The envoy from Saaremaa had never eaten roasted reindeer, let alone wheat scones.
Rurik allowed them to feast, which was said to be a preferential treatment given to those who surrendered. They ate like a drum, drank a lot of wine, and became extremely drunk.
Telarang and the others have never had such enjoyment. It must be that the legendary life in Asgard is nothing like this.
They were dragged away, and when everyone woke up, they realized that it was already dawn. The place that looks like a warehouse is the accommodation for everyone. Although they all sleep on the ground, the wooden floor is covered with leather blankets, and the bodies are also covered with leather. The kindness of Prince Rus is still shown here?
Stone steps who came with a servant attitude should naturally be treated with courtesy. Rurik's approach was a bit too much. Governor Konuson was last shameless and found a secret opportunity to inform the princes and brothers. their displeasure.
"They are just servants, from a dirty and messy island village, where all the men, women, and children are pirates. You shouldn't give these people too much courtesy, even if they have the skills of our Russians Descendants."
"You don't understand! I still need their strength to deal with the Danes. In the future, Saaremaa Island will also become our frontline against the Danes." Rurik said. With this explanation, he then found a more convincing reason: "If the Danes take revenge, they will be the first to storm Saaremaa. These servants who accepted my reward cannot defeat the Danish army. They will do it for our benefit." Go to hell, this kind of people should be given some good meals and clothes while they are alive." After hearing this, Konuson stopped asking...
Tela Long still. As outsiders, their lives will be strictly monitored for the rest of their lives, and their every move will be monitored.
Because they always make a living as pirates. Pirates are the least trustworthy. They always think about maximizing their own interests at any time, and may even kill each other.
Rurik despises pirates, which is actually different from the attitude of many people. Telalang and his gang have surrendered, but it is still open to question whether the entire Saaremaa population has surrendered as a village.
There is another possibility, although the probability is not high. Could there be some Danish work in this? How could it happen that an ocean-going sailing ship carrying food ran aground on Saaremaa Island and quickly encountered the locals? Why did the locals insist on surrendering to Rus?
Rurik was worried that Denmark was trying to find out what was real in Ross. The more he thought about it, the more likely it was that he felt it was very possible. Since the new King of Denmark can destroy Ross's shop in Hedeby, those guys are definitely not fools and must know the consequences of doing so. Who can guarantee that the Danes will not take the initiative? They are almost Vikings in the narrow sense. If they gather an army to attack a small area, the Russians will suffer a lot.
So is there any flaw in the Principality of Ross?
The flaw is obvious, that is, the principality has expanded from a corner of the fjord to its current level. In the tribal era, there were not many men and they had to be divided into troops to guard each large settlement. They also had to rely onServant power of local Slavs and Finns. Although children are growing and being born in droves, it will take time for them to grow into warriors.
Most of the men in the Ross headquarters are farming in Novgorod and Mstisk on the shores of Lake Ilmen. If Fort Novoros at the mouth of the Neva River is attacked by Denmark, the new troops in the rear will get the news. It would probably take ten days before the men came to kill them with great force.
Tela Long and his men cannot see the entire city of New Roseburg!
Rurik "imprisoned" these people in the house. Although they were provided with good food and drink, it was impossible to go out without the permission of the prince, and the soldiers on guard would not open the door on their own initiative.
It has been three full days of being "imprisoned". Although he has delicious meals every day, Telalang feels like a hedgehog in a wooden box and a turtle dove in a rattan cage.
Some people muttered in disgust: "Prince of Ross still can't trust us."
One stone stirred up a thousand waves, and the number of complaints increased.
"Since the Prince of Rus recognizes our identity, he should treat us as members of the tribe."
"Hey, you think... maybe the Prince just can't trust us and will find us?" Finally get rid of us."
"Ah? We all swore to Odin that we would serve him well."
"Didn't you see their rows of big ships? Karl, I dare say they will kill us, and then the fleet will attack our island. Prince Rus has said that even if we do not choose to surrender, Saaremaa Island is also under his In the government plan..."
The discussion became more and more excessive. Trarang ordered everyone to shut up and angrily said: "It's too late to say what we can do. ? We can only stay here and let it happen."
"Then we become sheep?"
"What do you want, Karl?" asked excitedly.
"Let's just run away. We can't just sit here and wait to die. Did you realize that your life was in danger only when the ax was pressed against your neck?"
These words He actually moved his heart by talking about Tralan, and the more he thought about it, the more it made sense. "Okay! Let's run away. Grab a boat and leave here..."
Tela Lang was completely unable to predict the consequences of doing so, but the time was not yet ripe, so he did not dare to take action yet.
They continued to be under house arrest in a very warm house. They had wheat cakes and barbecue every day, and everyone was also given some ale. And this house actually has independent partitions! There is a squat toilet inside!
There is a pottery urn under the hole in the toilet, and there is a lot of filth inside. The hole isn't big enough, and it looks like it can be expanded with bare hands. It was disgusting. The hole was at least connected to the outdoors. They didn't know what was going on outside for many days. They just thought they could escape through this hole.
