Chapter 372 I want to stay

Otto naturally regarded hydraulic forging as a manifestation of miracles, so the Iron Squirrel tribe was able to produce a large number of iron tools, which must have shown the gods' favor for the Russian people. He became more confident and in a very happy mood.

The axes and spearheads were sorted and packed a second time, and began to be thrown onto the ship one after another.

When he came to this former campsite again, he was eager to take a good look at some "famous attractions", such as riding on a two-wheeled cart pulled by reindeer and traveling through the area where the tribesmen were using their axes. The hard-cut dirt road leads directly to the mine not far away.

Of course Rurik was also one of the visitors, including almost all of his mercenaries.

The forest in early winter was extremely quiet. At this time, Yevluo was carrying a short wooden bow, with an arrow always on the bowstring.

Contrary to Jevlo's nervousness, Otto treated everything that followed with a rather lazy look. He just sat cross-legged on the car, not caring about the bumps beneath him.

It is already the third day of arrival. As long as we stand on the top of the mine again, recall the battles in the past, and overlook the world that is not yet covered with snow, the trip will come to an end.

"Don't be too nervous. Are you still worried about bears?" Otto said casually.

He did not dare to let go of Jevlo's arrow, "Big leader, there are many bears here, and we may encounter wolves. We'd better be careful."

"Absurd, those When bears see us, we should run away. Oh, they'd better show up so I can eat bear meat tonight." "Better be careful," Jevro's vigilance remained unabated. , "Those brown bears will attack any prey in order to hibernate. They are just beasts and don't know how powerful we are."

Otto shrugged, not wanting to talk nonsense anymore. But for a mercenary to be so vigilant, it really puts his master at ease.

This dirt road only cut down the trees and dug out some of the roots. How do they clear all the tree stumps from the roads, given the small population of the entire Ironburgh population? What’s even more amazing is that some seemingly dead tree stumps actually sprouted new branches.

Otto felt that his butt was quite uncomfortable, and the swaying feeling made him fall asleep.

No, Rurik was already wrapped in a deerskin blanket, nestled next to Otto, resting on his legs.

Jevro was worried about encountering a bear, so he looked at the short wooden bow in his hand and used this simple weapon to hunt a snowshoe rabbit. The best way to hunt bears is still a spear and a crossbow.

The armed group was indeed not afraid of bears, but they were stunned when they encountered strange pedestrians.

Yes, this road is not exclusive to Otto’s team today.

There are two reindeer carts, each pulled by a deer. The charioteer is not a bad old man, but a kid in thick leather clothes. The cart was pulling a large number of shiny black stones, which were obviously ores.

The child saw a group of people armed with weapons.He stayed where he was, subconsciously shaking with nervousness.

"Why are children pulling ore?" Otto muttered and ordered his men not to give them any trouble.

The team gradually faded away, and Otto’s ears were filled with the discussions of his men.

Otto turned his head curiously and saw the two cars driving quickly through the rugged road. Even though the cars were pulling heavy loads, this fully proved that although they were children, They are also a group of veterans.

The mine is just ahead! All the trees blocking the view disappeared. Otto saw the mountain and a small mountain fortress suddenly standing under the mountain.

Rurik was woken up by his father: "Don't sleep, we are here."

"Oh, we have arrived at their cemetery hill fort." Rurik rubbed Eye, the term he mentioned attracted Otto's strong attention.

"Huh? Tomb? Hill fort?"

"Yes, that's the name of this settlement. They...are the enemies we killed last year, they are the gray squirrel tribe "I built a cemetery for them under the hill." "You... you are so boring." Otto couldn't say anything, but he really went to the place and saw the kindness of the locals. Attitude, Otto discovered something.

The woman named Porla, who is good at dressing up as an owl, is the only priestess of the entire tribe.

Otto was a little curious, why did he just see Mechasta kneeling down? Their priest turned out to be here to preside over the women and children mining.

He originally thought that the abilities of women and children were poor. Only when he actually stood on the hill and saw the traces of excavation everywhere, Otto had to admire this group of people.

Those tribal women hold hammers or axes to hammer and hit big rocks.

A group of children dressed like little bears lay down on the ground one after another. Their knees were sewn with thick leather pads, and their hands were covered with simple gloves. They picked up the stones crushed by the women and threw them into the ground. It hurts the basket, and in the end it's basically the child carrying the basket down the hill.

Otto doesn’t think this is something to admire, and Rurik doesn’t think there’s anything wrong with it now.

This is the era of this era. In any tribe or tribe, a child, even if he is only five years old, must help his family with housework and material production. The pressure to pay tribute is on every ordinary member of the Iron Squirrel tribe, and everyone, even a child, has to fight for it.

Just because they are children, we must not ignore that they are also a kind of labor force.

It was the women and children of the tribe who were responsible for the mining and transportation of ore. This naturally made Otto think a lot.

These children who walked past him and carried rattan baskets full of ores, suddenly saw the shadow of Kawei in his childhood.

