Having attended banquets for many days in a row, Eric instinctively suspected that Ragnar had some kind of plot, and said that he did not want to waste time and would leave immediately the next morning.
"So urgent?" Ragnar did not care, and asked his subordinates to continue serving wine.
...
On the fourth day, Eric struggled out of bed, feeling dizzy and swollen, as if countless knives were moving randomly in his head.
"The effects of the wine are really strong. I should not have drunk too much yesterday."
He slowly walked to the door of the tent, raised the curtain, and was immediately blinded by the scorching sun. He called his subordinates to bring him breakfast, no, to be precise, lunch.
After eating, Eric learned that the other nobles and raider leaders were still fast asleep, and no one had answered his call for an assembly.
In the east, the leading general beat his drum and went to the tent. If his subordinates did not arrive at the appointed time, the offenders would be flogged at the very least, and beheaded at the worst. Unfortunately, this was Britain, and Eric and the other nobles and raider leaders did not have a strict master-servant relationship. Strictly speaking, the leaders followed him only to plunder at sea, and they were equal in status. Even if they brought people to Ragnar's camp, Eric could find no reason to pursue them.
"We cannot continue like this."
During the day, Eric went to each tent in turn, urging them not to attend the feast tonight and to leave early tomorrow morning for northern Europe. Then he was going to hold a feast in Oslo for half a month, so that these drunkards would have enough to eat.
The next morning, with their luggage packed, more than 1,300 Viking pirates set out on their return journey. This time they had openly plundered a large kingdom and had spent two months in the south plundering the rich areas. The crew was generally in a good mood and spontaneously praised Eric's wisdom and determination.
"Thank you, Eric, may Odin bless you."
"King Eric, you are the greatest warrior in the entire Norwegian region."
Eric rode on a white horse, and his ears were full of Viking flattery. He was happy, but also a little melancholy.
Such respect could not last for too long. When they returned to Northern Europe, they all divided the wealth and went home, and soon they forgot about Eric. In time, until they had spent their last silver coin, they would remember Eric's name again and beg the great king to take them out to sea again.
"It seems that I am working for this group of unruly people. If the next plunder does not bring sufficient profit, this admiration will turn to disappointment, and then give rise to resentment."
Eric's fat body swayed slightly in rhythm with the rise and fall of his horse's back. He felt that it was not quite right to go out to plunder. He should concentrate on Northern Europe, gradually destroy the surrounding areas, and eventually become the ruler of all of Norway.
Then he realized a serious problem - his energy was limited, and it was not easy to govern the territory of Oslo. How to govern this huge country?
Eric took out a wine bag and drank the mead in large gulps, and couldn't help but think of the feudal system of the Franks.
"So, even if I unite the Norwegian region, I must entrust some power to the nobles who swear allegiance, and then to the nobles and landowners in various places, and finally to the low-status citizens and slaves..."
Eric's eyes grew brighter and brighter as he continued. It seemed he had found a way for his family to rule Norway for a long time.
"It seems I am destined to become the monarch of Norway and even all of Northern Europe. Haha, I will prepare for action when I return. I will find a reason to eliminate Ragnar, the biggest threat, and then slowly deal with the remaining minor characters."
...
Two days later, during the day, the crew was getting closer and closer to where the ship was hidden in the mouth of the Humber River. Everyone was getting more and more anxious, and they just wanted to get to the mouth of the river before dark.
Soon after, a large number of birds flew up from the mountains and forests in the distance. Eric had a bad feeling in his heart, and he sent out a dozen hunters with nimble feet to scout ahead.
"Everyone, draw your weapons and prepare for battle!"
Soon, several shouts confirmed Eric's guess. More than a thousand Vikings quickly huddled into a circle, looking anxiously at the surrounding mountains and forests.
As time went on, the shouts in front of them not only did not stop, but became more and more intense. But what was even more frightening was that a large cloud of thick black smoke rose from the sky!
"The Angles are burning our ships!"
As soon as these words were spoken, the Vikings fell into chaos. The loss of their ships meant that they had no choice but to remain in this strange and hostile land.
"Give us back our ships!" Urged on by a few impatient men, the circular formation instantly broke up into countless fragments, and small detachments spontaneously poured into the mountains and forests, desperately running towards the black smoke.
"Go back, don't run around." Eric wanted to cry, but there were no tears. These idiots were still carrying heavy bags before they left. Even if they had successfully reached the shelter, they would have been exhausted by then. How could they fight the English soldiers?
"Your Majesty, what should we do now?"
At this time, only more than a hundred people remained with Eric. He had to order everyone to hide their belongings in the bushes on the side of the road and move forward lightly.
Half an hour later, Eric, suffering scratches from branches and leaves along the way, reached the shore. He found the river full of burning ships, which from a distance looked like countless swimming fiery fish. Only a few longboats risked their lives to go downstream, but the Anglo-archers were not going to let them go.
Under the command of the commander, they fired a large number of rockets soaked in rosin, like a meteor shower falling from the night sky. The arrows hit the hull, and the flames spread across the hull. The huge sails were burning, and the ropes fell feebly onto the river like a group of dying snakes.
"It's over, it's over."
Eric sat on his horse, helplessly watching as a column of fire high in the sky painted the clouds a deep red. After this battle, hundreds of warships in the mouth of the Humber River were burned, and the wealth accumulated for more than two months was also taken by the enemy. Not long ago, he still imagined his future great deed, but in an instant a strong blow overtook him, and he showed signs of mental disorder, muttering about the legend of Ragnarok:
"The fire giant Surtur came, and under his leadership countless enemies poured into Asgard, and the smoke and poisonous fog emitted by Jormungandr filled the entire universe..."
While Eric was whispering, the Vikings carrying their bags arrived one after another on the shore, looking at the burning mouth of the Humber, and helplessly fell to the ground.
Taking advantage of this, the Anglo-Saxon army went on the attack, but it was too late, and most of the Vikings fled into the forests.
Watching them from afar, Prince Aella sighed softly. He had brought only a thousand conscripted militiamen with him, and he had been distracted by the protection of the captured baggage, so he did not have time to pursue and suppress this enemy.
"Forget it. Their ships are destroyed. Sooner or later they will die in Britain."
Imagining the pitiful situation of the Vikings, Aella's face flushed with a strange blush. She waved her hand to the north and said: "Retreat, warriors, follow me back to York."