Under the glow of the Northern Lights, Otto urgently summoned the people who followed him, and everyone gathered around the largest bonfire to hold a special meeting.
Otto was still as high-spirited as ever, and his image beside the flames was also shining.
"Brothers, our tribe needs more wealth. Now I have an idea. We will no longer go straight to the north. We will run towards the northeast. That is an area we have not set foot in. There must be a lot of deer there. .I decided to move forward there, are you willing to follow me?!"
The question is so straightforward that everyone has to think about the leader's suggestion.
Someone raised doubts as expected.
A young man yelled: "What if we are in danger?"
"Oh? Are you afraid of bears?"
"No! I'm afraid of blizzards! I have never been there. I don't know what hills or streams there are. Everything there is unknown. Great chief, the days in the future will be shorter and shorter. Once we are in Getting lost in the ice and snow can be a disaster.”
This question represented the worries of many people, and the crowd suddenly became noisy.
Someone else echoed loudly: "Yes! If it is summer, we can explore the end of the world in the north. It is too cold now and the daylight hours are very short every day. We should not take such risks."
"Forget it! You're just afraid of freezing to death! Are you going to be a coward? Your wife is still waiting for you to carry a deer back."
"But it's still too dangerous to run northeast."
Quarrels have already occurred among the crowd. If such quarrels are tolerated, the problem will not be solved immediately.
There is actually only one road in front of Otto now, because he himself insists on exploring in the northeast direction.
The vast land is full of unknowns, and the tribe will rely on the light of Aurora in the sky to move forward.
Because it is full of unknowns, it is also full of opportunities.
Otto has experienced many gratifying things this year, and the Ross tribe has obviously begun a huge change this year. He believes that this is a change of great historical significance to the future of the tribe, not only because it is generally accepted by the tribe to accept foreign women as wives, but also because his son continues to show amazing talents.
Otto only regretted that he was old. If he really died lying in his own home, his life would be full of regrets.
All the way north
He thought of many things, and thought of how when he was young, he would ride on skis and pull a sled every winter to hunt a large number of wild beasts in the north.
The Ross tribe has indeed no experience of trekking long distances to the northeast, which is an unknown territory for the tribe.
Otto stamped his feet and scolded in his rich and hoarse voice, and the noisy crowd suddenly fell silent.
The crowd has been divided into two groups. One group intends to explore the northeast direction. As for the danger, it is life or death. The other group is looking for stability. They just hope to bring back a huge prey to make a beautiful roast, so that they can spend a wonderful Hanukkah to offset the large amount of food and wine consumed by the carnival after the mass wedding. .
"Everyone, be quiet! Brothers! Listen to me now! I hope that the team will move northeast from tomorrow. I am not afraid of any danger, because!"
Otto deliberately pulled out his gem-encrusted sword and pointed it at the sky: "I heard some of you are worried about your safety. Is this what a true warrior should say? Look up at the sky, that's where the Valkyries are parading. Traces, the Valkyrie is looking at us! Those who are afraid of danger, please worry about your future. The Valkyrie is disappointed because of your cowardice. Now you have only one way to prove your bravery, and that is to follow me!"
In the ninth century AD, the people of Europe were not yet enlightened.
Otto's words of faith based on mythology fully silenced those who were cowardly.
But the so-called cowardice is in line with cleanliness.
Those who have the courage to participate are brave people. Each of them also has his own family. Going north to hunt in winter is not about "proving your bravery to the Valkyries". They just have a very realistic hope of getting furs and a lot of meat. Just for a better life in the future.
An excellent leader must use his wisdom and power to make his people awe of certain things. Similarly, he must also fully stimulate their desire for wealth and happiness.
Otto simply believes that when everyone in his tribe believes that they will get a lot of wealth if they follow him, his position is the most stable, and even some unreasonable demands from them can be tolerated.
Now, they need to be shown a wonderful picture.
"Brothers, don't be afraid! Now you have to think about what may be in the northeast! There are probably a large number of deer there, and we may even meet those deer farmers."
The mention of "Deer Breeder" aroused the nerves of many older people in the team.
Although the Ross tribe has settled in the far north, the older people really know that they are not the complete masters of this area.
There are many Finn tribes east of Rossburg, and the relationship between Ross and those Finns is very delicate.
Sometimes, some people would organize spontaneously, cross the bay with axes and spears, land on the opposite coast, and find Finn tribes for trade. In fact, it is not so much trade as it is that these Russians are just looking at what others are doing.
The Fen tribes we encountered were stronger than us, so we just did business honestly, using silver coins or copper coins to buy their furs and some linen fabrics.
If you encounter someone who is obviously weak, there is no need to do business. Just pick up the battle ax and loot, and then leave quickly.
Therefore, the Ross tribe and the Finn tribes have never established any stable trade relations, and even conflicts are the most common mode of getting along. Among them, the Ross tribe, as a branch of the Vikings, are always the initiators of attacks. There is no guilt in doing so.
The "deer farmers" mentioned by Otto are another group of people. The elders of the tribe still hear some ancient memories from their parents.
For example, there is a legend claiming that Roseburg was once the home of deer herders, who tried in vain to resist, abandoned their herds and ran away, disappearing into the vast snow of the north.
No one knows where those people went. Maybe they went to the northern end of the world? !
After all, the world view of the civilians of the Ross tribe has been based on those ancient legends throughout their lives. The so-called human world is a land on a disk held up by the World Tree, and the farther north it becomes, the colder it becomes.
Otto did not hesitate to describe the "big pie" that these bearded men could not resist.
"We haven't encountered deer herders for a long time. Maybe they have gone to the end of the world and fallen into the abyss beyond the world tree. But before I set off, I asked our priest Vilia. Vilia told me that those The deer herders hid at the end of the world because they believed we couldn't make it that far.
However, we should not expect to meet deer farmers and the indescribably large herds they raise. As long as we encounter them, those deer are ours! Even those deer farmers can become our slaves.
Don’t worry if we haven’t encountered it. We did not go to the northeast, where the woods must be plentiful with ferrets, forest cats, and deer. We even found a white bear cave.
You don’t have to worry about your identity. The priest told me clearly that if we dare to go to the northeast, we will definitely return to our home with a lot of treasures before Hanukkah.
Brothers, think of the praises your wives and children have given you, and think of the great explorations you will make.
Is there any objection among you now? ! "
Everyone's eyes were trembling unconsciously. Everyone remained calm in the excitement, but when one of them finally couldn't hold back his excitement and roared, the crowd also boiled.
There were no more arguments. Otto looked at everyone with satisfaction and full of hope for the future.
