While the battle at the Red City gates raged fiercely, the situation in Moscow's Guild District was also in a stalemate.
Unlike other areas of Moscow that were quickly controlled by the pagans, the Guild District was a fortress in itself; once its gates were closed, it became an isolated island.
Now, behind the Guild District's gates, soldiers stood in full force, these being guards hired by the Guild District, while others ascended the houses on both sides, which had firing windows facing outwards.
Under the orders of their respective Guild Masters, the men of this area armed themselves, and the Blacksmiths Guild even opened its armory, allowing everyone to freely take the excellent weapons within.
However, everyone already had armor at home; as citizens, owning armor was basically a necessity.
Moreover, due to their artisan professions, these individuals belonged to Moscow's high-income bracket, and many could afford iron armor; even those who didn't had it after the Blacksmiths Guild opened its armory.
Apprentices were also armed; regarding the fate of the Guild District, the Blacksmiths Guild was very generous, letting them take whatever they wanted from the armory—though these items belonged to merchants who had placed orders in Moscow.
As for delivery? It could be delayed; at most, they would pay a batch of liquidated damages, as they could only purchase so many weapons and armors in Moscow, making it a complete seller's market here.
Thus, with the addition of hired guards, the Guild District mustered a full three hundred iron-armored warriors, a force capable of turning the tide of the current situation in Moscow.
Citizen militias have always been the backbone of Rostislav's wars; they were like the citizen-soldiers of ancient Greece, whenever the Veche or the Prince made a decision, they had to pick up their weapons and put on their armor to go to war.
Compared to soldiers from the countryside, citizens were disciplined and well-equipped, and their will to fight when standing alongside their neighbors was often exceptionally firm, making them a reliable force on the battlefield.
This is also why Rostislav valued the citizens so much and did not conscript standing soldiers from among them; they were already a very reliable fighting force, so why turn them into a standing army? Wouldn't that be a waste?
The pagans also launched assaults on this island fortress, but their attempts were shattered by arrows; the Guild District's defenses exceeded their imagination, and they could only leave behind a few corpses before scurrying away.
However, they did not leave directly but instead built fortifications near the Guild District, hiding behind them to monitor the Guild District's actions.
They also knew the Guild District's power, so they sent many armed soldiers here to prevent the artisans inside the guild from rushing out, while also providing deterrence and assisting their inside informants.
In the center of the Guild District stood a two-story Guild Hall; the first floor was where the guild entertained guests, but it was now filled with armed men, while the second floor was where the Masters usually discussed the future of the Guild District, and now the Masters of various guilds were gathered there.
As a place for entertainment and meetings for the high-income artisan community, the entire Guild Hall was built of brick and tile and was decorated with the finest materials.
Local wood carvings were visible everywhere, and the tables and chairs here also bore delicate carvings, while artworks from the southern imperial capital were displayed in a special exhibition area.
On the walls were also several works by the Prince's imperial capital painter, depicting either scenes of artisans at work or the splendor of the Guild Hall.
The reason so many Masters gathered here to discuss was simple: whether they should send troops and whether they should help the Prince's forces quell the current situation.
...So, if you ask me, we should just guard the Guild; whatever happens outside cannot shake us. Don't forget, the Prince granted us the privilege of being exempt from war; this is not our war."
Under the gaze of the saints on the wall, a short man spoke eloquently; he had been talking for a long time, and everyone was quite convinced by his words.
His name was Ival, a Norse immigrant, and also the Master of the Carpenters Guild. The Carpenters Guild was a very powerful guild in Moscow, as it had always supplied Moscow with a large quantity of carpentry products for sale.
These carpentry products were closely related to people's daily lives, so although the profit was not as great, by relying on sales, the Carpenters Guild became the second-largest guild after the Blacksmiths Guild.
Because of this, Ival had always wanted his guild to become the top guild in Moscow, as he was very hostile towards Vanigo, the Master of the Blacksmiths Guild, and now was his chance to shake Vanigo's leadership.
Ival's proposal was met with a wave of approval; these Guild Masters were unwilling to participate in the fighting, as battles meant death, and every artisan was precious, so it was not worth sacrificing them to fight the pagans.
"I do not see it that way, Master Ival."
Since those opposed to sending troops had spoken, it was time for those in favor to speak; this person was none other than Vanigo, the Master of the Blacksmiths Guild.
The Blacksmith Master was now wearing a scale armor; this armor was exquisitely crafted, truly befitting a Blacksmith Master's possession, and coupled with Vanigo's naturally strong physique and his arms, which were exceptionally thick from years of blacksmithing, he looked like a general.
Therefore, when he spoke, he exuded a powerful aura, which made everyone involuntarily intimidated and look at the Blacksmith Master, waiting for his words.
"If the pagans take Red City, how will they treat our guilds? Gentlemen, don't forget, the core members of every guild had to convert to Christian to enjoy higher status and treatment; will those pagans spare us?"
In the Guild District, to transition from an ordinary artisan to a manager with higher treatment, one had to convert to Christian and publicly denounce pagan gods; this was a strict requirement, as Rostislav did not want the middle and upper echelons of the guilds to be filled with pagans.
This tactic effectively screened out some pagans, but most of them did not leave because of it, as even the treatment of ordinary artisans in Moscow was considered high income, and this treatment was enough to retain many people.
"What's more, if Lord Rostislav's defenders defeat the pagans, will he not hold us accountable afterwards for not supporting Red City? Masters, everyone, please think carefully, consider whether we can bear these costs."
Vanigo's words silenced the Masters in the room who had just been agreeing not to send troops; the Blacksmith Master's words struck their vital point, for as the Blacksmith Master said, if they did nothing, no one would spare them.
But Ival's expression turned ugly, becoming ill-tempered; he had always been the biggest threat to Vanigo's leadership over the guilds, constantly seeking to challenge him.
And now Vanigo had shattered the situation he had created with a long discourse in just a few words; how could he not be angry?
"Vanigo, you just want to curry favor with Rostislav! For your selfish motives, you want everyone in the guild to follow you to their deaths! Do you have any conscience left?!"
Ival was completely unconvinced and immediately began to attack Vanigo; the Carpenter Master was truly angry. He had clearly dominated the situation just now, but why did this bastard come out to disrupt it! Who did he think he was? Wasn't he just relying on groveling to that young Prince to gain power?
And as soon as these words were uttered, the entire hall fell silent, including Ival himself; he realized he had said something he shouldn't have.
Vanigo had always disliked being judged in this manner, and if he heard someone judging him like that, that person's next outcome would not be good.
"Then, Master Ival, what is your brilliant idea?"
Vanigo said calmly, but the calmer he was, the more terrifying he became, because everyone knew that calm often preceded a storm.
Ival was naturally choked by this sight; deep down, he still feared this Meria blacksmith, not because he was valued by Rostislav, but because of Vanigo's decisive actions.
Once, someone had fraudulently tricked a batch of goods from the guild; it was a very powerful armed caravan, so everyone had once thought of letting the matter go, just blacklisting the caravan, but Vanigo did not do that.
He directly armed the men in the guild, then hired a group of farmers outside the city, and then they ambushed that caravan.
Vanigo appeared exceptionally brave in this battle; his double-handed axe chopped off twenty-seven heads, and at that time, he was like a man of blood, chilling everyone who witnessed the scene.
That caravan was naturally wiped out; the goods they had stolen and their original goods were smuggled into Moscow, and the Meria distributed these blood-stained spoils to every guild.
From then on, everyone knew how terrifying this is.