After the snow melts, the forest is full of mud, and only the flat areas around the lake can quickly dry out.
The snow melted faster than Rurik expected, and the continuous good weather brought the nighttime temperature back above freezing.
The warmth of spring defeated the cold within a few days. Lake Ilmen has thawed, the Volkhov ice has become thinner and completely broken, and the Aurora, which was once frozen, is now thawed. .
Thanks to the oak bottom of this old ship, there are some traces of ice friction on her waterline. She is scarred by hard work but still sails freely.
When everyone saw that the river was full of drifting water, according to the traditional experience of the local people, as long as there is no rainfall, a large number of fields around the lake can be cultivated in up to seven days.
A large number of modified curved shaft plows were placed on a flat ground. Looking at them, Old Ligus was eager to use them.
This old guy is as curious as a child. There is nothing unusual about the plowshare. He just pays attention to the funnel-shaped structure mounted on the back.
"Put the seeds in and let them drip slowly like an hourglass. How clever!"
His praise really surprised Rurik, and he said with a smile. : "It does look like an hourglass. Since you know about hourglasses, no one has tried to modify it?"
This statement immediately confused Ligus.
Just like the steam wheel toy was invented a long time ago, it took two thousand years for the steam engine to become a real one.
There is a columbine behind the plow, and the spout of the columbine that goes deep into the ground has a controllable partition for adjustment, and there is a baffle at the end to cover the soil.
These modified plows belong to the property of the entire White Tree Farm. Just like the surveying and statistics of the field conditions last year, Rurik fully understood their economic structure-the most critical farm tools are shared by everyone, and Everyone rushed to cultivate the autumn harvest.
Ligus is an old man, and his status is naturally the noblest in the farm. In fact, he has been a farmer all his life, but now he has no strength to cut wheat in his waning years.
The onlookers realized its beauty and immediately discussed the spring plowing plan.
Rurik even directly smeared the paper with rosin gum and posted the so-called "Agricultural Scripture" in a public place, so that anyone who knew one of the texts could know the farming rules provided by the prince. Then spread by word of mouth.
Indiscriminate sowing means indiscriminate sowing, relying on probability to basically utilize the entire farmland.
Perhaps they should first upgrade to the on-demand mode, which is more efficient in land utilization, but also consumes physical energy. The use of new agricultural tools will be directly upgraded to drill mode, achieving the ultimate cost-effectiveness of sowing under current technical conditions.
After transforming all the plows, Rurik did not ask for "technical fees" from them. Technology is the primary productive force and when used now, it must have immediate results.
The Conglong people of Baishu Manor are very discerning. The Duke improves farm tools for everyone and pays the craftsmen. He is a good man, so it is reasonable to pay more taxes.
Rurik can indeed benefit in a short period of time, and now he isThere are still as many as fifty curved shaft plows in hand, most of which have been modified.
Even Carlotta's Ostara team has twenty of them, so she has no time to modify them. It didn't matter, she already had the significant "Agricultural Scripture" manuscript in her hand, with a few pieces of paper strung together by twine and simply framed as a book. She copied the book herself, and the contents were like a stamp of thought that was deeply ingrained in her mind.
The land inside the wall has returned to dryness, and the surrounding fields have entered a relatively humid state.
In April of the Julian calendar, there is little precipitation in Lake Ilmen, and heavy rains may occur in May.
However, the overall rainfall in this area is low. Effective precipitation is mainly concentrated from early October to January of the following year in the Julian calendar, and most of it falls as ice and snow.
Beyond Lake Ilmen, Volkhov River, Lovaj River and Msti River, although the latitude of the area around Lake Ilmen is high, oat-type agriculture does not lack water nourishment.
Under the continuous good weather, the people were full of confidence. In order to further inspire people, Rurik specially held another meeting.
Russ Dumane in Novgorod was crowded with more than 200 people gathered there. They were local farmers, the first batch of permanent Russian immigrants and representatives of the Ostara people.
They remained quiet and listened to the prince's decision.
