A snowstorm hits Fort Ross with an inevitable attitude, and a new arctic cold current pours into the Baltic Sea. It sweeps across the entire Northern Europe, and finally stops in the Alps and...
The snowstorm lasted for a week. Relying on sufficient material preparations, Roseburg experienced the snowstorm safely. However, when the weather cleared, everyone had to bring tools to sweep the snow in front of their door.
The lives of the captured Tavastian women immediately improved after Rurik intervened.
First, they all put on a batch of simple clothes mixed with leather and cloth, and their food treatment miraculously amounted to an average of two pounds of boiled wheat per person per day.
This was really an astonishing amount of food. The hungry women feasted on it, and their physical fitness improved rapidly, and some even began to accumulate fat.
In the extremely cold era, the fat on the body is really a life-saving treasure. After their physical recovery, they were hit by the cold wave. Fortunately, there were no deaths during the cold wave period.
Another nasty snowstorm!
Rurik stayed in his palace and lived a life that was indeed different from ordinary people. He was surrounded by birds and birds, and he also enjoyed the warmth of his family.
If the young man John Ingvar was allowed to continue teaching Latin to his wives and concubines, it would be impossible for Rurik to do so without taboos. Now that Mary, the princess of Mercia, has arrived, this woman can easily become a Latin teacher.
She doesn't need to teach it deliberately, as long as she deliberately speaks more Latin in her daily life, other people's language will automatically improve.
Rurik hopes most that they can develop a sisterly relationship, even if their natal families are different. Eating at the same table is a way to enhance friendship, and staying together is another way.
However, he still faced his women in the same way as an emperor turning his cards around.
Today, it's Nolen's turn.
Under the soft light of the oil lamp, the girl sat casually beside the bed. Because of the fireplace and the thick layer of wood and moss, the entire palace was warm, but the outdoor temperature had plummeted to -30°C.
Wearing simple cloth, she had been kept in the palace to escape the extreme cold for many days, and her peaceful face was filled with worry.
Rurik came, shirtless and smelling of flowers.
He had just scrubbed his body and soaked his feet in hot water. He felt so refreshed that he should go to bed, but he really didn't feel sleepy.
"You're finally here. Everyone else is asleep, so I won't sing." She said casually.
"Sing to please me? Now is not the time."
After that, Rurik also sat beside the bed: "You cleaned your room very cleanly, cleaner than the boudoir in your hometown. It just so happens that it's time for me to tell you something."
"Is it about my biological father conferring me the title of earl in my hometown?"
"Oh? Have you heard about it? Yes, you should be able to hear about this big news."
"Yes. But I don't quite understand. I am a woman, and many people have gone to Britain to build new homes. Do you want me to be the leader of the old fjord? I have never thought of such a thing for a woman to be the leader."
"That's right. Specifically, your and my children will inherit the title forever."
"That's right." Noulun sneered, then lay down and seemed to understand, "Then let's get started."
Rurik was surprised.
"Are you so eager? You are still so young..."
Nolen stared straight with trembling eyes and sneered: "It's ridiculous, do you think you are older? The moon god has given me a revelation! My mother (referring to Niya) has long said that I can be a mother. Since
My biological father has such a title arrangement, and I can’t let him down, and there are people from my hometown who don’t want to leave.”
This marriage itself was a political marriage. Rurik was surprised that Nolen spoke like this. Her words were far beyond her age. Maybe someone taught her? Was it urged by her old mother?
"That's not OK."
"Why!?" Nolen got up immediately: "I've heard that Sister Mary is a few years older than me. I heard that you guys talked almost every day in the past... Do you love her the most? You clearly know that I
like you very much."
"That's your destiny, but it won't be suitable for the next three or four years. Wait..."
"But! I need to give birth to a child to inherit the title of Balmok. This is the responsibility of you and me. I am very anxious."
"That's it!" Rurik was unintentionally confused. He thought that Mary must have learned a lot of things through Latin. This is understandable. A princess who has lost her country wants to establish her own status in the new world.
It is necessary to build a good relationship with this group of women. Besides, although Mary lived like a toy in the old Mercian court, she also passively developed the ability to observe words and emotions, and told a group of simple women how to please men. Mary
I am really expert at this.
Nolen pouted, but she was unhappy...
Rurik only thought it was ridiculous, and suddenly felt a little bit. On this issue, it was women like them who were too proactive. And unlike men, they had extremely strong purpose.
Suddenly, Rurik really felt like he was an April stallion.
Rurik lowered his face: "Now that you already know, I will tell you the detailed arrangements for the follow-up. Our child will naturally have the title of Balmok, but you have to pay attention that he is not the earl of the Kingdom of York. He is loyal to me and loyal to
Count Nolen of Balmok, Duke of Ross, you are my woman, your son is my son, and your fellow Balmok..."
In a daze, Nolen heard a strange meaning.
