The temperatures in Roseburg were no longer aggressive, and even by midday one could bask in the sunshine's noticeable warmth.
March is here, and the ice sea has no tendency to thaw yet, but everyone believes that changes are taking place invisible to the naked eye.
Until now, Roseburg's supply of supplies has been very stable. Especially the wheat in stock, they are released regularly, which basically ensures that wealthy residents will not occupy too much, and the wheat benefits most people.
What other major events happened in Roseburg during the more than three months of Rurik's absence?
In fact, there were no major events. Days passed day by day. Like previous winters, the vast majority of residents trapped in the fjord stayed at home. However, there is a group of hard-working people who are not afraid of the severe cold and work as production workers.
They went to build a camp on the ice far away from the fjord, and painstakingly used iron pestles to cut through the ice to lure the seals that were in desperate need of breathing holes to surface, waiting for the opportunity to kill them with harpoons. They even used the holes dug in the ice to lower their hooks and often caught some cod. After all, cod in winter are also hungry.
Just like in previous years, the seal leather was sold to merchants, the oil was sold to priests, and the seal meat and edible offal were shared among the tribesmen. In the past four months, more than 3,000 seals have been hunted, and the scope of Ross's ice hunters has further expanded.
That is to say, when Rurik built the soap industry, the great economic benefits brought unprecedented demand for oil and fat. How could the masters of seal hunting let go of this opportunity to make money? Besides, Ross residents can no longer live without soap, and they can no longer stand the greasy, smelly, and dirty conditions all over their bodies. The domestic price of soap is still the same, but now due to the huge inflow of silver coins, most Russians no longer think of soap as a rarity. As long as you catch a seal, sell the leather to a merchant, and exchange it with silver coins, you can get two pieces of sulfur soap (economical soap has been stable at one silver coin for a long time).
Most of the boys and girls in Ross were given leave. As long as there was no request from Rurik, they would not have any training in the winter, and naturally they would not receive any food rewards. There is no need to worry about children going hungry.
They have already developed the skills of fighting, logging and even archery in the warm season. Although they are young, most of them already have the ability to hunt small animals to support themselves. What's more, their parents usually stocked up enough smoked fish to last a whole winter, and even piled a wall of frozen herring at the base of the wooden house. Oh, among the army of seal hunters, there were also a group of boys carrying steel-tipped harpoons.
Only those orphans who served completely for Rurik and were collected by various means were qualified to be nourished by Rurik's food. These boys and girls are not freeloaders. People like Carlotta, Fisk, Kanuf and others have become veritable "Kids of Children". When Rurik himself is not around, the orphans must obey the demands of these people. Either cutting wood, working as a helper in the blacksmith shop, or simply participating in the hard work of boiling grease to make soap.
They have strong perseverance and a grateful heart, and they are eager to grow up and become warriors as soon as possible so that they can better serve their masters. Realistically speaking, after becoming warriors, they have the right to collect trophies for themselves on the battlefield.
It's just that they don't know that the benefits they will bring from the labor they put in during the winter far exceed the wheat they eat.
Rurik returned, bringing with him a large quantity of shipbuilding timber.
Roseburg in the ice and snow was filled with boredom. The hunting team returned with a large amount of supplies, causing a sensation in Roseburg.
The chief father and his son came to the sacred longhouse of the priests as usual.
Many of the buildings were torn down and replaced with wood-cut ridges with wooden floors and fireplace chimneys. The chief priest's house is an old house, and it is still strong after all these years. There seems to be no need to demolish it and rebuild it.
The high priest Vilia, her withered mouth almost lost all her teeth.
By coincidence, Rurik was eating a grilled fish in Ironburg, and one of his front teeth finally reached the critical point of falling out. Another baby tooth fell out, and Rurik's body completely entered the stage of comprehensive tooth replacement. No, he has also grown a lot taller.
It seems that Vilia can leave in her sleep any night. She has been prepared for it for a long time, but she has persisted until now.
"You...are finally back."
"Yes." Otto, who was sitting cross-legged casually, had a smile on his face. "Great priest, you are still healthy."
"I...I am too old, but I have actually persisted until now."
