Lake Ilmen and the city of Novgorod are a completely different world to King Bjorn of Sweden. Although there are a large number of Rus and other immigrants who speak Norse here, the largest number are Slavic speakers. native.
People here, regardless of their status, use a large amount of wood to build their houses. Not only the houses, but the walls of the entire city are also made of thick timber piled up in an orderly manner.
Any wood is first of all straight, and a house made of wood is naturally regular.
Compared to Novorosberg, Bjorn’s eyes felt that the urban structure of Novgorod was worse. Even so, this big city is quite neat. There are not too many winding streets here. There is no annoying smell of urine and feces in the visible lanes, and the roads under your feet are at least hardened.
Bjorn is first of all a large landowner of the Mellaren tribe, and secondly the tribal leader and king of Sweden.
His ancestors were also wealthy farmers who continued to accumulate wealth. Bjorn still boasted that he had great experience in farming.
Just take a look and you will understand everything!
Those covered by snow are the astonishing areas of farmland. Everything cannot be said to be similar to what we saw in Fort New Rose.
Envy! envious! Deeply envious! And fear...
Bjorn's thoughts were extremely complex, as were the other visiting nobles.
Of course some nobles did not hesitate to think of new possibilities, such as Duke Svalgard of Glen. Because those rumors all came true, he saw a female noble with a very special identity and talked with her about some secrets of the past.
He was certain that the woman pulling a young child was indeed Carlotta, the Duchess of Ostara.
Ten years ago, the Ostara tribe suffered a disaster. The two daughters of the tribe leader fled together and collided with the Gran people who were also fleeing. That was an opportunity for Svalgard, who was both young at the time, to meet the Carlotta sisters.
For the sudden visit of King Bjorn of Sweden, Carlotta had no feeling for him and was completely dispensable.
But it is completely different for the Gran Svalgard.
She had no opinion about the new Duke of Granville. She just thought of his identity and thought of the past. At that time, Ostara and Gran both lived on the southern border of the Swedish Tribal Alliance, and had been fighting on the front line with the Götalans for grazing pasture. The two tribes have coexisted for a long time, and the Gran people have always existed as vassals of the Ostara people.
When the disaster came, Carlotta had nothing but begged the Gran people for some food. At that time, she resented the stinginess of the Gran people, and even now, this resentment still exists.
However, a weak girl has grown into a female warrior, and a declining tribe has risen in a new form in the new world.
"It is said that you Gran people are still maintaining the same attitude for ten years. I thought you were developing very well. Svalgard, it seems your father did not manage the tribe well. On the contrary, my Ostara, everything is getting better, I am about to return to my past strength..."
Carlotta vented her grievances with arrogance, also relying on these words , announcing that Ostara is still much better than Gran.
Svalgard heard another meaning. This woman wanted to restore Ostara's past existence. Binding the Gran tribe
He did not dare to make a conclusion, and first asked quietly: "I have come to the new world, at least let me go to your new territory. "
"Okay, let me show you my warrior. ”
Carlotta did clearly mention the word “warrior”. In Svalgard’s understanding, the Ostara people basically lost their men back then. What would happen if they lost their men? Are there any warriors?
Speaking of Carlotta, she came to Novgorod with her child Karl I to meet her man, and she also met a group of Swedish nobles who were visiting her. She used it to build her own territory at the southernmost point of the lake and to raise her son. Because she was disheartened by her hometown in Sweden, she did not want to go back to visit Svetland.
Sister Na finally gave birth to a boy, so the Principality of Ross had the legal first heir. She was sincerely happy for the Ross people, and she also understood her position in the Principality in name only. The principalities are equal in level. In essence, Ostara is a vassal of Rus and guards the current southern border of the Rus principality.
She wisely did not stay in Novgorod too much, and based on her. Rurik himself made arrangements, and after taking away a group of horses, he happily went south on a sleigh.
At this moment, Svalgard was in the team heading south for the rest of the winter. Deeply shocked by the Gran nobleman, the team headed south along the ice-covered lake shoreline. All that could be seen around them were large areas of farmland with clear ridges, as well as large and small settlements.
Carlotta headed back south. The road to home was decided by Rurik, and it was true that Duke Gran wanted to go to the south to take a look. This guy should see Ross's strength.
Carlotta's sled puller. With more than 200 horses and a batch of oats, they deliberately headed south along the east coast of the lake.
The lake shoreline here has a large population, not just Mstisk and young people who mainly settled in the old Rus. The city, as well as the villages built by the "hidden people" who were driven out of the forest, have expanded to as many as thirty.
