The tall and long wooden city wall reminded Kagan of a legend. Legend has it that the Theodosian wall of the Romans was tall and long. Could it be that the Novgorod city of the Russians was the same as the Roman Constantinople?
In the concept of this son of the prairie, "city" is a very vague concept. If the number of people living in it is large enough, the large account area of his alliance can also be regarded as a city. Tents all over the mountains and fields have sprung up along the Volga River. It is the trading market of herdsmen and the residence of khans and priests. Respectable people from the entire tribal alliance are willing to come.
There are always herds of cattle and sheep wandering around the big tent area. The large number of livestock raised by the people are the source of food and clothing for everyone. These livestock always eat up the pastures, forcing the big tent area to walk along the river every few years. Move once.
Russians do not live a happy and free life at all!
Snow has covered a lot of flat ground. It is said that the fields were full of wheat a few months ago. The Rus people have completed the harvest and their warehouses have enough supplies to feed everyone until next autumn.
This group of visitors from the far east rode horses and stood under the city. The messenger was the first to sail on Lake Ilmen, which was about to freeze, and reported the news to Rurik.
A group of horse riders from the East traveled thousands of miles to sell horses? Is it a scale of hundreds of horses in one move?
This good thing was completely beyond Rurik's expectation, and the good news was no less than the rain after a long drought.
Yes, Rurik dreamed of building a cavalry force to enhance his combat effectiveness and improve the efficiency of information dissemination. He really got what he wanted. But then I thought about it and realized that this was not just a coincidence.
"Makesakei, you are here again this year? You gave me a big gift as soon as you came, and I want to reward you again."
Rurik was prepared. The team still had to walk along the river for two to three days. He had enough time to set up a guard of honor to greet them.
The messenger said that the horsemen had a group of armed men. It is not surprising that they are armed. A group of merchants have gone on a long journey, and even the bears and wolves encountered during the journey can become fatal threats. Moreover, they have to pass through the area controlled by the Smolensk people. It is reasonable to carry weapons and swords to conduct business.
But the messenger also said that those people looked very strange, and some Finns looked very different. They all have black hair, and the leader has a strange mustache. He is short in stature and does not understand Norse at all. He does understand Slavic, and anyone with poor pronunciation can basically understand it.
Are the main guests from the East? Looks like a Finn?
The messenger mentioned a word, and Rurik judged decisively that the person coming was the Pecheneg.
OK! The owner of the horse has delivered the goods to his door!
The team of Kagan and Sakhi were too arrogant, and they all walked at least, while the Ostara warriors "guarding" around them all walked with flags, as if these foreign visitors were the upper class.
They passed the farm, and even though it was cold, the bored people still ran out of their homes, either looking at the horse team from a distance, or approaching directly to see their true appearance.
Horses are not a rare thing in Novgorod, but the presence of a large number of equestrians at the same time is unprecedented!
It is very shameful to say that the local Slavs do not know how to ride. They use horses as draft animals for pulling carts and plows, and their functions are more similar to those of oriental cattle. Of course they knew about the existence of cavalry, but they had no choice but to have a small number of horses, not to mention their short size.
Last year, foreign horsemen sold some better horses to the prince. It is said that the prince is already planning to create a cavalry force belonging to the principality.
But what does this kind of thing have to do with everyone who farms? Even in terms of profits, the biggest beneficiaries are the various Varangians living in Novgorod and the guys from White Tree Manor.
Think about it! Is there anything more interesting than watching the excitement? Life is lacking in fun anyway.
Kagan, a sneaky onlooker, had already noticed it. He didn't bother to figure out the reason along the way. It was probably because his team was too conspicuous.
He didn't mean to be arrogant, but he entered a new field and was surprised by the lifestyle here that was completely different from his hometown. His curiosity trumped everything.
The tall wooden walls of Novgorod surprised him and allowed him to see the true "city style". The uniformly dressed warriors gathered at the city wall not only made him subconsciously alert, but also made him realize that Prince Rus was fully aware of his arrival.
