Chapter 120 Rurik needs private power

Soon, the three of them got together and explained the matter clearly.

The so-called Britten women around Gould, their obedient appearance made Rurik's mind wide open.

There are still such servants brought from other places in the society of the Southern Allies? To be honest, Rurik felt a little pity for their tragic experience, and even felt sympathy.

Now, Rumia, who has lost all her relatives, can easily be trained by herself to become an extremely loyal servant. Rurik's success is not so much about treating her sincerely, but mainly comes from the stable supply of material. .

If the people who were captured by Ali were strong-willed, they would have committed suicide long ago. Being a slave means that they are afraid of death. A slave is willing to compromise if he can get food, clothing, and accommodation from his master's family.

Ryurik naturally gains a sense of psychological satisfaction by giving a little help to miserable people. Of course, what he needs most is the greater benefits brought by more servants. He provides food and housing for many servants. In exchange, the servants must work a lot.

To fully and efficiently exploit the labor value of servants, the servants must consume a lot of physical energy. In order for them to work better, they must provide more food. For this reason, Each servant is bound to consume more food than an ordinary Rus tribesman.

Rurik could imagine that after his decision was really implemented, his tribe would definitely say, "It is incredible that the master is so kind to his servants." However, the big projects I launched this year require a large amount of cheap labor to work on.

As a so-called crazy capitalist, he wants to monopolize all the profits of the entire industry chain. For example, would making soap always rely on the work of priests? Pooh! Did the signed document say that future soaps could only be made by priests? Besides, when it comes to some large-scale sacrifices, the priests are busy with related work, and the soap industry will inevitably encounter a catastrophic shutdown.

As long as you have a group of absolutely loyal labor force, then you can build a "soap factory" by yourself, realize the full industrial process of boiling oil, burning plant ash, and saponification operations, and even train a few servants as professionals. As a "salesperson", he serves as the main owner of this soap company and prevents others from restricting the entire industry.

The highly profitable soap trade can be done in this way. Similarly, the brewing industry to be built also requires a large number of servants.

When I think about the fact that I still have fifteen deer, my plan last year was to try to multiply this small group of deer into a huge herd!

Expect a Rumia to herd? It's crazy.

What’s more, Rumia can now do four arithmetic operations within a thousand, and can recite multiplication tables very fluently. It's really unworthy of such a "little math genius" to go to herd.

For this purpose, some servants also need to become professional deer herders.

When there are more servants, there is a huge appetite. If there is a problem with the most fundamental food supply, all industries will be destroyed.All plans will be severely damaged.

After figuring out the situation, the big businessman Gould completely understood. He couldn't help thinking that once Rurik's plan was successful and he led a group of servants to produce a large number of high value-added goods, it would be compared to You still have to make money by being a pirate.

Gould thought for a while and said: "Rurik, I completely understand your plan. I have a way to get you some slaves who can understand Norse. The gathering in the south The city sells some poor people from the Danes every year, most of them are Britons from the western islands, and there are even prisoners from tribal wars. How many people do you want me to get?"

" Maybe thirty people?"

"So many?"

"It's too many," Rurik said casually. Said, now that I think about it, maybe there shouldn’t be too many people at the beginning. "Then let's have twenty people, preferably all men. I need strong men, I need their strength."

"Men?" Gould curled his lips and shook his head. "You think too much. The most I can do is get some women for you."

"Why? Are those Briton men still worth a hundred gold coins?"

"Why?"

"Because those Britten men are warriors! They will all be killed by the Danes on the battlefield. Besides, the Danes all need more The same goes for women in our Siya Alliance. My lovely Rurik, you are still too young. When you grow up, you will know the benefits of women~" Gould couldn't help laughing and glanced at Austria. Tuo, deliberately said: "Rurik, I hope that when you grow up, you can have at least five sons like me! Do you want a more stable and powerful power? Then have more women, have more Son."

Rurik wanted to laugh when he heard this.

He must think carefully about Gould's words. If everything is fate and the process of history, Chief Rurik in another dimension gave birth to a lot of children, many children. Eager to get a share of his father's power, he had to accept the fate of being assigned to be the leader of various Slavic tribes in other places.

The descendants of Rurik are really blooming all over Eastern Europe. From Karelia to the shores of the Black Sea, the descendants of Rurik lead the local people and integrate the various Slavic tribes that are constantly in dispute into a large feudal country. . One of the descendants became a lord in the small village of Moscow, and eventually the descendants of the lord became the emperor of a huge empire.

But Gould’s words reveal a stark reality.

Perhaps the geographical location of the Swedes determined that during the Viking Age, it was impossible for them to go to the wealthy British areas to kill everyone.

