Any ruler with a vision will realize the important strategic value of Gogland Island.
Its geographical location is in the middle of the Gulf of Finland. Historically, it was one of the hot spots where the Russian Czarist State and the Kingdom of Sweden competed.
The ancestors of the Finns once built small settlements on the islands. As the climate changes, the water in the Gulf of Finland becomes more and more, and the islands become too far away from the mainland. Those Finns and Estonians who currently only know how to make canoes are no longer able to do so.
Going somewhere too far from the coast and no need to risk it.
Historically, it was the Vikings who discovered Gogland Island, specifically a Dane who believed in God. His name was quoted from the character Gog in the Bible, so a small number of Danish immigrants established it on the island.
A small fishing village, named gogland after the first settler.
Soon after the Russians, who were also Vikings, established Kievan Rus, under the governance of Grand Duke "Saint" Yaroslav, the Russian army actively expanded its power and collected taxes in the Estonian region. From then on, islands with strategic value in the Gulf of Finland,
They all began to be controlled by Kievan Rus.
If all this is a historical necessity, then Otto led a tired fleet to land on Gogeland Island in the late autumn of 830, which was a conquest that created history.
Perhaps at first Otto just wanted to find a place for his uncomfortable men to rest. On the vast sea, she could be used as a place to land and rest, so she was remembered by all the Russians.
The Russians have long known about the existence of this island, and they also know that it is a barren place.
Only when the Rus truly unite the Slavs and establish a huge country can they realize how important this barren island is to the control of the Gulf of Finland.
Now, the Russians are not interested in it, and at most regard it as a safe place for temporary docking. In the past years, Otto also brought a fleet to dock here. They only spent one night on the pebbly beach in the south of the island, and then were taken away.
Driven away by the stumbling stones.
The Russians did not explore the island at all. In fact, everyone felt that there was no need to explore it. Four hills full of rocks are on the island. A small number of pine and birch trees struggle to survive, so the forest is also sparse.
People who landed wanted to find a soft beach, but there were only a lot of pebbles.
Frustrated, everyone brought shovels, dug and pounded, and after leveling a piece of ground, they spread the leather and lay down to rest their tired bodies.
The bonfires were burning one after another, and the fuel was some felled pine trees that were rich in oil.
Those women and children were ordered by Otto to light a fire and cook wheat for the tired warriors. In return, they would get enough wheat porridge to fill their stomachs.
For a rare meal, they worked diligently. Especially these Novgorod women who were about to get married. They knew very well that boarding the Russian ship meant cutting off everything in the past. Even if the manors had endless connections
, they are all women who were abandoned by their parents and estates. What they can hope for now is that their future Russian husbands will really treat their wives as well as the legend says.
These women are incredibly skilled at cooking wheat. If they could have a clay oven, they would be able to put some effort into making big lobster that would last for ten days and a half.
The tired people all hoped to find a piece of natural sandy land as their shelter tonight. They had to level some pebbles, eat the wheat cooked by the woman and lie down to sleep.
They thought the stone was extremely unnecessary, but in Rurik's eyes, wasn't it what he dreamed of?
"The beach is actually full of pebbles that are weathered and eroded by the sea? Then isn't the hinterland of the island..."
Otto was sitting by the campfire, using resin to shave the shreds of fish meat between his teeth. The warriors under his command looked really exhausted, and he himself even felt a little guilty.
Otto made the decision to rest for a whole day on this rocky island.
Regarding the next voyage, he discussed with his nephew Arik. The next anchorage was at the place where Arik led his troops to spend the night, which is also the so-called Nesar Island.
Maybe after a day's rest, everyone's energy and physical strength can be well restored?
Rurik was a little tired, but after realizing the island's huge stone resources, that fatigue disappeared.
He approached his father holding a half-eaten wooden bowl of porridge.
"Didn't those women lay out blankets for you? Your brother is already asleep, and you should rest too." Otto glanced at him and said.
"Everyone is sleepy." Rurik sat next to his father, put down the wooden bowl and picked up the pebbles on the ground. This island seems to be full of stones."
"so what?"
"I have an idea."
"Tell me about it." Otto threw the branch, wanting to hear his son's opinion.
Rurik then pointed to the east: "New Roseburg is still using wood to build its walls. A large number of buildings are also made of wood. I think these are temporary measures. You also know my plan. I will use stones to build the walls of New Roseburg.
.Connuson said that stones are hard to find. I think this island is our quarry."
