Is the new leader Bjorn a good leader? The people of Mellaren don't care too much.
The defeat in the war coupled with a poor harvest. The big families with large acres of land were busy selling wheat, and the people's food was also plundered.
Life is not unbearable, but Bjorn is really no better than Karl in collecting taxes.
Gould reported to Rurik on the issue of purchasing grain: "I can make a small profit, and I will never suffer a loss. Only our Ross is the largest grain purchaser, and only we have a large amount of cash. I discussed with them that if the harvest fails this year, , the purchase price is still one silver coin and eleven pounds."
This is actually a bet. If there is a good harvest this year, according to the agreement, the Russians cannot change the purchase price.
"The weather this year is too cold, and the harvest has been bad since planting. They bet against me, and they have a sense of luck. It turns out that we Russians predicted the current situation, and we won."
Rurik heard that there was something about grain futures in this?
Wait a minute, the main reason why the fleet has not returned is because all the supplies have not arrived.
Rurik then asked, "I suspect that some of the leaders who participated have gone back on their word. They are dawdling and don't seem to be planning to hand over the food?"
"Exactly." When Gould mentioned this, he was filled with anger and immediately admonished, "Since our two big ships are here, we can just overwhelm them. You have brought sixty soldiers, and there are more than 100 soldiers on my island. Fifty people. Then organize the others and raid the shore to recruit a hundred men who are short of money. We can easily organize two hundred people to beg for food."
"No, I have no intention of starting a war with them. However, I can suppress Bjorn in this matter and support him on the premise that it is this man who helps us collect food."
Because the key to this bet is the Melalen tribe. Even though the tribe has experienced huge changes, it is still a huge population in terms of population, making other tribes look like small settlements.
The ones who are dawdling are mainly the big families of Melalen. In this case, things will be easier to handle.
Rurik thought about Gould's proposal for a while, since he planned to use two ships to show off his power. So why not organize a hundred men to land, wearing chainmail and cloaks and carrying flags?
The remaining supplies after the war on Gotland, a large number of robes sewn with blue patterns were placed on Gould Island as clothing for the local garrison.
There was still a lot of robes in stock, and they began to fully equip the people Rurik brought.
Those Balmok mercenaries suddenly changed their outfits. Even Nolen could not imagine that the people from his hometown were dressed in completely uniform clothes and stood neatly together, with an aura of majesty rushing towards them.
If they were seen by the enemy, the enemy would be trembling with fear, right?
Rurik actually organized a hundred warriors, who took two large ships and waited to land on Birka.
On the day of the appointment, the fishermen working on the lake, the battle-hardened veteran Avora and the new leader Gurdot, were shocked to see Ross's two large boats heading straight for their market.
They gathered first with curiosity, then with fear.
Just because they saw that the decks of the two ships were filled with uniformly dressed warriors! I'm afraid they are not going to attack the Melalen tribe and loot Birka!
A powerful army landed, and the people on the shore immediately avoided it, and then lay on the roofs and walls, watching the movements of the Moross uneasily.
"We have landed. Next, sir..." Gould smiled again and muttered with laughter, "Look, the Malaren people are almost defenseless. If you intend to start a war, you can really destroy Bjorn in one fell swoop. En’s home.”
"No. I don't kill people. I just want to show Melalen who is the strong one. Come on, let's go to the market for a walk."
"Well, I just wanted you to see what's new with Birka."
Gould retained some things from yesterday's conversation. It was not that he wanted to cover up, but he just felt that if he said it out, it would be disrespectful to Rurik, the "Son of Odin."
Rurik didn't care either. Gould mentioned that tavern yesterday. Obtaining the ownership of the tavern became one of his goals.
Noren was dressed in fine clothes, and Rurik was also full of heroism.
Dressed in blue-striped robes, with battle axes and swords hung on tight belts, Rurik's mercenaries were all majestic and frightening.
The small leather drum brought back by Nolen was put to use. Someone was beating the drum, and the sound of the drum as the team moved forward attracted the attention of passers-by.
Most of them held spears nearly three meters high, with blue and white cloth strips tied to the spearheads. In the cramped lanes of Birka Market, the combat significance of these spears is also very narrow. They serve as ceremonial guards.
Jevro honorably served as flag-bearer, and while holding the flag high, stayed close to Rurik's side.
Their swagger made the people of Mellaren murmur in mixed emotions.
Some people are muttering that the Russian people have not finished their business this year, and the Russian people plan to buy some more things...
People with a discerning eye can see that the Ross people are just showing off their power. They are afraid that they are not doing any trade, they are just showing their strength to the big families who killed Karl, and they are trying to scare Bjorn.
Rurik indeed had no intention of paying attention to the bottles and cans sold by vendors on both sides of the alley, and even the slaves for sale with ropes tied around their necks, he was no longer interested.
