The tall and long wooden city wall reminded Kagan of a legend. Legend has it that the Theodosian wall of the Romans was tall and long. Could it be that the Novgorod city of the Rus was also the same as the Roman Constantinople? ?
In the concept of this son of the prairie, "city" is a very vague concept. If the number of people living in it is large enough, the large account area of his alliance can also be regarded as a city. Tents sprouted all over the mountains and fields beside the Volga River. It was the trading market of herdsmen and the residence of khans and priests. Respectable people from the entire tribal alliance were willing to come.
There are always herds of cattle and sheep wandering around the big tent area. The large number of livestock raised by the people are the source of food and clothing for everyone. These livestock will always eat the pasture clean, forcing everyone in the big tent area to They have to move along the river every few years.
Russian people do not live a happy and free lifestyle at all!
Snow covers a lot of flat land. It is said that the fields were full of wheat a few months ago. The Rus people have completed the harvest, and their warehouse supplies are enough to support everyone until next autumn.
This group of visitors from the far east rode horses and stood under the city. The messenger was the first to sail on Lake Ilmen, which was about to freeze, and reported the news to Rurik.
A group of horse riders from the East traveled thousands of miles to sell horses? Is it a scale of hundreds of horses in one shot?
This good thing was completely beyond Rurik's expectation, and the good news was no less than the rain after a long drought.
Yes, Rurik dreamed of building a cavalry force to enhance his combat effectiveness and improve the efficiency of information dissemination. He really got what he wanted. But then I thought about it and realized that this was not just a coincidence.
"Maksaky, you are here again this year? Give me a big gift as soon as you come, and I will reward you again."
Rurik did After being prepared, it would still take two to three days for the team to move along the river. I had enough time to set up a guard of honor to greet them.
The messenger said that the horse riders had a group of armed men. It is not surprising that they are armed. A group of merchants have gone on a long journey, and even the bears and wolves encountered during the journey can become fatal threats. Moreover, they have to pass through the area controlled by the Smolensk people. It is reasonable to carry weapons and swords to conduct business.
But the messenger also said that those people looked very strange, and some Finns looked very different. They all have black hair, and the leader has a strange mustache. He is short in stature and does not understand Norse at all. He does understand Slavic, and anyone with poor pronunciation can basically understand it.
Are the main customers from the East? Looks like a Finn?
The messenger mentioned a word, and Rurik judged decisively that the person coming was the Pecheneg.
Okay! The owner of the horse has delivered the goods to his door!
The teams of Kagan and Sakye were too arrogant. They all walked at least, while the Ostara warriors "guarding" around them were all walking with flags, as if this group of foreigners Visitors are the best.
HeThey passed the farm, and even though it was cold, the bored people still ran out of their homes, either looking at the horse team from a distance, or approaching directly to see their true appearance.
Horses are not a rare thing in Novgorod, but the presence of a large number of equestrians at the same time is unprecedented!
It is very shameful to say that the local Slavs do not know how to ride. They use horses as draft animals for pulling carts and plows, and their functions are more similar to those of Eastern cattle. Of course they knew about the existence of cavalry, but they had no choice but to have a small number of horses, not to mention their short size.
Last year, foreign horsemen sold some better horses to the prince. It is said that the prince is already planning to create a cavalry force belonging to the principality.
But what does this kind of thing have to do with everyone who farms? Even in terms of profits, the biggest beneficiaries are the various Varangians living in Novgorod and the guys from White Tree Manor.
Think of it! Is there anything more interesting than watching the excitement? Life is lacking in fun anyway.
The sneaky onlooker Kagan had already noticed it, and he was too lazy to figure out the reason along the way. It was probably because his team was too conspicuous.
He did not mean to be arrogant, but he entered a new field and was surprised by the lifestyle here that was completely different from his hometown. His curiosity trumped everything.
The tall wooden walls of Novgorod surprised him and allowed him to see the real "city style". The uniformly dressed warriors gathered at the city wall not only made him subconsciously alert, but also made him realize that Prince Rus was fully aware of his arrival.
