Arik stabbed his enemies with his sword, Otto used his sword to collect tribute in Novgorod.
The Ross tribe is making significant progress in both directions, and they are sure to return with great treasures.
Until then, the residents who stayed in Roseburg were still living their ordinary lives.
A large number of women and children were left behind in their hometowns, while a group of older men carried out traditional fishery production on small fishing boats in the sea near the fjord.
The fishermen threw down the hemp ropes with fish hooks tied to them. The ropes were very long and thick, so they could pull up large cods.
Many fishing families spend a winter carefully weaving their new fishing nets. They have begun traditional trawl fishing. This technology is of course far inferior to the high-tech technology of a thousand years later. There is no sonar detection equipment. The fishermen pray for God's blessing, then throw down the fishing nets and start fishing purely by chance.
However, there is only one special catch that fishermen can accurately hunt with a harpoon.
That's Beluga.
As the ice floes melt away, seals that like to lie on the ice and bask in the sun have become difficult to catch.
Beluga whales entering the northern waters have naturally become the new preferred prey for fishermen.
In their understanding, beluga whales are called "big white fish".
They are docile animals and have no fear of human ships since ancient times. As a result, fishermen can quietly approach the group of whales in small boats and suddenly poke them with an extended harpoon, or directly throw a harpoon with a hemp rope tied to the end to kill the belugas and complete the hunt.
Even if the power of the beluga can capsize a fishing boat, the risk is worth the reward.
There is only one type of whale that the Russians dare not touch, and that is the huge baleen whale.
It is so big that people regard it as a huge sea monster, and anyone who sees it should avoid it. Many people say that the mouth of the huge baleen whale can swallow an entire fishing boat. The best way to face fear is to overcome fear?
Well, fear can indeed be conquered. The fishermen woke up from their fear and of course refueled and paddled away from the giant whale.
All the Viking tribes realized that the heads of the white whales swimming in the sea had a large amount of pure white oil, which could be used as excellent lamp oil with just a little refinement. And this oil is unusual, its smell is even lighter than seal oil.
Rurik, who stayed behind in Rossburg, had no intention of getting on someone's fishing boat and going fishing in the sea.
The bravest people in Fort Ross have all gone out. Perhaps those led by cousin Arik will return home early, and the Sorgon army led by his father will have to return as early as a month later.
There is huge uncertainty in the voyage, but there is only one thing Rurik believes in: his cousin and father will return safely with a large amount of supplies.
However, since the Russians have chosen war this year, there must be some young people who will never return.
But what does that have to do with me? Those soldiers must have been prepared to die in battle.
Rurik was originally worried that as seals became more difficult to catch, the efficiency of the priests in making soap would plummet, and even production would be suspended due to lack of raw materials.
Who would have thought that the sudden increase in demand for oil would cause fishermen to take desperate risks and attack whales.
In this era, the number of whales in the world is huge. Even in remote and small sea areas like the Baltic Sea, there are large groups of whales active.
Stabbed beluga whales are towed ashore and quickly sold in the fish markets formed by their raids on the coast.
It has to be said that the residents regard the beluga whale as an unusual fish due to its large body and red muscles.
But how could the residents imagine that beluga whales and reindeer have exactly the same ancestors?
The fishermen also cut up the whale's internal organs and sold them, trying not to waste the edible parts. One Roman pound of whale meat cost ten copper coins. Although it is much more expensive than ordinary fish, many residents are still willing to pay the money.
A beluga whale can often weigh up to one ton! To get such a "big fish" to the shore requires the efforts of the entire fishing boat, and in the end it can only be broken down immediately on the coast.
With the Russian people's attitude towards food, they are willing to try to eat even the intestines and stomachs of livestock.
The total weight of a beluga whale might reach 2,500 Roman pounds, and fishermen would sell an edible 1,500 pounds!
One silver coin is exchanged for two hundred and forty copper coins, and the Russians agree with this exchange ratio.
In this way, for just selling the meat of one beluga whale, the fishermen can get seventy silver coins.
And that’s just selling whale meat.
Because the beluga whale’s cyst-like forehead is filled with sticky whale oil. Once upon a time, the brain oil of all whales caught was used by fishermen to make lamp oil. Now, the priests are willing to pay a higher price for them.
The fishermen did not think further. Since the priests were happy to buy, why not sell it?
