Ironburg has undergone great changes in the past year. Not only have a new batch of attached wooden houses appeared around the wooden fence, but the population has also developed greatly.
The permanent population here has exceeded 1,000, including as many as 200 babies under the age of two.
People have long been accustomed to the alarming rate of infant mortality, and they attribute it to a miracle that almost no children have died in the past year due to improved hygiene, especially the practice of various cleaning habits using soap.
In the Gray Squirrel tribe after the war, the surviving men had a large number of women. Those tribe women were essentially borrowed seeds. They already had new children and had hope in life.
Sometimes Rurik is also worried. After all, the Russians are conquerors, and it was the Russian army that killed many of them. Are they willing to live like this?
Now Rurik gradually understands that the three views of the Rus' people are somewhat different from theirs. This group of Kovin people are extremely realistic. The tribe is dependent on the Rus' people, and its population and strength are booming at an unprecedented speed.
For example, some Viking warriors attach great importance to honor and would regard revenge as their lifelong goal, but these Corvins don't care at all.
Saipolava obeyed her father's request, which is to say that she would devote all her strength to a woman to please her man. Unfortunately, she is still a child, and it will take some years before she is qualified to become a mother. And there are many people in Rurik.
It is not easy to stand out among women.
Her father, Mechasta, was eager for his daughter to be pregnant with Rurik's child right away. Even though it was impossible now, he still hoped that his daughter would be like a dodder wrapped around a big tree, always clinging to Rurik.
On his first night in Ellenborg, Rurik felt completely limp after taking a sauna. He fell asleep, and Saipolava clung to him like a cat all night long.
On the first night, everyone got an excellent rest, but some men were still excited to enjoy the night.
Some of the captured Gotland women were finally reunited with the Ross fishermen who settled in Ellenborg. They inevitably had a "suffering of the flesh". The next morning, they all picked up earthenware bowls to eat wheat. After their stomachs were full, they forgot about what they had done last night.
On one side.
Those Ross hunters who are motivated to hunt bears desperately have no idea about those women for the time being, but they can't resist the uninvited Yingying Yanyan.
The views of the Kovin people are indeed different from those of the Rus and other Viking tribes. There are still a group of women who have not found a new man or are eager to have another one, so they appear.
Maybe this is the instinct engraved in DNA. Somehow they know the disaster of inbreeding. Are the new and strong hunters targeted by them? The relationship happened like this...
When Rurik saw the inside of the wooden castle with his own eyes, those Covin women were wandering around the young Ross hunter, eager to lure them home? He only had one practical worry? "These women are a pack of wolves, and the warriors are doing it."
A weak body cannot be replenished by eating a few bear bile."
The palace belonging to the Duke was well cleaned? Rurik stayed here, and it was also where the Balmok people who came from afar were held for formal meetings.
The sun has risen? Brothers Biyongni and Floki came to the mansion of Chief Ross excitedly.
The bear head on the wooden wall shows Ross's strength? The bright red coals in the fireplace make the whole room very warm.
Rurik had not yet installed glass windows in the house, and a large number of oil lamps illuminated the house.
Rurik sat cross-legged on a bearskin, his Saipolava still clinging to her like a kitten.
Mechasta, Kawi, Jevlo and others sat on the left and right respectively, and Biyoni, Floki and Modgen sat facing them.
Everyone seems to be sitting in a circle? The so-called meeting is really a kind of exchange of laughter and laughter? There is no clear distinction between respect and inferiority here.
"Biyongni, you came from that harbor in the west, and you went through many dangers along the way..."
Rurik acted a little reserved and polite, and Biyoni shook his head, "There is not much risk. My father selected ten warriors to escort me? I myself don't need these so-called escorts. We started from July.
We set off, although there were obstacles on the road. Everyone passed safely. Our ship finally drifted here, but you all went to fight? If the people here hadn't told us that Chief Ross would come back, we would have sold the salt.
leave."
Rurik listened carefully. "I didn't expect you to have arrived so early? It seems that you have been living in Ironburg for some time."
"Yes? It has been more than two months now. I live with you Russians and the leather merchants we used to do business with, and I live with you."
"Oh?" Rurik stretched his head, "I didn't know about this! If you had come earlier, you could have participated in the crusade of our Russians. Did you know? We residents of Svealand have just finished fighting with Denmark
In the war, our army killed 10,000 enemies."
Killing 10,000 enemies is really an act of the God of War! Biyongni couldn't immediately believe this achievement that exceeded his knowledge, but the Russians were indeed a powerful and unique force.
Biyongni was stunned at first, and then laughed awkwardly to try not to panic. He congratulated: "You are really a powerful force. You have achieved a great victory."
