Esquier was leaning on the wooden cross he had just made. He was wearing a black robe and a black round hat covering his bald head.
Two seemingly dull followers followed closely behind.
The three of them followed the mercenary soldier who reported the news and cautiously approached the Duke's residence.
"Right here! Stop."
A guard of soldiers stopped the three of them.
"What? We have a problem?" Eskil asked.
"Come here, check if they have any weapons."
Hearing this, Esquier felt angry. He quickly explained, "We are people who pursue the sacred. We will not bring any weapons."
This was heard by Yevlo who was watching.
“Without weapons?” He walked up with his head held high, “I heard a lot of things in Britain. Those kingdoms have the same belief, which is what you call sacred belief. Without sharp weapons? Your fights are no better than ours. Kindness."
"This...is not pious enough."
"Don't do this," Jevro continued, "Brothers, check carefully."< /p>
In Frankia, the holy body of a priest cannot be defiled! When the people saw the priest, they bowed or knelt down, hoping for salvation.
Eskil felt a little humiliated, but the two followers didn't care anymore.
It was impossible for them to bring any sharp weapons against the Duke, but the wooden cross cane was still temporarily confiscated.
At this moment, Rurik was waiting on the third floor of the palace, waiting to see whether his guards had fulfilled their duties.
Otto also stood by the bed and saw all this.
"Is it really appropriate for you to let the high priest of another faith come to our domain, perhaps disrespecting God?"
"Dad, this man is what Vilia calls "The man in black from Rome," Rurik said calmly.
"Huh? A new one?"
"Maybe this is fate. The man in black once left a parchment book with wisdom in it, but I can't read it. Understand the language of the Romans.
This man understands the language of the Romans. I want to use this winter to learn it. It is best for my wives and concubines to learn it. I don't care about their beliefs, but for our sake. In the future, I will at least have some understanding."
"Okay..." Otto patted Rurik on the shoulder, "Ross is yours, take care of our Ross." After that, Otto. Turn around and leave.
"Dad, where are you going?"
"Nothing, I have no idea about this man in black. I want to drink with my old friends. Let's go!"
Otto really didn’t want to talk to the men in black in Rome. He was about to die, so he had better enjoy himself while he was still alive. Especially since he felt that his time was running out, his hair all over his body had turned gray, and his strong self had finally become an old man, while his son was already the perfect leader, so he walked away as a hands-off shopkeeper.
Originally, Yevlo was just a supervisor, but now he is actually leading the way.
Eskil followed closely behind. When he walked past the outer wall of the palace and entered the courtyard through the main entrance, a strange and strange feeling came over him.
"What's going on? You... actually used a huge stone to pave the courtyard? No! How did you do it?"
Yevlo didn't mean to talk nonsense, he insisted He was urged to move quickly with vigilance.
Eskil walked on the completely flat boulders and saw how smooth some places were. He even saw the reflection of sunlight.
What he saw was the concrete floor.
Since Ross's craftsmen knew the recipe for cement, it had a use as a building adhesive and for laying floors. However, due to its limited production, only the Duke's residence has the only concrete courtyard in Ross.
Eskil can't explain all this. How can the absolutely flat hard "stone" ground be described as a fantasy?
He finally entered Rurik's palace. Two of his followers were temporarily detained, and only he himself was allowed to go upstairs.
Just going upstairs is another wonderful feeling.
Because of the decline of Rome, the people under the old empire forgot too many technologies, and the new barbarians knew nothing about it. Even with the Carolingian Renaissance, the impact of prosperity on the Frankish northern frontier was limited.
People still live in stone-walled huts, and the lords’ residences rarely have high-rise buildings.
Hearing that the Duke had decided to hold the secret meeting on the third floor, Eskil was reshaping his understanding.
He couldn't help but mutter, "If I invite the craftsmen from Ross and convert them, I can build a great cathedral in Reims, and I will be promoted to archbishop in advance."
< p>Finally, Eskil reached the top.The third floor of the palace is nearly ten meters above the ground, which is the highest in Roseburg.
The third floor is a spacious place. The open windows let in the sunlight, making the entire floor very bright.
He suddenly saw a young man sitting cross-legged. The golden ponytail hanging on his chest was none other than Rurik himself.
"You are finally here." Rurik said seriously.
Eskil nodded first, then said: "I'm here, there are many things I want to tell you."
"Really? It just so happens that I also have some Come on, sit in front of me. This is a secluded place, no one can disturb you or me." "Yes." Esquier put his hands in front of him and walked straight away. go.
This old missionary has seen too many lords, some young and arrogant, some old.
He didn’t know how to evaluate Rurik of Rus. This kid was already the de facto Duke of Rus, and he was full of mysteries.
