Rurik had no intention of forcing Ragnar's men to do anything excessive, and Ragnar's cooperative performance also made everyone relax their vigilance.
However, none of this is enough to make Rurik feel completely at ease with them. The entire exiled Stonewall tribe still has a group of women and children. These people are not suitable for heavy manual labor, but are well treated. To stay and become a de facto hostage.
Using this group of people as a threat, Rurik was not afraid that Ragnar would suddenly engage in piracy in the hinterland of Ross, and could instead work as a labor force with peace of mind.
Women were gathered together to arrange leather sewing work. They had to work hard to obtain today's bread and wheat porridge.
Children who are still old enough are not allowed to be really leisurely. They have to use hand axes to chop firewood for winter storage.
Only the youngest children have the right to live a life of "getting something for nothing".
Winter can restrict most of the people's production work, but it basically does not affect the flourishing indoor handicraft industry in the Principality of Ross. A new group of Danish women and children have arrived. They are an extremely cheap labor force. They only need to pay rations to make them work hard.
Do they have any complaints? In fact, compared to asking for more reward, it is already very good to be alive now, and is it a good thing to be exposed to the sight of the Russians at will? He might even be attacked.
They could not judge that all the people of the Rus Principality maintained a non-hostile attitude towards the Danes entering the country.
As for Ragnar and his three hundred warriors, they all changed their clothes and became industrial workers in the principality.
These men were divided into multiple groups, and a large number of groups became professional loggers, carrying large axes into the forest area to ask for the land cultivated by the Russians from the forest. As for the rewards they received, they were only rations and stay.
With Nordic-style logging, the tall spruce and red pine felled were pulled out of the forest, and even the roots of the trees were dug out with shovels.
Some groups are responsible for cutting small trees into small sections and taking them to charcoal kilns in the city.
Some groups are responsible for peeling off the bark and transporting it to the group working in the boiling workshop, which completes the preliminary processing of the pulp.
Some groups were even sent to the shipbuilding factory in Novgorod to work as heavy laborers for the Hotla family.
The group of blacksmiths is also indispensable. They have to sweat profusely in the state-owned blacksmith shop in Novgorod.
A brave Viking army was dismantled by Rurik. Novgorod can be said to be a large city in a broad sense. This group of people is distributed in different areas of the city. If you want to connect privately, it will be troublesome.
Ragnar personally became a logger. Even though he was worried that he could not see many brothers, and everyone had to live in logging camps in the forest most of the time, at least now everyone finally had peace. .
The exiled Stonewall tribe handed over a batch of trophies and sold labor for the Prince of Rus. Ragnar did not dare to ask for too much. The current situation was even more delicate. His own personnelToo scattered, all this was intentional by the Prince of Rus, but it was actually to allow himself to rebel.
He didn’t want to rebel, but the prince still hadn’t invited him for a secret talk, and he hadn’t even established any alliance. The strategy of joining forces to counterattack the King of Denmark was still out of the question, not to mention that the whole family would move to Gege next year. The dream of being stationed on Tran Island.
On the contrary, there will be Slavic women wearing headscarves driving small carriages, walking on the rugged road in the forest regularly every day, delivering all the supplies for today.
There are always a lot of scones and dried fish, and a small barrel of ale is delivered every few days.
At least the Russians are generous when it comes to providing food.
Every time the woman who delivers the food unloads the food and leaves in a hurry. In the recent period of work, a large area of forest has been wiped off the map. Ragnar also noticed that including this kind of cook They are all Slavs and feel very similar to Pomeranians and Oberlidits.
The brothers haven’t been close to a woman for a long time, and even the cook who delivers food has become a peerless beauty in everyone’s eyes.
The brothers joked in the Norse language in public, and Ragnar, who was afraid that his subordinates would go wild, also forced them to take care of their lower bodies at all times, and must not attract the detained family members because of their recklessness. Suffer.
This is a large group of people in the forest. It is inevitable that the cook who delivers the food will run away quickly.
Time passes like this, and the climate is getting colder quickly.
Today, the carriage carrying supplies came again, but it was not the "beautiful cook", but a familiar face.
"It's you?! Brother Arik." As he spoke, Ragnar waved to the hot spot escorting supplies.
The men who were taking a break from logging also stood up one after another. They had cleared away the five cedar trees and were busy cutting branches and peeling off the bark. Now they were waiting for a good meal before working hard again.
Ragnar came at the right time for the climate.
"It's me, I'm here."
"It's you delivering supplies today? What a rare visitor. We have been busy pioneering in the forest these days, and we hardly know anything about the outside world. I don’t know. How are my family members?”
“Of course they are fine. Now look at the provisions that the prince has given you.”
A small carriage, when the cloth was pulled down, more sesame seed cakes were neatly stacked.
"Aren't the provisions sent once a day? Why are there so many today? No! Could it be that you won't send them for a while in the future?"
"Indeed." Arik pointed his finger. On a hazy day, "The first snow fell soon. There will be no long autumn rain this year, so the snowfall is bound to come early. I suggested to the prince that you suspend your work and go back to the city to rest..."
