It was a complete accident that his men met the islanders of Saaremaa Island, but life is always one accident after another.
Rurik kept his word and wanted to hold a banquet in the palace for the heroes of the expedition.
Since those envoys from Saaremaa Island came with the purpose of surrender, they naturally also have the right to participate.
Telalang, his name means "very long wood", which is an allusion to the keel of the ship.
The largest settlement he has seen in his more than 20 years of life is the village on the island. In addition, he and his friends rowed a small boat to sneak attack on the villages of Pomeranians and Prussians, and also Overlooking the Danish village from a distance.
It seems that all villages are the same, with wooden pillars and walls covered with a lot of thatch and soil. Such wooden houses gather together to form a village.
The "largest settlement" of the Russians is actually like this? They actually used a lot of huge wood to build the wall?
Although some people on the island are from Ross, their description of Ross is not surprising. It seems to be just a big village ten times larger than the village on the island.
Is New Roseburg considered a village? The area is densely populated and there are as many as three rows of deliberately stranded rowboats moored along the riverside.
Although the envoy recovered from the surprise of seeing and riding the big ship "Salmon Chief" at the beginning, now he saw the entire fleet of big ships moored, and his eyes kept staring, like looking at gems. .
Rurik noticed the expressions of these ragged envoys. As expected, the prosperity of Rus gave them a great shock.
But these guys are too dirty!
No one wants to coexist with fleas and lice. These nasty parasites were difficult to get rid of in the past.
And the situation was greatly improved. Sharper knives allowed people to shave their heads more efficiently, strong liquor was an excellent antiseptic, and sulfur soap cleansed the body and washed clothes. Once the residents of New Roseburg settled in, they could never go back. They couldn't stand the slovenly past.
However, a huge beard is considered a symbol of "men", so that some men imitate the Balmok people and shave their heads, leaving only their beards deliberately retained.
Tralan was cautious when he entered the city. He was a vulgar person, and he was amazed to see the prosperity of the city, especially the hard sand and stone ground. Those Russian warriors who were armed with shields and armor and uniformly dressed in uniform were extremely fierce. If they acted disrespectfully, they would be stabbed to death.
The key to being a pirate is to pick out the weak and fight, and when encountering the strong, either run away or obey. Now, Tralang and his friends are as compliant as a flock of sheep.
The tired Sipuyut and his guys were finally able to take a good bath. They first talked about their journey in a public steam room in the city with a group of old guys who also enjoyed the sauna. , and then enjoyed some special treatment, jumping into the warm wooden tub to take a bath one by one.
How did Telalang and his people enjoy this? they areSpecial visitors are naturally treated differently.
Rurik wanted to invite these ten people to the appointment, but he could not easily believe them. Their rags were first confiscated and burned on the grounds that they were full of parasites, and the weapons they carried were also confiscated by the Governor-General. Nusson ordered it to be temporarily confiscated.
Except for their beards, a lot of their hair was deliberately shaved off. Then they were rubbed with sulfur soap all over their bodies. They were also thrown away with burlap and ordered to shave off the dirt on their bodies.
This seems to be a very arrogant announcement. The words of the soldiers who carried out the orders of the prince and governor were indeed very arrogant, but also very reasonable: "You are like earthworms drilled out of mud, you are covered with dirt! I think!" If you want to submit to our prince, you must stay clean. If you are still covered in mud, you will be killed!"
How dare they disobey?
Telalang, who had a lot of hair cut off and had short hair, was sitting in the tub. Not to mention, he felt extremely comfortable now.
In the dark bathroom, he couldn't help but sigh: "Have the Russians been clean like this since ancient times? Those soldiers were a bit harsh in their words, but I feel very good now."
Some people were confused and shouted. Get up: "My grandfather never said that Ross is like this."
"Your grandfather is from Ross. This is also Ross. What is going on with them?"
