Blue Fox sat down and blurted out the question.
"Sir, who is this child...?"
"He's my son." Rurik's words were quite calm.
Blue Fox was taken aback, feeling the absurdity of the atmosphere, and immediately said, "Queen..."
"Of course not my Lanna. Mary is dead. She died in childbirth. Only the child survived. Mary is the Princess of Mercia, and this child has the right to inherit the throne of Mercia."
"Ah? He... is a noble man. No, no, he is your son, born noble." Having said that, Lan Hu was even more confused, and then asked again: "Did you recruit me to be with this person?" Does the child matter?"
"Yes." Rurik's eyes were blazing: "Tell me what you saw in Hedeby. I remember you said that a monastery was built there."
He immediately pointed to John Invar's chest: "Just like this pendant, their monastery has such a symbol."
"It's a cross, I know it. The Franks believe in this, some Saxons also believe in it, and your...that princess also believes in this."
Rurik nodded: "Now that you know, things will be easier to handle. Listen!"
"yes."
"You still have to go back to Hedeby, and you have to sell a lot of squirrel skins for me."
"Follow your orders, this is my duty."
"The reward is indispensable to you. Of course, you have to try to sell it at a high price, and then buy slaves and other things locally. You have to remember not to buy things that are too luxurious, and try to purchase supplies that are beneficial to life. This autumn, these supplies will be Don't send them to Roseburg, send them all to me here in the east..."
Rurik described a lot of things, and he didn't believe that Blue Fox could write them down very well.
"Don't worry, I will write down whatever I want you to do and what I don't want you to do. You just have to do what the document requires."
"Is it a document written on paper?" The blue fox's mind was stirring, and he suddenly stuck out his fat head and big ears boldly: "If we transport the paper to Hedeby, we will make a fortune. Sir, I hope you can consider it. .”
"You think I don't understand? I am the only one making this kind of good stuff, and I will not export it to make money before we can use it for ourselves. Don't worry, we will make a fortune from it sooner or later, but not now."
Rurik let out another breath: "You will complete the business affairs very well, this is your formality. In addition, I want you to find Hedebe's monastery in person."
"Ah?! Why? Oh, I understand. You want me to infiltrate, pretend to believe in their gods, and then gain some benefits?"
The description of the blue fox really left Rurik speechless, but it aroused John Invar's interest.
"If possible, would you accept those people's beliefs?" Rurik asked deliberately.
But I saw the blue fox looked indifferent: "I just believe in money. Who knows after death?"
It was as if an unscrupulous businessman was sitting in front of him. Also, if this guy only cares about money, this person will be easier to control.
"That's fine. You can believe whatever you want, but there is an old friend of mine in that monastery."
"Old friend? My lord, when did you have any friendship with those Frank monks?"
"Yes!" Rurik pointed to the people around him with a smile: "John Invar, he is a Frankish monk. I am sure that the biggest boss in the Hedebe Monastery you saw is Eskil. More than two years ago This old guy came to Roseburg before, and he annoyed me, so I put him under house arrest for half a year. But this guy can still be used."
Blue Fox suddenly realized: "Oh? You sent me to negotiate with this person and make some secret deals?"
"Yes! No. I want you to bring John Ingvar here and deliver my handwritten letter accurately. It doesn't matter if I tell you the specific content of the letter." Rurik gently shook the child in his arms: "He is Lei Graf, the grandson of King Wiglaf of Mercia, is the heir to the throne. This child has been baptized. What I need is for Eskil to be a guarantee, recognize the child's religious status, and then obtain the support of some Frankish nobles. Admit it. You have to understand that maybe you see that old guy looks humble, but he is actually a big shot."
Blue Fox glanced at John Ingvar, and raised his head confidently: "Simply sending this kid there is not a problem. Hedeby is a free port, I have nothing to fear, and with the help of that guy old Eric, I will Get things done.”
"You must do it well. Ah!" Rurik sighed inexplicably: "It's time to adjust our relationship with Denmark. I heard that there is a leader named Horik Klarsson."
"Yes." When the prince mentioned this name, Blue Fox became nervous instantly: "My lord, although Hedebi is free. But I heard from the locals that if this exiled man comes back, the merchants will no longer have a good life. In recent years, this person has been releasing news to regain his position. This person will definitely take action. There must be Frankish forces behind this person. I am afraid that this will threaten our interests. "
"It might lead to a war. Are you afraid of this? I'm not afraid. However, I do hope to negotiate with this person."
