Although it is cold winter, the market in Roseburg is bustling with activity.
It was a cold morning, and the sun had just cast its first rays of morning light onto the frozen bay.
The ice floes in most parts of the Gulf of Bothnia have become one piece, and Rossberg is located to the north. The ice in the fjord is now strong enough to support strong men walking around.
Five thousand people gathered on the ice-covered beach lined with boats, all of whom had been notified and were bringing their money and linen bags with them to rejoice that the Duke's public sale was now open for sale.
Behold, a great number of linen sacks were already standing on the ice.
Many people saw people pulling sleds, and the sleds were piled with sacks.
Soon, the long-awaited sales finally began. The Russians were organized into regular teams and began to buy this month's grain.
Many people are very surprised because the wheat sold this month, October, is different. It should be wheat, but it looks much shorter and thicker than oats.
It is said that this is wheat, a brand new term, and an important trophy obtained by the army on expedition.
But its price is not pleasing. The official guide price set by Rurik is nine pounds for one silver coin.
Unfortunately, the Duke is selling this this month, so everyone has to accept it reluctantly.
Until they bought this month's wheat home in accordance with the prescribed quota and cooked it in a pottery pot. The wheat had a soft and glutinous texture that was different from oats. Everyone understood why it was expensive.
Only when people are absolutely poor will they be hungry. Now that Russians generally have a lot of wealth, they are increasingly pursuing taste when it comes to eating.
There are also women who grind the purchased wheat into coarse powder with traditional stone grinding rods and small stone slabs. They all plan to make oat cakes that are less sticky and very durable in the same way as oats are processed, in preparation for the extreme cold period.
Enjoy.
Nowadays, after processing new grains, women are surprised to find that their hands are sticky with paste, and the coarse wheat powder is balled up after adding water.
One family after another was pleasantly surprised because the pancake finally looked like a pancake.
The firewood heats the stone slab, and the wheat flour cake sticks to it and is cooked quickly. When the flour cake is eaten in the mouth, the soft and glutinous texture is really amazing. Chew it carefully and there is a sweet aftertaste!
The same thing happened in Rurik's palace.
In fact, he regretted that he did not dig properly in Tamworth. If the local stone millstones were brought back, he would not have to order the maids to work hard with stone grinding sticks.
Rurik still ate baked pancakes. The processing method was more sophisticated than ordinary people. For example, fine flour was sifted through a gauze sieve for further processing. Using such flour to make pancakes, the texture after baking was different from the traditional one.
The naan in the concept is not much different. At least the taste is ten times better than boiled oats.
So, what about noodles?
Making noodles is impossible without tools.
The purpose of development is to make the Duke of Ross powerful. She has already risen in the Baltic world surrounded by powerful enemies. She is still far from being able to unify this small world. At least she is enough to make others fear her and avoid her.
The strength of Russia lies in the continuous improvement of the living standards of the people of Russia. As a ruler, he must make a big fuss about the issue of food for the people.
Ross needed multiple mills, whether to process oats or wheat, and people urgently needed to efficiently utilize the energy contained in these grains.
He had already planned to discuss this matter with the blacksmiths. Perhaps it would be cheaper to obtain materials such as a rotary stone mill or a large stone mill, but now that he has mastered pig iron pouring, he felt that making a small steel mill would be more cost-effective.
It has been some time since Rurik's triumphant victory, and it was also the end of October.
He wants to make Russia's basic industry develop more rapidly. For this purpose, a large number of people must work.
Thinking of hired labor, there are now a large number of able-bodied people in Roseburg. As for more women, their physical strength is naturally not as strong as that of strong men, but their population is extremely large, and they can make huge contributions with their sheer numbers.
However, you have to pay for hiring this group of people.
Let the people do corvee service? This is a matter of course in the East, as well as in feudal Frankia and Britain. But the situation in Rus is quite special, and even today's tax collection mainly targets indentured farmers, indentured fishermen and merchants.
There are a large number of ordinary Russians and new immigrants. In order to unite them well, Rurik is convinced that he relies heavily on the power of money.
Only slaves can obtain their labor for free.
But in the current situation of Rus, the slave group's sense of existence is very weak! This is not Rurik's kindness, in fact it is a travesty. For a ruler who intends to be benevolent, what he does can be called barbaric.
Rurik, who followed Clausewitz's principles of war, may have a view of war that was too advanced for contemporary Europe, because the wars launched by Russia were all prepared wars of annihilation. The men of the opposing forces were always almost
After all were killed in battle, the surviving women were all absorbed into the wives and concubines of the Russians and their allies.
But according to the generally accepted tradition, even if a woman absorbed from a hostile force gives birth to a child to a Russian man, she automatically becomes a Russian woman, enjoys all the rights of a Russian woman, and deserves to be protected.
As a result, the strength of the principality expanded rapidly, and the general slave group almost did not exist, but there were a large number of servants.
Wait! Aren’t the five hundred Tavastian women who are going to be given to the Balmoks still unemployed?
