Finally at the end of April, a large number of cracks began to appear in the ice covering the sea like a rock.
The wind direction finally changed, and the people of Roseburg were finally able to feel the warm wind from the south, which offset the coldness of the Arctic and brought hope.
The sea ice that once created wonders is disintegrating at a very fast rate.
Those huge ice packs that were once formed due to sea ice stress broke away from the ice, were either blown by the wind, or guided by weak ocean currents. They are large floating icebergs that are constantly changing. into a large number of "icebreakers". They crash around in the sea, accelerating the thawing of the main sea area.
To the south of Roseburg, on the island of Gotland, the situation has improved greatly.
The freezing period, which is longer than last year, has brought great trouble to people in the south. Finally, the floating sea ice has left a navigable road, and Gotland fishermen can’t wait to push their boats back. In the sea, in order to fill their stomachs, they fished hard at the risk of being squeezed by the ice and destroying the boat and killing people.
Their food reserves are indeed running out. If the sea ice does not melt, famine will kill many islanders.
The situation has become like this. As Gotland Islanders, how much can they miss about the new trade season?
Trade? Of course there is trade. But the bigger problem now is survival.
If life becomes really difficult, why not just land in Götaland and continue to attack the north with the local brothers?
The idea of launching a military offensive to solve Gotland's internal dilemma quickly spread within the island. Facts have proved that the Svian alliance is not as stable as it seems, and most of those people's combat effectiveness is relatively weak.
Except for individual tribes in the alliance, such as the Melalen people and the Rus people, they are powerful.
Since the Danes are willing to support the Gotlanders in the alliance and launch an attack with the help of the Danish military strength, if they suffer fierce revenge from the enemy, the commander of the Danish Alliance will still lead a large army to participate in the war. .
Once a war breaks out, it will not only be the Gotlanders' own problem.
This is the thinking of the Gotlanders. Their thinking is typical Viking style, full of outright adventure, and they are gambling with the fate of the island.
The elders of each family gathered together for a meeting when the ice and snow were still there to discuss what kind of robbery would best maximize the benefits.
Coincidentally, the Russians were thinking the same thing.
Those young people who followed Otto and fought victorious battles in the "Eastern Land" told their fellow countrymen who stayed behind about their experiences. They exaggerated their achievements and boasted about the enemy's power and their ability to kill them. How many people.
The young people marveled at the feats of the heroes. They gripped their swords and axes, eager to become new heroes.
Today there is a young hero who is most respected by everyone.
Aric, he is really RossThe elite of the young tribe is the former "war chief" who attracts the attention of young people.
"We should continue to fight! We must continue to take revenge! We must grab more food, leather, money, and women." Young warriors always recall last year's events on boring winter nights. Glory, and strengthens these four major needs of a man.
As the ice begins to thaw, their calls for a new war grow louder. Arik has undoubtedly become the spokesperson for young people's demands, and he has become very radical, which makes Otto a little upset.
It's entirely because this radicalness suddenly became somewhat inappropriate.
Otto did not completely reject Arik's decision. As the leader, he had already determined that the main work this year would be spent on construction. As for launching a retaliatory war, it is possible, but don't even think about sending a thousand outstanding warriors to sweep Gotland like Arik's previous proposal!
Aric has become extremely warlike. After all, he is a man from the Ross tribe and a hero in battle. After receiving the first honor, he desires more. In fact, it is his simple desire to show a stronger self in front of his wife.
Who can make Arik calm down and carry out revenge on a limited scale rationally? Otto naturally thought of Rurik. Because Arik really loves his younger brother.
The ice and snow continued to melt, and some of the businessmen who had paid a commercial tax scolded the Russians for their shamelessness, while some could only comfort themselves and admit defeat because they could accept the loss. Wanting them to be happy and clap their hands that the Russians are absolutely right in collecting taxes is really a crazy idea.
There are indeed businessmen who plan to leave and never come back. Most of the businessmen are forced to make a living, so they have to row back in the autumn, because without the Russian fur trade, what else can they do?
