Chapter 586 Laying the Foundation for the First Finnish City
The women donated by each village were transported to the Russian camp, and a large amount of leather also arrived.
Rurik raided the core territory of the Suomi people, and the locals were willing to spend a lot of money to eliminate the disaster.
That is indeed a lot of money, because in the Suomi society, squirrel skin is the general equivalent and a kind of currency.
Seeing that they were so obedient and as submissive as hounds, Rurik was not unyielding this time.
He gave the leader Uko a glass bowl, a steel meat-cutting dagger, and a two-man saw.
Glassware is no longer uncommon in Russia, but is actually a treasure among the Suomi people. The steel dagger is a kind of tableware, and the two-man saw is a simple production tool.
If there is a most precious gift, it is Rurik's instruction to throw down an old dragon-head warship with a hull full of scratches as the current "ship" for the canonized "Suomi War Chief"
, firstly, it shows the nobility, and secondly, it also uses this ship to show all the Suomi people the eternal strength of the Russian people.
The planned departure day is tomorrow, so the Russians can take advantage of the last moment to have a good rest.
There were bonfires lit everywhere, and the soldiers of the army grilled fish wantonly. In addition to filling their stomachs immediately, they also intentionally grilled some sliced boneless fish meat into dried meat for future voyages.
Those Suomi people are not idle either, because the Ross army is still here. Whether they get angry or not depends only on their thoughts. If they don't wait well and things happen, it will be too bad.
The Suomi people were forced to process some rations for the Russian army, which actually made dried fish and venison. They also planted a small amount of crops, such as onions.
What surprised Rurik the most was that he thought that the main food of these guys was fish from the lake, but he didn't expect that they also opened up a lot of farmland to grow rye.
The climate conditions here are almost the same as those in Lake Mälaren, but their agriculture is rugged. What kind of harvest can be achieved even by planting rye?
The Suomi people did provide a small amount of rye cakes, which tasted rough and sour. Who would be willing to touch this unless they were starving?
Rurik was actually a little worried about rye. If the rye cake, which has a hole in the middle and can be threaded with a rope to lift, was mixed with the ergot fungus unique to rye, it would really make you feel confused after eating it.
At least rye is a cold-resistant crop, and the Suomi people can cultivate it in small quantities. It will be necessary for Rus to collect tribute in this area in the future.
To be honest, how much profit can there be in plundering a primitive tribe other than extorting a batch of furs? Only when they become richer can the Principality of Ross be better exploited. Then transfer some of Ross's "high technology" to make them more productive.
It will be beneficial to you to improve it a little.
All this is a thing for later. Now Rurik just wants to quickly find the right waterway to enter the southern sea, and then implement a plan - to build a Suomi city.
Today, the concept of Suomi has given way to Finland.
Regardless of the Suomi people or the Tavastian people, they were originally from the same group. Rurik formalized and legalized the general name for this group of people called Varyag people, and Finland established it.
They essentially exist in the form of vassals under the entire Principality of Rus. Obviously, the current relationship definition is still quite vague.
In order to turn it into a reality that everyone can see and feel, Finland needs its first real city, which is also the capital of the "Marquis of Finland".
Rurik had already thought of a name for the city to be built at the mouth of a river leading to the Gulf of Finland in the south. It would probably be called Helsinki.
But, does it have to be called Helsinki?
This name is just a compound of two words, taken from the Suomi word "new", with the German "count" as the middle word and "territory" as the end. The three words combined are "new count"
It means "land", which is equivalent to saying that this is a Swedish nobleman's fiefdom castle and supporting fiefs that developed into a city. No matter how beautiful the explanation of its name is, it is arty.
Such a name is too casual! Then think of a more beautiful name?
After weighing it up, Rurik came up with another idea.
The Russian army was busy eating grilled fish, and the Suomi girls who would be given to other Russians as wives also held the grilled fish in their hands and ate silently with mixed emotions.
Outside Rurik's tent, several village leaders headed by Uko became guests.
It is a great honor to be entertained by the young and promising leader of Ross.
Everyone could see that the Russians had new plans.
"Uko, I am very satisfied with your cooperation. There is only one thing now. All of you must do it for me."
This is not surprising to everyone. After all, they are Varyag people, and their appetite is naturally greater than that of bears and wolves.
Wu Ke reluctantly nodded and said: "As long as it is your arrangement, I will definitely do it."
