Whether or not the Danish leader Hafgen was indeed buried in the sea, Rurik can be sure that this person's political life has ended.
There is a power vacuum in Denmark, and someone must step forward like a vulture to seize the legacy left by Hafgen.
Friesland Count Horik? A Dane who surrendered to the Franks? The nephew of the expelled former Danish leader? This person established a virtual "Viking Zone" in the Frankish Kingdom?
Perhaps others would find this strange, but Rurik knew about the Danish French District in Britain and the Norman Dukedom in France.
He is not a witness to history, but a promoter of history.
There are also heroes emerging in this sea area who are writing the heroic era of Beihai.
How can we fight this war without building ships?
The plan to build a fleet is brewing in Rurik's mind. It's snowing outside now, and while he is studying Latin, he has already figured out the preliminary lineup of the fleet.
And this is just like waiting for the wind and snow to subside, then personally finding the shipbuilding expert Huotra and submitting a new order.
Almost every year, the real start of winter in Ross begins with a snowstorm.
This year, it started with light snow, but eventually turned into a snow disaster.
This year is indeed no different from previous years. Pine wood is stacked to form a wall that wraps around the entire Roseburg. The bottom is also reinforced with sand and gravel, and the hardened cement laid makes the wall more transparent.
It has become an excellent barrier to protect the people. Fewer snowflakes enter the wall. The people hide in warm wooden houses and find psychological comfort.
From light snow to blizzard, and then to the restoration of peace, the snow lasted for more than two weeks.
The wind and snow have washed away the world. People got out of their houses, exhaled the clear and cold air under the winter sun, and immediately began to use the tools in their hands to clear the snow.
Rurik’s towering palace has become a real ice fortress in the world of ice and snow. Standing on the third floor, he can overlook the frozen sea, the dock and the sandy beach. Row after row of ships trapped in the ice.
The winter life of the Russians has begun!
Unlike other Viking tribes who generally live at home and survive the cold winter like marmots, the Rus are even looking forward to the cold winter in these years.
Winter is indeed dangerous, but special needs give rise to special economic benefits.
Who would work in the winter if it were not profitable?
Russian men, and even a large number of women, are busy working in winter to earn wages.
Going to the north for hunting is no longer a huge risk. Ironburg is already a great and steadfast northern fortress, and the emerging Fiskburg is a new stronghold that is expected to expand, even the most northern and standing in the north. The ice-free Murmansk at the end of the sea is included in the construction plan.
Rurik’s abundant funds encourage the people of Russia to work. When people get money, they buy food, clothes, and daily necessities.
The core of the Principality of Rus is already an economy with strong domestic demand in the Baltic Sea, and it is still on the road to expansion.
The snow has stopped, and in the first floor of the palace, Rurik held a principality meeting.
This meeting provides guidance for this year’s winter life.
First, organize an expedition team of 100 people. According to the map and written description provided by Rurik, start from Fisk Castle (Rovaniemi) on the shore of the frozen lake and follow the route. They took a reindeer sleigh along the glacier, and then arrived in Murmansk under the guidance of the deer herders who served Ross. After that, they immediately established a permanent base to obtain local leather resources.
Second, use winter to mobilize tribal men and women as usual. Men cut trees and hunt in winter, while women boil seal oil and make soap, etc.
Third, for all women with children, a monthly welfare subsidy of ten pounds of oats and a one-pound bar of soap (Rurik cannot reward too much)
Fourth, build new ships, and at least complete the Four-Four Plan of four large and four small ships in a short period of time.
Rurik is the powerful duke and the wealthiest man, and he also has a sacred status.
Of course the people working for him are not all because of their divine status, because Rurik really gives money, and everyone can really get a lot of food. As long as they work for the Duke, they can get good benefits. Who can be lazy?
Rurik paid people to cut down trees in order to build ships.
The time was ripe, and he took his cronies straight to the Hotla family's shipbuilding factory.
Look here! Huge wooden buildings form an indoor dock, allowing construction to take place rain or shine.
This construction method is actually an innovation, and its significance is no less than the "keel revolution" launched in this sea area 80 years ago.
In other words, even if Rurik does not exist, the shipbuilding industry in the northern Baltic Sea will eventually change the entire world. This is the general trend.
It’s just that they haven’t built a dry dock yet. Fortunately, the big ship they built is not that heavy.
They only built the hull. After the key parts were built, they took it outdoors and successfully installed the tall mast with the help of wooden scaffolding.
