During dinner that night, Rurik shared the gem in his hand with his family.
The beautiful sky blue gemstone is simply the only blue mineral pigment. It can be ground into powder and set in various metal utensils! It also includes melting into molten glass to create sky blue lenses.
Otto's thoughts about Denmark were very simple and straightforward. "Kill the Danish enemies he encountered" was just a casual remark. All he could think about was that his army of hunters in the north should all have a pair of sunglasses to protect their eyes. Besides, The image of Rurik wearing sunglasses greatly touched him. It was a kind of handsomeness that was difficult to describe in words, and it also showed the wearer's unfathomable heart and wisdom.
The appearance of lapis lazuli made everyone very novel. As for receiving Danes at home, Otto's resistance was also very direct.
"Dad, I am not afraid of the Danes. I even hope to have a naval battle with them. In this way, we can use our superior ships and weapons to turn these enemies into fish feed. Those Danes have been to the far east, which is unknown. world. They are still businessmen living in Hedeby, which is a bigger city than Visby. The locals only want to do business, and they have no idea about war. In this case, we have a good chat with them, and we also We can sell some leather and other things over there and earn what we need.”
Rurik felt that there was nothing wrong with his words, and Otto suddenly had a very clear mind: "You...why do I think you are planning to make peace with Denmark?"
"That's not what I meant."
"It doesn't matter. Any kind thoughts you have, I think the Danish lords will not be satisfied. Remember, the Ross army killed 10,000 Gotland warriors under your command. I don't believe the Danes will ignore this. And do business with you comfortably."
Rurik shrugged: "Doesn't this further prove that we Russians are strong? I am very interested in the merchants of Hedeby. The current situation is that the ordinary people who produce wealth in Melalen are being exploited by Melalen's The big families have suffered so much, and we can no longer expect to get a lot of benefits from them. We need to open up new markets. I have two ideas. First, go to the east and go directly south along the river to Rome to try your luck. Second Second, when we develop our relationship with Hedebe, it is not convenient for us to do business in person, so we will find some middlemen."
"It's interesting." Otto nodded, "So the old guy named Eric is a tool that can be used? I think you should be careful."
"Dad! I can do it, I have confidence." Rurik assured, patting his chest.
Suddenly there was a flash of lightning! Otto suddenly pulled out his meat-cutting knife. What happened in a split second? The blade of the knife was pressed against Rurik's neck. He was so shocked that his mind went blank on the spot.
Otto said extremely calmly: "You see? I am very close to you? I can kill you in a moment. Boy, I suspect that your bad reputation has spread among the Danes. The great victory of the Russian army belongs to the Danes." Shame? You are the commander and you have to bear all the wrath of the Danes. How can you guarantee that those businessmen are not assassins?"
"Ah...that shouldn't be the case."
Otto put away the knife, inserted the knife directly into the table, and said: "I'm going to deal with the glasses? You let Jevro and Arik stay in this room, and send some soldiers to protect them. Remember, those businessmen are here to see you." All body searches were carried out..."
"Are you too cautious?" Rurik was a little impatient, but he knew that his father's caution was necessary. As a de facto king? Rurik thought that he should also protect his own safety.
"Let's do this." Rurik had an idea: "Tomorrow, I will treat the businessmen who are going to see me to take a steam bath first? Give them soap to clean themselves, put on the clothes I provided before coming to see me. Afterwards, all their clothes will be returned. If they hide any murder weapons, take them immediately."
"Good idea, let's do it like this." Otto clapped his hands.
What can be done by getting a batch of gems? Of course, it is used to decorate one's own power.
Rurik also came up with an idea that could be implemented, which was to reward meritorious soldiers with a pure token of honor - a medal.
He doesn't know the exact origin of the medal culture in history? It must be related to the family emblem culture of noble warriors. In the end, both the people and the army can recognize that the medals issued by the monarch have glorious significance? The soldiers shed their lives and blood in order to get it.
Perhaps the blood and spiritual descendants of the Russian people are destined to become the group of people who love the Medal of Honor the most? Among them, there are also those who are very successful and use the medal as fish scales.
Rurik rested clutching the piece of lapis lazuli as a token. Before falling asleep, he had to think carefully about the prospects in this regard.