"Yes." Rurik straightened his back. He felt that his verbal display of muscles had shocked the "Prince" of Balmok. Living in this world and this era is the law of the jungle. Rurik is currently
We have no intention of attacking the Port of Narvik, but seizing it has been set as a long-term goal. It would be a good idea to use a more peaceful alliance method to allow the Russians to obtain an ice-free port facing the ocean.
He had just learned that the "Prince" of Balmok had lived in Ironburg for two months, and he was afraid that hidden behind his smile was his ambition to conquer.
We are all warriors, and none of them are given for free. Ironburg is the only source of chromite in Europe. This is a treasure that must be controlled by the Russians. They need to flex their muscles to dispel any potential covetousness. If deterrence by force does not work, then there is no choice.
Defend with force.
Based on this idea, Rurik did not mind telling Biyoni about the Russian expedition. He did not go into some details. He emphasized four points in particular: Russian warships are invincible, Russian warriors are covered with iron armor, and Russian bows and arrows
It is so powerful that Ross can quickly assemble an army of 10,000.
With this description, Biyoni's awkward smile quickly disappeared. He began to feel that Rurik, the young leader of Rus, was threatening the entire Balmok tribe.
"I'm so sorry, it seems that I scared you." Rurik saw the other party's sullen face and hurriedly explained, "We are friends. I am willing to be Floki's brother, so I am also your brother. Biyoni
, I support you as the leader of Balmok, and we can make an alliance today."
"Okay." Biyongni felt a stone weighing on his heart, and he let out a sigh of relief, "We will form an alliance, but...do we also mean to form an alliance with other Svealan tribes?"
"It has nothing to do with them. This is just an alliance between our two tribes. Our two tribes will not invade each other and trade with each other."
Rurik's words are very realistic, especially "mutual non-aggression". This is the commitment Biyoni needs most. With it, future trade can be peaceful and stable.
Rurik thought of another thing, "I heard from Modgen that the Norwegians in the south covet your harbor?"
"Yes. Those are the people living in Bergen and Oslo. The people there intentionally ask us to join the tribal alliance. They want us to be inferior people, which is absolutely impossible. We have our own opinions!"
Rurik shrugged, "This is so similar to us! The leader of Svealan became a private king, made me a duke, and asked us to be vassals."
"And what's your attitude?"
"Of course it is a verbal agreement. We Russians continue to live our own lives, and they can't influence us. If it were not for trade, it would be impossible for me to verbally agree. But even though it is a verbal agreement, if there is a war, we should honor the contract and participate in the war. Okay
After we have plundered the spoils, our alliance should do the same. If the people of Bergen attack you, please send a messenger immediately, and I will immediately organize an expeditionary force to reinforce. Similarly, if Rus is invaded, please send troops to support. Except
Besides, let’s not interfere with each other.”
Alliance means military alliance, Biyongni agreed. "My brother Rurik, it seems that we need to hold a ceremony immediately. Kagura will see us forming an alliance."
"certainly."
Biyongni already has a great reputation in his hometown. The "Raven Crest" on his brother Floki's forehead also strengthens the legitimacy of the family's rule. Crossing the snowy mountains to find the Rus and form an alliance is an act of merit.
It's just that he's a little conflicted now.
The Rus people are probably more powerful than their own tribe. With the current contact, will they become possessive of the Balmok tribe like the people in Bergen?
Rurik wants to swear an alliance, okay! Just use some new chains to make the alliance stronger.
Biyongni suddenly smiled and said: "I also have a sister who is about to become an adult. She is a very beautiful girl with a beautiful singing voice. Our priest named her Nolen, and the man in her destiny is an amazing man.
The warrior of the world. Maybe you... are the person in the prophecy."
Hearing this, Rurik suddenly sat upright. He wanted to exclaim, "Why is it another magical prophecy? Why is it me again?"
Rurik looked at the current situation and completely guessed Biyoni's intention. Any prophecy was a dispensable cover. Apparently they felt that "obeying the leader" was still not enough, and the best way to ensure the alliance was marriage.
I already have a lot of women, so why not have another Norwegian wife?
"Okay, I am willing to accept Nolen. We will hold an alliance ceremony immediately. Before that, I really want to know how many goods you have trafficked."
When Rurik mentioned this, Mechasta felt itchy all over.
"Something's wrong with you?" Rurik turned around and asked.
"My lord!" Mechasta said with a smile on his face, "It's salt! A lot of salt! It's all excellent salt! Up to four hundred pounds of salt!"
Four hundred pounds of salt? Rurik couldn't sit still at this moment. He jumped up directly, "Biyongni, did you really... bring so much?"
"Of course, salt is our specialty there."
"That's great. I never thought you were so capable at making salt."
Four hundred pounds of salt, with a total weight of nearly 160 kilograms, were shared among ten travelers, and each person's load was not extreme.
People in Northern Europe sweat less and eat more sea fish in their diet, so they don’t have much need for salt supplements.