"Many people are unwilling to leave that fjord, and they are my people. The Balmoks who are unwilling to leave are all my people! I am their duke! The entire Narvik Fjord will always be Ross
territory."
"This... is a merger?" Nolen was shocked.
"Exactly! It's true that the Balmoks have emigrated as a whole family. They established the huge Kingdom of York in Britain. Your brother Biyongni said that those who don't want to leave are cowards. Yes, your biological father and brother, and
Those noble family leaders abandoned their hometown and the people who did not want to leave. Otherwise, I like those who stayed. I also promised them that this winter I will take the ice and snow road to Balmok.
Lun!"
"Um."
"You and I must go together. I will organize a large expedition after Hanukkah, cross the snowy mountains and enter Balmok, and then officially declare your and my rule. This is what I want to tell you, what do you think?"
"Okay! I have no idea about Britain. Ross is the greatest. If my compatriots become New Ross people, their lives will be better." Nolen was quite shocked in his heart, but this girl
She showed a sense of joy. She regarded all this as fate. To be fair, if the people in her hometown were really taken in by Rurik, their lives would definitely get better.
"Indeed. Severe ice and snow are a problem. As long as everyone lives a prosperous life, ice and snow will no longer be a problem. Go to sleep, Nolen. When the snow stops, I want to see the military band you organized."
"Okay! You will definitely be satisfied."
Of course Nolen hopes to become a mother soon, but with her current physical condition, she would be seeking death if she became a mother. Rurik, as a rational person with extremely advanced knowledge, certainly knows the terrifying risks in this regard, even if she is a
Pure Nordic.
However, during the long snowstorm period, what is there to do when every household is hiding in a warm cave?
The wind and snow outside and the accumulation of blood concealed the movements of people. Rurik could think with his toes that the next baby boom in the Principality of Rus would be in August next year. Not bad, at least it would be thick, warm and delicate by then.
Babies almost never die suddenly.
So as a monarch, Rurik has no doubts about the strength of Russian women. I am afraid that it is no problem for a woman to give birth to eight people at once, just like the situation in Britain in the early industrial era. In order for the further expansion of the population to survive, expansion will open up a way for survival.
Space is the simplest and crudest method.
Fortunately, the geographical space in this era was extremely huge, and the wild and fertile world was in urgent need of exploration by the Russians.
The next step was to open the overland trade route from Rossburg → Ironburg → Fiskburg → Balmok, so that the Russians officially had the Atlantic Ocean outlet in 834, and it was a frost-free port.
When the wind and snow stopped, people who were hiding in the area walked out of their homes. The first thing they did was spontaneously pick up tools and sweep the snow in front of their doors. This gradually evolved into a snow plowing project covering the entire city.
Although the servant deer herders brought the property belonging to the Duke, the reindeer herd that had been captured and bred to reach 3,000 head went north for winter grazing.
There are more than a hundred reindeer in one mile of Roseburg. They are used as sled pullers and are actively transporting snow from the city out of the city.
As a result, a snow-capped mountain by the sea was being "constructed", and a group of children happily used it as a toy. Many children also made snowballs and smashed them around for fun.
Hanukkah is not far away, and the time is approaching December in the Julian calendar.
Because times have changed, many Russians no longer have the qualifications to hide in their homes and survive until the sea thaws.
Because of wealth or the desire to gain glory, they bravely walked out of their warm homes and began special winter production operations.
For example, the furnaces in industrial areas cannot be turned off! Even in the polar night, even if they use the soft light of the stars, miners still have to go into the mountainous areas to dig for all kinds of ores. Even the roads people walk in the snow are very smooth.
, winter is actually a good time to transport ore.
In recent days, Otto and a group of old Russians have gathered together all day long to talk about the mountains, accompanied by strong wine, bacon and dried fruits.
Sometimes Rurik worries that his father’s soul will suddenly go to Valhalla due to drinking too much.
However, many years have passed since my father's time as the leader. He is only physically weaker, but in fact the people support the young duke. For a very simple reason, they support whoever allows them to live a good life.
So, let’s take your good days to the next level!
Rurik reduced his large group of cubs.
All boys and girls aged six to twelve in Rossburg are here, and most of the children in the Principality of Ross are currently gathered in Rossburg, the original capital.
They were trained to cut wood, carry materials, and carry water. Although they were very young, they were a very determined workforce.
They even received military training, and the first batch of children became "grassroots commanders," with each person leading more than a dozen people to form one group after another.
Rurik's Century does not need to be too obsessed with grouping. Following the tradition of the Rus or Vikings, people will spontaneously gather around the brave.
They form small groups and easily coalesce into a huge group.
Now, when Rurik counted the heads, he realized that the total number of children who ate the Duke's food every day had reached 2,000!
This is really a huge number! After Rurik learned about this actual quality, he also quite understood why the old guy Harozosun neglected the group of Tavastian women.
Just because of this group of children, it was a huge internal drain on the Duke's coffers.
