Are you happy when the army returns from victory?
No! The warriors who completed the crusade were eager to return home. The long hunt in the north wore away the hearts of the warriors. If there was a battle, they could still fight fiercely with their tomahawks and swords. Now that all the opponents have surrendered, everyone just wants to return to Fort Ross. .
Outdoors, the Russian soldiers gathered around the campfire and talked about the way back home.
People are discussing the rationality of crossing the ice sea directly, because this plan was proposed by Rurik. The strange trick the child performed at the mouth of the river confused everyone. After the trick, the child claimed Home is all the way west.
If this were summer, boaters would not be opposed to trying this route. But crossing the ice sea, the Russians have never had such an experience!
Even in winter, the Russians have never set foot in the center of the ocean where the waves are endless in summer. It is completely unfamiliar and terrifying to everyone.
In fact, what everyone is most worried about is that the sea ice suddenly becomes thinner, falling into an ice cave on the vast frozen ocean, and then freezing to death.
Some people think this is an unreliable adventure, while others simply want to return home and think that since Rurik said it is possible, then it is possible.
At Kejas’ home, when Otto explained that as a leader he fully agreed with his son’s plan to return home, first of all, the Russians present did not have any objections. Although they were nervous in their hearts, But he would not think that Rurik, the "Blesser of Odin", would make fun of himself and the lives of his tribe.
But this feeling immediately aroused Mechasta's panic and Rumia's surprise.
Perhaps compared to the Russians, the deer farmers and the Kovin people lack the courage to "seek death".
Mechasta boldly said: "Great Russians, we are willing to serve you, but we don't want to take risks. The sea is too dangerous! The frozen sea is even more dangerous."
Jevro was still translating what this man said, but Rurik couldn't listen anymore. He suddenly stood up from the animal skin cushion he was sitting on and said loudly: "I understand what you said. This is my decision, I I am your master, and you obey my orders unconditionally."
"You!" Mechasta noticed the sharp look in the eyes of the leader of Ross. He doubted Rurik's determination, but he didn't. Dare to question again.
Unexpectedly, Rumia put on an embarrassed face and persuaded: "Rurik, crossing the ice sea is really dangerous. Many people are afraid. Maybe we can..."
"What do you want?" Rurik suddenly turned his face away.
Rumia was startled: "We can... go back the way we came."
"That's a waste of time! We could have gone home in three or four days, you Do you think we have time to spend ten days?"
Rurik's words completely exceeded everyone's expectations. The key point is the time required for the return trip.
Otto asked anxiously: "Four days? So short?"
"Maybe it only takes three days, as long as those reindeer are still strong. Dad, we just need to go all the way west. You have to go as far as our Roseburg, near our home, but there are only hills near Roseburg!"< /p>
Rurik's words deeply stimulated Otto, and now Otto's support attitude was even more determined. Because of the hills near the fjord where Fort Ross is located, merchant ships that come and go every year use the hills containing iron ore to determine the location of Fort Ross. Each time, no businessman ever got lost.
Mechasta was shocked by the determination of the Ross people, Rumia was worried about the dangers on the road, but Kehas didn't care. After all, it was not his own people who were forced to cross the ice sea.
Rurik continued: "The ice sea will thaw. After all, we still have to row a boat to reach this river to communicate with the Kovin people. Now that rowing can come, we will ride on the sled on the ice sea. How different is this from rowing?"
This statement undoubtedly strengthened Alto's belief.
There was no need to discuss the next step. Otto made a final decision in the semi-crypt cabin with a bonfire: "Let's cross the ice sea! Set off tomorrow morning!"
The mobility of the Rus is another element that shocks other ethnic groups.
In the early morning of the next day, the return journey officially began.
The Russians who received the order to cross the ice sea must accept it even if they have complaints. Yesterday's discussion at the bonfire was let go, and everyone must follow the leader's arrangements.
The small sled carried by each Rus warrior was all tied with hemp ropes to the back of the large Kovin sled. It was piled with a large number of furs and even some food belonging to personal trophies.
The Salmon Lord tribe provided another batch of smoked salmon, and the team received such a critical food supplement.
The huge sled team became even heavier, each sled weighing more than a ton. Covin and the deer herders could estimate the terrifying weight of the sled. Not only did they doubt whether the team could cross the unknown ice sea heading west, they were also worried that the sled would crush the sea ice.
As for the load and ice, Rurik did not consider it at all, because during the winter ice-up period in the Gulf of Bothnia, the sea ice was no longer described as "very thick".
