When the fire tower turns into warm ashes, the new year has arrived.
The daylight hours are increasing rapidly. Although the whole world is covered with snow, the Slavs must take action because spring plowing is approaching.
Winter is still going on, and the people in Novgorod are busy for the first time in winter.
The work of craftsmen is a supplement to daily life. The basic foundation of people's lives is still farming. Once spring plowing begins, all male and female laborers have to work in the fields.
In the first month of the new year, young Reglaf is growing up rapidly. The chosen wet nurse will become prosperous because of this child, and her family will ascend to heaven like chickens and dogs.
But he is not the eldest son.
Mary is deceased, and sometimes Rurik misses her tenderness. She is indeed a woman who knows how to play tricks on men. In the past, this was her way of surviving in the Mercian court. Later, his love for her was sincere.
But she died anyway, which was her fate in a sense. From any angle, she was an adult when she was alive. If her pelvis had been wider, she should have been able to avoid difficult labor, and she should still be bouncing around now.
Princess Mary was a captured slave after all, and Rurik's many wives and concubines had different attitudes toward her.
She gave birth to a baby boy at the cost of her life, and the vigilant woman sensed a crisis.
The wives and concubines had a job, and they were busy making paper.
Now that the papermaking work is on track, a group of local people have been enthusiastically involved in the related processes, which has resulted in thousands of big trees losing their bark. Birch bark is best, but fir bark is also acceptable. Add some linen and hemp rope to it. The resulting pulp will make the paper softer.
Rurik intends to build a paper mill in Novgorod. Since there are no chemical bleaching or pickling agents, there is no ecological harm to the wastewater from papermaking being poured into the Volkhov River at will.
How can we create more surplus wealth if local people are just busy farming.
The Principality of Rus can make a fortune through the paper industry, and the people should also enjoy sufficient benefits. Of course, the bulk of it must be taken by the Duke.
This matter should be considered in the long term. What Rurik needs most now is a large amount of paper backup, so the wives and concubines worked faster.
He always stayed in the house to inspect and supervise, chat with his wives and concubines, and listen to their chatter.
It was a pity that Mary passed away, and everyone remained silent and fearful about giving birth.
Only Carlotta.
When others didn't want to mention this, Carlotta stopped what she was doing and whispered something into Rurik's ear: "You have to fulfill our agreement. God will never test me all the time."
"Then come tonight. I will prepare a small room..."
This night, there were gasps from the warm house. She was pressed on the blanket by Rurik, and she was saying: "I'm not afraid! I'm not afraid of anything. I want a boy, even if I die because of it, everything is worth it..."
Compared to Rurik, Carlotta was in the ultimate state of joy. She is older than Rurik, and she is already an adult in a biological sense. Coupled with the dream of reviving the tribe, under the psychological and physical effects, she really longs for a son more than ever before.
"I want a son! I don't want a territory but I want a son. As long as I give birth to a son and let my people live in peace, it's worth sacrificing my life for this! Freya! Give me a reward..." After that, he was already hesitating. I am also in a trance.
Rurik, on the other hand, had a dull face. He was not only enjoying the excitement, but also completing the task.
Carlotta's physical fitness is very good, she is not young, but...
If this continues this month, it's just because I'm a little tired, and if she still can't conceive, then it's not a matter of timing. But her body suffers from that rare infertility, which is simply the biggest disaster for a woman in this era.
The son and Carlotta have been extremely close recently. At best, this is the deepening of their friendship between the two dukes. At worst, it is just an ordinary relationship between husband and wife. Otto really hopes for more grandchildren. If the Duchess of Ostara finally has one, it will be a great joy.
Otto boasted that he also detected another meaning: his son was venting his sorrow.
People have their own destinies, Velika and Reglaf, and their mothers each have their own misfortunes. Both children are growing vigorously. Children with the blood of the "son of God" will definitely avoid disasters.
Carlotta is not just asking for a child now. When Rurik was panting and lying on his side, she smiled and leaned over to blow the wind on the pillow.