While Vilia was speaking, Lumia, who was wearing plain clothes, with her long hair loose and a rope ring on her head, was sitting upright.
Next to the high priest sat two girls, Rumia and Lumi. Their names had exactly the same meaning, and they even had the same ethnicity.
She admired both girls, especially their personalities. The dead Bona was killed because she was greedy for money and power and forgot her duty, but these two girls are different. Vilia has seen too much, and she cannot sense the ambition of the two children. They just quietly do their work as priests and submit to their leader.
"Big leader." Vilia said softly and hoarsely: "With the blessing of God, I think I have completely completed the mission for the rest of my life. Rumia has learned everything about me, and she...is already qualified to be independent. To hold a sacrifice...she is the one I can recognize as the true successor to the High Priest."
"High Priest?! You!" Otto couldn't laugh anymore. He heard the danger in these words. Because Villa's official resignation will probably shock the entire Roseburg! Because since the birth of countless people, Vilia has been the only high priest, and it is difficult for everyone to imagine what the era would be like without her. At least Otto now has a bit of fear
Rurik, why can’t he understand?
The old woman in front of me must be seventy-five years old. In the current Nordic world, this can be called a miracle for mankind.
"Should she be aware that her end is approaching? Yes! That must be the case. A dying person can predict his own end." Rurik was really sad and lamented this woman's life.
The life of Vilia, the high priest who was one of the first immigrants of the Rus tribe to their present location, represents the Rus' past.
The Russians have a new beginning. Rurik dares to conclude that history will eventually judge the Russians. Everything has been different since 828 AD.
Otto continued to comfort her, like a son comforting his old mother.
Oh, in many senses Otto regarded Vilia as his mother.
"High Priest, don't have strange thoughts. You will live a long life. God will always take care of you, and you will always protect Ross."
Vilia's dry mouth forced a smile, which was completely different from the two girls sitting next to her who had tense and nervous expressions.
"Don't be stupid...my child. I have predicted my end, my dear, don't grieve for me when I leave. I will go to Valhalla and advance to the Valkyrie. Otto, sooner or later one day , maybe I will lead your soul to Valhalla. I hope you still remember my appearance when I was young."
"Hey, how could I forget." Otto laughed out loud, with a smile that was both bitter and gratifying.
Villa was also a beautiful woman when she was young. When Otto remembered, Villa was already thirty years old. She still maintained her beauty, but she could not let go of the pain of losing her son, so she devoted all her efforts to serving God.
In fact, they have the mentality of "become a nun".
Villa coughed twice and tapped the wooden stick again: "Well, you'd better tell me what you and your son encountered in the north. Tell me something new about this old man."
Aging has severely limited Vilia's mobility, and her legs and feet have become even more immobile. Recently, she can only be carried around in a sedan chair made by lower-level priests. She almost stayed away from the longhouse of the priests all day long, taking naps on weekdays. When she woke up, she saw the exquisite glassware placed on her pillow, and even the porridge that was boiled to pulp in the glass bowl during meals. When she sees things and thinks about emotions, the first thing she thinks of is Rurik!
The dramatic changes in Roseburg were due to Otto's contribution and even more to Rurik's contribution.
She stayed in the longhouse and relied on the people around her, especially Rumia, to inform her about the outside world.
For example, Rurik is hiring the best shipbuilders to build the largest ships ever built.
Otto wanted to share the good news that he had led his troops to hunt for a huge amount of leather in the brand new Eastern Forest.
Vilia didn't seem to take it seriously. She just wanted to know what Rurik had done.
No, Rurik told the dying high priest bluntly about the ship materials and masts.
The boring life brings motivation. Vilia originally thought that after teaching Rumia everything about being a high priest, she could quietly wait for death. Now she has new hope.
"That Avora, you call the ship a woman? You are such a clever little guy. Rurik, when will your ship be finished?"
"Just this year! Just when the sea thaws." Rurik knew that her time was really running out, and these words were loud and clear.
"That's a really good thing."
On the surface, Vilia's expression didn't fluctuate much, but in fact, she was very excited inside. She consciously cannot be angry or ecstatic, and she cannot tolerate any violent mood swings or violent activities, otherwise her body will be like a broken ship, which can capsize at any time.