Rurik marveled at the astonishing figure of four hundred pounds of salt, but Biyoni claimed that they could produce salt on a larger scale.
"I like your salt, what are you going to trade us for? Just leather?"
"That's absolutely not the case. Ross has a lot of novelties that I like very much..." Biyongni's eyes were fixed on the glass cup holding hot chrysanthemum tea, "such as your crystal cup. And your army,
The sun-shielding black crystal that the warrior placed in front of his eyes."
"Is that so? I have more good things, and each product has a price marked on it. For example, this crystal cup doesn't cost much, it's just half a pound of silver coins."
"Ah! So cheap?"
"And those sun-blocking glasses cost twenty silver coins."
Biyoni knew the preciousness of gold and silver, and he also knew that only a few people could enjoy crystal vessels. His knowledge was refreshed, because Rurik claimed that the Russians had received the Asgardian wisdom taught by Odin and could use it
Mortal things are made of crystal, so the price is no longer measured by an equal weight of gold.
Biyoni could not hide his desire for all kinds of rare things, and Rurik followed suit, "Now we need to determine one thing, how much silver is your salt worth."
Biyoni quoted his selling price, which was one pound of salt for one newly peeled polar bear skin, or five new reindeer skins.
Rurik shook his head, "The selling price is erratic, why don't you listen to my opinion?"
"Speaking."
"Salt is indispensable, but every meal consumes very little salt. You have to pay a lot to boil seawater and make salt. I will give you ten silver coins for one pound of salt. What do you think?"
"Ah?" Biyongni's eyes widened.
"What? You think I gave you too little?"
"No! That's enough."
Biyongni smiled naively, and Rurik could tell at a glance that this man was claiming to be getting a big deal. Rurik had no intention of lowering the price anymore. First of all, the salt of the Balmok people was indeed of good quality, with almost no bitter magnesium chloride.
Secondly, when they make salt, the Russians don't have to use the extremely light seawater of the Gulf of Bothnia to make salt. Thirdly, if they can boast of benefits, they will worry about losing Russian allies.
At the beginning, Biyoni exchanged salt for some bear skins, and he was still very proud of himself. However, he did not expect that Rurik, the leader of Rus, would make generous profit transfers as soon as he arrived.
"We will do this from now on!" Rurik emphasized again, "We will import your salt every year in the future. This year we bought 400 pounds. I hope you will bring 500 pounds or 1,000 pounds of salt next year. I
As a promise of honor, I will buy it with high-quality silver coins. This time, I promise that you will get a large number of silver coins to return home when the ice melts and the snow melts."
Biyoni wanted to laugh when he thought that he would be able to earn one hundred pounds of silver coins every year in the future. In this way, if he could import leather, weapons, and other things from the Rus, the life of the Balmok people would be better.
Some.
Biyongni did not explain that in order to make so much salt, they cut down trees on the rocky hills of the wide fjord to boil the sea to make salt. Although the ocean water is saltier, their salt production costs are still high.
.
With more income, the Balmok people themselves will become stronger and have more capital to explore the sea. After all, the Balmok tribe's fjords are already too crowded with today's productivity levels.
.
On the open-air altar inside Ironburg, the snow had been completely swept away. The Kovin priests placed bronze sacrificial vessels and glasses under Rurik's instruction.
Rurik brought several bottles of vodka produced in Russia, and the words vodka were indeed engraved on the glass bottles.
It was already evening, and almost everyone living in Ellenburg watched this special ceremony.
Rurik was cruel and stabbed his finger with a dagger, and his blood dripped into the spirits in three glasses.
Although it was a strange ritual, Biyoni and Floki both knew the great symbolism. They pricked their fingers and blood dripped into the cup.
Rurik knelt down on one knee, holding a glass and facing the sunset, and the other two did the same.
"Great Odin, we form an alliance here. From now on, we Rusians and Balmoks are brothers. I, Rurik, promise mutual non-aggression and mutual benefit. If my brothers are in trouble, I will support them." After that, he drank a strong drink.
liquor.
Biyongni also said similar words. He finally made a solemn wish, "May our two tribes be brothers from generation to generation!"
This was certainly not a Taoyuan triumvirate. At night, Rurik insisted on engraving the terms of the alliance on a wooden board as a clear text of the treaty.
There is not one treaty here, but as many as three.
Treaty of the Rosbalmok Alliance
Rosbalmok Peace and Trade Treaty
"Rosbalmok Non-Aggression Pact"
Perhaps the last treaty was super unnecessary, and Rurik insisted on signing it. Biyongni did not understand that Rurik was already his younger brother, and everyone had made an alliance by blood in front of the god (the sun), so what was the point of non-aggression?
Can be stubborn.
Rurik insisted, and he had no explanation.
He finally invited, "Let's go bear hunting together tomorrow! Let you see the power of our Ross hunters. Let me also see the ability of you Balmoks."