What is a good meal?
Whenever there is a gathering on the grassland, the distinguished leaders gather together and slaughter a few sheep and roast them until they are charred and oily. Everyone walks up with knives, cuts off their favorite parts and gnaws them. This is a grassland feast.
The feast will be even more wonderful if it is accompanied by kumiss.
Kagan's concept of good food is very limited. He had heard that the Romans were very good at eating and they also liked the taste of wine very much.
In their hometown, wine has of course flowed into Pecheneg society. There would be Caucasian wine merchants from Abkhazia, Georgia and Armenia, selling wine in barrels in exchange for Pecheneg horses.
Horses are a kind of hard currency. It is obvious that the trade with the Russians in the far north is a win-win situation. In Kagan's opinion, among all the trading partners, only the Russians are the most decisive in taking out silver coins.
Because Rurik quickly left the city and saw those horses!
Turkic horses have long manes, and even the hooves have slightly more manes. Most horses do not have iron horseshoes, but the cuticles of the horseshoes are trimmed.
They were not afraid of people at all when they were gathered together. They stepped on the snow one by one and were busy breathing heavily.
Stroking the horse's mane, the horse has no intention of kicking and is as docile as an old friend.
"Can I ride one?" Rurik couldn't suppress his inner restlessness and casually asked Kagan.
This proposal is really bold. Even if Prince Rus is noble, he doesn't know how to gallop!
But Kagan doesn’t understand it at all…
"Yes, I have to warn that good horse riders need training. Moreover, I cannot guarantee that the horse you choose will be absolutely docile."
"I appreciate your kindness. Just choose a docile horse! Remember!" Rurik glared at Kagan solemnly, "I bought your Turkic horse just for galloping. I want to inspect it myself and make it for others. An example. I think you can guess my intention."
Some things cannot be hidden. For example, as early as in the far east, Kagan learned that the Russians in the north wanted to sell horses, and he took it for granted that the Russians wanted to build a cavalry unit. The geographical distance between the two sides is extremely long, and the Russians are willing to spend money to obtain horses. If the transaction is completed, they will definitely make a fortune, and the Pecheneg Alliance does not have to worry about the Russians being a military threat.
Kagan chose a good horse for Rurik, a tall horse with a shoulder height equivalent to 150cm.
This kind of shoulder height is superior among Turkic horse breeds. Although the Turkic horse cannot compare with the Arabian horse and Dawan horse in this time and space, it certainly has its own advantages, and even this strategic advantage is obvious!
Driven and pulled by humans, a herd of horses traveled from the shores of the Black Sea through grasslands, forests, swamps, and snow in just three months, and finally arrived in the bitter cold land of the north. The endurance of horses is truly amazing!
Rurik himself was a whole head taller than Kagan. A strong Nordic man still needed more muscles and fat to show his strength. Rurik's stature is still a little thin. Of course, he is standing on the snow, with a fair face and a golden beard. He does have the style of the "Lion of the North", giving Kagan a strong sense of oppression.
It would be absurd to say that Rurik did not know how to ride a horse.
But the kind of riding he was doing couldn't really be considered riding a horse.
Just like when a person learns to swim, the skill is imprinted in the soul. His heart will eventually be imprinted with a soul that transcends time and space, and this memory knows how to ride a horse. It was just a racecourse for tourists to play in the tidal flats of the Yellow River. The horses were tamed and docile. Tourists only needed to pedal on the horses, hold on to the reins and give instructions. These horses, which have been turned into money-making tools for their owners, are extremely docile. They will not hesitate to run a fixed number of laps around the racecourse and then stop very tactfully.
Tourists who experience the joy of galloping always dismount happily and pay happily.
This is how Rurik learned the so-called riding skills. Now in another time and space, at least he mounted the horse on the bronze pedals and grasped the reins, and the whole movement was done in one go.
He even couldn't help shouting "drive", but this Eastern command language was invalid for Turkic horses because the system was incompatible.
