Chapter 150 It Saved the Soap Manufacturing Industry

Arik stabbed his enemies with his sword, Otto used his sword to collect tribute in Novgorod.

The Ross tribe is making significant progress in both directions, and they will surely return with great treasures.

Before that, the residents who stayed in Roseburg were still living their ordinary lives.

A large number of women and children were left behind in their hometowns, while a group of older men carried out small fishing boats to engage in traditional fishery production on the sea near the fjord.

The fishermen threw down the hemp ropes with fish hooks tied to them. The ropes were very long and thick, so they could pull up large cods.

Many fishing families spend a winter carefully weaving their new fishing nets. They have begun traditional trawl fishing. This technology is of course far inferior to the high-tech technology of a thousand years later. There is no sonar detection equipment. The fishermen pray for God's blessing, then throw down the fishing nets and start fishing purely by chance.

However, there is only one special catch that fishermen can accurately hunt with a harpoon.

That’s the white whale.

As the ice floes melt away, seals that like to lie on the ice facing the sun have become difficult to catch.

Beluga whales entering the northern waters have naturally become fishermen’s new preferred prey.

In their understanding, beluga whales are called "big white fish".

They are docile animals and have not been afraid of human ships since ancient times. As a result, fishermen can quietly approach the group of whales in small boats and suddenly poke them with an extended harpoon, or directly throw a harpoon with a hemp rope tied to the end to kill the belugas and complete the hunt.

Even if the power of the beluga can capsize a fishing boat, the risk is really worth the reward.

There is only one type of whale that the Russians dare not touch, and that is the huge baleen whale.

It is so big that people regard it as a huge sea monster. Anyone who sees it should avoid it. Many people say that the mouth of the huge baleen whale can swallow an entire fishing boat. The best way to face fear is to overcome fear?

Well, fear can indeed be conquered. The fishermen woke up from their fear and of course refueled and paddled away from the giant whale.

All the Viking tribes realized that the heads of the white whales swimming in the sea had a large amount of pure white oil, which could be used as excellent lamp oil with just a little refinement. And this oil is unusual, its smell is even lighter than seal oil.

Rurik, who stayed behind in Fort Ross, had no intention of getting on someone’s fishing boat and going fishing in the sea.

The bravest group of people in Fort Ross have gone out. Maybe those people led by cousin Arik will return home early, and the Sorgon army led by his father will return as early as a month later.

There is huge uncertainty in navigation. There is only one thing Rurik believes in: his cousin and father will return safely with a large amount of supplies.

However, since the Russians have chosen war this year, there must be some young people who will never return.

But what does that have to do with me? Those soldiers must have been prepared to die in battle.

Rurik was originally worried that as seals became increasingly difficult to catch, the efficiency of the priests in making soap would plummet, and production would even be suspended due to lack of raw materials.

Who would have thought that the sudden increase in demand for oil would cause fishermen to take desperate risks and attack whales.

In this era, the number of whales in the world is huge. Even in remote and small sea areas like the Baltic Sea, there are large groups of whales active.

Beluga whales that were stabbed to death were towed ashore, and the fish markets formed by their raids on the coast were quickly sold.

It must be said that the residents regard the beluga whale as an unusual fish due to its large body and red muscles.

But how could the residents imagine that beluga whales and reindeer have exactly the same ancestors?

The fishermen also divided and sold the whale's internal organs, trying not to waste the edible parts. One Roman pound of whale meat cost ten copper coins. Although it is much more expensive than ordinary fish, many residents are still willing to pay the money.

A beluga whale can often weigh up to one ton! To get such a "big fish" to the shore requires the efforts of the entire fishing boat, and in the end it can only be broken down immediately on the coast.

With the Russian people's attitude towards food, they are willing to try to eat even the intestines and stomachs of livestock.

The total weight of a beluga whale may reach 2,500 Roman pounds, and fishermen will sell an edible 1,500 pounds!

One silver coin is exchanged for two hundred and forty copper coins, and the Russians agree with this exchange ratio.

In this way, for just selling the meat of a beluga whale, the fishermen can get seventy silver coins.

This is just selling whale meat.

Because the beluga whale’s cyst-like forehead is filled with sticky whale oil. Once upon a time, the brain oil of all whales caught was used by fishermen to make lamp oil. Now, the priests are willing to pay a higher price to buy them.

The fishermen did not think further. Since the priests were willing to buy, why not sell it?