As it happened, Jevlo himself was in the city.
In principle, Javlo is not the earl of Finland. The real earl is his eldest son. He can exercise the power of the lord and is actually a "political earl". However, in the core area ruled by the Rus Principality, Rurik was willing to reconnect with him and appoint him as the captain of the bodyguard until the snow melts next spring.
This is a personal friendship and a test. No, Yevluo was ordered to be the messenger.
Since the Finnish Suomis and the Turkic Pechenegs both have their ancestry from North Asia, perhaps their slightly similar looks can bring about a special closeness.
Jevro didn't know the prince's intention, but he knew his duty very well.
The mercenary troops are essentially guards. They are the best armed and the brightest. Not only do each of them have blue goose feathers on their helmets, forming a gorgeous crown. Everyone's chests wrapped in white robes are covered with huge interlaced blue patterns. The cowhide armed belts are firmly tied, and there are uniform steel swords hanging on their waists, as well as various personal belongings.
The Guards were short of manpower, so Ragnar's troops also accepted the letter and put on temporary clothes to act as "extra actors". Suddenly, more than 300 people lined up at the city gate and formed two human walls along the road.
If you want a guard of honor, do your honor guard work to the extreme!
No, Rurik gave his concubine Noren, who was obsessed with music, the opportunity to perform. She brought her team of musicians, dressed up like a simple priestess, and went outside the city with bone flutes and fart drums. They lined up and played "Ode to Joy" as a welcome song to welcome visitors.
The Russian flag is flying, white with blue stripes. Is this their symbol?
Their warriors all wore burqas with armor inside, and were ornately decorated.
Hidden behind the gorgeous appearance is definitely ferocity. Kagan is also a veteran warrior at a young age. He can tell it in his eyes who has killed someone before. Look at this group of Ross warriors, all of them are killing people!
Those blond young girls aroused his curiosity. These women played flutes and drums, and the music they played was brisk and soothing. The mood they expressed was completely opposite to that of another group of arrogant warriors.
"Guests from afar, the great prince has received your request. The prince allows the Pecheneg envoy to enter the city and your leader to enter the palace for detailed discussions. Please dismount first."
The speaker was a short man, whose appearance was different from other Rus's. The man spoke in Slavic, which Kagan understood.
When he hesitated, Sakhi hurriedly dismounted, then dragged Kagan down with his bare hands, and whispered: "I advise you not to hesitate and listen to their requests carefully. We are in their hands now, and they are very powerful. .”
Of course, the snow outside the city was not a meeting place. Kagan dismounted deftly, took off his own fur and walked towards Jevlo with a smile.
"You...are a noble person?"
"I am a noble of the Principality of Rus. You... it seems that you are the leader of the Pechenegs?"
Sakye had never met Yevro, and he knew from this scene that he was a big shot. He bowed his back and introduced with a smile on his face: "Sir, this young man is the son of Pecheneg Khan... Well, it is equivalent to the status of the eldest son of the prince of Rus. He is the Pecheneg envoy, leading Came for the purpose of trade and peace."
"A nobleman too? Then, please follow me into the city. The prince also ordered that you can bring ten followers with you, and the others and their horses will be waiting outside the city."
"Just let my people stay in the snow?" Kagan asked doubtfully.
"This is what the prince wants. You and your people are naturally not allowed to enter the city at will until you get authorization. I heard that you are here to sell horses. I saw it. Your horses are definitely of high quality, and the prince must like them too."
The shock affects both parties! The Ross troops lined up also noticed the horses in front of them. Many people had experience fighting cavalry and knew the advantages of cavalry. Even if the cavalry was beaten to death by the torsion slingshot, if the cavalry army was in the hands of the Ross army, the situation would be completely different.
Ragnar was among the guards, and he also coveted these horses. After all, seeing the proud and heroic appearance of the horseman, any man would be envious and wanted to ride on it to try out the feeling and even gallop.
Kagan finally entered the big city of the Principality of Ross. He saw neat houses, smooth roads, and even drainage ditches.
