Those Lüdi women were temporarily put under centralized custody. Since they will all be dragged to Novgorod, they must first be purified before they can adapt to the new life.
Their old clothes were thrown away, and they were pushed collectively into the steam room to take a sauna, where they were cleaned with soap and then rinsed in the shower.
Thanks to the help of the Finnish Suomi people living in the city, the purification work was carried out smoothly.
This kind of bathing behavior was an unprecedented experience in their lives. Many women got soap in their eyes and screamed when they were stung.
At first they were nervous, fearful, and curious, but after a few more visits they got used to it.
They were uniformly distributed with clothes and even cold-proof leather jackets that were extremely effective in keeping out the cold.
They were able to eat wheat sesame cakes that they had never eaten before, as well as a large amount of broth, vegetable soup, and even honey water.
The surrendered female leader Ludi was very confused. Is this the attitude of the Russian people towards the so-called "own people"? After surrendering to Rus, will all Ludi people have a similar life experience?
The old lady went to the countryside and took a hot bath as the Romans did, and she felt like she had been reborn. Since she surrendered, she had to further express her surrender. She happily changed into the white bearskin coat given by the Russians and the fox fur hat with glass beads hanging on it.
The lining clothes were soft and fit, and the old lady quickly learned to use sanitary products such as soap and toilet paper.
The female leader is only fifty years old, but her appearance looks like she is eighty years old.
The Ludi people live in such a harsh way of life that it is rare for both men and women to survive to the age of fifty.
The new-looking female leader was authorized to visit the huge city wall, and her visit was deliberately guided by Rurik. The purpose was to deeply shock the old lady and declare the absolute power of the strong.
She saw a large number of huge ships parked at the frozen docks, rows of long boats deliberately dragged up the frozen river, and then pulled to the shipyard to observe the construction of large ships.
Because the ice and snow will melt away in four months at most, the Ross navy was unmatched when it entered the Great Lakes.
She saw the cavalry training again, and she never thought of the heroic appearance of the horsemen. The old lady had never even seen a horse, and thought the men were riding giant deer without antlers.
It’s amazing to be able to shoot arrows while riding a “giant deer”! No! They can also ride "giant deer" and run wildly with their spears raised high.
They were "giant deer" without antlers, and there seemed to be a lot of them. However, it was much inferior to the black reindeer herd, and the female leader was deeply shocked. She never dreamed that the Rus were not only raising deer on a large scale, but what the Lapp people who surrendered to Rus early said was true, the Rus had countless deer!
What does it mean to intuitively reflect the strength of a tribe? The Ludi people simply regard the number of deer they raise as the first criterion.
She could only think of the concept of "a lot" as much as the Russians had iron and ships. She almost fainted immediately after seeing the huge herd of deer.
"The Russians are a powerful force that I must not neglect..." she thought...
With this thought in mind, after the visit, the female leader Ludi hurriedly met with Rurik to report what she had seen, heard, and felt. She apologized from the bottom of her heart for the wrong battle, even though the Ross Bear Hunting Team was the real intruder.
Rurik sat in the high hall, and the humble female leader sat cautiously on the ground.
"Now you see my true power, and you see this city. How's that?"
"As powerful as a stag, we are as humble as a squirrel." The female leader didn't have any wonderful words to describe it.
Rurik nodded: "Is this your answer? Very good. I didn't call you here to listen to your praises!"
At this point, Rurik's eyes suddenly became sharp: "There are only you and me here. I believe you know very well that if you commit any disobedient behavior in the future, you will receive the most severe punishment from me."
"Yes! How dare we disobey. We are your servants."
"Okay. Since you are a servant, you should behave like a servant. I have come up with a plan, and now I need to hear your opinion."
"Ah? Me? I am a humble servant, how can I have an opinion?"
"You are a smart man!" Rurik said clearly, "The Karelia people are my enemies, and they must be destroyed by me if they attack my servants. As you said, a group of Karelia exiles have arrived There is another big lake to your east, is this true?"
