The prince's palace was brightly lit, and the main hall had been transformed into a banquet hall.
Rurik didn't mean to waste time. The dinner actually needed some time to prepare.
A slaughtered and roasted baby reindeer was the highlight of the dinner. This dish took a long time to roast, so that when Kagan and the others were busy taking a bath, the deer meat rubbed with a lot of salt had already been cooked. String them up with iron bars and place them in the grilling pit.
In the end, the person who came was the son of Pecheneg Khan, an envoy who sent hundreds of good horses.
Rurik wanted to welcome this unexpected distinguished guest with a very high meal treatment, so the dinner must be sumptuous and reflect the characteristics of the principality.
Flour and dough are made into a dough, and high-gluten wheat from Britain is rolled into a dough, folded and cut, cooked while hot and placed in ice water for later use. The pottery urn is used to cook venison, venison fat, diced mushrooms, diced carrots, onion cubes, chopped thyme, and a large amount of salt to make a stew. It is directly served with a small amount of flour to make it more viscous. If you can add some oil, chicken essence, and pepper, you can naturally make the stew more flavorful, but high-end spices are really not available. Even so, this kind of stewed noodles is the limit of Rurik's recovery.
From this braised noodles, there is naturally a Slavic-style soup cooked with similar ingredients.
Just after the autumn harvest, people around Lake Ilmen went into the mountains and forests one after another, taking advantage of the opportunity after a very short autumn rain to dig for mushrooms.
The most common local king oyster mushrooms, Agaricus bisporus, and oyster mushrooms have a good output every year, and these are eaten by the public. The rare matsutake mushrooms are excavated and then sliced and dried. The prince is the big buyer, and the mushroom pickers are happy to exchange them for a batch of wheat to subsidize their families.
After all, mushrooms cannot be eaten as food. They are a good source of protein, but that's all. The living standards of people in the area around the lake have indeed improved, but they have not yet reached the level of prosperity. They always crave starch, fat and salt, so mushrooms are only a useful side dish and a grudging food to satisfy hunger in times of disaster.
But here in Rurik it becomes an ultimate delicacy.
Matsutake mushrooms fried in butter are extremely fresh and rich, and have become a specialty of Ross.
There are also minced yellow carrots stir-fried with chicken, mashed seabass meatballs stir-fried with onions, stir-fried chicken gizzards with onions seasoned with ale, and simply fried eggs.
Rurik even prepared dessert, which was a crispy baked egg tart.
The princely and royal family must be particular about food in order to introduce some new means of satisfying their appetites to all the people, so as to increase the spice of life.
Perhaps visitors would feel awkward eating braised noodles with a silver fork. Rurik also prepared sesame seeds, white bread and brown bread for guests to take as they wanted.
Rurik firmly believed that these sons of the prairie always had a big appetite. Their lifestyle determined their boldness, and the opportunity to drink would definitely be "blowing in the bottle."
If a visitor becomes drunk within a short period of time, things will not go well.
There are three types of dinner drinks, ale, mead and kvass. These three drinks indeed have both Viking and Slavic characteristics, and will definitely be an unprecedented experience for the prairie people.
Naturally flammable vodka must also be prepared. Drinking flaming spirits is already a specialty of the principality's feast, and it has become entertainment.
Kagan's stomach was growling. He was full of anticipation for the prince's feast. He imagined that when he arrived at the venue, he would hold a large piece of roast meat and bite it like a wolf. Because Maksakei, who was traveling with him and was also invited, claimed to be an expert and enthusiastically introduced to the son of the prairie what he knew as the "King's Dinner Party".
Although the barbecue is the highlight, the various side dishes are like small gifts that are constantly being served, keeping diners full of expectations.
The venue has been set up, and all the top elites from the Principality of Ross are present.
However, this banquet is not just a state banquet. Taking advantage of the banquet to continue discussing major national facts is its political nature. None of Rurik's female family members came, and only the maids and cooks were allowed to enter the banquet hall to pass the dishes.
