Otto and Niya soon found out what happened that night.
They had to readily admit the fact that their son had become a man before he reached adulthood. Through this incident, they also felt that Rumia was more worthy of getting close to than ever before.
This used to be a luxury, but now Otto began to think about the beauty of becoming a grandfather.
It's like spring is coming, the sea ice and snow are melting, and everything will be wonderful.
But Rumia was never Rurik's official wife that Otto approved of.
Old Ligus of the White Tree Manor in Novgorod, that old guy actually has an extremely smart little daughter.
That girl, Svetlana, is almost reaching adulthood, right?
Because of the war, Otto has not been to Novgorod for a whole year. He does not know how the girl has grown up. In the new year, he intends to go to the east for a good inspection, especially to see Svetlana.
Is it beautiful enough?
This is still a face-based world, and Rumia's appearance did not please Otto. However, since this was Rurik's first servant, she also became his first woman, and Otto had strong expectations.
Next year will be the result.
The power of manhood has awakened!
Regarding this kind of thing, there is only a difference between zero and countless times. Rurik, who eats marrow and knows taste, pursues the ultimate happiness completely out of instinct. Of course, the purpose is to let her give birth to a hereditary high priest.
According to the standards of this era, Rumia is already an adult. She is almost sixteen years old. According to the standards of a deer farmer, she should have been a mother long ago. Therefore, based on this understanding, this girl seems eager.
Again and again, five times in ten days. Rurik himself felt comfortable, and he was very sure of his ability.
It's like archery. Shoot at a target multiple times. As long as one arrow hits the target, it is a success.
It was already the sixth time, and Rumia completely realized that her man was just a young man. He was a bear with great potential, and he had shown great strength now, and she could only bear it passively. After all, this was what she wanted.
.
She lay down to rest under the night, and Rurik covered her with a blanket and sat quietly by the bed to calm down.
"Are you satisfied now?"
Rumia whispered, "You... want me to become a mother this year..."
"Not this year, but next year. Nine months or close to ten months, around the spring equinox next year, you will be the mother."
In the night, Rumia smiled quietly, "It's better to hurry up, I still have to preside over the priest."
As the saying goes, newborn calves are not afraid of tigers. Rurik felt that he was full of energy, and he was afraid that he was weak. During this period, he ate meat with all his strength.
The sea ice is already very weak, and the planned major events should be carried out. What happened with Rumia is just a private matter within the family, and what follows is related to the great exploration of the future of the Russians.
Otto, he didn’t learn about Rurik’s plan to visit Balmok allies by sea until April?
Is there a smooth waterway from Fort Ross to Balmok? Will there be shocking wind and waves along the way? Will it be attacked by the enemy?
Of course, a warrior who conquered the sea shouldn't be afraid of these risks? But the explorer turned out to be his own son! After clearly learning Rurik's decision, Otto suddenly couldn't help but think carefully? I'm afraid this boy is different from Rumia because of his closeness.
Is that what you want? The so-called assault leaves a backup for the family.
A meeting was held at the Duke's mansion. Rurik needed to explain his decision to the elite elders of the tribe so that this adventure would no longer seem dangerous.
It's clearly past mid-April, and this year's Spring Festival has obviously come later. Will the bay thaw enter May again? Is cold the norm? Last year's warmth was just a flash in the pan? I'm afraid this year's harvest season, the Lake Mälaren region
The grain harvest will be short again.
Roseburg encountered another bad freezing rain, and the soft snow turned into solid ice on a large scale. If it weren't for the large wheat reserves, the reindeer herds and Mianyang that Roseburg raised would starve to death because of the difficulty in obtaining fodder.
Otto took the lead and said with a deep face, "Rurik, everyone is here, now tell everyone your plan."
Rurik looked around at everyone present. Apart from the old guys from the Ross tribe, the most important guests were the brothers Biyoni and Floki.
Did he come prepared, and made another gesture after a moment? The four maids worked together to carry a huge pine board into the hall, and placed the board gently among everyone.
Everyone stretched their heads. They noticed that the brown-white board exuded a strong rosin smell, and unique textures were painted with toner on it.
But? What exactly is on the board?
Suddenly? Otto suddenly realized? As if he was stabbed in the leg, he stood up suddenly, pointed at the board and shouted in surprise, "This is! Our world? Compared with the previous simple diagram, this one is more detailed. What are you doing?
Tiansuo asked for wooden boards to make this?"
Rurik also stood up: "Yes, this is part of our world, at least a small world we live in."
What Rurik brought out was a map of Northern Europe, with an area of nearly one square meter.
