Even if Rurik wants to build a ship, even though he is ambitious, the problem of ship materials is the most serious issue.
Rossburg is too far to the north, and oak trees are extremely rare in cold areas. The easiest way to seize the oak trees is to truly expand the sphere of influence to Gotland and build a permanent fortress there, or to take a roundabout way and ask the Mellaren people who immigrated to Gotland to help cut down some oak trees.
An even bolder possibility is that the Russians firmly rooted their power in the southernmost part of Scandinavia, facing the Danes on the other side across the strait.
However, when it comes to shipbuilding, it is not realistic to stick to oak.
It is true that oak trees are hard to find in Roseburg and further north, but red pine and spruce are everywhere!
If we sacrifice the rigidity of some ships and no longer blindly collide with possible enemy ships, the spruce trees in the north and even the pine forests near Fort Ross can solve all the shipbuilding problems of the Ross people.
Throughout the Roseburg infrastructure project throughout the warm period of 832, people used double saws and axes to cut down a large number of trees.
A large number of old houses have also been demolished, and their most important beams have become the best ship keels.
The Hotla family who immigrated to Ross already had relatively strong funds. Considering the future shipbuilding project, they immediately purchased as many as twenty girders.
Only a few of these oak beams can be used as the keel of a large ship such as the Aurora. The rest of the beams can be used as the keels of common cargo ships.
Now, these naturally shorter wooden beams are used to form the keel of the destroyer.
Rurik signed a clear agreement with them. The "Eighty-eight Fleet" plan is no joke, but a task that must be completed in 834. When a craftsman completes this job, what he gets is by no means as simple as money, but also a higher political status in the Principality of Rus.
The agreement clearly determined that the price of the cruiser without any weapons and attachments was set at one hundred and fifty pounds of silver coins, and the price of the destroyer was set at one hundred pounds of silver coins.
So Rurik’s budget for shipbuilding alone has reached 1,400 pounds of silver coins.
And this is just the price of building the ship, and the weapons that come with it are a huge expense.
Even though the war dividends made him rich, Rurik felt a little guilty when he looked into this matter. Fortunately, after these ships are built, they will be used by the Russians for expeditions in all directions. It is necessary to spend more money on shipbuilding.
Compared with the Avora-class cruisers, the destroyers requested by Rurik are all smaller. He does not require this kind of ship to undertake cargo tasks. It is a purely small combat tool. The shipbuilder does not require the stability of the solid hull structure and combat effectiveness.
The keels began to be laid immediately, and the sound of ding-dong-dong-dong could be heard from the two indoor docks. A total of four destroyers have begun to be built.
Even if each indoor dock builds twoThe indoor environment of the ship was a bit cramped, but the craftsmen did not complain at all, because the construction period given by the sponsor was limited, and if the time was delayed, Rurik would probably give less money.
There is another force urging overtime work, and that is Huotra himself.
As he got older, he should have lost his fighting spirit and stayed at home to wait for death. Wouldn't it be nice to leave all the shipbuilding matters to his descendants, but his fighting spirit was awakened by Rurik again.
A total of sixteen large ships? What a gorgeous scene that must be?
The Ross fleet was built by his own family. Looking at them as if they are still his own, what an honor that is.
Rurik was always reassured by the shipbuilding attitude of the Hotla family and their friends. They also hired a group of manpower, even some Russian women, who became a labor force for logging, transporting, and supplying firewood. , such measures will definitely allow the hull to be built earlier.
But another problem is starting to become thorny.
Recalling that day, he stood on the big ship about to install the mast and boasted about building the propeller propulsion mechanism. Only when he actually started to implement it did Rurik feel more and more difficult.
"Maybe I can build a paddle steamer? No! Paddle steamers are not suitable for sea-going ships. Either don't build them or install propellers."
The most critical difficulty here is that Sealing issues.
For the best seaworthiness, the propeller must of course be installed directly at the bottom of the hull. However, the output power is two human legs, and the power is purely mechanical transmission. What should we do?
Although the final result may be very strange, Rurik was determined to use propellers. A ship is equipped with two propellers, and the rotating shaft is installed against the hull.
To a large extent, this is a variation of the mechanical structure of a paddle steamer. The horizontally rotating axle relies on gears and is transformed into two rotatable axles parallel to the keel. The ends of these axles are propeller blades.
To complete this, Rurik took the time to visit the old blacksmith Klavasen’s home, in the industrial area of the Ross Carbon-Iron Complex, gathering together five blacksmith families from all of Rossburg. , explaining the ship and propeller mechanism in detail.
This matter cannot be made clear to them in just a few words.
Rurik was patient this time. The meeting lasted for three days, and the group of them finally came up with a result.
As usual with Rurik, the results of the research were engraved on the yellow-white pine board, with toner smeared on the lines to form a clear engineering blueprint.
It can be said that to realize the driving force of the human propeller of the ship, even if the speed is only two knots, it is also a test of the highest mechanical engineering technology of the Russians at this stage.
It involves a wide range of aspects, and its complexity is even more complicated than shipbuilding!