This is a feast for men, and it is also a negotiation scene for the top nobles of the two political entities of Eastern Europe, the North and the South.
Rurik needed to use the banquet to continue to implement matters related to the cavalry. Kagan could probably guess this and even made some plans for possible situations.
Although he was mentally prepared, Kagan actually entered the prince's banquet hall, and was deeply shocked by the dazzling array of delicious meals!
He took off his hat, revealing his black hair. Because he had just finished taking a shower, his braid was completely untied and there was no time to tie it up again, so he simply tied it into a huge black ponytail with rope.
Seeing Kagan's true face, Rurik almost sprayed the whole table with a mouthful of honey water. Who would have thought that this guy would actually imitate his own hairstyle?
"You're finally here! How about it? At least I saw you changed your clothes and looked very decent!" Rurik said politely in Slavic.
Kagan's eyes were still staring at the delicious dishes on the dining table. His greed was aroused, and the saliva in his mouth seemed to be endless.
With Turkic etiquette, he covered his heart with his right hand and bowed softly: "Thanks to the gift from the prince, I learned that my subordinates have a warm place to live and a rich meal. They are all slave warriors raised by me. I didn't expect you." They were given extremely high treatment.”
Those Pecheneg soldiers were slaves? Although this surprised Rurik, it makes sense after thinking about it carefully.
All grassland peoples have one thing in common: the leader's family must have a group of supporters. Among them, domestic slaves are the most loyal due to survival reasons. Unlike free herders, who will drive their cattle and sheep to join a better leader when their life is not good.
Rurik did not answer for the time being, but pointed to the empty seat on his left, "Kagan, this is where you sit. The fattest deer leg is yours, don't be polite, I believe you can eat it in one meal." "
"Oh?! Then I will obey."
Kagan strode forward looking very impressive. He was also very happy that the Russians understood the principle of "respecting the left".
He lightly lifted his robe and sat cross-legged, looking at the delicious food in front of him. If his willpower hadn't controlled his hands, he would have held the deer legs in his hands and started chewing them.
"What a delicious meal! This is a feast that cannot be enjoyed on the grassland." He did not forget to swallow his mouthfuls while complimenting.
"How?" Rurik asked knowingly with a side face.
"The perfect feast. There are so many delicious dishes I've never seen before, and just the smell of them makes you know they're delicacies."
Rurik nodded: "You are the most noble guest to visit our country, so I ordered this feast. Just for you!"
Rurik emphasized his tone at the last word, which made Kagan startled. Kagan is not sure whether the young Prince Rus really understands the etiquette of the grasslands, but Prince Rurik’s attitude is...
Kagan hurriedly tested: "Prince, I am just a visiting envoy who sold a horse, but you actually fancy me so much?"
"I admire you!" As he spoke, Rurik picked up the glass filled with honey.
Seeing this, Kagan also raised a noble cup in return.
"You have traveled through forests, swamps, ice and snow to come to the north. You are the sons of the eastern grasslands, and we are the conquerors of the northern ocean. Although we are isolated by long distances, we must unite and at least let trade prosper. So I thought well Now, we should build mutual trust. I know some Eastern etiquette."
"Ah! Do you want to make an alliance based on blood?!"
"Exactly!"
Rurik's confirmation of the blood alliance really shocked the entire banquet hall.
Otto even lost his appetite when he got old, he just loved drinking. As for the son's alliance with other tribes, as long as the alliance is the result, it doesn't matter what the process is. Cutting his finger, dripping blood into wine and drinking together, his son had done this before. As a result, he was closely connected with the group of people in Narvik Port, and now he legally controlled that northern port.
While everyone was surprised, only old Otto smiled naively. He knew that his time was short, and he probably guessed the wonderful future in the distance - one day Ross would be able to annex the grasslands in the far east.
Although Otto had never seen the boundless grassland in his life.
