Rise of Rurik

The group of priests in the monastery would definitely not be able to use swordsmanship, and the unarmed Danish King Horrick had no worries, and was even quite elegant.

He put on the disguise of a believer and followed Esquier's footsteps into the so-called confessional room.

Maybe he was really remorseful, maybe he was still pretending.

Esquil said, "Son, tell me what you have done, and the Lord will forgive you."

Looking at Horrick again, instead of feeling guilty, he looked comfortable.

"I killed a lot of people in Flanders, men, women and children, and I made a fortune. I came to Denmark at the request of the prince to take the throne, and all the lords who opposed me were killed. I did it myself in Hazelby. Killed five gang leaders. I'm the king of Denmark now..."

Horrick regards killing as an absolute feat and robbery as a feat. Some terrifying descriptions startled Eskil on the other side of the wooden fence window and shivered!

"So, do you realize you've done something wrong?"

"Yes. I was wrong, so I hope to get the Lord's forgiveness." After saying that, Horrick still had that weird smile on his face, and raised his head to stare at Eskil who was caught off guard.

In the realm of Frank, those pious people were killed by this gang leader, even so, this person is still Prince Ludwig's mercenary? ! Eskil scolded in his heart how such a villain could be forgiven, and he must go to hell after death, but...

Esquil heard a very crucial piece of information from the words, even if this person was a veritable slaughter fanatic, he came to Denmark to get the kingship under the instructions of Prince Ludwig. Since this man has been carrying the cross on his body, perhaps the situation is not so bad.

His mind flashed: "My child, will you follow the way of the Lord? Your slaughter is very serious, but if you can lead all the lambs of Denmark to conversion, the Lord will forgive your sins. At least the Holy One of Rome I will pardon you and crown you king of Denmark."

Horlick had never been to Rome at all, and he and his brothers had been in Flanders for many years and never went further south. His understanding of the Pope in Rome was limited to hearsay, and he didn't know how brilliant and great those clergymen were, so he didn't pay attention to Esquier's "Pope's coronation" at all.

As for all Danish weirdness, the question is on point.

Indeed, the new king of Denmark, Horrick, must make a painful choice, either the Lord or Odin.

Faced with Eskil's questions, he chose to be vague.

"Are you still wondering? You should implement the sacred belief and give up the savage gods of your homeland. Odin does not exist, the Lord is the only one." At least Eskil's faith is very firm, and he is eager to teach again. , forcing King Horrick into full obedience. "Just like Harald Clark, like this relative of yours, being a loyal servant of the Lord is the best way. As long as you follow through, Cardinal Lance will support you and your throne will be stable. ."

In Horrick's view, what the old man Eskil said was absolutely correct nonsense. He is not a fool, but it is not a matter of which god he believes in at all, and he has no so-called freedom in this regard.

He simply stood up and forcibly interrupted the meaningless "confession".

"Enough is enough!"

"No! You can't leave yet!" Esquil was taken aback.

"It doesn't matter, if the Lord hates me, he will drop a thunderbolt to kill me. I have already told the Lord what I have done, and the rest is up to the Lord."

Eskil was very speechless, he stood in front of Horrick again with a face ashen as if he had been constipated for a week, and said coldly: "The Lord is just, your blasphemy will bring disaster, since you are indifferent , I can't do anything. I can only advise you to do it yourself..."

"Oh? Are you trying to persuade me to leave?!"

Horrick had retreated to the worship hall, and he looked around to try to spot the gold and silver utensils inside. Precious metal utensils, yes, but a few silver candlesticks, silver plates, and a small golden cross at the minaret, besides a large number of old wooden utensils. He saw a small number of benches full of dilapidated marks. Obviously, this man preached in the north, and after all, he did not attract a few believers.

One of Horlick's more solid perceptions of these details—the Frankish and Roman beliefs—was unpopular in Denmark.

Esquil's constipated expression didn't change, and this face really sucks.

Horrick knew that the old priest had issued an expulsion order, but it was inconvenient to explain it clearly because of his identity. He must already be a heretic and blasphemer in his heart, and his notoriety will soon spread to the Frankish interior.

