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Two thousand people, along with slaves, set off in ships south towards the future Jorvik. I divided the remaining two thousand men into four groups of five hundred warriors and sent the Kingdom of Northumbria in different directions. I didn't have the strength to control this territory right now, but if Wessex or Mercia or the Scots wanted to seize the opportunity ... I would leave them only the ruins and zero population.

On the way south, we did not spare any settlement, village or a single cottage. We robbed everything, we captured everyone. The only exception was Jarrow Abbey, where I ordered all monks to be killed. We didn't even spare the fields, if we can't keep something, no one will have it. The tactic of scorched earth... our march resembled a plague of locusts, even if someone escaped from us, he would have nothing to come back to.

If we did not fight or plunder, we managed to cover 12 kilometers a day... Loot and captives delayed our march to the south, many elderly people died of exhaustion and lack of food ... we fed the prisoners, but only the required minimum... It took us almost a month to reach Jorvik, but a nice surprise awaited us there. Those who sailed got there much earlier and attacked the city, and after two days of siege they captured it ... Leif was a good commander and was able to take advantage of the opportunity.

- What are our further plans? (Leif)

- You did well in capturing the city, it will serve as our permanent settlement. We will launch attacks against the rest of the Kingdoms from here ... When the rest of the people return, we will strike at Lundenwick, then Oxnaford, Lichfield and King Offa's seat at Tamworth. (Ulf)

- How do you plan to do this? (Leif)

- Dividing our army, 4,000 men is too much to get Oxnaford, but every pair of hands will be useful to get Lundenwic. That is why we will attack Lundenvik in the first place and with our entire army. When we capture the city, 400 of our men will go to Oxnaford and 3,000 to Lichfield and Tamworth. The rest will return to Jorvik with their captives and loot. (Ulf)

- After we conquered Jorvik, I ordered fortifications to begin almost immediately. Much work is now being completed and there is a problem with the prisoners. There were almost 1000 inhabitants in the city, you brought another 2500 people to the city ... the rest of our army, when they return, will also bring prisoners with them. We have too few homes, too little food, and it is becoming increasingly difficult to control them. Demonstration executions no longer have the same effect as at the beginning, choosing whether to die by the sword or by starvation ... (Leif)

- Do you have any propositions? (Ulf)

- I have two solutions, get rid of old people. They don't have much strength to work and are the least useful. The second option is to send some of the slaves to Norway. (Leif)

In fact, it was a problem, I didn't need the revolts, and it was just a pity to waste cheap labor. Sending some of the slaves to Norway was the best option.

- One third of the slaves are my private property, it will be 1,150 people. Choose artisans, young women, children and we will send them to Kattegat. The rest will stay here and will further strengthen Jorvik's defenses. (Ulf)

- We will have to send 30 ships and 1000 men. (Leif)

- I know, but I have no better solution, your idea of ​​sending them to Norway is the best ... because we can either kill them or let them go. Get everything ready as soon as possible. (Ulf)

A week later the last group of my people returned, the number of slaves increased and Leif had to rush the execution of his plan ... Instead of 1,150 prisoners who were to go to Norway, now the number of slaves has increased to 1,500 ... Erik will have a big headache what to do with them.

Two weeks later the ships set out on their way home, I gave Leif the sunstone and sunbord so he could more easily chart the course and there was nothing for me to do but wait for their return.

Jorvik was slowly turning into a fortress. In addition to the work that Leif had done, I ordered to strengthen the walls, build an second palisade, cut down the surrounding forests, so that we could see the enemy approaching earlier. In the distant area, we built dams, blocked streams and created backwaters, which was to slow down the movements of the enemy army.

(Erik / Leif POV)

- I'm glad to see you, son, but I'm not happy to see these slaves ... What should I do with them? (Erik)

- Use them for work. Ulf said to send the children to his village ... I have no idea what he is doing with them, almost 800 people already live in this village... The rest of the slaves are mostly young women and artisans. There are also several dozen builders. (Leif)

- Work is not a problem, but food may be scarce. Even though the fields look rich, there are several months left until the harvest. (Erik)

- There are some ships left in Kattegat, let him go fishing. They don't have to eat to the full either, but just enough for them to survive. (Leif)

- When are you going to come back to England, and judging by the number of slaves, you are probably not bored? (Erik)

- As soon as possible, Ulf picked a few settlements to attack, but every pair of hands will be needed and he also intends to establish a permanent settlement in England, we have already captured the city and named it Jorvik... We'll probably be back in three or four months, and we'll bring more slaves too, I warn you to be ready to receive them. (Leif)

(End POV)