"There is such a thing."
"That great lake is called Onega in your language?"
"That's true." She said with surprise.
Rurik nodded: "Obviously, our territory of Rus must be expanded to Lake Onega. As for the people who happen to live by that lake, they will be rewarded if they submit to me, and disobedience after submission will be punished. Resolute resistance will be genocide. ! I will send troops to conquer there. You! And you Ludi people must pay the obligation to surrender!"
The so-called obligation is that the Ludi people must send troops to fight. Even if everyone knows the so-called bad nature of Ludi soldiers, sending troops is exactly the same as submitting a certificate of honor.
This kind of behavior is like the Austro-Hungarian Empire forcing the Principality of Liechtenstein to send a "strong army" of 80 people to go out. Although these people are destined to be fishy in the whole process, the political symbolic significance is the most important. This is what the emperor sent under his command. The duke's "theatrical performance" to demonstrate the emperor's power.
But the Rudy man won’t just have performance value either.
Although Rurik is very aware of the existence of Lake Onega, he also knows that there are small runoffs that can directly lead to the White Sea.
The Soviet Union built canals based on tiny streams on the surface, such as streams, so that the Gulf of Finland and the Arctic Circle had navigable waterways. It was a canal with a limited depth, and it was impossible to use a warship.
At this time, the people of the Principality of Ross did not even know about Lake Onega, and the White Sea was also an illusory regional concept. But what if he knew it? Before exploring the natural resources there, Rurik was convinced that he had to conduct an on-site investigation.
At least he knew that Tsarist Russia built a city where the shallow runoff of Lake Onega meets the mouth of the White Sea, and also built the ice-free port of Arkhangelsk around the White Sea.
One of the characteristics of the White Sea is that it does not freeze on a large scale in winter. It is the eastern end of the North Atlantic Warm Current, but further east is Novaya Zemlya. It must be covered by the vast Arctic Circle ice cap, and it is also the geographical location of the Arctic Ocean route. end.
The female leader continued to be ordered to describe the humanistic situation around Lake Onega, pointing out that there were new large Karelian camps on the lakeside, and there were also some scattered and free Karelian clans in the northern world. He also pointed out that south of the lake is another force called the Perm people. They live around a large market in the far east, and the free Perm clan has set foot in many places.
Perm is the pan-Finnish-Ugric word meaning directly refers to the commercial center, and the natural conditions there are not really harsh.
The female leader mentioned a situation. The so-called Karelia people launched an expedition and recruited a group of Perm herdsmen to join the group. The Perm people were indeed present during the battle with the Rus.
"Perm people? Another tribe that I want to conquer. Unfortunately, I just want to destroy Karelia now and vent my evil anger on my servants."
The female leader's political sense immediately smelled something strange. Did the Russians plan to go on an expedition to seek justice for their servants? Pooh! Taking out your anger on the servant is the result of the expedition. The Russians are greedy and they just want to rob.
Fortunately, Lu Di has surrendered.
Rurik issued an order that must be carried out: "You must send men to fight, and I will also give you certain weapons to show that you have not lost my face. Your men will serve as guides and lead our army to find the remnants of Karelia." The camp is a great achievement, and you will have the right to participate in the plunder of the final spoils.”
This does not sound like an unbearable job. On the contrary, Rudy can enjoy some of the dividends of the war. They were already living in extreme poverty. For example, those women laughed happily after eating some wheat cakes. They have an extreme desire to improve their lives. As for morality, they only have the most primitive and simple morality - they are not my master, family, or friends. It doesn't matter if they die.
Leader Lu Di will not only send troops, she herself is the first guide. This is not over yet, at the upcoming meeting, she must participate as a representative and explain her situation to the generals, officials, businessmen, etc. of the Ross Principality. This matter is very important. If it is not ventilated in advance, it will be a misunderstanding for the Ludi people to come to New Roseburg to do business and be regarded as barbarians and robbed.
Rurik issued a plan for the winter expedition. This was so sudden that the people in the city were generally surprised.