"So what? I'm not the one who sees Ludwig's face now," he thought.

But if he withdraws himself this time, where is the dignity of the King of Denmark? This is obviously their own territory, and allowing them to continue to own the monastery is the greatest kindness!

Horrick pinched his waist and said deliberately, "It seems that your work is not doing well. What about your believers? Don't tell me that you are the only one in this huge monastery."

"Of course there are many, and the priests are willing to receive the most devout."

"You mean I'm not religious enough?" Horlick asked knowingly.

Esquill didn't take this set: "It depends on the Lord's will."

"Then let everyone who is hiding come out! Remember, everyone! I know that your monastery itself can't hide many people, and there are not many houses and no darkrooms."

"What do you want to do?" Esquil couldn't help but take a step back.

"Are you afraid? Don't worry, I won't make trouble in this holy place. I want you to assemble the priests, and I want to hear them sing hymns, otherwise it will be a waste of time."

Eskil didn't want to be entangled any more, but the opponent's army was in Hazelby, and he still had to meet his unreasonable requirements, but fortunately, the day to escape was not far away.

After a while, the hidden priests appeared one after another wearing black burqas, all of them bowing their heads looking solemn and solemn. Blue Fox and Vardy are among them. They are dressed as ordinary priests. This is the image of the fat man Blue Fox, which is too eye-catching!

The priests stood in two rows, and among them was the figure of the blue fox. Just like Horrick's arrogant words, Eskil did not develop many loyal believers here in Hazelby.

"I see that you still have some children here. Also, you are sheltering orphans. I have heard of this kind of thing, but is the food here good? Did my eyes dazzle and I saw a fat man."

Horlick's remarks pointed directly at the blue fox, and the blue fox also raised his head instantly, and the two of them met eyes.

This was really unexpected, Horrick saw the murderous and arrogant look in the fat boy's eyes. With such aura, he is still a priest? It's ridiculous! Do not! There must be a secret here.

He then shouted again: "The Rus and my people fought fiercely. Most of the Rus were killed by my people, and it seems that some people escaped. Esquil, are there any Rus people who are protected by you? ?"

Eskil's eyes were immediately erratic, and Horrick had basically gotten a positive answer with such a performance.

"I only have priests here. I know that the Russ are all barbarians who believe in Odin. Heretics can't enter here!"

"Really? I think that fat man is very suspicious. You are all ascetic, how can you still raise a fat man? What's the explanation for that?"

While the two of them were talking, Blue Fox's mind had already thought of a hundred ways to kill the stocky, short Horrick. The fact is that the new king of Denmark is not tall and burly, and his face has been firmly remembered. Hearing that all his subordinates were killed, it stands to reason that revenge for a group of dead mercenaries is meaningless. A real businessman does not need to be involved in this aspect, but this humiliation must end.

Lanhu's rationality suppressed the impulse. He didn't feel that he had the strength to kill this person single-handedly, not to mention that he had a longer-term plan.

He deliberately stared at Horrick's face, showing his disdain and contempt everywhere.

The malicious eyes have always been a spiritual provocation to Horrick. He wished he could chop down the fat priest himself, but he couldn't be so extreme.

The atmosphere became tense, and Eskil hurried to smooth things out: "Joseph is a little fatter, he's good at eating."

"A greedy eater?"

Esquil was impatient: "There is a reason for this, because Joseph is very good at learning Latin, and it is natural for such a good student to be more rewarded. It is not surprising that he eats a lot, and the Lord may obviously allow this kind of behavior." So, Esquil was indeed lying, and he was praying in his heart for the Lord's forgiveness.

"How can I speak Latin? Good! I want to hear it, even if I don't speak it. I've heard a lot of sermons in Flanders from priests who use Latin very well, and a stupid, clumsy accent can't fool me."

How could it be difficult for Blue Fox to be asked to read random passages of the Gospels in Latin by name?

He read the book aloud, his articulation was quite clear, and now Horrick's doubts disappeared.

Horlick didn't want to get too involved with the priest, and didn't even want other clan observers in the army to learn that he had visited the Frankish monastery. He could actually leave now, but a major event might be realized now.

