The waves return and the sea ice melts.
Some ice floes are still floating around, don't worry, they are no longer dangerous. Even before the big sacrifice was carried out, the Russian fishermen began fishing in the ocean, and a large number of fresh fish appeared in the revived fish market.
Are you going to eat last year’s smoked fish again? It’s completely unnecessary.
Those merchants who paid taxes did not leave Roseburg immediately. The sea is ruthless, and any voyage is risky. It is common for merchant ships to travel together, and ship ownership is also superstitious.
Everyone is looking forward to the sacrifices of the Russians, and everyone knows that when the sacrifices are over, the Russian tribute fleet will set sail.
Year after year, the caravan followed the Ross fleet, which was the most perfect escort.
Everyone is waiting for the good omen given by the priest. This good omen that everyone longs for can only be shown to everyone when the reindeer's liver is cut open on the altar.
The sacrificial event was held as scheduled, and the location was on the beach.
Listening to the sound of sea waves, all the Ross people gathered to watch the sacrifice. A large number of young people showed off their strong muscles and clenched the ropes that pulled the boat with their hands. On this day, all the young and strong men are gathered together. They will use all their strength to drag the ships that have been towed to the shore back to the sea.
Before the sacrifice, Rurik led his young men to perform a good show for the people of the tribe.
"Left! Right! Left!"
"Left! Right! Left!"
…
Rurik, who stood at the head of the team, kept shouting slogans, and several of his proud subordinates were also responsible for giving orders to the teams behind them.
There are more than 300 children, they have boyfriends and girlfriends, they are wearing highly uniform clothes, and the "weapons" in their hands are also highly uniform.
The boys held wooden shields in their left hands and wooden swords in their right hands.
The girls had quivers made of burlap hanging from the hemp ropes around their waists, with five arrows in each. They held their own stringed short wooden bows with both hands. According to Rurik's taste, they held the bows in the same posture as if they were holding a firearm.
Rurik even wanted them to raise a flag, but he couldn't think of a flag that could represent his own power. Could it be that the Russian "oar" totem printed on the sail was used as the flag? May be.
But we are all Russians after all, so maybe we need a more appropriate flag.
There were no flag bearers, no drummers, no trumpet players. Even so, Rurik and his troops appeared on the beach in neat steps, completely becoming a beautiful sight. As he expected, the children's parents were happy that their children could join this great team.
Completely based on the intuition of the warrior concept, the warriors of the tribe saw what it means to be strong from this uniformity.
There is a square formation for boys and a square formation for girls. They are arranged on both sides of the altar.
They are completely the guardians of the sacred sacrifices!
Rurik put on a simple off-white linen gown and put down the golden ponytail he had tied up. A hemp rope was tied around his head, and a leather belt tied his waist.
It was entirely because Rurik heard the ridicule that he was a "very beautiful boy". If this is the case, then let's really show off the so-called "pretty"!
He was dressed a bit like a girl, except that the belt tied his waist showed what it means to be handsome.
Rurik was clean, and his bright golden hair looked like strands of white gold under the soft light of the morning sun.
The ten little maids from Novgorod also served as junior priests.
Even the little Corvin girl Lumi who followed Lumia.
In a sense, priestly activity has become very strange. Most of the key priests were not native Rus. They were indeed serving as priests, but their true identities were servants of Rurik.
Given this reason, no one thinks there is anything wrong with this year’s priests.
In the final analysis, the Russian priests express an attitude to the great god Odin and pray for peace and victory.
The eyes of the tribe are sharp, and the normal priest has evolved into a ritual for Rurik to communicate with his "Heavenly Father". The onlookers were always short of things to talk about. They watched the ongoing ceremony and kept whispering to each other.
The tribesmen compared the three hundred children guarding the altar to the "heroic warriors of Valhalla." Comparing the dozen young priestesses to "Valkyries". There is no doubt that Rurik, who is beheading and cutting open the belly of the reindeer sacrifice with a steel sword in his hand, is "Odin" in a certain sense. With a strong sense of ritual, the Russians are proud of their identity.