“According to the plan, we will start spring plowing in two days. This is a major event for all Varangians and all Slavs to jointly act! We now have the best farming tools and the most intelligent farming methods. . Now that the lakeside fields are back to dryness, we have to rush to complete the task during this warm and rainless period.
We will start operations in different areas and follow the previous plan. Friends, I will do it. My wife is plowing a field near the city, and I will be a farmer myself. This autumn I will eat the wheat I grow.”
The Slavs felt really comfortable hearing the prince’s description of farming. I feel like Rurik and I have become the same person. Maybe he knows the hardships of farmers by personally cultivating and harvesting, and can give everyone better strategies.
He changed the topic and looked at the young people in the first flag team, especially his cousin Arik.
"The river near the old Pine Needle Manor is called Mstisk River. I decided to call the new settlement Mstisk according to the locals."
Arik Lelehehe: "Then according to our explanation, it will be called Msstistad. It doesn't matter if it's a name."
"Very good. Brother, just farm according to the method I provided. I will send my wives and concubines to help you and demarcate the land according to the contract. I am also ready to grow food."
"It's just that there must be a large area of land there, but you don't have to. Will it really be abandoned? I'm actually very worried about that..."
"It's okay to let the extra land be abandoned for the time being."
"It doesn't matter. I just plant onions and hemp stalks, no matter what, you will not lose..."
After going back and forth, they reiterated their farming plan, and finally the words fell on the Ostara people.
Although Carlotta is His wife and concubine, but she is also a high-level leader.
Rurik is not worried about them, and has nothing to say, so he finally expressed his condolences: "Carlotta, I will take you by boat. When they are transported to the mouth of the Lovati River, you will be given 500 reindeer. You must develop freely. If you need help, come to the north shore of the lake for help. "
She nodded, tears of emotion fell.
According to Slavic etiquette, a large number of people gathered towards the lakeside.
Af resumed sailing The small fleet headed by the Rolla was the largest ship, and her cabins were filled with oats, which were grown by Rurik's ancestors. Arriving at the agreed lake shore, we took our wives and concubines along the rope net and got off the boat to complete the landing.
The world that was once covered with silver light has returned to dark green. If you look closely, you can see that the branches are struggling to sprout.
Looking at the land again, the grass has sprouted.
A large dark area is visible.
“This is the altar from before, and the fire tower has become it. Black coal all over the place! Svetlana was quite surprised by the strange traces after the sacrifice, and asked casually: "Are we going to build a fire tower this time?" ”
“That’s not necessary, we are doing this as a routine matter. ”
At some specific time points and on the eve of major events, sacrifices are made to calm people’s hearts. White Tree Manor will sacrifice the Spring God and the God of Agriculture every year. The local priests did not describe a clear image of the god. The foreign Rus People have provided real gods.
Rurik wants to worship Freda here. Legend has it that he is the god of labor and production. This is almost the right time. Sacrificial activities unique to all Varyag people, all the Norse-speaking people in the region came in various forms.
The sacrifices were carried out in a lively atmosphere, and Rurik's wives and concubines were all dressed in plain clothes. , wearing a crown of fresh green buds. A handful of oatmeal was buried in the altar, becoming the key to the ceremony.
"Gods bless us!" God Frega protect us! The Russians are standing here, please give us a good harvest..."
The fierce warriors galloping on the ocean will turn into farmers carrying sickles. They have not given up on their past bravery, but on their inherent New skills have been added based on bravery.
The first batch of Varyag settlers, totaling more than a thousand people, have completed their sacrifices, and various Slavic farms scattered around the lake are also doing their spring festivals.
The crowd began to disperse, and they rushed to different areas with their luggage. Led by Arik, the men of the First Flag Team rushed to the Old Pine Needles Manor, and Rurik sent a surveying team composed of his wives and concubines. , carrying those contract documents and surveying tools, demarcating the heaven and earth of each household while planting seeds
All the ships in Novgorod were gathered.The Ostara people of Carlotta took various tribesmen by boat to the Lovaj River in the south of the great lake, and the construction of New Ostara officially began.
A huge and prosperous picture of spring plowing has been revealed.
The whole of Novgorod became busy, and the new farm tools were put into use immediately.
