A soldier broke into the mansion of the leader of Mälaren, Olegin, with important news, which really interrupted Olegin's work.
Olegin, he has already put on his custom-made gold crown, and now he is also using a fine whetstone to carefully polish his steel sword.
This sword was imported from Fort Ross. He spent a lot of money to buy it, and this sword is indeed an artifact.
Sharpening a sword is a test of patience. He suppressed his displeasure and vowed to sharpen the sword himself until it could easily cut through cloth.
"Chief! Something happened! Those fleets..."
"You! Get back!" Holding his breath, Olegin drew out the sword, and the sharp peak pointed straight. Pointing at the soldier, the soldier was so frightened that he hurriedly knelt down.
Olegin calmed down a little. He thought about it and immediately asked: "Coming from the north?"
"Yes."
"Oh, That's the Russian people. I ordered the Russian people to make an alliance this year, and they kept the appointment. What's the fuss about this?" After saying that, Olegin shook his head and scolded: "You will all go to the battlefield, and I will lead you to attack. How come the Danes are making such a fuss over a small thing?” The soldier immediately pointed in the direction of the lake: “We saw a huge ship. A large ship sailed to Gould Island."
"Huh?" Olegin calmed down, "Is this true?"
"It's absolutely true. Indeed."
"Let's go to the dock and have a look."
Olegin in Lake Mälaren is certainly not deaf or blind, for example, the man named Bernardik. The messenger came back, and as usual he wanted to question this guy face to face about some news about the Russians.
Benardick revealed the news about Ross's man-made ship, purely out of admiration in his heart. He enriched the relevant information, and finally described nature to Olegin as a unique and huge existence.
"Can the existence of a big ship disgrace all the small boats? Make the sea monsters feel ashamed? Let the Danish red dragon (the lion Hafgen rides on the ship) feel ashamed?"
Olegin didn't believe it at first, but now he had to be vigilant after hearing the reports from his soldiers. After all, his soldiers are not really cowards, nor will they make a fuss over trivial matters. The soldier was indeed surprised. Does this mean that the Russians really got something weird this year?
Big ship? It can't really make sea monsters feel afraid.
Olegin hurriedly led a group of men into the lakeside. He squinted his eyes and looked at the release line of Gould Island. He saw that there was indeed a huge cloth-like existence on the lake in the distance.
"Sir, that's the big ship!" The soldier pointed.
"Yes, I saw it." Origen gritted his teeth and frowned.
For a moment, he wanted to take a boat to watch it closely, but then he thought about whether doing so was inconsistent with his noble status.
Olegin turned around, his current mood was one of envy, jealousy, and a sense of hatred. The Russian ship made such a fuss that the crown on his head no longer shone. When he thought that there was still a major deal to be done between the two parties, he simply cursed and left.
The Aurora docked at Gould Island. She was far larger than an ordinary cargo ship and became the center of attention the moment she arrived at the port. Besides, the wealthy Gould family has returned with a large amount of goods. The local merchants of Mälaren have been waiting for a long time. They have already begun to count their currency and wait for the opportunity to buy goods.
Now Otto has become the master of the island. He is sitting in the largest building on the island. This place has become his palace. Even the noble Rurik and Carlotta can One must condescend to this greater being.
Otto sat with his legs crossed facing the open door, with Gould and the main members of his family sitting on either side of him.
"Everything is good, but the house still looks simple."
Gould thought that Otto would immediately have a high opinion, but never thought that it was just a little emotion? "Big Chief, these houses are indeed crude. It seems that the people I left behind did not do their job well, so they should be punished."
"No need." Otto twisted his waist, "This room has no floor. It makes me feel a little nostalgic. Since you have people staying behind, call them together now. I want to hear the story about Melalen, so I’ll send someone to inform Olegin.”
Gould nodded vigorously, and in a moment more than ten people hurried over.
These people are not from Ross, but they are at least servants of Ross. They were half kneeling on the ground, following Gould's instructions, reporting on the winter events in Melalen.
Rurik and Otto had the same attitude. They listened to the news with great interest, but gradually their expressions became serious.
A rather young garrison reported cautiously: "Ordinary people of the Melalen tribe, they did not produce much food last year, and they were plundered by Olegin. The only food they had left could not survive. They have at least saved enough food for the next harvest season, and now all the seeds have been sown and even seedlings have grown, but most people have no food left in their homes. If the leader pays attention to things on the lake, he will see a lot of sailboats." /p>
"I saw it, they were fishing."
