made a decision. Vig interrogated six thousand prisoners, selecting three hundred who had connections with Rouen.
Before sailing, he asked the interpreter: "Is that all?"
"Yes,"
Vig answered without further ado, ordering his 1,600 warriors to carry their burdens and prepare to sail. Suddenly, a large group of people appeared on the north bank of the Seine, rowing south in longboats.
Soon he noticed a tall, familiar figure on the bow of the ship, accompanied by Ivar and Bjorn.
Ragnar?
Upon learning that their commander was safe, a loud cheer went up from the southern shore, and countless warriors spontaneously rushed to the sandbank to greet him.
As the High King of Britain and a living legend known throughout the Viking world, Ragnar was held in higher regard in the army than anyone else. Even with the remarkable military achievements of Vig, Ivar, and Gunnar, it seemed that the combined efforts of the three could not replace him.
After leaving the longboat, Ragnar spent half an hour talking with many of the warriors, even learning the names of many of those he met.
"Eivor, how is your brother?"
"Vyssak, last time in York I spent the whole day drinking after a drinking contest. Have you been drinking better lately?"
"Harald, your eldest daughter is of marriageable age. Does she have a suitable groom? After we take Paris, I will give her a gold necklace as a dowry."
Having calmed the warriors, Ragnar called a meeting of the high command and told them what had happened two days ago.
"At first, I did not intend to rush to the Ile de la Cité. Suddenly, a bald man with a crown, a shield in his left hand and a sword in his right, came out of the walls, ready for a duel.
I was quite surprised. Since the duel was proposed by the grandson of Charlemagne, I should have given him a chance.
Alas, Charles the Bald did not have moral composure and would probably have used a catapult to attack me, the High King of Britain. He had truly disgraced his grandfather."
After being hit by several kerosene canisters, Ragnar fled in panic to the northern coast. After two days of wandering through swamps and forests, he was surprised by his pursuers in the bell tower of a stone church.
The assault failed, and the pursuers piled wood under the bell tower, preparing to set it on fire. But what happened next stunned everyone. Within minutes, the sky darkened and a torrential rain began to fall, extinguishing the nascent flames and giving Ragnar and his five guards a little more time before the rescue team of Ivar and Bjorn arrived.
Then Ragnar raised his goblet and said, "Ha ha, it seems Odin has a more important mission for me."
Seeing this, the nobles unanimously raised their goblets and shouted, "Long live the High King!"
The meeting ended, and Wygh led his army by ship to Rouen.
Landing on the north bank, he used three hundred captives, including the lord's only son, as a threat to attract the attention of the defenders. He then ordered a small force of warriors to breach the city walls through a weak point in the northwest corner. In less than two hours, they captured the city.
Arriving at the river bank, they found that the northern end of the iron chain remained attached to the rock. The other end had been broken a few days earlier, leaving most of the chain at the bottom of the river.
"In the Middle Ages, iron production was low, so selling this chain could bring in a good amount of money."
Once order was restored in the city, Wygh ordered his men to bring many oxen and horses to pull the chain, which had sunk in the river, to the shore.
Back in Paris, he used the "land sailing" technique he had mastered in Eastern Europe to tow numerous ships up the Seine. He set up camps on the north and south banks, then stretched a chain across the river.
This blocked the river east of Paris, preventing the supply fleet from moving upstream. The bridgeheads on the north and south banks were also blocked. The Viking army concentrated on building siege engines, planning a decisive assault in mid-June.
"To hell with the Normans! They will use my own iron chain against me!"
From behind the battlements, Charles the Bald looked out over the river, seething with indignation. To devise a strategy to defeat the enemy, he ordered his guards to summon two men: Lamberto and Ella.
Lamberto, the steward, was a diplomatic envoy to Wessex. He had witnessed the Norman army's march on Winchester and was well acquainted with Norman tactics.
Ella, Crown Prince of Northumbria,
had fled Britain for the European continent two years earlier, travelling through the Frankish lands begging nobles for help in restoring his kingdom, but few responded. After repeated attempts, Prince Ella's retinue gradually dispersed, leaving him with no choice but to shamelessly cling to the court of Charles the Bald, earning him the sarcastic nickname "Fat Ella" from the lesser nobles.
Soon two men arrived.
Karl asked, "What do you think of the heathen army outside the city?"
Lamberto had been idle since the corruption surrounding the sale of warhorses had been exposed. To restore his impression of the monarch, he spoke before Ella could say anything.
"Your Majesty, as I understand it, the three most capable nobles in Ragnar's army are Vig, Ivar, and Gunnar."
He pointed to the banners with the snake, wolf, and brown bear on either side of the river. "Vig is a master of sieges, nicknamed the Chosen One, the Serpent of the North, and the Battering Ram. Among the cities he has conquered are York, Dufelin, Repton, Tamworth, Winchester, and, listen, Rouen."
Lamberto glanced at the monarch's expression and continued.
"Ivar is Ragnar's eldest son. He claims all of Ireland. Two days ago he led his men to destroy our left flank and is an excellent heavy infantryman.
As for Gunnar, he has known Ragnar for twenty years and has far more experience than the others. He was not widely known until his natural talent for horsemanship showed itself, which led to his appointment as commander of the cavalry. Two days ago he led his troops to break our line. You must remember him."
Charles the Bald's face darkened, but he did not interrupt Lamberto, allowing the greedy and cunning man to continue.
"In short, with Ragnar, these three, and their army of seven thousand, it is easy to take Paris. I propose a quick peace treaty."
"Let me think." Many people had approached Charles in the last few days, demanding a quick peace and ransom for their families. However, he was afraid that the Normans would not keep their word, so he hesitated.
Lamberto: "Your Majesty, the situation in Britain is currently unstable. Ragnar cannot afford to permanently station his troops on the European continent. He has no choice but to negotiate peace, otherwise he may even lose his base
" .
Quite logical.
Charles stroked the rough surface of the battlements, agreeing with his subordinate's point of view.
Indeed, the West Frankish kingdom is vast, and the nobles throughout the land build wooden castles, some even spending vast sums on stone ones. These fortresses are difficult for the Vikings to capture, and they cannot mobilize enough troops to garrison them.
His eyes gradually cleared, and his voice returned to normal. "You leave the city and negotiate with Ragnar. I am prepared to pay to send these unfortunates away. But there are two conditions: first, release the prisoners, and second, swear to your gods not to attack each other for five years."