The Russians threw down the unburned bonfire and jumped onto their sleds happily. The rescued deer herders became sleigh drivers one after another.
The deer farmers and the Kewen people of the gray squirrel tribe were worried and had no choice.
The sea of ice is like a nightmare. The territory of the Russians is full of infinite unknowns.
They really don’t know the whole world, and they don’t even know the geographical structure of the Nordic world. All Kovin people feel that the Western Sea is an endless sea, and only the Varyags who can control the waves can navigate the sea. Setting foot on the frozen sea is obviously something the Varyags can do.
They simply don’t know that in fact, the straight-line distance from the mouth of the Oulu River to the fjord of Roseburg isOnly one hundred and forty kilometers.
Rurik actually didn’t know the exact distance parameters. He just believed in science and knew that the earth was a ball. He determined the very precise dimensional parameters of the two places by measuring the sun’s shadow, and concluded that walking westward would be enough. Can get home.
It also lies in his natural knowledge of the whole world. Even in the ninth century, the Gulf of Bothnia was still a very narrow bay.
It was Otto again, the brave leader of Russia. When the moment of departure was approaching, he stood on the sled and faced the golden sun and shouted: "Great God! Your servant is about to cross Ice Sea! It is your beloved Rurik who made such a great decision! Bless us! Let us go home safely!"
The sun is one of the incarnations of Odin, and the people of Russia believe it.
The female shaman of the gray squirrel tribe, bathed in the sacred golden light of the rising sun, danced and prayed to the sun god believed by the Kewen people.
Even the deer herders are silently reciting the names of their gods.
Rumia did even better!
After all, she is the priest of the Ross tribe and the future high priest.
This girl stood at the front of the team that was about to run to the west, facing the east. She loudly recited the prayers that were only recited for the soldiers on the expedition toward the rising sun.
Some knowledgeable Ross warriors instantly realized that the girl was performing a sacrificial ceremony.
Otto was overjoyed when he saw this. He hurriedly pulled up the somewhat dull Liuli and bathed his son's face in golden light.
Prayers and sacrifices, to put it bluntly, are to make everyone feel at ease.
After all, crossing the ice sea is an unprecedented and crazy feat for everyone. Without the determination of Rurik and the support of the big leader, who would do it?
How can the Russians explore if it is not profitable? Everyone comforted themselves that this move was to use special means to explore a route.
And now, the mysterious East mentioned by the ancestors of Rus is no longer mysterious. The Rus have occupied this place, the legendary "Land of the East", and the people in this area have also become Rus. 's servant.
"Go forward!" Otto gave the order, and the real journey home began.
The reindeer were fed hay, and they drove the sled to start "drag racing".
Once the Russians forced a large number of captured reindeer to run, and many of them died from exhaustion in the process. In fact, there is a reason for that. The biggest factor is that those reindeer are only meat that can be slaughtered by deer farmers, rather than being trained for professional use.
These reindeer were bred and trained to pull sleds, showing great endurance and maneuverability.
The huge Ross sled army arrived at the mouth of the Oulu River only in the evening.
They camped here, and when it was dawn, everyone faced the vast sea of white ice and couldn't help but express indescribable emotions.
A pair of big hands covered Rurik's anxious shoulders.
"Rurik, then it’s time to test your theory. Are you confident? "Otto asked.
"I...yes! ”
“Are you hesitant? "
"No! "Rurik strengthened his belief. He could actually retreat. After all, as long as the team walked north along the coastline and took a big turn, they could go home, because this is the Gulf of Bothnia, and this route was also used by the Russians. Measured with both feet
“Then let’s go! ”
Otto stopped talking and began to organize the team to enter the ice sea.
Just before setting off, Rumia built a pile of snow on the coast based on what she had learned. A small altar was built to show sincerity and for peace of mind. The person responsible for cutting the throat was Rurik himself.
About the execution of a reindeer, Lumi. Ya was somewhat reluctant. The only thing she was happy about was that the reindeer herd was back, and she could help Rurik build a huge herd. This was the most peaceful moment for Rumia, just like that. It's the deer herd used to be in her family.
Of course, everything has changed. She has a new identity and has become a priest.
Rumia is holding Rurik. He slashed the belly of the deer with a steel sword, took out the liver and cut it open again, announcing the good omen in public!
Will anyone question the priest’s divination?
Because God! The revelation has been given!