Coincidentally, Yevlo himself was in the city.
In principle, Javlo is not the earl of Finland. The real earl is his eldest son. He can exercise the power of the lord and is actually a "political earl". However, in the core area ruled by the Rus Principality, Rurik was willing to reconnect with him and appoint him as the captain of the bodyguard until the snow melts next spring.
This is a personal friendship and a test. No, Yevluo was ordered to be the messenger.
Since the Finnish Suomis and the Turkic Pechenegs both have their ancestry from North Asia, perhaps their slightly similar looks can bring about a special closeness.
Jevro didn’t know the prince’s intention, but he knew his duty very well.
The mercenary troops are essentially Guards. They are the best armed and the brightest. Not only do each of them also have blue goose feathers on their helmets, forming a gorgeous head. crown. Everyone's chests wrapped in white robes are covered with huge interlaced blue patterns. The cowhide armed belts are firmly tied, and there are uniform steel swords hanging on their waists, as well as various personal belongings.
The Guardsmen were short of manpower, so Ragnar's troops also accepted the letter, and after temporarily changing into clothes, they became "extra actors". Suddenly, more than 300 people lined up at the city gate and formed two human walls along the road.
If you want a guard of honor, do your best to guard the ceremony!
No, Rurik gave his concubine Noren, who was obsessed with music, the opportunity to perform. She brought her own team of musicians and dressed up like a priestess.With their simple appearance, they lined up outside the city with bone flutes and fart drums, playing "Ode to Joy" as a welcome song to welcome visitors.
The Russian flag is flying, with blue stripes on a white background. Is this their symbol?
Their warriors all wear burqas with armor inside, and are ornately decorated.
Hidden beneath the gorgeous appearance is absolute ferocity. Kagan is also a veteran warrior at a young age. He can tell in his eyes who has killed someone before. Looking at these Ross warriors, all of them are killing people like this. numb!
Those blond young girls aroused his curiosity. These women played the flute and drums, and the music they played was brisk and soothing. The artistic conception they expressed was completely different from that of another group of brave warriors. Completely the other way around.
"Distant guests, the great prince has received your request. The prince allows the Pecheneg envoy to enter the city and your leader to enter the palace for detailed discussions. Please dismount first."< /p>
The speaker is a short man whose appearance is different from other Rus' people. The man spoke in Slavic, which Kagan understood.
When he hesitated, Sakhi hurriedly dismounted, then dragged Kagan down with his bare hands, and whispered: "I advise you not to hesitate and listen carefully to their requests. We are now in In their hands, they are very powerful."
The snow outside the city was certainly not a meeting place. Kagan dismounted skillfully, took off his fur and walked towards Jevlo with a smile.
"You...are a noble person?"
"I am a noble of the Principality of Rus. You...look like you are the leader of the Pechenegs?"
Sakye had never met Yevro before, so he knew from this scene that he was a big shot. He bowed his back and introduced with a smile on his face: "Sir, this young man is the son of Pecheneg Khan... Well, it is equivalent to the status of the eldest son of the prince of Rus. He is the Pecheneg envoy, leading "You are also a noble? Then please follow me into the city." The prince also ordered that you can bring ten followers and the others with their horses. Just waiting outside the city."
"Just let my people stay in the snow?" Kagan asked doubtfully.
"This is what the prince means. You and your people are naturally not allowed to enter the city at will until you get authorization. I heard that you are here to sell horses. I saw that your horses are definitely of high quality. The prince must also like it.”
The shock affects both parties! The Ross troops lined up also noticed the horses in front of them. Many people had experience fighting cavalry and knew the advantages of cavalry. Even if the cavalry was beaten to death by the torsion slingshot, if the cavalry army was in the hands of the Ross army, the situation would be completely different.
Ragnar was among the guards, and he also coveted these horses. After all, seeing the proud and heroic figure of the horseman, any man would be envious and wanted to ride on it to try out the feeling and even gallop.
