All the nobles and envoys took their seats one after another. Even if this room was the old power supply of the Prince of Rus, it was a hundred times better than their residence in their hometown.
The wooden floor was laid flat, and everyone sat cross-legged on leather cushions. There were tables in front of them, with exquisite cold meals, and the vessels they carried were all made of glass.
The glass plate is filled with candied prunes, tiramisu cake, steamed carrot slices drizzled with honey, and unconventional honey-glazed salted fish jerky.
Just some cold snacks are enough to make them eye-opening and salivating. The side dishes were all sweets, which fully proved the wealth of Prince Rurik, and the hospitality with which everyone was received.
If they were not nobles, they would have started eating it.
Rurik looked at the messengers. Some of them looked familiar to him. He couldn't help but suddenly sighed: "A brave warrior always hopes that his old self will die gloriously on the battlefield. But many people don't have such an opportunity. Old soldiers will not die, just like flowers, they will slowly wither. I knew you when I was a child, and my father fought side by side with you. Later, I grew up. We fight side by side."
He said this deliberately and raised the glass: "It is fate that we are together now, to pay tribute to our friendship!"
Stay here! Rick raised his wine glass high. His legal status was that of a duke granted by the old king of Sweden, and his current behavior was simply that of a king. However, the envoys had taboos, and they all looked at King Bjorn.
The scene was cold for a few seconds, but the middle-aged Bjorn gently raised his glass: "To our friendship!"
In this way, one glass after another The cup was raised high like a group of warriors raising their swords. They drank the cup of bitter ale as if bidding farewell to an old era.
They stared eagerly at the mere snacks and desserts in front of them. They looked like they had never seen the world, which really made Rurik feel quite regretful. He focused on King Bjorn of Sweden among the envoys. If this person particularly emphasized his royal power at this banquet and made noises, Rurik would also issue an order to expel him.
Ross has never been afraid of the old aristocrats of Sweden's homeland. Rurik set a red line for himself that would cause him to get angry, that is, his power should not be insulted, even by verbal insults. It was obvious that he was overly worried. Although Bjorn was a king, he didn't say much, and his current expression was filled with indescribable respect.
After all, he wanted something from me!
Rurik asked the waitress to fill up the wine for everyone. He was no longer polite and said: "You must be hungry already. Let's get started! Although it's just some snacks now, you guys need to satisfy your stomach first." , the real meal will be served later, and we can have a good time while eating. There is nothing more appropriate than talking about important things while we are eating."
Bjorn thought this was a good thing. , his eyes were fixed on the cake covered with a layer of cream. He had been paying attention to this for a long time, and his mouth watered when he smelled the sweet aroma in the air.
Only the rough people get started directly, and the nobles, the envoy was afraid that he would make a fool of himself and humiliate his tribe, so he paid close attention to the actions of Prince Rus and King Bjorn.
The silver spoon stirred the cake, and King Bjorn dug out a soft piece and stuffed it into his mouth. In an instant, the extremely sweet and lubricating taste penetrated the entire mouth. He had never had such a happy experience in his life, and he was so happy that he burst into tears.
"Ah! What is this? It's so delicious!"
Bjorn maintained great restraint, and the other messengers had opened their mouths and poured out a large amount of food. Eat a piece of tiramisu cleanly.
They shouted that they couldn’t get enough of this delicacy because it was too delicious, and they asked for another piece.
“I expected you would be like this.” Rurik suppressed his laughter and signaled his own people not to laugh at them. He also ordered the waitress to go to the kitchen and bring more cakes prepared.
Due to geographical factors, traditional Viking life is extremely difficult to access sweet things, but the Slavic world is different. Relying on the skill of raising bees in tree holes, Rurik has more and more honey in his hands. many.
He gently picked up the cake to taste the delicious food, and pointed out with great interest: "Everyone here is a noble. We are all nobles, so we should treat them as significantly different from the people. We want an exquisite meal, eat The law should be elegant."
Bjorn said cheerfully: "It's true that I seem a bit rude." He called it by his name: "What's the name of this delicious meal of yours? ...I really want to taste it often when I go back to Sweden."
"This is called tiramisu."
"I really hope you are in my Birka. Shops and restaurants in Hong Kong also provide such delicious meals. Look at this table, they are all my favorite meals. I can’t wait to enjoy them every day.”
Rurik could tell that King Bjorn was trying to get close. With that said, it's clear this guy wants to officially mention buying a boat.
I simply mentioned it myself first: "King Bjorn of Sweden, my white fox is back, and he told me what you want. Is it to buy a boat? I am very interested."
Hearing this, Bjorn was already trembling with excitement. He straightened his waist and said, "Exactly! I like your big ship, and I am also eager to organize a Swedish fleet!"