Why did the prince suddenly make such a statement? Wasn't it decreed that there would be no war this winter? No matter what, war always comes uninvited, and the world is never peaceful.
The most powerful first flag team spread out to hunt everywhere. The flag captain Arik was having fun with his beloved wife Asraqi and playing with his children.
For example, Ragnar and his brothers started working as lumberjacks on the spot. Now they worked odd jobs in the shipyard, earning daily wages to buy leather locally. He is a very ambitious man, and so are his brothers. Naturally, he cannot work for three days, even if there is a lot of fun in New Roseburg.
The city was filled with men eager to make their fortune through robbery, and the news soon turned to ecstasy.
Only Prince Kagan of Pecheneg was quite surprised: "Winter is not a good time for war. Do the Russians have to conquer the people in the far north now?"
Kagan received the request for a meeting, thinking that his brother asked Pecheneg to send troops together. He gritted his teeth and attended the meeting. He did not intend to make any objections, but he was worried that the horse team would freeze to death. Similarly, he had never seen how the Russians fought, and he really wanted to see the Russian army perform killings.
The female leader Lüdi entered the parliamentary court of the Ross Duma next to Harvest Square. In another dimension, this location was the Senate of Tsarist Russia, and it was indeed the place where the nobles discussed politics.
A large group of people who were eager to try entered the venue, and the whole scene was quite noisy. People with big beards rushed to open their mouths and vowed to plunder new loot.
Before the meeting, Arik received the news and issued a summons order, asking the soldiers of the First Flag Team who were hunting in the north to come back.
Most of the army is in Novgorod in the south, but fortunately there are sufficient numbers of troops in Novovsburg.
Young Konuson, the son of the governor, could quickly recruit a force of 300 people. Together with other miscellaneous personnel, according to Rurik's winter plan, it was enough to make up a team of 500 people.
As Rurik entered the room, the noisy parliament room fell silent for an instant.
Everyone listened attentively and were quite disappointed when they learned that the prince planned to organize five hundred people.
The venue became chaotic again, and Rurik waved his hand to maintain order.
"Are you angry if I don't let all of you go looting? I want to wipe out only the remnants of Karelia, and there is no need to send out a large army. Besides, I will pay for the military expenses of this expedition. If you send private soldiers, you can do it. All the expenses will be paid by yourself. Take it. I will personally order the troops to defeat the enemy's remnants, and then explore the new Lake Onega..."
This description did not convince the public very well. Rurik added: "Don't think too highly of the Karelia people. We did not get any gratifying trophies twice in a row, and it is the same this time. The significance of the expedition is higher than In war, for businessmen who want to make a fortune in one fell swoop, our army can only make a small fortune at most, so I advise you to stay in the city."
The eager people finally calmed down, and a short old woman stood up tremblingly.
Surrounded by a group of strong men, the old lady tried her best to remain calm, but she couldn't speak for a while. She stumbled and described the situation in the Rudian dialect of Old Finnish, and everyone heard her like the song of a bird.
Thanks to the presence of the deer herder who acted as an interpreter, the situation was not awkward.
As the female leader said, the remnants of the Karelian tribe were extremely poor and had nothing but some reindeer.
So the question comes again, wouldn’t it be very boring to defeat them? Could it be that this is really the exploration mission that the prince insists on?
People who imagined making a fortune from war gave up, and even Arik thought it was superfluous. He is the blood cousin of the prince, and it is necessary to support his younger brother, but he no longer expects the glory of the expedition.
But there is a good thing. The trio of Arik, Ragnar, and Blue Fox who went on an expedition to Bremen together can also enhance their friendship by getting together and going on an expedition together again.
Sent out five hundred men for an expedition, Rurik thought of the incident in which eight hundred Cossacks killed and conquered the Siberian Khanate. Who are the Cossacks? Isn't it just a nomadic armed group formed by the mixture of Turks and Slavs in various areas of southern Russia? The Pechenegs are one of their ancestors.
