The farthest the Ludi people set foot to the west were the Vips who lived at the mouth of the Vukshi River, which was just a corner of the west bank of Lake Ladoga. As for how big the lake was, they had no idea!
The old lady, the female leader, is considered well-informed. Now she is riding a hunter's sled. This is actually the first time that the Luddi people have set foot on the Neva River.
There are many fishermen who cut through the ice to catch pike, bass, and freshwater seals. They set up camps on the ice and light bonfires at night.
They will immediately disembowel the fish they catch, chop off the heads and tails, and even scrape off the scales. Then they will pile the fish strips on the spot like bricks to form a wall. When the pile is almost full, they will move it to the sled. on the road, and took it to the New Roseburg Fair and sold it.
There was a time when only the brave dared to do production work in the winter. It’s not that the people under Ross’s rule became brave on a large scale, it was actually a large and sufficient supply of high-quality leather, linen, and wool that even exceeded demand. Everyone was armed with high-quality leather, linen, and wool. The main population of the principality was only this small. Winter warmth had been completely solved, and winter labor was severely frozen. The risk of death is so low that it is ignored by the public. Only a fool would give up winter production gains in order to gain more profits.
It's no surprise that a sled team was running down the frozen Neva River, but it was a large team.
The fishermen looked sideways and were surprised that the sleds in series were not only holding some bear heads, but also had many women sitting on them.
Did the bear hunting party from the north make a significant capture? Are they fighting again with the remnants of Karelia?
Since Hanukkah, Rurik has stayed in New Roseburg, where he is loyal, and is busy researching the city.
He wanted to know all kinds of information about the city, and he was also inspecting the warehouses placed here, counting the grain in stock, and the "big money storehouse."
That is the prince's money, and anyone who dares to steal it will be hanged!
No one really thought about the prince's treasury, but there were pickpockets in the market. Governor Cornuson and his son were indeed very rough in their work. For any pickpocket they caught, regardless of their ethnicity, they would have their little fingers chopped off for the first time, and the punishment would be public.
Although there were no violent groups trying to extort money at the market, Rurik was vaccinated against the epidemic in advance. It is said that only princes can collect taxes. If anyone dares to ask for extra money from a businessman, his whole family will be beheaded after being caught.
Only the officials appointed by the princely family and the canonized Great Lakes nobles are truly legal. Anyone who violates the law must be executed without any excuse. Although this seems natural to Rurik, in this regard Blue Fox's description of the old port of Hedeby is necessary.
Old Hedeby is truly a no-man's land. On the surface it is a jungle society, but internally there is an underground ruling group. A group of thugs just didn't call themselves lords. The big businessmen raised private soldiers and were naturally not afraid of them. The small businessmen had no choice but to pay the so-called "tax".
This kind of thing should not and cannot happen within the Principality of Rus.
But the principality did reach a new size, and it was time to install officers in charge of criminal law, and to reorganize patrol officers into true peace officers.
Rurik then held a meeting in New Roseburg after the festival. The most prominent figures in the city, most of the businessmen who could afford ten pounds of silver coins, gathered in the city's parliament court.
In the parliament chamber, Rurik announced that the governor would nominate a peace officer who would focus on patrolling markets and streets, catching thieves and pickpockets, mediating transaction disputes, supervising fair transactions, and supervising taxation.
It is much better to have specialized personnel responsible for supervision than nothing at all, and it is not surprising that this sheriff is from the old Ross tribe.
The Governor is responsible for many things, and the security work cannot handle them.
Temporarily, the Sheriff has the power to recruit up to twenty subordinates to implement rotating patrols. The monthly salary of a peace officer is 30 silver coins, and that of an ordinary security officer is 10 silver coins. This salary is deducted from city taxes. In a sense, the merchants pay a sum of money to hire people to help everyone maintain trade order.
The public service system, which is very similar to the police, was first born in New Rossburg, the capital city where various ethnic groups of the Ross Principality gathered together. Since it is an area inhabited by three major clans, it is naturally impossible to rely on the self-discipline of the tribesmen in the past clan era.
Of course, since the birth of this system, the first priority has been to maintain business order, and it has also maintained the interests of businessmen to a large extent.
