The temperature in Roseburg is no longer aggressive, and even by midday one can bask in the sun's apparent warmth.
March is here, and the ice sea has no tendency to thaw yet, but everyone believes that changes are taking place invisible to the naked eye.
Until now, Roseburg's supply of supplies has been very stable. Especially the wheat in stock, they are released regularly, which basically ensures that wealthy residents will not occupy too much, and the wheat benefits most people.
What other major events happened in Roseburg during the more than three months of Rurik's absence?
In fact, there was no major incident. Days passed day by day. Just like winters in previous years, the vast majority of residents trapped in the fjord stayed at home. However, there is a group of hard-working people who are not afraid of the severe cold and work as production workers.
They went to build a camp on the ice far away from the fjord, and painstakingly used iron pestles to cut through the ice to lure the seals that were in desperate need of breathing holes to surface, waiting for the opportunity to kill them with harpoons. die. They even used the holes dug in the ice to lower their hooks and often caught some cod. After all, cod in winter are also hungry.
Just like the previous years, the seal leather was sold to merchants, the oil was sold to priests, and the seal meat and edible offal were shared by the tribesmen. In the past four months, more than 3,000 seals have been hunted, and Ross' ice hunters have further expanded their activity range.
That is to say, when Rurik built the soap industry, the great economic benefits brought unprecedented demand for oil and fat. How could the masters of seal hunting let go of this opportunity to make money? Besides, Ross residents can no longer live without soap, and they can no longer stand the greasy, smelly, and dirty conditions all over their bodies. The domestic price of soap is still the same, but now due to the huge inflow of silver coins, most Russians no longer think of soap as a rarity. As long as you catch a seal, sell the leather to a merchant, and exchange it with silver coins, you can get two pieces of sulfur soap (economical soap has been stable at one silver coin for a long time).
Most of the boys and girls in Ross were given leave. As long as there was no request from Rurik, they would not have any training in the winter, and naturally they would not receive any food rewards. There is no need to worry about children going hungry.
They have already developed the skills of fighting, logging and even archery in the warm season. Although they are young, most of them already have the ability to hunt small animals to feed themselves. What's more, their parents always stocked up enough smoked fish to last a whole winter, and even piled a wall of frozen herring at the base of the wooden house. Oh, among the army of seal hunters, there were also a group of boys carrying steel-tipped harpoons.
Only those orphans who serve completely for Rurik and are collected by various means are eligible to be nourished by Rurik's food. These boys and girls are not freeloaders. People like Carlotta, Fisk, Kanuf and others have become veritable "Kids of Children". When Rurik himself is not around, the orphans must obey the demands of these people. Either cutting wood, or working as a helper in the blacksmith shop, or doingCrisp takes part in the hard work of boiling grease to make soap.
They have strong perseverance and a grateful heart, and they are eager to grow up and become warriors as soon as possible so that they can better serve their masters. Realistically speaking, after becoming warriors, they have the right to get trophies for themselves on the battlefield.
It’s just that they don’t know that the benefits they will bring from the labor they put in during the winter far exceed the wheat they eat.
Rurik returned with a large amount of shipbuilding timber.
Rosberg in the ice and snow was filled with boredom. The hunting team returned with a large amount of supplies, causing a sensation in Rossburg.
The leader and his son came to the sacred longhouse of the priests as usual.
Many of the buildings were torn down and replaced with wood-cut ridges with wooden floors and fireplace chimneys. The chief priest's house is an old house, and it is still strong after all these years. There seems to be no need to demolish it and rebuild it.
High Priest Vilia, her withered mouth almost lost all her teeth.
Coincidentally, Rurik was eating a grilled fish in Ironburg, and one of his front teeth finally reached the critical point of falling out. Another baby tooth fell out, and Rurik's body completely entered the stage of complete tooth replacement. No, he has also grown a lot taller.
Villa seems to be able to leave in her sleep any night, and she has been prepared for it for a long time, but she has persisted until now.
"You...are finally back."
"Yes." Otto, who was sitting cross-legged casually, smiled on his face, "Great priest, you are still healthy. ."
"I...I am too old, but I have actually persisted until now."
When Villa spoke, she was wearing plain clothes and her long hair was loose. Rumia sat upright with a rope ring on her head.
