Chapter 430 Return

The continuous good days have warmed people's hearts, and the entire Roseburg has become even more green. In just three months, the world once covered by ice and snow has become lush and green.

In the extremely high-dimensional Roseburg, the average daily maximum temperature has exceeded 20 degrees in recent times, and many people have even felt a little bit hot.

They were a large number of strong men who were not very particular. They exposed their upper bodies covered with golden chest hair and stretched out their furry arms. They actively stood on their own fishing boats and struggled to pull the fish out of the net onto the boat. Pull.

Rosberg has entered the warmest time of the year. This year’s situation is indeed significantly different than before. Its strong warmth is felt by everyone, and the large demand for supplies on Tombstone Island also tempts fishermen to Fish were shipped in large quantities.

So when the small fleet composed of the Avora returned, the fleet directly met Rurik's own fishing boat.

It was a fishing boat with a ship number on it, and the fishermen had all signed contracts with Rurik.

The two fleets temporarily met at sea. Rurik on the deck asked condescendingly, and he felt more confident about the future battle.

At least their own fishing boats and contracted fishermen will be very active in fishing and transporting goods for profit.

What about the other tribesmen? Dare not say that they made great sacrifices for the great war to conquer the Gotlanders, Rurik believed that they at least contributed immediately for the sake of profit.

Ahead, a large number of off-net boats were cruising, and there were also a group of boats hanging on the sea. Fishermen were fishing for cod with hemp ropes.

The entire Gulf of Bothnia is under the control of the Ross people. Most of the fish resources in this huge bay with a depth of 600 kilometers have become the exclusive exclusive rights of the Principality of Ross. However, due to the limitations of fishing technology, the Russians are still "takers with very limited abilities" and their influence on the ecological resources of this bay is very limited.

Just a few days ago, Rurik was worried about launching a war. The logistical pressure on the Russian army would be a big problem that would be difficult to alleviate.

The weather was clear at the moment. Standing on the bow deck four meters above the waterline, he could overlook a large number of ships and even the distant horizon.

“There are so many ships? Is it difficult for all the Russians to come out to work? If I go back now, how many people will stay here for a long time? If they don’t come back by the winter solstice, My order..."

Rurik unexpectedly felt a little more stressed, but now he needs to go back early.

On the night of June 25th, the southwest direction had become very weak, but the Avora kept sailing with its sails still raised.

It’s just that within seventy-two hours, the latitude of Roseburg reached the point of the astronomical summer solstice, so today’s pure night time has been compressed to only one hour.

The Aurora sailed almost in the middle of the day, but was blown by the warm sea breeze, which made Rurik feel that this world was really weird.

The final voyage was uneventful, just like LiuliAs expected by Ke, after experiencing this short night and an unknown number of hours, the sun was still floating in the western sky. The Avora fleet turned around and all entered the Rossberg Fjord.

Four large ships with unique triangular sails entered the harbor, and the sails were sewn with obvious huge crossed blue stripes.

It’s the leader’s ship! The leader's fleet has made a triumphant return!

A large number of fishing boats have left the port for fishing operations, but there are not many people taking in Roseburg. Most of them still stay at home. Women, in particular, worked as seamstresses and chopped firewood to boil the salt used to marinate fish.

Finally returning home, Otto climbed onto the bow of the ship and looked toward home.

"Hey, that's our house."

"I saw that there weren't many boats on the coast. The boat owners must have gone fishing." Rurik said casually.

Suddenly, the dense black smoke in an area of ​​Roseburg caught the attention of the father and son. The two subconsciously thought there was a fire, but after a closer look, they found that the smoking area was not the residence of the blacksmiths. ? The blast furnaces that smelt pig iron are also in that area.

Rurik patted his face that was numbed by the warm sea breeze and sighed to himself: "The chimney and black smoke represent our strength, and now we need the blacksmith to work hard to make it."

Indeed, Rurik asked himself, he can say that launching a strategic decisive battle now is indeed too hasty in terms of armaments. If we continue to accumulate strength this winter, then next year's Ross army will not only be a large ship, the Aurora, because there are currently two large ships of the same class being built. Next year the Russians will have at least three large ships, and the Russian army will also be equipped with more weapons and more armored warriors.

Look at the "industrial area" with thick smoke! In the past, Rurik could only dream, but now he feels that the Russians have the ability to produce plate armor with high efficiency.

The clear air allows people on the shore to easily see almost all details on the sea in the small fjord. Some people in Roseburg are born with farsightedness. Not only can they see Afrola clearly number, and even saw people standing on the bow of the ship.