The city has basically become a city for the people of White Tree Manor. This situation will soon change greatly with the immigration of a large number of Russians.
Rurik took a fancy to a private field that belonged solely to the Ligus family. It was just a field with a length and width of about 20 meters each.
This is the land he chose to farm. It is small in area and has the most important meaning.
Rurik wanted to show off that he was working hard personally, to show everyone who knew that what he said was true, and even turn it into a drama that lasted year after year.
This is the emperor's "two acres and three thirds of land". The emperor cultivates it himself to show his subjects, who are mainly farmers, that the monarch attaches great importance to agriculture.
With a hemp rope on his shoulder, Rurik stepped on the earth with his boots.
A group of his guards guarded the standing tree stump at the ridge of the field. They were ordered to simply stand and not to help the owner do anything. They also prevented onlookers from entering the field.
With the rope attached to the plow, Rurik actually became a bull.
Svetlana’s braids were tied on her head and her whole head was covered with a scarf. She was dressed in a smart Varyag dress, but what she was holding on to was the handle of the plow.
The cog behind the plow was filled with wheat grains, and she held another hemp rope in her hand to control the sowing speed.
"Rurik, many people are watching, are we like this? You are a prince, maybe you don't need to pull the plow yourself." She really couldn't bear it, feeling that her noble man was watching in front of farmers and women. Out of embarrassment.
Rurik gritted his teeth: "It doesn't matter, I just want them to see it! I'm going to use my strength! Lanna, control the equipment!"
This is Rurik It was also the first time in Svetlana’s life that she farmed in person. She was a well-protected girl. In the past years, her family had prohibited her from doing the hard work of spring plowing and autumn harvesting. All this had her father's intentions.
Since old Otto revealed that his youngest daughter would be his only son and his wife when she was still an infant, Rigus deliberately trained his daughter to be the best Slavic woman. It can be said that she has become a person with tender skin and tender flesh, which is really different from the children of local farmers.
Ligus and his wife were leaning on wooden sticks and watching from the outside of the field. They felt great and felt great.
"In the end, our daughter is still farming, and the child Rurik seems to really like farming. It seems that our training of our daughter for so many years is unnecessary."
Wife The doubts were directly refuted by Ligus: "What do you know! Rurik is just acting. He does value farming, but he cannot farm all the time. He is a prince and has too many things to do."
"I mean our daughter."
"I know it. If she hadn't been beatenHow can you get your current status by dressing up beautifully? I dare say they planted the seeds in this land, and it is still ours to take care of the fields. "
Ligus's description was very thorough. His ears had already heard the whispers of many onlookers, and almost all he heard were voices praising the prince.
The plowshare swept across In the developed mature fields, the cold-resistant wheat grains from Britain instantly fell into the soft ravines.
Rurik stood forward, pushing hard on the ground with his strong legs, and the whole plow was on the ground. Under Lanna's control, he could make steady progress.
He could choose to use deer to plow the land. Domesticated reindeer can pull sleds docilely and are also good at pulling plows, but that would not be considered good. It's a show.
Not far away, old Otto put on the clothes of a warrior. Now he is too old to fight. He holds his sword and stands like a statue, watching his son's efforts.
The ravines were dug out, the seeds were sown, and the ravines were filled up in an instant, leaving only some superficial traces.
No one helped the couple, Liu Li. Ke Geng prohibited any help. He and Lanna didn't rest at all, and the price was that they were out of breath when it was about to end.
Lana became anxious: "Rurik! You are too tired, why don't you take a rest. ”
“It’s out of the way!” He shouted with all his strength: "Fighting is more tiring than this, but I can persist." ”
That’s what happened. Rurik completed the work because of too short and strenuous physical labor, and relied on his strong willpower to avoid falling.
He staggered with a blush on his face. When he ran to the ridge of the field, John Invall and the maids brought from his hometown had prepared honey water.
He held the stall and poured warm honey water, and everyone could see his quilt. His plain white linen shirt was soaked with sweat, and those with sharp eyes could see his shoulders and arms that were bruised by hemp ropes.
The young prince actually has the power of a horse?