This map is completely based on his inner memory, coupled with inquiries from some key figures such as the Danish old Eric, and gained some knowledge about Danish geography, so as to depict the Nordic world in as much detail as possible.
All of Scandinavia and the Kola Peninsula, all of Jutland, the Eastern Lands of Finland, and some clearly identified islands and archipelagos are on the map.
On the northwest edge of the map, a small island is specially marked, namely Iceland.
The British Isles are the main depiction in the southwest of the map, and there is also the Dutch region south of Jutland, which is the so-called "Greater Friesland".
On the map, the names of some settlements are marked in detail. All the settlements in the Principality of Rus are marked in the most detail, and the locations of Hedeby, Schleswig, Kalmar and Boriholm have also been identified.
, Bergen, Narvik Fjord. As for Novgorod, Rurik arranged it in the southeast corner of the map and engraved the corresponding name.
Even Otto had never intuitively understood the structure of the "known world". The unprecedented huge map that Rurik laid out with his own hands directly helped everyone gain a God's perspective!
Rurik lay down and pointed to the islands, fjords, rivers, and settlements on the map, introducing them one by one.
"We can of course reach Balmok by taking the ocean route. We pass through the strait controlled by the Danes and enter the vast western sea. We will first enter Oslo, go north along the coastline, and arrive at Bergen, the core of the Norwegians.
, we can reach Balmok by continuing north. If we start from Balmok and continue east, we can get to my winter camp, Fort Murman." Rurik directly described a route, and the viewers were all shocked and suspicious.
Otto's aging heart was beating rapidly. In his lifetime, reaching the Øresund fishing ground controlled by the Danes was the limit of his journey to the south.
"Is this possible? Are you sure this route exists?"
His father's suspicions were very reasonable. Neither the Rus nor the Balmoks could judge the rationality of this route. In fact, Rurik was also very skeptical. He had to travel carefully on the Jutland Peninsula and its affiliated islands, and the risks were huge.
. It’s just that he felt like a headless fly running around, as long as he walked along the coastline of the peninsula, he would be able to pass through the key strait into the Atlantic Ocean.
"I can do it!" Rurik put forward an impeccable argument with great confidence. This is the knowledge that Odin gave us to Rose. We can know the structure of the earth and the ocean. God has given us the opportunity, and we must seize the opportunity.
."
Otto recovered slightly from the shock: "That's true, but... you have to pass through the strait controlled by the Danes. You called for no war this year, why do you still need to..."
"War? No. I will not attack Denmark, I will just pass through their controlled area. I will take the Aurora and carry a large amount of goods to Balmok for business. If the Danes dare to stop us, then fight.
"
Rurik clenched his fists as he spoke, and everyone could see that what he said was true.
Anyone who has experienced previous large-scale battles knows the astonishing combat effectiveness of the Aurora. The even greater joy will be about ten days later, when two other large ships will also be launched.
Rurik's words were more than that. Instead of convincing everyone that the risk of his adventure was not high, it was better to convince them that this adventure was just a great beginning.
Human nature is greedy. As long as everyone believes that ocean routes are gifted by God and that there is a huge amount of gold and silver that can be obtained by taking risks, everyone will dare to abandon risks.
Rurik pointed directly to the British Isles, especially a clear point. "This is the source of the Briton slaves. The place I am pointing to is called London. There are a lot of treasures here and fertile land! Let's attack here.
We can make a fortune! If we occupy this place permanently, our immigrants will be able to obtain a steady stream of wheat."
These words were actually addressed more to the Biyoni brothers. Rurik had more to say. He pointed to the small island in the northwest of the map, "This is an island of ice and snow. It is extremely cold. But it is also densely populated with seals and herrings."
area. But anyone who dares to continue westward can reach a warm and fertile new world."
The Biyoni brothers basically knew these things from Rurik when they were wintering in the Arctic, and now they are still excited when they hear it again.
Otto, Harold Zosen, Arik and others were also very excited after hearing this. After all, no one can refuse piles of gold and hills made of wheat grains.
"Okay! I agree with your adventure. The salt of the Balmok people is really good salt, and we need it very much." Otto was the first to affirm, and he also knew that he could not stop his son's adventure. No! Why should he stop it?
What? A person who is inspired to conquer a huge world must take risks bravely.
The Biyoni brothers must go home during the warm period. Based on Rurik's description, it is obviously faster to go home by sea. With the strength of the big ship, the journey may not be dangerous.
Biyoni responded hurriedly: "What the Duke of Ross said is absolutely true. Rurik and we swore to Odin as brothers. I agree with brother Rurik's wishes on this trip. We will go by sea. All kinds of goods from you Rurik people."
Please ship it, we Balmok people will spend all our money to buy it. And my sister..."
