The various leaders left Olegin's mansion. Before they entered the wooden wall, they were all tribal chiefs. When they stood on the land outdoors again, they all became dukes.
Whether they realize the nobility of this title or not, they at least realize that everything has become different.
The already restless market in Mälaren became even more lively, especially Duke Oak of Glen, who made and sold ironware. He became the target of inquiries from various "peers" because his tribe has been smelting iron on a large scale. .
Some dukes also tried to get high-quality ironware from the Russians, and the inquirers were also noble dukes. Since Olegin said that everyone is a noble, it is natural to need a gorgeous sword or ax, preferably with gold rim, to be worthy of this dignity.
Otto originally wanted to personally agree to these special orders, but Rurik refused.
Why give up when you have the opportunity to make a lot of money? What's going on in this kid's mind?
Before the expedition, the Avora docked at the dock of Mälarenberg. She has become a symbol. People who don't know the inside story must take it for granted that this is Origen's latest treasure.
Otto, Rurik and even Carlotta took a small boat back to Gould Island. Only the Avora and more than 20 Rus warriors remained on the boat. It is not appropriate to simply place the ship here and let the soldiers take care of it.
It was Gould's thoughtful plan that directly used the dock where the Aurora was located as a loading point for supplies between the island and the land. Therefore, in the days to come, there will be Russian ships passing by the Avora every day.
That night, Gould's Island.
The atmosphere on the island is far from joyful. On the other side, Origen has become king. The orders issued by King Origen to prepare for war do not make the people on the island who are fully mentally prepared think there is anything wrong. If we talk about preparations for war, They started following the orders of the leader, the Duke of Ross, two days ago.
The Ross soldiers and mercenaries continued their daily patrols for the time being. It was the end of another day, and Gould's men were also stepping up their efforts to count the silver coins earned today.
Only in the largest wooden house, all the people, including the mercenaries, and even the most central one, Yevluo, had to temporarily avoid it.
A very low square table stood on the gravel floor in the house, with an oil lamp placed on the table.
The huge room was extremely dark, and the whole scene seemed like a black meeting.
It was indeed a secret meeting concerning the future war in which the Russians would be involved.
This small meeting was suggested by Rurik. After leaving Origen's mansion, he really had some latest plans that needed to be implemented urgently. He thought in his mind that there was probably enough time.
Otto was actually still brooding over his son's refusal of the order. He suppressed his displeasure and urged: "Okay, if you have anything to say, hurry up. There will be a big sacrifice tomorrow morning. Before the morning mist steams, we will We have to arrive at Melalenburg and stand near the lakeside altar."
"Yes, I know everything. Dad, what are you angry about?"
"I... didn't."
"Okay." Rurik paused, because his next plan was really shocking.
He said seriously: "I have a huge question. Could it be that Olegin said that we can only send two hundred soldiers, and we are just limited to this? We can definitely bring more soldiers, such as three hundred or five hundred , we can bring a thousand people with us.”
"Huh?" In the dim light, a figure as huge as a mountain suddenly spoke up: "What did you say? The agreement is for two hundred people. If it is increased... But if you really do this, the hidden strength of your plan, Wouldn’t it be exposed? My little baby, as your father, I welcome organizing an expedition with thousands of warriors. You know, your people always like war."
Rurik shook his head vigorously: "No. I mean, of course we can send many people. The contract we signed with Olegin is to send two hundred Russian warriors. Please note, they are warriors! But our Russian people , there was never just one Roseburg.”
In an instant, Otto, Gould, and even Carlotta, who was about to turn eleven, all noticed that there was a subtle word game in this.
"I decided to send some children on board. Who would think that they are Ross warriors? They are just sailors on the ship, non-combatants. Although they are children, they can still control crossbows, and the arrows they fire are no worse than adults. They There is no need to fight head-on, they are very good warriors in naval battles.”
Rurik had described this before, and Otto recognized this theory: "Okay, are you planning to bring all your men here? Have you changed your mind?"
"No!" Rurik shook his head vigorously and pointed his little finger to the east: "They are still young, and only the best of them can board the ship. I am talking about the east. This time, we can organize the soldiers of New Roseburg, and even Novo The Vgorodians joined the war. Dad, can you say they are not Russians?"
"This..." For a moment, Otto felt that it was not appropriate to refuse directly. He put on a smile and said, "You tell me."
Rurik's words were unequivocal: "In my opinion, they are the Rus. We are not hares nesting in caves. We have ruled many people. In essence, we are no worse than the Malaren people. Olegin organizes a coalition, then we We can also organize a coalition. But our core is the people from Rosberg. Other ethnic groups must fight for us. If we fight, people will die. It is better for them to die, not us. I plan to start from Novgoro De summons two hundred or even five hundred local men, I think at least the White Tree Manor has this ability."
