Nolen and Svetlana, the two girls have integrated into their new life very naturally. This time when they went to Roseburg, they were not cautious or anxious, but full of expectations for their future life.
Wearing thick clothes, they stood on the bow of the highly decorated Avora, standing next to Rurik, letting the increasingly cold north wind blow on their faces.
The two Ross fleets turned around, and nearly a hundred ships returned home escorting an astonishing amount of cargo.
When Rurik set sail, he learned how much grain and leather his father had obtained from the estates in Novgorod during the autumn voyage to Sorgon.
Eight hundred thousand pounds!
Only 800,000 pounds of oats came from Novgorod.
Rurik would have been moved by this number in the past, but now, forget it...
Novgorod was just a mixture of twenty manors. The Russians were blackmailing the Pine Needle Manor, which had the potential to rebel, while the White Tree Manor was lenient to those who were focused on attracting support.
Novgorod is located on the shores of Lake Ilmen, and the population around the lake is already larger than that of Lake Mälaren. Even if the weather is not good this year, the people of Mellaren have provided as many as one million pounds of wheat.
"It seems that the exploitation of Novgorod is still too kind."
Rurik calculated the total amount of food that the Russians would get this autumn.
800,000 pounds from Novgorod, 1 million pounds from Mälaren, and 500,000 pounds captured from Britain. This total of 2.3 million pounds of wheat is a gratifying and astonishing figure.
The situation is great, but it is still a little short of what I hoped for.
Completely different from the poor climate, an unprecedented baby boom is erupting throughout the area controlled by the Ross people. This situation is most significant in Rossburg's hometown.
"I'm afraid we will have two thousand babies born this year! In the past, they deliberately killed infants because they couldn't raise many children. Now they have enough food to support them. They also lack entertainment. Of course, men are desperately trying to have sex with women. This It’s an important family entertainment.”
"If I want to feed 10,000 people and guarantee one pound of wheat per person per day, I will need at least 4 million pounds. It is difficult to achieve this, but now my population is really going to exceed 10,000!"
"Even if there was a war, I would lose hundreds of people. The population loss is far less than the number of babies born and the immigrant population."
Rurik thought about it this way. Even if he saves on eating these 2.3 million pounds of wheat, he is afraid that it will be almost eaten by the beginning of next summer.
He hoped that the subjects of the Principality of Rus would be guaranteed one pound of wheat and two pounds of fish for every adult man and woman a day, and at least half a pound of wheat and one pound of fish for children and the elderly. He felt that this should be the bottom line of the ruler's conscience. Little did he know that this seemingly low nutritional standard had already given him great prestige among the people.
There are only a few brave and ruthless fighters who don't care about their status. They only listen to Rurik's military exploits.
The vast majority of people simply follow leaders who can make a living for themselves.
In this era, population is the productive force, which is equal to comprehensive national strength, especially military strength. Men's duties are naturally to farm and maintain territory, while women's most important duty is to give birth.
If the Danish leader is really dead, Denmark will be busy fighting internal strife to seize power and has no desire to go north for revenge.
The Russians will continue to develop territory in the north and peacefully explode the population.
At least in the Lake Malaren region and the entire northern world, the geopolitical situation has been completely stabilized. The Russians did not ask for the title of King of Sweden, and Rus was already the uncrowned king.
Even in this area, the overall geographical environment is still bad.
Although he was going home this time, when Rurik saw his Svetlana, he thought of the Eastern European world.
Novgorod is at least much warmer than Mälaren, and the number of local farmers is also huge. They must provide Ross with a steady stream of stamina.
Is the Sorgon voyage still necessary?
Why does it have to be an act of asking for tribute that is no different from the Ming Dynasty? Why must the local manor owners be cooperative?
Kill these manor owners, split the manor, and divide the entire manor population into small family units and become small farmers one by one. The small peasant families were then pieced together into a brand new village community, which was directly ruled by the prince of Rus.
In this way, Novgorod's native aristocratic system collapsed, and the local area lost native leaders who might rebel.
And the people who have lost their leader dare not say no when faced with the monarch's tax requirements?