The spermaceti oil of a beluga whale can fill two large wooden barrels at least. Even if the fishermen earn seventy silver coins from selling whale meat, and the spermaceti oil falls into the hands of the priests, it will eventually turn into at least thirty pieces of sulfur soap! Besides, whales also have thick subcutaneous fat, and these fat priests are willing to wait for high prices.
In order to buy these oils, the priests only paid a "huge sum" of one silver coin for a barrel of spermaceti oil, and easily obtained it from the fishermen.
Little did they know that the total sales price of just spermaceti oil after it was finally turned into soap would reach one hundred silver coins, which is one pound of silver.
According to the agreement, Rurik did not have to participate in soap making at all. In theory, as long as the fishermen caught a beluga whale, he would eventually get eighty silver coins.
This should be the case, but Rurik's silver coins did not continue to increase sharply.
The reason is really very simple. For half a year, Rurik has been working hard to amass wealth for himself through commodity trading and business sharing. Most residents realized that in the long run they would be emptied of their wealth by those merchants, which also drove many people to take desperate risks to launch a war of revenge against the Gotlanders.
The silver that was originally hoarded has been greatly enriched in Rurik's hands.
Now, not many people in the tribe buy freshly produced soap made from beluga oil. Soap is really easy to use, but every family is really short of cash.
But soap production has not stopped!
Rurik paid the priests silver coins in advance according to the agreement, and soap production was still on track.
In this way, the priests became producers through and through, and he himself became a purchaser.
More and more soap was being produced, and Rurik had to think carefully about how to store the goods.
Even if his own people don't buy in large quantities, when Gould, the big businessman who made a lot of money in the south, comes back, that old guy will not hesitate to make profits at any cost. Gould will buy all the soap, and he will never be too generous. many.
Rurik had at least a rudimentary understanding of economics.
He boasts that he only has a superficial understanding of terms such as "supply and demand" and "invisible hand". Now he is still in awe of business activities.
Little did he know that the basic knowledge he knew had surpassed that of many people.
Rurik did not think that he would become a big businessman without any doubt because of this knowledge. Because Gould, a big businessman in this time and space, has fully proved one thing. The fact that ancient people may lack a lot of knowledge does not mean that they are inherently stupider than people thousands of years later. Even if they don’t understand any brilliant theories, how can they make a big business? Strong, this guy Gould has his own opinions and abilities. Based on these, Gould himself is quite rich!
Now, Roseburg is looking a little bleak.
actually not.
The eyes of those who stayed behind were full of expectations for the future, while others were mobilized under Rurik's various influences.
Perhaps precious metals are naturally pure in value, but this value is still given to them by humans.
Because gold and silver are small in quantity and extremely difficult to damage, they naturally have the necessary conditions to become currency.
Currency is still only a measure of the value of goods in transactions, so currency must be circulated to be meaningful.
I already have a lot of silver coins, what's the point of them just sleeping in wooden boxes? They can't be eaten.
Rurik quickly recruited some older tribal men. Most of them were forty years old, and their physical fitness was generally much inferior to that of young people. Of course, when such a man takes up arms, he is still obviously powerful against the Slavs.
Rurik recruited twenty men and told them to build two longhouses to serve as his own storage rooms and living rooms for his servants.
For this he was happy to pay each of the builders a huge sum of five silver coins.
The salary is five silver coins, is that much?
Of course there are many! All the money was spent on fishing, which is enough for one person to have enough food and clothing for three months!
Rurik adopted an advanced strategy of advance payment. Each worker received two silver coins first. If he could complete the construction of two longhouses in five days, he would not only get the remaining three silver coins, but also an additional one. A reward of silver coins.
One peaceful night, Rurik stayed in his longhouse.
The climate has become milder. There was a light rain yesterday, but it is still warm today.
Ah, in fact, this so-called light rain was also felt by Otto in Novgorod.
This is a rainfall process that sweeps across most of northern and eastern Europe. It rains continuously here in Rossburg, but in Novgorod there are thunderstorms and heavy rain.
Rurik gnawed on fresh whale meat. It must be said that whales are also an ancient branch of artiodactyls. This meat is very similar to reindeer meat, and both have a weird smell. Of course, this smell can be ignored.
As an ancient person, it is foolish to be picky about food. Even if it was delicious shark meat and crazy-tasting shark liver, Rurik dared to hold his nose and eat it.
Rurik gnawed on the roasted whale meat, and so did his servant Rumia.