Due to geographical reasons, NorwayIt is easier for people to reach Ireland by taking the northern sea. The Danes could land in Northumbria by crossing the North Sea to the west. At this stage, the Danes attacked Britain just to rob. Although the British kingdoms in the melee lacked the ability to resist the sudden strongman, they still tried their best to organize troops to resist.

The kingdom of Britain itself was in a state of chaos. The total population of the entire archipelago barely reached two million. Ordinary residents lived scattered in the form of small villages, growing grains, raising livestock, and paying taxes to the lords.

The Danes suddenly appeared in long boats. They came and went without a trace, and the coastal countryside, especially in Northumbria and Kent, faced a huge threat. Immediately after the Danes landed, they began a great victory. They killed the men and abducted the women, ransacked the churches and took away gold vessels, as well as the nuns.

The Kingdom of Kent organized several battles. The conscripted farmers brought their own wooden spears and forks to face the well-organized Danish army. The result of the melee was that the Kent army was beaten to pieces. fall. mercy? Impossible. The Kingdom of Kent suffered heavy losses as a result, and the Danes began to act more boldly.

There were also some Danes who attacked the island of Ireland. They even encountered the Norwegian robber army in the North Sea. Of course, a naval battle broke out immediately as they were all traveling together.

Ireland also began to suffer plunder, and local people began to be taken captive to the Vikings' hometown and appeared in natural markets tied with ropes.

According to their culture, many baby girls who cannot become warriors are abandoned at birth. This phenomenon has led to the low female population of various Viking tribes. Many young warriors longed for marriage, but reality forced them to try to combine with captured foreign women.

However, whether it is the Kingdom of Kent or the Kingdom of Northumbria, the ancestors of the local people rowed boats from the Jutland Peninsula and landed in Britain four hundred years ago. Four hundred years later, the Danes, Norwegians, and the captives had the same ancestors. So much has changed in four hundred years!

The people who immigrated to Britain have become the Lamb of the Lord, and those who have not left firmly believe that they are Odin's warriors.

The Danes called all the captives "Britons". In fact, some of the captives were Celts, and some were farmers from the Kingdom of England. A small number of captured men would be transported further away by the Danes to be exchanged for silver, while the women would be quickly digested by them.

Some women were transported to Lake Malaren through various channels and fell into the hands of the big businessman Gould.

The purpose of requiring a large number of Britten servants is to train them into workers who can work. Rurik couldn't help but be shocked when he heard Gould's detailed description and learned the reason for the lack of male servants in the southern market.

"Forget it, I can accept even a woman. Those priests were women and they made thousands of soaps. I ordered a group of Brythonic women to do the same thing , they can still do it, if you can get me a man.Servant, that's the best. Look, money is not an issue, I want people. Rurik said firmly

Gould nodded deeply, then called the two maids who were already fully dressed to come over, knelt down beside him, and proudly introduced Rurik: " They cost three gold pieces each, and they were young enough to be worth the price. Being too young or too old is very cheap. "

"What? A living person only needs three gold coins. Your glass wine bottle is twenty gold coins. "

"Haha, they are servants, a tool, nothing more. You have to admit, some tools just lack value. "

Hearing such words, Rurik cursed secretly in his heart.

But if you think about it carefully, Gould and others are all believers. There are already hierarchies. Talking about equality with them, or even introducing the knowledge of equality to the servants, is completely absurd.

Rurik stopped talking and continued to ask: "You. Have you trained your servants to be very obedient? Didn't they ever think about running away? ”

“Is this possible? "After that, Gould pulled a woman very roughly, pulled her face to her fat belly, and asked rudely: "Annie, do you dare to run away? "

"I...I don't dare, sir. "The woman replied weakly, her eyes full of begging for mercy.

"That's right. Gould let the woman go and said proudly, "Rurik, the problem is actually very simple." Why didn't your servant run away? I think she knows that running away means being eaten by wolves, and my servant is equally smart. "

Rurik took a breath, it is really that simple.

"They are just a group of docile sheep. Maybe after training, a group of Briton servants are very good. workers. How many do you want? Twenty? You'll pay at least six hundred silver coins for this. "

Rurik nodded: "Go and find twenty for me. After the job is done, I will give you a reward of two hundred silver coins. What do you think? "

"Wow! You are so generous. I will complete this business well. ”

“Well, I still need some others. "

"Huh? More servants? More people? no problem. "

"No! I want some warriors who will only take orders from me. I want to build an elite guard. Gould, just like the Guard you spent money to form, I will follow suit. "

"You...do you think you have reached the point where you need to form a private guard? "Gould asked incredulously.

"Of course, I feel it is necessary now. ”

After listening to his son’s discussion with Gould, Otto felt more and more that his son’s plan was becoming more and more audacious!

