The Tombstone Island stronghold is finally confirmed.
One fine morning, Harozov and Arik took most of the fleet on their final journey home.
The weather has cleared up and even the wind direction has changed significantly.
Most of the time they were immersed in the mild southerly wind, and occasionally encountered a weak northern airflow. They raised their sails, especially the dragon-headed warship at the head of the team, which hung the sails printed with the tribal oar totem. , symbolizing one’s own identity.
Times have changed.
They paddled again with the help of the wind, and people sang ancient songs, imagining that they could return to their hometown in just two days.
However, they actually met fishermen from their hometown early in the open sea.
Two larger flat-head fishing boats worked together to tow a huge hemp rope net woven by women.
This net was thrown into the sea. It was two hundred meters wide. Such a large net was towed by two boats. The more than thirty fishermen on the boat used the wind and paddles to sweep across the water drawn by the fishing net. An area more than ten meters below.
In the era before sonar fish detection, early trawlers relied on the experience of their owners and the so-called luck given by the sea god to try their luck in fishing in the vast sea.
Don’t think about how efficient fishing can be with such a crude method. However, as long as the fishing time is long enough, fishermen can still get good catches.
The two fishing boats focused on catching the larger herrings and let the smaller ones go. This is not because they understand the principle of fishing from the bottom of the lake.
But because of this, traditional nets made of hemp ropes are easily broken when dragged in seawater. If the fishing net is woven too finely, the strong resistance will often make it difficult for the trawler to move.
They caught mainly herring, which was longer than a man's hand, and occasionally some swimming cod.
The two boats had already headed to the southern waters far away from Fort Ross. They put the fish they caught in baskets made of vines and left them there for one night at most before returning.
Although the fish meat has deteriorated a little, the Russians don't care.
At any time, edible food is very precious. Not to mention that it has gone bad, as long as it is grilled on the fire, the burnt aroma of fish oil will completely cover up the smell. People's food requirements are not as demanding as those of later generations. .
The two fishing boats saw the fleet in the distance, and they were first instinctively alert.
The two boat bosses immediately completed the communication, first urgently closed the net, and then prepared to return north.
After all, in this vast sea, any ship encountered may be an enemy. Even their own fishing boats have a lot of axes and short spears, which can be sharp weapons for hunting whales, and also the confidence to protect themselves, and even launch attacks on the weak. Robbery weapons.
When a mighty fleet appears, it is always good to avoid the limelight.
However, when the fishermen made emergency operations, they all saw clearly that the sails displayed by the fleet in the distance were their own.
"It's one of ours, maybe the big leader. Brothers, let's go and have a good look!"
The plan of a ship boss was supported by everyone, after all, the pattern of the sail was so reassuring.
The fishing boat adjusted its direction and headed straight towards the fleet, and both Harozov and Arik spotted the approaching boats.
"Is that someone from our ally?" Aric asked.
"It should be someone from Mellaren."
Based on his own experience, Harozov took it for granted that it was an ally's ship.
As the fleet got closer, Harozov discovered through experience that the fishermen were all his own race, and he even recognized them.
"Grovogen! Why is it you?" Harozov asked an old man on the fishing boat with a pale beard tied into two braids in a strange shape.
"Harozov? I thought the big leader was back. You guys seem to have won?!"
"Haha, it's a great victory!"
"Oh! I really didn't expect that we would meet your fleet here." Fisherman Grovergen said excitedly.
"I never imagined that you would go to such a far away place? What are you doing? Fishing?"
"Of course. Because our Rurik, that kid needs a catch right now."
"My brother?" The clever Arik heard these words. He threw down his oars and rushed to the bow of the boat. "What's wrong with my brother?"
"Haha! It's Arik. Your brother is doing great right now. I can't explain it in a few words. Why don't we just stop fishing. Let us be your guides and lead you home!"
What big thing did his brother do? Hearing a few words from the fisherman, Arik initially learned about a crazy thing.
Is my brother Rurik showing mercy?
The boy actually gave more than a hundred boys of the same age under his command, giving them at least one pound of cooked fish every day. For this reason, some fishermen ventured far into the ocean to catch fish.
In the vast Gulf of Bothnia, Baltic herring is always the most abundant cold-water fish.
Even though its growth is generally slow, it takes five years to reach about 20 centimeters. At this point, the fish will basically stop growing. After the herring is decapitated and gutted, only three of them can make up one pound. In this way, Liuli
If you feed your men with herrings every day, you will eat nine hundred herrings a day!
For Roseburg, which has a population of only 7,000 to 8,000 people of its own and foreign races, the demand for fish catch suddenly increased a lot. And Rurik is indeed the most stable buyer for the fishermen. This child's honesty and trustworthiness
And the absolute cash on delivery is admired by everyone.
In any case, Rurik, an engineering student, is essentially a science student. He is proficient in calculations, so he did a good calculation for himself, and the conclusion he came to was exactly his "One Pound of Meat Nutritious Meal" plan
It works.