Now, a servant Rumia and her little master were sitting together chewing meat. Niya was completely indifferent now. The husband led an army to collect tribute, had to find a wife for many young boys, and also had the important task of building New Fort Ross.
The husband is old, and everything he does is for the smooth succession of his only son Rurik.
Niya didn't like being alone at all, so in previous years when her husband was sailing for tribute, she would always recruit a few left-behind women from her tribe to serve as her maids temporarily, and ask them to do something in the name of the leader's wife.
It is no longer needed.
Because of this Rumia, perhaps Rurik had given her too many favors, and this girl's meekness was reassuring.
There was one thing that Niya criticized her son's decision for.
"Rurik." Niya's words were harsh.
"Mom, what's wrong?"
"I don't object to you spending money to hire people to build a house, but you... you actually spent one hundred and twenty silver coins!"
"What? Mom, do you think this money is valuable?"
"It's already a pound of silver!" Niya shook her head vigorously, and stretched out her old hand like a dead branch, pointing to the wooden beams of her long house; "How much do you think our house is worth?"
"This..." Rurik shook his head, because he really didn't know.
Niya said with a sullen face: "There are only ten silver coins."
"Huh? So cheap?"
"Cheap? It's already a huge price." Speaking of this, Niya couldn't help but think back to her youth.
Niya glanced at Rumia who was munching meat, and recalled that thirty years ago, she was just a little older than this girl.
Engaged at the age of twelve, she became Otto's wife a few years later. Now, thirty years have passed!
"Since I married your father, your father funded the construction of this house. He spent ten silver coins at that time. That was a huge sum of money! Especially the main beam." Niya still pointed to the big beam, "It It can be used as the keel of an elite warship. It has been used as a beam for thirty years and is still very strong today. But you! For two new wooden houses, you paid six times the price for each one!"
Hearing what his mother said, Rurik straightened his back suddenly: "Ah! Did I spend a lot of money in vain?"
"It's good that you know." Niya chuckled, because now she didn't feel bad that her son had spent so much money, and he was not short of money. "My son, those men generally followed your father when they were young. I talked to their wives. What do you think those women said?"
"How to say?"
"They said that Rurik is a good man. He is indeed the future leader. He is not merciless in spending money and is really considerate of everyone."
It sounded like a compliment, but Rurik always felt it was a bit harsh.
Niya continued to nag: "You have a lot of money now, so spending money will naturally become lavish. I just hope that before you spend money in the future, you will think carefully about whether it is worth it. Maybe you feel that your decision is very worthwhile."
Rurik nodded: "If the tribesmen think that I can give them a better future, of course they will follow me. For example, if they do things for me, I will give them more rewards, so that everyone will be loyal even if it is for money. To me."
"Oh? You did it on purpose."
Rurik sighed slightly: "As of now, I have to pay the money. If I knew the market price at the beginning, maybe I would think about it carefully."
Rurik really didn't think much about the salary issue. After all, he now possesses as many as 5,000 silver coins. How big a problem can he use to spend about one-fiftieth of them to pay for building a house?
At this moment, Rurik had to think carefully. Is it really so easy to make money that he becomes lavish in spending money?
The advance wages have been paid to those people, and the construction of the houses is on track. The current situation is that they will definitely be able to build the houses within five days.
It was a log cabin after all!
Axes and scrapers were used to cut the pine and oak trees readily available on the hillside into reliable shapes. First, a hole is dug and the wooden piles are driven in to form a wooden frame. Then the timber is stacked horizontally to create a wooden wall. Even for the roof, the frame is built first and then the wood is laid to construct the roof.
In fact, those men in their forties have certain carpentry skills, but they are just building traditional houses, which is not a problem at all.
Rurik hurriedly finished the meat and expressed his thoughts to his mother: "Mom, you have to fight for the money. In fact, I don't feel like my father and elder brother, who use axes and swords to rob others." What a wise means to wealth. Wouldn't it be better if you could make money by doing business?
Mom, you don’t think it’s wise for me to build a house with one hundred and twenty silver coins.
Those fishermen caught a whale and the spermaceti oil was sent to the priest. The grease would turn into soap, and when Gould came back I sold all the soap, which was another huge sum of money.
I have calculated that I myself could make eighty denarii on a whale. "
"Huh? So many?" Niya was startled.