"Huh? You want to use this island?"
"right."
Otto pinched his beard. For building a fence or something, building a wooden fence should be enough. "Rurik, you should know that building a wall with stones is a difficult job. Do you think it is necessary?"
"It is very necessary. I just hope that New Roseburg can become a solid city. I think it is natural to use any means to strengthen the defense of our future core. Besides, we still have to pave the road with stones."
Whether it was building stone walls, stone houses or stone roads, Otto didn't think they were necessary.
"Maybe we shouldn't be too hasty. Rurik, I think you are too impatient." Otto reminded kindly. "In my opinion, the rammed earth road is enough. You know, there is no road even in our hometown of Roseburg."
, why do you have to have such high demands?"
"That's just because you don't care!" Rurik was a little excited.
"Huh? If it's not necessary, why should I care."
"But we must be concerned about New Roseburg. Oh, just leave this matter to me." Rurik didn't want to argue anymore: "Dad, what is the name of this island?"
"Name?" Otto shrugged: "A desert island full of rocks also has a name?"
"Then let's call her Stieno."
"That's fine."
Rurik picked up his job again: "I have thought about it tomorrow. I will take my mercenaries to the depths of the island to have a look. Stone Island looks very large. If gold or silver ore can be found, even iron ore
It’s also great.”
Does his son actually think this way? Otto didn't know whether to be happy or confused. Is this kid born to like discovering ores, or is he too close to the blacksmiths? Is Rurik going to play a guest role as a prospector?
It would be great if you really find something good.
Otto rubbed his son's smooth little head: "You go ahead, Jevlo has experienced many battles, you ask him to protect you. You'd better find some good things for me, and remember to come back in the evening."
With his father's approval, Rurik felt confident that he could be an explorer boldly.
Those elite veterans from Tombstone Island under Arik's command, the long rowing, made them tired. Not to mention those who were pampered in Novgorod for two months, and then feasted in Novorosberg
The strong and young Sorgon army, who were so good at eating, had their bellies swelled up one after another. They had a little belly fat like never before.
The privilege of the strong is to eat wheat with an open stomach! Even if oatmeal is a low-sugar food in later generations, it is more of a gimmick. Many young warriors have accumulated some fat on their bodies. Although they are better able to withstand the cold and survive in the cold, it is more of a gimmick.
The cold Arctic winter has passed, but it has also reduced their physical strength.
The sun has risen, and the sunlight quickly dissipates the sea fog.
The beach was full of lazy people, who continued to wrap themselves in blankets to catch up on their sleep. As for the women and children, they continued to obey Otto's orders, seizing the time to grind wheat for the entire fleet, and then use the stones that were available everywhere.
, burn it very hot to bake the wheat cakes. All the pottery jars brought are filled with fresh water brought from the previous island. Since they know the next stop, not many people really cherish the fresh water now.
The oats were churning in the vat, and Otto deliberately asked the women to cook them more quickly. At noon, the soldiers could drink the porridge until it was boiled to pulp, and that would be the real delicacy.
The next anchorage was Nesar Island. Since it only took a short voyage to reach the mouth of a river, it was extremely simple to obtain fresh water. Even if the leader did not want to be harassed by the Estonians at the wrong time, Arik volunteered.
, when he arrived at the next anchorage, he would take his brothers to row a boat to get water, so Otto did not want to interfere with the current water issue.
Jevlo originally refused the unexpected expedition. He also participated in the long paddle. He was physically exhausted and had to obey his master's order. He picked up an oak bow and guarded the master's stay to avoid difficulties.
Rick explores the interior of the island.
Rurik brought all the mercenaries with him on this trip, and he mobilized his troops as if they were going to fight wild beasts.
On a mere small island, could there be a bird bigger than a turtle dove, or a beast bigger than a mouse?
Ferocious beasts should not and cannot appear here. Rurik himself was in a good mood. He was eager to shoot one or two birds in the woods to become game tonight.
They walked on the pebbly coast, and the whole team went counter-clockwise, all the way north on the eastern beach of the island.
The north wind blew on everyone's faces, and the sound of sea waves echoed in our ears.
"Sir, you want a lot of stones. I think these stones are enough to build New Roseburg." The bored Jevro suddenly spoke.
"I know, these rocks are very good." Rurik walked forward on the huge beach rock platform, "Be careful and don't sprain your feet."
"Then send some people over to mine the stones. Sir, as long as you are willing to pay some money, my brothers are willing to do it."