It can be said that during the warm period of 838, Governor Medved. His subordinates were busy entering the forest to search and arrest people, and the work was very effective.
The old Russians and an astonishing number of children lived in Hudong, with a population of more than 10,000 men, women and children.
Those " The total population of the new villages built by "hiding people" has reached 20,000.
And there are also self-made villages in Hudong.An old village that has existed since ancient times.
Compared with Lake Mälaren, Lake Ilmen is much smaller and its hydrological structure is relatively simple. The population east of the lake is larger than that of the Melalen tribe at its peak, and the environment in which the people live is relatively compact. The impression based on Svalgard is that it is densely populated.
What he saw while sitting on the sleigh were villages one after another on the lakeside, as well as people braving the cold and rushing to the frozen lake to fish.
He could easily see wandering villagers along the way, as well as a large number of children playing with the snow and building strange things. He often saw men and women walking on the ground carrying large amounts of firewood. On the extremely solid ice road.
It is obvious that the people living in the villages in the east of the lake are not as wealthy as the people in Novgorod. This can be seen from their simple clothes and lack of elegance.
Svalgard wanted to ask Carlotta something, but the noble woman held her child in a warm covered sleigh, and luxuriously used crystal (glass) as a window. Have a clear view of the outside scenery from inside the sled. However, he could only cover his face with fur, and finally put on sunglasses bought with a "huge sum" of ten silver coins to protect his eyes from the wind and cold, and his whole image became quite strange.
In New Rossburg, he felt that the Ross people were incredibly wealthy. In Novgorod, there are clearly a large number of foreigners living in the city. They speak Slavic and are obviously very wealthy.
As we headed south, it seemed that the new people we encountered were very populous, but their poverty was also obvious.
Is it true that as you go south, you will become poorer? Could it be that Carlotta was bragging about herself, but the new Ostara still has crotch extensions?
(Because they have just moved from the forest farm to the lakeside, these villagers have just started a new life)
They actually experienced a journey with a total length of fifty kilometers, and the team used animal-drawn sleds throughout the entire journey. , the horses and deer walked all day long, and arrived safely in New Ostara just as the sun was setting.
A city built along the glacier is in front of you. At first glance, it does not look as prosperous as Novgorod, but the scene here is extremely special.
The Ostara people are good at raising cattle and sheep. Others may not know it, but all the Gran people know it best.
In the new world, the Ostara people have resumed their old ways. A large number of gray-brown creatures are moving on the snow. They have huge antlers. What are they if they are not reindeer? ?
I’m afraid it’s not just reindeer!
There are a large number of thick sheds here. Raising reindeer does not require too many sheds. There are many sheds, which can only mean that they are raising cattle and sheep.
The sled team stopped under the wooden wall. Svalgard sat cross-legged throughout the day. He immediately felt that his legs were too weak to stand.
He found a wooden stick to use as a walking stick and stood up strong, but was deeply frightened by the sudden charging of the beast. He stumbled and fell into the snow, making Os who came to watch. The people of Tara laughed.
Even Carlotta, who was holding her child, laughed out loud: "Old friend, this is my city. Are you afraid of my big city?"
"No! It's these people on horseback. . Ah!? Are they all yours?”
Carlotta looked at the cavalrymen who were still sitting on the ground: “Why don’t you get up with their swords?” You know how to kill your friends, you are the Duke of Gran, there is nothing to be afraid of."
Duke? He is just the leader of a village of four to five hundred people. Such a small group is simply a small player in the eyes of the Principality of Ross. Along the way, he had become deeply aware of the pitiful population of his Gran tribe, and organizing a hundred warriors was already the limit.
Looking at the cavalry in Ostara City, there must be at least fifty cavalry in front of us.
The sudden appearance of the Ross cavalry in large numbers actually has no special meaning. Because the territory of New Ostara is the southern border of the principality, a strong army must be stationed. Although the Ross Cavalry is small in number, the current elite are all stationed here.
Before 839, the principality had only eighty cavalry. Some of the cavalry participated as infantry in the crusade against the Danish king and made military exploits. Since the autumn harvest was completed in 838, they He moved to the south and successfully contacted the Pecheneg envoy who had come all the way.
The young cavalry warriors are all stationed here, and even their families have moved here. This has directly increased the population of New Ostara by nearly 200 people.
Rurik will not ignore the Ostara people’s animal husbandry skills at all. They must raise horses, cattle, sheep and deer, especially horse breeding, which must have a major impact in a short period of time. develop.