That is an outstanding young blacksmith, and perhaps the most promising blacksmith in the entire Ross tribe now and in the future. When he was very young, he was brought up by his fatherEntering the mountains near Roseburg, the child started by carrying stones and gradually became the good blacksmith he is today.

I am afraid that these working boys will become good iron tools, and the entire Elon Olawa Fort will become a real city of blacksmiths.

Otto didn’t dare to expect too much about the future. He wanted to live a long life, but he didn’t know if God would give him a chance.

Standing on the only commanding height, Otto overlooks the entire world. He squinted his eyes, and under the "scorching sun" that was the only one that brought him a bit of warmth at noon, he saw a huge bay and an increasingly blurry sea horizon.

To the north of the hills, the river named Ellon River is still flowing peacefully. Last time, it was still a walkable glacier, so is it starting to freeze? The answer is yes.

Otto no longer wanted to stay any longer. Standing on the top of the hill, he took off his leather hat, revealing his head with sparse hair. He stroked his son's shoulder: "We did not make a mistake. This mine belongs to us. Is it right to let a group of women and children continue to mine?"

Rurik was pressed down slightly by his father. Feeling unhappy, he broke away and hung his hands helplessly: "Then move some people here."

"Let our people come?"

"Are they willing to come here?"

Rurik's rhetorical question amused Otto: "Yes, with the warm New Roseburg here, how could they immigrate to the cold here?"

"Still. We need to move some people. That’s right!” Rurik stamped his feet suddenly, “Let those deer farmers come! Let Rumia’s uncle bring all the deer farmers.”

“Them? Are they slaves? What are you going to do? Are you really joking? They were forced to mine, and now you ask them to mine?”

He was stunned for a moment. He wanted to say this and that, but for a moment he thought of something, something he would definitely do from the perspective of a deer farmer.

"Our deer herd."

"Deer herd?"

"Yes. Soon, it will be winter grazing time for deer farmers." Rurik pointed to the land in the north, "Dad, you should understand that the winter pasture over there is very important to deer farmers."

"Oh, you want to breed those deer? You want me to do that?" What?"

"Let them move here with their herds. I think it is most suitable for him and his people to settle in Ironburg. They are very familiar with this place."

Otto shook his head and smiled bitterly, feeling unreliable: "Aren't you afraid that they will run away?"

"It doesn't matter, we will detain them. The children of the deer farmers must be trained by me in Fort Ross. I don’t believe that they will leave their children behind when they run away." "You!" Otto was stunned. "You kid... are quite ruthless."

Rurik said with a calm face, "Those children are hostages. I believeI believe they are smart people and can live well if they can pay some tribute. They are crazy and want to run away. ”

Otto also had a dull face. He felt that his son had other plans.

Originally, Otto had set the departure date for tomorrow, but he was just worried. A sudden snowfall strikes, or the river and sea suddenly freeze. He needs to hold a small meeting, summon his cronies to make arrangements, and leave Ironburg along the cold north before noon tomorrow.

When the day begins to darken, Otto has returned to his warm residence.

Any settlement controlled by the tribe must have a "palace" because of the chief's residence in Ironburg. The one in Rossburg was designed by Rurik himself, so the two were naturally very similar.

When Otto sat in the hall, he felt that it was different from sitting at home. It's not very big. There are just a bunch of stuffed bear heads hanging on the wall of the hall, which fully demonstrates the great achievements of the leader's family. He can't wait to put them in his home in Roseburg.

Maybe. OK, as long as the people here continue to kill a group of bears.

Now, Mechasta and Priest Porla have been summoned by Otto to settle here. Representatives were asked to participate in this small meeting.

What will be discussed at the meeting?

Otto made an impromptu speech. In addition to praising the loyalty of the Iron Squirrel tribe, he also expressed his gratitude to the Iron Squirrel tribe. The settled Russian people gave some encouragement. But his words lacked the power of "making a big picture" like Rurik, and they were basically an explanation of established facts.

What did Rurik say? Sitting in the venue, he felt that his father's true love was New Roseburg. He could use all the beautiful words he knew to describe it, but it seemed that it was only worthy of being a settlement that produced ironware.

Otto finally said the most important thing, especially to Mechasta. Even though everyone already understood it, Otto still wanted to emphasize it.

" I saw your warehouse and you stocked up a lot of fish. I thought you could eat them all just by your appetite? I will keep my promise and reward you with a batch of precious wheat. But you, Mechasta. Soon the winter hunting of us Rus people will begin. Hundreds of the most powerful warriors of the tribe will be stationed in your mountain fortress. You must serve them well. "

"Yes! "Mechasta gritted his teeth. He really had no choice but to agree.

Only Mechasta understands the people of the Iron Squirrel tribe best. They are essentially afraid of the Ross warriors, unless they are among the warriors. It is the boy Rurik's subordinates who will give them some peace of mind. Most of the Russians bring plunder and killing, but Rurik is the only one among them who seems to be a reasonable and good person.

Saiporava met her father and her tribe and told everyone what she had seen in Fort Ross.