"No. White Tree Manor alone is not enough." Otto thought for a moment, but he did not object despite his surprise. He responded extremely cautiously, "There are also a group of Novgorod immigrants in New Roseburg. You can bring them with you."
It can be said that Rurik's initiative was completely innovative. For a long time, Otto had not thought about using the farmers in White Tree Manor as a servant army.
The matter was so important that Otto finally lowered his head to show his caution.
Rurik didn't finish his words: "Maybe one day, our Rus tribe... No! It's the Rus Principality. We can command an army of 10,000 people, and there must be a large number of Novgorod and Kovin people joining us."
"Them? They are weak and stupid. Well, only the Kovins are braver. Forget about those Novgorod guys."
It is very difficult for Otto to recognize that the Slavic peoples in the east have some fighting ability, because all this man has seen in his life are guys who run away after being beaten. He has never seen and cannot imagine the Slavs raising an army to resist. The situation of the Russians. What he saw was the flattery of smart people and their obedience after being beaten.
However, in Rurik's concept, maybe they are not really brave and good at fighting, but are indeed ruthless characters who are willing to fight to the end under certain circumstances.
A reality has always been faced by the Ross tribe. If they cannot take advantage of the Viking world in the west (it seems difficult to compete with Denmark), then they must find opportunities in the east. In terms of difficulty, marching into the east is relatively difficult. easy.
Rurik said boldly: "Dad, since you have chosen a Novgorod woman to be my official wife, after the wedding, I will be the local ruler! Then I ordered them to send people to fight three years in advance, wouldn't it? Does it fit?"
Otto thought for a while and realized that this was really the case. Even the contempt in his heart could not subside. The only two things he admitted were that those people in the east had beautiful daughters and they were very active in paying tribute.
Rurik actually thinks very long-term: "We need to follow the example of Olegin in organizing a coalition. In the future, our Russian army will at least be composed of Russians, Novgorodians, Kovins and deer herders. I want them now Send men to this war!”
Otto was pleased that his son was thinking long-term. Now the question arises again: "If you put them in, wouldn't the team's combat effectiveness be reduced?"
"No!" Rurik said in shock again: "I thought about it, maybe we really need to organize an army of a thousand people."
"Huh?" Even though the oil lamp was dim, Otto's wrinkles like cracks in the earth were clearly visible. He became a little anxious: "You...what do you think?"
"I have an idea!" said Rurik of the mobile department, snapping up: "I don't care how Olegin feels, this is a war. Only fools would think of making only one plan, and we Russians must do it." Come up with a second plan yourself."
No, Rurik began to follow what he said before and explain his plan B.
According to his plan, Tombstone Island would become a strategic assembly point for troops for the first time in the history of the Principality of Ross. It is located near a deep channel in the northeastern Åland Islands at the mouth of Lake Mälaren, which is very close to Gotland, thus reflecting its great strategic value.
A large number of Russian troops will gather on Tombstone Island. According to Rurik's idea, in the densely packed island group, after two years of exploration, the Russians are really the only colonial pioneers. Not only do the Russians not have to worry about the leakage of secretly assembled intelligence, the local island groups are also natural gathering points for large troops. It is dangerous for cargo ships with a deeper draft to walk on the shoals there, but ordinary longships are not dangerous. The Russians can gather a large number of troops. Personnel, supplies and warships, these forces are the Russians' tactical reserve.
Besides, the messenger has already spread the letter. The Ross soldiers on Tombstone Island are all veterans. They are eager to join the battle with all of them, but the order is to only select the best among them.
As Otto said, all Russian men, as long as they are healthy and can afford weapons, are eager to participate in the battle. As for dying in battle, when I think of dying in battle for Rurik, "Odin's Blesser", isn't this the same as "the souls of those who died in battle directly enter Valhalla".
Rurik planned to have at least a thousand warriors on Tombstone Island, of which 500 were supposed to be Russians and the remaining 500 were supposed to be Novgorod Slavs. Each estate needed to send troops to prove that they were indeed very capable. Surrender to the power of Ross.
His son's plan was shocking, and Otto was really frightened when he heard it: "At this rate, our military strength will be almost the same as that of the Malaren Army."
Rurik shrugged: "In my opinion, those Novgorodians lack training, lack of eating a lot of meat, and lack of suitable weapons. We can transform them, and we can firmly control the entire area around Lake Ilmen." All the local tribes. In this way, we can raise an army of 10,000 people in a short time. Sister Lilia told me that the population there is very large."
His son's decisions were all serious, not just whims. They also had a thorough logic to them. Although he really didn't understand some things, Otto's decisions were unconditionally supported.
Next, Rurik's decision showed that his ideas were better than those of the Viking tribes in this time and space.