"What about me? Do you know?" The descendant of Ross who spoke regretted that he knew nothing. He had only one emotion: "I feel that Chief Ross has no ill intentions. I feel as clean as if I was just born."
After they claimed to have washed themselves and felt comfortable, someone gave them soft, fine linen clothes. There is a shirt and trousers, in addition to a set of fluffy sweater and trousers made of thick wool. That's not all. They were wrapped in a deerskin coat, and the deerskin ones were tied with belts with bronze buckles. A pair of feet was wrapped in linen foot wraps and stepped into brand new deerskin boots. They also received a hat. The fluffy brown tail on the back of the head proved that it was squirrel skin. What was amazing was that there were additional leather pads sewn on both sides of the hat. It was obviously tied to the top of the head at ordinary times and removed when it was cold. Just enough to cover your ears and cheeks.
They never thought that they could enjoy such warm and comfortable new clothes. They were surprised that their joy exceeded their tears of gratitude for the prince's reward.
After all, if you put on this outfit and go back, stand in the village of Saaremaa and show it to the people, you will definitely get all kinds of praise and become a famous person.
The foreign envoy changed into good clothes, and the local Rus, Slavs, Melalens, Suomis, and people from various tribes could not help but comment on him, and even chewed him excessively. Tongue.
Is the prince showing off his wealth? What a good show to a bunch of needy weaklings.
In fact, this is not the case. Rurik just learned that except for the leader Tralanzuwang who is on Gotland, the other nine people in the envoy team are descendants of the Russians who were exiled in distant times and were deliberately selected by the islanders. . Without this blood tie, the clothes given would certainly not be very good, at least they would still be good enough.body.
Because he always has an oriental soul deep in his heart, he will naturally give more rewards to anyone who intends to surrender, just like a father who recognizes a godson will give some gifts to declare him a human being. Fatherhood.
What’s more, they are from Saaremaa!
When they washed away the mud and put on new clothes, the feast prepared by Rurik was ready to be served.
The area around Lake Ilmen is indeed the warmest agricultural area that the Russians can control. Although it is not a vast land with abundant resources and good weather, it still fully meets the current food needs of the principality. In fact, excluding the grain needs of the Suomi people who were effectively canonized as vassal earls, the oats, wheat, and rye produced by the Russians not only met their own needs, but were even qualified for export as never before.
For the first time, the Russians have the possibility of squandering food, but after living a hard life for so long in the past, no one really wastes food. All the people have to do is eat food with an open stomach and try their best to save themselves. Eat fat to better cope with the harsh winter.
The flour milling workshop, which has received a large amount of wheat supply, is in full operation. Due to the huge processing volume, Aslaqi can only ask her servants and the reindeer to grind continuously according to the number of people. The pattern is grinding and grinding all night long. She is Rurik's sister-in-law, and they are also a financial ally.
Any food made from wheat is delicious. When people discover more delicious food, they will naturally reject the past staple food. In just a few years, oats, which were originally popular among the people, have now begun to be marginalized. People are more willing to buy wheat for food. Even if they pay a little more, they still have to buy Xiankao's flatbread and cakes from public shops. bread.
Asilaqi processes flour for the prince and makes it into delicacies for sale. She can earn two labor fees, and in the current situation, she has essentially completed a monopoly.
The severe winter is approaching, and a heavy snow is bound to brew. The world after the snow is full of opportunities for real hunters. The white snow almost destroys the squirrel’s camouflage. Arik will also take his brothers on a carriage to the undiscovered country. The developed forests around Lake Ladoga plunder leather resources. They are not short of money and are very willing to reserve dry food. Food such as wheat biscuits is a perfect ration. It is extremely durable and has exaggerated abilities. Even tearing one piece can meet the consumption of a hunter for a day.
Aslaqi is baking sesame seeds like crazy, and the biscuits are constantly stacking up in the dry and cold warehouse. It is inevitable that there will be "rats" who steal food among the hired personnel. This is a crime of theft. Strictly speaking, the stolen property is still the property of the prince. The offender will be handed over to Governor Cornuson for disposal. If the old rules of the Russians were followed, the first-time thief would have to cut off his little finger, and those who stole too many times would be expelled from the whole family.