Until now, Otto has supported his son’s decision. Even the matter of having a large group of maids. He never thought about the possibility of having twenty slaves. His son had a big goal, and he had nothing to say.

But recruiting a private guard? Is it necessary?

Otto had to interrupt his son and asked in a harsh tone: "Rurik, what do you mean? You want to recruit elite guards. Aren't your hundred subordinates not enough? ? If you need strong warriors, there are at least a thousand in our tribe. I can easily organize a guard for you."

"No, Dad, I know what you mean. Now... I really need a group of warriors who only obey my orders and serve my interests."

"Really? You can definitely recruit them from the tribe. "

"No." Rurik shook his head deeply, "I'm sorry, Dad, I trust our people, but people's hearts will change. I can assure you that when Gould and I are together. If the agreement is implemented, I will become very rich. In order to protect this huge wealth, I must have a force of my own. If we recruit people from the tribe, I am worried that they will naturally think of the tribe's distribution system and then collectively demand it. I will share my wealth with everyone. Dad, aren't you worried about this future?"

"You...actually think so"

My son actually asked me. Live! Otto calmed down and thought about it carefully. Looking back on the tribe's biannual tax collection operations against Novgorod for decades, the situation has indeed changed a lot.

According to what the old high priest said, the Ross tribe went to the east to collect taxes. This matter has been going on for at least forty years! At the beginning, the tribute collected was distributed equally to all families. Forty years later, it has become whoever participates in the "tribute voyage" to get the most wealth. The participating families can get 80% to 90% of the total tribute. Those who stay behind are considered to enjoy the benefits. Putting aside the tribute presented to the priests, the families left behind may only get a few pounds of wheat kernels.

Everyone can notice that the current Sorgon voyage is really getting worse every year. It’s not that Novgorod became poor, but that those who went to collect taxes became increasingly unwilling to share the tribute with other tribesmen.

Times have changed. The good days of waiting for dividends in Roseburg will become history forever as the previous generation ages.

What’s more, the situation has changed again. Those families who married Novgorod women have the nerve to collect taxes from their parents-in-law.

The Sorgon voyage in the new spring will undoubtedly begin to include family visits. The young warrior who married a local woman received a fortune from his parents-in-law. They must not combine this with other things. Shared by clan members.

Otto believed in his brothers, but his life was coming to an end. If the new generation of young people are like Rurik, it seems increasingly impossible to expect to maintain a large tribe with blood relatives.

You cannot use the relationship of blood relatives, that is, the relationship of money.

Although Otto could not be persuaded by his son for a moment, he did not express his opposition in a momentary outburst of temper. This time he tookDefault attitude.

Rurik continued to look into Gould's eyes and asked: "You claim to have at least fifty warriors to protect your wealth and family safety. Where did you recruit so many reliable people? ”

“Maybe you don’t know it well at the market of the Melalen tribe. Some strong people are eager to have a master and earn wealth by selling their strength.”

"So, how much do you pay your warriors?"

"I pay them according to the month. On the first day of each month in the Julian calendar, I pay them ten In addition, their accommodation and food are provided in addition. "Huh? Is this the price for hiring fifty warriors?" A silver coin is really not a small amount of money."

Gould smiled and said, "Son, you can also give me a lower price, otherwise you won't be able to recruit brave people. After the battle, I will also pay them an additional bonus. Without these measures, who would sacrifice their lives for you, a stranger? You can't be stingy with your money! Five hundred silver coins are nothing to you now. You also want fifty private guard members?"

"This...can be done. Try it. Suddenly there are so many people, I'm just worried that I can't control them well."

Gould immediately slapped his thigh and suddenly said: "Don't worry, I'll do it! My guard captain gives you five more people. From now on, you will pay them not much money. The guard captain will give you twenty silver coins every month."

Otto was even more vigilant about this than Rurik: "Gould, are they reliable?"

"Of course they are. If it wasn't for money, how could they leave their tribe and work for others? You may not know the composition of these people. Some are captured slaves, some are poor people who are struggling to survive, and some are slaves who owe money to the leader and are sold by the leader. In short, they are mostly people who have no control over themselves. Characterized by strength and loyalty."

Gould looked at Otto with interest and spoke boldly: "Great leader, maybe you really need to support your son from the bottom of your heart. Use money to build a guard. You can doubt the loyalty of the guard bought with money, and you can't really believe that blood ties maintained by emotion will never be betrayed. The kinship will become estranged after several generations, and your guard will be estranged from you. The masters are not relatives, they just work for their families just for money! I firmly believe that money can buy everything in this world except life and time!”

Money can buy everything else! Despite all odds, Rurik admired that Gould already had this knowledge.cognition.

Rurik seized the right to speak and continued to ask: "What about your guard captain? He is very strong and good at fighting? Where is he?"