All people staying in Roseburg are welcoming the melting of ice and snow in their own way.
The frozen Roseburg became lively, and all the streams that fed into the fjord became violent.
There are a large number of ice cubes floating on the sea. The golden light of the rising sun shines on them. The ice floes are densely intertwined like a warrior's chainmail. Their dull collision sound makes the Russians full of hope.
The priests are organizing a large-scale sacrifice, which is also the largest festival for the Rus people after the Winter Solstice Hanukkah.
It must be the blessing of worshiping the gods. The old high priest has survived the coldest days. The breeze from the south began to blow, and her haggard body seemed to have regained a lot of vitality.
Vilia continued to assign Rumia to concurrently serve as the high priest, responsible for a series of sacrificial activities.
Palla, who had been making soap for Rurik for a long time, was a priest by profession, and she also began to lead a group of maids under Rurik to serve as lower-level priests.
Compared with last year, this year’s sacrificial activities will be more impressive.
Not only the number of types of sacrifices has increased, but also the sacrifices this time are notOnly for the Russians.
Those Kewen people and deer farmers have their own gods they worship. Even though they were forced to move to the territory of the Ross people, within Ross Fort, they got the tacit approval of their leaders, built their own altars with stones and branches, and started their own sacrificial activities before the Ross people.
Because they know that when the ship can sail, each will rush to their respective destinations.
Even if the deer farmers know that Roseburg is the hometown of their ancestors, they don’t mind anything as they live in pursuit of water and grass. The only condition for a deer farmer to receive Rurik's protection is to take good care of Rurik's deer herds and multiply them. The ultimate goal is to achieve self-sufficiency in leather and venison.
This has never happened before! The Russians just watched the strange sacrificial rituals of these foreigners, or rather Rurik's foreign slaves. The so-called priests dressed themselves like birds, and surrounded the campfire, beating two wooden sticks while imitating bird calls.
The "little warriors" under Rurik's command will also perform their own sacred performances in the new sacrificial activities.
To put it bluntly, compared to dedicating sacrificial activities to the gods to obtain God's favor, Rurik felt that this idea was too idealistic.
Rurik has lived in such an environment for so many years. He believes that this is the real reality. There is also a God who created everything in the vast universe, and that God is the singularity of the Big Bang. God is God. As the saying goes, "Heaven and earth are unkind and treat all things as stupid dogs." Russians cannot always think that they can get God's favor.
Whether you can do anything well depends on whether you have made the effort first.
The target of sacrifice is not God, but the majority of people. To put it bluntly, sacrifices are for the people to see. Since everyone believes in this, it is normal to perform a ceremony to make everyone feel at ease. Based on this mentality, Rurik wants to make this year's sacrifice even grander to improve the self-confidence of his people!
Boys and girls have started a new training. They were asked by Rurik to line up in a neat square formation around the future beach altar. They must march on the beach in neat steps and let all the The onlookers saw the Ross children’s different demeanor.
This matter is within Rurik’s plan. As a parent, how can you not be happy when you see your son doing something amazing? A large group of children are doing goose-stepping and complex formation changes. While their parents are excited, they will also marvel at the wisdom of the leader.
When is the day of the priests? That depends on the sea ice situation.
On May 5th of the Julian calendar, a group of fishing boats that boasted thick hulls had appeared on the sea full of ice floes. Some fishermen can't wait any longer. They just want to go fishing for cod in today's harsh land reclamation. Others who were watching them return with big fish on their backs were also eager to hold on to their own big nets, eager to carry out this year's trawling work.
Finally, the day of sacrifice was determined to be May 10th, which was also the day.When the morning rituals are completed, the priest declares that it is safe for all ships to head to the sea.
Villa believes that on that day, there will no longer be any threatening ice floes.
Just like in previous years, this year Otto must convene a meeting of all the respected members of the tribe to formally determine this year's "Spring Tribute Navigation" that has been late.