"Rurik, I heard that spring comes early in this place. I saw those Slavs are already preparing for spring plowing, we..."
"It's... it's about mapping the fields. It needs to be done! We also need to prepare."
"It's not just this."
"What else? Your belly must be getting bigger. You know your other sisters will be jealous seeing us like this."
"That's not the case." She continued to smile.
"What's going on?"
"I...I have a big decision, I just need your approval."
Rurik was a little impatient: "Hurry up and say it. I support all reasonable requests."
Carlotta rested her head on Rurik's shoulder and stroked the soft beard of her beloved man with one hand. "Okay. I...I really don't care about territory. I am your woman, and my people are all your subjects."
She said that Rurik felt sleepy all of a sudden. What she said had nothing to do with love talk, it was clearly the most important matter.
"What... do you want?"
"When the glacier thaws, I plan to move all the people here. I want all the Ostara people to settle in this lake area. The scenery here is so similar to my hometown. It is also warmer and farther away from disputes."
"you……"
"I don't want a territory. If you insist on a territory, I just want a small piece of land. I want to farm and raise cattle there, and I will also pay taxes to you. How great is this! There is no point in Ostara being a principality. I I am not worthy of being a duchess. I am a knighthood granted by the King of Sweden, and you don’t recognize the new king Bjorn now, so there is no reason for me to be a duke."
"Are you serious?" Ryrik asked with a sullen face under the night sky.
"seriously."
"Indeed, your title is just the product of compromise between all parties. Olegin united everyone under the banner of Ostara's revenge, but it is a pity that he was defeated. Now the whole of Sweden knows that you are my woman, Ostara It no longer exists in Sweden either.”
"So, do you agree that the people of Ostara are all your subjects?"
"Yes! No. Because they are all Russians."
This word explained everything, and Carlotta continued to smile: "I have also inquired about some things these days. I learned that there is a large swamp area to the south of the lake, and the nearby farms were destroyed by you for rebellion. Give me that land. , I want the farmland there for farming, and I want the swampland for grazing cattle. Do you... agree? I will pay the tithe. I won’t be a duke, I will be your boyar."
Rurik didn't expect that she would make a decision from this. She must not have said this on a whim, but had made a decision after some thought.
"Okay! I agree." Rurik said casually.
"Are you perfunctory with me?"
"I understand everything. Let all the people from Ostara in New Roseburg move here? That's okay. If you want to take the title of Duke, that's not okay!"
"But……"
"Come again." Rurik suddenly turned over: "I am not an ordinary duke, I am Augustus, a nobler existence than a duke. Of course I have to appoint a new duke to guard me. Come on, keep going. . I want to seal a good place for the new Duke of Ostara. Carlotta, this world is very big, and we have to continue to expand."
Rurik really needed to think carefully about Carlotta's plan afterwards. Is it simply the immigration of Ostara people? No! It’s time to call on the people in our hometown to start the great immigration!
January is the coldest month of the year, with two more snowfalls falling on Lake Ilmen.
Time has quietly entered February, and everyone begins to feel an indescribable warmth, because the wind is no longer cold.
Rurik has been thinking about the "Great Immigration" for more than ten days, and he finally made the final decision.
Reglaf was one month old, and he was well cared for. His golden hair was the most striking feature, and Otonya boasted that the child resembled his father in infancy.
However, this child did not receive explicit care from God. Otto could sense that Reglaf was just an ordinary child, with indescribable innocence in his eyes rather than infinite wisdom.
Entering February, Rurik's close relationship with the others in Carlotta Musha was suspended. An indescribable feeling took possession of her mind. Carlotta longed for a child more intensely than ever.
It was a quiet noon. Rurik took advantage of the opportunity to eat and explained his decision to his father Otto without leaving his chopsticks.
"Our goal is to get out of the Rossberg Fjord, and now the time is ripe. Dad, I want to order a large-scale immigration of the people this year. This is no longer a small-scale operation, I want most of the people to move."