The spermaceti oil of a beluga whale can fill two large wooden barrels at least. Even if the fishermen earned seventy silver coins from selling whale meat, and the spermaceti oil fell into the hands of the priests, it would eventually turn into at least thirty pieces of sulfur soap! Besides, whales also have thick subcutaneous fat, and these fat priests are willing to wait for high prices.

In order to buy these oils, the priests only paid a "huge sum" of one silver coin for a barrel of spermaceti oil, and easily obtained it from the fishermen.

As everyone knows, the total sales price of just spermaceti oil after it is finally turned into soap will reach one hundred silver coins, which is one pound of silver.

According to the agreement, Rurik did not have to participate in soap production at all. In theory, as long as the fishermen caught a beluga, he would eventually get eighty silver coins.

This should be the case, but Rurik’s silver coins did not continue.Continued surge.

The reason is really simple. For half a year, Rurik has been working hard to amass wealth for himself through commodity trading and business sharing. Most residents realized that in the long run they would be wiped out by those merchants, which also drove many people to take desperate risks to launch a war of revenge against the Gotlanders.

The silver that was originally hoarded has been enriched in Rurik's hands.

Today, not many people in the tribe buy freshly produced soap made from beluga oil. Soap is really easy to use, but every family is really short of cash.

But the production of soap has not stopped!

Rurik paid the priests silver coins in advance according to the agreement, and the production of soap was still on track.

In this way, the priests became out-and-out producers, and he himself became a purchaser.

More and more soap was being manufactured, and for this reason, Rurik had to think carefully about how to stockpile the goods.

Even if his own people don’t buy on a large scale, when Gould, the big businessman who made a lot of money in the south, comes back, that old guy will not hesitate to make profits at any cost. Gould will buy them all. Soap is never too much.

Rurik had at least a rudimentary understanding of economics.

He boasts that he only has a superficial understanding of terms such as "supply and demand" and "invisible hand". Now he still has awe of business activities.

As everyone knows, the basic knowledge he knows has surpassed too many people.

Rurik did not think that because of this knowledge, he would undoubtedly become a big businessman. Because Gould, a big businessman in this time and space, has fully proved one thing. The fact that ancient people may lack a lot of knowledge does not mean that they are inherently stupider than people thousands of years later. Even if they don’t understand any brilliant theories, how can they make a big business? Strong, this guy Gould has his own opinions and abilities. Relying on these, Gould himself is quite rich!

Now, Roseburg looks a little depressed.

In fact, it is not.

The eyes of those who stayed behind were full of expectations for the future, while others were mobilized under Rurik's various influences.

Perhaps precious metals are naturally pure in value, but this value is still given to it by people.

Because gold and silver are small in quantity and extremely difficult to damage, they naturally have the necessary conditions to become currency.

Currency is still only a measure of the value of goods in transactions, so currency must be circulated to be meaningful.

I already have a lot of silver coins, what's the point of them just sleeping in wooden boxes? They can't be eaten.

Rurik quickly recruited some older tribal men. Most of them were forty years old, and their physical fitness was generally much inferior to that of young people. Of course, when such a man takes up arms, he is still obviously powerful against the Slavs.

StayRick recruited twenty men and asked them to build two longhouses to serve as his own storage rooms and living rooms for his servants.

For this, he was happy to pay each of the builders a huge sum of five silver coins.

The salary is five silver coins, is that much?

Of course there are many! All the money was spent on fishing, which is enough for one person to have enough food and clothing for three months!

Rurik adopted an advanced strategy of advance payment. Each worker received two silver coins first. If he could complete the construction of two longhouses in five days, he would not only get the remaining three silver coins. Silver coins, and you can also get an additional silver coin as a reward.

On a calm night, Rurik stayed in his longhouse.

The climate has become milder. There was a light rain yesterday, but it is still warm today.

Ah, in fact, this so-called light rain was also felt by Otto in Novgorod.

This is a rainfall process that swept across most of northern and eastern Europe. It rains continuously here in Rossburg, but in Novgorod there are thunderstorms and heavy rain.

Rurik gnawed on fresh whale meat. It has to be said that whales are also an ancient branch of artiodactyls. This meat is very similar to reindeer meat, and both have a weird smell. Of course, this smell can be ignored.

As an ancient person, being picky about food is stupid behavior. Even if it was delicious shark meat and crazy-tasting shark liver, Rurik dared to hold his nose and eat it.