How much sense is there to find the Rus fugitives or something? At least this suspicious fat man is definitely not from Rus. According to Horrick's understanding, only priests in this world can learn Latin.

He listened to the psalm as a pretense, just to see the success of Eskil's preaching, and the small number of people showed that the Frankish power was still weak in Hazelby.

"Enough. Let your priests go away! Esquil, we can have a good chat at this opportunity."

"As you wish."

Horlick smiled and shrugged: "I know you're going to drive me away, and I'll leave. Before that, I ask you to promise to do something for me."

"What's the matter?"

"I want you to write to Prince Ludwig and tell him that I have obtained the Danish crown, and I know you have the authority to do so, but..."

"so what?"

Horlick couldn't help but glanced at the cross on the table and sighed: "I am a bound wolf, and now I am free. The Danish kingship is mine, and my Danish kingdom is completely free, and I and Frank have a country-to-country relationship. , I hope that the prince will be bounded by the Great Wall of Schleswig, and the north of the city is mine, for which I would rather give up Durist. I will maintain an alliance with His Royal Highness, I will not invade Frank, and the prince must not invade me. "

Horrick said a lot, and Eskil basically understood, the shock was really shocking, but he and a priest should not be involved in this kind of thing, because of his personal situation, he also contradicted, he said: "I am an ascetic monk and do not want to be involved in worldly powers, my heart belongs only to the Lord."

"You're teasing me! It's not the first time you've written a letter to the prince, otherwise how would I know your identity? If you don't get the prince's funding to preach in the Northland, you won't even be able to build this monastery. And I I have been working under the prince for so many years. You must write a letter, if you don't agree, I will tear down this place and be punished by the Lord, then come!"

The words were so absolute, Eskill was sure that as long as he didn't obey, this guy would definitely implement the threat.

He felt a huge threat, this Horrick was a hundred times more difficult than the previous Hafgen! I am afraid that there is no reason to insist on the stronghold of Hazelby, and it is time to build another monastery.

"Alas...Hazeby has gone through the war, and the unsettled believers have run away. King of Denmark, although we are devout, but the living materials have been unable to survive the winter. This depressed city can't buy supplies, my warehouse The bread is almost gone."

"What do you want?"

Eskil looked regretful: "I want to take the priests back to Hamburg. Maybe we will come back in the spring, and you won't reject me at that time."

"Wait! You're going to Hamburg?! Get out of here?"

"Exactly. King of Denmark, why don't you write a letter yourself, in Frankish, and I will hand it over to the Earl of Hamburg, and it will be delivered to the prince's mansion soon."

Hearing that, Horrick was greatly surprised and quickly turned into joy: "Yes! I will write it. You must deliver it to the earl in person. Then. When will you leave?"

"Naturally, the day after St. Mary's Mass on August 14, which will be the last Mass we have in Hazelby this year. Maybe, you should get involved."

Horlick nodded. He did not affirm or deny, and finally said: "Enough is enough. It was a pleasure to meet you. I will give you the letter on the day of Mass." He said nothing, turned and left. Approaching the gate, after pushing it open, he ran to the wall to meet up with his subordinates who had been waiting quite bored.

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief, and the young priests did not listen to the cross on their chests, lamenting that the demon who betrayed their faith had left.

Eskil stood in the lobby, and casually asked the blue fox who had not left: "Have you recognized the face of the King of Denmark?"

"Yes. The specific appearance of the facial features, the figure, and the arrogance of speaking will all be reported to Prince Rurik."

"Then the Rurik boy will really take his revenge?"

"inevitable."

"Oh! Lord..." Eskil kept crossing his chest: "I am guilty, maybe I led a dispute, and Hazelby really became dangerous."

On the 14th of August, St. Mary's Mass was held in the monastery. This was a completely private ceremony, and only the "devout lamb" could participate.

King Horrick participated in this ceremony with his unique practical actions. He brought more than 500 armored soldiers and as many as 100 cavalry soldiers, holding more than 50 faces of various sizes. Raven banners appear outside the wooden walls of the monastery.

This is a strong military deterrence. As long as Horrick orders, the army will calm down here in minutes.