But the five senior blacksmiths present are all wise.
The Russians are already using the power of flowing water, using a set of machineryInstitutions will become free forging and grinding forces. Now more complex mechanical structures are used to make the Russian paddles even more unique. With the technical support of Rurik himself, the five families are full of fighting spirit!
Rurik's plan is to arrange two rotating rods longitudinally to the keel in the stern space of the ship. They are both made of wrought iron and surface carburized. One rotating pole is at ground level and the other is at height.
The high rods are inserted into bronze roller bearings, and the bearings are installed at the hulls at both ends. The lower poles are arranged in the cabin and are not only fixed with roller bearings at both ends, but also have as many as five sets of closely arranged iron pedals heat-welded on them.
The two rotating rods are connected by four belts and are driven by the belts.
The high-altitude rotating rod is located on the outer part of the hull, with bronze gears installed at both ends, and drives two special-shaped gears at the end of the rotating rod placed outside the hull.
The rotating rod outside the hull is inserted obliquely under the preset waterline. The entire rod is made of surface-carburized wrought iron. A bronze gear is installed at the upper end, and a bronze propeller is installed at the lower end. It consists of three sets of roller bearings. Fixed to the hull. In order to resist seawater corrosion as much as possible, the outer hull rods are all silver-plated, and the propellers are also silver-plated.
In Rurik's expectation, the corrosion resistance of this mechanical structure to seawater and smoke is naturally poor, but in this era we really can't expect too much.
He has confidence in Ross's blacksmiths to challenge the difficult work, but he does not fully trust them.
He needed to conduct a pilot on a ship to prove that the mechanical mechanism was effective. As long as it works, all is well. As for the damage caused by marine corrosion, as long as the transmission mechanism installed outside the hull is removed when not performing tasks, it will be fine.
Clavason accepted this task honorably. The work of forging swords and axes is certainly important, but this kind of thing has now been basically left to the little servant Rurik placed here to study. Blacksmiths.
For example, ordinary blacksmiths are unable to perform tasks such as casting and polishing gears, casting blades, forging very long iron rods and silver-plating them, and even extremely advanced roller bearings.
The only person in Ross who can hold so many jobs at the same time is his son Kawhi, and they are not bragging in this regard.
The winter life of the Russian people is no longer as boring and quiet as it was many years ago. People are busy with all kinds of things, and they always stay in the same place just to get benefits.
Shortly after the first serious cold wave, another small-scale cold wave came. Some snow was cleared in Roseburg, and all the roads were covered with ice. However, after the new cold wave, people had to do it all over again.
It is already late October, and the Russian Hanukkah is only one month away.
Since the first cold wave, most of the sea surface in the Gulf of Bothnia has been covered by ice, making even the weakest spots accessible.
The tension of sea water forces the ice in the middle of the huge bay to squeeze. The farther north you go, the more severe the ice squeeze is.Heavy, and finally created icebergs as high as ten meters or higher just like in previous years. This is the power of nature. Russians cannot change it, but they can make good use of it.
The ice layer is squeezed to create some cracks. As long as the hunter finds this weak point, he can guard the crack and wait for the seal, or he can make holes in the ice to induce the sensitive seal to come up for air. Of course, he will wait for the seal to come out. Just a harpoon and a big hook.
A group of Ross hunters went to the south to catch seals where the ice was relatively weak. They camped on the ice and returned with a large amount of frozen seal skins, meat, and bones when the sleigh was fully loaded. Leather is sold to outside merchants who enter Roseburg seasonally, and meat and bone Rurik is the biggest buyer.
Another group of Rus hunters began their winter hunt this year. Together with the servants of Rurik's deer herders who went north, they also accompanied hundreds of reindeer to Ironburg.
This year’s winter hunting is not just about hunting!
Spuyut, who once explored the upper reaches of Ironburg, discovered the lake and established the original camp of Fort Fisk, this time he was ordered to do so in danger. This trip was to take a hundred people with him along the route. Following the route marked by Rurik, we will find Murmansk. Not only will we establish a permanent settlement, we will also need to pull two long boats on sleds there. One hundred brave warriors are going to establish the northernmost settlement of the Rus. This will be an arduous expedition, but the desire to see the magnificence of the sea at the end of the world has made the brothers have no hesitation.
Time has quietly entered December, and the days are rapidly shortening. Even so, the short days cannot weaken the enthusiasm of the Russian people for work.
These days, during the daytime, Rurik would either lead his men to the dock in Hotra, or to the industrial area where the black smoke never ceases. As far as the current situation is concerned, the hulls of the four destroyers are being constructed in an orderly manner, and the hulls of the other two large ships that have been completed are now being pushed outdoors, just waiting for the return of the people who were ordered to go to the north to cut down the huge cedar trees. The masts were installed, but now they looked like big toys for some children to climb up and down.
As for all the parts for the propeller drive system, Klavason patted his chest and made sure he had a complete set. This guy and his son Kawei were busy making these parts. After they finished one set, they were about to make a new set, but Rurik had to stop them because they needed experimental verification. In terms of the quality of the parts, Rurik was quite satisfied even though he didn’t feel amazing.