Bjorn had made his true desire undisguised, and Rurik was quite surprised. After all, the establishment of a national fleet had to be at least slightly concealed. He is so straightforward, is he really unabashed and unreserved? If this is true, then he is really a standard Viking warrior.
Rurik still had to make sure: "A fleet from the Kingdom of Sweden? Do you need to buy my big ship as the main force?"
"Exactly! Just like...your flagship The Avora, and the big ship Guldote, which is anchored near Birka every year.”
“Oh? Are you planning to buy such a warship?” Rick hurriedly scratched his head and looked embarrassed: "White Fox said you only want my large merchant ships."
"That's true. But! I am willing to pay for the purchase of big ships. YouMake an offer! No matter how high the price is, I am willing to buy it. ”
Bjorn’s attitude was very tough. His eyes were as wide as bull’s eyes. Rurik was forced to look at this man and felt that he was being threatened.
Is this a forced purchase? The Avora-class sailing cruiser is currently the main ship of the Ross fleet. The construction of ships of the same class is temporarily suspended, but the production line can be restarted immediately.
How can the Swedish King He De come to buy it? Ross’s battleship?
Wait! I’m afraid Bjorn is not just talking to me.
Rurik looked at the attitudes of the other nobles and envoys. They were obviously embarrassed. .
“Hey, of course I am willing to do ship trading with you. But for a big ship like mine..."
"I'm willing to pay a high price, even..." Bjorn gritted his teeth, "Even double the price, I'm willing to buy it. "
You can buy it with double the price? Rose is not stupid enough to cultivate an evenly matched opponent!
Rurik did not refuse for the time being, let alone support it. He changed the subject: "Mei Lake Laren is huge, and it’s not just your tribe. My Rus is doing business with the princes of all Swedish tribes, and since they are selling ships, they can also buy them. ”
At this moment, the white-bearded old Angrive, Duke of Unclas, coughed twice and announced in a slightly hoarse voice: “Since King Bjorn is willing to buy it, we people of Unclas Also buy. He paid twice as much as the grain, and I paid three times. ”
Someone challenged it, and the plenipotentiary envoy of the prince of the Yermalen tribe, which has an equally large population, immediately expressed his position: “The Onkras people are like this, and so are we Yermalen people.” ”
Now another big tribe, the Uppsala envoy who controls the largest altar in Sweden, also made the exact same statement.
The “big guys” are vying to buy the big altar. Battleship, this is a bitter experience for those small tribes.
Just like the young Svalgard, the new leader of the Gran tribe, he came to seek political protection from the Principality of Rus because the sea area was peaceful. , they moved back to the fjord in the south, which was not part of the Lake Mälaren area, and the tribesmen were not willing to worship the Mälaren people. They occupied the old land of the Ostara people, now that the remnants of Ostara have already. Byros is respected, and the people of Gran can also rely on their past friendship with the Ostara people to be respected by Bairos.
Duke Svalgard of Gran said openly: “We, the people of Gran, have money. Not much, and willing to buy a smaller Ross boat. We are eager to do business with you and... are willing to accept Ross's full protection. ”
The Duke of Gran? Is that the Gran tribe that couldn’t gather a hundred male warriors even if they gathered all their troops?
Rurik wanted to say that this guy was interested, but then he thought about it. I think this guy made it clear that he must respect Ross!
King Bjorn is sitting here, and a group of nobles are actually playing against their king.
One. A king who came to power through a conspiracy and a coup, a king who needed the support of the Principality of Rus from the beginning, Bjorn was indeed unable to convince the public.
Rurik.He slapped his forehead and thought back to the secret conversation he had with Bjorn himself. He said that he supported him in seizing power and recognizing the throne. From that time on, Ross was no longer part of Sweden, and the relationship between the two parties was country-to-country.
However, it was a closed negotiation and was not explained to all the Swedish noble lords, so it would not get their approval.
Bjorn was actually so angry that his liver ached. Originally, he was the only one who wanted to come to Rus. After the news leaked out, most of the lords either went out personally or sent envoys. As a result, a joint mission was formed, each with its own agenda. .
Inspired by the purchase of the ship, everyone put the contradiction on the table in the palace of the Prince of Rus.
The little Duke of Glen is really not afraid of tigers. He inherited his father's title in his early twenties. He only had a hundred warriors under his command, and no one took this nobleman seriously.
But it's the same, this guy "thrown the firecrackers into the fish pond."
Duke Glen held his head high. He was only three or four years older than Rurik, and he did not feel embarrassed at all when he spoke respectful words.
He praised the illustrious martial arts of the Duke of Ross, saying that the Duke of Ross was the real monarch of the sea. There's something magical about his reasoning, but there's also something agency about it.
The so-called Gran people used to be vassals of the Ostara people. They always lived in the same area and lived together. Now that Prince Rurik married the Duchess of Ostara, the Duchess gave birth to a boy. So the Gran people who returned to their hometown are actually helping the Ostara people manage their hometown, and the Gran people should naturally become vassals of the Principality of Rus.
