A soldier broke into the mansion of the leader of Mälaren, Olegin, with important news, which really interrupted Olegin's work.
Olegin, who has already put on his custom-made gold crown, is now also using a fine whetstone to carefully polish his steel sword.
This sword was imported from Fort Ross. He spent a lot of money to buy it, and this sword is indeed an artifact.
Sharpening a sword is a test of patience. He suppressed his displeasure and vowed to sharpen the sword himself until it could easily cut through cloth.
"Chief! Something happened! Those fleets..."
"You! Get back!" Olegin, who was holding his breath, drew out the sword and pointed the sword directly at the soldier. The soldier was so frightened that he hurriedly knelt down.
Olegin calmed down a little. He thought about it and immediately asked: "Coming from the north?"
"yes."
"Oh, that's the Russian people. I ordered the Russian people to make an alliance this year, and they kept the appointment. What's the fuss about this?" As he said that, Olegin shook his head and scolded: "You will all go to the battlefield, and I will lead As you defeat the Danes, why would you expect to make such a big fuss over a trivial matter?"
"But! Big boss!" The soldier immediately pointed in the direction of the lake: "A big ship, it is unprecedentedly huge. We saw that big ship sailing towards Gould Island."
"Huh?" Olegin, who had a look of contempt on his face, calmed down and asked, "Is this true?"
"Absolutely true."
"Let's go to the dock and have a look."
Of course, Olegin, who was in Lake Mälaren, was not deaf or blind. For example, when the messenger named Bernardik came back, as usual, he wanted to question this guy face to face about some news about the Russians.
Benedick revealed the news about Ross's man-made ship, purely out of admiration in his heart. He enriched the relevant information, and finally described nature to Olegin as a unique and huge existence.
"Can the existence of a big ship disgrace all the small ships? Make the sea monsters feel embarrassed? Let the Danish red dragon and lion Hafgen put himself to shame on board the ship?"
At first Olegin didn't believe it at all, but now he had to be vigilant after hearing the reports from his soldiers. After all, the soldiers under his command are not really cowards, nor will they make a fuss over trivial matters. The soldier was indeed surprised. Does this mean that the Russians really got something weird this year?
Big ship? It can't really make sea monsters feel afraid.
Olegin hurriedly led a group of men into the lakeside. He squinted his eyes and looked at the release line of Gould Island. He saw that there was indeed a huge cloth-like existence on the lake in the distance.
"Sir, that's the big ship!" the soldier pointed.
"Yes, I saw it." Origen gritted his teeth and frowned.
For a moment, he wanted to take a boat and watch it closely, but then he thought about whether doing so was inconsistent with his noble status.
Olegin turned around. His current mood was one of envy, jealousy and a sense of hatred. The Russian ship made the crown on his head no longer shine. When he thought that there was still a major deal to be done between the two parties, he simply cursed and left. .
The Aurora docked at Gould Island. She was far larger than an ordinary cargo ship and became the center of attention the moment she arrived at the port. Besides, the wealthy Gould family has returned with a large amount of goods. The local merchants of Mellaren have been waiting for a long time. They have already begun to count their currency and wait for the opportunity to buy goods.
Now Otto has become the master of the island. He is sitting in the largest building on the island. This place has become his palace. Even the noble Rurik and Carlota must condescend to this greater one. The presence.
Otto sat with his legs crossed facing the open door, with Gould and the principal members of his family on either side of him.
"Everything is fine, but the house still looks shabby."
Gould thought that Otto would immediately make a wise statement, but never thought that it was just a little emotion? "Big Chief, these houses are indeed shabby. It seems that the people I left behind did not do a good job and they deserve to be punished."
"No need." Otto twisted his waist, "This room has no floor, but it makes me a little nostalgic. Since you have people staying behind, call them together now. I want to hear the story about Merlaren, so I will send someone to inform Ole gold."
"yes!"
Gould nodded vigorously, and in a moment more than ten people hurried over.
These people are not Ross, but at least they are servants of Ross. They were half kneeling on the ground, following Gould's instructions, reporting on the winter events in Mellaren.
Rurik and Otto had the same attitude. They were listening to the news with great interest, but gradually their expressions became serious.
A rather young garrison reported cautiously: "Ordinary people of the Melalen tribe, they did not produce much food last year, and they were plundered by Olegin. The only food they had left could not survive the next harvest season. They At least enough grain has been saved, and now all the seeds have been sown and even seedlings have grown, but most people have no grain left in their homes. If the big leader pays attention to things on the lake, he will see a large number of sailboats."
"I saw them fishing."