"Ha!" Rurik leaned back tactically, twisted his neck again, and raised his chin, "Are you still worried that I will continue to exploit you? Forget it, I am a stickler for contracts. I am very satisfied with your tribute this year. In the future
Follow this every year. Don't worry, I will allow you to trade in my territory, and I will also ask more Russian merchants to trade with you. Follow us, and you will be prosperous and stable."
Rurik kept saying polite words, but looking at the young man's arrogant attitude, Uko felt that he had become a three-year-old child who could only listen to the guidance of adults.
"For the stability of trade in the future, when I arrive at the mouth of the river in the south, you must build me a city and a coastal trade stronghold."
"Huh?" Uko was shocked, and so were everyone else.
"Is this... really necessary?"
Rurik nodded vigorously: "It is necessary. In this way, our cruising ships can see you and find the correct route. Did you know? You are on an inland route. If the sea is rough, we
The Russian fleet will naturally pass by your homeland and sail steadily on your calm lakes."
When he said this, he pointed to the north: "The lakes have an inlet to the sea in the northwest, and that is the Kovinstad of our Rus. I want you to build a new city at the inlet in the south, which will be the home of all Finns.
Let’s call this treasure Helminki.”
"Herminki?" In an instant, Uko understood the meaning. The Russians actually wanted to name a city after their daughter Hermi?
"Why? Is it my daughter's name?"
"Why not? You are the descendant of a war chief who can only be passed down to your daughter, which means that Hermi is one of the rulers of Finland who was canonized by me. That coastal city was the residence of all future war chiefs (counts) of Finland at that time.
You people should not hide on the islands in the lake. This is by no means a safe place. Instead, you become little fishes in the pond and have no idea of the vastness of the ocean. You should understand that this world is very vast, far beyond yours.
understand."
Wu Ke was stunned for a moment after being told this.
Rurik was making a request: "I am about to launch a new expedition. You must select a hundred outstanding men for me to fight for me."
"Expedition? Attack against whom? Karelia?"
"No. Of course those people will attack, but not this year. Give me a hundred men, and they will be led by Jevro. I like your men, they are weak because they lack good commanders. Don't worry, they are not slaves
.Since you have surrendered, you should send people to work for me. Besides, follow me on the expedition. After returning, they will be considered to have great military achievements, and they can change the encirclement territory better to avoid being attacked by the Karelia people."
It was indeed a small mistake for Rurik to leave this matter to the last. He regretted not asking them to hand over a group of men as servants immediately.
A new city, a group of immigrants, and a hundred servant soldiers.
The Suomi people can implement these three things. After a brief discussion with his friends, Uko and his friends all felt that Leader Ross's request was also beneficial to them.
If you simply fight for the Russians, who doesn't worry that you will be used as a consumable and be killed first by an unknown enemy?
If their commander is that Yevluo, the situation will be completely different. The life of the Suomi people is always monotonous and simple. They feel that Yevluo, who has been drifting into Varyag society for twenty years, is still one of their own people.
, based on this relationship, becoming a servant to the Ross army is an option.
Because there are many bold young people in the Suomi society. Since a Jevro can prosper and have a good time with the young Rus leader, why can't he himself?
The next day, everything was ready.
On the long and narrow lake, a Ross fleet is ready to go!
The dragon-headed warships guarded the Mercury, and behind the fleet there was an army of Suomi canoes.
The military conflict between the two sides has been eliminated. This time, the Suomi people followed the Russians closely, and they wanted to go to the mouth of the river to build a new city Herminki that was not inferior to the trade market on the island in the middle of the lake. According to the understanding of the Suomi people, that is
Their "Gem City".
Rurik stood on the highest stern deck. He looked around at the longships. In addition to his own warriors, there were also a large number of women sitting in the center of the ships.
Five hundred Suomi girls were here. They were about to leave their hometown. After thinking about it from their perspective, Rurik suddenly felt a little sad.
But for the Russians, this trip was a triumph of victory.
It must be June when we return to Rossburg. Who would have thought that since the Kovin people sent a war warning at the end of February when the ice sea froze, and after more than three months of continuous war, the land in the east has been conquered, and the land of Finland under Ross's rule has been conquered.
The gesture exists.
People who fought for a long time hoped to return to Fort Ross for a good rest, but rest was destined to be a luxury.
Everyone knows that even if they go back as early as possible, they won't be able to cultivate for long, because the Duke has already given the order.
The monarch's order will not be easily adjusted, and the order is almost absolute! The conquest of wealthy Britain, and the inevitable show of force under the eyes of the Danes along the way, are all things the Russians must do.