Look at these roller bearings with uniform specifications! It is the master of craftsmanship of the Klavasen family!
With as many as ten bronze roller bearings, the tolerances must be large, which means it is difficult to see the difference between them with the naked eye. They rotate very smoothly. It can be seen that the nesting of the four internal rollers and the large and small bronze rings is quite stable and accurate. Coated with thick seal grease, it seems that the overall mechanical performance is quite excellent. Now, just waiting for the hull to be built to a suitable level, it is time to install the system on a boat.
Rurik will only return at nightHis own palace, see how the wives and concubines are studying, and then recruit John Invar to learn Latin.
On the whole, the Russians just need to live a traditional life. As a duke with real power, he does not need to monitor what his subordinates do every day. But there is one guy who really needs to be on guard, and that is missionary Eskil.
No way, no way! Even though he had agreed that he could only serve as an observer and record some of what he saw in Russia, Eskil still couldn't help but spread the word among the Russian people who were busy making money, and even among the Slavic women who were married and holding children. So-called sacred faith.
This is a taboo forbidden by Rurik. What if this man is allowed to do whatever he wants?
Rurik was cruel and ordered his men to arrest Eskil, who appeared to be traveling but was actually trying his best to do his job. But Otto did something even more extreme. Instead of asking his son to kill the old guy, he forced Rurik to order all the hair and beard of the man to be shaved off with a sharp steel knife as a sign of humiliation. But this punishment is not enough! Even if Rurik intended to be merciful, Otto and many Russians still demanded further punishment for the outsider who had defiled the sacred realm blessed by Odin.
Eskil came with two young followers, one of whom, John Ingvar, became Rurik's tutor. He always behaved in an orderly manner and naturally received Rurik's protection. As for another unknown person, he became a victim. The unknown boy was secretly killed, and Eskil was humiliated again after having the hair on his head shaved off.
He became a monk? It's not just that!
Since you have done this kind of thing, why not do it even more? Rurik heard John Invar's true cry, and then he realized that this kid didn't really want to be a rabbit, he was just doing it passively to pray for his life. All of this is Eskil's preference, and even the followers he raised have been violated.
What is blasphemy? Isn't Eskil's behavior the purest blasphemy against his own beliefs?
Eskil was essentially imprisoned. Although he had no worries about food and clothing, he suffered great physical and mental harm. All the hair on this man's body was hung up, and he felt like he was going to turn into a gelded ram while he was howling and screaming.
John Invar was quite helpless when his companion was killed, but he was not stupid enough to stop Rurik's determination. He was very happy to see his teacher being retaliated against.
John Invar, he was trained to be very submissive and knew how to condescend to the strong, just like a loyal dog. Rurik, a man with this kind of temperament, naturally liked to use him. It's a pity that a good man can't really be a real man because of the things he has experienced and the constraints of his faith?
More than a month has passed. Rurik is a strange person in John Ingvar. The Duke of Ross has basically mastered Latin (an astonishing number of words are very similar to modern English) and realizes his own value. It is weakening rapidly, and John Ingvar is increasingly worried about his own future.
To be honest, he felt that he was living the best life in Ross. Lord Rurik would not ask for his back, and even felt extremely disgusted with it. He would become stronger with adequate food. Moreover, Lord Rurik has been hinting at something, and John Invar inevitably has some doubts about his faith.
He is essentially a man!
"Today's study ends here, I'm tired." Rurik yawned, and then asked Fisk, Kanuf, Taravis and other young confidants to leave.
As usual, John Invar should leave the Duke's palace and go to sleep in his temporary house.
He was specially kept by Rurik.
The third floor became deserted...
"Sir, you... have important things to do while you are staying with me? As for Latin, maybe I have already taught you..."
"You kid, you are still as cautious in your words as always, showing that you are weak. You are a Dane. You are supposed to be Odin's berserker, how can you not be strong enough? You really look like a berserk now. Lamb. Let me ask you something now."
"Ah! Sir."
"Ah! ..." John Invar was speechless. This guy wanted to say that he was actually interested, but because of his faith, the teacher's punishment in the future, and...
Rurik shook his head and stood up. , pointing to his nose: "You hesitate! Hesitation is desire. Listen, I will make a deal with you. I will arrange a woman for you, and she will turn you into a real man. Don't think about going back. Frank goes, you stay in Ross."
"But! This is... blasphemy." "I knew you would say that. In blasphemy, did he get punished by God? Listen, it turns out that your God does not punish these things. Just do what I ask. I am the one you can rely on. Worry, I will arrange a woman for you to take care of your daily life. You must prove that you are a real man. I will see the results within a year. You should know what I mean. Otherwise...it will be like yours being killed by my order. Like your companions, you will also have a tragic end."
John Ingvar swallowed hard with his eyes widened. He was in a mixed mood, feeling both excited and guilty.
But he knew that Rurik, Duke of Ross, was a good man.