What consequences did this bring?

Otto continued: "All your goods have been loaded on the ship, and we will leave tomorrow. I saw that you are still stocking up on ore. Are you planning to continue smelting in the winter?"

"You are very If you are smart, you will be rewarded if you please us. However, you need to prepare now."

"I am willing to serve you"

Mechasta is respectful on the surface, but he is secretly cursing. Otto is a bad person, and he is always worried that this person will make some harsh demands.

But what was supposed to come came.

Otto asked the tribesmen to build more wooden houses so that the Ross hunters could live in them during winter hunting. Although Ironburg is the "city of blacksmiths", in the years to come, Ironburg will also be a hunting stronghold for the Russians.

Otto announced a very clear time: "When our Hanukkah is over, when the day of complete darkness has passed, I will return with a large number of people and my Rurik . Before I arrived, your master Rurik said that a group of deer herders would arrive early and they would also use Ironburg as a starting point for grazing. ”

Mechasta didn't object to the deer herders staying there, and it wasn't like the deer herders didn't know their identities? He had a conversation with the leader of the deer herders. Everyone became servants of the Rus people, and the two ethnic groups did not have to meet to fight. In this regard, Rurik cleverly mediated, saying "You have similar languages ​​​​means you have a common ancestor", which completely brought the relationship between the two ethnic groups closer.

Alsaka, who is especially concerned about family relationships, has forgotten that he was once enslaved by the Iron Squirrel tribe.

Those deer farmers really like to set up tents and fences in the wilderness, all for the convenience of grazing. They have never had economic competition with the Kovin people, and the two parties can even trade furs.

Russ hunters, they are not hunters at all, they are clearly a terrifying army.

He only hopes that his mountain fortress and his people will not be harassed and violated by Ross warriors.

If you really want to do something, do it openly and openly. For example, Mechasta wished that the women in her tribe whose husbands had died would become pregnant again. Those women have their own will. They are rejecting their own tribe, or they are rejecting incest marriage out of instinct. They also do not want a man to have ten women easily. They wanted a foreign husband in the hope of new births to make up for the tribe's serious population losses.

They don't even care much about the fidelity of their new husband, as long as he is not hated and feared.

First of all, thatThese Rus warriors who brought suffering and ruined all past lives were not considered.

Mechasta was a little anxious about this kind of thing, and he did not dare to tell Otto. He was actually looking forward to the deer farmers. After all, the two sides had already developed some feelings for each other during the two months they had been living in Fort Ross.

Otto felt that he had made his words very clear. Unexpectedly, Rurik, who seemed to have no intention of speaking, suddenly spoke at the last moment.

"Dad, I have decided that I will not leave before the hunting army led by you arrives."

"Huh?" The absurd feeling was written all over Otto's face Old face, "What did you say? Do you want to stay in this cold place?"

"Yes!"

Rurik's emphasis surprised everyone. Yu Mechasta felt a little secretly happy. He knew that this child must have a new plan, which might be beneficial to the tribe.

No, Mechasta hurriedly expressed his position: "Big Chief, since the master has such an attitude, I will do my best to entertain my master."

Otto sighed. Ya, he really didn't know what his son's sudden whim wanted to do.

Rurik's explanation was even more bizarre: "I want to cut down wood."

"What to cut down wood for?"

"Build a big ship."

p>

"Ship building? Isn't the wood from Roseburg good? Don't you trust those Melalen craftsmen?" Otto asked confusedly.

“But the trees are too short and the trunks are too slender.”

Hearing this, Otto became even more impatient: “Can’t small trees satisfy you?”< /p>

"It's really not enough. We need more than just a very long keel. Dad, this is my decision. I must do this for our big ship. Then please take me to Say hello to my mother. I will personally supervise the felling of the big tree, and all my mercenaries will stay here."

Otto is still hard to understand, but if his son is taken away by force, this kid will definitely be furious. Why does a child's rage matter? It's just how ruthless this kid is that sometimes it's really scary. The more he thought about it, the more Otto thought about how this child, only seven years old, dared to challenge his father with a giant sword in his hand to protect a favored slave.

But that slave is really in trouble now. Rumia, the high priest Vilia regarded her as his granddaughter and used all his experiences to train the new high priest of the tribe.

After much deliberation, my son’s refusal was for the benefit of the tribe.

"Okay! Just stay. If you have any other requests, just ask me and I will help you."

"You are really an enlightened father." Rurik The taut smiling face immediately became happy, and he opened his mouth to make a series of requests.

At this time, Otto was a little surprised, because all these requirements were to organize a team, set off north when the sea was frozen and the ground was covered with silver, and then pull a full 50,000 pounds food, and all of Rurik's mercenaries, including those recently recruited, must arrive in Roseburg before December of the Julian calendar. Among them, there must also be deer farmers and deer herds.

Does it take so much effort to cut down a big tree?

Otto didn’t want to ask any more questions, and his son’s decisions were never just nonsense. Anyway, all he pulls are his food, and all he sends are his men. As the leader, he just gives orders.