Vikings: Lords of the Ice Sea

Chapter 337 Arrangements During the Expedition

The morning after the meeting ended, the cabinet sent out mobilization orders to various regions, requiring high-ranking nobles and county governors to act accordingly and arrive in Rendynewm by the specified time.

Having received word of this, the Crown Prince delegated the affairs of Luton Town to others and returned to the palace as quickly as possible.

In the past, he participated in the Irish War as a company clerk, experiencing the training, marching, camping and fighting of grassroots troops.

Later, the Crown Prince accompanied his father on a campaign to Denmark, where he served as an attendant and carefully observed his father's command process. After two major wars and his studies at the military academy, he believed he possessed sufficient experience and ability.

"Luton has mobilized two hundred militiamen this time. If we include several surrounding towns, we can gather over a thousand men. I hope Father will let me command this infantry regiment."

At six o'clock in the afternoon, Frode arrived just in time for dinner. He casually ruffled his two younger brothers' hair, sat down, and asked about the battle plan.

Vig sipped the fish soup with a spoon. “You will stay in the country as regent. This job will be very busy. Be prepared.”

Frode: "Why?"

Vig set down the silver spoon and met his eldest son's gaze with composure.

"There were three main powers in continental Europe: the Eastern Roman Empire, the Frankish Empire, and Britain."

The Eastern Roman Empire was financially powerful, had a population of ten million, and possessed a significant technological advantage over its neighbors, making it the strongest in terms of overall strength.

The Frankish population exceeded ten million. Charles the Bald, as the nominal 'emperor,' ruled West Frankish, the best agricultural region in Europe, with a suitable climate and flat land, which allowed him to recruit a large shock cavalry force.

Finally, there is Britain. Our population is only 2.7 million, and our foundation is the weakest. This battle is very risky; I am not confident of victory. If I die in West Francia, you will inherit the throne and rule the entire Kingdom of Britain.”

Having grown up with his father’s victories, Frod was accustomed to them, and upon hearing these words, a look of confusion and fear appeared in his eyes.

The restaurant fell silent again. Vig picked up a spoon and continued sipping his warm fish soup, then ate some dessert.

After dinner, Vig got up and went to the back garden, where he carefully rinsed his mouth with salt water and a boar bristle toothbrush. In this era, there were no anesthesias or dentists, and he didn't want to suffer the pain of having a tooth pulled.

After cleaning, Vig handed the water glass and toothbrush to the servant and went to his office to work on some documents. Not long after, there was a knock on the door.

"Come in."

Frode entered the room and, at his father's prompting, sat down across from the desk. His father then produced a thick stack of documents, outlining Britain's future development plans.

"Compared to the Eastern Roman Empire and the Franks, our greatest advantage lies in our navy. The royal fleet controls the sea from the Baltic Sea to the coast of Africa. Even if the expeditionary force is destroyed, if you allow the fleet to blockade the straits, the French army will not be able to land no matter what."

Moreover, you need not worry about the situation in Britain itself. I have spent a great deal of money building post offices, temples, and hospitals in the earls' territories. These facilities not only provide public services but also help the royal family control the daily activities of the earls' territories. If there are any signs of rebellion in a certain place, you will be able to detect it very quickly.

As for Northern Europe, with its harsh climate and sparse population, there is no significant threat there.”

Vig pointed to the map on the wall and explained his views on the various powers in Europe. Apart from the Eastern Roman Empire, the Franks, and Britain, the remaining countries were too weak to be more than supporting characters on the stage. For example, the Kingdom of Norway: young Erik had painstakingly built up his territory, but Norway's rugged and complex terrain, with settlements scattered across isolated plots, severely limited communication between different regions of the kingdom, weakening administrative efficiency. Furthermore, the harsh climate shortened the growing season for crops, making them susceptible to frost.

Today, Eric Jr.'s abilities have improved slightly, and his annual income is about £2,800, which is less than that of County London, which is under the jurisdiction of Wiggins.

Hafdan was weaker, and despite years of hard work, he still hadn't gained the genuine approval of the Swedish nobility. Rurik, on the other hand, toiled away in Eastern Europe, acting more like the owner of a large trading company than a king.

After reviewing the situation, Vig turned his attention to the Iberian Peninsula. Years ago, the Umayyad Caliphate could mobilize over 20,000 field troops, making it a formidable force. However, this led to a surprise attack by Gunnar, resulting in heavy losses for their army. From then on, the Umayyad Caliphate lost vast swathes of northern territory and became a secondary power.

In the foreseeable future, the North and South of the peninsula will be locked in a tug-of-war, with neither side having the will to develop its navy and thus unable to challenge Britain's maritime dominance.

Frode asked, "Suppose a low-probability event occurs that breaks the balance of power between the two sides, should we intervene militarily?"

Vig smiled and shook his head. "There's no need for that. The Visigoths have the support of the Franks, and the Moors have the support of North Africa. Let them fight it out slowly."

After handing over all the matters, Vig returned to his bedroom to rest. Even though they had lost this battle, he believed that his eldest son was capable of defending Britain. The latter was more focused on naval power and would probably concentrate on managing overseas territories to ensure the family's long-term survival.

The following day, Vieg convened a cabinet meeting, issued a decree announcing that the Crown Prince would serve as regent during the campaign, and reiterated the principle of primogeniture.

"In the event of unforeseen circumstances, the Crown Prince will inherit the principal title and the twelve counties, and the division of the direct territories of mainland Britain is strictly prohibited!"

No one in the cabinet objected to the king's actions.

As time went on, the drawbacks of the equal inheritance system became obvious. Charlemagne (742-814 AD) built a vast and powerful empire, but it disintegrated in less than thirty years.

In 843, Charles the Bald, Lothair, and Louis the German signed a peace treaty, dividing their respective territories of rule.

After Lothair died, his Middle Francia was divided among his three sons, as was the case with Louis the German's East Francia.

Over time, the territory became smaller and smaller, and wars broke out every time the inheritance occurred, causing great suffering to the common people.

From the perspective of civil officials, primogeniture is conducive to the smooth succession of royal power. Although it weakens the interests of the remaining princes, overall, the advantages outweigh the disadvantages.

The process of mobilizing the militia and conducting intensive training would take at least two months. Fearing that the news would leak, Vigé decided to lead a small force to take Brittany before Bald Charles could react.

On June 7, Lundinium assembled fifty ships, enough to carry three thousand soldiers, and Vig led his army out to war.

This time, he had his second son, Frey, who had just graduated, accompany him. The latter showed no worries whatsoever, but instead exuded the recklessness and optimism unique to young people, and casually said goodbye to his mother and two brothers.

Leaving Rendinium, the fleet sailed along the British coast to Plymouth in the southwest, where Vig rested for two days until a strong northeasterly wind picked up.

(End of this chapter)