In a sense, the "Eastern Expedition" organized by Rurik, which mixed Rus and other Vikings, Pan-Finns, Slavs and Pechenegs, was similar in nature to the Cossacks' Eastern exploration.
This meeting did not cause a sensation in the city because of the special purpose of the Eastern Expedition, and subsequently it did not cause a sensation in the city.
The army massing operation had begun, and the soldiers belonging to the Slavic Standards stationed at New Roseburg began to assemble. The first banner soldiers composed of old Russians who got the news began to return.
A group of Viking warriors from other tribes in the city sent men, and Rurik even rented a small group of private soldiers loyal to the visiting merchants.
The five hundred people were quickly assembled. The core combat strength of the army was one hundred and thirty cavalry. As for the other four hundred people, the composition was complex, and there were many ruthless people among them.
Old Rus, Balmoks, Mälarens, Hjälmalens, Suomis, Slavs, deer herders, Vips, Danes, Pechenegs.
Rurik gathered warriors from the main ethnic groups in the principality as well as warriors from foreign ethnic groups, mixed them into an army, and spoke in Norse and Slavic.
The personnel seems to be too mixed, but upon closer inspection, the main force of the army is the Vikings! The Old Rus are of course Vikings, and they are quite a powerful group.
As a down-and-out Danish nobleman, Ragnar only brought thirty brothers, but they were all war mad selected from Denmark's actual civil war, and their strength should not be underestimated.
They all changed uniformly, each wearing a white robe and stitched blue stripes to identify themselves. The crowd gathered together to make this army look menacing.
The extra-long spear is not needed in this battle. The portable short spear can be used as a wooden staff for multiple purposes. Swords and hand axes are indispensable.
Ross's crossbow and torque slingshot are the best weapons. A large number of bows and arrows must be equipped, and ordinary warriors must at least have a short wooden bow.
After all, it would be a brand new place for Ross. No one believed that the small group of local weaklings could plunder leather resources wantonly. Ross's army fought there. If they could hunt down the big red squirrel wantonly, the opportunity should not be missed.
Rurik made a plan. During the march, they would ride on sleighs in groups of ten, and four hundred people would have one hundred reindeer sleighs. There are many vehicles that look real, and some of them are meant to carry oats and a large number of pre-made oatmeal cakes. There are also materials for field tents, as well as charcoal blocks, soil saltpeter combustion aids, large iron pots, pottery and other items for making fires.
The principle of sending troops and horses before using food and grass gave Kagan a strange feeling. He felt that the prince was traveling and had brought too many things.
After all, Kagan is the son of the grassland. When the Pechenegs go to war, their horses themselves are supplies. When they are hungry, they can continue fighting with a sip of mare's milk, not to mention the high-energy milk cubes and butter lumps they make. A lump of pure fat can naturally have "super long battery life".
No, Rurik, lectured his cavalry. This cavalry, which had just been trained for three months, finally ushered in its first actual battle.
It's time to test the results of these three months of intense training. The young fighters are full of confidence, but the Pechenegs in the team are doubtful.
Kagan's subordinates pointed out this doubt: "According to our habits, going out in winter will hurt our horse power."
Rurik explained: "I will do a good job of keeping the horses warm, and the feed supply will be three times the usual. You don't have to pay for all the expenses. You are only responsible for killing the enemy as much as possible during the fight. After the war, you use your ability to grab the spoils." . If the war horse I bought dies, it is my business. If your war horse dies, I will also pay a sum of money."
Are you clearly treating yourself as a mercenary? Kagan said no more, because being a mercenary is also good. Besides, a lot of leather here in Russia is commercially available, but it still costs money to buy it.
Don’t the enemies also have a lot of leather? The Russians don't think it's a big deal, they are furry good things that the Pechenegs like very much. We should loot as much as possible, load it and take it back to New Roseburg, and sell it on the spot to get money to continue buying salt.
After Kagan heard the promise, he had no worries. He had such a calculation, and lamented that his brother, Prince Rurik, was really a generous khan.