Now that Rurik is already in New Roseburg, he has set a new rule: those who steal wheat cakes will be punished by cutting down trees. One hundred trees must be cut down in one winter as an apology for the crime through labor.
This is an unexpected incident, but similar incidents are inevitable in the Principality of Ross.Not poor. As a group of residents expands, the probability of acts such as theft increases. As a result, the oral customary laws of the past tribal era are obviously no longer applicable to the needs of the new era. The principality needs a written law and make it public to establish a bottom line requirement for people's lives.
There is plenty of time to study the matter of revising the law in winter.
Rurik welcomed the triumphant sailing hero and the unexpected messenger.
At night, the spacious palace hall was originally a meeting place, but now it has become the best banquet place.
Rurik followed the ancient Eastern practice, because this "Winter Palace" is naturally facing north and south next to the Neva River, so he and Rumia sat in the north.
Governor Conuson Conuson and his son and the returned Spuyut and his entourage sat on the right, and the envoys from Saaremaa Island sat on the left.
A square pine wood table was placed in front of everyone and was pieced together into a long table, on which the exquisite dried raspberries and delicious mead had already been visited.
The Prince of Rus is a handsome and brave young man, even the high priest has a flat face.
Rows of polar bear heads are hung on the wooden walls. The animal heads are placed with bronze lamp holders. The beating flames of nearly a hundred oil lamps not only bring light, but also make the whole room quite warm.
Not only that, the matrix ceiling that falls from the roof is the biggest light source. Even at night, the house is extremely bright.
It is said that the main dishes of the night banquet are two roasted deer and a large number of fried dog fish steaks. Thinking of the sizzling and greasy meat makes people drool.
It’s just that in the future, Rurik ordered that the banquet be prohibited, and even the snacks on the table were not allowed to be eaten, so everyone could only wait.
Taking advantage of the last opportunity he was waiting for, Rurik took the lead in starting the conversation: "Everyone, you have conquered the ocean and returned successfully. Spyut, you are indeed the bravest adventurer in Russia. Your story will It has been circulating. And you... Saaremaa Islanders, you want to surrender to the Principality of Ross. This is your most correct decision. I am Rurik Ottoson, the second prince of the Principality of Ross. Blessed by the great god Din, the conqueror of Gotland, the East, the Far North and the Slavs will also be your master in the future."
Tralan was frightened by this list of titles. Not only that, he felt that he was already in a different world, and Rose was stronger than he knew.
Telalang quickly introduced himself, stuttering due to fear, and reluctantly repeated what the village elders told him.
What he said was simply to express an attitude: "The islanders of Saaremaa are willing to surrender to the Principality of Ross, and Ross will provide military protection to the islanders."
"Military protection?!" The other party After hearing this blunt request, Rurik immediately realized that the situation was a little strange. Moreover, this man stutters, so I'm afraid there might be something hidden inside!
Ryurik did not talk about this for now, but deliberately said: "I heard that there are descendants of my Rus among you. Is this true?"
p>I saw that the other nine envoys all put on enthusiastic smiles, but their words were empty. They had to explain some general information about their hometown of Roseburg to prove themselves.
Without exception, the nine of them explained the fjord, the mines that produced copper and iron, the numerous sandbar islands at the outlet of the fjord, and an important freshwater stream.
Even the real names of the former high priests of High Priest Vilia, as well as the names of several tribal leaders before Otto.
It is impossible for outsiders to know these things! Because during that period, the Ross tribe was nesting in the fjord, like a bear hibernating in a cave, and even lost contact with the Melalen people, their traditional allies (not very good allies). Thanks to the good habit of "recording information" by the former high priest of the Rus' people, Vilia, she was the first person to start the history of the Principality of Rus'. Except for the sacrificial prayers engraved on wooden boards, the Rus' people's past experience Major events and important people are also recorded.