He noticed that there was an exquisite treasure box next to the young man. What could be contained in it?
Eskil sat down cautiously. He looked up again and saw the row of ferocious bear heads on the wooden wall, and couldn't help butVoices of fear.
How to get to the point? Rurik had his own plans.
The heavy treasure chest was opened, and as Eskil was increasingly shocked, Rurik began to move out the treasures inside.
Parchments, diamond-encrusted gold crosses, gilded crusaders, more parchments, and more.
Looking at these treasures, Eskil's beating heart drove him to stand up as he looked at them.
His eyes were bloodshot, and his trembling mouth asked urgently: "You...where did you get these holy objects?"
He basically took out everything, leaving nothing behind. Rick put it in front of him and said deliberately, "These... were all looted by me."
"Looted?"
"Of course. I attacked Lindy Sfaen, I brought all the treasures from the monastery."
"Ah! You..." These words were like a bolt from the blue, and Esquier was so shocked that he felt the young man in front of him. Not Toshiro, what his clean face conceals are the fangs of the devil.
"What? Are you scared? Do you think I'm a villain?"
Esquier woke up immediately, crossed himself several times on his chest, and then sat down tremblingly Down.
"Don't dare, this is... your achievement."
Rurik shrugged, "I know it's against your will to say that. To be honest, I attacked Britain , I plundered Lindisfarne, and all those priests were killed. So, will your god punish me?"
"This..."
"Tell the truth. , I forgive you."
Why does this kid ask this? Why did this kid do evil deeds, but he wanted to keep the sacred objects intact?
Eskir knew about the plunder of Flanders by the Danish lords. They had occupied the port of Durist, killed the local priests, destroyed the monastery and looted treasures, and the sacred objects were also destroyed.
Eskil said cautiously, "According to our beliefs, you will go to hell. But..."
"But what?"
"If If you accept our faith, accept baptism, and confess to me, you will be forgiven.”
“That’s it?” Rurik couldn’t help laughing.
"Ah, sir, aren't you very interested in our faith?"
"Yes. But I didn't expect that your purpose of coming here is really to influence me." Convert. I'm not angry, I know it's impossible."
"I'm sorry, I have other reasons."
Rurik waved his hand. , "Listen to me first."
That's all, he opened the oldest book of "Exodus" and pointed to the text, "Seventy years ago, Roman missionaries arrived in Russia, hoping We accept your faith. Our high priest did not agree with it, so the missionary left this book."
As he said this, Rurik pushed the book over.
AngstromSkir flipped through it, and the more he read, the more horrified he became. The text is in correct Latin, but the writing style is different from that of the Frankish Kingdom.
"Is this...really Rome?"
"Yes." Rurik nodded, "I know there are two Romes, and this is a book about Eastern Rome. You You are not a Roman, but you are a Saxon, as far as I know."
"Then read this."< /p>
Another, thicker, handwritten book was pushed in front of Eskil.
"Is this the Gospel of Lindisfarne? You really..." In surprise, sweat broke out on Esquier's forehead.
"I can't understand Latin. I want to know the details in the book. You should know Latin. I want you to teach me."
"Ah! This is it. Is that the real purpose of your invitation?"
"That's it. As you can see, our principality is already using the Roman alphabet, and I have given up on the old script. You can easily spell out my big ship. "My desire for knowledge should be understood by my name."
In a daze, Esquier felt that he was standing at a key node in the historical process.
"Are you hesitating?" Rurik asked again.
"No. I am willing, I am willing to be your teacher. To be honest, I have never seen a lord who is as eager for wisdom as you are."
"You Is it a compliment?"
"It's a compliment from the bottom of my heart."
"Okay." Rurik continued to remain calm, "I should give it as well. You will be paid a certain amount. Maybe I should grant you some requests. It doesn’t matter if you say so.”
“Then convert,” Esquier blurted out.
“Like this again?” Rurik put on an embarrassed face.
Eskil is chasing after you again, "Sir, God loves you. God will forgive all your sins. If you convert, your subjects have also converted, and your principality will be saved." Can become great, you will become a saint in the north. I know that you are not only interested in our faith, I know that you have built a small prayer house, that is, a monastery. You actually gave permission for the sacred faith to take root! So, what are you waiting for? Rome will be canonized..."
"Shut up!" Rurik closed his eyes and frowned, "That's impossible, I'm interested. , does not mean that you have to accept it."
"Sir, this is worthy of your acceptance." Eskil changed the topic and tried to find a new breakthrough. "I have traveled far and wide and know that Denmark has always been at odds with you and Sweden. . If you Ross accepts it, you will be able to ally with the Franks and attack Denmark from the north to the south, and your threat will be gone.”
