"What are you happy about? If you are happy, come and help me." Rurik turned his toner-covered face impatiently and made a face for the excited Rumia.
Rumia was in high spirits and ran over boldly: "Masta, I have completely learned that form now. If you ask me questions, I will recite them by heart."
"Huh? I gave it to you yesterday. When you ask a question, it feels like your tongue has been burned, and you can’t come up with a correct answer for a long time. Listen, if you memorize it wrong, it’s the same as usual... I changed my mind. If you answer the question truthfully, come over and stir the soap.” p>
Hearing this, Rumia subconsciously looked at the pottery urn in front of her little master. She saw that there was some bright yellow viscous substance inside. She leaned over and smelled it. Why was there still some smell? This smell is actually a bit familiar.
"Masta, what you are making here is soap."
"Ah, I didn't tell you before, this is a new soap, I believe its decontamination effect is better Well, it can also... kill the most annoying and difficult parasites without causing any harm to people."
Ryurik then stopped what he was doing to make soap. It is currently monopolized by the priests, who regard this as an important means of making money, and it has been two months since the birth of the first soap, and they still feel that the agreement is very wonderful. Their sense of happiness is so low, a priest can get strong satisfaction from just a few silver coins.
Of course soap is not static, and at the price of two silver coins a piece, it is really a bit expensive.
To be a human being, you need to take a long-term view of things. At this stage, Rurik is more willing to make a fortune and earn a lot of wealth by selling high-end handicrafts. Organizing an army of Vikings to go on boat expeditions to kill people and plunder countless gold, this kind of thing should be put on hold indefinitely.
If Rurik was given a choice, he would rather be a dove who is gradually marginalized in Viking society, that is, those who are willing to accumulate wealth through labor. The descendants of the Doves accepted this idea, and they never left Svealand and the northern regions, eventually becoming the national foundation of future Sweden.
Doves are not cowards, they just think that looting is not as profitable as farming after all.
As the production of soap increases, its price will drop anyway, and more special soaps will need to be made.
For example, adding finely ground sulfur powder to the thick soap paste, and after thorough stirring, the originally brown soap bar was suddenly dyed golden! It has a certain smell of sulfur, but this smell is no more unacceptable than the burnt smell of plant ash.
Its color is brighter and naturally gives people a pleasing feeling.
The other is to add ground charcoal powder and stir it to become carbon soap, which is a pure black piece.
Of course, the best soap is soap. If essential oils could be extracted from certain flowers, would soap...
The only thing Rurik could be sure ofIt is determined that after today, on the evening of February 16 in the Julian calendar, the first batch of golden sulfur soap will leave the mold. Tentatively it is the price of three silver coins.
Think about it, just sprinkling a handful of fine sulfur powder into the paste, and this simple action can actually earn an extra silver coin.
This possibility of crazy money-making shocked Poona and other lower-level priests, and the high priest Vilia found it even more incredible. But once that yellow-white soap bar is successful, who doesn't love the beautiful color?
As long as the yellow-white sulfur soap is successful, green soap can be produced by adding other dyes, such as cheaper indigo.
In this era, blue and white were the most readily available dyes, followed by yellow and red.
The most noble one is purple. The purple cloth used by the nobles of the Eastern Roman Empire to decorate and wear was obtained by killing many purple snails.
In the evening, Rumia was eager to show her understanding of multiplication tables and formulas.
"Are you really able to master it? Well, I will give you some questions. If you get the wrong answers..." Rurik pointed to the pottery urns operated by the priests, "Just like your first Just do it like soap at a time and help them until you are almost exhausted."
Rumia calmed down, she was ready.
This time was indeed different from the past. Rurik asked five questions in a row, and she could skillfully give the correct answers. One of her actions is strange. She needs to close her eyes to think briefly, just like her mind needs time to perform internal calculations.
She gave all the correct answers after all. It seemed that the deer herder girl had learned multiplication within one hundred.
Rurik also quickly figured out the reason for her sudden enlightenment, which is really amazing. She has already used calculations in daily life.
"Masta, I have learned it. I want more knowledge, and I want to be helpful to you." Rumia's wide eyes showed her sincere feelings.
Ruri took her hand and handed her the wooden stick used to stir the sticky soap.
"Then work with me. I want to try to sell the new soap for a higher price."
On the other hand, Otto immediately learned that his son was there again. Make a new type of soap, which will be yellowish-white and have the same effect as the previous ones.
Otto, he is now acting as his son’s salesman.
He traveled around the tribe, spreading the news among his closest friends. Although he had never seen the actual sulfur soap, in his oral description, the thing had become like gold. pretty.
It has been two months in the Julian calendar since ordinary people began to use soap. Everyone who has used it knows its power, and laments that soap shrinks faster if used too much.
It will be used up sooner or later!
Families who purchased theThe wife who is responsible for housekeeping urges her husband to get more coins in the new year to buy more soap.