"Huh? You won't go to Hedeby yourself, will you?"
Rurik shook his head: "I don't know who Horik Klarsson is. If he gets the Danish throne, maybe I can cooperate with him. If he is unwilling to cooperate, I will force him to cooperate. Blue Fox Brother, the situation in Mälaren is no longer good. The people have become poor. It will not be easy for us to make big profits in the future. We need the Danish market to make big money, and the previous state of war must be lifted. We must cooperate with the possible new Denmark. Wang cooperates. My old Rus people are very fond of interests that are generally exclusive to Danes, so I need you."
These words were really enlightening. Anything related to business can deeply stimulate Lan Hu's spirit. He joked: "If that man also has some business spirit, everything will be easier."
"I'm afraid that guy is a stubborn warrior, full of war and conquest, just like Hafgen who I killed."
"This is the only thing you can rest assured about."
"Why do you see it?" Rurik asked, puzzled by the blue fox's awkward smile.
"The former Danish leader Harald Clark believed in the gods of the Franks and was expelled by all the Danish leaders. I heard that this Horik Klarsson was his nephew. It is said that he served under the Frankish king for many years and was still in Flanders. Si is running his own industry. This man has the same beliefs as Eskil, and is by no means a reckless man bent on war. But he is such a person, and I am worried that the Danish leaders will unite to expel him."
"Then I will help him get the position and then ask for benefits." Rurik said ambitiously.
"If this is the case... Sir, we also have to consider the possibility of civil war in Denmark. At any time, we must protect our business, unless you decide to be the king of Denmark yourself. I think you have this strength. "
Become King of Denmark? what is this? Rurik could hear that this guy was complimenting him, but he never disdained this suggestion. The prince must consider the attitude of his people. People have never been interested in the countless islands in Denmark. How can it be as interesting as Eastern Europe, a land with rich water and grass?
Blue Fox has received his important task. As long as he does these well, his personal achievements can surpass his elder brother. By that time, I am afraid that my wealth will have surpassed the inheritance of my father Gould.
The spring rain lasted for many days. When the sky cleared up again and the extremely warm south wind swept through the green forests, summer began to flourish throughout Northeast Europe at a speed visible to the naked eye.
The growth cycles of oats and spring wheat controlled by the Russians are very short, and they can be harvested in an average of about 110 days from sowing. The area around Lake Ilmen is sown at the end of April in the Julian calendar, so the traditional harvest season is in early August. This time a large amount of wheat was sown late, and the harvest was destined to be delayed until the end of August or early September.
The situation is not bad, because Lake Mälaren in Sweden harvests at this time every year, and the Russian immigrants are mentally prepared.
Not only were they mentally prepared for the harvest, but they were also prepared for the large-scale immigration.
The women and children who rushed to Novgorod with the ship all described the same fact, that is, the people in Rosberg's hometown were eager to try. People in Rus's headquarters have the right to immigrate, and they generally request to move. Rurik listened to the women's descriptions, and it seemed that as long as he went back with the fleet and his family members boarded the ship with their luggage, the big migration could be easily completed.
Of course, things are not that simple. Many people are not allowed to immigrate. Especially in the current era, although Roseburg is not suitable for farming at all and is frozen for half of the year, it does have great economic value - a pioneer of industry.
Rossburg must survive forever and become the iron smelting center of the duchy along with Ironburgh in the north. It is also an acceptable shipbuilding base, but the shipbuilding environment is obviously not as good as Novorosberg or even Novgorod at your feet. With the current technological conditions, it is difficult to create a large spread. To build more Aurora-class sailing ships, it is entirely possible to build a shipbuilding dock in the warmer Lake Ilmen with many trees.
Of course, if too many people immigrate to Eastern Europe, there will be a massive loss of population on the one hand, and a large number of people entering on the other. Too radical immigration will be very harmful to the Principality of Rus.
Rurik wanted to seek stability, so he organized a fleet to return to his hometown.
The rain had stopped and a key meeting was taking place in the city's Rosduma.
There were many people at this meeting. Boyar nobles from all the Slavic farms around the lake gathered, and Carlota and Arik who were building new homes also arrived. The elites in the region gathered together to listen, first recounting old times and reporting on their respective work, and then listening to Prince Rurik's speech.