In particular, some businessmen who were watching the grand event were communicating. Although the Russians forced themselves to pay a so-called tax, it seemed that the Russian leader was not obsessed with money. The Rus people are the most god-revering beings in the entire alliance, and the pomp and ceremony they hold to hold sacrifices far exceeds that of the powerful Melalen people.
Some businessmen made their own judgments in shock - the Russians worshiped gods, so they would also be more particular about contracts.
Among the onlookers, there were also some sneaky eyes.
That was a detailed work sent by Olegin, the leader of Mälaren, disguised as a businessman. They kept the real situation of the Rus people in their minds. They also wrote down everything about the Russians' northern hunting and eastward expeditions. There are also some magical weapons, and the generosity of Chief Rus.
The most important thing is Rurik, the future leader of the Russians.
Seeing the beautiful boy cutting the deer's neck without hesitation and calmly taking out the liver, the craftsmen couldn't help but feel nervous. After all, they were just spectators, and they did not reveal themselves. They just silently recorded everything they heard and then returned to Mellaren to report to their master.
Some of the rituals of the sacrifice were carried out in an orderly manner, ending with Lumia obeying the orders of the high priest Vilia and announcing in her high and sharp voice that the sacrifice had received auspicious omens.
It is as if Rurik asked God for a blessing. In the next year, those who receive the blessing will be safe across the sea.
A large number of ships rushed to be pulled into the sea, and from May 10th, the stagnant ocean trade resumed.
Rossberg's business practices have completely recovered like the thawing sea.
People throughout the settlement took action and started their work according to the established plan.
In an orderly manner, on the third day after the sacrifice, Otto led a team of up to 700 people and took up to 30 ships to start the route to Novgorod. Among them, there are actually only three hundred real warriors. The rest are either the tribesmen of Novorosberg who decided to immigrate to the mouth of the Neva River, or the Novgorod women who returned to their natal homes with their husbands to visit relatives with their newborn children in their arms.
Otto kept his promise, and the women were grateful for the leader's integrity. With a strong sense of pride, they embraced the mixed-race children they gave birth to and set out on the blue route with some production tools that would be useful to their parents' families.
Naturally followed by a large army of merchants, among them the fleet of the great merchant Gould was the most critical.
This time, Gould's cargo included a large amount of rare goods. There are as many as 200 pieces of glassware in various forms. They are beautiful vessels and their target customers are the wealthy people of Mälaren.
In addition, there were as many as 10,000 pieces of soap. In recognition of Gould's activeness in paying taxes, Rurik deliberately lowered the price of soap. All soaps were deliberately made to weigh a Roman pound. These soaps for external sale did not contain sulfur powder, but were simply saponified seal fat. It is relatively simple to give recognition to the object, and the price Rurik gave is only one silver coin.
Of course, compared to its actual cost, Rurik still made a lot of money. In fact, he also gave Gould a big profit. The final price of this batch of soap will depend on Gould's ability. Rurik's thoughts on this matter are simple. Perhaps due to the limitations of the times, he cannot properly set a tax rate, let alone hope to organize a special team in an instant to audit businessmen's accounts and crack down on tax evasion and other behaviors. . He just thought that when Gould made enough money in the new trading season, he would lead others to extort money.
Gould, who went south, of course also shouldered many missions assigned by Rurik. The most important thing was to continue to collect those beggars or bankrupt farmers living in the dark streets of Mälaren. Rurik took it upon himself to ask this old guy to find a way to win over all the people in the tribes in the south who felt that life was too difficult to survive, and asked them to sign a contract and move to the Rus.
What is the simplest solution to the arrangements for such people? Settlements in the north, settlements in the east, where there is always a need for labor! As long as they can work and decide to follow the Ross leader, the pragmatic Ross leader and his son don't mind much about their identities.
As many as four thousand people left Fort Ross in just one day. The settlement once had a population of more than eight thousand. After a short period of extreme excitement, it quickly fell into a trough.
is not that right? Most of those who went out to work hard left, and those who stayed behind also stayed behind temporarily.