Even so, there are currently more than 2,000 people watching the horses at the city gate! People watched as the prince looked down at everyone smoothly, and the prince easily conquered the horse!
Kagan on the side was amazed and hurriedly taught some Turkic commands.
Now that the voice control system was compatible, Rurik suddenly realized that there was no difference between riding a horse and driving a car. If this horse were a vehicle, its control would be completely intelligent voice control.
He was already tall and he was riding a tall horse. Rurik's head was actually 260cm above the ground. It was no nonsense to look down on all living beings.
Rurik slipped around freely in front of everyone. He was fascinated by the docility of the horse. He suddenly gave an order to gallop. The horse suddenly accelerated after hearing the news. After giving another order, the horse immediately slowed down and turned into a stroll.
In joy, Rurik pulled out his sword. The shining steel sword was really dazzling in the sun.
He imitated the scene he saw in the movie, raised his right arm high, pointed the steel sword straight ahead, and made the horse gallop again, becoming a real Cossack cavalry!
His white fox hat ran away, and everyone saw the prince galloping, his brown pony tail swaying violently in the wind, and the golden pony tail behind the prince's head also fluttering in the wind.
This was the first time Kagan met the Prince of Ross. He never dreamed that the supreme leader of the Ross people could actually ride a horse naturally, as if his butt was growing on a horse. Look at the Maharaja's flowing blond hair, which looks exactly like a real ponytail.
When Rurik felt refreshed, the panting horse finally stopped. He released his right foot from the stirrup like a bicycle, and with a brisk sweep of his legs, he jumped off quickly.
Surprise and shock were written on Kagan's face.
"My lord, I never thought you were born to be a cavalryman!"
"Yes, it feels so good to feel so free. If you hadn't sent me the horse, I wouldn't have known that I was born to be a good horse rider." Rurik subconsciously stroked the horse's mane, "It's such a good horse. It was trained extremely well by you." . I no longer have any worries, and I will give you an extra amount of money."
Is there such a good thing? Being praised by noble people for being good at taming horses, Ganka was already happy. Now that he could get an extra reward, there was no reason not to accept it.
A wonderful state banquet was prepared intensively, and Kagan and his party also received the money to buy the horse.
Because her Carlotta was present, she had extensive experience in domesticating all types of large livestock. Carlotta checked all the horses and concluded that they were all young and good horses, so they could breed ponies in the spring.
Rurik felt that he had made a lot of money, and he was very happy to get 10,000 fine Frank silver coins.
The silver coins were divided into ten sacks, each bag weighing ten pounds. He guaranteed with his honor that he would not be short on money.
Does Kagan still suspect that the number of coins is insufficient? He had never seen a silver coin of this scale in his life. Each silver coin was printed with the name of King Charlemagne of the Franks. He took it for granted that it was the big head of some Roman emperor. Everything didn't matter. He verified the authenticity of the silver coin in his own way. He saw teeth marks on the silver coin. It must be a sufficient amount of silver. As for whether the quantity was sufficient, he simply ignored the issue.
A small bag of additional rewards was immediately distributed, and the small sack contained ten Frank gold coins. If the one hundred pound silver coin belongs to the Pecheneg Alliance, all the chiefs of the alliance are paying attention to this trade, and at least half of the money earned will be used to expand the arms of the Pecheneg Army. These ten gold coins became Kagan's private property.
The best gold coins are also rare. Kagan jumped with joy after picking up the gold coins. Of course gold coins can be traded, but Kagan has his own idea - to melt the gold coins and plate his helmet and iron mask with gold.
The warriors of the Turkic ethnic group all have one thing to pay attention to. If a warrior has enough assets, it is certain to wear iron armor all over the body. The helmet should be reinforced with iron plates, and a defensive mask made of iron or copper plates should be hung on the front of the face. The richer people should have the mask plated with gold.