"Yes. In normal years, there would not be so many boats on the lake. Those are the Malaren people, they If you don’t want to starve, you have to catch fish, but the fish in the lake will soon become difficult to catch. And..." "What does that have to do with us?" Otto felt about the fishermen in the alliance. I'm sorry, but I don't really feel sorry for them.
"Are you running out of food? Probably not." Gould asked immediately.
"Thanks to the love of the master and the blessing of the leader, we people are not hungry and can continue to serve Ross."
Otto laughed slowly: "You are a man who knows how to talk. Ordinary people are hungry, but we Russians have almost forgotten our hunger.Rurik! Otto turned his head again: "What do you think?" "
"This... can only show that Olegin is not a good leader. "
"That's it? "
Obviously Otto was not satisfied with what he said. Rurik immediately added: "Actually, their hunger has something to do with us. It was because we had to buy a large amount of food that Olegin used force to get food. We didn't force him, he asked for money, and I happened to have a lot of money. "
"So...do you want to take responsibility for their bad situation? "
"Why? "Rurik looked surprised.
Otto breathed a sigh of relief slowly: "That's good. There is really no need for us to intervene. If their people starve to death, it has nothing to do with us. Listen, kid, this is Mellaren territory, and we don't have to interfere pointlessly. "
This seems to be a wise saying? Rurik nodded. He actually sympathized with the plight of those people. If possible, the Russians could also be good people and bring the extremely poor to places like New Roseburg. Go to pioneer. I'm afraid Otto realized that this was poaching.
But why did the garrison explain this in the first place? Isn't there something behind it?
, the garrison revealed two shocking rumors with suffocating tension
“Olegin, that man was no longer satisfied with being the leader of the alliance, he created a crown for himself. He wanted to imitate the legendary Franks and become a king. ”
“King? Otto immediately interrupted the conversation and gave a look of contempt, "It's really boring. Does he like to decorate himself with some strange titles?" Why didn't he go and be called Augustus? ”
It was so funny that the words came out of Otto’s mouth. When Rurik thought about it, this old guy had also read the “black book” and learned about it from Vilia. He knew the meaning of "Augustus" without having any past events about Rome.
Rurik followed the atmosphere and immediately slapped his thin chest: "If this is the case, I will call myself Augustus. Dad, you know that this title is higher than that of King. "
"You? Forget it. Otto's big hand covered his son's Tianling Cap: "This is the territory of the Melalen people. Even if we all despise them, we should not oppose them early." Put away your ambition before you turn twenty. ”
However, when Otto heard that the guy had used a new title, the Golden Crown, jealousy naturally arose. He ordered the garrison to continue talking, especially the chilling rumor. Make it clear.
“It’s war! Many people are saying that Olegin needed a war to clear his name for his own status. "
"Huh? ! Is he still thinking about war? Targeted at whom? Otto was a little unconvinced, "Freshwater fish still want to enter the sea?" Do they dare? ”
“But, this is the legend. ”
“Hey! Do you have evidence? ”
Otto showed that sharp look, which was a kind of coercion from power, so-called hinting that he would killHe is a true warrior who has killed countless enemies.
The defenders were shocked, but they also had some evidence: "We found that all the Melalen men were preparing weapons, making smoked fish, and going into the jungle to hunt. During this period, Melalen The blacksmiths were very busy, and some merchants came to the island to ask if the returning fleet had iron weapons ready for sale. "
Things became complicated and serious, and Otto almost came out. Yu instinctively took it seriously.
"Is there any more in-depth news?"
"Yes. They are the Gran people. They sell their inferior axes in large quantities in the market, and the prices have also increased sharply. Many men are still competing to buy.”
How can Gould sit still when it comes to money? "Their iron tools? How much do they cost?"
"Yes. The cheapest ax costs ten silver coins."
"This is wrong!" Rurik simply said Standing up, "Are they worthy? Last year, their axes seemed to only cost two silver coins. Do their wastes want to challenge the value of our steel?"
The defenders gritted their teeth and insisted that their words were absolute. reality.
Rurik sat down calmly, crossing his legs and muttering in his heart.
Based on this information, those rumors are obviously not rumors. The Mellaren people are actively preparing for war, and Olegin is secretly conducting military mobilization. As for their enemies, the mainstream legend is that they are targeting the Gotlanders.
But there are also very radical opinions. The leader of the garrison said cautiously: "Big leader, what I am telling you below is just a legend. It is not reliable."
Otto is a bit Fed up with this guy's sudden nervousness: "Tell me! Quick!"
"It's... it's a Dane. Olegin wants to be king, and then attack the Danes to make him worthy Give me your new title."