But something is quietly changing outdoors...
The snow finally fell, without the storm, no one would feel its harshness.
At first it was just snowflakes, then tiny flakes, and finally snowflakes that were densely packed together like cotton velvet.
The whole world was extremely quiet and dark. Tralan and his gang, who were hiding in the closed house, had no idea about this situation. However, those who were using the toilet felt a hint of coolness outside. This is no surprise, after all, winter is just around the corner.
Everyone felt that their time was running out, and everyone was waiting for Tralan to make up his mind to escape.
On the other hand, in the winter palace of Prince Rus, a special meeting was taking place.
Rurik dismissed everyone and invited the explorer Spuyut into the inner room to talk.
The oil lamp illuminated the room clearly, and Rurik sat cross-legged quite casually this time.
Seeing Spuyut coming, he waved: "No need to be formal, just sit down casually."
Having said that, Spuyut still performed the warrior salute. Then he calmly sat down and said, "Sir, what is this big deal that requires you and me to talk in secret?" After saying that, he took a furtive look at the room and said, "No one should be eavesdropping on our secret conversation."
Rurik shrugged and said straight to the point: "You told me your long-cherished wish last year. You are eager to travel to distant places and see this vast world with your own eyes. You hope to go further than the Russians of all generations. You want to be the best explorer, so you need me to provide you with a big ship."
The prince actually mentioned this? !
Spuyut's slightly drooped back instantly straightened up, and his leisurely expression instantly turned into excitement: "Sir, did you really give your permission?"
" Of course. I invited you here just to explain this matter." "You are so wise!" After that, Sipuyut knelt down and saluted.
"Why bother to salute again? We have to explain this matter carefully, and you and I have to make a contract."
"Yes, I dare not violate the prince's contract."< /p>
"Very good." Rurik paused and said: "You are very good at operating the Salmon Chief, but it is not your property. In the past two years, you have completed the mission of collecting tribute and transporting to Britain. You are already the best sailor in Russia."
"I am indeed the best!" Sipuyut liked this compliment very much, and his voice was loud.
"Good! Very energetic! Your route must pass through the waters controlled by the Danes. Now I will give you a more difficult task besides the British Tribute mission every autumn. I want you to control the big ship and take the initiative. Attack the Danish ships."
As Rurik delivered his final words, the situation became serious. Spyut thought of the many news he had heard. It was said that Ross had encountered disaster in Denmark and that Ross was planning a large-scale retaliatory military action against Denmark.
He couldn't help but speculate: "I heard something. Our Russian army is going to expedition to Denmark. Are you asking me to be aPioneer, to find out the true and false status of the enemy, and wait for the opportunity to kill like crazy to create fear? I remember you piloting the Aurora to do something like this. ”
“You are very smart! "Rurik slapped his thigh suddenly, with a proud face on his face: "You are going to wreak havoc in the Danish waters! I would beef up the Salmon Chief's armament, with more torsion slingshots and more crossbows, and a stronger bronze bulbous ram. I want you to ram all the ships you encounter, don't worry, attack when you find them! You can capture the person who fell into the water, and if you ask clearly whether it is a Dane or a Bornholm, kill him directly. Don't leave any survivors alive, sink the ships you encounter. ”
Like other Ross natives, Sipuyut basically participated in all the major wars that Ross fought. There was no psychological burden on him if he went on a killing spree, but he just wondered why the prince needed to kill everyone. Absolutely.
“There are also people among the Danes who can be used by us, such as Grund, isn’t he also appointed by you to work as a guard? We can bring back some prisoners, and it would be nice to be slaves to logging for the first time. "
Rurik shook his head decisively: "They were the first to sneak attack and kill wildly, so don't blame me for retaliating in equal measure. Siput, put away your rationality? Didn't I know that slaves could be used to chop wood and cut stone? I am simply retaliating against the Kingdom of Denmark, so that their fishing boats and merchant ships will never come back. Moreover, you sank the ship and killed the fishermen. Without witnesses, your identity cannot be exposed. Those people must be more willing to believe that it was Kraken's terrifying tentacles that destroyed the ship. This way you can attack like crazy and terrorize the Danes, which I'd love to do. Are you... willing? "
It was really refreshing for Spuyut to hear the prince's description like this.
Some things are indeed very new to people of this era, such as Rurik's decision to do this." Break the war."
"I do. ”
“Very good. When the sea ice thaws next year, you will organize a group of brothers to kill ruthlessly in the Danish waters. Your only focus is on collecting treasure. The boat is my weapon and mine. I don’t want much. I want half of all the property you plundered. When your ship is full, rush to Tombstone Island to unload it, where you can sell it immediately. "
"Ah! Isn’t this an opportunity for you to reward me with making a fortune? ”
“Exactly. You and your guys will get rich, you are the only pirates I admit, and your actions are part of the war! ”
Rurik continued to describe a wonderful scene to Spuyut. A group of warriors operating a large ship were rampaging on the sea. A flag painted black with a skull pattern was hung on the top of the mast, and even the sails were It would be best if there were no witnesses when the ship committed the crime. It would also be good to leave the impression of a "black monster" to the Danes. p>
In fact, the Russians will still be exposed. Who has a big ship in this sea and who has a triangular Latin sail?