Rurik had carefully read those documents, and now they were copied onto paper by his wives and concubines.
"I know these things. What you described is completely correct. I can believe that you are indeed the descendants of the Rus. However, you are the descendants of sinners."
I was happy. Their faces turned cold again, and the nine people argued one after another that the criminals were all ancestors, and their generation was innocent.
These words touched the back of some old guys!
Governor Cornuson coughed and scolded Hugh for his quibbles, shocking them all into silence.
The words of the envoys do make some sense, but here in Europe there is a lot of emphasis on blood, and sinners are always inferior to others. Therefore, some Viking warriors fight to the death and do not surrender in times of crisis. There is also the reason why they want to avoid their children. The motive of being humiliated by the tribe.
“You are indeed sinners, and this is something that cannot be changed,” Rurik concluded. “But there are a large number of other people on Saaremaa. Especially you! Telalang, You claim to be a descendant of the Gotlanders, but you don’t know that my uncle died in a sneak attack by your Gotlanders!”
Tralan was speechless. He danced and tried to argue, but was stunned! It didn't say why.
Is the other party frightened, afraid of his own thunderous wrath?
Of course Rurik does not want to retaliate. Putting aside these people, Saaremaa Island has a relatively important strategic position in the Baltic Sea, especially as the current war between Russia and Denmark intensifies. The significance of the island It's even more important.
He threatened: "Even if you don't take the initiative to send an envoy to express your surrender, my army will conquer your Saaremaa Island within two years. Your island has long been marked on the map by me. , you are all weak, and conquering you has nothing to do with you. I am benevolent, and my purpose is to conquer, not to kill. You also respect Odin, and I am a hero who has been blessed by Odin. It is the most correct choice you have made. Look at the clothes you are wearing now and the wine on the table.Surrender to me and you should enjoy this. ”
The words of the Duke of Ross were very clear. No matter how clear-headed Telalang was, he understood the prince’s determination.
The envoys all swore allegiance on behalf of the islanders, especially The nine descendants of Rus bluntly stated that they would work for the prince to wash away the sins of their ancestors.
Rurik smiled with satisfaction and asked deliberately: "How do you wash away the sins? I heard you were always doing pirate things, and you did attack my ship and kill five Russians! You are committing fratricide. Isn't it a greater crime? "
"Misunderstanding! This is all a misunderstanding! "Tela Lang was sweating all over and dancing and explained: "We thought it was a stranded Danish merchant ship..."
"Oh? So you are willing to attack Danish merchant ships? "
"Yes! If we knew it was the prince's ship, how could we dare to attack it by surprise? After the misunderstanding was resolved, we buried the deceased and entertained Mr. Spyut, and this visit came to be. "
Rurik nodded and asked Spyut: "Is that so? "
"Indeed, as far as I know, these islanders will attack Danish and Bornholm ships. There are also Pomeranians, I don’t know about these people, but the first two are indeed our enemies. ”
“Are you actively attacking Danish ships? ! "Rurik once again asked knowingly.
"Yes! "Tela Lang said hurriedly.
"So you are afraid of Danish retaliation, so you ask for my military asylum? "
Telalan hesitated again...
Rurik suddenly became energetic and raised his chest. He would not explain the specific situation now, but he would just eat it during the meal. When it was about to be served, he pointed out the obligations and responsibilities that the people of Saaremaa would have to bear after surrendering to Ross: "You will be accepted as a member of the Principality of Ross, and at the same time, my people will be able to enter your island freely. You must continue to take the initiative to attack the Danes. I will provide you with a batch of new weapons and new ships. I order you to hunt down all Danish ships you encounter and kill everyone on board. "
"Huh? Why is this..." Telalang asked subconsciously in shock.
"There is no reason! Because the Principality of Rus and the Kingdom of Denmark are at odds with each other! ”