However, in order to do so, the Russians need to come up with a basic bureaucratic team to allow this more advanced model to operate.
Rurik just thought about it. Considering the current situation, Ross didn't even have a clear internal affairs system.
Wait! Maybe one can be set up this winter.
Rurik had a new plan for this.
The fleet drifted on the sea for four days, and it was precisely because it carried too many supplies that it slowly returned to the fjord of Fort Ross.
There is still some time before the sea freezes, and a large number of Ross fishing boats are swaying with the waves in the narrow Gulf of Bothnia. Boats hauled nets and fished for herring by luck. There are also some fishing boats that go straight to the north. They set up nets in the river next to Ellenburg and catch local salmon.
Just like in previous years, when the fjord was covered with white sails, people flocked to the seashore in large numbers to welcome the return of the Sorgon fleet. This time, they saw a fleet of unprecedented scale, with three "giant ships" as the core, leading a large number of cargo ships straight to the trestle dock.
Compared with the large number of longships in the past, these cargo ships were unable to wash the beach, and the people had long since stopped dividing supplies at the suddenly formed beach market. The men simply took their wives and children to watch the grand scene, and some held tightly. The silver coins in his hand were waiting for the Duke to set up a business to sell supplies.
Just like the long-voyaging fleet is rapidly transforming from long ships to heavy cargo ships, Roseburg itself has undergone earth-shaking changes after the development of this warm period!
"finally arrived at home!"
Rurik, who was thinking about a lot of things, was inevitably tired. Standing on the bow of the ship and seeing the completely transformed Rossburg built against the gentle slope of the mountain, he couldn't help but sigh with emotion.
Otto's white beard was blown by the north wind. He put his hands on his son's shoulders and shouted deeply: "I kept your mother waiting for a long time. This time you bring back two women and see what she will say."
"Of course she is very happy. By the way, I also want to take a special look at Rumia, me! I have to check her belly myself."
"Okay! Go take a closer look. I still can't believe it. That was the first slave I got for you, and it actually gave birth to my first grandson." Otto really felt the fantasy of life, I just don’t know if Rumia will give birth to a boy or a girl.
The whistling wind in his ears forced Rurik to shout loudly: "She is already a high priest, not a slave."
"Have you thought of a name?"
"what name?"
"The child's name."
"Think about it." Rurik shouted again: "Velika! Whether it's a boy or a girl, call it this name!"
"In memory of Vilia? What a name. Get ready, we're about to dock."
Everything was going on in an orderly manner. Three large ships docked steadily at the trestle pier, and the rest of the cargo ships also entered the berths.
At the beginning of the year, Rurik had already formulated a plan to expand the terminal. It seems that the plan was not only implemented, but over-implemented.
Take a look!
Including the trestles at the Gould family's private dock, there are as many as twenty trestles stretching out to the sea. It is no problem for a total of ten cargo ships to dock on both sides of each trestle.
No, some merchants' longships have already parked here. Many of the ships were tied horizontally, the beams of the sails were twisted to be flush with the central axis of the ships, and the bows of the ships were aligned with the trestle, thus occupying a very small space for parking. Lots of ships.
There is a very faint salty smell in the air, as is the case for a typical northern seaport city built on the mountains.
The Aurora put down the planks, and people on board disembarked one after another.
"The end of the voyage has arrived, hold on to my arm." Rurik said casually to Svetlana, whose eyes were wide open.
The girl walked down the board cautiously, fearing that she would accidentally fall into the water because she couldn't swim.
She stood steadily on the trestle, and suddenly saw her companion Nolen. This Varyag girl jumped off the ship, as if she was not afraid of any danger.
Nolen ran over in high spirits, eager to be pampered, and hugged Rurik's neck from behind.
"Ah! This is Fort Ross? It's so great! There are actually walls and towers..."
"Not only are there walls, but there are also many interesting places. Tonight, you two will sleep in the palace, and that will be your home from now on."
Rurik explained this matter in two languages. In fact, he didn't know how well his new home was built. He thought it was already completed.