Kagan finally entered the big city of the Principality of Ross. He saw neat buildings and smooth roads, even drainage.ditch.
He was also aware of the existence of the market and saw a large number of people passing by stopping to look at him.
What made him slightly disappointed was that Prince Rus did not have a particularly grand palace. All he had here was a large wooden house and a group of ancillary buildings. Perhaps this was because it was not a royal city.
At the same time, Rurik had already changed his clothes and waited for the guests. On both sides of him were specially invited warriors, especially the burly men from the first flag team. They sat cross-legged in two rows on the side wall of the palace to give the prince some control.
The house is filled with bright candlelight, and a matrix of three chandeliers is lowered from the roof.
The oil lamp holders on the side walls are very particular. Under each bronze lamp there must be a white bear head. The ferocious fangs are indescribably powerful and domineering.
A young man with a golden beard sat in the high hall. He was wearing a white bear skin, a fox fur hat on his head, and his clothes were dotted with a large number of gems.
He looks like a wealthy businessman?
No! The eyes of this young man can't lie. He is an extremely fierce warrior. His sharp eyes seem to say, "I killed ten thousand warriors."
Kagan and his entourage had to take off all their weapons. As soon as they entered the palace, they heard the news in Slavic from a noble person on the stage: "Is this the Pecheneg envoy?"
Kagan was still standing, but upon hearing the sound, Sakye hurriedly sat down cross-legged, and then yanked Kagan down.
"Your Majesty, this is a warrior from the eastern grassland, the son of the local leader, and will inherit the position of leader in the future." Sakyi said flatteringly.
"The Khan of the Pechenegs?" Rurik was also surprised, "You actually have such a noble status?"
"I am indeed of noble status. ." Kagan raised his head uninhibitedly.
"Very good. It seems that what the messenger said is true. As you can see, I am the Prince of Rus, the conqueror of the north, the owner of the sea, and the ruler of the Slavs , is the person favored by the gods and the best buyer of your horses. So, your name? Your intention?"
Anyone with status can tell a series of questions. Flaunting his noble title, Kagan was indeed timid for a moment. After all, he had not achieved any impressive results and did not dare to brag about it.
This Prince of Rus is very young as rumored. He is not as timid as his peers, and his words reveal full of confidence and arrogance.
Kagan was not uncomfortable with the arrogance of the prince. The prince was definitely smart and had named his intention to buy the horse.
The topic immediately breaks through, and the possibility of awkward conversations does not exist from the beginning.
"I am Kagan, the next Khan of Pecheneg. We must be your best horse supplier. Yes, this time I am following my father's order to trade horses directly with you. ."
"Good! Come on! Give me some wine!"
I gave the order.There was a minister who offered Ross wine. It was a cocktail. The so-called craft and distilled vodka was blended with a large amount of honey and soaked in some dried raspberries. It had a high alcohol content and the extreme sweetness overshadowed the spiciness. It only had the aroma of honey, fruit and wine. .
Rurik also picked up a glass of wine.
Kagan was confused and shocked for a moment. What he was holding was a crystal cup. The wine contained a complex aroma, a slightly yellowish color, and an overall purity.
Since the other party is of Turkic origin, it must be that the grassland is home. Any prairie people always have a good time. It is said that when drinking, you should have a big bowl, and when eating meat, you should hold onto the bones and gnaw it. Drinking and eating meat in a rough way shows the pride of host and guest.
Rurik simply raised his glass and stood up with a bold look on his face: "Guests from afar, it is fate that we meet. Let us drink this glass of wine together and talk about horses immediately."
p>"Your Majesty, you are so generous?!" Kagan was quite surprised.
"Is there any more nonsense? I long for your horses. I think in your opinion, a hundred words of good wishes are not as good as my immediate money to buy the horses, right? You are the ones We are here for trade, so we should try our best to negotiate a deal today."
How could such a good thing happen? Kagan was eager to complete the transaction immediately and keep the money in his hands.
"Since the prince likes this deal so much, let's drink a toast! Your hospitality will be spread throughout the grassland, and we will have better trade prospects." After that, Kagan drank the wine. Drink it all.
