Go to the South, of course go to the South!
Rurik completely regarded himself as a big leader with weighty words. Now a major opportunity related to the future development of the Rus' people was placed in front of him. If he could not seize it, it would greatly damage the interests of the tribe.
Niya in the inner room heard all this and hurried out of the room.
"Rurik, you are going to Mälaren?!"
"yes."
"That's too dangerous. I know you want to do a business, but you..."
"Are you worried about me?" Rurik asked knowingly.
"Yes." Niya's eyes widened: "I heard your conversation. Your father is still in Novgorod. Since Olegin requires an answer from the leader, perhaps Harold Zosen will represent you at this time. …”
"No! I have made up my mind. The money is mine, buying food is also my business, and selling iron is even more my business. He, Harold Zuosen, was just a war chief appointed by his father to guard his hometown. He has been addicted to women for a year , His words can have weight.”
Niya was taken aback and couldn't help but sigh at how beautiful her son's city was.
She figured that she could not and had no reason to stop her son. After all, the son had no control over his mother.
At this moment, Snoreva hurriedly promised: "Dear Madam, if Rurik goes to the south, my family will always protect his safety."
"You?" Niya looked at the fat Snoreva's narrowed eyes: "Let's forget it. My son must be protected by excellent soldiers when he goes to the south. Trust you? I trust my nephew more."
Niya immediately made her attitude clear. Of course Rurik can go to the south. As a mother, he needs excellent soldiers to protect his safety. She knocked on the floor: "I know you are in a hurry. When do you plan to return?"
"Probably tomorrow," Snoleva said
"So fast?" Rurik was a little surprised when he heard Snoleva's words.
Niya suppressed the surprise in her heart, "Then call Harozhosen and Arik over quickly. Rurik, you need to inform Harozhosen, Arik and Jevro, whom you trust, of this matter. I only trust these people." Two people can keep you safe.”
In a moment, the people who were supposed to come hurriedly ran away like the leader's house.
Haro Zuosen was panting: "Rurik, you actually want to go to the south. Even if it is a big business, maybe the big leader should take you there, just like in the past operations."
Rurik's expression remained unchanged: "I have made up my mind, and no one can stop me."
"Yes, of course I can't stop you, but if the big leader comes back, what should I tell him?"
"Are you afraid that he will punish you?" Rurik asked deliberately.
"Of course! To be honest, he ordered me to protect you."
"Oh, that's a lot of work for you. But I'm not young anymore, and I have to do something. Now the leader of Melalen has asked us Russians to send people to the meeting. If I don't go, how can you go? ?”
Rurik completely defeated Haro Zuosen's army, but Haro Zousin was really self-aware. His task was only to guard his hometown. If something happened, he would handle it. That was all.
Harozolson does not have the authority to handle tribal affairs, and his power is not even as good as that of the high priest.
Arik raised his voice and said, "Going to Mälaren? It's interesting. Brother, there's nothing to be afraid of. There are many people in Mälaren, but most of them are cowards. Harrow Zuosen is afraid of them, but I'm not afraid."
"You...sigh." Haro Zuosen was a little angry. He lowered his head, "Aric, you still have to be careful about them. I am older than you and naturally know more. The big leader has not gone south for so many years. No one knows The attitude of the people of Mälaren.”
"Even so, I'm not afraid. I can easily kill ten enemies. Give me a hundred people and I'll dare to attack the Danes!"
Arik's bold words were very encouraging, but Rurik heard a hint of danger from Harozolson's mouth.
Hongmen Banquet? Not that much. Are the people of Mellaren so full that they attack their allies? I am afraid that the leaders of the two tribes have not been in contact for a long time, and it is not unreasonable for the two sides to be wary of each other because of the unfamiliarity.
Thinking of this, Rurik felt that he needed to bring a large guard there, which should be led by two generals, Arik and Jevro.
Since the leader of Melalen intends to do business, he essentially desires to exchange food for arms, so let's exchange it.
Since ancient times, arms trading has been a real huge profit. After all, it is a tool for a group to ensure its own security. It is worth spending a lot of money to own it.
This allowed ordnance makers to make huge profits.
What made Rurik happy was that despite the cold climate, a large amount of onions from the south were shipped back.
They were all purchased by the Gould family. The arrival of the onions was a real help to the Ross people, which made people feel that the situation in agriculture this year was not serious. It even has an additional significance, that is, it makes the tribe think that the situation this year will not be too bad. The Gould family's ship has brought the first batch of agricultural products from the south. Presumably there will be a large number of fleets coming in the future. on the way.
The situation was urgent, and Rurik estimated that he would have to rush on the sea for two to three days to reach Mälaren. If he sailed day and night, he could arrive in two days.
Rurik organized fifty people, including veteran warriors selected by Arik and his own Jingruo mercenaries. These people all have two characteristics in common. First, they have killed many enemies. Second, they are well-equipped. Each of them has chain mail, steel swords, steel axes, and even deerskin wood hardened with pine gum. shield.
