The twelve manor owners grabbed the barbecue and ate it tremblingly, eating and drinking together with a group of fighting madmen. They were afraid that the other party would suddenly have a whim, and their heads would be chopped off.
A calf was eaten by everyone until only its skeleton was left, and five oak barrels were consumed from the seized wine.
Are the Russians enjoying their happy life? The manor owners just wanted to go home and stay there, hoping to escape from this ghost place as soon as possible.
Rurik only drank a glass of ale. When many people were a little dazed, the only meat on the trailer was the cow skeleton, and the banquet should end here.
The manor owners who were always vigilant were always on the lookout for orders, and finally they waited for new orders from the young Duke of Ross.
"You manor owners, I see that you have been too cautious. Don't worry, I will not kill you. I can promise that as long as you remain surrendered, you will be rewarded."
reward? Is there still a reward?
They did not have time to think carefully, or they were unable to think in this suffocating scene.
In fact, regarding the follow-up arrangements for these manor owners, Rurik boasts that the policies he has yet to implement will effectively solve the stability of the region.
He announced again: "You will spend the night here tonight. I have the most realistic arrangements for you and all the Novgorod nobles tomorrow. Come! Take them down to rest."
The armed guards appeared again, dragging the owners of the manor with their weak legs away. The courtyard of the banquet was filled with the laughter of the Russian people...
"Keep drinking! Keep eating! "Otto shook his head and asked the guys to drink and dance. The group of manor owners who were in the way were asked to leave, and everyone could continue to eat and disperse.
Rurik didn’t know how long the banquet lasted. He left the banquet early due to embarrassment and fell asleep. Those who stayed at the banquet, no matter how big their appetites were, were satisfied.
At the banquet hall, there was a man who drank the most and dared to eat meat and wheat.
Medved was so excited. When he learned in advance about the reward given to him by his brother-in-law Rurik, his mind was filled with happiness.
He will gain great power. Even though this power may not be inherited by his own heirs, the supreme power of the Ross Principality will definitely fall into the hands of his sister's son.
Sister Svetlana, she participated in the war and fought like a Valkyrie believed in by the Russians. She no longer looks like a Slav, but a Russian?
"It doesn't matter, they are all my sisters."
Medwait has realized the power and privileges of being a relative and uncle, but his situation is limited. After the Ross people became strong, they just wanted to rely on their strength to make their White Tree Manor more powerful.
Rule the entire Novgorod on behalf of the Russians, just like Vadim, the self-proclaimed prince whose life or death is uncertain?
"No, I will take care of this place on behalf of Ross, that's all. Don't make any extravagant thoughts, only good days are waiting for the people."
Overall, YiThe Slavic people on Lake Ermen are xenophobic. They are a purely agricultural ethnic group and are most afraid of outsiders invading their land. But isn’t the White Tree Manor on the Volkhov River an external other to the Great Lake?
The xenophobic Slavs like Pine Needle Manor have been wiped out, the hardcore rebels have been purged, and the remaining people can only obey.
To understand this, Medved’s first thought was to reconcile the relationship with the people on the lakeside. After a hundred years, the marginalized White Tree Manor is back with great power and the power of Rose!
White Tree Manor and his power were awarded by the Duke of Ross. He must be a good governor and take care of the place on behalf of Rurik.
In the end, Medved got drunk. He actually fought side by side with multiple Varyag tribes and participated in many bloody battles with the Varyag people.
He was regarded as one of their own. A group of men gathered together to drink and chat, naturally talking about fighting, plundering, and even happily talking about getting married and having children...
Even, some people have already Congratulations began to the Slavs who were about to gain power.
Medved was not too complacent. The corpse of the manor owner who was beheaded was still cold. Some things really cannot be said clearly. It was not a pity for those who were killed to participate in the rebellion, but it seemed that they were also killing chickens to scare monkeys. It was the brother-in-law who used the blood of these people to scare himself.
Some people fell asleep at the banquet until the cool breeze and noise in the early morning woke them up.
Rurik appeared in front of everyone again. His image was shared. He had a clean face and blond hair. He was really a capable and stylish young man.
In this era, life during leisure time was always full of boredom, and it seemed that the biggest entertainment was giving birth.
