Having said that, Roseburg’s winter supplies and a large number of small items for daily use were transported by southern merchants. In recent years, the older son has successfully won over the Gould family, and the material transportation situation has become official.
Otto smiled and asked: "Rurik, how much materials, especially grain, will Gould transport this year?!"
After obtaining a huge amount of grain, this time The thing that Nerurik is most proud of is that it is time to tell his father a shocking number.
Yes, every autumn, a large number of southern merchant ships carry goods to the north for sale. This spontaneous migratory bird-like trade by merchants year after year has become more and more prosperous in the past two years. How about this, Otto< /p>
Not sure? The most striking feature is that oats, once very precious to the Russians, have become common. Oats from the south are transported to the north by sea, and it has essentially become a "national strategic project." It was perfectly natural for Otto to mention this directly.
In this regard, Rurik boasted that he had made great contributions to the tribe. He proudly stretched out his hands, showing three fingers on each side: "Six hundred thousand pounds! Six hundred thousand pounds of oats have arrived in Roseburg. .”
Surprise! What a surprise!
Otto grew up to be the oldest with a beard, and his wrinkled face clearly showed that he was frightened.
Since it was his son who said it, he has no doubts, but the data is too shocking!
"Six hundred thousand pounds is really too much." Otto was so excited that his mouth was trembling, and he had no doubt about the number.
Rurik took advantage of the situation and said: "Dad, you went to Novgorod and got a lot of grain. I remember that the residents of the Ilmen Lake area had a large population, and the tributes we got were worth it." There is..."
"It's two hundred thousand pounds." Comparing the number mentioned by his son, Otto showed an unprecedented shyness when he spoke.
"I remember last year, 160,000 pounds were shipped from the east. This year the weather is bad and the grain harvest in many places has failed. How did you get 200,000 pounds?"
"Huh. This is their mission. No matter what the weather is like, if they can't complete it, someone will die. My child, your memory is still so good."
Otto's attitude was very firm, and Rurik couldn't help but Take a breath.
Now, Otto immediately asked: "You also know that it is too cold this year. Hehe, six hundred thousand pounds, I am surprised that the people of Malaren are so rich? Or have they not suffered any disaster?"
"It's really 600,000 pounds, and they were indeed hit by the disaster."
"Huh? From what you say, it's not difficult to buy so much. Gould really bought it. So much food? Wait, they can still sell food after the disaster? Are they stupid?" Otto had no intention of questioning his son, but this news was too incredible, "Rurik, your people are in Mela? Did something happen to Lun?"
As soon as he finished speaking, Otto looked at the eager faces of his son and nephew and confirmed his judgment.
Otto put on an old face: "Rurik, tell the truth, did you go to Mälaren behind my back?"
"Yes, I have been."
"Huh? You couldn't be personally involved in getting food, right?"
"That's me." Rurik puffed up his chest, "I personally organized the sixty Transporting 10,000 pounds of wheat. Let’s stop at Tombstone Island. Let’s stop by New Roseburg.”
In his son’s words, Otto had already sketched out his son’s voyage in his mind. He lamented that his only son was only nine years old, but he already dared to swim in the sea.
With emotion, he was also a little worried that his second son, who had already died, died in a sailing accident at sea.
Otto sighed deeply: "I remember that leader's name was Olegin, a stingy man. I can't believe that those Mälaren farmers were still selling food even in the year of disaster."< /p>
"Yes, that's that Olegin, I saw him."
"Huh? You actually..." Otto straightened his head immediately, wondering what he wanted to ask , sat up straight and stroked his beard, "I never thought that guy would receive a child."
"Because I brought money, dad, you know, no one will refuse silver coins."
" p>
"That's true, wait!" Otto suddenly realized a serious problem, "Silver coins? I don't like that Olegin. No matter how beautiful you are, he won't give you food. Are you I spent a huge sum of money to buy it, how much did it cost?"
Rurik said truthfully: "Forty-five thousand silver coins, I bought them for one silver coin. ."
"Ah? So many, are you crazy? You..." Otto felt like he could hardly breathe. What he thought of immediately was the loss of a huge sum of money. All the money fell into the hands of the Mellarens, which was twice as painful. He regained his consciousness with the help of others, pointed his big finger at Rurik, and called him a prodigal son three times.
Ross and Melalen have long had normal business relationships with each other, but Otto does not really respect the same leader. Since there is no tribute system, Otto recognized the hereditary status of the leader of the Melalen Tribe a long time ago. No one will break this system for no reason. Therefore, as long as the leader is from the Melalen Tribe, it does not matter if he is a cat or a dog.
Now Otto's attitude towards Olegin comes from limited contacts. That guy treated himself with inferior wine and meat when he just became the leader of Ross. This kind of malicious neglect was of course rewarded by Otto's ten years in Werder Bremen. Lahren.
At first Otto was angry, but as time went by, he had no idea about Mälaren. Anyway, businessmen from the south would come every year, and the news they conveyed was enough to keep him from really going crazy. I don’t know if I ask three questions. Now, because Mellaren did not rescue Ostara, in Otto's heart, that Olegin has added the attribute of "vicious and vicious".