These words really surprised Rurik. I didn’t expect that this old boy was still a fool. Bring a strategist? Quite a few lords do not have this kind of wisdom.
“I didn’t expect that you are still paying attention to the war between countries? You are notAre you against the war? "
"Sir, I am doing this for your own good. ”
“That’s enough. Rurik snapped, "Your idea is unrealistic." Tell me something I can accept. ”
Eskil predicts that if Mr. Rurik hesitates again, hesitation will be equal to wavering. As long as he wavers, he can be influenced in the future. If it doesn’t work now, it should be possible in the future.
Esquier Kiel thought for a moment, “My only hope is to officially build a monastery in Rus. Some of your slaves accept our faith and need a place of worship and a resident priest to look after these poor lambs. As long as they pray, they will feel at ease, and with peace of mind, they can do better things for you. "
"Really? I can accept this. ”
“You are so kind. "Eskil flattered immediately.
"So, do you have a candidate for the pastor? ”
“If there is one, I will arrange for my entourage to stay here. ”
Rurik nodded. He didn’t want the old guy Eskil to stay here for a long time.
When mentioning this guy’s entourage, Rurik suddenly Come to think of it, those two followers are both young boys, and they don’t seem to be much older than me.
“Your followers are all outside now. You select the person and I recruit him. Tell me, can your entourage understand our language? ”
“Understood. The child was a Danish slave, a Dane. "
"I understand, I want to take a closer look at this person. ”
After a while, the entourage John was led to the third floor. He sat next to Esquier alertly. The dull and taciturn young man made Rurik have to think a lot.
"Hey! your name. "Rurik shouted casually.
"John..." the young man answered cautiously, then lowered his head.
"John? What's your original name? "
"Invar. "
"Okay, Yingvar, you want to stay in my territory, are you ready? "
"I'm... ready. "
Rurik nodded, "You stand up first and take a good look at you. How old are you..."
For a moment Rurik realized that this boy was not very old, he was only twelve years old. This boy was clearly a Nordic. Thinking about his old friend Fisk At the age of twelve, he had already killed twenty enemies on the battlefield. On the other hand, this Dane was as thin, dull and timid as a rabbit.
Wait a minute, this guy also looks handsome. Is he really a "rabbit" if he is led by Eskil?
Lack of ambition?
If so, That would be great.
Wait a minute, why did Esquier allow a dull person to stay here? This old boy can't see that he is not interested in Ross. I'm afraid this Yingvar whose Christian name is John is just Hide the fanaticism
Rurik asked again, "Invar, do you understand Latin? Do you understand all the words in the book?"
"Sir, I...I understand everything."
" Oh? That’s great. I want you. Looking at how thin you are, I will train you to be a muscular man. Stay with me and you can teach me.”
“Yes. ...Yes!”
Esquier didn’t know what to say. This little John is really his love. From what Rurik said, this boy likes men?
That’s not right! The Rus' people joked that their leader Rurik had as many as seventeen wives.
Rurik coughed twice and said: "It's over. Eskil, when the ice and snow melt next year, I will take you back to Birka. You can continue to come to Ross in the future, but you must first If you find me in Birka, you will be expelled if you come without my permission. I will build you a better monastery. It will be small and very secluded. You should understand that I am interested in you. It doesn't mean that my people can tolerate you."
"Yes. John will help me do a good job."
Rurik nodded, "In that case, I changed my mind. . Go back yourself, Esquire, and your John is mine now. As for you, I don't need it now."
"Ah! It's different."
"Exactly, I am the Duke of Ross. I have given you too many favors. Don't annoy me anymore, otherwise I will expel you now. You can write a letter. I will give you wheat and meat, as well as the warmth of winter, and I will summon you when I have something to do. But remember, don’t try to convert new lambs without permission. I’m afraid that Odin’s warriors under my command will cut you into pieces. Meat sauce."
"I...I understand."
"Let's go." Rurik waved his hand and watched Eskil leave tremblingly.
After he left, the little priest John Invar asked weakly, "Sir, I...I will..."
Rurik scratched his head, although this question was relatively small. Strange, he still had to ask, "Are you the old guy's lover?"
John didn't feel any psychological discomfort. He understood consciously and immediately turned around and lifted up his robe...
"My lord, I hope you will be satisfied with my service..."
"That's it? Sure enough." Rurik stood up and kicked John hard with his boot. butt.
John fell heavily and turned his head with tears in his eyes, "Sir, I did not serve you well..."
"Stand up, you are a man and you should be a man. Is it appropriate for you to behave like a woman? I don’t care what your beliefs are, I will reshape you into a man. Yingvar, I don’t believe that you are really obsessed with your beliefs.”
"Yes." John Ingvar immediately got up and stood up, as he pleased...