Rurik blamed himself for simply forgetting about them. What was even worse was that he did not mention it and no one told him about the living conditions of those women.
It was already November, and Rurik thought of this and asked his father.
Otto once said haha: "I think not many of those women died. In the past few months, your Rumia has been guiding them to do something..." Otto actually didn't want to talk more, those women couldn't become
Russians, why should you care?
Rurik felt very unhappy after hearing this.
Not many died? Aren't there still people who died for various reasons? This... is a serious waste of labor and even more of a shame.
Since Rumia was familiar to him, Rurik asked her and successfully learned what had happened to the Tavastia woman in the past few months.
Originally, the labor force of those people had already been utilized, but they were a group of women who had subjugated their country. It might be a bit reluctant to expect them to work peacefully for the conquerors.
Rumia directed them to do simple tasks such as sorting furs and beating hemp poles. When the materials to be processed were processed, there was not much work left for them.
They were to be handed over to the captives of the Balmok people, and it was not appropriate for them to do too many things. What's more, if they were given sharp tools to do some delicate work, who could guarantee that they would not cause trouble with the sharp tools at hand?
When Rurik was here, many Russians would not object to his arrangements for these women.
The most elite Russian army began a new expedition. Later, Rumia was busy with her own affairs, and those who had the right to speak simply left these prisoners alone on the grounds that Rurik was away and Otto went to the east to collect tribute.
.
During that period, it was unrealistic for the old guy Harozosson, who was ordered to manage the Rossburg area, to expect him to treat a group of prisoners who were to be given to the allies well.
When Rurik comes back, it will be up to him to decide how to settle them. This is Harozolson's idea.
Therefore, during that time, they didn't even have to do simple tasks. They were like birds and beasts in a cage. Those who tried to escape were chased back. When the weather turned cold, they all huddled in the warehouse and didn't know.
How long can such meaningless days continue?
This is a waste of labor! Gould, who came back with goods, or Fordgen, who raised many slaves and essentially opened a "garment processing factory", both hope to make use of these idle people. But they are legally unable to do so.
It was not under the control of Ross, and its temporary master Rurik had not returned yet. Harozzoson was laughing, and Otto, who had returned earlier, had no intention of interfering. He was too sensible to wade into the muddy waters.
Rumia felt pity for those women, but after all, she was only the high priest, and she could not do anything that was beyond the reach of others. The Russians' various sacrificial work, as well as taking care of their daughters, had already made her time very full, and she could not think about improving the captives anymore.
My life is also helpless.
Although there is still a small group of Tavastian women who have become the wives and concubines of the Russians, they are interested in helping these sisters of the same race. However, the sisters are locked up in a tightly guarded granary area.
Many of them are pregnant, which further limits their ability to walk.
Of course, there is also a large group of Suomi women who have entered Rus' society through normal means. They just want to live their own lives and have little regard for the captives of the once hostile Tavastia.
It wasn't until he heard Rumia's rather regretful description that Rurik realized that he had set up a meaningless prison for them.
What's worse is that although they were finally reduced to being sheep in a pen, and he has been providing them with food, there is not much food every day, but the accumulated expenses of feeding 500 idle people for more than three months are really not small.
According to reports, the expenses here are not small, and their lives are not easy.
Rurik and his men hurried to the big barn in the granary area where the prisoners lived. As they approached the barn, a bad premonition came to mind.
Because this area is the small mound where Rurik used to train his children, and the high terrain here makes it an excellent granary.
But this is not a traditional residential area. Many buildings have risen from the ground. Unfortunately, it is destined to not be lively.
It's too quiet here.
He casually said to his follower Jevro: "Rosberg is obviously very noisy, but it's terrifyingly quiet here."
"It's understandable that the Granary District is quiet. Sir, are there really people living in that big barn? I also feel that there is a lack of life here. The situation I saw before is not like this at all."
"They must be hiding in the house. I don't blame them. I ordered them not to wander around."
This place has always been guarded by armed old warriors. When they saw the Duke coming, they also stepped forward to compliment him.
"Sir, have you finally come to see these women?" an old man with a white beard and a face full of age spots greeted them respectfully.
"How are they doing?"
"It should still satisfy you."
But Rurik heard sobs coming from the dwellings of the old guards.
"Let's go and have a look." Rurik shook his neck and hurried away with Yevro and others.
The old guards looked stunned, and someone shouted: "Sir, there is nothing good to see in my house."
However, Rurik still saw the black-haired woman who was chained up. Seeing his appearance, he subconsciously curled up into the soft deerskin blanket.
"What's going on?" Rurik asked casually.
The old guard who lives here hesitated and explained for a long time.
"I understand. As slaves for your enjoyment? These women are the trophies of Balmok's allies. You..."
"Sir, I..." the old guard said bravely, "I am old, my wife has died long ago, and my son died in the expedition to the east. Thank you, sir, for giving me this job, but I still hope to leave behind a
Heirs."
"So, then..." Rurik was really surprised, but then he thought about it, this old guy also had a reason.
