Having completed his plan for the creation of a standing army, Vig looked out the window. The sun was high, almost noon. "Hmm, I think I forgot something."
He picked up the teapot from the long table, splashed some water on his face, and pulled out a small pamphlet from under the scroll.
This was the result of the hard work of the shamans and fifth-year students who accompanied the army. Based on records from various monasteries and field surveys, they had roughly calculated the population and land area of the Central Lowlands.
The current total population of the Central Lowlands was 160,000. Including the northern and southern highlands, which had not yet been brought under control, the total population of Scotland was about 200,000.
Of this, the lords' own lands accounted for a third of the total arable land, cultivated by tenants and slaves.
Looking through the data of the various settlements, Vig finally remembered the forgotten task of freeing the slaves one by one.
The lands of the old nobles and gentry were supposed to be distributed to the new nobles and soldiers, leaving a surplus. Vig planned to use it to recruit slaves, who made up 10% of the total population. These people were defenseless, the easiest to bribe, and their loyalty was worth ensuring.
As for the common peasants, who made up the vast majority of the population, Vig did not intend to bother them. This year, he would temporarily cancel taxes (it would be impossible anyway), but next year he would pay them as usual. The situation had been unstable for the past two years, so as long as they did not revolt, everything would be fine.
"Twenty acres of arable land per family, enough to feed and clothe them," Whig wrote, sealed it, and charged the four northern counties under his jurisdiction to implement it within six months.
After all this work, his strength was exhausted, and he retired to his bedchamber, where he slept until the early hours of the following morning.
In early August, Whig found time to return to Tyne Castle to attend to his increasingly tense financial situation.
"Twelve hundred pounds of silver missing? Seriously?"
"The fighting on the front lines is fierce, supplies are running low, and prices have skyrocketed. There is little I can do." Heiligefu opened the ledger, detailing her husband's monthly expenses:
...The standing army costs are enormous. There are only 150 pounds of silver left in the treasury, and even with the upcoming taxes from Castle Tain, that won't last until next autumn unless you can find a way to borrow another 200 pounds. "
Two hundred pounds of silver."
Vig pulled out a piece of parchment and, after thinking, wrote: "To your Majesty, your most trusted vassal has recently encountered some financial difficulties. I ask for two hundred pounds of silver to help me overcome them..."
Having written the letter, he put his seal on it and began writing a second letter: "To my dear friend Theowulf, My military means have been straitened of late...
"
Then came the third, fourth and fifth letters, which made Hermitage turn pale. "Enough, enough, write no more.
The Great War is over. Why did you borrow so much money?"
Wig sealed the letter with wax and explained to his wife: "What else can I do? Of course, expand the iron mine, clear the swamp and return the wasteland."
After this, under the horrified gaze of the Hermitage, he began writing the sixth letter:
"To my dear brother Gunnar, I have heard that you have become Duke of Normandy and married the great-granddaughter of Charlemagne. Congratulations! As a token of congratulations, I enclose a necklace with precious stones.
The West Frankish kingdom is rich in fine horses, and the North produces woolen goods, beer, iron ingots and tin. Both sides have needs. Can we reach a trade agreement with you?"
The next day, six messengers set out. One of them sailed especially for Caen, the castle of the Duke of Normandy.
As the longboat sailed up the Orne River, it found a chain connecting the river with wooden forts on each bank.
(Note: There are two Orne rivers in France: one flows through Normandy and flows north into the English Channel; the other rises in Verdun and flows into the Moselle. This is the first one.)
Seeing the defenders drawing their bows and arrows, the messenger shouted in a loud voice: "I am the messenger of the Duke of Tynburg, bringing a wedding gift for the Duke of Normandy."
Following the orders of the defenders, the boat approached the western bank. Having confirmed his identity, the Viking with the silver cross around his neck murmured quietly:
"It has been almost a year since we were married, and your lord has only just now sent a gift? How slow. And you have come at the wrong time; the Duke is not in Caen."
The messenger sounded slightly disappointed. "What? Where is he then?"
"The Emperor II of Aquitaine has declared himself king, and Your Majesty has raised an army to rebel. As expected, the Duke has already arrived at the front. Perhaps you will have to wait a little."
The Emperor II had long been dissatisfied with the Treaty of Verdun,
signed in 843. They were all descendants of Charlemagne, belonging to the same family. Why were his three uncles all vying for the throne, while he, who had laid claim to the vast lands of Aquitaine, was denied the opportunity to be crowned? Incited by the nobles, Emperor II officially launched a rebellion in 845, proclaiming himself King of Aquitaine and demanding equal status with Charles the Bald, Lothair, and Louis the German.
Four years later, the conflict between uncle and nephew escalated. Charles the Bald finally decided to gather his vassals, each with his own plans, for war.
Although they ostensibly supported the king, they often evaded the question, claiming that their territories were in difficulties and could not provide significant forces.
After the meeting, Gunnar, left alone, made a bold proposal to his new commander: "Our army will have a hard time achieving victory in the short term if we face these mad creatures. The longer we wait, the more vulnerable we become to outside interference.
How about this: you lead the troops to create a strong presence and attract the attention of the rebels, and I will lead the army on ships and launch a surprise attack on Bordeaux along the coast! "
The plan was deceptive, but the reality was a lie.
The journey to Constantinople was boring, and they inevitably chatted about various topics. Vig occasionally made inexplicable remarks that everyone found funny at the time, but now, looking back, Gunnar realized that they were often wise. Unfortunately, he remembered only a few of them, having lost most of his memory.
Having persuaded the king to sail away under the pretext of fighting pirates, Gunnar, in order to conceal his presence, sailed west along the coast with only a hundred Frankish warriors and eight hundred Vikings in twenty-five ships.
Having reached the western end of Brittany, the fleet turned south and arrived at the mouth of the Garonne in early August.
"What a wide river! Björn was right!" he exclaimed.
Then forty carefully selected Frankish warriors, disguised as merchants, boarded two ships, one in the bow and one in the stern, and entered the Garonne.
According to the plan, they were to penetrate the city during the day, then attack the guards on the walls at night and escort Gunnar's main force to Bordeaux.
Gunnar remained calm as he watched the sails sailing away across the endless waters. There was no point in worrying now; he could only place his hopes in these soldiers.