Beside the high priest sat two girls, Rumia and Lumi. Their names had exactly the same meaning, and they even had the same ethnicity.
She admired these two girls, especially their personalities. The dead Bona was killed because she was greedy for money and power and forgot her duty, but these two girls are different. Vilia has seen too much, and she cannot sense the ambition of the two children. They just quietly do their work as priests and submit to their leader.
"Big boss." Vilia said softly and hoarsely: "With the blessing of God, I think I have completely completed the mission of the rest of my life. Rumia has learned everything about me, She... is qualified to hold a sacrifice independently... She is the true successor of the high priest."
"High priest?" Otto couldn't laugh anymore. He heard the danger in those words. Because Villa's official resignation will probably shock the entire Roseburg! Because Vilia has been the only high priest for countless people since they were born, and it is difficult for everyone to imagine what the era would be like without her. At least Otto now has a trace of panic
Rurik, why can’t he understand?
This one in front of meOld woman, her century age should be seventy-five years old. In the current Nordic world, this can be called a miracle for mankind.
"She should have realized that her end was approaching? Yes! That must be the case. A dying person can predict his own end." Rurik was really sad and lamented this. A woman's life.
Vilia, the high priest, was one of the first immigrants from the Rus tribe to the current location. Her life represents the past of the Rus people.
The Russians have a new beginning. Rurik dares to conclude that history will eventually judge the Russians. Everything has been different since 828 AD.
Otto continued to comfort her, like a son comforting his old mother.
Oh, in many senses, Otto regards Vilia as his mother.
"High Priest, don't have strange thoughts. You will live a long life, God will always care for you, and you will always protect Ross."
Vilia is shriveled. A smile appeared on his lips, which was completely different from the two girls sitting next to him who looked tense and nervous.
"Don't be stupid...my child. I have foretold my end, my dear, do not grieve for me when I leave, I will go to Valhalla and be promoted to the Valkyrie . Otto, sooner or later, maybe I will lead your soul to Valhalla. I hope you still remember my appearance when I was young.”
“Hey, how can I forget.” Otto laughed out loud, with a smile that was both bitter and gratifying.
Villa was also a beautiful woman when she was young. By the time Otto remembered it, Villa was already thirty years old. She still maintained her beauty, but she could not let go of the pain of losing her son, so she lost everything. Your heart and soul are devoted to serving God.
In fact, it has the mentality of "become a nun".
Villa coughed twice and tapped the wooden stick again: "Okay, you'd better tell me what you and your son encountered in the north. Tell me something new about this old man."
p>Ageing has seriously limited Vilia's mobility, and her legs and feet have become even more immobile. Recently, she can only rely on a sedan made by a lower-level priest to carry her around. She almost stayed away from the longhouse of the priests all day long, taking naps on weekdays. When she woke up, she saw the exquisite glassware placed on her pillow, and even the porridge that was boiled to pulp in the glass bowl during meals. When she sees things and thinks about emotions, the first thing she thinks of is Rurik!
Rosberg’s dramatic changes were due to Otto’s contribution and even more to Rurik’s contribution.
She stayed in the longhouse and relied on the people around her, especially Rumia, to inform her about the outside world.
For example, Rurik is hiring the best shipbuilders to build unprecedented ships.
Otto wanted to share the good news that he had led his troops to hunt for a huge amount of leather in the new Eastern Forest.
Vilia didn’t seem to take it seriously. She just wanted to know what Rurik had done.
No, Rurik told this man bluntly about the ship materials and masts.The dying high priest.
The boring life brings motivation. Vilia originally thought that after teaching Rumia everything about being a high priest, she could quietly wait for death. Now she has new hope.
"That Avora, you call the ship a woman? You are really a clever little guy. Rurik, when will your ship be finished?"
" Just this year! Just when the sea thaws." Rurik knew that her time was really running out, and she said this loudly.
"That's really a good thing."
On the surface, Vilia's expression didn't fluctuate much, but in fact, she was very excited inside. She consciously cannot be angry or ecstatic, and she cannot tolerate any violent mood swings or violent activities, otherwise her body will be like a broken ship, which can capsize at any time.