No one objected to Rurik's intentions, not even his real cousin Arik. What surprised everyone was that it happened so suddenly. The guests arrived at noon and the horse transaction was completed in the afternoon. How could they become brothers now that it was dark?
Rurik had his own opinion. The so-called opportunity is fleeting, and the opportunity for unity is right in front of you, so you should strike while the iron is hot. As long as the two sides are united by blood, Rick will not be afraid of Kagan's failure to do the rest.
There were fine wines and delicacies. Kagan's eyes were wide open and he lamented that he was so valued by the Prince of Ross!
He just thought for a moment, slapped his thigh and grabbed the table knife on the table. Without hesitation, he cut his left index finger with the tip of the knife, and blood dripped into the wine glass.
Seeing that he was so decisive, Rurik, as a ruthless man who actually killed his enemies, cut his finger with a knife and dripped blood into the wine glass.
The transparent cup clearly showed the dissolution of blood drops. Rurik stood up holding the wine glass: "We exchange wine glasses, go outdoors and swear to the moon that we are all brothers. What do you think?"
"good!"
The banquet has not yet begun, but there is a big drama of blood alliance.
The so-called "alliance" means performing blood sacrifices toward the sun and moon.
Rurik, pretending to be mysterious, knelt on one knee in the snow, holding up a blood-stained glass of wine, and suddenly turned his head and asked Kagan: "In your language, the god of heaven is called Tengri?"
Not only was Kagan shocked by this, but he suddenly felt a stronger favorable impression. "You Russians actually worship Tengger?"
"Yes! No. You call it Tengri, but in the words of us Russians, it is Odin."
"In the greatest existence?"
"Really!"
"It seems that I should follow the Romans." After saying that, General Kagan was lifted higher and said bluntly: "Odin in the sky, you will witness our oath..."
Hearing this, Rurik chuckled secretly, thinking that this person was really good at judging the situation, which just proved that this person was not limited to belief in a certain god, and put interests above all else.
Then, they each expressed their vows, and then the two drank the sacrificial wine.
Kagan felt extremely happy to be trusted by the powerful Russian Khan (Prince) without any warning and to be sworn as a brother. He had no merit, but he enjoyed such high-standard treatment.
What makes him happy is not only this, but also his optimistic outlook on Pecheneg's prospects.
The Pecheneg Khanate is not the overlord of the grasslands. It has the Kasar Khanate and the Kingdom of Bulgaria in the south, the Magyar (Hungarian) Khanate in the east, the Bulgar Khanate in the north, and a group of Oghuz people in the east. The southern Russian grasslands and the Kazakh grasslands are geographically connected. The Pecheneg Khanate is still in the expansion stage, so it would be perfect to get help from a distant powerful country.
It just so happens that Kagan's trip has the intention of alliance. What makes him ecstatic now is that he, the son of the Khan, has become the blood-sucking brother of the Prince of Rus.
Once you have a close relationship, the rest is easy to talk about.
The delicious food in the Principality of Ross opened his eyes. Whether it was braised noodles, a large number of side dishes, or the most wonderful roasted venison with hard vegetables, a major feature of Ross's food was the willingness to add salt, which was impossible to enjoy on the grassland. The ultimate experience.
Indeed, the blood flowing in Kagan's veins has a very low salt content. As a top noble, he must be sparing when it comes to salt. People do not die if they do not eat crystallized table salt. People can obtain key salt from a variety of foods. However, the body's salt content can only maintain a lower limit. Such people can easily become exhausted and paralyzed after doing heavy physical work. The overall lack of salt seriously affected the combat effectiveness of the Pecheneg soldiers, so this meal shocked Kagan too much.
Just as Rurik estimated, Kagan had finished chewing a deer leg. That wasn't enough. He finished another small bowl of braised noodles. It wasn't enough, so he asked for another bowl.