He was also aware of the existence of the market and saw a large number of people passing by stopping to look at him.
What made him slightly disappointed was that Prince Rus did not have a particularly grand palace. All he had here was a large wooden house and a group of ancillary buildings. Perhaps this was because it was not a royal city.
At the same time, Rurik had already changed his clothes and waited for the guests. On both sides of him were specially invited warriors, especially the burly men from the first flag team, who simply sat cross-legged on the side wall of the palace. Go up two rows to give the prince some peace of mind.
The house was brightly lit by candlelight, and a matrix of three chandeliers lowered from the roof.
The oil lamp holders on the side walls are very particular. Under each bronze lamp there must be a white bear head. The ferocious fangs are indescribably powerful and domineering.
A young man with a golden beard sat in the high hall. He was wearing a white bear skin, a fox fur hat on his head, and his clothes were dotted with a large number of gems.
He looks like a wealthy businessman?
No! The eyes of this young man can't lie. He is an extremely fierce warrior. His sharp eyes seem to say, "I killed ten thousand warriors."
Kagan and his entourage had to take off all their weapons. As soon as they entered the palace, they heard the news in Slavic from a noble person on the stage: "Is this the Pecheneg envoy?"
Kagan was still standing, but when Sakye heard the sound, he hurriedly sat down cross-legged, and then suddenly pulled Kagan down.
"Your Majesty, this is a warrior from the eastern grassland, the son of the local leader, and will inherit the position of leader in the future." Sakye said flatteringly.
"The Khan of the Pechenegs?" Rurik was also surprised, "You actually have such a noble status?"
"I do have a noble status." Kagan raised his head uninhibitedly.
"Very good. It seems that what the messenger said is true. As you can see, I am the prince of Rus, the conqueror of the north, the owner of the sea, the ruler of the Slavs, and loved by the gods. People are also the best buyers for your horses. So, your name? Your intentions?"
Any person with status can name a series of self-proclaimed noble titles. Kagan was indeed timid for a while. After all, he had not achieved any impressive results and did not dare to brag.
This Prince of Rus is very young as rumored. He is not as timid as his peers, and his words reveal full of confidence and arrogance.
The prince's arrogance did not bother Kagan. The prince was definitely smart and had already named his intention to buy the horse.
The topic immediately broke through, and the possibility of awkward conversations was non-existent from the beginning.
"I am Kagan, the next Khan of Pecheneg. We must be your best horse supplier. Yes, this time I follow my father's order to do horse trading with you directly."
"Very good! Have fun! Someone is here! Give me some wine!"
After giving the order, the ministers presented Ross's fine wine. It was a cocktail. The so-called craft and distilled vodka was blended with a large amount of honey and soaked in some dried raspberries. It had a high alcohol content and the extreme sweetness overshadowed the spiciness. It only had the aroma of honey, fruit and wine. .
Rurik also picked up a glass of wine.
Kagan was confused and shocked for a moment. What he was holding in his hand was a crystal cup. The wine contained a complex aroma, a yellowish color, and an overall purity.
Since the other party is of Turkic origin, it must be that the grassland is home. Any prairie people always have a good time. It is said that when drinking, you need a big bowl, and when eating meat, you need to hold the bones and gnaw it. Drinking and eating meat in a rough way shows the pride of host and guest.
Rurik simply raised his glass and stood up with a bold look on his face: "Guests from afar, it is fate that we meet. Let's drink this glass of wine together and talk about horses immediately."
"Your Majesty, how can you be so generous?!" Kagan was quite surprised.
"Is there any more nonsense? I long for your horses. I think in your opinion, a hundred words of good blessings are not as good as my immediate money to buy the horses, right? You are just here for trade, we should Try your best to get a deal done today.”
Is there such a good thing? Kagan was eager to complete the transaction immediately and keep the money in his hands.
"Since the prince is so interested in this deal, let's drink a toast! Your hospitality will be spread throughout the grasslands, and we will have better trade prospects." After that, Kagan drank the wine in one gulp.
