"Your Majesty's sudden visit, we are really unprepared." The governor looked happy, and the gathered people rushed to stand and watch, laughing and laughing.
Those with keen eyesight saw that the three large ships docking at the port had deep drafts. Although there were ballast factors, the three ships must have carried a lot of cargo.
Rurik had no intention of exchanging pleasantries at the pier in the autumn wind: "Let's go to the meeting hall and chat slowly. Oh, let's get that old guy Gould to come too."
"This..." The governor looked embarrassed for a moment.
"What's wrong? That guy was ill during the summer and hasn't recovered yet?"
"Gould...he may be dying."
The old governor said it very directly. Rurik was startled, but then he thought about the fact that the guy who spent his whole life eating and drinking did have many diseases of wealth. The old guy would die because of being too rich. This way of death is comparable to those of those who
People who died of cold and starvation felt much better.
In any case, Gould contributed most to the rise of Ross. Now, although he himself has been marginalized, his children have completely taken over his position in the kingdom. Thinking that this old guy may suddenly leave, Rurik feels unhappy.
The equanimity is not empty.
"We'll talk again after a while. You go and summon the elites of the fortress. Many merchants seem to have left. Gather some wealthy merchants. You are preparing some food and wine and will have a banquet tonight. Listen, banquet organizer
The materials used must be sufficient, and I will bear the expenses.”
The governor nodded: "Yes."
After all, Rurik would not stay on Tombstone Island for long. This place was a supply station, and the fleet would have to leave after staying here for a whole day.
He had another reason to stay, which was to visit his old friend Gould.
There were honey in glass bottles and bottles of spirits.
If that guy is really seriously ill, his decaying body cannot be cured by any panacea. Since Gould is going to die, let him leave with dignity!
As the saying goes, warriors who believe in Odin hope to participate in the last battle of life with weapons in hand when they are old. It must be a battle that must be won. They face the enemy and die with weapons in hand, and the brothers who lag behind win the final victory. This is a warrior.
The most perfect home.
Gould has been a businessman all his life, and he has achieved his current wealth and status through constant gambling and speculation. Rurik understands him. If this guy was thirty years younger, he would have dared to organize mercenaries to serve the kingdom and then rely on his military exploits to become a lord.
This situation is being implemented by his sons, and Rurik does need young cronies to help him expand territory, develop business, etc.
Unfortunately, Gould is old.
Rurik brought this guy's favorite wine and honey to pay a visit. His guards put on a very gorgeous ceremony. The king wore a golden laurel crown, the queen was dressed in jewels, the deputy priest was accompanied by the prince, and the rulers of the Kingdom of Rus were there.
Pro Gould's mansion on the island.
The guards guarding the mansion have learned of the king's arrival, and they are convinced that the king must visit his sponsor. These guards put on their best clothes, displayed their free jewelry, and welcomed the king in as gorgeous a manner as possible.
The guards used this to protect the honor of the benefactor. After all, Gould was now so critical that he could not stand up and could only lie on the bed and wait for his end.
When the king arrived, the guards of the Gould family knelt down and saluted very sensibly. They were very satisfied with being so obedient to Rurik.
"Everyone, get up. Where is your master?"
"Report to your Majesty, our master is waiting in his bedroom." The head guard did not dare to raise his head and answered cautiously.
"Is that so? Is that guy very arrogant? He actually doesn't want to greet me in person."
"Great! Your Majesty, my master originally wanted to be like this, but..."
"Okay. I understand everything." Rurik raised his hand to signal, "Don't waste time, all of you. I will need you again in the future."
Some words should not be said directly, otherwise they will be too impersonal.
Rurik just asked Bai Fox, the big brother of the Gould family, to be the city lord of Stockholm (Old Mälaren Market), and also to serve as the governor of Ross in the entire Swedish region. Bai Fox is also very old, and he looks like
Gould is twenty years younger.
The white fox only needs to be an honest person. He does not need any ambitions and only needs to fulfill his position in accordance with the king's requirements.
Then, White Fox only needs to keep the guard in Stockholm. The mercenary guards his father left on Tombstone Island will be directly included in the king's standing army after the old guy dies of illness, just like the past model.
Entering the mansion with gifts, it was not his first time here. Rurik went straight to the old guy's bedroom.
The heavy door was pushed open by the noble king himself. Rurik immediately saw an old man with white hair lying calmly on a bed made of thick animal skins. There was a small bronze incense burner in the room, and the calming rosin was slowly flowing.