After the ceremony, the deer meat was quickly decomposed, and Rumia did not forget to cut the deer liver and stuff the fresh deer liver directly into her mouth. People of the same race behave exactly the same way.
People are relieved that their sleds are finally entering the vast white sea of ice.
Everyone relies on the position of the sun and starlight to navigate. Especially at night, the key stars orbiting the North Celestial Pole are the best navigation.
Either doubt, excitement, blind obedience, or nothing.
The driver beat the reindeer with a rope whip, the first sleigh turned its back to the rising sun, and the Rus and their servants headed towards the pale ice field
If anyone can see through the bird's eye view, they can. I saw a large mass of black material, standing out and moving quickly on the ice sheet. They looked like a group of seals, but they were not seals at all.
They seemed to be bloated, but their speed was not slow at all, and they were moving on the sea ice. There were obvious traces left on it.
The north wind blew over Rurik's little face and his nervous expression. As the son of the leader, he was naturally in the lead sled, and all the sleds followed him closely.
The surrounding environment is absolutely flat, and this is something that all native Russians have never experienced.
Even on weekdays, there are many owners. They dug holes in the sea ice to trap seals, but no one dared to go deep into the sea ice.
Everyone stared at the boundless and absolutely flat ice sheet with extreme anxiety.Both eyes turned to the pale ice again, staring at the scene of the wide sled sliding through the drifting snow.
It would be impossible to say that Rurik was not nervous.
He was silent all the way, and Otto, who was riding in the same sleigh, also remained silent.
The long journey is boring after all. The group has been traveling for a long time, and the danger that the people on the sled were worried about does not exist at all. Doesn’t the sled still move smoothly? Presumably the same will be true in the future.
Many people were drowsy due to the slight vibration of the sled, so many people wrapped themselves in animal skins and cuddled up to each other to take a nap.
Only the reindeer, full of hay, continued to run wildly.
As night falls, the tired reindeer can take a breather. The Russians rewarded the deer with a large amount of forage, but a problem arose. When Otto saw the deer eating like crazy, he couldn't help but worry that they would starve to death on the ice before the army returned to Fort Ross.
Otto also wanted to drive all the captured reindeer back to his hometown, but most of the deer died.
The Russians used the prepared firewood to light ten bonfires on the ice.
The ice sheet reflects the moonlight and starlight, and there is a very dim aurora in the sky. Even when night falls, the visibility in the entire world is actually not low due to ice and snow. If the army sets off by force, they can still march at night.
But due to the fatigue of traveling, all they could do was talk about the future while eating dry food. Rose lay in the prepared wide deerskin and kept twisting his body. The whole body was wrapped into a meat dumpling, and the deerskin became an excellent sleeping bag.
As for all the Kovin tribesmen, they could only wrap themselves in their own burlap clothes and rely on the warmth of the campfire.
The oil-rich pine branches were burned and crackled, and Rurik was a little surprised that the bonfire seemed to have no effect on the ice.
Many people have fallen asleep. Otto is sitting around the campfire, drinking a bottle of strong wine. Now is the time to get drunk.
Otto dragged his dizzy body to Rurik, who was staring at the fire in a daze, and suddenly said: "Soon, we will be able to go back?"
"Dad, Are you drinking?" Rurik turned and asked.
Otto forced a smile: "The last bottle, go back to Roseburg, and you have to make more for me. Tell me, what revelation has God given you? We still have to stay on the ice. How long?"
"Maybe two days. If it's fast, one day." "So soon?" Otto was overjoyed. Without any doubt, he patted Rurik on the shoulder again: "Go to bed early, we have to leave quickly tomorrow morning."
In fact, Rurik's estimate was a bit conservative. In fact, the Ross army only On the first day, I ran for 70 kilometers! If they had set off earlier, they could have gone further.
This is an amazing journey, even for someone who has been trained to use itA reindeer can run eighty kilometers a day, which is basically the limit of a female deer, but a male deer can run a little further.
The Russians are actually in the center of the bay!
Although it is in the center, the ice layer is close to two meters thick. In many places, the ice layer is ten meters thick, and even more exaggerated. This is also because it freezes slowly and has such low salt content. Sea ice is as hard as stone. The breakage of excessively thick ice will be dangerous icebergs in the future
However, the natural ductility of sea ice causes the frozen sea surface and the ice in some areas to become abnormal. That kind of abnormality is the result of the Russians and farmers. Deers and Corvins have never been seen trying.
The next day, before dawn, the Russians started a new journey.