"Yes. So I have to build a wooden house. Just two long houses are still not enough." Rurik's eyes were full of hope. "I have merchants to help me sell soap. I don't have to worry about not having silver coins to earn. Besides, I can still earn money from the blacksmith." Earn income. I want to build my own warehouse first, then my future servant’s living room, and the guard’s living room. Mom, I think I should find a way to exchange some gold and make a beautiful one for you. Gold necklace.”
Hearing her son's words, Niya felt warm in her heart. She patted her son's little head and smiled: "I am satisfied now. I am too old and don't need to embellish it with gold and silver. I just hope you are rich and healthy."
"Of course I will! Because with those soaps, just by washing yourself with it, you can wash away evil things, and people will not get sick." Rurik said this deliberately after thinking for a while.
This is indeed true. Soap, especially sulfur soap, has a strong bactericidal ability that can kill various bacteria and viruses on the surface of residents to a great extent. In fact, as long as there are no malignant infectious diseases in the Baltic Sea, and the Russian residents only need to use soap frequently and keep warm, Rurik really can't think of what kind of disease can kill a good person.
Niya doesn't think soap really has such magic power. It would be best if it did. Niya values more the huge profits brought by soap, and her son will become richer and richer because of it.
There was nothing to do at night anyway, and in a time when entertainment was lacking, Rurik was willing to chat with others to kill the boredom.
"Just soap is not enough. Mom, I have thought of other ways to make money."
"Oh? What is that?" Niya was a little unimpressed.
"Mom, you will never imagine the special container I saw at the merchant Gould. It was a beautiful transparent bottle filled with wine. Gould dared to pay three pounds of silver just for a transparent bottle! "
"Ah? Just a drinking vessel? Three pounds of silver?!" Niya couldn't believe her ears.
"It's absolutely true. But..." Rurik smiled deliberately: "I already understand how to make it, and I need the help of a blacksmith. Mom, I will be a great success. When Dad comes back, I will definitely be able to make it." I can make more money by making some crystal-like cups and selling them!”
This is something Niya can't understand. Looking at her son's excitement, she believes that her son will succeed.
When your children continue to succeed, you are the happiest and proudest mother.
Rurik saw his mother's smiling face, which was the best encouragement to him.
Making glass does not seem to be difficult. Rurik knows the four important materials of modern glass, and these materials are all readily available!
He made his own plans for the future: "I have decided, mother. Tomorrow I will take my people to the hillside for training. When we finish training, I will go to the blacksmith shop and Klavason to try to make new utensils .Mom, think about your future life!
I have recruited a group of servants. There will be maids to take care of you, rub your back, help you with tailoring, and even all the clothes are washed by the servants.
Mom, you don’t have to do the hard work yourself, just enjoy the rest of your life.
Ah, everything will be better."
Hearing her son's words, Niya was almost moved to tears. She held back the soreness of her nose, tried to suppress the flow of tears, and said bluntly: "Rurik, you are still growing, you must eat more meat. And you, Rumia!"
Niya was in a very good mood, "Lumia, you should also eat more meat. If you are too thin, you will not be able to serve your master."
"Yes." Rumia nodded, and Niya threw a piece of bloody whale meat. She skewered the meat on a branch, then sprinkled it with a little salt, and skillfully placed it on the indoor bonfire to roast.
Because in the past, Rumia also lived like this, eating barbecue to satisfy her hunger.
At that time, salt powder was extremely expensive. The people of my own deer-raising clan are not very willing to exchange a bunch of leather with other clans. Besides, those Finns are not always peace-loving.
Sometimes the Fens and Varangians would do exactly the same thing - attack deer herders
Rumia half-understood what the little master just said. It seems that the master will become richer and richer? That's great. Soon another group of servants arrived, and it was probably a good thing to hear that the master intended to designate herself as "Head Maid". Maybe in the near future, I will no longer be driving the deer to graze alone. With helpers, my work pressure will be less.
Who knows? The only thing Rumia could believe was that as Rurik's slave, at least she wouldn't have to worry about food, clothing and accommodation.
Looking at the large pile of fresh meat in her hand and the salt in a small urn, Rumia has become accustomed to this kind of good life where salt can be taken at any time.
Those new servants may already be on their way. Most of them are girls much younger than themselves. The so-called "head maid", I'm afraid the young master means to order herself to be their sister.
Rumia longed to have more "family", and thinking that she would soon have a group of sisters, she also felt that the future was bright.
Tip: Enter "giant panda literature" in the search engine to find this site, thank you.
Chapter 150 It Saved the Soap Manufacturing Industry