The young clergy trembled for their own safety, prompting fear in the mass. Eskil never believed that Horrick would really send troops, and asserted that this was a kind of deterrence, and its deterrence was not against himself, but against the Frankish kingdom.

Outside the wall of Horrick Chen Bing, his messenger approached the gate and demanded that the priests immediately send someone to receive important letters.

Who will receive the letter? Horlick named him by name and let the fat priest Joseph come to get it.

This is another name for the blue fox! Originally, the blue fox didn't want to mix and mass such a boring ceremony. As for the ceremony, where is the excitement of burning a tower and killing a deer from the Rus?

He was not afraid of Horrick, so he approached the wooden wall and opened the door himself, posing a respectful gesture in a vain and condescending manner.

Horrick saw that the fat man got off his horse in high spirits, and carried a cloth bag in his hand, in which was a letter written in Frankish written on a white cloth.

He stared at the face of the blue fox and stepped forward, behind which was the flamboyant armored army.

Blue Fox was not afraid, and even looked at this powerful Danish army, imagining that it would collapse under the attack of the elite Ross army.

Horlick shoved the cloth bag towards the blue fox with his own hands, and did not let go when he received it with one hand.

The blue fox was a little surprised, and the guy Horrick was also surprised: "Fat man, put away your disguise. I heard that the commander of your Rus is a fat man, and my person described that there was no body in the body. Fat man. Apparently that person is you! You escaped!"

Lanhu is not scared either. Dare to do business in Haizebi is a life-threatening job. Now that he has killed people, he has become more courageous.

"You misunderstood, I am Joseph."

"It doesn't matter. Russ, if you believe in the Lord, I will not do anything to you. You'd better leave quickly. My kingdom does not allow the existence of Swedes and Rus. If you can or go back to your Rus, tell you. The leader of , and dare to cross the west of Burgundy in the future, any ship will encounter my merciless blow!"

With all that being said, Lan Fox simply stopped pretending. The reason why he received the letter with one hand was because the other hand, which was hidden, was holding a meat-cutting dagger under the cloth. Even though Horrick was wearing armor, the vital point of his neck was open. Horrick can also guess a thing or two from his special attitude.

"Okay, King of Denmark. In fact, my Prince Ross wanted to negotiate peacefully with you. The 100-year dispute should be over. Since you refuse, then forget it."

"What? Is this the attitude of the Russ?" Horrick was really surprised. He even felt that he should write a letter to tell the Ross leader that he was just as tired of disputes.

But is all peace negotiations possible? He really killed a group of Rus people, and even destroyed their shops. Horrick's expectation for the peace of 'Danluo' is very strange, that is, the two sides should not fight and kill as soon as they meet, but Denmark will still exclude Ross and Sweden, at most promise not to take the initiative to invade, and also ask the other side not to invade, yes for "non-aggression". As for cooperative trade, don't even think about it, because it is related to the stability of the Danish throne.

Horlick felt like a stone had been crushed in his heart, and he left angrily after the wooden door was closed. He was not afraid of the Russians' revenge, or even took it seriously, simply because the primary issue now was to redefine the relationship between Denmark and the Franks.

He didn't linger any longer, and the army circled the monastery with a large number of raven banners and left. He used this performance art to show that he was a warrior of Odin, and also to show that he had betrayed Prince Ludwig and Cardinal Reims. He is very contradictory. First, he does not want to be an enemy of Frank because of his faith. Second, if he does not regain Odin, most of the lords of Denmark will be angry again, and he is afraid that he will be expelled again.

For the sake of power, he must be determined to be Odin's warrior!

After this glimpse of the line, the blue fox can see through this King Horrick, where there is piety, as long as there is interest, it can be converted at any time. For example, this person's behavior is clearly that he doesn't want to be a "loyal dog" for Prince Ludwig. This assertion is precisely because the blue fox peeked at the letter, and his good memory allows him to write down the content of the letter. It is a remarkable feat to tell the prince of Rurik the important information.

The blue fox also asked himself, he is similar to Horrick, the cross on his chest is a safety certificate for activities in Frank, and in order to do business, why pretend to be a believer all his life. As for the world after death, there are various theories, who knows?