The bones of Danes and Norwegians were piled up in a small area of less than a kilometre at Stamford Bridge, and the blood soaked the ground so much that the waters of the River Derwent were stained a blood-red color that could not fade away for a long time.

The Normans were cleaning up the spoils of war on the battlefield and collecting survivors as prisoners, which was the right of the victors.

Whether it's chainmail weapons or gold and silver ornaments collected on the battlefield, every Norman warrior can make a fortune from it.

The accumulation of bones on Stamford Bridge did not make William feel any discomfort, he had been in the Middle Ages for more than 20 years, and he had already seen life and death lightly after countless hardships, wars, intrigues and deaths.

"Congratulations to Your Majesty, we have achieved a brilliant victory!

The 20,000 Danish and Norwegian troops were annihilated, the Danish King Swain II was killed on the spot, and the Norwegian prince Olaf and a number of Danish and Norwegian nobles were captured.

Our army has won a great victory, and the prowess of our Normans will surely spread throughout Europa! Duke Richard congratulated with a smile.

"Tongxi!" A faint smile appeared on William's face, and he nodded in response: "Lord Richard, bury the body of Swain II alive, and bury the remains of the Danes and Norwegians, and do not expose them to the wilderness." ”

"Your Majesty is merciful and tolerant of cruel enemies, I deeply admire you." Duke Richard bowed.

"It's nothing, Lord Richard, I did this only to avoid the outbreak of the plague after the war, and of course their bravery and tenacity are admirable, and they deserve our respect." William waved his hand and said:

"By the way, Lord Richard, the report from the front says that Prince Olaf of Norway has been captured, and I want to meet him, along with the captured nobles."

"Your Majesty, I will bring you Prince Olaf and a group of captured Danish and Norwegian nobles." Duke Richard bowed and retired.

Prince Olaf of Norway, known to William, was one of the only two sons of the late former Norwegian King Harald IV the Heartless, the other being his brother King Magnus of Norway.

According to the history he knew, Magnus and Olaf were still asking about adulthood, but for some reason, Prince Olaf standing in front of him at this time was already a strong man who had just come of age.

Perhaps it was the impact of William's arrival in this world, as their father, King Harald IV of Norway, was born in 1015, and the birth of Magnus and Olaf is entirely possible.

However, William didn't care about this, but was a little surprised by Prince Olaf's slightly reluctant face, so that he just thought about it.

"Don't hurry up and untie Prince Olaf!" William smiled as he looked at Prince Olaf, who had been escorted by Norman soldiers, and commanded to the left and right.

Normally, Normans don't treat captives like this, and Olaf must have been tied up for some reason, probably because of his fierce resistance.

However, William did not pursue this, he generously let his men loosen the bonds of Prince Olaf, and did not worry about whether he would pose any threat to himself after he was freed, and if he could still cause harm to himself under the guard of many noble generals and guards, he really had to punish them properly.

"His Majesty King William, my heir to the Kingdom of Norway, Olaf. Inglin has met Your Majesty, thank you for your magnanimity. Prince Olaf stood up and bowed politely in thanks.

"No thanks, Prince Olaf, we have been so inhospitable that you have suffered." William shook his head slightly, and said with a smile: "I'm about to return to Normandy, and by the way, I invite you to Rouen as a guest to experience the Normandy characters." ”

William's intention was obviously to detain him in Normandy as a hostage, and then Prince Olaf could no longer maintain a calm and calm expression, and said anxiously: "Your Majesty, William, please be magnanimous and let me and my nobles return to the Kingdom of Norway."

I swear to God that I will never again invade England and will never again have any more enmity against you. ”

When William heard this, he still shook his head and said, "Your Royal Highness, Prince Olaf, I beg your forgiveness for not being able to accede to your request, because doing so is sorry for the blood shed by my Normans at Stamford Bridge, and I cannot let their blood be shed in vain. ”

Prince Olaf, who was as smart as Olaf, naturally heard the subtext of William's words, and it was not impossible to cast him and a group of Norwegian nobles, but this required him to pay enough to compensate.

Duke Richard, who was beside William, naturally heard William's subtext, and he immediately walked up to William's side and persuaded: "Your Majesty, please think twice, the Norwegians are the great enemies of my Normans, they have always been eyeing England and Normandy, they have invaded our Norman kingdom several times over the years, and there have been countless dead and wounded people and lost property over the years, you can't forget it!"

William did not say anything in the face of Duke Richard's exhortation, but it was clear from his expression that he did recall the crimes committed by the ambitious Norwegians against the Norman kingdom over the years, and how much damage they had caused to the Normans by their several invasions.

At this moment, Prince Olaf was anxious, seeing that William had the intention of letting them go back to the Kingdom of Norway, but as soon as the Duke of Richard persuaded him, William had no intention of letting them go at all.

Prince Olaf could no longer maintain a calm and calm attitude, and excitedly stepped forward to persuade him: "Your Majesty William, please believe me, believe in my oath, and if I am still alive, I will never be your enemy, and swear never to set foot in England and the Norman kingdom again, and at the same time I will organize anyone in the Kingdom of Norway who wants to oppose you, even if I risk my life, I will do my best to organize to the end." ”

Although William did not reply, the slightly unmoved expression on his face still betrayed his intentions, and the corners of Prince Olaf's mouth hooked, and he added: "Your Majesty William, I am willing to provide you with 50,000 pounds of silver as a ransom for me and the Norwegian nobles and soldiers. ”

"I'm not short of money, what else do you have in exchange for the freedom of yourself and the Norwegian nobility, please tell me along with it!" William shook his head and refused.

"Your Majesty William, in addition to these, I will also lead my army to fight after you, whether it is to France or to the HRE Empire, I am willing to follow your orders." Prince Olaf thought about it, and finally gritted his teeth and said.

"Yes, but how many soldiers can you provide me?" William asked, especially if he was not satisfied.

"Your Majesty, in addition to the more than six thousand eight thousand Norwegians in your possession, I will then provide you with five thousand soldiers, which I can last offer you." Olaf said with a look of pain.

William listened to Olaf's words, groaned for a while, and finally nodded in agreement: "Your Royal Highness Prince Olaf, I agree to your quid pro quo and let you and the Norwegian nobles return home!" ”

"Thank you, Your Majesty William!" Olaf bowed excitedly and thanked him.

In fact, William had already intended to let Prince Olaf return to Norway alive, and it would be much more useful to let him return to Norway alive than to keep him in Normandy, at least to keep the Kingdom of Norway divided and prevent it from being united by his brother, King Magnusu of Norway.