Rurik wanted to go straight to the tavern to check out the place. He very much hoped to become the owner of the tavern this year after revisiting his old place.
In a daze, he suddenly saw a wooden building being built.
What’s so special about longhouses built in general?
No! It's not ordinary!
It has a wooden spire. Although it is under construction, there is a cross standing on the spire?
Rurik suddenly froze, causing the entire team to stop.
"Ah! Am I dazzled? This is Christchurch?"
"Sir, do you know it?" Gould was also surprised.
Rurik pouted and shook his little head, and some of the old mercenaries around him simply laughed.
"Huh? Why are you all laughing? Sir, since you know it..."
"Of course I know it. Not only do I know it, I led the Balmok army and killed three thousand of their people in Britain! This is a monastery, and I also robbed some treasures!"
Hearing this, Gould subconsciously felt that his sponsor had hatred and desire to plunder this foreign belief?
Rurik thought for a while, and his intuition was very absurd.
"It's really strange, who would allow missionaries to build a monastery in the territory of the Melalen people?"
"Of course Bjorn."
"He? Did that guy betray the gods and believe in new ones?"
"That's not true. It's just that the missionary is from Frankland. Bjorn lacks support and this guy is panicking. This year, a missionary suddenly visited and Bjorn reached an agreement with that guy."
"It's really...I have nothing to say. Let's go!"
"Indeed, I'm not interested in those guys either," Gould said casually.
"No! I want to find the missionary and talk to him."
Hearing this, Gould felt even more ridiculous and frightened, "Sir, you can't do anything here. Bjorn and those families allowed the Franks to build a monastery here, and they paid tribute. If you kill them, you are breaking the rules." .”
Rurik frowned, "Who said I would use force? I am somewhat interested in them, but I want to see which missionary dares to come to Northern Europe."
The Russian army rushed straight to the construction site of the monastery, and the hired workers who were carrying and chopping wood hid one after another.
Most of these workers were baptized and took their wives and children to become new Christians, which is really strange in the core area of Odin's faith. But these people all have their own sufferings, and Odin and Freya cannot give them comfort. Now, a missionary comes, who claims that "God can save you lambs."
The workers dispersed, except for a bald middle-aged man wearing a black robe, holding a small wooden cross, approaching Rurik very cautiously.
"My lord, he is coming towards you..." Jevro asked cautiously in a low voice, "I am about to draw my sword. Women will affect the speed of my drawing my sword. Please ask your Norun to avoid it."
"No need. This man is equivalent to our priest. I know their beliefs. Frankish missionaries cannot use force, let alone kill people. Maybe he sees that I have a noble status?"
The fact was just as Rurik guessed, the bold bald missionary noticed Rurik's extraordinary character at first sight.
In other words, when this person arrived at Lake Malaren by boat, he passed by Gould Island and suddenly saw the "giant ship" moored. The "GULDOTTER" spelled out in secular Roman letters on the side of the ship shocked and confused him. And when he saw the flags flying on the wooden fort on the island, he felt a sense of intimacy again.
The missionaries learned that these were the Rus people. They were different from the Mellaren people. They were the northernmost existence in the entire Sweden, and they were also the strongest ones that stood out in recent years.
The missionary's trip was to boldly go north, trying to save new lambs further north.
Unexpectedly, the Russians actually came in person.
Look at their equipment. Their majesty is far superior to the armies of the Earl of Hamburg and the Earl of Bremen. I am afraid that only the Frankish King's personal guard can rival them.
Rurik didn't panic at all, and even used his right hand to skillfully draw a big cross on his chest and forehead.
It was this dreamy movement that made the missionary freeze on the spot, and then he was trembling incoherently.
What's going on? Jevro felt that his master had used some kind of magic power to cause the approaching person to suffer from convulsions.
The missionary tried to regain his energy and walked forward again. Standing tremblingly in front of Rurik, he spoke to the old Saxon.
This man spoke poor Norse with Saxon emphasis (Old English) and said respectfully: "Welcome to you, Russians. I didn't even know that you are also holy believers."
Rurik smiled, naturally.
"Saints? No, we are descendants of Odin."
"Ah! Young child, what you just did..." The missionary felt as if a bucket of cold water had been poured on him, and his high mood suddenly fell.
Rurik immediately changed his words: "I know that you have faith, and I also know that you are from Frankland. I know something about you, and I am also somewhat interested in your faith."
Hearing Ci's words again, it was as if the missionary in an ice cellar was protected by a ball of warmth and suddenly soared to a warm place.
He just felt that even if this noble young man was not a believer, since he was interested, all he needed to become the Lamb of the Lord was a baptism and a confession.
The missionary immediately took the offensive. The so-called missionary mission did not require any special venue. He openly and loudly proclaimed the divine greatness of the Lord. He also said that after accepting faith, the souls of the most humble and ordinary people can go to heaven after death.