It is because the population is too small that the Duke of Glen actually said this: "The Duke of Ross should be king. Only you are the hero who is truly loved by Odin. Your ancestors are in Sweden, and you He should become the king of Sweden."
Hearing such shocking words, Rurik was so shocked that he could neither eat nor drink.
Arik, the slimmed-down Blue Fox, the fat white fox, and Governor Konuson and his son were all here. Everyone heard what they heard so clearly that they were shocked along with Rurik.
What does this mean? It's obviously to persuade people to come in.
Rurik had to pay close attention to the attitude of King Bjorn of Sweden. The guy was not angry, but looked as embarrassed as if he had been constipated for a week.
"Brother, are you serious? You are a duke, and I am also a duke. Your king is here, and you don't support your king?" Rurik asked deliberately while also He was teasing poor King Bjorn.
Rurik originally thought that the young Duke of Glen would keep his sense and talk about the flowers well, but Svalgard’s words were even more straightforward: “Even if you don’t want to be the king of Sweden, I still want to Take all the Glens as your vassals. Because it was the Russians who defeated Denmark and made our Swedish people's long-cherished wish come true. We no longer have to worry about fishing in the sea. This is all due to you. Who is more qualified to be the king than you?"
A feeling of wearing a yellow robe arises spontaneously.Is it called the one who wins the hearts of the people wins the world?
Rurik also thought about this, but he was not willing to spend a lot of money to marry and rule the whole of Sweden. Obviously the current situation is very good. You can make money in Sweden by relying on trade surplus to earn food and cloth, so why rule directly. What's more, the PTSD of the Rose team being ostracized by Sweden in the past has not been completely eliminated.
When Rurik was hesitant, Angreev got angry and said, "Duke Glen said it well! Rurik, your father and I have a long history of friendship. Otto gave birth to a hero, and that’s you! We, Angklasran, have always respected the strong, and now I want to buy your ship and respect you as the king.”
How can this be the case? Rurik, who was waiting to see what happened, began to face a more complicated situation, because the tribal envoys, large and small, were clearly completely willing to go all out. They were all trying to persuade him to come forward, as if it had been rehearsed.
Only the "constipated" King Bjorn of Sweden and the leader of the Mellaren tribe, Bjorn, remained silent.
But asking Bjorn about his attitude now is equivalent to a slap in the face.
Rurik waved his hand hurriedly: "I may not be qualified, besides..." He paused deliberately, glanced at Bjorn, and inadvertently looked at each other again.
Looks speak louder than words, Bjorn deciphered Rurik’s entangled desires and the arrogance of a winner.
In fact, Bjorn envisioned that when he convened a general meeting of Sweden, once the Prince of Rus participated, there was a high probability that the dukes would express their respect for Rurik as king.
The leader of the strongest tribe also serves as the king. This was the tone set when Sweden was founded. It has only been seven years since the founding of Sweden. The Russians can claim to be independent from Sweden, but now it seems that a group of nobles do not recognize it.
Bjorn knew that Rurik wanted to give an explanation himself, and other nobles and envoys also wanted an explanation.
He felt like he was being roasted by Rurik. The truth is even more absurd than this, because behind his becoming king is Rurik's military support.
What else can Bjorn do?
He coughed a few times: "Since everyone has this intention, what should I do? I have not led everyone to win the war since I took the throne. I am only qualified to be the leader of Melalen, not the leader of Melalen." Be the king of Sweden! I can go to the king's house!"
"Hmm?"
Bjorn finally made up his mind:" The king who supports is not the king. You are the real king of Sweden, and the throne is handed over to you!" When Bjorn finished speaking, the whole room cheered. Rurik did not expect this at all. He paid for a banquet with the nobles, and the Swedish nobles responded with surrender and encouragement. The real King of Sweden even surrendered in public!
Take it now...
"In this case, it seems that I must be the King of Sweden."
"Then buying a boat... Bjorn asked again.
“Even if I become the King of Sweden, I will only sell armed cargo ships.A hundred pounds of silver, I will neither raise nor lower the price. You order it and I'll make it. ”
But now the problem is no longer as simple as buying a boat. Bjorn is still technically the king of Sweden, but the handover of power by the new king requires a ceremony.
Bjorn requested a convening The assembly of all Swedish nobles, since this was bound to be the unification of Sweden and Rus and even part of Norway, required that the gods be worshiped in a glorious place, not even in the great temple of New Rossburg. The place? It is the most traditional and oldest Uppsala Temple in Sweden.
There, Rurik became king, and the merger of Swedish Rus also meant a huge Baltic feudal country. The birth. This matter can only be postponed until the formal ceremony will be held in the spring and summer of next year.