In addition, Otto also had to put on a serious face to face his ambitious nephew Arik.
The wooden house where the meeting was held was extremely warm. After all, young Rurik was already a real figure in the tribe. He participated in a formal meeting of the tribe for the first time.
Looking at the old guys with beards around them, I knew most of them, and some looked familiar but couldn’t name them. They are all old acquaintances of my father and the so-called "wise men" of the tribe residents.
What is very special here is undoubtedly Arik sitting cross-legged and his very unique way of appearing.
"Aric. Why are you wearing chain mail?" The moment they met, Otto's dull face suddenly became energetic.
Arik hit his chest with his fist: "Big leader, this is my attitude! You understand."
"Yes! I understand..." Otto didn't say much more He grinned and shook his head, thinking that I would convince you later.
There was no conference table, everyone sat cross-legged, with some dried meat and dried plums beside them, and most importantly, the spirit "RUSVODKA".
Based on such a meeting scene, Otto's noble leader image was not revealed. He seemed very approachable, and his deep eyes showed his sophistication.
With a pair of big hands on his shoulders, Rurik was forced to nestle in his father's arms.
This boy is extraordinary. He has beautiful golden hair, an extremely clean white face, and a pair of clear blue eyes. His clothes look simple but are actually gorgeous, and the steel sword inlaid with gems worn on the patterned belt makes him even more noble.
Otto had a drink first and announced the most critical issue.
“We have been discussing for many days, and the further construction of our New Roseburg must be implemented. I will lead a group of people to continue to demand tribute, and also to inspect the wintering conditions of our stranded tribesmen. So some of the tributes I asked for will support those tribesmen. I hope you all agree." "I completely agree," Haro Zuosen said quickly: "Everyone here can see what you have done. It’s for the good of our tribe. If it can make us stronger, I fully support it.”
Others also expressed their opinions. In the final analysis, everyone agrees, only on some details. I have a unique but innocuous little point of view on a small issue.
"Very good, you have made the final decision and you fully agree with it." Otto looked at everyone and mentioned something else. This time, he specifically pushed Rurik to the front desk.
"You saw it! My son participated in our meeting for the first time, and he will attend all important meetings in the future. In the future, they will be the big leaders you need to respect!"
Au Tuo wanted to reiterate Rurik's dignity, but in fact, this was a slap on the face of Arik, ordering him to obey his brother.
Now that things have happened, the elders no longer feel that it is necessary to hold any tribal competitions to select leaders in the future. Since Rurik has received the favor of God, it will naturally be Rurik and him in the future. The hereditary leader of the descendants. Is there any better arrangement than this?
"I will appoint Rurik to an important position." Otto announced in a rich voice: "I will appoint him to the official position of war chief."
As soon as he said this , everyone was in an uproar!
Rurik was shocked, and then felt relieved. As expected, he is not the leader yet, and he always solves many affairs on behalf of the leader, which is just the responsibility of the "imperial envoy".
As the "war chief" of the tribe, this position is basically the third highest figure in the tribe (the second is the high priest). As long as the big leader does not make new arrangements, this position will be extended indefinitely. .
For example, Haro Zuosen, who often takes on important tasks, is the "War Chief". Theoretically, if the leader of the tribe dies in battle, the "War Chief" is more likely to be elected as the new "War Chief" Big Chief”.
Theoretically, this is the case. Nowadays, the Russian system of selecting leaders, everyone can see that it has clearly begun to "family the world".
When hearing this arrangement, the person who expressed the most intense reaction was Arik, because this young man was waiting for Otto to arrange for him to serve as the "war chief" at this meeting. This is the position of military chief, and those who obtain this position have the right to lead the tribe's warriors in battle.
Aric was shocked: "Big Chief, do you plan to let your brother... let him lead the troops to fight now?"
Otto did not explain on the spot, nor did he appease the suspicion. of Rurik.
"What? Isn't it possible?"
"But he is only eight years old! Chief, do you oppose my idea and just want your younger brother to participate? This... ...It's too early for him."