But husbands were attracted by the bright white steel swords made in the blacksmith shop. If they had enough silver coins, they would buy the sword first and then solve the soap problem.
The steel sword that can cut through iron as well as clay is really amazing.
In the past few days, another legend has been circulating within the tribe.
Klavason has successfully made two steel swords. He himself uses the block-smelting low-carbon steel technology taught by Rurik, and also uses oil quenching and soil-covered burning blades. Advanced means.
Fifty refinements are too physically demanding. In line with the principle that as long as it can cut through ordinary iron swords, it is qualified, the sword he made was reduced to forty refinements. Even so, it is only a half-edged long 2 /3stika (nearly 70cm) iron sword, swung rapidly in the strong hands of Kawei, successfully cut off a wrought iron bar that was used as a test object.
Generally, the length of Viking iron swords is controlled at around 70cm. If it is too short, it will not be the main offensive weapon, and if it is too long, it will be inconvenient to use.
In ordinary combat, two sword-wielders fight each other. Their swords always bend in head-to-head combat, but they are not easily broken. However, if one of them is stronger, the legend that ordinary iron swords will not break is also broken.
The wrought iron bar used in the experiment is thicker than an ordinary sword, and the materials of the two are actually exactly the same.
Clavason simply understood the importance of product quality. Now, whether the sword is easy to use or not, he ordered his son to be a sword test master and verify it with a chop.
The two steel swords were delivered to their buyers, for which Klawason earned a large sum of money.
What excites him is not only the joy of receiving more than a hundred silver coins, but the most amazing thing is that the owners of steel swords regard their old swords as "sacrifice". Under the attention of the warriors who came from the wind, the master of the steel sword really cut off his old sword with a powerful and heavy swing.
Klavason’s reputation has become so great that some of the doubts that once existed have disappeared!
The brave and fierce men all wanted to get a steel sword. They began to count their properties. As long as they could collect sixty silver coins, they would order it from Clavarson. Over the years, the blacksmith has almost never left Roseburg, and often only goes to the northeast to dig when mining ore.
The blacksmith will not run away after taking the deposit. Besides, everyone knows that a steel sword actually costs sixty silver coins. When ordering two swords, the price is more than one pound of silver!
You must have a sword, and you must always use soap. Compared to the sword, the fact of soap can actually be relieved.
On February 17th, those yellow-white soaps had been baked. They had shrunk seriously one by one, because they were baked instead of air-dried. The sulfur soaps were covered with dense cracks. .
A wooden table was placed in the open space in front of the priest's longhouse. As many as fifty pieces of sulfur soap were piled into gold at Rurik's request.Pyramid shape.
More than five hundred people flocked to the longhouse of the priests. People were jumping and jumping, and some even climbed onto the roof of their house to wish for the so-called special golden soap.
The leader Otto stood with the priests again this time. Just now in the longhouse of the priests, he had already experienced the feeling of washing his hands with a handful of sulfur soap.
As far as body sensation is concerned, the effect is not more magical than the previous soap. What's remarkable is its color, just like daisies in early autumn, the color makes people feel comfortable.
The crowd was chattering. In addition to the wealthy tribal warriors interested in buying, there was also a large group of spectators.
Some children got out of the crowd. They were frightened by the leader's majesty and could only stand blankly, keeping a distance from the beautiful exhibits on the wooden table.
"Brothers, I'm glad you're all here. Shut up now!" Otto raised his arms and calmed everyone with his loud baritone voice.
“I told you a few days ago that my son Rurik received another revelation from Odin. Odin felt that our tribe lacked color, so Rurik gave the priests to make this... "As he spoke, Otto held up a two-pound piece of sulfur soap in his hand, "Open your eyes and look, that's it!"
"Brothers, this treasure is! How beautiful, they can still clean your clothes, and their special smell can also prevent the hateful lice from continuing to harass. Don't you want to put such a beautiful color treasure in your home? It is a unique treasure of our Ross tribe? ! Brothers, Odin gave us the opportunity to get it, and now I give you the opportunity to buy it. For only three silver coins, you can get it! Those who do this will please Odin and will surely enter Valhalla... …”
Rurik felt like he had entered a sales exhibition in the 9th century AD, and his father looked like he was possessed by a profiteer. The big bearded man spoke in a ecstatic manner, as if buying this sulfur soap would get him a ticket to the happy Valhalla.
Looking at the excited eyes of the onlookers, Rurik was convinced that not only did his tribe believe it, but the wealthy households were also willing to pay.
Otto then raised his arms and shouted: "Come and buy, bring money. Don't come if you don't have money. Come back when you have saved enough money!"
About soap, It's not about dividing the spoils among tribes.
In daily life, residents exchange goods such as small tools and clothes produced by themselves with each other. As long as there is demand, there will be trade. The spontaneous trade of these residents can be said to have been carried out since ancient times. Now Otto is selling this batch of sulfur soap on behalf of the priests, which is turning low-level trade into bulk commodity trading.