Rurik gnawed on the roasted whale meat, and so did his servant Rumia.

Now, a servant Rumia and her little master are sitting together and chewing meat. Niya is completely indifferent now. The husband led an army to collect tribute, had to find a wife for many young boys, and also had the important task of building New Fort Ross.

The husband is old, and everything he does is for the smooth succession of his only son Rurik.

Niya didn’t like being alone at all, so in previous years when her husband was sailing for tribute, she always recruited several left-behind women from her tribe to be her maids temporarily, and asked them to do certain things in the name of the leader’s wife.

No longer needed.

Because of this Rumia, maybe Rurik gave her too many favors. This girl's meekness is reassuring.

Niya did have one thing that criticized her son's decision.

"Rurik." Niya's words were harsh.

"Mom, what's wrong."

"I don't object to you spending money to hire people to build a house, but you...you actually spent one hundred and twenty silver coins!"< /p>

"What? Mom, do you think this money is very valuable?"

"It's already a pound of silver!" Niya shook her head vigorously and stretched herself out like a dead branch. He pointed his hand at the wooden beams of his long house; "How much do you think our house is worth?"

"This..." Rurik shook his head, becauseHe really didn't know.

Niya said with a sullen face: "There are only ten silver coins."

"Huh? So cheap?"

"Cheap? It's already very cheap." The price is huge." Speaking of this, Niya couldn't help but think back to her youth.

Niya glanced at Rumia who was munching on meat, and recalled that thirty years ago, she was just a little older than this girl.

Betrothed at the age of twelve and became Otto’s wife a few years later. Now, thirty years have passed!

"Since I married your father, your father funded the construction of this house. He spent ten silver coins at that time. That was a huge sum of money! Especially the main beam." Niya still pointed out Looking at the beam, "It can be used as the keel of an elite warship. It has been used as a beam for thirty years and is still very strong today. But you! For two new wooden houses, you pay six times the price for each one!" "

Hearing what his mother said, Rurik straightened up suddenly: "Ah! Did I spend a lot of money in vain?"

"It's good that you know." She smiled, because now she didn't feel bad that her son had spent so much money, and he was not short of money. "My child, those men generally followed your father when they were young. I talked with their wives. What do you think those women said?"

"How?"

It sounds like a compliment, Rurik I always feel a bit harsh.

Niya continued to nag: "You have a lot of money now, so spending money will naturally become lavish. I just hope that before you spend money in the future, you will think carefully about whether it is worth it. Maybe you feel that your The decision is very worthwhile."

Rurik nodded: "If the tribesmen think that I can give them a better future, they will certainly follow me and do things for me, and I will give them more. More rewards, so that everyone will be loyal to me even if it’s for money.”

“Oh? You did it on purpose”

Rurik sighed slightly: “That’s it. Now, I have to pay the money. If I had known the market situation at the beginning, I might have thought about it carefully." Regarding the issue of salary, Rurik really didn't think much about it. After all, he now possesses as many as 5,000 silver coins. How big a problem can he use to spend about one-fiftieth of them to pay for building a house?

At this moment, Rurik had to think carefully. Is it really so easy to make money that he becomes lavish in spending money?

The advance wages have been paid to those people, and the construction of the houses is on track. The current situation is that they will definitely be able to build the houses within five days.

After all, it is a log cabin!

Axes and scrapers were used to cut the pine and oak trees readily available on the hillside into reliable shapes. First, dig a hole and punch the wooden piles in to form a wooden frame, and then stack them horizontally.Build a wooden wall by building lumber. Even for the roof, the frame is built first and then the wood is laid to construct the roof.

In fact, those men in their forties have certain carpentry skills, but they are just building traditional houses, which is not a problem at all.

Rurik hurriedly finished the meat and expressed his thoughts to his mother: "Mom, you have to fight for the money. In fact, I don't think it's like my father and elder brother who took the money with their hands." What a wise way to use an ax and a sword to steal other people's wealth. Wouldn't it be better if you could do business to make money?

Mom, don't you think it's cool for me to use one hundred and twenty silver coins to build a house? Wise.

Those fishermen caught a whale, and the whale oil was sent to the priest. The oil would be turned into soap, and when Gould returned I would sell it all, and that would be a huge sum of money. .

I have already calculated that I can earn eighty silver coins on a whale.”

“Huh?” Niya was shocked. .