The Russian army stationed at the traditional Slavic farm did not receive an order to evacuate, and they were also asked not to attack other manors on their own initiative.
The army seems to be left hanging here, but in fact every Russian and Balmok is actively discovering the agricultural value here.
Who would go to sea and become a pirate every year if he could farm the land and get a reward? Even when it comes to fishing, the risk of catching fish in the sea is much higher than that of rippling on the lake.
They went into the woods to hunt, and some of them ran far away, and ended up seeing some new farms that they had never known before.
There was even an encounter between a Ross hunter and a farmer deep in the jungle. The awkward meeting scared the other party and ran away for his life while carrying a wooden hoe.
The news that the hunter met the strange farmer did not come out. The soldiers of White Tree Manor pointed out that he was the so-called "hiding person".
The Novgorod area centered on Lake Ilmen must have a population of 100,000 people. Rurik firmly believed that. As for the more than 20 farms scattered around the lake, the total population was actually not that large. The vast majority of people are definitely hiding. I'm afraid it's not that they mean to hide. It's just that the area is too vast and the Slavic immigrants have many obstacles. It's normal to build small settlements in the dense forest and live a closed agricultural life.
Want to collect those who are hiding? This must be done! ThatSome people must accept Rus' rule, but this troublesome job can be thrown to the Governor of Novgorod.
A lot of news reached Rurik’s ears, and he even saw the vast farmland.
Rurik got up early today to visit the farmland of his war leader. In addition to appreciating the trophies, he also inspected the local people's farming skills.
Look at the cleaned Pine Needle Manor. Their oat fields and nurseries are in a mess, not as neat as the wheat seedlings of White Tree Manor that have been plowed and sown with plows.
This kind of land method is completely on the same level as those of the allied tribes on the shores of Lake Mälaren, except that the latitude of Lake Ilmen is further south and the accumulated temperature is high, making rough agriculture a relatively acceptable harvest.
But there is amazing room for improvement in agricultural technology, not only turning the soil with the curved plow, but also using human and animal excrement and reed lake mud to fertilize the fields, and even irrigation. It’s just that these advanced technologies cannot be implemented immediately.
After the morning inspection, Rurik was more determined to reward the twelve farm owners.
The big stick has been hammered, and they are all afraid of Ross defending his rights. Now you should reward it with carrots to make it virtuous and appease it.
If there were no "great men sent from heaven", the farmers on the lakeside could still be busy farming for hundreds of years. It would take too long for the local aristocracy to evolve into a country.
Now, the Novgorod region is already under the direct control of the Rus Principality, and the past strategy will be completely terminated today.
There is no banquet at noon.
Twelve manor owners who worked hard, as well as three arrogant manor owners, Baishu, Calf, and Fisherman, were invited to the same house by Rurik.
Medved and Svetlana are also here, where Rurik personally held a meeting for a group of local Slavs.
He was sitting on a leather cushion, with old Otto holding a patterned steel sword next to him. He was sitting here like a god, staring at the group of manor owners with sharp eyes, which represented the past.
Rurik stopped being polite, and when everyone was here, he didn’t care about their faces, and said bluntly: “Since ancient times, we Russians have come here to ask for tribute every year, but everything has changed since this year! Me! Duke Rurik of Rus, from now on, the whole of Veliky Novgorod will be directly included in the Principality of Rus. Novgorod will always belong to Rus, and you, the residents of the estate, are now new Rus’ people!”
New Russians? What does this mean? What does direct rule mean?
The manor owners looked at each other. They wanted to say a lot but did not dare to speak.
Rurik made a gesture, and Medved stood up. This man who followed the Russian army to eat meat and fish has now become very burly. If he were not fluent in Slavic, he would be a standard Varyag warrior standing here.
This son is the successor of White Tree Manor. After the death of the old guy Ligus, Medved will become the owner of the manor.
This person must be useful if he can be named by Duke Ross.
"However, the residents of Veliky Novgorod have their own lives, and this Duke has undoubtedly forced you to change too much. Now, I appoint Medvet of White Tree Manor as the local governor, taking charge of Veliky Novgorod on my behalf. All of Rhodes' affairs. You must support Medved's work, and I will restrain him from doing anything inappropriate..."