Mercury's cabins were filled with leather, and many longships housed not only women and servants of Suomi mercenaries, but also a small amount of fur goods.
Forced by the situation to expand, the Russians gained a lot of material from this expedition. However, a group of brothers escorted a large number of captured prisoners and slowly moved northward. They should be able to return to Covinstad safely.
Seeing that everything was ready, the Mercury's mast flew the flag of Ross.
Someone blew the horn, and the entire fleet began to move.
Two long boats with as many as 120 large oars paddled the water, pulling the Mercury forward, which was loaded with leather.
One dragon-headed warship after another rowed at the same time, and the astonishing scene deeply shocked the Suomi people at the rear. They followed the Russians cautiously, but soon found that their speed was still not as fast as them.
Is there a guide for this trip? The guide is Uko himself.
Many Suomi fishermen know the way to the southern sea because there are some villages there, and the locals also belong to the Suomi Tribal Alliance. They are engaged in the business of boiling seawater to make salt, and then trafficking the coarse salt to the lakes.
In exchange for livestock and hides.
It can be said that the commercial waterway that Rurik hoped to open up has been used by Suomi for a long time, and the fleet actually sailed on a route that the Suomi people are very familiar with.
Gradually, a strange smell floated in the air, with a hint of saltiness.
Rurik was in high spirits, and all the Russians realized that it was the smell of the ocean!
"There is the sea ahead." Wu Ke took the trouble to point the way, and now he no longer needs a clear guide.
Water from the lakes was continuously flowing into the ocean, and the Ross fleet was walking in a fairly wide river channel. The water channel was deep enough, and the Mercury, which was nearly full, was sailing normally.
There is no need to deliberately paddle anymore, the river water supports the fleet and floats peacefully to the sea.
Finally, everything turned into a vast blue sky.
The sea has arrived! Rurik was not too excited to see him, but when he saw his subordinates and tribesmen, everyone raised their hands and cheered.
The fleet drifted quietly to the shallows offshore, and there were five very obvious outlying islands not far away.
"It's really strange. How come no one noticed this inlet during Sorgon voyages in the past? Is it because the island is blocking it? Or is it because it is too small? At least this place will first become a navigation relay station in the future." Rurik imagined a wonderful scene.
The picture shows that the Ross fleet can set off from Tombstone Island in the Åland Islands, the "crossroads of the North Baltic Sea", stop at Herminki for supplies, and finally rush all the way to New Rossburg at the mouth of the Neva River. Navigation no longer has to be
After many days of wandering, with multiple stops on the route, wouldn’t navigation safety be greatly improved?
The army landed on this shoal one after another, and people lit bonfires and slept in the open air, but they only stayed here for one night.
As the sun sets, lazy people are busy eating dried meat around the campfire.
With his hands behind his back, Rurik stood on the flat sandy coast with great interest, accompanied by his capable guards.
Uko stood by his side obsequiously and listened to his wishes.
"Uko."
"exist."
"Look to the west." Rurik pointed at the setting sun. "There, one or two days' sail away is the Tombstone Island of us Russians, our fortress in the sea."
He pointed to the east again: "That's our New Rossburg, a huge city that is rising rapidly. You Finns...well, the Suomi people exist in the gap between us Ross people, and those who are ruled by us belong to you."
destiny."
"yes."
"How?" Rurik turned around again. The setting sun shone on his handsome face. He looked so confident and even arrogant.
Uko's understanding of the world was really vague and he didn't know the geographical structure of Northern Europe at all. Since the leader of Ross explained it this way, he just believed it.
Rurik added: "We are only leaving temporarily. We will visit here every year in the future. You and your people must build a trading town and build Herminki."
"As commanded."
"Then let's get started."
"Start? What do you mean?" Uko was surprised.
"Don't be surprised. It was I who planned the construction of the city. I gave it a name, and I should also erect the first wooden stake for the city. Let's dig a hole and step on a wooden pole. You will use this tree as your foundation in the future.
Establish a stronghold in the center.”
Rurik kept his word, and in the end he personally picked up a long-handled war hammer and symbolically smashed the wooden pile placed in the muddy soil hole excavated by surprise, as a foundation.
Although this place is still a deserted coastal beach, looking at the sunset and seeing the wooden pile again, Rurik seemed to see a city surrounded by wooden walls, as well as a large number of ships docked at the dock, and even fishing boats floating on the sea.
That is not a dream, it must be reality in the near future!