Fortunately, the losses in this area are easily covered by taxes, tributes, and plunder.
No!
"Maybe this year I will have to increase taxes on those merchants and increase the amount of physical tribute from the Suomi people..."
Making money from war to feed the family's children is one method. Developing industry and selling handicraft products to make money in exchange for supplies is the second method.
And pioneering is the third method. Just pioneering, farming and harvesting wheat to achieve self-reliance will be difficult to achieve within a few years.
Then focus on metal smelting, manufacture extremely high value-added ironware at low cost, and rely on trade methods to do business.
So, what is the current industrial capability of the Russians?
On the first day of December in the Julian calendar, from this day on, people officially look forward to Hanukkah.
Many warriors turned into hunters, and they took their respective equipment to Fort Ironon and Fort Fisk in the north. A group of businessmen living there also went to the north, intending to purchase high-quality and precious leather locally.
A large number of leather craftsmen have also made preparations, preparing a large amount of northern leather for processing immediately upon arrival.
The population of Roseburg has dropped sharply, while the population of Ironburg has skyrocketed, and there are brave people everywhere who want to seek wealth in the land of ice and snow.
There was even a family of free deer farmers from afar. They believed in the promise of the Russians, changed their caution for hundreds of years, and began to trade live deer and leather with the people of Ironburg with their deer in exchange for key iron tools.
.
As soon as they started exchanging, they got stainless steel tools - chrome tools.
Rurik still doesn’t know about the fact that the free deer herders, that is, the small settlement of the Sami people in the matrilineal clan, began to trade with the Rus. Because he had declared his right to rule over all the deer herders early.
, the decree restrained the Rus in Ironburg and the Covins prohibited the plundering of free deer herders.
Rurik did not even expect this, or perhaps because of the construction of a number of new buildings, including the "Russ Duma" parliamentary chamber, and new ships, a mighty logging team rushed out on December 1.
The reindeer and ponies pulling the sleigh pulled a large amount of wood back to Roseburg. It was just for good luck to arrive at such a date.
This was really an exciting thing. Rurik was happy to see their return, and Otto rarely drank without drinking. He went to admire the logging brothers returning with the giant spruce from the far north.
As for the more than 500 deer skins purchased from free deer farmers, they belonged to private individuals. The arrival of new leather gave Roseburg's leather processing industry a shot in the arm.
Rurik and his entourage once again entered the so-called industrial area where the smoke was billowing.
Unlike other areas, this area is still made of hard sand and gravel. Even during a blizzard, the flames in the furnace are still burning, the main area continues to stay hot, and the snow has never been covered.
There was the tinkling tinkling sound of blacksmithing everywhere, and that was the work of many young blacksmiths, who were also so-called slave workers.
In principle, Kamnier and the more than fifty men under his command are directly loyal to the Duke of Ross. Their current and future work is to make various iron tools or other equipment for the Duke.
They all come from poor backgrounds, and they will all become engineers in the future.
Rurik's visit was a bit unexpected. Many people paused their work for a moment, and then started hammering again.
Clavarson, who still had a white beard, came to receive him, and a smart and furry little guy rushed over enthusiastically. The white fur looked like a little polar bear.
He is the child of Kuzneslav, nicknamed Kuja. According to seniority, Rurik is his uncle.
After a while, Lilia also went out. Although she was wearing thick clothes, Rurik was surprised to find that she was pregnant again.
"Sir, you actually have the time to come to me here. Oh no, you must have a new idea. Welcome, let's go into the room and have a good chat." Although Klavason is obviously much older than a few months ago, he is still enthusiastic
to not fix.
"Indeed, I came here to discuss some big things with you. It's a very important thing!" Rurik said casually.
"Oh, then please come. Come to our blacksmiths' council room. You can wait a moment while I call the old guys over."
"There is also an independent conference room? Why didn't I know about it before?" Rurik was a little surprised, then calmly said: "I don't want to be idle. Where is Kawei?"
"He...he is supervising the production of the blast furnace. You see, I am old, and now it is difficult to even swing a hammer. If you have any important matters, just ask Kawei, I..." Halfway through, this old Clark
Wasen called his laughing grandson to his side: "I just want to continue to accompany this kid."
After living a prosperous life and enjoying family happiness? Klavasen's aging is indeed visible to the naked eye.
Rurik looked at Lilia again and did not talk for a while. In fact, of course he had many things to ask Lilia. After all, this woman was very extraordinary. Almost all of Rose's die-cast glassware was made by her. Glassware
It should also be vigorously developed as an industry, and Lilia must be a key figure in this cause.
"I'm going to look for Kawei Klavason first. You can go call someone. By the way, call this kid Kamni to your council room."
"Okay!" Klavason pushed the grandson to his mother. He shook himself and went to notify the heads of the other families who were traveling with the blacksmith with a wooden stick.
Looking at the old man's back, a strong sense of strangeness surged into Rurik's heart.