Business is business, and Rurik has no intention of cheating these Turks.
Kagan is actually the son of Pecheneg Khan. Regardless of whether the name is true or not, whether future trade can proceed smoothly is the last word. As the saying goes, it doesn’t matter whether the person is a cat or a dog. If you can send a horse to Rus, it doesn’t matter whether it is stolen or robbed. The person who sends the horse is a hero.
However, the appearance of this group of Pechenegs instantly made Rurik think a lot - maybe the plan to train cavalry should be put on the fast track.
It’s better to negotiate the business immediately! Although the principality's large treasury was housed in Novorosberg, due to the large cash expenditures required for the development of handicraft industry, there was also a small treasury in Novgorod, with a stock of up to 800 pounds of silver coins. Based on his experience in the spring, Rurik thought about this wave of uninvited horse foreign trade transactions. The money should be enough, and he would have to haggle at the worst.
"You really plan to sell a hundred horses?" Rurik asked hurriedly when he saw him toasting.
"Exactly."
"Then..." Rurik wanted to find a price, but he decisively thought of Sakhi's outrageous offer last year, and what he said now Just hold it back.
"Price? According to our custom, a group of mares has the highest price, and the horses I brought are all mares."
"They are all mares?!"
p>"Because mare is the best for riding. Maybe you don't understand it now, but you will understand it after buying my horse."
Rurik probably understands what Kagan means., the so-called prairie cavalry always carries mares on expeditions. Except for the core elite of the Mongolian army that expedition to Western Europe, the other cavalry were all from Turks. They all live by water and grass, their lifestyles have a lot in common, and they are all naturally managed by the same Khan. The cavalrymen on the expedition could stay on their horses all the way, sleeping on their backs, and sipping mare's milk when they were hungry. The cavalry mare is not only a tool for riding and fighting, but also almost all logistics.
"Okay, what's your price?"
"We walked for three months and went through a lot of hardships, and finally arrived at your territory, so... "
"The price is going to increase?"
"Exactly, one pound of silver coins," Kagan said a little timidly, but Rurik, listen. He sat straight up straight after seeing this number.
"What did you say?!"
"Ah! Maharaja! We have gone through a lot of hardships from the far east to this far north. It is reasonable to increase the price. Please You must accept it."
"You!" Rurik covered his face with one hand and glared directly at the trembling Maksakhi through his fingers.
Rurik never expected that there was still such a business. Horse breeders had to explain every price of one pound for fear that the buyer would be unhappy. Co-author Sacchi and his group once Raise the price tenfold! For the sake of 1000% profit, this group of Kiev horse riders really dare to engage in the "Eastern European Grand Series" to eat both sides.
The transactions were all in the past in the spring, and the stallions they bought went crazy, so much so that now all the mares in Novgorod had bloated bellies. Sakhi sold the horse and withdrew. Thinking of those things, Rurik couldn't help but sigh at the mobility of this Kiev man. It was really just for trade. This man had been moving fast for a whole year, without even having time to rest. With this kind of business Even if the motivation is to give him a big ship, he can't directly reach the New World.
Obviously, Sakye still lied in the spring. The so-called ten horses described in the so-called open heart cost forty pounds of silver coins. In the end, it was still nonsense. It was just the words of profiteers! Rurik is not angry at all now that he knows this, and should even keep it a secret. Because the horse supplier delivers the goods to their doorstep, they take care of the distribution work themselves, and there is no need for second-tier dealers.
Kagan said that one hundred mares were available for sale, but the other horses were not included in the sale because they were used for riding and carrying burdens on the return journey.
"When do we trade? When do I get the money?!" Kagan asked very matter-of-factly.
The other party was so sincere, Rurik thought that it would be unreasonable for him to hesitate at all. He stood up again and announced: "Now, you are about to get the money! A total of ten thousand fine silver coins! Let's go! I'll go see those horses first. What a happy event, Kagan, you and your people They are all my friends. I want to entertain you tonight!"