Roseburg in 830 AD is destined to become extraordinary, and it will surely enter the moment when the number of residents is the smallest in its history. It's not that the population is declining, it's simply because the Russians have spread their construction stalls too big, causing the mother city to lose its strength and temporarily degenerate into an ordinary small Nordic tribe.
Because after Otto and the fleet that followed him left, six more ships left the fjord in a very special way.
Those are six leading warships! The latest carved reliefs with lizard heads are installed on the bows of the ships. The reliefs are also dipped in blue water boiled with blue lichen, making the reliefs also blue.
Arik led his crusade, and Jevro said goodbye to his master for a while, and started a new war as Arik's general.
To be honest, Jevro didn't like Arik at all. The only reason was that this man seemed too arrogant. It's not that Arik's attitude towards others is unreasonable, on the contrary, he doesn't even object to a Finn serving as his subordinate, because he really understands that on the battlefield, as long as you are in the same camp as your buddy, he is a brother. Guard his back and he will guard yours.
Aric did not regard the Gotlanders as a strong enemy at all, which made Jevro a little worried. Fortunately, this experienced mercenary holds cutting-edge technological weapons. He trusts the crossbow developed by his master, and even more trusts his mercenary comrades who have experienced life and death.
Two hundred probably the most elite Ross warriors rushed towards Tombstone Island with their infinite desire for victory, and then to the south of the Åland Islands where the island is located, towards the unknown battlefield.
Everything seemed to have returned to calm, but the clansmen left behind felt no peace at all.
The leader's house became quiet again. Niya was somewhat looking forward to the future, but when she thought about her precious son having to lead a group of tribesmen in a very unique capacity, and the servants who spoke the same language as Rumia, , running towards the "unknown land" in the north, she thought of her two sons who died in infancy, but she realized that if Rurik could not experience such power, even if he had a noble status, he would not be able to completely convince the public.
Under the oil lamp, she sewed a snow fox fur coat for her son. Seeing her son sitting at the table in the living room of his house, Rurik was concentrating and muttering something unknown. She thought it was like a song and couldn't help but ask: "Are you ready?"
"Ah?" Rurik was stunned.
"I mean, are you ready for the expedition? You also want to select some children to follow you on the expedition. You are very bold."
Rurik did not look very excited, as if this was fate: "Of course I am ready. I know that you are very worried about me."
Niya's nose felt sore, and she wiped away her cheap tears.
At this time, the Carlotta sisters, who were busy using imported precious steel needles to sew rabbit skin gloves for themselves, came closer to the crying Niya.
"Mom, don't worry. We will take good care of Rurik. We Ostara people are not afraid of anything. We will not encounter any danger. We will build Ironburg well." Carlotta's comfort was not only useless. When it took effect, Niya cried even harder.
Her rough hands caressed Carlotta's little face. At this moment, she really regarded this little girl as her biological daughter.
In an instant, the children in the already lively house left one after another. Only Rumia, the girl who served as the priest, would stay.
Rurik even took away the ten little maids from Novgorod, and actually wanted to train them as warriors, just like the Valkyries around Odin.
Many children who were valued by his son had to participate in the operation. Niya didn't understand why his son had to select a large number of children to participate. Could it be a kind of military training?
Niya's speculation was not explained, but it was the fact that Rurik wanted to lead a group of his subordinates to train them in the name of building Iron Castle to explore the value of the mine. In a sense, this is literally "Boy Scouts' Summer Camp at Roseburg." Of course, this so-called "summer camp" must be dangerous, otherwise Rurik would not be determined to bring thirty crossbows in one breath.
Rurik kept explaining his dream, especially emphasizing that after the development of Ironburg, the Ross tribe would have a continuous supply of the highest quality iron. He even claimed: "In the future, my warriors will all wear chainmail. My warriors In any battle, at most there will only be minor injuries, and no one will ever die in battle. This is the reason why I must dig for iron ore, and it is also my promise to the Covin people who surrender to us."