According to Rurik's plan, Novorosberg on the Neva River was uniquely located and must become the commercial center of the principality, as well as the commercial center of the Baltic Sea. The current number of police officers is sufficient. If it is insufficient, we can expand the number in the future.
The bear hunting sled team suddenly appeared, causing a small sensation for a while.
The merchants stared hard, and they gathered around and immediately asked to buy the bear's head and skin.
Those Ludy girls who got off the sleigh and were deeply shocked by the big city of New Roseburg were also asked about the price by the merchants.
The leader of the bear hunt said bluntly: "These women will be dedicated to the prince, and the bear skins and other goods are commodities."
As a result of causing a small stir, the newly appointed Sheriff hurried over with his men.
The Sheriff pushed through the gathering crowd and saw a group of timid short women and an old woman holding a wooden staff.
"What's going on? Hunters, explain the origin of these people."
The bear hunting captain was looking forward to the Bear Festival Town, but he didn't know that the prince had set up a new official position in the big city.
"You? Who are you?" the bear hunting leader asked cautiously.
"I am a peace officer appointed by the prince. What did you say just now? It seems that these women want to be promoted to the prince?"
"Exactly."
"Who are they? New Karelian prisoners?"
"He's from Rudy."
"People from Ludi? I've never heard of him. I believe the prince would like it if he became a slave." The Sheriff felt that this was an opportunity for a major performance, but for the sake of safety, all foreigners who came to see the prince had to be checked.
The Sheriff gave an order, and his men pounced on him with ill intentions. Those women from Lu Di were almost pulled out of their fig leaves and were trembling in tears. They cried to the female leader, but saw that the female leader closed her eyes, but the tears still flowed out uncontrollably.
It was such a bad move that the bear hunting leader couldn't stand it at all. This old guy is not sympathetic to the Ludi people, but because these women are pure, if they are troubled by these guys, will the prince happily acquire them?
"Enough!" the leader shouted loudly: "This is a woman dedicated to the prince. No matter how powerful you are, you are still from the Ross headquarters. We are all relatives. I advise you to restrain your own people and not be too Presumptuous. We don’t want the wrath of the Maharaja.”
Hearing this, the Sheriff hurriedly tried to smooth things over and told his men to stop.
"Uncle, we are also fulfilling our responsibilities. If these women bring ritual weapons to assassinate..."
"As for that? A group of women are as weak as rabbits. Their necks can be easily broken by you. You are actually afraid that they are assassins. I hope to see the prince soon and take me there."
"That's fine." The Sheriff shrugged, "Come with me."
What is Rurik doing now? He stayed in the current palace to rest with his wives and concubines, played with his eldest daughter and second son, and even stayed closely with the pregnant Rumia.
He had already decided on the name "Oleg" for the child to be born, and he was sure it would be a boy.
For Rumia, the work of major sacrifices has ended, and all she has to do is rest.
Rurik was busy with his wives and concubines, and the cavalry affairs were temporarily taken care of by Prince Kagan of Pecheneg.
In a snowy field outside the city, the entire cavalry team and the Pechenegs continued their riding and shooting training. The Pechenegs must quickly master the crossbow riding and shooting, as well as the control of ordinary wooden bows. The Ross cavalry are improving their recurve bow riding, which requires crazy target practice.
Their training attracted some loggers to watch, and even some children came to join in the fun.
Some hunter brought a treasure as a gift?
The messenger described to Rurik in detail that the so-called gift was a group of women and a tribute from a tribe named Ludi.
"People from Ludi? The name is so familiar. Ah!? Could it be them? Wonderful, you surrendered yourself before I even hit you?" Rurik was very happy while stroking his golden beard.
Her wives and concubines also came over, especially Noren and Carlotta, who were powerful female aristocrats, and asked one after another who the Ludi people were.
"They? It is said that they are also servants of the Karelia people. Karelia has been wiped out by us, and the slaves need new masters, so they are here."
Carlotta nodded and said nothing after hearing the explanation, but Nolen acted arrogantly: "It seems that we are indeed very powerful. But is it appropriate for slaves to meet you? They are all despicable things."
"You? You..." Rurik glanced at Nolen. This woman, who was as beautiful as the legendary Freya, did not speak in a gentle manner.