But what use does this have for Rurik?
Rurik immediately interrupted the man. He had no intention of refuting with the argument that Valhalla was far better than heaven, and he did not want to engage in any theological speculation.
"What is your name? What are you doing in Mälaren from Frank? When do you plan to leave?"
A simple philosophical question made the missionary a little confused.
"My name is John Paul St. William Esquire. I accept the invitation of the Bishop of Reims, and the invitation of the former King of Denmark, to preach the Holy Faith in your lands."
Last name Eskil?
Rurik was naturally unfamiliar with this name, but he never imagined that at this point in history, he could lead the Russians to influence the course of history, but the general trend of history was inevitable.
With the arrival of Eskil, the Christian transformation of Sweden, especially the Lake Mälaren region, began with the permission of the local chief Bjorn.
Rurik vaguely felt that he was on the front line of the changing times. He already had a problem with Odin's belief. It was said that only the bravest warriors could go to Valhalla, but what about ordinary people?
He ordered to kill the old priest class of Rus and established new priests and a new priest culture. While worshiping Odin, other major gods also erected statues and even made the dead Vilia a god. All actions were intended to Take care of all men, women and children in the tribe and stabilize their hearts.
But all his actions are patching up the fragmented mythological beliefs of Northern Europe.
The messenger from the Roman Pope in the south has arrived, and it is a new and very complete set of theological ideas!
Although Rurik did not know who Eskil was and what his possible historical status was, he knew very well that the Christian faith was spread among the lowest group of people in the society of the Roman Empire from the beginning.
Poor helpless people and people living in poverty, they are warmed by this new faith, believing that their piety and kindness can earn them the qualification to enter heaven.
Is not it?
Rurik saw that the people who built houses were the most ordinary Melalen people. He keenly saw these people who were wary of others. They all had wooden cross pendants hanging on their chests.
Rurik looked at the building again and said deliberately: "Christchurch, when will you finish building it? How many lambs have you influenced here?"
Hearing the young man's words again, Esquier was trembling with excitement and couldn't wait to pull him into the room, and then pressed him into the water to be baptized. He even felt that this young man had read great scriptures.
"What? No answer?" Rurik asked again.
"My child, I think...you...you have been called by the Lord. You can..."
"No! I will not accept your beliefs, at least not yet."
"So we will meet in the future?" Eskil looked a little aggressive.
Rurik, who knew he was talkative, immediately changed his tone, "I know about your beliefs and am also interested in you. There are a group of slaves in my hometown, and I allow them to maintain their beliefs. Even..."
"you……"
"I am a great nobleman of the Principality of Rus. You! Missionary Eskil, I want to know everything about Frank. I want to invite you to take my big ship to the north. I give you permission to build a monastery for our slaves. They have a safe place to worship. Only when they feel at ease can they serve me well."
This is undoubtedly an olive branch from heaven!
While Eskil was ecstatic, he was still using words to soften his words. The so-called interest means liking, and liking can become a believer.
"You are a noble and beautiful young man. You must have been gifted by the Lord. You should become a saint and go on pilgrimage to Rome..."
"Shut up!" Rurik held his forehead and shouted fiercely, "You stay here and continue to build. If you want to go to Ross, row to my island before October 5th and recognize the flag of our Ross. Don’t go to the wrong island. Listen, come to Ross, I want to have a good chat with you.”
"Oh! My lord, that is my honor." Esquier bowed in greeting.
Rurik turned and left with his brothers. Gould had been silent just now, and now he finally spoke.
"Sir, maybe your behavior is... inappropriate."
"It's nothing. People like him are the men in black in Rome that Villa said. The sixty-year-old parchment that our Ross has been in charge of is actually a scripture! We have had a relationship with them for a long time."
"So, you invite him?"
"Of course. The faith they uphold can comfort the poorest and humblest people. Soldiers will not believe this but farmers will, and so will mothers whose children have died and women whose husbands have died. I can use this. In this way, I We can also do business smoothly with some big countries in the south, such as the Franks and Eastern Rome."
Rurik had a set of ideas. The so-called theological belief itself was neutral, and the Roman Pope had the right to interpret it. It would be better for the Russians, especially the Duke of Ross, to get the right to interpret it.
This is like the actions of King Henry VIII of England and Luther the German.
Rurik's great idea Gould was unable to contemplate.
Gould was a fat old man who was getting old. All he could think about was that his family could be richer, his life could continue, and he could enjoy wealth and glory in his later years.
Of course, this old guy felt that Rurik had extremely practical considerations behind his high-sounding words, otherwise he would invite Eskil after he was full.
Rurik then stated clearly and simply, "He knows Latin and Saxon. I want to learn it."