Of course, Rurik did not leave empty-handed. A large amount of leather he caught during the summer was shipped to Fort Ross, most of which had been tanned, including precious bear skins.
Of course, there is also money to buy large quantities of agricultural products. As the person in control of the "big money box", he easily withdrew as much as 500 Roman pounds of silver coins from the longhouse of the priests. It weighed nearly 200 kilograms. Undoubtedly, these were the payment for the purchase of grain.
A huge amount of wheat and vegetables will be shipped back from this trip. Rurik is fortunate that his cousin has captured a large number of fishing boats, and now they must also serve as transport ships.
The next morning, after a night's rest, Rurik and his people hurried to the dock of Gould's house.
A large number of people were already on board the ships, and as many as thirty ships were waiting to set sail.
Rurik and Carlotta stood on the trestle in costumes, facing Niya, Harozolson, and other farewells.
"Well, it's business after all, and it's for our tribe. You two should be careful when you go to the south."
Thousands of words can't describe a mother's worries about her children. Now, Niya is also worried about her adopted daughter Carlotta.
"Don't worry anymore, mother, I will take care of things. When we return, we will bring enough wheat for us to eat for a year." Rurik encouraged.
"Oh I hope so. Carlotta is going too, maybe she doesn't have to go."
"I have to go." Carlotta said, "Mom, I am the leader of the Ostara tribe after all. They think that my tribe is finished. I am going to tell the leader this time that there are other tribes, Ostara There is no death, we are reborn under the protection of the Russians."
Niya's nose felt sore, and when there was a gust of cold wind, she covered her mouth and said no more.
As for Harozolson, he had nothing to say. When Rurik stepped on the plank and boarded the ship, he waved his hands vigorously: "I will continue to guard, and I will tell the big leader everything."
The strong north wind fiercely blew the solid sails made of linen and wool. A mighty fleet left the Roseburg Fjord. The bow of the ship rode the waves. The fleet sailed at high speed, and even many people on the ship Fear arises in people's hearts.
Rurik was wrapped in a sheepskin blanket to protect himself from the cold wind from the north, his eyes always looking ahead.
After all, this was his first time heading south. He had no experience to speak of, and his knowledge of the Melalen tribe was limited to hearsay.
Compared to standard warships, Rurik still prefers sturdy transport ships. It is wide and tough. The mortise and tenon structure and the sun-dried oak ensure the overall solidity. The large amount of rosin is used to seal all the gaps. Big waves cannot destroy it.
But the fly in the ointment is that all the transport ships still do not have class A installed. They just have some wooden boards across them to artificially separate the cargo from the place where people stand. This is already an innovation.
Yes, its speed is still not as fast as a warship, but it relies entirely on wind power and requires fewer people to operate it. In terms of cost performance, it is very high.
The whole day's sailing didn't end with nightfall.
The wind weakened at night. In order to avoid getting lost, the fleet deliberately stayed close to the coastline. The sailors who kept watch and controlled the sails looked at the hazy scene in the west and used the stars to navigate. The fleet continued to move forward.
A new day has arrived, and no one knows how far the fleet has fallen to the ground in the past night. Fortunately, the entire team is in full order.
Rurik slept all night wrapped in a sheepskin. When he woke up, he nudged the sleeping Carlotta next to him.
"Ah, are we there yet?" The girl rubbed her eyes vigorously. She took off the sheepskin she was covering with, and when a chill hit her, she put the sheepskin back on.
"Be careful, don't get sick." Rurik said, wrapped in sheepskin.
The cold hit hard, and Carlotta's sleepy eyes disappeared. She stood up wrapped in sheepskin, ignoring her hungry belly, and looked at the foggy south with her big eyes.
She asked casually: "How much longer do we have to sail?"
Snoleva, who had already woken up and was gnawing on a dried fish, said casually: "Maybe tonight, anyway, we are almost there."
"Can't we hurry up?" Rurik urged impatiently, "This damn ship is really big but it can't keep out the cold. I have to get sick if I stay here for a long time."
Snoleva shrugged: "My lord, our voyages are all like this."
"How can you tolerate this?"
"if not?"
"Ah, it's really magical." Rurik patted his head vigorously: "By the way, what I have arranged for you is to invite the shipbuilders from Mellaren to Ross."
"I'm already doing it. As for how many people I've convinced, we'll only know when the fleet returns."
"Well, I hope good shipbuilders come and they can build me a cargo ship that can carry the cabin."
Snoleva didn't pay attention to Rurik's mumbling at all, but here in Rurik, the plan had already been set, and what he needed was a shipbuilder who could build cargo ships on a large scale. Therefore, when going south this time, whether by kidnapping or buying them with a lot of money, we must win over several shipbuilders to go to Fort Ross.
The sea fog has dissipated, but the north wind is still howling. Although the sun is shining high, the weather can never return to its former warmth.
There are more and more fishing boats in the sea, some of them are Ross fishing boats that go far away to catch herring and whale, and more of them are boats of the Melalen and Uppsala people.