Otto was eager to find out what his son had said and done to the guy.
Grain transportation for nearly two yearsIn addition to the 200,000 pounds he transported, it was obviously a famine year, and as many as 800,000 pounds of food could supply the tribe.
After calming down, Otto said: "I used force to force them in the east to hand over their grain. You! You spent a huge sum of money to buy grain. But is the private land of the Olegin family so magical?"
"No, almost all food comes from farmers." Rurik really had something to say about this matter.
He talked eloquently that the so-called acquisition of such food came from the "normal" business transactions between himself and Olegin. "Olegin needed money very much. He even sent people to negotiate with Gould. We also needed a lot of wheat. Dad, while you were still in the East, Arik and I brokered this major deal. Olegin's own fields He also suffered a disaster, but he used his private soldiers to force his people to hand over food. "Private soldiers? How many people did he have?" Otto interrupted his son decisively. .
"At least five hundred of them. They are all strong, wearing leather armor, and very capable of fighting."
At this time, Arik waved his hand with great disdain. His expression simply shows that he accepts challenges from anyone at any time: "They are all a group of cowards who have their own plans. Is bullying unarmed farmers considered powerful? A true warrior must use his sword to speak for himself on the battlefield."
The nephew's words were beautiful, but Otto was still concerned about whether the size of the private army of up to 500 people was reliable. He didn't like Olegin and he couldn't conclude that the man was a fool. In order to consolidate his authority, an alliance leader has to hire a group of ruthless people to work hard, but the strength of 500 people is somewhat astonishing.
Rurik coughed twice: "Many ordinary Melalen people are complaining about their leader. For example, some leatherworkers, shipbuilders, and other craftsmen, they heard that we Rus people After receiving the promise, they all decided to immigrate to Russia."
"A large group of craftsmen?" Otto nodded, "They had better join sincerely, and they must pay taxes. In my opinion, when I return, all these craftsmen will be moved here, New Roseburg!"
"It's absolutely possible, this is also a necessary enhancement for us," Rurik continued. , "Since Olegin is abusing the tribe, we must treat our people well, even the surrendered slaves. As long as they really work hard, we should give them some favors."
In this regard, Olegin Without making any statement, if he was allowed to make his own decision, it would be considered a favor to give the slave a fish bone.
But for those guys in Novgorod, Otto figured out a way to govern, that is, to pull one faction to fight another. Since Pine Needle Manor is the most unruly, then collect more tributes. Baishu Manor has become a loyal dog, so we will exempt him from the burden of tribute on a large scale. The completely different attitude towards the two is to express to the owner of the small manor who is the most suitable to follow.
Many talented people from the Melalen tribe immigrated to Rus, which is a good thing.
Look at my son again. I am afraid that this boy will spend all his money to buy food.Even if the son was very kind, he would not be able to distribute the food to everyone for free.
"Rurik, I don't blame you for spending money. You have 600,000 pounds of wheat, how do you plan to use it?"
"I have already thought about it. My men spend every day Everyone has wheat to eat, and maybe two hundred pounds a day is enough. I will sell a lot of wheat to our tribe, and I have a good price, selling it for ten pounds for one silver coin."
" Huh? Wait!" Otto suddenly realized, and then laughed, "You, I wronged you. You really didn't suffer."
The difference between the purchase price and Shoujia's is a pound of wheat. Otto estimated that if his son really sold it, most small Russian families would be able to get enough wheat to last for half a year.
The division of labor in tribute and war has changed. Families with many mature men in the family are the biggest beneficiaries of the new regulations. Quite a few tribesmen are still poor, and Otto knows that his kind son has organized a group of poor people to work for them and given them a few silver coins as a reward. Since silver coins can buy a large amount of storable wheat, they will become a huge beneficiary of the grain transportation operation.
Now that his father's attitude has changed, Rurik took advantage of the situation and said bluntly: "Dad, I don't care about those silver coins. What I want is food, cloth and iron. In the cold night, silver coins can't keep out the rain, let alone the cold." There is no point in guarding a mountain of silver. It is useful only to become a mountain of food. I have indeed received God's favor, but it does not mean that I have the right to abuse the people and dominate. Since my destiny is to lead Ross to prosperity, I must give favor to all the Rus' people, so that when any disaster strikes and the silver coins become useless, the people know that their leader will ensure that everyone does not freeze to death and starve to death, and our rule will last long. "
Otto was a little skeptical, but he couldn't say that his son's words were wrong. My son's actions in the past two years have indeed fulfilled the essence of these remarks. When this kid really takes full power, the acts of kindness should be expanded.
Thinking of this, Otto looked at Arik again, "Arik, you heard it all. Your kind brother is not a killing warrior, he is an Asgardian who has descended to earth. You have to take good care of him. Assist him, and you are obliged to help your brother eradicate anyone who dares to fight against us."
"I will, that is..."
"What's wrong? asked Otto.
"Maybe I shouldn't say this."
"You say!"