"I understand!" Niya cried with joy, "There is also that girl named Saipolava."
"And Tyravis, that boy is my chosen future leader of Ironburg."
Niya was surprised: "Do you believe him so much? He is from Covin."
"No! He is my subordinate and my servant. But I am more willing to be a brother with him. I want those Kewen people, especially those Kewen children, to know that I am their most reliable leader."
Speaking of excitement, Rurik simply said: "Mom, do you know? I just made up a song."
"You...you can also make up songs?" Niya asked happily, "Did you just hum it?"
"Exactly! Now let me sing."
Rurik cleared his throat and stood up. Under the flame of the oil lamp, he sang softly in Norse.
always remembered by us,
is a great dream.
May my dear hometown be beautiful,
May Holy Rus be glorious.
Listen to the howling of the wind and snow, and watch the aurora fly.
My soul calls to me,
Run towards the turbulent distance.
Even if there are difficulties after difficulties,
Nor can we retreat.
Let us become brothers,
We are full of strength.
Listen to the howling of the wind and snow, and watch the aurora fly.
My soul calls to me,
Run towards the turbulent distance.
…
Rurik softly sang this famous song "Singing the Turbulent Youth" for which he changed some of the lyrics, but the core idea of course remained unchanged at all.
The melody of the song is beautiful and full of vitality, and there is a hint of the deep feeling of the vast Eastern Europe in it. In his opinion, perhaps only this song best corresponds to Ross's young people.
Yes, after all, this song was originally composed by descendants of Ross in history, but its intention is even greater. It calls on young people to build their own country for the great and glorious ideal.
Niya was stunned, and Carlotta and Ella had smiles on their faces. Not only are the lyrics of this song filled with hope, but the fact that it is sung by Rurik himself makes the meaning extraordinary.
"What? I can't sing well?" Rurik asked his mother deliberately.
Niya let out a long sigh of relief; "What you sang is so beautiful. No ballad is more mellow than it, and no ballad makes me happier than it. Rurik, just like your lyrics, you... Do you want to be brothers with those Kewen people?"
Rurik was caught off guard by his mother's question, and without any hesitation, he said bluntly: "Yes! The Kovin people, the deer herders, or other tribes conquered by me, as long as they surrender, they are all Rus's. I want to recruit those children as my subordinates, and I want to make them proud of being a member of the Ross tribe. And this song, I have decided that before I set off, everyone in my subordinates must be able to sing it! "
Niya's thoughts are limited to this era, and her perspective is narrower than Otto's. She even instinctively feels that her son's dream is too idealistic. After all, he was his only son, and out of doting, he had no choice but to fully accept Rurik's decision.
"I hope they can be your most loyal brothers."
Rurik responded decisively: "This time, I will lead the subjects of the Kovin people to build their new settlement. I just want to win their favor. From now on, those Kovin people will also be our warriors."
In this era of lack of entertainment, children's fighting and wrestling have become important entertainments. Nowadays, the oldest rugby sports including grabbing "leather dumplings" and archery competitions are important entertainments for children.
They have never been born purely aggressive, and they also have the pursuit of literature and art in their hearts. Boys and girls will spontaneously hum some songs, so-called folk songs.
The folk songs of the Russian people are long, and they seem to correspond to the vast land after winter. The songs are long, ethereal, and even a little cold.
Suddenly, Rurik's song "Singing the Turbulent Youth" quickly became a favorite for children to learn. Not only because the song was sung by Rurik, but also because of its wonderful conception.
Even children, they know what kind of great journey they are about to embark on, and it is just the right time for this song to appear before their departure.
It is a hymn to the young people of Russia who went on an expedition!
It is also a hymn to dreams.
The children no longer feel that their goals in life are just to become wealthy and get married. We treat each other as brothers. Our higher ideal is not just to achieve our own happiness, but to work hard to make the Ross tribe stronger.
In an instant, the rush to the north to build Fort Ironon was heightened.
The children finally ushered in their first "great career" in life.