Because as glassware began to be manufactured on a small scale, in a short period of time, blacksmith Clavarson had completed forty sets of "tea sets".
The so-called "tea set" is a long-necked glass pot and a thick-walled and thick-bottomed glass. Even though it is not purely clean due to the nature of lead glass, the whole body is slightly dark.
Due to the original but correct annealing process, the strong stress of glass cooling has been greatly weakened.
Rurik personally tested it. When boiling water was poured into the cup, there were no cracks in either the pot or the cup.
And this trick has actually become its major selling point, because most residents simply cannot imagine seeing the details of the water inside through the wall of the cup. Isn't it an unprecedented visual experience?
Therefore, all the tribesmen who saw it exclaimed that it was crystal! Its emergence made people's life lacking entertainment have the latest interesting topic, but it was the high price marked on it that kept everyone away.
No one was interested in finding out how it was made. The fact was that some businessmen who were still staying in Roseburg had happily paid a high price and bought one for themselves.
Rurik sold five sets, and the five fur traders, who had accumulated a lot of wealth, all spent twenty gold coins to buy them. From then on, they could happily drink from "crystal cups".
As for the toxicity of lead glass, I and the blacksmith would not use such glasses anyway.
Just poison the heads of those big business owners! They have money anyway.
Of course, good things should be enjoyed by oneself, since alkali metals are the key to making glass. According to the new requirements, Rurik and Klavasen made potassium-lime glassware. Although the pressing and molding process is obviously difficult, is this difficult?
Klavason, who has been fighting hard all his life, has huge muscles in his upper body.
In this way, Rurik bought three absolutely harmless glasses for himself, which really shocked Niya at his son's magic.
But what surprised this woman even more was that her son suddenly earned ninety gold coins!
The amber and gemstone necklace that Niya has been wearing was originally a gift from her husband, but now it also contains a gift from her son. The necklace is strung with a gold ring, which is made of melted gold coins.
He was becoming richer and richer, and Rurik also knew that his father was coming back soon.
Before that, one lazy evening, a fleet suddenly entered the Rossburg fjord.
Fishing boats have returned early to report that the warriors who conquered Gotland have returned victoriously!
For a time, the women and children who had stayed behind in their hometowns flocked to the beach.
The fishermen reported very wonderful news. This time they had won a great victory and the fleet had made shocking gains. Especially those families with men participating in the operation, they were the most excited. Just because of the latest regulations negotiated by the tribe,
In the future, the gains from military operations will basically be shared solely by the participants.
Of course, the priests are also ready to make a move. Still with the latest agreement, the priest group will receive 30% of the loot.
Rurik and his mother waited at the beach along with the excited crowd.
News came that Arik had killed many enemies in the crusade and had made great military exploits.
Rurik was happy about this, and what made him even happier was the rumor that this army had plundered at least 100,000 silver coins!
What a wonderful rumor this is! If it is true, wouldn't it mean that the money shortage problem that Roseburg may be facing has suddenly been alleviated.
Rurik was indeed proud of his elder brother's victory, but he was keenly aware that the pile of glasses he produced might not have to wait for the big businessman Gould to return and be handed over to him for large-scale distribution.
Of course it is a lead glass. If you sell it to your clan members who have suddenly become rich, wouldn't it be a very quick way to make money? Of course it is toxic lead glass, considering that even if it is not such a glass, because they are rich, they will
Find a way to get a bronze cup. Bronze contains more lead than lead glass!
When he thought of this, Rurik's sense of guilt disappeared.
"Well done to you for coming back. I will definitely get your money into my hands in a reasonable way."
The soft light of the setting sun shines on the white sails of the fleet, and the world is really peaceful.
People on the coast raised their hands and cheered enthusiastically, while some older men stood in the shallow water, waiting for the ship to dock and tugging on the cables to secure it.
Ships began to wash up on the beach. The cargo ships loaded with cargo had their hard oak keels cut deeply into the sand and gravel of the shallow sea. It was entirely because of the weight of the cargo that they were stranded in knee-deep water and could no longer move.
People jumped off the boat one after another, and dozens of people dragged the cables and tried their best to pull the boat to the shore.
A large number of women went to the beach to look for their husbands or sons.
However, some women also learned the bad news that their sons had been killed in battle. At this point, their excitement suddenly fell to the bottom. There were many such women, and this noisy and happy scene seemed to have nothing to do with them.
They were confused, but fortunately, someone hurriedly told them that even if they were killed in battle, their bodies would not be abandoned, and their family members would receive their share of the spoils.
After hearing such news, their sad hearts miraculously improved. Because these women generally do not have only one child.
Even if their only son died in battle, they would still be able to obtain an astonishing amount of wealth, enough to spend the rest of their lives without having to work hard.
A large number of heavy wooden boxes were lifted down, and the boxes were escorted by heavily armed warriors. There was no doubt that the boxes were filled with money.