"Yes. In normal years, there wouldn't be so many boats on the lake. Those are the people of Malaren. They have to fish if they don't want to starve, but the fish in the lake will soon become difficult to catch. And... "
"What does that have to do with us?" Otto felt sorry for the fishermen in the alliance, but he didn't really feel sorry for them.
"Are you running out of food? Probably not." Gould asked immediately.
"Thanks to the love of the master and the blessing of the chief, those of us are not hungry and can continue to serve Ross."
Otto laughed slowly: "You are a man who is very good at talking. Ordinary people are hungry, and we Russians have almost forgotten our hunger. Rurik!" Otto turned his head again: "What do you think?"
"This... only shows that Olegin is not a good leader."
"That's it?"
Obviously Otto was not satisfied with what he said. Rurik immediately added: "In fact, their hunger has something to do with us. It was us who had to buy a large amount of food that made Olegin use force to get food. We did not force him. He, he wants money, and I happen to have a lot of money."
"So... do you want to take responsibility for their terrible situation?"
"Why?" Rurik looked surprised.
Otto slowly breathed a sigh of relief: "That's good. We really don't need to intervene. If their people starve to death, it has nothing to do with us. Listen, kid, this is the territory of the Melalen people, we don't have to do anything. Pointless interference.”
This seems like a wise saying? Rurik nodded. He actually sympathized with the plight of those people. If possible, the Russians could also be good people and bring the extremely poor to areas such as New Roseburg to pioneer. I'm afraid Otto realized that this was an act of poaching.
But why did the garrison explain this matter in the first place, and is there anything else hidden behind it?
No, the garrison revealed two shocking rumors with suffocating tension.
"Olegin, that man is no longer satisfied with being the leader of the alliance. He has created a crown for himself. He wants to imitate the legendary Franks and become a king."
"King?" Otto immediately interrupted and gave a look of contempt, "It's really boring. Does he like to decorate himself with some strange titles? Why doesn't he call himself Augustus?"
The words coming out of Otto's mouth were so funny. Rurik thought about it. This old guy had also read the "Black Book" and learned a lot about Rome's past from Viglia. He understood Meaning of "Augustus".
Rurik followed the atmosphere and immediately slapped his thin chest: "If this is the case, I will call myself Augustus. Dad, you know that this title is higher than the king."
"You? Forget it." Otto's big hand covered his son's Tianling Cap: "This is the territory of the Melalen people. Even if we all despise them, we should not oppose them early. Put it away before you are twenty years old. Your ambition."
However, when Otto heard that the guy had used a new title, the golden crown, jealousy naturally arose, and he ordered the garrison to continue talking, especially to make the frightening rumor clear.
"It's a war! Many people are saying that Olegin needs a war to clear his name for his own status."
"Huh?! He is still thinking about war? Against whom?" Otto was a little unconvinced, "Freshwater fish still want to enter the sea? Do they dare?"
"But, this is what the legend is all about."
"Hey! Do you have any evidence?"
Otto showed that sharp look, which was a kind of coercion from a force, implying that he had killed countless enemies and was a true warrior.
The garrisoners were all startled, but they actually had some evidence: "We found that all the men in Malaren were preparing weapons, making smoked fish, and going into the dense forest to hunt. The blacksmiths in Malaren were very busy during these days, and they also Some merchants came to the island and asked if the returning fleet carried iron weapons ready for sale."
Things became complicated and serious, and now Otto took it seriously almost out of instinct.
"Is there any further information?"
"Yes. They are the Gran people. They sell their inferior axes in large quantities at the market. The price has also risen sharply. Many men are still competing to buy them."
How can Gould sit still when it comes to money? "Their ironware? How much does it cost?"
"Yes. The cheapest ax costs ten silver coins."
"Isn't this right!" Rurik simply stood up, "Are they worthy? Last year their axes seemed to only cost two silver coins. Is their waste going to challenge the value of our steel?"
The defenders gritted their teeth and insisted that their words were absolutely true.
Rurik sat down calmly, crossing his legs and muttering in his heart.
Currently, based on this information, those rumors are obviously not rumors. The Mellaren people are actively preparing for war, and Olegin is secretly conducting military mobilization. As for their enemies, the mainstream legend is that they are targeting the Gotlanders.
But there are also very radical opinions. The leader of the garrison said cautiously: "Big leader, what I am telling you below is just a legend. It is not reliable."
Otto was a little fed up with this guy's sudden nervousness: "Tell me! Hurry!"
"Yes...it's a Dane. Olegin wants to claim the throne and then attack the Danes to make him worthy of his new title."
