to his barracks, and while busy packing, a court guard found him.
“His Majesty requests your presence.”
Why me?
Vig bravely went to the command tent and received unexpected news:
Ivar was originally scheduled to attack Wales, but due to the renewed eruption of rebellion in Ireland, Ivar was unable to leave. Therefore, the mess left behind by Halfdan and Æthelwolf was left for Vig to handle.
“Your Majesty, thank you for your trust. It’s a pity that Wales has rugged terrain and is covered with forests, requiring unimaginable resources and time.”
Regarding the war in Wales, he gave two plans:
1. A combination of suppression and appeasement. Through several decisive victories, ordering the various tribes to submit, it can be settled in a short time.
2. Pursuing complete occupation.
“In the past, when King Offa was in power, Mercia entered its heyday, and the other six kingdoms submitted to him. Even so, King Offa could not conquer Wales. To resist the attacks of the Welsh bandits, he spared no expense in building Offa’s Dyke, stretching 150 miles in the west. Therefore, I strongly recommend that you choose the first plan.”
From a political perspective, Ragnar’s idea was to dispatch a large army to annihilate them, so as not to make the Anglo-Saxons in various places look down on them. After Vig repeatedly persuaded him, he finally suppressed his anger and agreed to appease the various forces.
“Good, as long as the nobles of the various tribes are willing to submit and swear not to disturb the border anymore, I am willing to end this war; otherwise, I would rather fight on. Damn it, I’ve only ever heard of Vikings plundering other regions, never the other way around.”