Is it enough to simply give money, food, and women to soldiers who have performed meritorious services? What a wonderful reward for a formerly poor warrior? It's just that human desires are endless. When a person has enough wealth and wives, they will desire more. They may not necessarily degenerate into ambitions pursuing extremely high power, but they will definitely find ways to gain honor and become the object of praise from others.
"Establish an order, an order called the Heroes of the Ross?"
What is a heroic warrior? Heroes need to be quantified! Every hero needs a real token to symbolize that he is a hero to distinguish him from ordinary people.
"Gold or silver is melted into a circular base, which is painted with white lead, then ground lapis lazuli powder is used to create staggered sky-blue stripes, and finally a layer of molten glass is cast. A hook made of twisted wire is installed on the back of the medal. The medal has another hole drilled for the string..."
Rurik estimated that the current use of lapis lazuli was mostly like this, and his ideas were no different from those of the ancient monarchs.
The new day is clear and cold, and the sun is particularly dazzling due to the ice and snow all over the world.
At the winter market that emerged on the coast of Rossburg, Otto, Duke of Ross, set up a stall with a group of entourage.
The news about another interesting treasure that Lord Rurik has come up with has been spread throughout Roseburg. It is said that it is a device to protect the eyes, which can soften the dazzling eyes. Some people think this thing is dispensable, while some people think it is a treasure.
The price of the sunglasses was set at twenty silver coins. Now all the strong men in Ross have enjoyed the war dividends. They got the money to improve their lives first. There is obviously a lot of money left, so they naturally want to buy some. Strange stuff. Twenty silver coins was not much, and busy people rushed to the stall set up by the Duke, first to take a look, and secondly to choose the opportunity to buy.
Hundreds of people gathered, and they listened to Otto's speech while standing on a [5200] small snowdrift.
Otto's appearance became very strange today. He seemed to have a pair of huge cricket eyes in the sunlight. Those are so-called sunglasses. They covered Otto's old wrinkles and made him look very energetic.
They held their money bags high and crowded around each other, fearing that their brothers would snap up the limited supply of sunglasses if they made one move.
By the evening of this day, as many as 150 pairs of glasses waiting for sale were sold out. Those who were lucky enough to buy them changed their image one after another, and the whole world changed dramatically after they wore sunglasses.
Look! The frozen sea no longer reflects the sunlight that almost kills the eyes, and people no longer have to squint their eyes.
Those who did not buy it felt disappointed. The only comfort was that the Duke promised that the Clavarson family was still making this very special glassware.
The perspective shifts to the other side.
Still in the early morning, a Danish businessman who got up early to go to the toilet suddenly noticed some sneaky eyes outside. The man hurried back into the warm room and reported what he had seen to his father.
"Father, we...were careless. If we are targeted by them, will we be killed?"
Old Eric was lying when he said he wasn't nervous: "If the Ross people want to kill us, wouldn't it be safer to do it at night? Wait and see, maybe the Ross leader will meet our father and son today."
Soon, a group of Russian soldiers came to knock on the door.
The leader was none other than Jevro, who was wearing white bear leather and a white cloth gown sewn with blue strips of cloth. This Finnish warrior, who was slightly short in stature and had a slightly flat face, now "arrested" these Danish businessmen as the Duke's messenger.
Jevro and his men acted roughly, and sent the five men directly outside a room where strong steam was emanating.
"What are you doing? What's going on? Did your leader ask us, father and son, to have a frank talk with him in this sauna? It's really an eye-opener for me in your Roseburg." Eric, the old businessman, always has a way. Feeling uneasy, he was a little worried that his family would be locked up by the Russians and then steamed to death.
This is not impossible. The well-informed old Eric knew that people in the "Eastern Land" like steam baths. While trading leather with the local tribes, he was also invited by the local chiefs to try it many times. Individually Taking a chance, he once felt that every inch of his skin was burning and painful from the steam.
He really didn't expect that the Russians who spoke Norse were particularly fond of the Easterners?
"Stop talking nonsense! Take off your leather clothes and all weapons immediately. This is the opportunity for you to take a shower! Your Majesty can't bear to meet a dirty person."