Before the winter of 828, this kind of thing did not exist at all. However, by the time spring approached in 829, people were already happy to see someone who could provide a large number of high-quality daily necessities.
Many people have bought soap at home and it has not been used up yet. These people are just here to join in the fun, just to see the yellow and white soap noodles.Just appearance. After all, three silver coins can buy enough fish for nearly two months! Three deer hides can also be purchased. Spending huge sums of money to buy it is indeed a self-evident act of financial strength.
Ordinary people are not willing to spend their precious silver to buy "guldensopa", which is also "golden soap". Today is the time to watch the performance of the rich.
There are still thirty wealthy people who are willing to pay the money, and their heroic appearance is also familiar to Otto.
How do they get rich? There is nothing more than outstanding performance in external affairs, including the large-scale battle with the fishermen of Gotland more than seven years ago. That battle made many people become heroes of the tribe and also gained a fortune.
Defeat the enemy, possess the enemy's wealth, and become rich yourself. An ordinary Rus fisherman aspires to this and sees it as his only chance of getting rich through a short adventure.
So they are just fishermen, just brave and fierce warriors.
If you want to gain wealth, there is another way to produce consumer goods for profit, and there is no other way than to be a businessman serving as a second-tier dealer.
Otto thought that all these sulfur soaps would be sold out today, but the reality was a slap in the face.
He managed to sell it for thirty yuan, and the rest continued to pile on the table, waiting for buyers.
"Isn't there anyone who continues to buy? Can't you afford three silver coins anymore?"
Can't afford it? It’s really impossible to afford it.
A young man emerged from the crowd. This boy was a newborn calf who was not afraid of tigers. His newly grown beard proved that he was immature. His thin body was really not suitable for his ambition.
"Great leader, our young warriors don't have enough money, we want more silver coins. If you can, I hope you can lead us to find a group of enemies and eliminate them all, let us Take possession of their money box!"
"Oh? Are you going to rob?" Otto asked loudly.
"Yes! We should take revenge! It has been many years! We have to go south to seek revenge against those hateful Gotlanders! They killed our people many years ago, and this revenge must be avenged. ”
As soon as this statement came out, the crowd immediately became excited.
The Rus, like other tribes, their tribesmen died in the war, and the surviving tribesmen should take revenge as soon as possible.
What’s the result? Otto is already in his fifties. His mentality has become very calm and he has gradually lost the aggressiveness and fierceness of his youth. For several years, Otto has not chosen revenge.
There was also Arik in the crowd. He had brought his wife to watch the fun. When he heard someone shouting for revenge, his thoughts instantly returned to the pain of his childhood.
The so-called warrior who had just grown a beard was only fifteen years old. Just because the Nordics had grown up early, a boy looked like he could already become a sea warrior.
Arik struggled to get out of the crowd, raised his already muscular right arm high and clenched his fist deeply.head.
He walked forward and faced his uncle: "Great leader, it has been seven years, isn't it time for revenge yet?"
I don't know who suddenly shouted: "Revenge! We will make those Gotlanders pay the price. It was they who attacked our fleet first, and it is time to steal all their wealth."
Then the crowd began to roar the same word --revenge.
But do they really want revenge? Rurik was stunned to be in such a lively scene. He couldn't help but think in his heart, if you know that more than 500 strong men with bursting muscles burst into amazing roars in exactly the same rhythm, this kind of scene would be repeated on the battlefield. Can't you scare the enemy into hiding before using a weapon?
According to tribal tradition, Rurik knew that his cousin’s great revenge must be avenged.
These men, sometimes Rurik felt that they behaved very gently in daily life. That's not true! Once involved in the battle, they instantly transform into bloodthirsty berserkers.
It is they who are now proposing to organize people to go to the Gotlanders' residence for revenge. The purpose is not as simple as revenge.
They just want money! The problem is very simple. As long as you rob the wealth hoarded by those people, you can buy better clothes, more beautiful soap, and a steel sword that can cut off ordinary iron swords.
The steel sword is not out of reach, but it is equivalent to six gold coins or sixty silver coins.
As long as there is a chance to go to war and defeat powerful enemies on the battlefield, you will definitely get a lot of wealth after the war. It means risking death in battle to get a large amount of money. The fishermen who stay in their hometown for such stability are not worthy of blaming the expedition for sharing the huge spoils.
If a dream is out of reach, many people will give up after trying it and finding that there is little hope. Those who persevere for a lifetime are the only ones who succeed.
However, once the dream is not so extreme and there are rational means to realize it, why not take the risk immediately?
People were caught up in a crazy frenzy, as if they were waiting for the leader to raise his arms and issue an order to organize a fleet expedition after the ice and snow melted.
Otto frowned deeply, tightened his bearded mouth, and had to organize his words carefully to respond to their excitement.