When Rurik arrived, the hulls of two new large ships of the same class as the Aurora had been built and were waiting for the hard and tall spruce wood from the north to arrive this winter. The mast must come from the ice fields in the north. Compared with the summer, the frozen sea is the best way. A large number of reindeer can pull the mast wood, so-called transporting the logs like a semi-trailer, and arrive in Roseburg for the final assembly.
The large wooden door opened, and workers were busy cutting and polishing wood, transporting and installing ship materials, and applying waterproof rosin.
Some female workers were wearing headscarves, squatting on the ground and working together to sew a huge canvas.
Rurik’s visit came unexpectedly, and Hotla came in a hurry after hearing the news.
"Sir, you are finally here. Look at the hulls of these two big ships. We areDoing the final work. Once the giant logs arrived, it was time to install the mast. "
"I want to go up quietly. Rurik pointed to the bow of the ship casually.
After a while, Rurik climbed on the carpentry scaffolding and stood on the bow deck. The feeling of standing was exactly the same as standing on the Aurora.
p>Hotra is an old man. Since he has been stationed for a few years, his family and accompanying friends have naturally formed a community of interests in Melalen. They do not have such a high-intensity construction plan, and it is impossible to earn a lot of wealth from this. Now they hire some men to do tedious and critical carpentry work in Roseburg.
Hotla stood on the solid ground and looked up at his sponsor. >"My lord, how do you feel? ”
“Everything is fine. It's just..." Rurik paused for breath. He was already standing at a very high position. Standing here, he could clearly see the structure of the entire indoor dock and estimate its size.
He got off the ship. Ke had no intention of accepting the hospitality of the Hotla family and said bluntly: “Assemble your most capable craftsmen. I! There is something extremely important to announce. ”
Hotla slapped his forehead and knew that he must build a new ship. This is a great thing, which means that the brothers can continue to make wealth, their lives will become better, and the family’s influence will also increase. .
As many as twenty craftsmen gathered around Rurik. The strong men among them were shirtless and had scary chest hair, while the young craftsmen were still wearing linen shirts with rolled up sleeves. No longer covering his muscles
“Huh? Hotla, the best I remember were ten. how? Has your team expanded? "
Hotela smiled and patted several people on the shoulders casually: "I have been in Ross for two years. This is my younger son, who is now also a good craftsman. You can be sure that we are strong now. Lo and behold, in one summer the hulls of both ships were completed. ”
“You mean, your two indoor docks can build two ships in half a year?” "
Hotra did not mean this purely. When asked this question, knowing that the opportunity was rare, he immediately tightened his mouth and affirmed: "Yes, that's exactly the case. "
"Oh, that is, as long as there are enough materials, you alone can build four large ships a year. ”
“If we have enough materials and hire more people, we will... indeed. ”
In fact, Rurik noticed that Hotla was a little timid, but it didn’t matter.
He clapped his hands and asked everyone to find a dry place and spread leather to discuss on the spot. .
They tried their best to suppress the ecstasy in their hearts. Based on the information just revealed by Rurick, everyone speculated that maybe the rich Duke of Ross wanted to pay for the four orders in one go? Not even a thousand pounds of silver coins? Now, everyone knows that the young Duke of Ross in front of him has excellent moral character, pays great attention to contracts, never defaults on the deposit balance, and is the most generous among all customers. Generous fruitDecide.
Rurik’s request hit their hearts like a rocket.
"I! Plan to build eight ships as soon as possible! These eight ships will be based on my actual needs and will no longer be the big ships you know. They are still larger than ordinary cargo ships, but not really A cargo ship will not perform the task of a cargo ship unless necessary."
Shortly speaking, Hotla was a little confused: "Sir, what kind of ship is this?"
"The keel has been reduced to 20 stikas, the maximum height of the hull has been reduced by 1 stika, and the width has been reduced by 2 stikas."
Hotra closed his eyes, a lifelong old shipwright like him , I closed my eyes and started 3D modeling in my mind, and immediately made up the approximate appearance of the new ship.
"Ah! In this case, the ship will be slimmer. I know that the ship you require must have a deck and a forecastle and stern."
"No." Rurik raised his right hand and said: "This new ship does not need a forecastle. You have noticed that what I actually want is a ship that is slender and lighter than a large ship. I want it to have a tilted bow mast, a The mainmast placed in the center is enough."
"Then the stern..." Before he said this, Rurik actually burst into laughter. . He said arrogantly: "For these eight ships, I will use a brand-new technology, which you have never seen before."
"What technology is it?" Hotla probed his head warily. , and so do others.
"It's a brand new oar."