In other words, Rurik quickly made an economic calculation, estimating how much upfront investment would be needed in the most basic food issue if the war lasted for a month.
Of course, the Mellaren people also had to use the huge cabin of the Aurora to prepare some food in advance, but Origen never rationed it.
Rurik had to make careful calculations now. After all, summoning the Novgorod people to fight and not giving them rations would make the general look retarded.
This has been the case since ancient times. When a monarch recruits an army to go on an expedition, the monarch must use the materials in the treasury and granaries to meet the rations of the personnel and horses. He must also pay for the wear and tear of various equipment, and finally, the salary paid to each soldier. Especially in the Eastern world, "copper" has been equivalent to currency for a long time. At least in the entire early Han Dynasty, copper arrow clusters were the norm, and the so-called arrow clusters were currency.
The Rus' people's political system is still that of a tribe. Rurik can of course require the soldiers to prepare their own food according to the old rules, but this will greatly limit the combat effectiveness of the troops and will not be suitable for the future Principality of Rus' with an increasingly large population.
Rurik decided to acquiesce in this expedition. The various Russian personnel, including the sailors and the children who were forcibly brought in by him for training, were all counted as 1,500 people.
If it were an army that had to fight at high intensity all day long, each soldier would eat three pounds of oats a day to make up for their caloric losses. Rurik felt that the people on standby were capable, and even the Novgorodians would immediately try to catch fish, so giving them a pound of wheat was probably enough.
Considering the bleak situation of the remaining grain in the Rossburg warehouse, Rurik really wanted to slap himself a few times as the war approached. "Had I known this, I should have deliberately hoarded a batch of food for war."
Rurik planned to ration one pound of grain per person per day, so that it would be boiled into wheat porridge and expand to at least twice its original size. The feeling of fullness would make people happy.
It seemed that food was provided to the soldiers for free, which was far beyond Otto's understanding.
"One pound per person per day? At least for a month?" Not only Otto was stunned, but Gould was also amazed by Rurik's generosity.
"Yes, if I don't do this, many people will have worries."
"You! Do you have so much food now? It's not the harvest season yet."
Rurik also gritted his teeth and asked Gould how much wheat he could collect now.
"This..." Gould hesitated.
"Quick! Take out all the wheat you have packed at the bottom of the box. You and your sons are all like seals. You are so fat because you eat too much wheat. Now don't eat wheat. Go eat minced meat. Put the rations Hand it over to me!" Rurik's roar startled Gould.
Fortunately, the old guy Gould is very self-aware. If he can make the kid Rurik worry like this, the situation must be very serious. If he doesn't donate generously, he will be really not a friend.
Gould gritted his teeth hard and almost squeezed out the words through his teeth, "Forty thousand pounds, this is my last wheat. I can still keep it for my family and my guys to eat until the next harvest season. I also want to grow in grain production." The most precious time is to earn a little in Mälaren, and now I give it all.”
"You are smart enough." Rurik laughed slowly.
Therefore, Rurik made a series of preparation plans that night. He no longer cares about tomorrow's sacrifice. Anyway, it doesn't mean much to go through the motions. It's just a man and a Melalen people's pursuit of gorgeous display.
The Russians are really lucky to have such a pragmatic and fighting leader like Rurik, and this leader is more generous than everyone imagines.
He formally issued a war preparation order to the Russians, which was acknowledged by Otto and engraved on a wooden board overnight. He intended to organize ships to rush out of the lake tomorrow and deliver the latest order at the craziest speed of the Russian oarsmen.
The order is this.
1: Gather five hundred men from Novgorod's White Tree Manor as a servant army, take the ships of the residents of New Roseburg and finally arrive at Tombstone Island, set up a camp and stand ready. There are no restrictions on the weapons and food you can carry.
Two: Urgently recall Arik and station all the elite troops on Tombstone Island.
Three: Fishermen who rent fishing boats directly under Rurik transport fish to the Tombstone Island seasonal army every two days. Due to this achievement the tribute will be cancelled.
Four: Give all warriors stationed on Tombstone Island a pound of wheat per person per day for up to thirty days. The average soldier participating in the war received two pounds of wheat per day.
Five: Fort Ross stepped up the production of weapons, especially arrows, followed by a batch of spears and axes.
In addition, there are some minor provisions.
Compared with the plan initially made three days ago, this plan can be said to be more detailed and operational.
Rurik's mobilization of troops is a great start for the future. This war will become a historical record of the Principality of Roros, allowing future generations of historians to know that on the day after the Principality of Ross was nominally established, it was the Duke of Ross who formulated a plan to form a "Finnish, Russian, and Slavic" coalition.
Rurik thought very long-term. He wanted the future country to be a stable union, and even to form a brand new nation with an extremely large population.
He cannot identify with a small country with few people, and the cry deep in his soul is that he needs a unified empire.