The women who were watching covered their mouths, and the men were buzzing and talking.
His beloved son-in-law, the great prince, blushed due to exertion, and Ligus hurried back with a crutch.
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He looked at Rurik, who was hiding his fatigue with a smile, and didn’t know what to say for a moment, but his old face was really trembling.
“Prince! You... succeeded. " Rigus held back his words for a long time.
After a moment, Otto cheered up and led a group of veteran soldiers to walk thousands of miles with the weight of the old era.
A Only his hand covered Rurik's wet head, and the other hand covered Svetlana's wet headscarf.
Otto said: "Is this... your personal sacrifice to the gods? "
"Yes. Rurik's smile continued, "The gods are fair. They see my efforts and will definitely give us a good harvest." ”
This is a good expectation. Otto believes in the gods, but he is not sure about the attitude of the gods towards the large-scale farming of the Russians.
The brave warrior is hereIs it really appropriate to be a farmer? If everyone is accustomed to a comfortable life and their weapons are weakened, and the warriors lose their warrior soul, they will be abandoned by the gods.
This is fate! At least Ross controls the harvest land and can always eat with an open appetite.
Otto saw the performance of his son-in-law. They were not only speaking to the gods, but also performing to the conquered Slavs.
He had a lot of words, but now he put his hands on the two people's heads. The pressing force was the belief of this old soldier, and it also represented a thousand words.
A new era has begun, Rurik himself has set an example, and the fields cultivated by the prince have been sown with wheat seeds that are waiting for an opportunity to sprout.
The entire farmland around Lake Ilmen is being cultivated, and the land acquired by the First Flag Team is the most lively.
In order to get the fertile land, the sword of the young warrior of Rus suffered the blood of his enemies, and now he finally got his own land.
Different from the Slavic community, the Russian society has completed basic changes. They fished as small families in their hometown and now look after their fields as small farmers. This is the case in economic life, but everyone is used to living together, and now they still help each other when they live together.
They are currently the strongest Russian men. Some of their fathers are soldiers of the Second Banner. Seven hundred men not only have to demarcate their own fields, operate farm tools and sow, but also cut trees and build new houses. To accommodate the women and children who are about to arrive.
A city named Mstisk rose up on the ruins of Wine Pine Needle Manor. As the flag captain, Arik planned to move his family here.
In just one year, all 10,000 people in the old Pine Needle Manor were buried underneath. The Principality of Ross took full possession of the place in the name of countering the rebellion, and began to build its own city and cultivate its own fields.
The frozen world is completely revived, and seeds sprout when they touch the soil.
In just a few days, Rurik saw green seedlings sprouting from the field he tilled. They were not weeds but real wheat seedlings.
Not only his own plowing, but also all the sown fields, you can see the sprouting of seedlings if you look carefully.
Russ’s first immigrants are beginning to see their results, but spring plowing is a process that can last for more than half a month.
Based on local experience, the latest period for spring plowing is May 15th in the Julian calendar. No sowing is allowed after this date, even if the climate has become warmer. Because you sow too late, you will be hit by frost during the harvest season.
Rurik actually gave his hometown people enough time. On the fifth day of May, two large ships without hull numbers sailed against the wind, pulled by multiple rowing boats, and successfully sailed against the wind. Rushed to Novgorod.
A young man whom Ligus knew very well jumped off the longboat happily without any fatigue. He was none other than the blacksmith Kawei!
There was also a fat man who carefully and awkwardly climbed down the rope ladder of the big ship. He was not a stranger either, butHe is Blue Fox, the second son of the great businessman Gould! This guy was supposed to go to Hedeby, Denmark, so it was really unexpected to show up here.
Their arrival really surprised Rurik, and the large amount of wheat they brought was genuine.
A young man who is eager to take credit and his companions stand in Novgorod again after many years. He is the explorer Spyut. From Britain to the hinterland of Eastern Europe, he It was the great hero who transported wheat who reported his work to the prince in person, expecting a large reward from him.
Now, Lord Rurik is standing on the bank of the Volkhov River. Behind him is the city called Novgorod and farmland everywhere.