Ran. There was a layer of mist in the room, which covered the old man's decaying smell very well.
Gould didn't want his unbearable condition to be exposed to anyone. Although he paid people to take care of him, bed sores began to form on his body, and the odor could only be covered up by the stronger smell of rosin.
Gould, who was lying on his back, still had a protruding belly. Thanks to this fat body, he could continue to live.
Seeing his miserable appearance, Rurik couldn't help but cover his mouth: "We haven't seen each other for only a few months, and you've become like this?"
"Yes...it's Rurik."
Gould didn't care anymore. He slowly turned his head and called him by his name. For a moment, thoughts came to his mind. He remembered that more than ten years ago, he could still do whatever he wanted and Rurik was just a child.
"You shock me. It's only been four months, and you've aged so badly?!" Rurik said as he walked over.
Gould's voice was hoarse and there was an abnormal rumbling sound in his throat: "Rurik, some of it is fate. I'm dying. It's really rare that you can still come to see me." He forced a smile.
"Yes. I came here specially to see you, you see." Rurik motioned to his eldest daughter Velika: "I brought her with me. My eldest daughter, our deputy priest. Look at her arms.
In the bottle, here is your favorite honey and vodka. You have loved these delicacies the most in your life, even if you are seriously ill now."
Some tears even squeezed out of the corners of the old man's eyes.
Gould no longer had the energy to say many words. He had already made a will. Since the king, queen, and even the prince came to visit, he did not have many regrets in his life.
Of course, he was still holding on, wanting to see the "little foxes" he had dispersed for the last time.
Taking advantage of the opportunity, he deliberately let Rurik read his will. This was his arrangement for the entire Gould family. The family's business had been established large enough, and his sons and son-in-law had already achieved prominent status in the kingdom.
Then family matters are no longer purely private matters.
Gould truly believed that Rurik received the blessings of the gods. Only this could explain how it took more than ten years for his family, a traveling merchant, to rise to become a dominant force in the north. The interests of the family were completely bound to the interests of the royal family.
, this is also a kind of double sword. If the royal family feels that the Gould family has done too much, it will inevitably weaken some of the "fat".
In order to avoid some troubles in the future, it is better for me to get a certificate of voting for the entire family at the end of my life.
Rurik soon obtained all the will documents, which were written in traditional rune script on cardboard.
There are many clauses in the document, mainly regarding the distribution of property.
Basically consistent with what Rurik thought, based on tradition, the second son and the third son in a family have no right to receive property. Gould was not completely based on tradition. 90% of his personal wealth was given to the eldest son, White Fox, and the remaining 10% was completely
Divide it in cash to the other three legitimate sons.
Gould was also lustful throughout his life. Unlike other powerful men, as soon as his favorite slave gave birth to a child, he immediately gained status and was no longer a slave.
His kindness ended here. The children of concubines were not recognized as members of the Gould family. Once he died, these women and their children had to leave to fend for themselves.
Taking the opportunity, Gould made a request. He would dismiss all the servants and mercenaries in the Tombstone Island mansion, as well as his concubines and unborn slaves. He asked Rurik to be kind to these people.
They are all Russians, which means that they hope that the king will give these people a decent future life.
The problem is raised, how to deal with it?
"That's fine. I can keep all the servants and guards you dismissed. I can arrange for your extra women to be married to some farmers in Novgorod. I will take in all your sons who are concubines."
Once in the Standing Army, my daughter will be promised to be the main wife of the young men in the Standing Army. I hope these children will be worthy of the opportunity given by this king."
This was Gould's last act of kindness. If he were a Viking lord, he would have decided to bury all his slaves so that their souls could still be enjoyed in Asgard. He knew that Rurik was disgusted with this ancient system, and it was not
The king is particularly kind because such behavior is a huge waste of labor.
When it comes to killing people, no one in this northern world is more cruel than King Rurik. Although he is cruel, this young king is also very friendly to those who are loyal to him.
According to Gould's will, when he died, the mansion on the island would no longer be used as the property of his eldest son. It would be confiscated and directly used as the office of the fortress governor, or it could be transformed into a parliamentary court, a warehouse and public facilities. His tombstone
Everything on the island will be confiscated, and his body after his soul returns to Tianyu must be turned into ashes.
Gould himself has roots. His ancestral home is the Unklas tribe northwest of Lake Mälaren, so he can be buried in the tribe's traditional burial area.