All the side dishes under the meal-sharing system were wiped out by him like a whirlwind, and he was still not satisfied and started to eat sesame seed cakes one by one. When the baked egg tarts were served, he simply took one bite.
Of course, wine is indispensable, and mead is a rare wine, so it is natural to drink it. Kvass has a unique taste. I have experienced this wine in Kiev, and now I can drink it in large quantities in Novgorod. I cannot miss the opportunity.
Kagan has a big appetite, but he is not a suet ball. This is because he is a man of action. He eats a lot and does a lot. He is not tall and his body is full of flesh. He is indeed very strong. Otherwise, he would not have the energy to do it. The "expedition" lasted three months.
His stomach was so hard that he had to undergo kidney transplantation four times. Of course, the prince even prepared a special toilet, although it surprised him. Then I thought about it. There were no traces of urine or feces on the roads of this big city. Obviously, this was a useful custom of the Russians.
He was slightly drunk, and even though the night was late, the feast could still go on.
Ale mixed with hops is beer, and Rurik prepared a large amount of ale for this feast. He then ordered the cook below to continue cooking, but the delicious meal mainly became charcoal grilled skewers.
The banquet turned into a literal midnight food stall, and Rurik no longer pretended. The sixty-year-old soul in his young body appeared as an old man, because the room was already fully lit by lights and fireplaces. It was hot, so he simply took off his coat, wearing only a light shirt. He sat there honestly, and then he sat down casually in a drunken state, with his right hand on the knee of his standing right leg, holding a bunch of grilled chicken gizzards in his hand, and Kagan, who was also completely relaxed and simply shirtless. Talking and laughing.
Only seven people continued to stay at the banquet hall. Rurik and Kagan were the protagonists, as well as Medvet, Arik, Spuyut, Yevlo, and Kiev Marksakye who had already thought he was lucky enough to participate.
Everyone drank ale with open stomachs and shouted to each other about their personal achievements.
Kagan did not understand Norse at all, but he still learned a lot of the "boasts" of the Russians. It turns out that the northern world is not peaceful either. The Rus people used to be just a small tribe. They relied on the guidance of the wise and young prince to carve out a large territory and become prosperous. He was even shocked that Novgorod was indeed not a royal city, and this palace was only a temporary palace. The real royal city of Rus is in the coastal area in the northwest, and there are still a large number of people even further to the north, until Murmansk, the beast-trapping city facing the "Sea at the End of the World".
Kagan's mind could not imagine the possibility of danger. He only thought that these Russians were great heroes, and they became brothers with their princes. Pecheneg successfully gained an ally.
Rurik was half drunk and suddenly said: "Kagan, since your people are all your slaves, why don't you share them with me?"
Kagan was also excited: "Very good! In principle, I should sell the slaves. They are well-trained warriors, but you are my brother, so I will give you ten of them! What do you think?"
"Okay!" Rurik looked happy on the surface, but his right hand holding the wine glass was too honest, and the delicate goblet actually fell and shattered on the ground.
"Ah! The baby actually split?!" Kagan was slightly surprised in confusion.
Rurik curled his lips and smiled: "It doesn't matter, just pick another one."
"Ah, you are indeed very rich."
"That's natural. Of course I'm very happy about you staying in Russia. Brother, I have one more request."
"Say it."
"Now I have bought you a batch of good horses, and I want to build a cavalry to defend our homeland. But we don't have a good coach, and you won't be able to go back to your hometown this winter. Just be my coach. What do you think?"
Kagan's food, food and enjoyment were all provided by his sworn brothers. He felt indebted and decisively stopped him when he had the opportunity to show off: "I completely agree. You just need to recruit people. I can train you a team in one winter." Cavalry.”
"That's great." Rurik was very happy, and everything was under control after receiving such a reply.
He snapped his fingers again and ordered the cook to bring another oak barrel of ale and uncork it, and signaled to Kagan: "Let's continue drinking! Until the sun rises tomorrow!"