Otto holds the hilt of the sword and is dressed like an old warrior. He is high-spirited and has the depth of an old man, and his face is full of vicissitudes of life and achievements.
In front of Otto, Rurik held the hands of the two girls. The three of them were dressed in luxurious clothes and jewels. The eyes on their childish faces showed perseverance and arrogance.
A kind of uniformly dressed warrior followed closely behind, with a white cloak sewn with blue strips of cloth, occasionally revealing his chest. The white linen on his chest also had two interlaced blue stripes.
People gathered on the beach and lined the streets to welcome the Duke's triumph. The current people still don't know what kind of great battle Rurik has gone through. Their minds are occupied by excitement simply when they see the huge fleet returning. They not only welcomed Otto and his sons, but also welcomed them for bringing back the materials that allowed the Russians to prosper.
At the critical moment, the girl High Priest Rumia, wearing a deer-antlered helmet and holding a jeweled wooden staff, stood up.
Following closely behind were Rurik's ten Slavic maids, who were led by the Coven girl Lumi. They wore crowns made of pine branches and wore plain clothes accompanying the high priest.
After a while, Niya also appeared with Carlotta, Ella and Saipolava.
Judging from their clothes alone, they are obviously far more noble than other people.
Svetlana clearly saw that the people were avoiding spontaneously, and finally they retreated to form a circle.
"There are so many beautiful girls, are they all your... women..." she asked weakly.
"Yes, it's all mine."
Rurik's calm answer shocked Svetlana. Although she was prepared, she never expected that her man could please a woman so much? No! Rurik, he is probably a lecher. Suddenly, Svetlana felt that her rewarded position was not secure, or even precarious.
Niya's eyes were filled with tears. She opened her arms and looked at her son kindly: "Rurik, come here, let me see you..."
Rurik walked straight away, and finally let the old mother touch his forehead and kiss her cheek.
She was excited, and from the corner of her eye she saw two girls standing quietly and smiling silently.
"You..." Niya held her son's shoulders and asked urgently: "Tell me if you coaxed a woman from outside again."
"Of course, let me introduce it to you." Rurik turned around generously: "This is Nolen, the daughter of the leader of Balmok. She is the biological sister of Biyoni who came here at the beginning of the year. She is already mine. Woman. This is Svetlana, the wife my father chose for me."
"Oh, that's great." Niya waved her hands hurriedly, "Come on, both of you."
She touched the cheeks of the two girls again and praised her son as the greatest boy and the greatest man in the future. She also praised the beauty of the two girls.
However, her man actually has an astonishing number of wives and concubines. Which woman would not be jealous?
Jealousy, that is true jealousy, but as a woman from Rurik, every woman has her own destiny.
Rumia held a wooden staff in one hand and stroked her belly with the other. She approached Rurik, grabbed his hand again, and covered her stomach.
Rurik understood this very well.
"Have it already?"
"Yes. It's been six months now."
Rurik nodded. After all, just look at Rumia's current figure. Even if she wears clothes at the back, she can't hide the fact that she has a big belly.
Her cheeks already showed the joy of being a mother. To be honest, Rurik did not feel that extreme joy.
In the Duke of Ross's family, each wife and concubine has her own destiny, and the children of the wives and concubines also have their own destiny.
The children born to Rumia will eventually inherit the antlered helmet and gemstone staff that represent the history of Rus, as well as the duties of the high priest.
But after all, she was his first woman, and it was she who made him a real man.
Rurik cared more about herself than the child in her belly.
Under the gaze of the people, Rurik, who had gained pure power and was the de facto Duke of Rus, kissed the forehead of the holy high priest of Rus in public!
The people were cheering, and more were simply booing, which was accompanied by the wailing and crying of a large number of frightened babies.
None of this would affect Rurik. He leaned into Rumia's ear again and said with a smile: "Tonight, I will accompany you..."
Rumia, she never dared to expect much. Now, she feels that she is the happiest woman.
The intimate behavior between the two people, in the eyes of Rurik's many wives and concubines, was really complicated, and this feeling was difficult to describe in words. Then... just follow the booing Russians and laugh together.