A boy with a golden ponytail and an old guy with a flowing beard.

The ecstatic people ran wildly through the intricate roads and shouted: "The leader is back!"

The news soon spread to the priest's longhouse, which was taking care of the high priest. Rumia's hand holding the wooden spoon trembled as Vilia drank the soup.

Like the cracked earth, Vilia half-opened his eyes and muttered slowly: "It seems... your man is really back. You... go and bring him to me." "

"Yes! I'll go now."

Rumia couldn't help but shed tears. She was afraid that Rurik would encounter some crisis on the expedition. They returned safely.

Of course, what moved her even more was that what happened now was within the expectations of the high priest.

It seems that the old lady lying in the leather is a Valkyrie. Her soul will return to Valhalla one day. She still persists tenaciously until now. She must still have what she wants in the human world. mission accomplished.

In the past, almost all the ships of the Gould family stayed at Lake Mälaren in the summer. Times have changed, and now Gould himself has returned to Roseburg in advance. There was once an annual cargo trade. As the Russians have essentially controlled the entire Gulf of Bothnia, ships that were once worried about being attacked by pirates now dare to sail alone.

Not only are trade routes common, but trade has also begun to become more frequent. Gould left the general trading business to his sons, especially the eldest son Snoleva. He himself only had to deal with some major matters, so he needed to stay in Roseburg for a long time.

Rumia was wearing a gray-white burqa, and behind her were four lower-level priestesses wearing burqas. They hurried to the dock of Gould's house, and soon saw the Aurora docked steadily, Rurik chatting and laughing with the big businessman, and the leader Otto, who was still intimidating to her.

Rumia gently lowered her hood, revealing her unique black hair and a braid tied behind her head with a silver hairpin.

She hurriedly approached her man and interjected eagerly: "Rurik, she is the high priest. She is looking for you."

"It's Vilia! She is Are you okay?" For a moment, Rurik was so shocked that he suddenly thought of the bleak look of the high priest who was about to die. Looking at Rumia's current mood, it was obvious that the high priest's condition was still good. good.

Rumia nodded: "The High Priest can still speak and eat. The Great God did not take her away."

Rurik had already chatted with Gould. Regarding the war, the seriousness of the situation was such that Gould's face turned red with shock. His face was ashen and serious, and his plump body could not help but tremble.

"Just follow my decision. This is the power given to me by the Duke. Just follow my orders. Do you remember it?"

古Ed nodded vigorously: "Go to Mellaren to recruit mercenaries who are not afraid of death. Then buy a batch of salted fish jerky or other food. I will organize a fleet to go there today."

Rurik nodded and followed Rumia without saying a word, ignoring the others.

Otto shrugged, his big hands still holding Carlotta's neck: "Let's go back now."

"But, Duke, we..."

"Silly boy, this is Fort Ross, and you have to call me father here."

"Yes! Dad..." He changed his words in an instant, and Carlotta actually felt uncomfortable at all. The war was still going on, and she just wanted to return home, see her biological sister, meet her adoptive mother, and have a good rest for a while.

Rumia held Rurik’s wrist.The two of them trotted all the way, forcing the accompanying priestess to follow them with her long robe on her arm.

Rumia is still a deer herder who is good at running, even though she has essentially fulfilled the duties of the high priest of Rus.

She was spared her life by Odin. With this favor, the tribe no longer had prejudices and doubts about the black-haired deer herder. For her, this doubt was simply a huge insult to God. inverse.

Now, Rumia has not been dazzled by the power she possesses. Doesn’t all the stable life today come from Rurik.

The high priest previewed that the war launched by the entire alliance would definitely end on a very large scale, and the Russians would also gain huge gains from this war.

What exactly is the so-called huge gain? Are you referring to those poor prisoners who were transported back some time ago?

Rumia wanted to know the "secret" that Vilia knew, but she didn't dare to ask in detail.

Soon Rurik returned to the priest's longhouse and sat next to Grandma Vilia.

A hand that looked like a dead bone rose up, and Rurik grabbed it without hesitation, and then put it against his face.

Vilia's withered face showed a faint smile, "God said, I can't leave until important things are done."

"Grandma, you... ..."

"That was a preview, and the preview has become a reality. You... are back."

"Yes! I am back, and I want to participate in this year's summer solstice ceremony. This is what I have to do."

Villa laughed subconsciously and said slowly: "You... are definitely not planning a big event because of this. I don’t know what it is, but the oracle told me that what you planned is good for Ross..."