There is no need to say more about the plowing time. After the spring plowing was completed, the surveying and mapping team composed of wives and concubines had already taken the boat and continued to work in various manors. They are the prince's women and the daughters of Dahu, and they are protected by mercenary warriors. They represent the authority of the prince. If they are neglected, they will act coquettishly and complain on the prince's bed, and disasters on the farm will follow.
Rurik raised his chin and announced loudly: "I am about to return to my hometown with my fleet, and two thousand people will arrive here soon! You boyars, many years ago we asked you to hand over a group of women to be our Russian wives. , I know you are of course very reluctant. Now they are about to come back with their children, and they will not leave again. So I want to build new settlements on the lakeside, in addition to Mstisk, which is under construction, there are more. So , you want you to cut down more big trees and ask for land from the forest.
The newly arrived Rus's will mainly hit Novgorod and Mstisk. This lake area will become more and more densely populated and we will have more farmland.
I will also build a permanent large altar and erect a golden statue of the god. I want to build bigger granaries, bigger cities, and better docks. There are also blacksmith shops, leather workshops and other various workshops..."
In a word, Rurik hopes that the Ilmen Lake District will become an economic zone that far exceeds the Lake Mälaren District. Unlike Lake Mälaren, this lake district will be directly ruled by the Prince of Rus, and the internal structure will be more orderly.
A few hundred people in a village can't create much. If more than a dozen villages form a group, things will start to change. When multiple village groups form a city, the inevitable urban life will prompt a group of outstanding people to create more.
Rurik specially ordered Governor Medvet, and everyone knew about this in advance.
"I heard that there are a large number of villages in the dense forest outside the lake. You boyars are all here. Those people who are hiding seem to be in good contact with you. In fact, it is obvious that you have a common ancestor. Now everything has changed! Mei De Wet, I order you to lead the soldiers to find them! This is an order. When you find a farm, force it to surrender, determine its location and the route to the farm, and bring one of the leader's sons or daughters to Mstisk As hostages.”
Medved naturally agreed without hesitation. He actually knew that this radical method might arouse resistance. Resist? Fight if you resist!
This order was not entirely given to him. It would take forever for Medved to lead the troops to search the vast forest alone.
Rurik slightly changed his mind: "All boyars, listen to the order. You are obliged to find the hidden farm. You go to find it, persuade them to surrender, and bring the hostages back. I will use your instructions during this year's harvest season." As a result, your taxes will be reduced and reduced. If you do well, I will also give you monetary rewards."
Is there such a good thing?
Many farm residents do not dare to go deep into the dense forest. First of all, it is troublesome to find those hidden farms in the dense forest. The biggest problem is that they will be attacked by wild animals. They lack experience in bear hunting, and it happens that brown bears in the area regard humans as food.
The prince did not quantify the amount of tax exemptions and bounties, but everyone was convinced that the prince would keep his promise. With a visible reward, they are willing to take risks. The farm is past its peak farming season anyway. If the men are organized to pick up iron spears and explore together, they won't be killed by bears, right? If we catch a bear along the way, everyone will share the bear meat, and we can still make a fortune by selling the terrifying bear head and large leather to the Russians.
They participated in this meeting and brought over some dried squirrels that they had hunted in winter. The businessman Blue Fox decisively purchased them at a very low price, and both parties were very satisfied with the result.
The boyars beat their chests vigorously, promising that they would work hard to find the hidden person.
The attitude of these guys was so firm that Medved had to make a bigger guarantee.
This man, who is currently one of the few Slavs with a strong physique, made a greater promise: "I will find them and then move their farms directly to the lake. I will let them open up new farmland by the lake, and the population will directly accept it." The governance of the princes. Since the princes need manpower, I think this is the best way. If they don't comply, I will use force to coerce them. If they dare to resist, I will start a war! If killing one or two hidden farms can deter the others who are hiding, force them to do so. If they cooperate, I will take the initiative to do so.”
Medvedt assured him that he sounded like a true Viking.
If this is the case, then the method is indeed crude and very necessary for the principality. What the principality needs is a large population that can be directly controlled. The population also needs to be densely populated to create greater wealth and stronger overall strength.
Rurik thought for a moment and was completely convinced of Medvet's more radical plan.
As a result, finding hidden villages and forcibly relocating residents has become a must-do for Novgorod this summer. The strength of the method depends on Medvet's will. If this guy can lead the Slavic flag team for a walk in the forest and transform people into living beings, even if he can create 10,000 new residents on the lakeside, this group of new subjects will be Rurik. There is also a material basis to support them until next autumn's harvest, and they will also reap the wealth of their labor.