“April! It’s April! When the sea thaws, it’s time for my big ship to be launched. Now the mast materials are ready, it must have been four months, and the hull is basically completed. Wait until the new During the trade season, my ship will go to Mellaren, to New Rossburg in the east, to promote the power of our Russians."
Rurik's words did not leave any way for him to retreat, and he became more and more angry. It felt like Vilia was just hanging on with a sigh of relief, eager to witness a great existence before leaving peacefully.
So, where is the construction of the Aurora?
The returning people made the already prosperous leather trading market even more prosperous. Those leather merchants were urgently processing the various leathers they bought, and there were also leather factories like Vodgen's, where his men were seizing the time to make ready-made garments. As long as a slave is given food, it is a great kindness. This is what Fodegen did. He forced his men to work hard, and the efficiency of the labor they squeezed out was incredible. He has been selling his own clothes and hoarding goods desperately, hoping to make a lot of money in Melalen.
After returning, Rurik quickly returned to his home to rest. He soaked his whole body in the barrel and took a good bath.
Otto pursued a more comfortable enjoyment. After wiping off the soap bubbles all over his body with warm water, he got into the Finnish steam room and gave himself a massage to relieve all the fatigue of traveling. sauna. He washed himself clean so that Niya could let his wife get close to him.
Dirtyness does not belong in Roseburg, because as long as conditions permit, everyone hopes to stay clean and fresh. Soap is the key to bringing a comfortable and refreshing feeling, which naturally and objectively contributes to the overall health of Russian people.
It is very obvious that the deaths in Roseburg this winter are all elderly people, and the miraculously premature death rate of newborns is zero.
Everyone has never imagined that this is the power of soap. If there is a truth, everyone subconsciously believes that this is a new round of favor from Odin to the Russians.
On the second day after Rurik returned, Rurik took a few mercenaries and went straight to the huge shipbuilding in Hotra with a free attitude.workshop.
Before them, the sleds carrying large amounts of wood had blocked the door of the workshop, making it difficult for people to enter and exit.
The trouble is just going in and out. The shipbuilders in the workshop really want the ship materials to come over by themselves. It is best to have enough to block the door, so that they don’t have to carry a big ax and rush in.
The ship materials have been selected far away.
When Rurik came this time, he was not only anxious, but also had a clear purpose.
He wanted to discuss something with Hotla, and the other party had no right to refuse. He didn’t come empty-handed either. The hacksaw made in Ellenburg in his hand would bring new innovations to the shipbuilding industry.
"There is a clanging sound inside, they started working early in the morning." The casual Yevlo said casually.
"Maybe they worked all night. Let's go in and have a look."
It was still cold in the morning, and Rurik didn't want to continue to stick to the snow outside, and wanted to break in directly. Shipbuilding workshop.
Yevluo and the others raised their heads one after another, not to mention that this huge wooden house is not only astonishing in length, but also the internal space must be huge.
It is actually a large factory building. The big difference from the steel factory buildings that can be quickly built thousands of years later is that this factory building is purely wooden. However, it also uses a frame structure made of pine wood. After stacking a large number of logs, the factory building is completed.
Rurik’s visit was not unexpected at all. Hotla and other busy craftsmen had already made preparations.
A large number of oil lamps are lit inside the factory. The seal oil lamps provide key lighting and keep the entire factory warm. Rurik hurriedly ordered his men to close the small wooden door, and then subconsciously looked at the closed large wooden door.
He turned his head, and the sight in front of him instantly made all words redundant.
It was a large hull, significantly larger than long ships and cargo ships.
The keel of the big ship is obviously lying on a large number of pine sleepers. A large number of ribs are built around the keel. The planks attached to the ribs are layered one on top of another. It seems that the entire hull is basically completed! This was beyond Rurik's expectation.
At this moment, Hotela, standing on the bow of the ship, was holding a hammer in his hand. He enthusiastically shouted to the people below: "It's the distinguished Lord Rurik, you are finally back."
Rurik raised his head and looked at it from the current angle. He felt that the bow of the ship was four feet long. meters high, in fact it is indeed more than four stikas away from the keel.
Standing here, Rurik looked at the towering bow and sighed, "Ah! I am such a small existence. But it is me who can control this ship."