Rurik insisted on letting the old lady leader bring all the Ludian women to meet him, and of course the leader of the bear hunters who discovered the Ludian village.
It is said that the Ludi people who entered the city had never thought that there were such bizarre human residences in the world. They saw tall houses and an extremely flat and vast open space.
They saw the huge stone chamber that was crystal clear under the sun. It was definitely not an ice cube, but a shell made of crystals. The female leader was subconsciously convinced that it was the temple of the Rus people, and this "giant village" was also their core.
The female leader who entered the city had completely collapsed. She saw that there were people everywhere. It was really a prosperous scene. At the same time, this also meant that the Russians had a strong military.
If only they offended their leader, the Rus' army would kill Rudy as easily as a squirrel.
Standing in front of the prince's palace, a large wooden longhouse is enough to give this group of tribesmen a huge sense of pressure, not to mention an even larger palace being built next to it.
The guards were ordered to enter all the Ludi people who were required to surrender, and the leader of the bear hunt must also follow.
Unlike the nervousness of the Ludi people, the bear hunter leader had a cheerful face.
He was younger than Otto, and he was called uncle according to his seniority. There are only so many old guys in Ross's headquarters. Rurik forgot his specific name, but he is quite familiar with him.
The Ludi man is indeed a black-haired guy, and he looks exactly like the Karelian man. The old lady must be the leader. She sat directly on the wooden floor. Seeing this, the other women also sat down.
They seemed a little presumptuous, but Rurik didn't take it seriously, and asked his concubine Noren, whose eyes showed dissatisfaction, not to be angry.
After some pleasantries at the beginning, Rurik fully understood what the bear hunting team was going through, and felt sorry for the deer farmer who died.
A mere 20 elderly Russians defeated the attack of 300 Ludi indigenous warriors, and attracted their leader to surrender in person?
Although the matter is very bizarre, considering the experience of conquering the Vips. Rurik can say that this female leader is very smart.
At that time, the leader of the bear hunters impatiently made his request: "Your Majesty, I ordered them to hand over fifty women and two hundred deer. All the deer were placed in the Bear Festival Town, and they are considered trophies for our brothers. .As for these women, I hope you can buy them all."
"There are still deer? You took all the deer yourself? Are you going to sell these women?" Rurik poked his head. He originally thought this transaction was okay, but then he thought it was not.
"no!"
"Huh? You don't plan to buy it?"
"No." Rurik cleared his throat. Since there were many precedents, he reiterated: "You have no right to take all the loot. Your behavior is an armed robbery that I support, whether it is at sea or on land. , you must give half of your contribution to me for this kind of behavior. This is what Siput and his guys did, and you must do it too. I will not make exceptions to break the rules. If I handle it this way, others will have absolutely nothing to say. You can tell. What do you think? Besides, the Ludi people are planning to surrender, so you shouldn’t take things too far.”
The leader of the bear hunters felt as if he had eaten a fly, but he could not say that the prince was mean. He even felt that the prince's behavior was too fair and disciplined.
"So how much can I get if..."
"Take the deer, these women..." Rurik thought for a while, "I saw them, they are all fifty, and half of them are mine. Let's do this, each of them will pay twenty silver coins, and I will have a total of I'll give you ten pounds of silver. The deer is all yours, I don't want it anymore."
At least there was no loss in the transaction, and the bear hunter leader was reluctant to accept the deal.
They spoke to each other in Norse, but the Lydians could not understand a word.
Then, Rurik began to speak in words that the female leader could understand.
"The female leader of the Ludi people! I! I am the greatest leader of Ross! Are you planning to take your people to be my servants?"
The female leader was shocked, she couldn't believe her ears. This tall, blond, strong man actually spoke in words that he could basically understand.
Her mouth trembled, and she had nothing to say for a moment.
Rurik asked again, and then he managed to squeeze out some words from her.
"I am the leader... We Ludi people intend to be your servants. We sacrificed deer and women, and only asked for your mercy. We... do not want to be killed by you."
The words were simple and unembellished. Rurik heard the old lady's cautiousness, as well as her humble and fearful attitude.
