Crusader Kings: Prisoners of War

"We can't just drive them away, so let's part ways in peace. I'll ask them to move their camp to a secluded place later, so as to avoid causing trouble. I don't mind if they are willing to stay until the spring, but the Empire can't provide them with food for free, they have to buy it with their own money."

Tia didn't think there was anything wrong with this treatment: "Then I'll leave it to you. I'm not good at dealing with mercenaries or barbarians."

After saying that, she hugged her legs and lay on the bed, with her back to Orville, so that Orville couldn't see her expression clearly.

"What's wrong? Is there a problem?" Orville knew that the other party's reaction was wrong, so he asked.

After a few seconds of silence, Dia whispered, "I have some self-doubt. Is this really right?"

"What do you mean?"

"Everything we did in Gaul is different from those followers of Palfi. It seems that the Gauls are also capable of governing a country normally. We just impose our rule on them."

"Let future generations judge right and wrong. We only do what this generation should do. What makes you doubt? I think your determination should be stronger than mine."

"I am reluctant to call the enemies I defeated in the Battle of Caen soldiers or warriors. They are just a group of farmers and children with empty blood. My warriors and I are not so much fighting a war as carrying out a massacre. Killing, it is hard for me to associate this kind of thing with honor and great deeds. "

"Only heroes need to care about honor and great deeds. We are not heroes, and the era of heroes and legends has passed. What we have to do is to complete the tasks and missions given to us by the empire. Maybe those things make you feel guilty, and I am sure it will be the same for me, but these things will eventually have to be done by someone, and we are just cleaning up the mess left by our predecessors.

We can't change what has happened, but we can stop what is about to happen. As a ruler, you should let these things happen less in your territory in the future. This is something we can do and change. "

"Maybe"

Tia sighed and signaled Orville to leave his tent.

--

After a night's rest, Orville came to the Viking camp and prepared to negotiate with Ragnar about food supplies.

The other party drank several liters of wine last night, but he looked quite normal today, and his digestion ability was indeed very good.

"Hello, Your Highness. Although I'm not worried, I still want to ask you. Are our silvers ready?"

"You will get what you want. You will get two hundred thousand dinars. But before that, there is a question that needs to be discussed. Do you plan to spend the winter here?"

"That's right. If you have seen the waves and storms of the North Sea, I think you will make the same choice as me. It is a very unwise choice to sail to the depths of the North Sea in winter, so we can only stay for a while, not too long, about two months."

"Now the Gauls have surrendered and become subjects of the Empire, so I don't allow you to plunder them, otherwise I can only take physical measures against you. I believe that no one wants to go to that step, so let's solve the problem with civilized methods. The Empire can provide you with food, but you have to spend money to buy it. This is a non-negotiable matter."

I thought Ragnar would be dissatisfied, but the other party agreed: "That's easy, as long as you can provide food."

Orville looked at him meaningfully and asked him to continue talking and not keep him in suspense.

Ragnar's bargaining skills are still good. He accepted the conditions so easily, which means that Ragnar still needs something from him, so he can only give in first.

He immediately broke his trick and looked at Orvel with a smile: "I can't hide it from you. I do have something else to ask for, but it may not be a bad thing for you.

Some of us yearn for the wealth and prosperity of the empire and hope to stay here as your mercenaries. The time should be about ten years. I hope you can agree to our request."

"Is there any problem with this matter? It's better for you to speak frankly, otherwise I'm not very interested. The empire does not lack excellent warriors, and we actually have enough soldiers."

It seems that there is nothing wrong with getting the Varyag Guard in advance. Compared with the Romans, all barbarians have the advantage of cheap and large bowls. Orvel doesn't mind having more soldiers, but it is necessary to lower the price appropriately.

"It's like this, one of my men always contradicts me, which makes me a little unhappy with him. Of course, this is easy to say, there are so many people who question my opinion, the problem is that he is a little young, and I am already aging. In order to ensure that my sons can smoothly inherit my position, I either kill that kid or send him away from me. It's better to use a gentler method, don't you think so?"

There are also differences between the abilities of practical combat types. For example, the abilities of these Vikings are simply to extremely enhance combat effectiveness without other enhancement effects. The mainstream enhancement of the Romans will slightly increase the lifespan and comprehensive ability of some gifted people. The abilities of some nations will also enhance vision, healing power, resistance and other messy things, which are varied.

For Ragnar, who is now in his forties, it is time to consider his own affairs. At least the issue of succession should not be delayed any longer, and he should not leave hidden dangers for his descendants.

"Why should I help you solve the problem? It costs more money to support more people. My financial situation is not good now. Thanks to your commission, I have to pay for military expenses."

"You can increase the price of your grain supply a little bit. I will let them accept it. This is the financial concession I can make. It should be good for you. And you should really take a look at Hrov. As long as you meet him, you will know that it is not a loss to hire him."

"I will think about it carefully. How many Viking warriors are willing to stay here besides him?"

"He has about 500 people, which should not be a lot. If we find that the benefits are good, they may join your army again."

"I understand... Let me meet him in person. If he is qualified, let's do this. You will also be satisfied, because I don't want my mercenaries to leave casually. They will stay with me and my army for a long time."

Ragnar, who understood Orwell's subtext, was delighted and laughed: "Hahaha!! Don't worry, that man is a good mercenary, you will definitely not be disappointed."