Vikings: Lords of the Ice Sea

Chapter 278 The Price of High Rewards

The following day, Nils received a loan and selected 300 of his 500 followers to serve as sword and shield soldiers, each equipped with two short spears.

For the next month, his life was busy and fulfilling. In addition to training troops, he often accompanied the emperor to public events, especially the carriage races that were most popular with the people of Constantinople.

The arena's track is about 400 meters long and 200 meters wide, shaped like a U with a closed top, and can accommodate up to 60,000 spectators.

The center of the arena is decorated with various rare artifacts, including sculptures of former emperors, Egyptian obelisks, the Serpent Column of Delphi, and a gilded chariot pulled by four bronze horses (the four bronze horses were taken to Venice after the Fourth Crusade and became decorations for St. Mark's Basilica).

The rules of the race are simple: eight race cars, each pulled by four horses, compete to complete seven laps at the fastest speed to win.

During intermission, various circus performances are interspersed, and occasionally the emperor will bestow rewards, drawing cheers from the crowd. Countless people shout the name of Michael III, making the figure in purple robes seem like a god.

"An interesting activity." That was Niels' initial assessment, which drew a warning from Titus:

"My lord, your focus should not be on the competition, but on His Majesty's security. In 532 AD, the riots caused by the dissatisfaction of the arena audience with Emperor Justinian's policies spread to a large part of the city, and the fires even reached the Hagia Sophia."

Alas, athletic competitions, though chaotic, were an indispensable part of Rome. What began as gladiator matches, due to their excessive bloodshed, faced strong opposition from the Church and gradually evolved into chariot races.

However, carriage racing is also dangerous, especially on curves. If carriages collide, the driver is highly likely to fall to the ground and be trampled by the horses or dragged to death by the reins. Moreover, some unscrupulous drivers choose to deliberately ram their opponents' carriages or throw irritating powders to cause the horses to lose control.

Niels looked up at the emperor's retreating figure. "Why not make rules to strictly prohibit such behavior?"

Titus forced a helpless expression, "Because the audience likes this kind of bloody and exciting scene, they feel dissatisfied if no one is injured or killed in the entire competition, and they protest by booing. Some enthusiastic fans will even rush into the field and block certain vehicles."

February arrived, and just as Niels was getting used to his new job, a sudden change occurred on the empire's northern border. Reports indicated that a nobleman was attempting to incite a rebellion within his territory, turning his allegiance to the Kingdom of Bulgaria.

Faced with this thorny issue, Michael III immediately sought out the co-ruling emperor, Baldas, to discuss how to handle it.

After a long discussion, the attendant Basil suddenly interjected, "The terrain there is rugged and unsuitable for cavalry. I suggest sending the Varangian Guard, who are skilled in infantry warfare, to the front lines immediately. They are expected to arrive in two days. If we can quell the rebellion before Bulgaria can react, there is a high probability of avoiding further war."

Baldas pondered Basil's words and nodded in agreement. He had never taken this "sycophantic scoundrel" seriously, instead tacitly approving of the emperor's extravagant lifestyle.

He thought to himself, "This favorite courtier is seeking further power, but unfortunately he's lost his mind and actually took the initiative to participate in such a dangerous matter. Oh well, after he dies, I'll recommend another attendant to entertain Michael."

At the urging of the co-ruling emperor and his trusted favorites, Michael III agreed to deploy the Varangian Guard, nominally under the command of Basil.

"Do a good job, and after the war I will appoint you as a Protospatharios (sword-wielding bodyguard)."

Basil bowed respectfully, "Thank you for your trust, Your Majesty."

Upon receiving orders, Nils led his troops out of the camp. Under Basil's arrangement, they all traveled in supply wagons, leaving Constantinople along a level road. During the journey, Basil dispatched riders to notify the towns and post stations ahead, requesting them to provide provisions and replacement horses to keep the caravan moving at full speed.

The following afternoon, the caravan crossed the Marissa River and reached the west bank. As the terrain became increasingly rugged, the carriages slowed considerably. Fortunately, Basil was a gifted orator, and through a combination of persuasion and enticement, he managed to temporarily rent 1,500 horses, including warhorses, draft horses, and packhorses.

On the morning of the third day, the guards changed horses, leaving only twenty wagons carrying long ladders. They continued their journey despite the bitter cold, and by noon they arrived at the mountainous region where the rebellious nobles were located.

A light snow fell last night, and under the sunshine, some snow still remained on the mountain road. After turning a corner, a stone fortress stood to the north, guarding the mountain road from south to north, with the iconic red military flag of the Eastern Roman Empire flying at its top.

"Here we are."

Basil pointed to the fortress ahead, ordered the soldiers to dismount and assemble the thirty long ladders they had brought, and sent someone to the fortress to deliver a message, demanding that the nobles disarm and go to Constantinople to explain to the emperor in person.

Not long after, the envoy's head was thrown over the wall, and the flag of the Kingdom of Bulgaria was replaced on top of the wall.

"The information was correct; this person is indeed a traitor."

Basil exhaled a puff of white mist and solemnly said to Niels, "My mission is complete. You are now in command."

"Yes, sir!" Niels dared not offend the emperor's trusted favorite and accepted the order as a subordinate.

The situation was urgent, and he had no time to use other tactics. He immediately launched a strong attack, ordering three hundred-man squads to carry long ladders and rush towards the stone wall, and another hundred-man squad to ram the door.

For the next ten minutes or so, the Varangian Guard was on the defensive, with the defenders pouring hot water and throwing stones from the city walls, killing many soldiers responsible for ramming the gates.

"Seven Hundred Men, push forward!" Niels' face was ashen as he ordered his troops to continue ramming the city gate.

Meanwhile, the troops attacking the city using ladders were caught in a fierce battle, with each soldier who climbed to the top facing attacks from multiple directions. Although the Vikings' heavy armor was enough to protect them from most slashes and thrusts, the defenders specifically targeted vulnerable areas such as the face, armpits, and calves. Sometimes, several men would swarm up and pin the heavily armored infantry to the ground, stabbing the gaps with daggers until the body below stopped struggling.

"Teams 10, 11, and 12, take over the attack!"

As the war progressed to this point, Nils realized that his command abilities were useless. He seized an opportunity to shoot an officer, but did not achieve much.

He put down his bow and arrows, turned to look at the remaining troops resting on the ground, and ordered the soldiers in good condition to temporarily form new units to launch the next attack.

After endless fighting, the defenders' strength was rapidly depleted, leading to more and more heavily armored soldiers climbing the city walls. From this moment on, the outcome of the siege was no longer in doubt.

(End of this chapter)