I don't want to continue to waste time. Arik raised his head sharply: "Then what?"
"The prince forbids it."
"Why? Rurik doesn't trust me?"
"Maybe this is still a test." Arik sighed, then patted and pulledGener shouldered, "You and I have fought side by side. I personally trust you, but my brother... you must take more practical actions to satisfy him."
"It's like being forced to Continue logging despite the snow?"
"The prince asked me to convey this order. You must complete the agreed logging tasks. As long as you work hard to cut trees and create a large farmland, the prince will not ignore this achievement. You also asked me to pass on a message."
"Speak quickly," Ragnar urged.
"Your eldest son, the disabled Ivar. Prince Rurik liked him very much, and the prince decided to teach the child wisdom himself. Legend has it that Odin gained wisdom by sacrificing an eye, then Ivar sacrificed his legs, and everything will be fine."
This description is really refreshing and warm like a bonfire in winter. Ragna is very happy: "Is this what the prince really said? My poor Ivar can still win his favor, which reminds me of that banquet. My Ivar was indeed a guest."
Aric shrugged: "And your second son Bjorn. Well, he is destined to be a brave warrior, so he needs to be taught. Brother Ragnar, I have come a long way. Now we sit down to drink ale and we can have a good chat."
" That's fine. I'd like to hear about my family..."
Indeed, Rurik is treating Ragnar's family well.
Ivar the Boneless and Bjorn the Warrior, two legendary figures, are now a disabled kid and the other is still a toddler.
The right way is to see the big from the small, Rurik noticed the nature of Ivar's inferiority. This kid has a major disability and by Nordic standards has nothing to do with being a warrior in this life. He couldn't stand up to fight, so his hands had to be stronger, trying to cover up his weak legs with strong arms. Unfortunately, he had never been able to move independently in the six years of his life. He wanted to go to another place. Even when going to the toilet, the slave must be carried around.
Now, a miracle happened!
Rurik's Novgorod Palace, and the larger governor's residence, have a large number of wooden floor structures. Since the main roads in the city are paved with clay bricks and the side roads at least have sand roads, there are no unpleasant potholes in the entire Novgorod.
A small wheelchair specially made for Ivar was quickly designed by Rurik himself, and local carpenters and blacksmiths produced suitable parts and put them together.
The key to the wheelchair lies in the wheel system. There are no ball bearings, but they are just cheap bronze axles that should be greased and matched. The wheel itself is a single piece of round wood, with a ring of handles nailed to the side. There is also a stone hanging on the lower end of the wheelchair to adjust the center forward, and a small movable wheel at the front provides maneuverable steering capabilities.
Ivar the Boneless is finally free! Finally, I can control my body to move far away by my own will.
His hard training is different from the strength of a six-year-old childThe arms really replaced the legs. Even though the structure of this wheelchair was too heavy, it was not flexible. Ivar had no complaints, but praised the prince of Ross who gave him this treasure as the "best brother".
"You are not allowed to call me brother. I treat you as your uncle, and I will teach you wisdom. This is your only chance to become a warrior." Rurik ordered.
The child didn’t think much about it. After carrying the wheelchair, he called Prince Rus his uncle in a small mouth.
Rurik also likes to mention an eldest nephew. Although the age difference between the two is ten years, judging from his height, body shape and golden beard, Rurik looks to be twenty years old at first glance. .
After the autumn harvest, Ross's school was temporarily closed, and the school was still building new buildings. The wood used was naturally the result of Ragnar's crazy logging team.
The entire Novgorod is still a big construction site in full swing. Rurik was also worried about whether the remuneration, especially food supplies, would be enough for his crazy expansion of production capacity and infrastructure in all aspects. As Arik systematically reported his seizures, and even the subsequent transport ship from New Roseburg came to rest and plundered a large amount of Frank Flanders wool, Rurik's eyes were opened. Now he must completely trust his cousin. Brilliant capture.
I also have to completely believe another thing - Werder Bremen was indeed reduced to ashes.
There is nothing wrong with burning Bremeruric. If there is, it is because the actions of his own troops have made the old guy Eskil very embarrassed.
The news that the city of Bremen was reduced to ashes has spread!
Rurik even promoted it publicly!
There is a notice posted on the information board of the Threshing Square in Novgorod. The title is very eye-catching, it is "The Frankish War of the Principality of Rus".
Like other documents recording the principality’s military exploits, this document must be displayed to the public with great fanfare.
The first version of it was written in Romanized Slavic. At least the children in the city could spell it out according to the text, and even their Slavic parents understood it.
As a result, Eskil, who is living as a guest, can’t even think about it.
The old guy heard that Bremen was in ruins, St. Peter's Cathedral was reduced to ashes, and thousands of people were killed, especially the little priests he stayed there.
When he learned the news, he fainted for a while, but after waking up, he confirmed it again and again.
"Oh God, I am guilty for being with Satan! I actually have illusions about these barbarians."
He rushed to the palace with a cane. Confronting Rurik, he could not care less about such transgression until now. He even hoped that Rurik, the Satan, would kill him.