This style was actually acquired from the confrontation between the Turks and the prosperous Tang Dynasty. It has only been a few years since the Pechenegs arrived at the Volga River, and the people's memory of the Tang Empire has not dissipated. The elites in the tribal alliance know some distant history and the reasons why many people migrate westward.
All horse guests are guests, including every one of Kagan's personal attendants who are entitled to a feast.
Before nightfall, Kagan's retainers were disarmed in exchange for being allowed into the city.
It must be said that this group of people reeked of stench. When they were ordered to take a shower, everyone showed an indescribable resistance. Kagan resisted it at first, as taking a bath was considered to be an easy way to be possessed by evil spirits.
Rurik didn't want to hear this argument at all. Anyway, all these people were armed, and there was a guy named Sakhi who kept acting as a lobbyist. After reviewing the situation, Kagan had no choice but to call on his men to be honest and obedient.
It is understandable that Turkic people from all walks of life are highly vigilant about bathing and washing clothes. In general, life on the grassland requires water conservation. Bathing is a shameful waste. At most, you can just wipe yourself. The legend of evil spirits is just a legend after all.
Entering the territory of the Ross people was an eye-opener for Kagan. While other guys gathered together to enjoy the rain treatment, she herself could soak in a comfortable wooden barrel.
This was a wonderful experience that he could not imagine, not to mention that the yellow-white cheese-like modules exuding a milky fragrance were applied all over the body, and the dirt was peeled off. His braids were all unstretched, and his hair, which had not been washed for many years, was now washed clean.
It is said that the Romans were very particular about bathing, and the Russians were also the same. He didn't know how the Romans bathed. This was how the Russians cleaned themselves. It was rare for Kagan to scrub away the dirt that had accumulated for many years, and even his whole body exuded a wonderful fragrance.
Because of the soap making, Rurik did not hesitate to order product iterations and upgrades after getting better materials.
The method of making lye from plant ashes became more and more sophisticated, and the important source of fat appeared as milk butter. Wild roses and chrysanthemums collected and dried were collected and boiled in water. These substances were mixed together to make milk soap. It is mainly given to the royal family and nobles, and Rurik uses it to cleanse his body. Of course, it is also sold on a small scale. Since the cost price is higher, the price cannot be solved by two silver coins.
Kagan even bit into the soap with his teeth. The aroma made him greedy, but the bitter taste and the foam in his mouth made him give up.
He was really hungry. He didn't know how wonderful the prince's Russian banquet was, let alone what grand talks the prince would talk at the banquet.
I was very greedy for that glass of mead. This one glass of mead made this man who prided himself on being a good drinker stagger a bit when he walked. Fortunately, he had a good drinker and was now completely normal. He wanted to drink fine wine again and was eager to bring some back to the nobles of the tribe to drink together. This was also a means of building relationships and paving the way for him to succeed the Khan in the future.
Kagan put on brand new clothes after washing comfortably.
What made him feel more intimate was that the Prince of Rus wore trousers, and his young wives, trusted nobles, and warriors all wore trousers. He has come into contact with many Krivi Slavs in the Kiev community. The guys who call themselves the Blood Alliance do not wear pants at all. If it were not for the need to protect the crotch when riding horses, Maksakye would not wear pants.
It was also through this contact that Kagan learned Slavic. He was able to have a pleasant conversation with the prince of Russia, and at the same time he fully understood that the Russians were not Slavs! The Rus were a people who conquered the sea, maneuvering their ships as the Pechenegs rode their horses. yes! When Kagan entered the city, he really saw the giant wooden ship moored in the dock area. The towering mast was as high as the big tree. He didn't know what this meant for a while, but he just sighed at the strength of the Russians.
She put on new clothes and new leather boots, and her coat was even more exquisite. It was a white bear fur coat with sleeves, and a scarf made of fox fur and wool. The leather jacket is quite thick and its thermal insulation effect is amazing.