Hearing this, Otto stopped feeding his granddaughter. He handed the spoon to Niya and said with a sullen face, "Have you finally decided?"
"Decided."
"Really decided?"
"Yes!" Rurik's voice increased. He was a little curious as to why his father asked him twice in a row. There must be something hidden.
As expected, Otto did hold back some words.
An old soldier stroked his beard: "Child, today's barren Fort Ross is no longer barren, we have become rich and powerful. We have built a lot, especially palaces and temples. There are also iron factories and shipyards there. Do we have to give up? These?"
"I've thought of it for a long time. I'm not giving up on Roseburg."
"Then you ordered the large-scale immigration, and the population of Roseburg was withered. I was a little reluctant to leave it, haha." Otto couldn't help but think back to the past. Speaking of the large-scale immigration, he was the one who presided over the initial immigration project. It should be fully implemented this year. , even if I really implement it, I feel a little empty in my heart.
Rurik nodded: "I will issue an order. The people of our old tribe, men, women, old and young, will all immigrate here. Our people farm the land of the old Pine Needle Manor. This is the best land. Whatever you plant can produce anything." .”
"Of course, they must carry out your orders. I still have some concerns. Many people have built houses. Do you want them to give up their houses?"
"It doesn't matter if those properties are abandoned. At worst, I will buy the properties! Our tribe must settle in Novorosberg and Novgorod on a large scale. We can eat home-grown wheat this autumn. Hehe, the fields of the old Pine Needle Manor have been explored When it's over, I will distribute the land to the clan members, and the price will be to pay me tithe every year. This is fair."
"It's indeed fair. But our hometown won't thaw until the end of April, and the fields here will thaw at the end of February. You need to plow the land quickly, and the land can't be left to waste," Otto reminded.
"That's natural. There are some veterans of the Second Banner Corps here. They also have their own sons and grandsons. Many of them are actually young people from the First Banner Corps. I will give them priority in allocating land. Each family will allocate one hectare to them first. Grain. I am hiring local Slavic farmers to plant the land and paying them for their labor. Don’t worry, I don’t dare to miss the farming season.”
His son was clearly confident, and Otto, who had actually retired for many years, was focused on his son, and naturally fully agreed with his son's decision.
Otto still has great influence. More than a hundred veterans of the Second Banner are currently stranded in Novgorod. They were happily summoned by Otto.
A large group of men with gray beards in deerskin coats gathered together. Their average age was over forty-five, and their prime years were gone. Although they could still continue to fight, they just lost the infinite strength of their youth.
No, there are more than ten widowed veteran soldiers who directly married local widows, and naturally they also have stepsons and stepdaughters. Even veteran soldiers who were widowed and lost their children before they were too old actually ushered in a new life in Novgorod.
The Duke is going to announce the issue of farmland distribution. The Duke really respects the old soldiers!
In fact, in traditional Viking society, those who lost their labor force were a burden and deserved to die. This is very cruel and realistic. Limited resources are given priority to men, because it is precisely young men who have the ability to ensure the survival of the tribe.
This is not the case in Novgorod's agricultural society. The elderly represent wisdom and the most experienced farmers. Young people need to be taught how to farm by the elderly at home. The two groups, differentiated by their methods of production, now merge into one.
Rurik is not a Viking at heart. He is an old warrior who respects his tribe. Because supplies are becoming more and more abundant, he can single-handedly support the livelihood of the entire Ross family.
It's a charity, but the old guy has to contribute to the Duke again.
The scene was a bit chaotic. These people gathered in a large wooden house. Seeing Rurik, a shining young boy, leave the factory, they all let out a Viking war cry full of vicissitudes of life in unison with great tacit understanding.
There is a stove indoors and the air is very warm. Rurik simply took off his shirt and showed off his arms with obvious muscle texture.
Lord Rurik stretched out his hand to signal for silence. When he spoke, his voice was like an adult, rich and penetrating.
Indeed, Rurik's physiological voice-changing period has come to an end, and his height is astonishing.