However, Eskil was not allowed to see the prince in person at all, and he was intercepted and detained by soldiers. Rurik had heard about the incident. Eskil was an old man. After all, his subordinates burned down his future workplace and refused to give him a reasonable deal.Not even waiting.
Someone has to be the nominal scapegoat.
If he really met and confronted this person, Esquier would break the commandments, curse, and even seek to be killed and strive to become a martyr. What will happen if this old boy dies? This person should be put back. It would be best if he could meet Prince Ludwig and explain his experiences in the Principality of Ross, so that the guys in East Francia know that Ross is not a small country.
Rurik’s letter was written entirely in Latin, clearing up all his responsibilities. The villain who burned Bremen was found, the exiled Danish gangster. The so-called Ross fleet was just doing business at the invitation of the Count of Bremen, and it was very reasonable for the vast sea to carry out business with swords. The so-called destruction of the city has nothing to do with Ross. If you want to blame it, just blame the Danes! Because this was a war between Frankfurt and Denmark, Bremen was on the border and there was a risk of being attacked.
Eskil is not a fool. The Prince of Ross said it lightly. Who doesn’t know that the fleet expedition is to attack Frank.
This Latin letter was written on paper, and the prince’s refusal to answer the question in person proved to be a guilty conscience.
Proof of the prince’s guilty conscience was once again revealed. No, because Eskil's behavior of trespassing against the prince was sanctioned, and he himself was placed under house arrest again, but this time he was placed under house arrest in a small monastery in Novgorod. Although he had no worries about food and drink, he wanted to It was impossible to leave even half a step, and the monastery became a prison.
The first snow fell in mid-October. There was no continuous autumn rain this year. The first snow was accompanied by the cold wind from the north. In just a few days, the world changed.
The snowfall has continued intermittently for five days, and the entire area around Lake Ilmen has directly entered traditional winter life. However, the lake has not yet frozen, so ice fishing is not yet allowed.
As long as it snows, Ragnar and the other loggers will stay in the forest camp for as many days as possible. They resemble hibernating bears, and they have no worries about food and drink despite being provided with a large amount of supplies.
They couldn't help but think of the scenery in their hometown. Snowfall always came suddenly. People had to hide in shacks made of rammed earth and thatch, and were wrapped in leather to survive. It was really uncomfortable to think about that now.
Once he experienced a more comfortable life, Ragnar could not accept his old way of life. For example, in the forest camp where everyone lives, they are currently the only residents here. In fact, during the warm period, it becomes a small town, with up to a hundred people gathering here. The Slavic loggers were so full that they were logging in the snow. They returned home and planned to spend some time recuperating.
The campground is exclusive to Ragnar and his group. They live in thickened wood-carved houses with flat wooden floors and fireplaces, and sleep around the fireplace wrapped in deerskin blankets. They didn't feel crowded at all, just because there were a lot of wood carvings here.
When the winter sunshine returns, this group of hibernating bears pick up axes and double saws and go out. The world has completely changed, and the winter sun has become extremely dazzling because of the snow.
"Brothers, firstClear the snow at the door, let's cut down the wood quickly and complete the tasks required by the Russians! ”
Arik must fight. He and his guys have no right to slack off. They have a weekly workload of logging. Although weather conditions will interfere with a lot of work, there is also an additional workload every month. , since there is a time delay, they should work hard to make up for it in good weather.
The snow helps the transportation of big trees, and it also makes the sleds come in handy.
They are busy. The sleigh team transporting supplies marched along the snow-covered path accompanied by the sound of copper bells.
More than a dozen people with huge black eyes were leading horse-drawn sleds towards here. < /p>
They are so weird! Are they humans?
Ragnar concluded that the people who came were actually covering their eyes with strange things. Indeed, the sunshine in the snow was indeed dazzling.
It was not until they approached Ragnar that they noticed that Arik had come to escort the supplies in person again.
Arik easily took off his wooden-framed sunglasses. , showing a familiar face, this move stunned Ragnar
“Why, you are interested in my sunglasses. "
"It..."
"You can experience it. Oh, even giving it to you is fine. "
With curiosity, Ragnar put on sunglasses for the first time in his life. The whole world dimmed, and he immediately commanded the beauty of this baby.
"Ross is so beautiful Something wonderful? Does it belong to me now? ”
“Give it to you! You can also see more. Arik asked again: "The snow has stopped. How do you feel?" Is any of you sick? Is the food finished? "
"Everything is fine. ”
“Very good. The prince still asked me to send a message that you should continue logging and you must complete this month's logging task. There may be more snowfall this month, so you have to hurry. I have nothing else to say, just unload the goods and withdraw."
"Huh? Why don't you stay and let's talk again? ”
“That’s fine. I have good news for you. The prince has made a wheeled seat for your eldest son Ivar. Ivar can turn the wheels by himself and move indoors. He is no longer a useless person. "
"Huh? ! Is there such a miracle? "
"Of course, the prince is no ordinary person..." Aric praised and called the Danes who were watching the theater to unload the goods.