Another group of women were escorted off the ship, including a few adult women and many obviously little girls.
Even though most of the prisoners had already accepted their fate, in order to show the glory of the victor, Harozov still ordered his men to tie the hands of the prisoners again, like leading a cow or a sheep, and led them ashore.
Rurik noticed this keenly. He asked his mother: "Are those prisoners?"
"That should be the case. When your brother went to war, what women did he bring with him?"
"Oh. It looks like there are children. How pitiful."
Rurik's casual words undoubtedly deeply hurt the heart of his maid Rumia.
Rumia subconsciously tugged on Rurik's robe, attracting Rurik's attention.
"Lumia, what's wrong with you?"
"It's nothing. I'm a little cold."
"Okay, we'll go back in a while."
Rumia didn't say much. She knew that the so-called carnival of the Russian people today had nothing to do with her. As for those poor captives, although they reminded her of her own experience, how much did these captives have to do with her?
Rurik deliberately stood in a more conspicuous place, and Arik quickly found his lovely brother.
Just cute? This kid is happy to keep himself clean and is indeed prettier than other kids.
Arik ignored the people who were already making a fuss and couldn't wait to distribute the spoils. He approached his brother and his aunt Niya with great interest.
Arik still has the smile of a child, after all, he has just grown up.
But the sword in his waist has withstood the test of blood and fire, and Arik has grown into a real man.
Arik declared his achievements on the battlefield without hesitation, "Mom, I killed at least twenty enemies, and even a fighting master. I killed the strongest enemy, and they all said I was a great warrior."
hero."
Niya was happy for him and patted his shoulder excitedly: "Good boy, you did a good job. Just like your father and your grandfather."
After all, Niya, who had lived under the same roof for a long time and had lost two sons, had long regarded her nephew as her own.
Here, Arik, who has been without a mother since childhood, also regards Niya as his mother.
Arik deliberately rubbed his brother's little face: "Rurik, I heard something from the fishermen. You are so awesome, you can continue to make a lot of money."
"Of course." Rurik's face was twisted so hard by his cousin that he couldn't speak clearly. "I heard that you robbed the enemy of 100,000 silver coins? Is this true?"
"Of course! This is absolutely true." At this point, Arik really wanted to show off. "I am a hero who has made great achievements. I can get a thousand silver coins and a hundred gold coins! I
Now I have become very rich, and I will have no worries about food and clothing in my future life.”
Niya was shocked: "Wow! So much money?!"
"Of course! My mother and uncle will also be proud of me. But, I'm still not as rich as my brother." As he said that, Arik rubbed his brother's little face again.
Who doesn’t like cute things? Because Rurik paid special attention to personal hygiene, he insisted on washing his face and hair with soap, and also washed his clothes carefully. His hair was quite smooth, and his white face had no freckles at all. This child is even better than
Many girls still want to be clean. How can they not attract Arik's affection?
Niya was very happy that her nephew could treat her younger brother so affectionately. In a daze, she felt that these two were her biological sons.
Arik kneaded it for a while and then let go of his hand: "I heard that you give your friends a free meal every day? Oh, you are so generous. Just do this, and the money you have earned so hard will be huge.
It’s going to be consumed soon.”
Rurik replied in the affirmative, but in his heart he didn’t feel that it was hard work for him to make a lot of money. It was purely based on his noble status as “Odin’s Blesser”, his science and technology, and the clear contracts he signed with his partners.
Earn a lot of wealth.
He always firmly believes in one thing: a person's hard work is a necessary virtue, but simple hard work can only make a person comfortable with food and clothing. If you want to make a lot of money, you need to have keen eyes to grasp the fleeting changes in fate.
Not only do you want to take advantage of lost opportunities, but also seize your own talents.
Rurik already understood what the daily living expenses of an ordinary Russian were like.
It has to be said that if, as Arik said, one action was due to heroic reasons and a loot equivalent to two thousand silver coins was obtained, Arik's family would indeed live a happy life.
In fact, Arick also intends to make some comparisons with his younger brother. With this success, Arick even estimated that if the army can be assembled on the built Tombstone Island in the future, enemies who will plunder Gotland Island will become a regular occurrence in the future.
, you will make new achievements and become richer.
Will his personal wealth soon surpass that of his younger brother?
Arik couldn't help but ask: "Brother, how much money do you have now? I advise you not to be so generous. Although you and those children are brothers, they are not poor enough to need your support."
"It doesn't matter, I promised them. If you follow me, you will have meat to eat! That's what I rewarded them with."
"Haha? You really look like a leader." Arik said with satisfaction.
Rurik curled his lips slightly: "Brother, don't worry about me. Even if I reward them with meat every day, my wealth is still growing. Because I have created a new and wonderful baby. Wait a moment, you will come to me
Sit at home and let me show it to you? No! Why don't I give you one as a gift?"
"Your gift? Great!" Arik was already in a good mood today. When he learned that his brother was going to give him a treasure, he felt even more excited.