According to the words of the Russian guards, this outfit was a reward from the Prince of Rus.
On the grassland, getting clean, decent and gorgeous clothes is a gratifying thing. Looking at his own clothes, Kagan estimates that his outfit from top to bottom is worth at least a pound of silver coins.
Indeed, bear skins are extremely rare in the steppes, and the guys over there in Kiev will sell them at extreme prices. Kagan had never even seen a bear, let alone a white-furred polar bear. At least he had seen a dead bear today. It was a bear head hanging in a circle on the wooden wall of the prince's palace. The ferocious fangs came from a beast he had never seen before. The ferocious fangs instantly inspired the depths of his soul. Kagan understands the fear of hunting ferocious beasts and taking their heads to show the strength of men. The prince of Rus decorated with as many as forty bear heads is too majestic and majestic.
Kagan finally opened his eyes, changed his outfit and walked out of the bathhouse. The smell of Novgorod's fireworks hit his face.
Although it is winter, urban life cannot avoid being born.
Rurik had no reason to issue a curfew. He even wanted the people to continue working on handicrafts on winter nights to create more wealth. After all, there was a sharp contradiction between the insufficient production of various materials and the people's growing demand for materials.
Such as pottery workshops, charcoal factories, brick factories, state-owned garment factories, state paper mills, shipyards, mills and bakeries, state-owned blacksmith shops, etc. all work overnight. Even if the door is closed due to heavy snow, people rely on the raw materials in stock. The oil lamp will continue to work when lit. In the past, people from all walks of life could not find new money-making jobs. During the long winter, they were more likely to hibernate in their houses like brown bears. They are not lazy people. Now they have a way to make money. The cubs who do not go to school in winter are now busy with Parents work together to earn extra money.
Novgorod was even more lively today because of the arrival of the horse passengers.
It is a habit of the Turks to eat and sleep in the open air, and they generally do not think it is too shabby, so Rurik gave Kagan's followers a large barn with a floor to stay in, and they were given absolutely enough bread and ale without having to pay a single copper coin, everyone. Just be grateful. Because they know the beauty of bread, but it is a pity that it is difficult to get such delicious food in the grassland life. They feasted on wheat bread and drank ale. Their stomachs were filled with carbohydrates for the first time in their lives. Their blood sugar soared for the first time, causing fatigue. In addition, alcohol numbed their nerves. They had just taken the most enjoyable bath in their lives, and they were embarrassed. Come, many Turkic warriors don’t care about anything.
Today they were wearing clothes and blankets given by Prince Rus for free, and they were eating delicious meals rewarded by Prince Rus. It is said that during their stay this winter, they would receive food rewards from the prince every day.
Is there such a good thing?
That night, some Turkic warriors were moved, and they couldn't help but think. It is said that if the Prince of Rus does not dislike him, the brothers will kneel in front of the prince while they are still young and worship him as the "Khan of Rus" and work hard for him.
It’s not surprising that they would have this kind of thinking. Rurik correctly understood this group of Turks’ pursuit of a better life, opened their eyes to them through food and clothing, and subtly swayed their hearts.
Even if there is a high probability that it is impossible to persuade Kagan to give up his future position as Pecheneg Khan, he can at least instigate a few Turkic horsemen to rebel.
Because, once you have a horse, it is not difficult to choose a rider from the principality, but it is extremely important to hire a suitable instructor. Rurik had his own plan to win over a few Turks as naturalized people, grant them the status of Russians, and make them full-time teachers of horse riding and Turkic cavalry tactics. This was actually the only way to quickly implement the Russian cavalry plan.
However, it would be better if Kagan, a Turkic noble, could personally accept the appointment as a cavalry instructor!
Rurik didn't care about spending more money, he only cared about whether a winter of training could produce the first "Ross Cavalry Company".
The banquet was not only a state banquet for the Principality of Rus to entertain the noble envoys of Pecheneg, but also an opportunity to settle the matter.
