Vikings: Lords of the Ice Sea

Chapter 314 Invitation

Many years later, Zaragoza still retains its ancient Roman city walls, with the Ebro River flowing through the city, providing a natural defensive barrier.

However, even the strongest city defenses cannot withstand the will of the people. On the night Gunnar and Alfonso arrived, a large-scale riot broke out in the city.

Gunnar tentatively sent a small team to climb the city wall using ropes and hooks. The whole process went surprisingly smoothly. The team defeated the chaotic and disorderly garrison and then opened the city gates, allowing eight thousand soldiers to enter the city.

With the fall of Zaragoza, the Moors lost all of northern Iberia, and the French army made a fortune, capturing not only gold and silver artifacts but also many rare items from the East, such as silk, porcelain, spices, and a new type of fabric.

"cotton?"

Gunnar heard this unfamiliar word from the prisoner and his eyes were filled with confusion. He examined the fabrics and clothes repeatedly, comparing woolen and linen. The cotton felt softer and more breathable, and it did not feel stuffy at all when worn.

"Good stuff, where did this fabric come from?"

The prisoner replied: "India."

India?

Long ago, Gunnar had heard Vig mention this place; it was said to be east of Persia, with a hot climate and a vast area.
After a long pause, Gunnar dismissed these useless thoughts and had his guards register the types and quantities of the spoils.

Advancing along the Douro River, he breached countless Moorish noble residences and estates, and the spoils filled thousands of wagons. It was time to take stock of them in detail.

By dusk the following day, Gunnar had received preliminary results: his personal spoils, converted into silver, amounted to the equivalent of six thousand pounds. Having experienced the disastrous defeat in the British Civil War, this was the first time he had ever seen so much money.

"I've struck it rich! This trip was definitely worthwhile."

Gunnar closed the ledger with satisfaction and headed to the governor's mansion in the city center for a banquet.

The banquet was lively, and Alfonso drank five glasses of wine in a row, his face flushed. He still felt a sense of unreality. The Visigoths had endured more than a hundred years in the mountains, but unexpectedly, in just three months, they had recaptured the northern part of the peninsula. Based on this achievement alone, no one would dare to oppose his succession to the throne.

Alfonso's consciousness gradually blurred due to the alcohol and the joy of victory. At this time, a nobleman proposed to attack Merritt (later Madrid) to the south, but Gunnar refused.

"The newly expanded army is poorly trained and has low combat effectiveness, making it unsuitable for continuing the offensive."

Secondly, the brothers have been working hard for half a year; it's time for them to go home and rest. I also have a lot of urgent matters to attend to in my territory, and I don't plan to participate in any further battles.

The nobles, including Charles, echoed this sentiment, believing that having made enough money, they should go home and enjoy life, and had no reason to continue fighting for others.

Upon hearing that his allies intended to retreat, Alfonso wet his face with water, looked around, and realized that the Franks did not seem to be lying.

We can't let them go!

Without the Frankish knights, Alfonso believed he couldn't hold onto the reconquered territories. His mind raced, and he decided to offer them even greater rewards to retain these top-tier fighters. "My lord," he said, "you are the most valiant commander I have ever seen, in no way inferior to the Roman generals recorded in ancient texts. In return for this achievement worthy of being recorded in history, I have decided to give you Zaragoza and the surrounding territories, and appoint you as Duke."

Gunnar instinctively replied, "I'm already the Duke of Normandy, this seems a bit inconvenient."

Alfonso interrupted his refusal, "This is the reward you deserve. Not only you, but the other nobles are also entitled to land. The kingdom has recovered northern Iberia in one fell swoop, and there is enough land to grant you."

Sensing the Crown Prince's determination, the Visigothic nobles present also tried to persuade him to stay. Listening to everyone's praise, Gunnar couldn't help but feel dazed.

Zaragoza is sunny and abundant in fruits such as olives, grapes, citrus fruits, and pomegranates. In contrast, the rainy and damp British Isles are unappealing; that wretched place is only suitable for herding sheep.

Because of this dilapidated island, I have not had a moment of peace in recent years: first, the British Civil War, which depleted the wealth I had accumulated through smuggling warhorses; then, I was locked in a long standoff with Vig across the British Channel, toiling for many years, and still having to endure the suspicion of Bald Charlie. What was the purpose of all this?
Thinking of his eldest son, who was being held hostage by Bald Charles, Gunnar felt it necessary to have an alternative. He rose from his seat and, as a vassal, bowed to the fifteen-year-old Alfonso.

The remaining Frankish nobles, unlike him, drew their swords without hesitation and knelt down in unison.

The news spread, and those unranked mounted mercenaries also chose to remain in Iberia, hoping to obtain a knighthood. The entire camp was filled with a joyful and enthusiastic atmosphere.

The following day, Gunnar inspected the newly acquired territory. Zaragoza is located in an arid valley in the middle reaches of the Ebro River, with mountains on both the north and south sides. The summer climate is hot and dry, and the rainfall is less than that of the Franks.

Fortunately, the Ebro, Gallego, and Haron rivers converge here. During the Roman period, a large number of irrigation canals were built, and the Moors further improved the irrigation system, making use of the abundant water resources to develop irrigated agriculture.

The valley is dotted with wheat fields, olive groves, and vineyards, brimming with life and vitality. Further away, the mountains present a semi-desert landscape, with wisps of pale yellow dust occasionally rising up.

"The scenery here is completely different from that in Frankfurt, even though it is separated by only the Pyrenees Mountains."

That afternoon, he bestowed upon Charles Portini the title of Earl of Haron and ordered the construction of a castle in the Haron Valley to the south, guarding the route of the southern Moors' advance.

Gunnar then traveled eastward along the well-flowing Ebro River, where Moorish waterwheels stood at intervals along the banks, and the river water was channeled into a network of irrigation canals to nourish the nearby fields.

Based on his achievements in this battle, Gunnar appointed many of his confidants as barons and knights in various settlements, and ordered them to build castles to protect Zaragoza.

Four days later, Gunnar arrived at the mouth of the Ebro River. Historical records indicate that this river was the dividing line between the Roman Republic and Carthage on the Iberian Peninsula. The river carried silt and deposited it into a fan-shaped plain. The river and the sea met, and the clouds were dyed golden red by the setting sun. Several triangular sailing ships sailed on the sea in the distance.

"finally reached."

Gunnar dismounted, bent down and grabbed a handful of wet mud and sand. His territory ended there. Ten miles to the south was the area controlled by the Moors, and north along the coastline was Catalonia, ruled by the Count of Barcelona.

Decades ago, Charlemagne led his army across the Pyrenees Mountains and enfeoffed several princes in northern Iberia to defend against Moorish invasions; the Count of Barcelona was among them. Over time, this subservient relationship gradually faded, eventually leading to their break away from French rule.

(End of this chapter)