He smiled and said, "You are really good at choosing. This woman is quite pretty. That's your purpose, so why lock her up?"
The old guard smiled shamefully again, "These women are like a pack of she-wolves in the forest, hard to control."
"It's ridiculous! Maybe she can't stand you, an old bull. Just tell the truth." Rurik added: "I heard that some women died. What is this? I can't say that they were killed by you.
If something like this happens, you are all to blame."
At this moment, Rurik's entourage escorted the so-called "rescued" prisoners to him.
It was obvious that the old guys who were ordered to guard had taken control of a "partner", and no matter what their reasons, they were illegally taking possession of someone else's loot.
This is a matter of principle!
Rurik raised his head and said sternly: "I won't punish you, but these women must be released. You have no right to these women! According to our tradition, those who plunder their friends' things should be chopped off and expelled!"
"Ah! Sir, you can't do this." An old guy hurriedly knelt down on one knee.
"Everyone, get up. After all, your son has made meritorious deeds for Ross. You were all elite soldiers when you were young. Your merits have offset the crime. Now I give you a chance. If you spend money, you will get a new partner legally.
"
Is there such a good thing? Not only is there no punishment, but there is also a reward? The old guys continue the warrior ceremony.
As for what kind of women to give them, Rurik had also thought about it. Because the grain officer Paul was a Northumbrian, his men were just such a group of old guys from Russia.
Paul is a technocrat, and the true identity of these old guys is already de facto grain officials. Taking care of a group of prisoners is an additional task. Rurik recruits these old guys, essentially relying on their old skills to prevent possible grain theft.
.
Let an outsider manage them, so Paul will definitely stand on the duke's side because he is weak and weak. It is undeniable that he himself is not easy to coordinate with this group of subordinates.
For example, they were confident enough to find a captive wife from among the women locked in the Granary District. This showed that they did not think that Paul had any privileges at all, and that he was just the Duke's dog.
If the wives of these old guys were Northumbrian women, the situation might change. By chance, a group of captured cooks came to Ross, and they must have a precise identity to continue living.
But they still have to pay a price, which is one pound of silver coins to obtain a legal wife. Their work is a reward from the duke. If in the previous era, they would have starved to death if they were about to lose their labor force. They lacked the ability to be self-reliant.
If you have no ability, except for receiving a meager salary, how can you come up with so much money?
Coincidentally, Rurik no longer planned to give them any money in silver or copper coins. The so-called salary was a fixed monthly share of wheat.
They had no choice but to agree.
"That's how I arranged it. You'd better not tell me that because of your negligence, those prisoners hiding in the barn became corpses."
"This can't be true. Even their situation is not good at all." An honest old guard said.
When the wooden door was opened, the listless prisoners poked their heads in. Rurik smelled a sour smell, followed by warmth.
After all, the complaint is about heating. The solid wood and airtight house basically locks in the warmth.
But looking at their condition up close, Liu suddenly thought of many bad things.
Many prisoners stretched out their thin hands, chanted about food in the Old Finnish dialect, and approached Rurik to beg for a meal.
"They are so skinny! What did I say? Give them enough food every day! You guys are derelict in your duties!"
Rurik cursed loudly, which shocked the entourage and shocked the guards. He was actually cursing himself, because after opening the wooden door, he checked a little and saw many people wearing thin cloth.
Another skinny body caused by chronic hunger.
It's no wonder that I haven't heard anything from them these days after returning. Dressed like this, isn't a large group of people gathering together to keep warm? Isn't it suicide to run outside when you are so weak?
Those who died probably died of cold and illness, or indeed committed suicide by hanging out in the cold.
"Their situation is a bit miserable." Jevro couldn't bear to look directly at them.
"Someone is responsible for this!" Rurik bared his teeth.
"It's Harozolson." An old guy said casually, "He said that these prisoners do nothing except eating. In this case, it's enough to give them very little food so that they don't starve to death."
"Did he give the order? Did I ask him to do it?"
This group of old guards were of the same age as Harrozosson, and they were all old acquaintances. They saw that the guy was prospering in his later years. How could the old guys be praised if their lives were so bleak?
They described Harozosson as a miser, but Rurik actually recognized it. Harozosson must do things for a reason.
After all, it was the Duke's treasury that paid for the various expenses of this group of captives. The Russians naturally despised those who got something for nothing, and Harozolson himself and even Otto regarded these captives as despicable deep down in their hearts.
Slaves are still very strange slaves of others who cannot work for the Russians.
They didn't say it to their faces, but they did it with actual actions.
After all, it was impossible for these prisoners to turn into Ross's women, and Rurik didn't want to pursue it any further.
"Damn it. I still plan to use their labor force and have to take them to Balmok on the ice road. Damn it, damn it! You guys! Find them all, and I will arrange to change them into winter clothes. In the next week,
I will give them plenty of food to replenish their health," he ordered.
"Sir, they are just prisoners given to the allies. You will still have to spend further money." Jevro also kindly reminded.
"No! They must pay the price. I want them to be strong and work for me. After they create enough wealth for me, I will let them all leave."