"Oh, Chief Ross is really particular."
The next thing happened again, because there were other bathing facilities in the so-called sauna room, which was a shower.
There is a wooden barrel high in the room. Hot water is prepared in the barrel. There is a wooden stopper on the side of the barrel. When you open it, the hot water will be released. The light in the room was very dim, but the yellow-white soap smelling of sulfur was clearly visible.
Of course Eric Sr. had seen soap and knew how it was made. In Hedeby and the small town of Schleswig in the south, there are craftsmen who specialize in washing tools. The price is relatively high. If it were not for its good washing effect, no one would tolerate its poor quality.
Yellow and white soap actually smells of sulfur? He thought about the color of those sulfur ores. Driven by curiosity, Old Eric became the first to try something new.
He saw a strip of burlap hanging in the room, and naturally rubbed himself up with it.
Finally, he experienced the ultimate bathing experience, as if the mud shell covering his body had been washed away, and he felt relaxed. He was even in a trance after leaving the steam room.
The father and son were forced to put on simple and neat new clothes, made of white linen and warm leather on the outside. There are also hats, which are made of fine cloth and soft pine bark.
At this time, old Eric completely understood the intention of the Ross leader, and realized that his sons were actually complacent with the clothes "rewarded" by the Ross people, so he immediately scolded him with a straight mouth: "Don't be happy. My old clothes were stolen by them." After a thorough inspection, the Russians are actually worried that we are assassins."
This statement happened to be heard by Javlo, and he didn't look good on it: "I advise you to take care of yourself. Listen, you are Danes, you must keep a low profile here."
"Yes. We are unarmed now and have no malicious intentions." Old Eric bowed his head in greeting to show his cooperation.
After a while, they finally arrived at Duke Ross's residence.
This scene surprised Old Eric. He was not surprised that the houses in this area were all Slavic wood-carved buildings, but also that the so-called Ross chief's mansion was not as majestic as he had imagined.
"Let's go, my master is waiting for you in the house." Jevro finally urged.
At the same time, Rurik and Arik were sitting cross-legged in the small living room indoors in gorgeous clothes. At the same time, there were more than a dozen of the strongest warriors selected by Arik.
How can you not be afraid of old Eric who enters the house? There are two rows of bear heads hanging on the wooden wall, and the warriors arranged indoors are completely uniform, not to mention that they all carry swords.
"Are you a Danish businessman? There is an old man named Eric? Is that you? Sit down."
The speaker is a girl? No! The voice was clearly that of a boy, a handsome boy.
In extreme embarrassment, old Eric and his sons sat at the door one after another. He realized the current situation. The Russians were afraid of the possibility that outsiders were assassins. Fortunately, the other party was not so hasty as to take action upon hearing that the visitor was a Danish businessman.
Old Eric's eyes noticed another person in the room, this old guy who was as honest as an elephant seal. His gorgeous velvet coat was either covered with gold threads or gemstone pendants. He was a big businessman.
"I...I am Eric Torulf. Thank you, Chief Ross, for not killing me..." Now that the old Eric had put away his surprise, he was willing to believe that the boy in front of him was Ross's elder brother. Chief, even if it's very fantasy.
"Oh? Are you very sure that I am the leader?" Rurik and Old Eric looked at each other without any excitement.
"Exactly. You sit in the middle, with a bonfire behind you, and the most precious person will die."
"You are very discerning. Listen, I am Rurik, Duke of Ross. I am the highest authority in Rossburg that you have seen. It was also me who commanded the army to attack Gotland and annihilated 10,000 local enemy soldiers. . It was also me who commanded the troops that participated in the expedition to Kalmar, Denmark."
Rurik did not hide his achievements at all. He was not afraid of the Danish naval power at all, and even looked forward to a naval battle that would crush the pile of power. He was expecting angry expressions from the Danish businessmen, but looking at old Eric's expression, they actually didn't care.
"What? Do you think I'm just a child and what I say is ridiculous?"
"Don't dare! I already know all this news." Old Eric slapped his heart with his right fist, "Hafgen, the grand leader of Denmark, am I not his subordinate? Our family is just from Hedeby Market. Ordinary businessmen, and even the whole of Hedeby, recognized that man's rule only in name.