"He actually..." Otto felt a chill in his back, "If this is true...why? Is he going to start a full-scale war?"< /p>
Rurik's face was solemn, and he felt that his feet were extremely cold, as if they were soaked in ice cubes. Because the Baltic War has never ended, when it comes to provoking wars, the Russians can be said to be veterans of the opposite. Unexpectedly, Otto was so nervous. Rurik had to think that if the war turned into a "coalition crusade" for the entire alliance, a full-scale war would really break out.
But this war is not what the Russians want at this time.
War! The Russians sometimes need it, most of the time they don't. But war is not something that can be easily controlled by the Russians.
Otto raised his head and recalled what happened when he met the messenger before. The messenger did not disclose any war information. The only thing that person disclosed was about attending the meeting and the promise that the Russians should fulfill.
Wait! promise!
Otto's eyes widened, as if he were about to burst out of a bird's nest: "We shipped more than a thousand axes and spearheads, and that Olegin was the seller! Why the hell are you so stupid?! That guy is herePrepare for war! "
Otto's words woke up the dreamer. Rurik really didn't expect this. It is normal for a tribe with a large population to have enough weapons to equip an army of thousands of people. They also We need more weapons. Is it possible that after Origen buys it, the next step is to start a war?
That man won’t be so anxious! Or...
Ryurik? He quickly took his father's hand: "Dad, I suspect that guy, his alliance mainly announced this matter, a war against the Danes. ”
“Very possible! "
"However, this war is something none of us wants. We discussed it last year. The Russians will not take the initiative this year, and we will build with peace of mind. If possible, we could avoid this ill-timed war, because we Rus are not that strong. I am not worried about anything. By next year I dare say that we will only have three big ships, or more big ships. Then our maritime power will no longer be afraid of any enemy. "
The son talked a lot, and Otto actually understood everything. "Unfortunately, if that man chooses war, we must fulfill our alliance obligations. Unless, we..." Otto simply said harsh words: "Unless we withdraw from the alliance. We can't do this. ”
“That won’t work! I still have to do business with them. If we really get out of business and have nothing to do, they might even attack us. ”
“Yes, if there is really going to be a war, even if you and I are unwilling, we must send troops to join the war. Even...I want to lead the troops to the war in person according to tradition. "
Otto's words were not sonorous and powerful. Rurik heard the helplessness and regret in them very clearly.
"Dad, our elites were all taken to Novos by our cousin. Gorod and Novorosberg. Many people in our hometown are busy with production. Do we have elite soldiers to participate in the war? ”
“Even so, we must go to war when the order is given. Rurik, do you... have any insights? "
"Me? What can I do? Rurik shrugged, "I'm not afraid of war, it's just that it comes at an untimely time." We can't organize elites, and I don't want any Rus, even Rus' servants, to be injured in the battle. ”
“How is it possible to fight without getting injured? "Otto said with a bitter smile.
"How is it impossible? "
"Then tell me? "
Rurik was fooled by the provocation method. He stood up, stood directly in front of Otto, and said with a proud posture: "All the mercenaries under my command dare to fight. Have you authorized the Russian identity? They are the new Rus warriors, and taking them on expeditions is to fulfill the alliance's obligations. I can send out as many as fifty people, and I can also call in some Corvin people from Ironburg. Even a group of children under my command should experience what fighting is. ”
Otto nodded: “Then I will gather some more soldiers, for example, soldiers from Tombstone Island, and we willWe can gather a team of 300 people, I think this is enough. Look, Rurik, I don't want to show Olegin the fact that we are powerful. So this team doesn’t have to be big. ”
“Hey, I’m afraid they don’t believe it. Dad, the big ship stands in the harbor, and the Avora is proof of its strength. Who would believe a giant's show of weakness, but I really don't want any losses, and I don't even want our soldiers to be on the front line in person. ”
“Oh? How do you want to do it? In my opinion this is too difficult to do. "
"Using crossbows, bows, and spears, we just don't have direct contact with the enemy and kill the enemy with long-range weapons. Even if the world calls us cowards. Haha, a corpse shot by a crossbow will not open its mouth to curse. ”
Indeed, Otto also felt that his son’s decision was an act of Novus. However, considering that in the event of a war, none of the people participating in the war would be elites. They did not have high demands on themselves. Does it matter if there are "cowards" here?
No, those rumors reached the people who just landed on the island, and they all became true.
Otto and Liu. The focus of Rick's discussion became entirely how to deal with the possible war against Denmark, and it seemed that the legend of Origen becoming king was no longer important.