"My guard captain Jevlo has been in my hometown, but you wouldn’t have thought that he was actually a Savoan?”

“Who is that?”

“It’s from our sea area?” Some people from the Eastern Lands," Otto explained.

"They are Finns?"

"They are not Finns, they are Savo people. They are different from Finns."

The current Finland has not A clear national concept. In that area, a tribe calling itself "Fin" is active near the sea, and there is also a group of Savo tribes in the inland areas. Numerous tribes spoke very similar ancient Uralic languages, and they continued to develop, and eight hundred years later a unified Finnish nation was formed.

The Savo people may be more aggressive than the Finns, and the fighting between the two tribal groups is no less intense than the internal fighting between the Vikings. Some tribes from the Sivia Alliance, as well as people from Gotland, also dared to land in Finland and took away the captured locals while looking for wild beasts.

Gould claimed that his guard captain was kidnapped when he was very young.

"About fifteen years ago, when I was still relatively young. I disguised myself as a Dane and ran to the south to do business. By the way, I met an unruly boy in their market. I I spent a fortune to get him. I gave him good care and trained him as a loyal guard captain. What a pity if that child was not my servant but my eldest son. , my eldest son is as fat as me, and all my sons may be masters of business. In battle, they are definitely idiots who will cry in fear. Without the protection of strong guards, they are all big fat sheep waiting to be cut. "

"Ah! I didn't expect you and your guard captain to have such a past?" Otto couldn't help but admired.

"So as long as you are good enough to your servants, they will be loyal. Especially your guards, Rurik." Gould preached, "I can trust you, so that's why I trust you the most." The captain of the guard is handed over to you. Rurik, you will eventually become the leader. I think the close alliance I have established with you will definitely give my family unprecedented prosperity."

He actually did. Having such high regard for himself, Rurik felt extremely comfortable being flattered by such a powerful person.

Gould kept up his efforts: "My mentality has changed, Rurik, I will definitely sign a bigger agreement with you. You will make a lot of money, and I will make a lot of money because of you. And I The wealth will be protected by your Ross tribe. I think I should consider moving my home from the Onkras tribe to yours."

Otto's eyes lit up: "Are you planning to move?"

"Great chief, I am not drunk, my mind is very happy now. I can guarantee that what I tell is the truth, you think about it, if my wealth becomes more and more, Angkla Will the leader of SiAm I a fat sheep? Even if my fifty guards fight to the end, they are no match for the warriors of the entire tribe. It would be different if I moved to you. My interests and Rurik's are tied. ”

If a powerful businessman wants to be stable, he must either cultivate his own power and become a commercial organization with an army, or even establish a country for this purpose. Or he must submit to a powerful power, help the powerful become stronger, and at the same time gain the strength of the powerful.

Europe’s geography makes it easier for it to form a commercial civilization. Many ancient city-states were actually created by a large group of merchants, including the original Rome, which also had a strong commercial culture. A large number of those members of the Senate were big businessmen themselves.

The matter about the Guard was quickly settled. As soon as Rurik counted his money, he insisted on forming fifty Guard members. Among them, the captain of the guard is only known by his first name, "Jevlo", a Savo man from Finland.

The agreement also added a new clause:

Ancient. If the Gould family wants the Ross chief family to transport as much grain, vegetables and livestock as possible, the Ross chief will pay coins slightly higher than the market price and additional transportation fees.

Article 4: Gould. The family is obliged to look for all kinds of servants, as well as foreigners who want to settle in the Ross tribe, and the Ross leader should pay the Gould family for this.

There is still a large blank space on the board, just to think of new ones. It is better to add the clauses later.

There is also a signature at the bottom of the board, that is, "In the name of Otto, the leader of Ross, this agreement is valid."

The agreement is valid. Great success!

Rurik is very convinced that in this era human resources represent the strength base of a force. As long as the Ross tribe has a larger population, it can burst out with strong power through reasonable organizational planning. The purpose of selling high value-added goods is to make money and make the people's lives better. The money is used to buy daily necessities, especially imported food, to ensure the survival of a large population.

This is Rurik. I can feel that even if the future develops as smoothly as I expected, the biggest problem of the Ross tribe will always be food supply.

The stable supply of food will always be the foundation for long-term stability of the force, if the situation is stable. With the change, the tribe can no longer import food stably, and its huge population has become a heavy burden. In order to avoid the worst possibility, it is the right way to prepare for a rainy day by building a second base as early as possible.

So, Rurik had to lament that his father Otto had a plan.

My father wanted to build the "Second Rossburg" at the mouth of the Neva River. Rick has actually heard of another dimension where wheat can be grown in St. Petersburg.

As long as the wheat yield is satisfactory, the climate is sufficient to ensure sowing and harvesting, and the yield is sufficient!