In the broad sense of the Denmark Strait?It is not a vast existence. It is densely covered with large and small islands, which is very suitable for a ship to hide, and it is also convenient for sudden attacks.
Spuyut even has a secret weapon - information advantage. Rurik's map of Denmark drawn from memory was naturally imprecise, but the most important islands and the entire Jutland peninsula were clearly marked. They can use the big island as a reference point and mark the newly discovered island on the map according to the actual situation during the mission.
They have another mission, which is to go to Saaremaa Island to declare the rule of the Prince of Rus and use the island as a forward base for the war against Denmark. The island would first serve as Spyut's anchorage, and the island's human resources were also extremely important, as they could support the supply and personnel losses of the war.
It can be said that Rurik intended to cultivate Spuyut into a royal pirate king. With a group of Saaremaa islanders he recruited, he first severely attacked the Danish side before the Russian-Denmark war. economy. It seems that a ship cannot play many roles, but it is not the case. The terrifying atmosphere it brings is more meaningful.
Spuyut happily accepted the order. Although he probably could not become the flag captain, being a "royal pirate" bestowed by the emperor was quite good.
As far as feelings are concerned, he actually likes the group of Saaremaa islanders, especially since there is no tribal leader there at all. Maybe...
He took the opportunity to ask Rurik Made a request: "I can be the war chief (chief) of the Saaremaa islanders, so that human resources can be better mobilized."
Rurik did not hesitate, he followed the existing management , appointed Spyut as the governor of the island. Spuyut is the unequivocal leader of the entire Saaremaa Island. The governor represents the will of the prince, and his power is all rewarded by the prince. In theory, this power can be taken back at any time, and he vows to do everything for his own benefit.
A brave explorer is expected to become the most dangerous pirate king in the Baltic Sea!
Spuyut confirmed that the opportunity for him to make a difference had come. He was authorized to select his own crew members. Apart from the old friends who were still alive and traveling with him, he thought of the islander Telalang. A bunch of people.
Facts have proved that the people of this island have indeed never seen the world. They are quick to learn and they were already doing some auxiliary work on their final journey home.
Then on the second night of Xiaohui, an unbearable embarrassment happened.
The Telalang group felt that the time was ripe to escape. They used brute force to break open the holes in the toilet, which was actually lifting the wooden board. The snowy night was very quiet, but the noise still shocked the mercenaries who were not afraid of patrolling at night in the snow.
After all, this is the capital of a country! Even if it is not a particularly huge city, basic city defense measures already exist, such as soldiers patrolling at night and rotating guards on the city walls.
Someone was unlucky enough to knock over a manure vat and was immediately covered in filth and a foul stench. Everyone didn't care too much and scrambled to climb out of the wooden hole. As a result, they saw the white sky outside on a snowy night.Everyone was dumbfounded. When they started to escape, they were captured on the spot by patrols who came after hearing the news.
Due to the special nature of the times, there is a curfew at night in New Roseburg. This is very reasonable. If you are still running around outdoors in the cold winter night, even professional hunters would not dare to run around at this time for fear of freezing to death.
The patrols were mostly soldiers or mercenaries. They were covered in thick polar bear hides, which was a perfect camouflage. This frightened Telalang and the others, who thought they were a group of intruding white bears. Pawned for food.
As a result, these "bears" showed their halberds and swords and killed everyone in one fell swoop.
The next day, all ten people were escorted to Rurik.
Things made people speechless, and Rurik wanted to hear their explanation with a sullen face.
Tela Lang was also a fool. He knelt on the ground and said bluntly: "We are just afraid that you want to chop off our heads, so we are thinking of running away."
"Absurd! Rurik slapped himself in the face, "You actually think you are a sheep to be slaughtered? You are so confused! Look at this snowy land, as well as the frozen rivers and seas. You are not the bravest hunters. Now you don't even have weapons or weapons." There is no food. If you escape, you will freeze to death! When the snow melts, your corpses will be eaten, and only your bones will be left."
"Ah. ? This is actually the case?!" Tralan believed it and claimed that it was a stupid misunderstanding. On the other hand, others felt that things were still a bit strange.
Seizing the opportunity, Rurik grandly introduced Spuyut, who had a new position: "He will serve as the leader (governor) of Saaremaa Island and manage you on my behalf. You are all My warriors, how could I be so stupid as to harm my subjects? If you follow Spuyut and do your best, you will all make a fortune from looting the Danes!"
Now Telalang suddenly He became wise and immediately supported Spuyut, causing others to recognize him as the boss.
At least Telalang can trust Sipuyut. If his brother-in-law cannot trust him, will he still be a human being?