"April! It's April! When the sea thaws, it's time for my big ship to be launched. Now the mast materials are ready, it must have been four months, and the hull is basically completed. When the new trading season begins, my ship Just go to Mälaren, go to New Rossburg in the east, and promote the power of our Ross people.”
Rurik's words meant that he would not leave any escape route for himself. He felt more and more that Vilya was holding his breath, eager to witness a great existence before leaving peacefully.
So, where is the construction of the Aurora?
The returning people made the already prosperous leather trading market even more prosperous. Those leather merchants were urgently processing the various leathers they bought, and there were also leather factories like Vodgen's, where his men were seizing the time to make ready-made garments. As long as a slave is given food, it is a great kindness. That's what Fodegen did. He forced his men to work hard, and the efficiency of the labor they squeezed out was incredible. He has been selling his own clothes and hoarding goods desperately, hoping to make a lot of money in Melalen.
After returning, Rurik quickly went back to his home to rest. He soaked his whole body in the barrel and took a good bath.
Otto pursued a more comfortable experience. After wiping off the soap bubbles all over his body with warm water, he got into the Finnish steam room and gave himself a sauna to eliminate all the fatigue of traveling. He washed himself clean so that Niya could let his wife get close to him.
Dirtyness does not belong in Roseburg, because as long as conditions permit, everyone hopes to stay clean and fresh. Soap is the key to a comfortable and refreshing feeling, which naturally and objectively contributes to the overall health of Russian people.
It is very obvious that all the deaths in Roseburg this winter were elderly, and the miraculously premature death rate of newborns was zero.
Everyone has never imagined that this is the power of soap. If there is a truth, everyone subconsciously believes that this is a new round of favor from Odin to the Russian people.
The day after Rurik returned, Rurik took several mercenaries and headed straight to the huge shipbuilding workshop in Hotra with a free attitude.
Before them, the sleds carrying large amounts of wood had blocked the door of the workshop, making it difficult for people to enter and exit.
The trouble is just going in and out. The shipbuilders in the workshop really want the ship materials to come to them by themselves. It is best to block the door so that they don't have to carry a big ax and go far away to select the ship. Talented.
When Rurik came this time, he was not only anxious, but also had a clear purpose.
He wanted to discuss something with Hotla, and the other party had no right to refuse. He didn’t come empty-handed either. The hacksaw made in Ellenburg in his hand would bring new innovations to the shipbuilding industry.
"There is a clanging sound inside, they started working early in the morning." The casual Yevro said casually.
"Maybe they worked all night. Let's go in and take a look."
It was still cold in the morning, and Rurik didn't want to continue wandering in the snow outside, and wanted to break into the shipbuilding workshop directly.
However, Yevluo and others raised their heads one after another. Not to mention the huge wooden house, not only was it astonishing in length, but the space inside must also be huge.
It is actually a large factory building. The big difference from the steel factories that can be quickly built thousands of years later is that this factory building is purely wooden. However, it also uses a pine frame structure. After stacking a large number of logs, the factory is completed.
Rurik's visit was not unexpected at all. Hotla and other busy craftsmen had already made preparations.
There are a large number of oil lamps lit inside the factory. The seal oil lamps provide key lighting and keep the entire factory warm. Rurik hurriedly ordered his men to close the small wooden door, and then subconsciously looked at the closed large wooden door.
He turned his head, and the sight in front of him instantly made all words redundant.
It was a large hull, significantly larger than long ships and cargo ships.
The keel of the big ship is obviously lying on a large number of pine sleepers. A large number of ribs are built around the keel. The planks attached to the ribs are layered one on top of another. It seems that the entire hull is basically completed! This was beyond Rurik's expectation.
At this moment, Hotela, standing on the bow of the ship, was holding a hammer in his hand. He enthusiastically shouted to the people below: "It's the distinguished Lord Rurik, you are finally back."
Rurik raised his head and looked at it from the current angle. He felt that the bow of the ship was four meters high. In fact, it was indeed more than four stikas away from the keel.
Standing here, Rurik looked at the towering bow of the ship and sighed, "Ah! I am such an insignificant existence. But I am the one who can control this ship."