"Yes. It was my brother and that Olegin who signed more Agreements, such as the sword and spear trade. Although we will gain huge profits from this trade, but..." "Is there such a deal?" Otto immediately looked at it. He looked at his son and quickly asked why.
A steel spearhead can be expected to be sold for half a pound of silver, and a steel sword can be sold for one pound of silver, except for crossbows.
If this hugely profitable trade can last for a long time, the Russians' warehouses will not quickly pile up into mountains of gold and silver. Rurik also pointed out that trade permission "wheat and cloth were exchanged for weapons."The trade is mutually guaranteed by the credibility and honor of Chief Melalen and Chief Ross. Rurik completely borrowed his father's authority to do this. .
Aric raised his concerns, "Olegin is almost a dying man, he is aging like a corpse. He has a son named Karl who is going to be the next generation leader of the alliance. I despise this guy. He is superficial and lustful. He is so conceited that he thinks Danes are nothing more than that. He is also very disdainful of us Russians. "
Otto had long been prejudiced against the distinguished landowners of Melalen, so he waved his hand, "The owners of those huge farmlands are the directors of Melalen. Since you mentioned Karl, I remember this guy. When this man was a child, he had already had sex with women. "
Otto couldn't hide his restlessness when he said this. He looked at his nephew and son, "That Karl can do a lot of things. I admire him very much when it comes to reproducing descendants. This kid. Rurik! "
"Huh? ”
“There are already many women around you. Boy, I want to have more grandchildren before I die. And for you Arik, is one Peravina enough? My brother Ogier is dead. If he were alive, he would also ask you to marry more. I just admire Olegin, his family is prospering. "
Rurik and Arik were speechless.
Arik felt that his uncle was praising that idiot, so he slapped the table and emphasized, "But Karl is arrogant. Guys, I'm afraid this person will tear up the alliance and attack us if he takes power. And Olegin wants to buy the best weapons, I..."
"Are you worried about them attacking us? Otto waved his hand, "You think highly of them." Look, I don't believe they would betray their honor. Anyone who dares attack our tribe and die in battle cannot go to Valhalla because your brother is here. "
"Those guys don't believe in my brother's identity at all! "Aric said quickly.
"Pay attention to your emotions. "Otto scolded, and then said, "He bought weapons to arm his own private soldiers. If they really intend to attack us, why bother doing the grain business, but should interrupt all trade. Besides, do we have any actual conflict? Without my supply of furs, they would live on linen. They will all freeze to death. ”
“But! That Carl blasphemed us. ”
“It’s unbecoming for a fool to make you furious. "Otto curled his lips to show his composure, and told his nephew to shut up.
"Stop arguing. Rurik Zhou frowned and banged on the table, "Dad, this is the agreement signed between Olegin and I. If there is any problem, I will be responsible for it." I take responsibility. If there ever comes a day when we have to fight against each other, we Russians will definitely defeat any enemy. Moreover, Olegin himself has no ill intentions, at least he himself has no ill intentions towards us. ”
“I hope so. "Arik said disdainfully.
Rurik didn't want to talk nonsense with his cousin anymore and looked at his father's face.Eyes, "Dad, Olegin recognized Carlotta as the female leader of the Ostara tribe, and he also verbally apologized for the lack of reinforcements. He also made a decision, which is to gather all the leaders next spring to go to Mälaren. Conference."
"Is there such a thing? The last conference was ten years ago." Otto thought about it carefully. The guy who was about to die of old age needed to discuss a major matter.
"Rurik, what does Olegin want to do? Do you... have any news?" Otto asked cautiously.
"I'm afraid, it's a war." Rurik said quietly.
"Well, is it possible that he really went crazy and attacked us? Then what else should I do? Eradicate all the Merlaren merchants first." Otto suddenly felt a little scared.
“No!” Rurik was speechless for a moment and said hurriedly, “In my opinion, Olegin is guilty, otherwise he would not recognize Carlotta’s identity. Many tribes are questioning Melalen , the tribes in the south, such as the Hjelmalen people of the Glen, have formed an alliance. What will Melalen mean in the long run? I guess, Olegin wants to take revenge on Denmark, and we need to organize a coalition expedition! Oh, maybe I am too worried! Well, that old guy just wants to reminisce with the tribal leaders before he is about to die?"
After saying this, Otto understood the meaning and thought about it from his perspective. The alliance has been humiliated and humiliated. What if the leader does not take revenge? It's better to just commit suicide and let those who have the courage to take revenge come.
"If this is true, we will sell weapons even more!" Otto slapped his thighs, completely ignoring his nephew's worries, because this is a good thing that brings fame and fortune, so there are so many things to consider? Don't be too clever to be fooled by your cleverness. "Next spring? It's not a big problem. Arik!"
"Yes."
"Askard will be one year old next year. You take him to Novgorod. Rhodes."
Aric was surprised: "Huh? Do you want me to organize a servant army?"
"I asked you to ask for it. Gong, your brother and I will go to Melalen. I am the leader, so let’s do it.”
“Okay.” Aric realized that it was pointless to argue, and he hung his head helplessly.