Business is business, and Rurik has no intention of cheating these Turks.
Kagan is actually the son of Pecheneg Khan. Regardless of whether this name is true or not, whether future trade can proceed smoothly is the last word. As the saying goes, it doesn’t matter whether the person who comes is a cat or a dog. If you can send a horse to Ross, it doesn’t matter whether it is stolen or robbed. The person who sends the horse is a hero.
However, the appearance of this group of Pechenegs instantly made Rurik think a lot - maybe the plan to train cavalry should be put on the fast track.
It’s better to settle the business deal immediately! Although the principality's large treasury was housed in Novorosberg, due to the large cash expenditures required for the development of handicraft industry, there was also a small treasury in Novgorod, with a stock of up to 800 pounds of silver coins. Based on his experience in the spring, Rurik thought about this wave of uninvited horse foreign trade transactions. The money should be enough, and he would have to haggle at the worst.
"You really plan to sell a hundred horses?" Rurik asked hurriedly when he saw him toasting.
"Exactly."
"So..." Rurik wanted to find a price, but he decisively thought of Sakhi's outrageous offer last year, and now he suppressed his words.
"Price? According to our custom, a group of mares has the highest price. The horses I brought are all mares."
"They're all mares?!"
"Because mare is the best for riding. Maybe you don't understand it now, but you will understand it after you buy my horse."
Rurik probably understood what Kagan meant. The so-called steppe cavalry always carries mares on expeditions. Except for the core elite of the Mongolian army that expedition to Western Europe, the other cavalry were all from Turks. They all live by water and grass, their lifestyles have a lot in common, and they are all naturally managed by the same Khan. The cavalrymen on the expedition could stay on their horses all the way, sleeping on their backs, and sipping mare's milk when they were hungry. The cavalry mare is not only a tool for riding and fighting, but also almost all logistics.
"Okay, what's your price?"
"We walked for three months and went through a lot of hardships, and finally arrived at your territory, so..."
"Are the prices going to go up?"
"Exactly. So, one pound of silver for one horse." Kagan said a little timidly, but Rurik, on the other hand, straightened up after hearing this number.
"What did you say?!"
"Ah! Your Majesty! We have gone through a lot of hardships. From the far east to this far north, it is reasonable to increase the price. Please accept it."
"You!" Rurik covered his face with one hand, his murderous eyes staring directly at the trembling Maksakhi through his fingers.
Rurik never expected that there was still such a business. The horse breeder had to explain every price of one pound for fear that the buyer would be unhappy. Co-author Sakhi and his group once raised the price tenfold! For the sake of 1000% profit, this group of Kiev horse riders really dare to engage in the "Eastern European Grand Series" to eat both sides.
The transactions were a thing of the past in the spring, and the stallions they bought went crazy, so much so that now all the mares in Novgorod had bloated bellies. Sakhi sold the horse and withdrew. Thinking of those things, Rurik couldn't help but sigh at the mobility of this Kiev man. It was really just for trade. This man had been moving fast for a whole year, without even having time to rest. With this kind of business Even if the motivation is to give him a big ship, he can't directly reach the New World.
Apparently Sakye still lied in the spring. The cost of the ten horses described in the so-called open heart was forty pounds of silver coins. In the end, it was still nonsense. It was just the words of profiteers! Even now that Rurik knows this, he is not angry at all. It should even be kept a secret. Because the horse supplier delivers the goods to their doorstep, they take care of the distribution work themselves, and there is no need for second-tier dealers.
Cagan said that one hundred mares were available for sale, but the other horses were not included in the sale as they were used as rides and pack animals on the return trip.
"When do we trade? When do I get the money?!" Kagan asked very matter-of-factly.
The other party was so sincere, Rurik thought that it would be unreasonable for him to hesitate at all. He stood up again and announced: "Now, you are about to get the money! A total of ten thousand fine silver coins! Let's go! I'll go see those horses first. What a happy event, Kagan, you and your people You are all my friends. I’m going to treat you to a banquet tonight!”