But if so, how will future generations remember that there was a big fat man who took great credit for the rise of Ross? Even in death, Gould still longed for glory. And he had a little plan in his heart. The so-called King Rurik was named after him.
He was not willing to use force to ban the entire family from developing in the eastern part of the kingdom. So what would happen after his death, would he still be restricted?
The capital city located in the eastern region has the largest cemetery in the kingdom, and even has a plaque called "Valhalla on Earth".
"Rurik, this is my last request." Gould took a breath and sat up with great courage.
Rurik's eyes widened, and he could see that this old guy was trying his best just by doing this.
"Just tell me, I will try my best to satisfy you with any request."
"To bury me in Valhalla on earth, I want to erect a noble tombstone. I have given a lot to Ross, so this request shouldn't be too much."
"Yes. Although you are not a warrior, your family has contributed greatly in every war, and your value is comparable to that of a war chief. Don't worry, no one will ignore your contribution, and no one will forget your glory. I will
Ask a stonemason to carve a bust of you. That will be your tombstone. You will not be forgotten."
"Thank you." No words can express my gratitude.
Seeing Gould so old, it even felt like he had aged suddenly. Rurik estimated that this guy's current difficult appearance was probably due to a thrombosis such as a stroke. It was precisely his condition that made it possible for him to suffer from this kind of thrombosis.
A disease of wealth.
He was like this, and Rurik had to think about his biological father, Lao Tuo.
Just ten years ago, Otto could still drag a sled with loads and lead his tribe to hunt in the Arctic Circle. Over the years, he has aged greatly, and his strong body has lost a lot of weight. About three years ago, he could still wear that gorgeous outfit.
The gold-plated chainmail he used to show off to his clan members mightily and domineeringly, but now he can no longer do so.
The golden armor needs to be equipped with some brackets so that Otto can hang on his body while sitting, maintaining the honor of the veteran warrior.
Otto will eventually leave, probably in the next few years.
As the supreme king, Otto has been irrevocably marginalized. He symbolizes the past of Rus, the new generation of mixed-blood Rus’s who have a large number. Most of them have not arrived in Rossburg in the north and have lived in Rossburg since they were born.
The shore of Yin'ermen Lake where the maternal clan has lived for generations.
Their strong Nordic bloodline makes them very strong at a young age. Although they still believe in the Nordic gods, they are strongly separated from the old times to a large extent.
They have not experienced the old times of hunger and do not know how the Rus tribe survives in the ice and snow fjords. The departure of the older generation of Rus people has already begun. Soon, all the souls of the old Rus people will return to the sky. That will be the era of young people.
And Ross is no longer the same concept as the Ross of old.
There is also an old blacksmith named Klavasen in the north. The governor of his hometown, Harozolson Rurik, had never heard of the news that Klawason was ill. Perhaps it was because this man devoted his life to blacksmithing. Even in the hard times, he always ate and drank well.
, his physical fitness is superior to that of ordinary people, which may make him live longer.
What about Haro Zuosen? What Rurik knew was that this old guy had captured many slaves during the rise of Rus. He indulged himself in sensuality and indulgence, and he also allowed his son Kanuf to do the same.
Rurik and Kanuf were contemporaries. Considering that he had a lot of wives and concubines, Kanuf, as a pure-blooded old Russian, marrying more women and having a lot of children was actually a good thing for the kingdom.
Rurik placed the honey and spirits here, and told him that these were delicious specialties from the East, so-called special gifts from him. Little Osborne did not understand why his father was so polite to this bedridden old man.
.
The child Tong Yan Wuji: "Dad, why doesn't he get up? He seems very arrogant..."
Gould was not deaf, so he forced a forced smile that gradually turned into relief. He asked his king again in a hoarse voice: "Which son is this for you?"
"You are really old. Hehe, this is my direct heir."
"Oh, just like my family's white fox. Are you going to Lake Malaren soon?"
"Yes."
"Okay. Now he is the new Gould, and my era is over. Rurik, please leave. I am just an old man who is about to leave, and I am not worthy of your continued stay."
The more he yelled like this, the more Rurik felt uncomfortable. "Are you trying to drive me away?"
"No. I just don't want you to see my unhappiness again. Ah..."
Gould completely lay down and closed his eyes. If he hadn't been breathing, Rurik would have thought that this old guy had passed away.
It's better to follow this old man's wishes and stop watching his decaying jokes...