We are here for business, and it is precisely because we heard about the great victory of the Russian army that we came here. You must have looted a lot of wealth from Gotland, and it just so happens that our family has lapis lazuli imported from the desert land in the far east. We lack a suitable buyer, maybe you are the most suitable. "
Rurik was moved for a moment, but Gould immediately winked at him.
"Okay." Rurik sighed, "I believe you are honest. You claim to be from Hedeby, Denmark. Is that a very wealthy existence?"
Old Eric hesitated for a moment, and he consciously smelled the breath of war. He must have seen many arrogant Danish lords. Some crossed the Great Wall of Schleswig to attack the villages of the Frankish Kingdom in the Saxony region. More small lords went into battle in person, leading dozens of brothers to row two or three long ships. The ship went to the Friesland region on the west coast to thresh straw, and even drifted all the way to the mouth of the Seine River, where it robbed all the gold and silver from several monasteries at the mouth.
The Rus people speak Norse, and the leader of Rus seems to be just a child. He actually gave himself the title of "Princip (Duke)". This move proves his ambition!
They didn't have any murderous intentions towards them. Could it be that they knew information about Hedeby and Denmark in order to prepare for a large-scale invasion in the future? Because Old Eric's family dressed up as Mälaren merchants, rowed and followed the mighty Ross fleet to Rossburg. It was really an invincible fleet! Therefore, when Rurik personally said that he had annihilated 10,000 Gotland warriors, Old Eric had no doubt at all.
Old Eric hesitated for a while and then said: "Sir, if you want to know anything about Denmark, I will tell you to the best of my knowledge and completely sincerely. Haideby is indeed rich, but she Where is the wealth of Frankish Paris? The ambitious lords of Denmark have gathered a large number of Saxon refugees and are also planning to attack Paris.
But what does Paris mean? Our family has also been to a country called Rome in the East. I hope the wise leader of Rus can understand. "
Upon hearing this, Rurik stood up suddenly with his eyes widened: "Have you been to Rome? You have been to Constantinople. No! Have you been to Istanbul?"
Now it was the turn of old Eric, who was pretending to be low-key, to lose his temper. He was shocked: "You! Lord Rurik, the leader of Ross, you actually know that common name?"
"I do know that the common name Istanbul is Greek and means 'go to the big city.'"
Old Eric's heart was beating fast, and his sons were restless with excitement. As businessmen roaming the world, they longed for a confidant. They never expected that the young leader of Ross actually knew so much. The Ross people were not like they seemed on the surface, they were professional hunters nesting in the far north. They clearly knew a lot. .
"Where else have you been?" Rurik asked: "Have you really been to Afghanistan? I mean, it is a dry and cold wasteland, full of dangers, but it is also the origin of lapis lazuli."
Now Old Eric told the truth: "We have not been there, but we do know the term Afghanistan. Legend has it that there is a big mountain in the east. The local businessman who likes to wear a turban said that beyond the mountain there is a desert. If you walk through the desert, there is a desert. The end of the East. There is an extremely powerful country there, more powerful than Rome I know."
"I know that place, a dreamy place." Rurik did not ask any more questions, because the Tang Empire in today's era is declining in the vassal pattern, which is really a sad evolution. Based on just this few words, he made a terrifying conclusion that this Eric must have explored all the way to the edge of the Central Asian world for the sake of business. This family is a crazy epitome of Viking merchants in this era.
Rurik solemnly declared: "I can protect you and will not kill you just because you are Danish. I am not worried at all that you will tell the Danes what you saw in Rus. We are not afraid of a full-scale war at all. I like you." If you get the gems, I will leave and take out the silver coins to buy them all. And you, you must tell me everything about Hedebe. Don’t worry, I have no hostility towards pure merchants. Ross welcomes merchants to trade. And we Ross people are interested To open up the Danish market, it’s just that the current situation makes it difficult for us to do it ourselves. We need an agent, and maybe your family is suitable.”
Things had a breakthrough, and old Eric clapped his hands and applauded. He felt that he had made the right bet, and he immediately started talking endlessly, becoming a complete story teller...