"You?" Rurik stopped. He didn't know whether Yevlo's words were intentional or purely unintentional. "You'd better forget it. I want you to fight against the enemy, not to be masons. Mining stones is
It's necessary, maybe we should let a group of Novgorodians come over, or move some Kovin people to dig out the stone for me."
"In my opinion, you can go to Melalen to recruit some people."
Maybe a mercenary captain shouldn't talk so much. Rurik was a little unhappy at first, but after hearing what Gevro said, he had to think about it.
What will happen to Melalen next year? Rurik estimates that many people will be hungry. Fortunately, they are adjacent to a large lake and rely on fishing to survive. Will they be willing to be poor? Undermining the Melalen tribe
Rurik regarded it as a policy. After all the extremely poor children were collected by him, the next step was to develop the adults and invite them to board the Russian ship to explore the East.
The expedition north along the coast seemed aimless, and Rurik was always paying attention to the rocks everywhere. Look at this island, it must be a boulder that was forcibly lifted from the earth's crust by some geological event, and it must be the same as the one he experienced before.
What is completely different from the flat island is that this island actually has mountains.
They walked for a while, and something incredible came into view.
"Huh? How big is this island? Why is there a stream?"
What was completely different from Rurik's surprise was the excited expressions of the mercenaries.
Jevro pursed his lips: "I thought I really had to go to the southern mainland coast to find a river to get water, but I didn't expect that there is a stream on this island."
"Yes, it seems that the leader's plan needs to be revised." After that, Rurik shook his neck: "Let's trace the source along the stream."
They walked on the land on both sides of the stream and began to really go deep into the hinterland of the island. After walking for just over a kilometer, a small lake came into view.
Lakes in Northern Europe get cold quickly, so they do not support a large number of duckweeds. Gogland Island has four larger lakes and one small pool, which are replenished by seasonal precipitation. What Rurik and the others are seeing now is the largest one.
.
On both sides of Amber are tall mounds, and due west there are clear skies and white clouds.
"It looks like this is the middle part of the island." The experienced Yevlo judged.
Rurik felt a little tired. He twisted his waist and sat casually on a soft pine needle cushion by the river: "I thought the island was very big. Haha, it was a surprise to find a small lake. Yevlo, look at the two sides.
The mountain is actually full of rocks.”
Jevro breathed a sigh of relief: "In my opinion, the whole island is just huge rocks. The forest here is not dense, and I have seen a few birds, but no wild beasts." After that, he looked at his bow.
: "I worry too much."
Rurik shrugged: "If you go exploring some more, you might get something unexpected. Haha, maybe you can dig out some delicious truffles."
People who have nothing to do naturally take a rest and wander around freely. When Jevro avoided going to the toilet, after shaking himself, he noticed a tree not far away that was completely different from the pine tree.
It is so tall and fluffy, and its winding trunk is completely different from the red pine. If you look closely, you will see that there are many such trees beside the lake.
A special feeling drove him forward. He shook a small tree that was as big as his own forearm, and was surprised to find that the trunk was quite elastic. He chopped it down without hesitation, and then trimmed off some twigs. He was very happy.
Xing carried it and approached its owner.
Rurik, who was eating some wheat cakes to replenish his strength, saw Jevro returning with something strange, and asked casually: "Did you find some treasure?"
"There's a baby! This is it."
Jevro showed the branch he got, which made Rurik look confused. "What do you want the branch for?"
"Let's make a bow! Haha, do you know what kind of tree this is?"
"What is it?"
"It's an ash tree."
"Ash tree?" Rurik was even more confused. He was not a botanist, and the Old Norse description of the tree was even less clear. "What can it do?"
"It is the best material for making short hunting bows. Every hunter wants it, but it is not easy to find. People in my hometown, and you Russians, are all using oak to make bows. In my opinion,
The ash tree is the most suitable."
Yevlo kept mentioning the word "grey". If Rurik took a closer look at the chopped down tree, of course he couldn't judge its true identity. Yevlo tried hard to bend the branch and it rebounded violently.
, Rurik's head suddenly buzzed.
"Ah! This is really a good material for making a bow. Where did you get it?"
"It's over there." Jevro pointed to the lake. "Sir, what are your instructions?"
Rurik slapped his thigh and said excitedly: "I thought this exploration would be fruitful! We actually found good materials for making bows. Let's go, cut down all the ash trees on the left and right, and take them away."