What is very bad is that because some people did not do a good job in keeping out the cold, as many as ten women and children from the Salmon Lord tribe were found to have melted into the ice sheet when they were trying to wake them up. One body.
No one is overly sad, but more of a pity.
Because everyone knows that they are challenging a brand new unknown. As long as they step into the ice sea, no wonders or tragedies will be unimaginable.
However, the distorted earth finally made everyone wary.
“What is that?!” Rurik pointed his little finger at the bulge in front and asked loudly.
Otto squinted his eyes, which were about to be blinded by the sunlight reflected on the ice, and speculated: "Maybe it's just pure ice."
"Huh? Could it be that ice can also form a wall? Wall?!”
In fact, everyone gradually felt that the movement of the sleigh became slower and the reindeer’s breathing became heavier.
Blacksmith Kawei had experience. He urgently made a tune to determine the verticality. He was shocked to realize that the entire team was actually climbing, and everyone was on an uphill slope.
The uphill slope of the ice sea?
That’s the truth.
The expanding sea ice caused it to bulge on the sea surface into a huge strip-shaped bulge. It stretched for more than fifty kilometers, and its height reached an unprecedented twenty meters!
Because they had been going uphill slowly, the Russians did not notice it for a while, and they had never experienced this situation.
At the front of the team, due to the ice breaking due to the excessive internal stress of the ice, an extremely bulging iceberg with a total height of thirty meters suddenly appeared in front of everyone.
"Dad, it seems we have to move on." Rurik encouraged.
Otto's heart was beating wildly. He could not understand what he was seeing. Obviously, it must be Odin who could create such a miracle - freezing the seaside and creating a big iceberg.
"Let's go! Let's conquer it!"
The sled at the head of the team went all out, and the reindeer panted horribly, dragging the sled up one pit at a time.
When Rurik finally stood on the top of the iceberg, what he saw completely made him tremble.
AuTuo Yi was so excited that he could not speak, because in the distance was the earth!
Even if it is covered with snow, it is still the earth! Through the perfectly clear air, the land of Scandinavia appeared to Otto, Rurik and his son, and even children like Lumia, Lumi, Taravis and Sepolava who were accompanying them.
No one observed the earth from such a perspective. Otto keenly noticed that there was a small special bulge on the ground in the northwest, and he couldn't help but tremble further.
"Rurik! There!" Otto stretched out his trembling fingers towards the bulge over there: "Could it be that there is..."
Rurik looked at that place from a distance Looking at the seemingly abrupt hills, he said calmly with a smile: "You guessed it right, it's Fort Ross! It's our home! On this coastline, there is only one hill next to our Fort Ross."
Otto looked up to the sky and sighed as if a weight had been lifted off him, and then knelt on the ground excitedly. He faced the sun and raised his hands, praising: "Great Odin, thank you for your gift, we are back home!"
He quickly stood up again and faced all the people under the "ice hill" He and his servants drew out their swords, pointing directly at the world covered by ice hills.
Otto roared: "Brothers! Rossburg is ahead! Let's go home! Go home!"
More and more people are realizing what happened. The leader's sled suddenly disappeared (it had already run to the other side of the ice hill), and the other sleds followed closely behind.
Finally, everyone can see the earth clearly. The stars and the sun are no longer needed to navigate the next journey. The raised hills of the frozen coastline are like lighthouses, attracting nearly two of these menstrual holidays. Children of the month, return to Roseburg.
And the final journey home is only the last twenty kilometers.
Before the sun set, the huge team entered the fjord of Fort Ross.
People noticed a large number of moving shadows appearing from incredible directions. The Russians were instinctively on guard, and all the men who could handle weapons gathered on the frozen beach, including Rurik's children, who also held weapons to fight against possible sneak attacks.
Because the visitors clearly came from the east, everyone assumed that they were "Easterners", or that the Finns had crossed the ice sea and attacked.
However, when people with good eyesight saw the warriors on the sled holding swords high and with beards fluttering in the wind, they cried for joy this time when they were ready to fight against the invading people just now.
Niya held the two girls. She stood in the crowd, looking at her husband and son, and couldn't help but burst into tears. Looking at the huge reindeer sleigh team again, she cried even harder.
"Mom, what's wrong with you?" Carlotta asked, "Is it because they came back?"
"Yes! It's Rurik, and the big leader... "
"Why are you crying? You should be happy."
Wiping away tears, Niya gently pinched Carlotta's smiling face: "You still don't understand.. When you marry Rurik, when you also have children, you will understand how I feel. ”