The people of Ostara were ordered to raise horses, and they also learned to ride horses one after another. As a result, Ross nominally had 80 horsemen stationed in the south, and in fact the number of cavalry reached 1,550. Even if the Ostara men or boys who have just learned to ride are just simple riders, they can easily frighten their opponents by standing on horseback with a spear in hand.
It is not surprising to see people on horseback, but it is shocking to see a large number of cavalry.
Svalgard is an old friend of the Ostara people after all, not to mention that there are some men in this city who were actually Granites in the past. New Ostara is not a city, but a huge military camp.
The new Ostara has indeed undergone tremendous changes. As a duchess, Carlotta seems to have devoted all her attention to training cavalry.
The Duchess herself also learned to ride a horse, and even shot an arrow while riding a horse. No matter how good her shooting skills were, being hit by the arrow would definitely lead to death.
Svalgard was a guest, and here he ate and became familiar with cheese and cheese. It was said that the dark-haired visitors from the far south could not walk and that their entire family rode horses. The Ostara people were clearly learning from the prairie people, but the long boats pushed onto the shoals still proved that they were northerners.
After living in this city for many days, he finally figured out something.
In the face of absolute strength, Svalgard knew very well that not only could he only respect Prince Rus as the King of Sweden, but now facing the Ostara people who were in trouble in the past, his own people were still absolutely weak.
It is not shameful to submit to a man, and it is equally shameful to submit to a woman.
Everything has returned to the historical context of the past. Svalgard is in the city of New Ostara and wants to explain his wishes to the Duchess Carlotta.
Carlotta’s own house is a large wooden ridge. After she and Rurik gave birth to Karl I, she voluntarily and wisely left the court of the Principality of Rus. She is a prince, and is legally the adopted daughter of Otto, the old Duke of Ross. As a subordinate of Ross, she has the greatest power in her own territory. After experiencing suffering, war, revenge, and now the renaissance she is experiencing personally, her temperament has become stronger, and the natural feminine charm in her body has inevitably faded a lot. She became a true female Viking warrior, a "she-wolf of the south."
Someone began to secretly give her such a name, but she neither knew nor cared.
She personally met with Svalgard, Duke of Glen, who had an important matter to discuss in her humble ducal palace. Under the attention of many soldiers, Svalgard actually knelt down on one knee. Perform a warrior salute.
“Ah?! What do you mean?”
“People from Ostara!” Svalgard’s words suddenly became very formal and serious, “I’ve already thought about it. , I will move my family to Rus, and the Prince of Rus also supports this. I didn’t know where to settle before, but now I have an idea. Let everything go back to the past, and we Granites will still be vassals of you Ostara people. ”
Carlotta understood immediately, and it was not beyond his expectation that he could say this.
To be fair, for the Ostara people who are not yet strong at present, they have a Gran guard around them, and their strength will become stronger after the population increases.
Guarding the southern border is not as simple as establishing settlements. The Principality of Rus must be wary of the Smolensk people who, at least, are not friendly, and suddenly march north along the Lovati River to the Ilmen Lake area. They must also be wary of the Pei Cheneg armed merchant group.
The hardship that Carlotta experienced was an unprepared sneak attack. The number of Pecheneg soldiers who visited in late autumn last year was very large, and each of them wore iron armor and had an iron mask. Their strength should not be underestimated. .
She is worried that one day in the future, the Pechenegs will suddenly turn against them, and she will be the first to bear the brunt. This was not her wisdom, but the fear of being attacked by a crazy attack and destroying her family and her family was like a mark branded on her body. She is just afraid! But I am not worried about the immigration of the Gran people. Because she has regarded the Gran people who have not yet arrived as a resource that must be absorbed.
She answered simply, but also thought carefully: "I can find you a piece of wasteland, and you can build a new settlement yourself. But you and your tribe should listen to my restraint. You know , I am the woman of the Prince of Rus. I am ordered to guard the south for Rus. You must be my neighbor.Ju, you must listen to me. ”
Svalgard answered decisively, fully supporting it.
In a sense, Svalgard gave up his title of Duke and stood in his position. In the past, what he wanted was never power or the title of Duke, but to lead the entire blood tribe to live a stable life. In the past, he relied on the Ostara people, and later on the Yelmalen people. Now he has been promised that he can raise his family. But from the bottom of my heart, it is better to continue living together with the Ostara people, so that the people of the entire Gran tribe will not have any objections, let alone feel aggrieved.