"You? Are you afraid that I will raise my troops and kill you?" Rurik pointed out with a serious face: "The master will not kill loyal slaves. Those tribes that serve me have all got a good life. Female leader, you donate your daughter I highly appreciate your behavior, and I believe your servant is genuine."
Hearing this, the female leader was overjoyed, and her tense nerves were slightly relieved. He continued: "It must be fate that you can speak our language. You are our master, and these women are all given to you for your enjoyment."
"Forget it." Rurik wanted to laugh but couldn't, and asked again: "How many of you are there? With so many women, wouldn't you be greatly damaged?"
Naturally, the female leader did not dare to describe her pain truthfully. This time, she first described how Ludi had more than a thousand people, and one hundred of them were killed by Ross hunters in one battle. As for taking out the woman, she is really willing to do so.
"Let me tell you. You are by no means willing. You just hope to exchange women for peace, which is like using tribal women to buy the kindness of the Karelia people." Rurik's words were to the point, and the female leader had nothing to say.
"But I am not a Karelia. Your women are not my slaves," Rurik continued.
There was no need to say more to the female leader. Rurik saw all the trembling Ludi girls and announced that they were all going to their destination: "You! You all need a man! You will go to the south, and each of you will get a husband. From now on. From now on, you are no longer Ludi people, nor are you slaves, you will become new Rus women!"
The women still didn't know what this meant. They saw the female leader lying on the ground and crying gratefully. The female leader believes in the promise of the Prince of Rus that they can marry Rus and live a safe life. They are indeed not slaves.
Rurik made a good calculation in his mind, as many Slavic men in the south were not yet married. The current situation forced them not to be picky. It didn't matter whether their wife had black hair or yellow hair. It was enough that she was a young woman.
Rurik decided to finally sell them conditionally. Slavic men who came to buy wives must be young and unmarried, must be healthy, must be registered grain tax payers, and must also pay one pound of silver coins or one thousand pounds of wheat at one time.
Rurik wants to turn this into a scissor gap. A young, strong and hard-working Slavic farmer can definitely get a wife with this kind of money. If he can't get it in a short time, relatives and friends can just borrow it from each other, and what Rurik got However, the accumulated 50,000 pounds of farmers' grain surplus can just alleviate the consumption of materials.
The Ludi people were too weak, and the female leader's act of dedication was too sincere. As a monarch, Rurik felt relieved, but did not indulge.
It's like arranging for Terravis, the Corvin man, to be the leader of the Vips tribe and be granted the title of earl. Maybe a similar drama can be repeated here in Ludi?
That’s all for now.
Rurik directly assigned: "You! Female leader! I want you to continue to be the leader of Ludi. You are indeed old. You can appoint a new heir before you die. But it must be confirmed by me. At the same time, I will give you the flag, you The Russian flag must fly in every village. You will donate fifty reindeer to me every year, and that will be enough.”
To be honest, the amount of tribute is much lower than that demanded by the Karelia people, not to mention that Ross is obviously extremely powerful.
Rurik also granted Rudy trading rights, but Rus hunters can also enter Rudy's territory.
Those who kill will be killed, those who steal will have their hands chopped off, and those who verbally abuse will be slapped. Rurik made this agreement. If the Ludi people were harmed, the leader could come to New Roseburg in the west of the lake to complain to the governor.
Now, Rudy has been legally integrated into Ross and placed under the jurisdiction of the Governorate of New Rossburg.
The female leader Lu Di was grateful. She didn't think Prince Ross was hateful in the beginning. Now she feels more and more comfortable looking at this tall, young man.
Since the Ludi people lived in the east of the lake, Rurik took this opportunity to make a surprise inquiry: "Do you know the situation in the east? Are there any Karelia people there? It seems that you have taken some in, are there more? ?”
"Yes!" The alert female leader immediately discovered that this was another opportunity.
"Where?"
"Further east, there's a large lake. The Karelians and some Perm people are rebuilding their camp."
"How many of them are there?"
"At least... two thousand people." The female leader didn't actually know, so she just said it casually.
Rurik nodded and figured out a plan. He felt uncomfortable thinking about the Karelian forces now, as if it was difficult to remove the diseased athlete's foot and it was time to cut it again.
Of course, Karelia itself is not guilty. But there is no room for two tigers in one mountain, and Ross does not allow arbitrators to exist!