"How about it?"

"It's a good thing."

Rurik continued to hold Vilia's hand and stared into her eyes seriously: "Yes, it seems that Odin has met the outcome of this war. I have decided, I will use all the strength of the entire tribe to completely defeat the Gotlanders and accomplish what the previous leaders have wanted to do but were unable to do!"

Hearing such a plan, Vilia suddenly grew a smile. tone.

"Grandma, are you surprised?"

"Me? Hehe...I finally understand what the oracle is. It's you...just do it, do what you want "

Then she asked Rumia to raise her head: "Listen, child, obey all your man's orders. You must announce Rurik's decision in public this year. "

Rumia nodded vigorously, but she was worried about the future.

Is it necessary to launch a decisive war against a powerful hostile force?

At this moment Rurik is holding Vilia’s hand, he felt that this old lady had seen through everything. Even if she was not a prophet, she still had the ability to predict the future. If she were a man, I am afraid that the throne of the leader of the Ross tribe would be controlled by her.

In fact, the result is similar. This old lady has been the leader behind the Ross tribe for more than ten years.

Rurik said solemnly: "Grandma, you don't have to worry at all. I have drawn up a detailed battle plan. I will make full preparations and select from the tribes that serve us." Warrior. This war is related to the future of our Rus people. I will use the strength of the entire tribe to win. Please stay here to protect me. I will triumph."

"Then. ...It depends on God's will." Vilia forced a smile, "I am still alive because of God's grace. Ah, the future depends on you, Rurik."

Warmth. This scene happened to be seen by Otto who came over. He didn't speak, he just watched with his eyes and listened with his ears. Undoubtedly, he heard something incredible, and he couldn't help but tremble all over.

Otto was trembling with ecstasy in his heart, not only because the high priest seemed to be weak and still had some years to go before he left, but mainly because of the obscure oracle that the high priest learned - victory lies in Ross. .

Victory belongs to Ross, but he does not sit back and wait for victory to fall from the sky.

This year’s summer solstice sacrifice will be very grand. Rurik intends to announce war mobilization in public. However, some people in the tribe must have smelled the signs of a larger-scale war. They must be informed in advance, even if The earlier you know, the earlier you can prepare.

Blacksmith Clavarson and the apprentices have been working hard in the past few days.

The blast furnace never stops, molten iron flows out regularly, and ore and carbon blocks are poured into it all night long.

In order to serve this furnace, Rurik assigned tasks to the blacksmith apprentice and his large group of subordinates as early as when he left Fort Ross.

Even children, carrying shovels, chisels, and wheelbarrows, were digging in the nearby mountains. Their numbers were powerful, and their mining efficiency was enough to stably supply the blast furnace with ore.

A consortium for the production of carbon pottery and iron has been formed in Fort Ross. Charcoal burners provide raw materials, potters supply molds, and the blacksmith alliance mines and completes smelting. The final iron products benefit all participants in the entire process. At the same time, they were also accumulating wealth for their leader.

After all, the production efficiency of pig iron smelting products almost depends on the supply speed of raw materials and fuel.

Rurik has already made an appointment with the blacksmiths to sell pig iron products, especially farm tools, in exchange for other things, such as precious grain.

The only blast furnace continued to smelt and cast daily necessities, but Klavason did not give up the work of making steel swords with orders. The blacksmiths are the busiest people in the entire tribe. They are more diligent than the fishermen, especially now that it is daylight most of the time, and they enter the middle of the year.The period of working the hardest.

Their struggle is also accumulating wealth at an extremely alarming speed, and also accumulating their political capital in the Principality of Rus (those who returned early illustrate the great benefit of the tribe's upgrade to a principality), Krava Sen is old and has a very clear mind on this matter.

Rurik, who returned, could not forget the sacrifice in two days. He did not need any drafts to deliver a speech on the occasion of the sacrifice. He dragged his tired body back home, and after being hugged hard by his mother, he couldn't wait to lie down on the bed and fall asleep.

Before that, the wooden board of the "Duke's Edict" had been placed on the tribe's beach. Under Otto's instructions, soldiers were running around announcing that Ross was going to declare war on Gotland. .

Under the short night, everyone in Ross was excited. War often means getting huge loot, but...

Is it true that the tribe really wants to declare war on the entire island of Gotland and launch a Attack with all your strength?

While people lamented the leader's courage, some also suspected that the leader had acted too hastily. Anyone with a discerning eye can see that the tribe's strength is growing every month. Since we really have to fight, why start now?