"Your sister?" Otto suddenly realized something was going on.
"My sister Nolen, I promised her to Brother Rurik. She is coming to Roseburg. She doesn't like to go over the snow-capped mountains for another month. Returning by sea is definitely the best way."
Otto nodded, then laughed. He patted Biyoni on the shoulder, "Okay, your sister will come here, I will treat her as a daughter. Her name is Nolen, right? My son Rurik has already arrived in advance.
By becoming a man, your sister will soon become a mother, and the alliance between our two races will be more stable."
Biyongni was very happy in his heart, but these words made him embarrassed, so he had to smile.
Otto slapped his thigh, "Just do it! Bring a lot of goods to Balmok! If you encounter a Dane attack, repel them! But..." Otto calmed down a little, "Rurik, after all, that is
Danes, you should choose a group of capable warriors to board the ship and bring sufficient supplies, especially weapons! Install a large number of torsion slingshots and crossbows."
Rurik breathed a sigh of relief and said, "I will do it. No enemy ship is my opponent."
"Then I also wish you great success." Arik congratulated excitedly, "There is also news, your sister-in-law Aslaqi's belly has finally grown, and I will take her to New Roseburg in the summer."
"Yes. I also want to go to Novgorod." Otto said, but his expression clearly showed that he had something to say.
"Going to the east to ask for tribute? Dad, you are very old, so maybe you don't have to force yourself. Arik can take on the important task."
"Do you think I'm old?" Otto smiled bitterly while stroking his white beard, and then said, "Remember that Svetlana?"
Rurik cleverly said, "That girl? You mentioned it."
"Remember, that is the real wife I arranged for you. Don't ignore it. She is very beautiful and she is ten years old now. I will take her back when I go this time. Regardless of whether Ligus agrees or not, I just want to be there.
Take that girl over this year. Boy, you are indeed an excellent child and my good son. Among the dozen wives and concubines, don’t just dote on Rumia. Once the other women reach age, you will take action! Do you understand?
"
Otto said this and everyone laughed.
Rurik was not ashamed at all. He slapped his chest and said, "Come on then! All the children born will be your grandchildren anyway. You don't want too many, and I don't want to be tired."
The room was filled with happy laughter again, and soon after, everyone began to discuss Rurik's private matters without hesitation.
After all, Rumia, the first concubine to be blessed, is the high priest of Rus! This is so extraordinary!
Everyone likes to gossip about these things that they like to hear and see. Otto was present, and they all praised Rurik for not only having wisdom gifted by God, but also some divine power. An eleven-year-old boy can have a wife and concubine in twelve days.
As many as six times. In their traditional concept, this is more powerful than many strong young men in their twenties.
Of course, they didn't know that Rurik was always in a state of overnutrition. He used to use his excess strength in fighting training, but now he had a new window to vent.
Haro Zuosen suddenly realized: "Ah! Let me tell you, on the recent open day of the temple, the high priest sitting in front of me was limping every time she stood up and walked. Is this the reason? No wonder she has to sit for a long time.
With."
Hearing this, a group of old guys in the room started laughing wildly and crazily again...
Exploring the west and determining the route to the Balmok tribe is another way for Rurik to unleash his powerful power.
Ask yourself, your behavior towards Rumia is too stimulating and too frequent. The spring sacrifice is coming soon, and the ice and snow melt and thousands of boats enter the sea. She must preside over the sacrifice at that time!
Not only that, the two large ships have completed the installation of sails and anchor heads, and even the slips into the ocean are ready!
Two ships of the same class as the Avrora, the Gurdot and the Sperosveria (named after the late high priest Vilia), both had chalk-smeared nails on their bows.
The ship's hull number and ship's name were pieced together from wooden planks, and only the strong men were left working together to pull it into the ocean. This was also the most glorious project during the great ceremony!
It’s time for Rumia to recuperate for a while.
The ice is getting thinner and thinner, and seal catchers claim that a large number of sea ice cracks have appeared in distant seas, making the job of catching seals increasingly dangerous.
This was actually a good thing, and it meant that the voyage was about to begin. With the reality in front of him, Rurik had no intention of continuing to torment Rumia. He made a list and began to send people to move the goods that were urgently needed to be transported to Balmok.
On board, for example, were a batch of bear skins, deer skins, mink skins, and yellow-white soap that smelled of sulfur.
Otto's advice also reminded him to make new weapons? Of course!
Rurik still intends to continue to work on torsion weapons. This time he is determined to work closely with the young blacksmith apprentices to build the "Wild Ass Trebuchet" and become a new shipborne tactical weapon. He has arranged for his men to carry out the work