"Oar? Haven't you given up on paddling and fully demanded that we switch to sails?"
"That's not entirely true." Rurik shook his head, "Russ is the oar, and our principality has the best oars. Now my Duke, I should let Ross's oars flourish. I invented a brand new oar, that It's a paddle that looks like a rotating conch shell."
"This...what is this?"
Rurik was a little surprised, but he didn't expect Huotra to behave in an incomprehensible way. Look at the other people's expressions. Could it be that they don't understand propeller technology?
Propeller propulsion technology is essentially an excellent technology derived from divergent research on the "Archimedean screw pump".
He added: "It is a wooden pole inserted into the water at an angle from the hull. There are specially installed paddles on the wooden pole. The wooden pole drives the paddle to rotate, which can carry the entire boat. Push forward. Our people were standing in the stern of the ship, constantly stepping on the wooden planks, driving the gears to rotate, and letting the wooden poles rotate accordingly."
Because it was something they had never seen before, they were asked to do so. It's really difficult to think of the real thing.
But these men all understood the importance of bronze gears to ships.
The Avora has extremely strong maneuverability, not because of her wonderful triangular sail, but because of the rudder on her stern that extends from the stern of the ship into the sea. She can make short turns and other highly maneuverable maneuvers, which is difficult for traditional rowing long boats.
In the current situation, it is really difficult to let them understand what a ship's propeller propulsion system is with just one mouth, but new technologies must be embodied in new ships.
The atmosphere was a little awkward, and Rurik cleared his throat again.
"I am definitely not a whim. You don’t know new technologies, so I will teach you. I will work with the blacksmith to create the corresponding materials, and I will also be with you in the days to come to guide you in building new ships. ."
"Oh! That's great." Hotla asked, "So, can you tell us what the results are?"
Rurik shrugged: "You are still doubting. That's okay. The result is that from now on, our ship can move forward in windless waters, and can enter and leave the port more smoothly, and no one can see anyone paddling. It feels like the ship is still moving forward even though its sails have been furled. It must have received the power of God.”
It sounds really wonderful.
But this is not the most important purpose of Rurik's trip.
He cleared his throat again, pinched his fingers and said: "The new eight ships are larger than the cargo ship and smaller than the Aurora. They need to start construction quickly, and even the names of the ships are mine. I’ve thought about it too.”
“What’s the name?” Hotela asked again.
"Don't be anxious yet. You have completed these eight ships, and there are still four large ships like Avora to be built. I have already made plans! Your indoor dock is very large, and each one can be built. Two ships. This winter, you will be able to build four ships, and there will be four ships next summer." "This... sir..." Huotra coughed twice to show that he had something to say.
Rurik speculated: "Do you think my demands are too high?"
"No. Sir. Actually..." Hotla looked around and saw the brothers' He deliberately raised his aging chest behind his eyes: "As long as you give us enough money and the supply of materials is smooth, we can build all eight ships this winter."
"Are you sure? I don't hope This is bragging."
"We won't brag."
Things seemed to far exceed his expectations, so Rurik simply said boldly: "Okay, tomorrow. Next winter, we will build four more large ships. In this way, we will have eight large ships and eight medium-sized ships. It’s the end of 832, and I want to see these sixteen warships in the spring of 834! Don’t worry, funding is never a problem, I just want to get the big ship as soon as possible.”
The craftsmen immediately whispered to each other. After discussing it, Rurik thought they would spend some time discussing it. After all, this was a big project.
Unexpectedly, their decisiveness was as fast as the blink of an eye.
Hotra gave a serious answer on behalf of all the craftsmen: "We completely agree and even negotiated the price of each ship."
Their decisiveness is beyond imagination!
The Principality of RusThe Baltic Fleet must be clearly defined. After all, at this historical stage, almost all Russian activities are in this inland sea.
Perhaps three large ships as large as the Aurora are enough to suppress Denmark's maritime power, and actual combat has proven this to be the case. But with only three or four large ships, how can they demonstrate their power and perform tasks in the vast territory of Ross?
Besides, the Aurora was only a large ship in these poor times. With a full load displacement, it might be able to pile up to 300 tons at the risk of capsizing. But the Gothenburg ocean-going ship capsized, its standard displacement exceeded one thousand tons, and its full-load displacement could be close to two thousand!
It is for this reason that Rurik defined the Avora and others as light sailing ships, also known as cruisers.
Eight cruisers, eight destroyers.
This is the Eighty-Eight Fleet Plan formulated by the Principality of Rus in the winter of 832, and this is only the beginning.