Because he had eaten and drank well, and his body had undergone too much exercise, he had not yet reached the peak of his strength. His current condition was already very alarming. Maybe Rurik can't grow into a two-meter giant. I'm afraid it's okay to grow to 1.9 meters.
It is normal for a Nordic man to grow into a little giant as long as he has enough food and drink to grow up. Let’s look at Ross’s First Flag Troop of Warriors. Their average per capita is more than 185㎜, so their momentum can easily suppress the group of dwarfs in the Karelian Army.
Not only do they eat meat but also bread, and the Russians are even taller! It’s just that Rurik doesn’t like being too tall, but he does know that young people in Rus are destined to marry Slavic women on a large scale. Of course, the height of their offspring will shrink, but they will not become shorter.
In full view of everyone, Rurik first praised the veteran warriors for their efforts in the rise of Ross, and then began to read out his resolution.
He can give impromptu speeches, and today he deliberately took out a piece of paper and read from a document he had written.
He was clearly announcing the decree in person, and a sense of solemnity arose spontaneously. Of course, the old guys are all paying attention to the paper in Rurik's hand. There is indeed a lot of words written on it. It is the legendary "cork board", which is really wonderful and convenient.
Behind more than a hundred old guys are more than a hundred families. Rurik announced that each family will get one hectare (Russian system, equivalent to 980 meters in length and width) of mature land.
Based on Rurik's investigation, a Swedish farmer can take care of one hectare of farmland. The land is actually not small. Their method is to scatter seeds roughly and randomly. Rurik estimates that if they cultivate more intensively, the wheat yield may be as high as Four thousand Roman pounds were broken.
The scene began to become extremely lively. Everyone knew that the property rights of those lands belonged to the Duke. Now the Duke announced that he had given up his property rights.
Of course it comes with a price, which is the generational tithe. How difficult is this? The old guys all dream of getting fertile land. They were fishermen when they were young. It’s not that they don’t want to grow wheat because they don’t have the opportunity. Now that they have the opportunity, their children will inherit it from generation to generation.
So what’s the harm in tithing? Everyone can clearly see what the Duke did. Rurik is a saint, and the taxes and tribute collected will eventually benefit everyone. After all, the tax burden turned into labor remuneration, weapons to defend Rus, and a proud fleet.
The noise couldn't stop, and Rurik and Otto were enjoying it.
They were happy and satisfied, and Rurik continued to announce some detailed terms. Agriculture will be related to the future of the development of Russia. For farmers, Rurik wants to encourage farmers to grow mulberry trees, and all the details are also encouraging.
The so-called detailed rules and so-called terms, the core is that "the farmer will have his land, and the lazy will not be engaged in production but will still be taxed."
Rurik also encouraged everyone to open up wasteland, and no tax would be levied on the land opened up for one year. and other incentives. It's basically the same strategy as New Roseburg.
The contract must be in writing, otherwise it will be empty and if something goes wrong, it will weaken the Duke's credibility.
No, everyone was surprised when they saw Rurik's first wife panting into the room holding a stack of papers. Hundreds of sheets of "kraft paper" stacked together are indeed very heavy.
The paper is all written with runes, and all the old guys understand this traditional Norse writing form. Rurik worked tirelessly to write nearly four hundred copies for this conference. He was so tired that he shouted that movable type printing must be produced quickly.
The paper and the words written on it shocked everyone. Old Otto was also shocked. It used to be that carriers for writing were rare. Everyone just didn't expect that there were so many pieces of paper, and writing became casual.
Documents are issued one after another, and the documents are also in duplicate. Rurik signed a contract with everyone present, and both parties signed their names, patronyms, and nicknames in rune script.
This is the so-called land title contract, and it is also the earliest paper contract in the Principality of Ross!
Rurik knew that he was making history. The next step was to wait for the snow to melt and take them to demarcate the farmland of each family, so that when their children immigrated, they could immediately start the agricultural life they dreamed of. The people of Ross will live this good life on a large scale, but Ross will not give up on the ocean.