"Yes. So I have to build wooden houses. Just two long houses are still not enough." Rurik's eyes were full of hope, "I have merchants to help me sell soap, and I don't have to worry about not earning silver coins. Besides, I can still get profits from the blacksmith. I need to build my own warehouse first, and then my future servant's living room, and the guard's living room. Mom, I think I should find a way to exchange for some gold. , I will make you a beautiful gold necklace.”

Niya felt warm after hearing her son’s words. She patted her son's little head and smiled: "I am satisfied now. I am too old and don't need to be decorated with gold and silver. I just hope you are rich and healthy."

"Of course I am Yes! Because just by washing yourself with those soaps, you can wash away evil things, and people will not get sick." Rurik said this deliberately after thinking about it.

This is indeed the case. Soap, especially sulfur soap, has a strong bactericidal ability that can kill various bacteria and viruses on the surface of residents to a great extent. In fact, as long as there are no malignant infectious diseases in the Baltic Sea, and the Russian residents only need to use soap frequently and keep warm, Rurik really can't think of what kind of disease can kill a good person.

Niya doesn’t think soap really has such magic power. It would be best if it did. Niya values ​​​​more the huge profits brought by soap, and her son will become richer and richer because of it.

Anyway, there is nothing to do at night. In a time when there is a lack of entertainment, Rurik is very willing to chat with others to kill boredom.

"Just soap is not enough. Mom, I have thought of other ways to make money."

"Oh? What is that?" Niya didn't care.

"Mom, you will never imagine the special container I saw at the merchant Gould. It was a beautiful transparent bottle filled with wine. Gould was just for a transparent bottle , Dare to pay three pounds of silver!"

"Huh? Just a drinking vessel?! "Niya couldn't believe her ears.

"It's absolutely true. But..." Rurik smiled deliberately: "I already understand how to make it, I need the help of a blacksmith. Mom, I will be a big success. When Dad comes back, I will be able to make some crystal-like cups and sell them. I can make more money! ”

These are things that Niya cannot understand. Looking at her son’s excitement, she believes that her son will still succeed.

As a mother, she is the happiest and proudest when her child continues to succeed.

When Rurik saw his mother’s smiling face, that was the best encouragement for him.

Making glass does not seem to be difficult. Rurik really knows the four types of modern glass. Important materials, and these materials are at your fingertips!

His own plans for the future: "I have decided, Mom. I will also take my guys to train on the slopes tomorrow. When we're done training, I'll go to the blacksmith's shop and try to make new utensils with Clavarson. Mom, think about your future life!

I have recruited a group of servants. There will be maids to take care of you, rub your back, help you with tailoring, and even all the clothes are cleaned by the servants.

Mom, you don’t have to do the hard work yourself, just enjoy the rest of your life.

Ah, everything will be better.”

Hearing her son’s words, Niya was almost moved to tears. She held back the soreness of her nose, tried hard to suppress the flow of tears, and said bluntly : “Rurik, you are still growing, so you must eat more meat. And you, Rumia! ”

Niya was in a very good mood, “Lumia, you should also eat more meat.” If you are too weak, you cannot serve your master. "

"Yes. "Rumia nodded, and Niya threw a piece of bloody whale meat. She skewered the meat on a branch, then sprinkled a little salt on it, and skillfully put it on the indoor bonfire to roast.

At that time, salt powder was extremely expensive for her own deer-raising tribe. I'm too willing to exchange a bunch of leather with other ethnic groups. Besides, those Finns are not always peace-loving.

Sometimes, the Finns and Varyags will do exactly the same thing. Things - Attacking the Deer Breeder

Rumia only half understood what the little master said. It seems that the master will become richer and richer? That's great. Soon another batch of servants will arrive. Listen. It's a good thing that the owner intends to designate herself as the "head maid". Maybe in the near future, she will no longer be driving the herds of deer by herself. With helpers, her work pressure will be less.

Who knows? The only thing Rumia can believe is that as Rurik's slave, at least she won't have to worry about food, clothing and accommodation.

Looking at another big lump in her hand. Fresh meat and salt in a small urn, Rumia has become accustomed to having salt at her fingertips.

Those new servants may already be on their way. Most of them are girls much younger than themselves. The so-called "head maid", I'm afraid the young master means to order herself to be their sister.

Rumia longed to have more "family". Thinking that she would soon have a group of sisters, she also felt that the future was bright.