Snoleva, who was standing on the bow of the pilot boat, saw that the time was right and suddenly shouted: "Hang the signal flag, all ships follow us and prepare to turn!"
Lying drowsily in the cabin, Rurik was fed up with the ups and downs. He was very grateful that he had the physique of a maritime nation and had no signs of seasickness.
He and Carlotta got up, and the mercenary warriors also sat upright. I saw all the ships turning under the control of the sailors of the Gould family. The fleet began to shuttle between a large number of green offshore islands, and finally plunged into a large fjord with its eyes on it.
On some islands, low thatched mud houses appeared, as well as small fishing boats operated by only two or three people wandering around, and even people fishing in simple clothes appeared on the shore.
They looked at the transport fleet that suddenly broke in, and stood up one after another to pay attention.
"Hey! Snoleva, what are these Malaren people looking at?"
"Of course he's watching us."
"Look at us? What do we have to see?" Rurik asked in confusion.
"Because we are Rus! Sir, there is no fleet from the north as large as ours."
Large scale? It’s just thirty ships.
Rurik said no more. He stood beside the boat and tried to reach out to touch the water, but his arm was too far from the waterline.
This is the case with cargo ships, which have a large hull and deep draft.
Rurik paid attention to the surrounding scene. To the west was a wide stretch of water, with islands of various sizes on both sides of the ship, and a large number of residential buildings scattered here and there.
At this time, a sailor threw down the wooden bucket tied with a rope, and then picked up the bucket filled with water.
Just after the sail was tilted and the rudder at the tail was adjusted and lowered, the sturdy ship turned and the sailors were sweating profusely.
Rurik was surprised to see the shirtless sailor, who was not afraid of the cold, actually holding a huge bucket and drinking water directly.
"Hey! Are you stupid? You actually drink sea water!"
The sailor couldn't help but burst into laughter when he saw Rurik talking, but he continued to drink the water.
Just when Rurik was confused, Snoleva stood up to explain: "Sir, actually from the time we entered the island group, the water body we were in was Lake Malaren. All they drank was fresh water."
"Ah?" Rurik pointed directly under the boat, "Have we entered the big lake?"
"Exactly."
"Tell me when we will arrive."
Snoleva was stunned for a moment and responded hurriedly: "Tonight at the earliest, if you don't want to spend another night on the lake."
"Let's go! I want to arrive at your island tonight. Listen, this is an order."
The vast Lake Mälaren is more like the sea. There are many small islands on the lake. A large number of Mälaren fishing boats catch freshwater fish. There are a lot of green fields on the lakeside, which are undoubtedly wheat fields.
It was already evening, and Rurik's energy was being consumed by the long voyage.
The thin lake fog rose again, and the setting sun softly illuminated the whole world like a fairyland.
People living by the lake call this scene "Melaren" and imagine the existence of the goddess Melalen, who is the goddess who bestows abundant water production and farmland irrigation on the lakeside residents.
Such myths are full of people's hopes for a stable life.
However, the agriculture of the Mellaren people is really dependent on the summer sunshine. There were more people fishing on the lake than in previous years, and Rurik saw a large number of boats as the fleet continued deeper.
"We have reached the hinterland of the lake?" Rurik asked.
"We'll be there soon. Oh, thanks to the damn north wind, our speed is really fast." It was also the first time that Snoleva completed the route from Rossburg to Mälarenberg in just two days. . He had to lament that if his father's orders hadn't been so urgent, he wouldn't have worked so hard.
Rurik didn't think this was a great feat, just like when he saw the astonishing number of Mellaren fishing boats, he took it for granted that they were indeed a powerful tribe qualified to be the leader of the alliance.
In fact, the real situation is that this year's wheat harvest is destined to fail, and the desperate farmers have to return to their old profession of fishermen. Tens of thousands of people rush to the vast lakes to catch fish and stockpile them to prevent starvation.
After all, most of them are tenant farmers working for the leader Olegin. The more bad the harvest is, the less hope they have in Olegin's kindness.
Because Olegin is a man of principles after all, and the agreed rent will not be affected by natural disasters.
The sky was already very dark, and a large number of gray shadows appeared in the distance, looming in the last glow.
Rurik was already very sleepy, but Carlotta couldn't care less. She curled up and took a nap like a golden cat.
"That's the Mälaren Market, and all the shadows are their houses." Snoleva guided.
Rurik looked at it and couldn't help but be shocked by the hugeness of Melalenburg. Think about it, they are located on the lakeside plains and can cultivate and build unscrupulously, unlike Fort Ross, which is restricted by mountains and rocks.
"Where is Gould's Island?"
"It's right there!" Snoleva skillfully pointed to the dim firelight of a raptor. "Even if it's dark, I won't mistake the direction. Sir, we have arrived at our destination, and the fleet is advancing. "
"Then hurry up. I hope Gould will roast a lamb for me and my warriors as usual."
Snoleva replied sincerely: "Don't worry, my father will entertain everyone. Including the sailors who control the sails and rudders."