"He actually..." Otto felt a chill in his back, "If this is true... No! Why? Is he going to start a full-scale war?"
Rurik's face was solemn, and he felt that his feet were extremely cold, as if they were soaked in ice cubes. Because the Baltic War has never ended, when it comes to provoking wars, the Russians can be said to be veterans of the opposite. Unexpectedly, Otto was so nervous. Rurik had to think that if the war turned into a "coalition crusade" for the entire alliance, a full-scale war would really break out.
But this war is not what the Russians want at this time.
war! The Russians sometimes need it, most of the time they don't. But war is not something that can be easily controlled by the Russians.
Otto raised his head and recalled what happened when he met the messenger before. The messenger did not disclose any war information. The only thing that person disclosed was about attending the meeting and the promise that the Russians should fulfill.
etc! promise!
Otto's eyes widened, as if he were about to burst out of a bird's nest: "We shipped more than a thousand axes and spearheads, and that Olegin was the seller! Why the hell are you so stupid?! That guy is preparing for war. !”
Otto's words woke up the dreamer, Rurik really didn't expect this. It is normal for a tribe with a large population to have enough weapons to equip an army of thousands of people, so they also need more weapons. Is it possible that after purchasing Origen, the next step is to start a war?
That man wouldn't be so anxious! still……
Rurik quickly took his father's hand: "Dad, I suspect that guy, his alliance mainly announced this, a war against the Danes."
"Probably!"
"However, this war is what none of us want. We discussed it last year. The Russians will not take the initiative this year. We must build with peace of mind. If possible, we can avoid this untimely war, because we Russians The strength is not too strong. I am not worried about anything. By next year, I dare say that we will only have three large ships, or more large ships. By then, our maritime power will no longer be afraid of any enemy."
The son talked a lot, and Otto actually understood everything. "Unfortunately, if that man chooses war, we must fulfill our alliance obligations. Unless, we..." Otto said harshly: "Unless we withdraw from the alliance. We cannot do this."
"That won't work! I still have to do business with them. If we really quit and we have no business to do, they might even attack us."
"Yes, if there is really going to be a war, even if you and I are unwilling to do so, we must send troops to fight. Even...I will lead the troops to fight in person according to tradition."
Otto's words were not sonorous and powerful, but Rurik could really hear the helplessness and regret in them.
"Dad, our elites were all taken to Novgorod and Novorosberg by our cousin. Many people in our hometown are busy with production. Do we have any elite soldiers to participate in the war?"
"Even so, we must join the battle after the order is issued. Rurik, do you... have any opinions?"
"Me? What can I do?" Rurik shrugged, "I'm not afraid of war, but it comes at an inopportune time. We can't organize elites, and I don't want any Rus, even Rus' servants, to be injured in the battle. "
"How is it possible to fight without getting hurt?" Otto said with a bitter smile.
"How is it impossible?"
"Then tell me?"
Rurik was struck by the provocation method. He stood up, stood directly in front of Otto, and said with a proud posture: "All the mercenaries under my command dare to fight. Are they not authorized by you to have the identity of Russians?" Are you there? They are the new Ross warriors, and taking them out to fight is to fulfill the alliance's obligations. I can send out as many as fifty people, and I can also summon some Corvin people from Ironburg. Even a group of children under my command, they should also Experience what fighting is.”
Otto nodded: "Then I will gather some more warriors, for example, from Tombstone Island. We can gather a team of three hundred people. I think this is enough. Listen, Rurik, I don't want to give Otto a Legin showed the fact that we are strong. So this team doesn't have to be big."
"Hey, I'm afraid they don't believe it. Dad, the big ship stands in the port, and the Avora is proof of its strength. Who would believe a giant's show of weakness, but I really don't want any loss, I don't even I hope our soldiers will be on the front line in person."
"Oh? How do you want to do it? In my opinion, it is too difficult to do."
"We use crossbows, bows, and spears. We just don't have direct contact with the enemy and use long-range weapons to kill the enemy. Even if the world calls us cowards. Haha, a corpse shot by a crossbow will not open its mouth to curse."
It is true that Otto also felt that his son's decision was an act of Novus, but considering that in the event of a war, none of the people participating in the war were elites, and they did not have high demands on themselves. There is no point in being a "coward" in other people's words. ? It doesn't matter!
No, those rumors reached the mouths of the people who had just landed on the island, and they all became true.
The focus of Otto and Rurik's discussion became entirely how to deal with the possible war against Denmark. It seemed that the legend of Origen becoming king was no longer important.