Rurik took some time to explain. The twelve nervous people were all ears, and even the leaders of Baishu, Calf, and Fishermen were listening.
Rigus, he is very happy that his eldest son can hold this important position. It seems that Medved used the authority of the Ross people to enable White Tree Manor to gain hegemony in this lake area? No, this is not the case.
The monarch appoints a governor to rule. This is an invention in Northern and Eastern Europe. Even in the Frankish Kingdom, the concept of a governor has not existed since the collapse of Western Rome.
The governor defined by Rurik is actually an extension of the old word "war chief". As for these manor owners, they were also rewarded with a new title, Bjorn, or in other words, Boyar is "a person who defends the power of the monarch".
The fifteen manor owners in this house have all received the title of boyar, which can be called a big landowner or a squire. This word is a standard Varyag vocabulary. Having this title is also a legacy. Rick announced to them that all manor owners were the Duke's guards and were directly responsible to the Duke's family.
Boyar's power is recognized and protected by the Duke, and Boyar must also perform various duties to the Duke.
As for Medved, he was first a boyar noble and then an appointed governor.
If Medved does not do well, other boyars have the right to make suggestions to the Duke. Medved does not have all the power. He only has great power in collecting taxes on behalf of the Duke. The rest of the affairs should be decided by the boyar nobles of each farm at a meeting.
Should most matters have to be discussed by everyone? Isn’t this a return to the old tradition of the past?
Some people with keen political senses smelled the hidden interests and the implementation of Duke Ross's favor. Just when others were confused, they suddenly raised their heads.
"We at Redwood Manor fully support the Duke's resolution. We support Medved as governor, and we will continue to pay tribute to Ross as agreed."
Someone raised their heads, The undecided immediately start following.
Each manor owner made a positive statement one after another, fearing that future generations would be persecuted by the Russians.
Is their support really genuine? Rurik felt that the support of the owner of the Redwood Manor was sincere, and most of the others were also sincere. After all, he was indeed giving favors and benefits.
They have no choice.
Old Otto was laughing, and all the Russians present were laughing. This was a confident smile. They saw that a large group of local Slavic nobles were scrambling to beg the Rus to rule. In the past, this group of guys only had fear and reluctant expressions on their faces.
No, againA smart sycophant simply dropped to the ground and crawled in front of Rurik like a lizard.
“Pine Needles Manor used vicious methods to gain hegemony, and Ross was the best mediator. Ross eradicated the guilty. We once fought against each other, and now, the great Duke of Ross finally brought us Peace. We welcome the rule of Ross." Rurik listened carefully, why do these words sound so familiar?
Ah! Isn't this history?
“Their history books record that Chief Rurik and a thousand warriors mediated the melee of the Novgorod people, unified the place as an arbiter, and founded the Principality of Northern Rus. One thousand Warriors? A thousand warriors of the First and Third Banners? I am Rurik, I am indeed the mediator, the arbiter, and the prince." The more Rurik thought about it, the more interesting he became.
The process of history has taken the right path in the East again. Perhaps this is the inevitable destiny.
"Which manor are you the leader of?" Rurik asked.
"Azabu Manor. I am Msti Vadysiewicz. Sir, we are good at growing hemp and making linen."
This person is indeed flattering, and his flattery methods are also smart. He actually recommended his own specialties. Rurik's eyes lit up, because this lake area is indeed easier to grow flax than Lake Mälaren in the north, and there are indeed masters of flax weaving here.
I’m afraid it’s not just that. Each manor has its own specialties. I am afraid that the manors around Lake Ilmen have already achieved economic complementarity. As long as they are supported and utilized, the local area will definitely explode into the powerful ancient times. productive forces.
Discovering their industrial potential is something that comes later. At present, the fundamental support for the life of these manors is land.
The Principality of Rus directly rules here in order to stably obtain the output of wheat, hemp, and leather.
They are all announcing that they will pay tribute, that is, taxes, in strict accordance with the Duke's regulations.
It is the tax issue that is the most fundamental issue in this meeting.
Rurik ordered them all to be quiet and solemnly announced: "I will start a tithe tax on you. I will send people to count your acres, and this project will be completed this year. What is a tithe tax? ? One-tenth of the output of a piece of farmland is the tax paid to Ross. The amount of tax paid has nothing to do with your population, only the area of the farmland! Oats, rye, wheat, and flax are all based on one-tenth. Proportional tax payment. ”
The imperial grain tax is the current mainstay of taxation in the Principality of Russia. In other words, in the tribal era, Russia’s request for food from the Slavs was the predecessor of the food tax. Now, under Rurik's definition, grain is a general equivalent with monetary attributes.
But Ross’s territorial economic model is essentially diversified. She is a civilization, so the civilization of the Principality of Ross is now advancing both by sea and land. For these pure Slavic farmers, not only should they collect food taxes, they should also enter the forest to capture wild animals.
They captured a group of squirrels, sleds, sables, weasels orOther beasts, big and small. Rurik stipulated that each manor should produce one thousand squirrel skins every year, and one hundred skins per year for rare ferret skins.
Given the current ecological situation, rare leather animals can still be seen everywhere. Rurik felt that his request was not a big problem.
This is just a mandatory tax requirement. When he explained that he would come up with a price (market price) acceptable to everyone, and purchase additional surplus grain, honey, dried fish, various leathers, woodware, pottery, etc., everyone The owners of the manor are all delighted.
Those Varyag businessmen come occasionally, but the Russians do not leave every year. In the past, they hardly did business and only thought about asking for money.
Now, Duke Rurik of Rus is indeed different from his father.
Rurik’s promise went beyond that. He also announced: “I will build a trading place here and openly sell iron farm tools, salt, gems and other goods to all your estates.”
Trade is what everyone welcomes. If trade is stable, Duke Ross will be a real saint. Even if the price of the transaction is higher, or the price is not an issue, what Veliky Novgorod lacks most is a stable trading place.
Rurik’s favor continues.
“I will immediately sell a batch of iron farm tools to all of your manors, and you can immediately use your surplus grain to buy them. Since this year’s situation is too special, I declare that this year only, I will exempt you from this year’s expenses. Tax!"
They were all dumbfounded, including Otto, who understood these Slavic sentences and immediately questioned them.
The Russians were complaining that Rurik was too merciful, and the Slavs couldn't believe it was true.
Rurik declared firmly: "This year, Novgorod is tax-free! My Duke, my order is absolute. This is my gift to you. Listen, I can promise you The days will get better and better under Ross's direct governance. Your peaceful era has arrived."
A beautiful peaceful era has arrived?
Yesterday, all the manor owners witnessed the horrific killings of the remnants of the rebellion. Today they leave with the title of Boyar Nobility.
Rurik said that showing kindness is showing kindness. He let these people go and also gave them a batch of wooden and iron farm tools captured from Pine Needle Manor.
Even, these twelve manors were given a great privilege - to take out the remaining members of the five manors who assisted in the rebellion.
These manor owners have the right to carve up the women and children of those manors, and divide their population into their own, in order to enhance the strength of their manors. Their property can be plundered, and only the ownership of farmland belongs to the Duke of Ross.
Will this arrangement make the three Conglong estates jealous, and will it make the Ross and Balmok people complain?
Indeed, Rurik observed this sentiment, but the complaint was quickly dispelled. Because the most extensive farmland belongs to the Duke of Ross, the small Ross family can own these property rights, and they still follow the old rules of opening up land in New Rossburg, and the grain and farm tools are all owned by Liuli.Grams provide, they should provide taxes! It's just that the property rights of these lands still belong to the Duke family of the Principality of Ross.
The so-called newly opened land belongs to the developer, and will be taxed according to regulations in the future after statistics. The farmland that was looted after the rebellion was completely private property of the Duke family.
As long as the Russians become farmers, they must pay tithe. They are all smart people. After a little calculation, they know that being a farmer is a very profitable business.
When the farm is busy, he cultivates and collects goods. At other times, he takes a boat to catch fish, or even conquers the world with the Duke. Just like the traditional Danish life, spring planting and autumn harvest, farmers turn into fishermen and even pirates in the warm summer. It's just that the farmland and geographical environment that the Russian men are about to master are much better than the Danes.