On the ruins of the old Pine Needle Manor, the Russian settlement of Mstisk was built. Most of the Russian immigrants will settle here, and it will definitely become the largest Russian settlement in the principality.
Rurik, who returned, first listened to reports from the locals in Novgorod.
There are reports on urban construction and production, and the most important thing is everyone’s description of the crops.
Old guy Rigus had a lot of life. He was smiling from ear to ear. He said that this year the weather has been rare and the wheat has grown very well. All the wheat has begun the heading process, and a wonderful harvest is not far away.
The descriptions of the residents of Novgorod were very consistent. They had never seen the agricultural scene this year. They compared and estimated this year with previous years and made judgments about a bumper harvest.
A bumper harvest is almost inevitable, because technological innovations in plowing and sowing have reduced the investment in growing grains and further increased the harvest. Wheat has been in order since it was sown, and the root system has absorbed the resources of the earth in an unprecedented order. The "drill" mode of
Technical advantages have achieved initial success, but people are more willing to attribute it to this year's climate.
Rurik deliberately scouted the fields near the city, especially observing the oat ears up close.
The shape of oat ears is very different from that of wheat ears, and the yield is also lower than that of the latter. Although European oats have the advantage of cold resistance, Novgorod is indeed warmer. Rurik is very satisfied with the growth of oats here.
I am also more concerned about the wheat "test field" in Mstisk.
As long as you continue to go retrograde along the Volkhov River and enter the huge Ilmen Lake, the first settlement you will see is Mstisk. The majority of immigrants who have temporarily stayed in Novgorod must rest for a few days before continuing on to the final destination.
journey.
Rurik's ten maids took advantage of this opportunity and hurriedly submitted the data on the fields they had surveyed and mapped on other farms. In an instant, there was a thick stack of cardboard recording dense data piled up in front of him.
The night was already very deep, and the flames of the bronze lamp holders danced.
In the warm house, the quiet Svetlana was just dozing, squinting and staring at her husband's back.
Rurik continued to brace himself, relying on the flames to continue reviewing these documents, and couldn't help but yawn.
Lana frowned and couldn't help but asked abruptly: "Do you want to continue reading?"
"You... haven't slept yet."
"I just want to spend time with you."
"You should rest first."
Her husband seemed very cold? Lana sat up slowly and yawned hurriedly due to Rurik's influence. "It is really necessary to continue reading. You will have enough time to read it when it gets up tomorrow."
"Time? What I lack is time. What do you think I am doing?"
Lanna was stunned for a moment and said casually: "Just look at what those sisters wrote. I also wrote something in it, but it's about other farm matters."
"It seems like you know everything, but you haven't understood the meaning yet."
"Why do I care so much?" As she said this, she chuckled, then lay down and twisted her body like a coquettish cat, and then cooed and asked Rurik to sleep.
"I still have to continue working..."
Rurik didn't care about his wife's pouting expression. In his right hand, he still held a sharpened charcoal wrapped in a paper roll, using it as a pencil to make statistics and mathematical calculations on the yellow and white paper. His time
It was indeed very tense, because the wives and concubines all worked as scribes in the past, and the acres they counted were the tax base for the agricultural tax, the principal tax source.
The basis for how much grain tax the principality can collect in Novgorod this year is based on these land areas. Rurik plans to set a standard based on the average oat yield per acre of the people of the White Tree Manor in Novgorod, so as to provide all
The farms collected a tithe tax. In theory, this huge amount of tax could provide the immigrants from the Ross area with a comfortable life without working for a whole year, because their wives, concubines, and clerks were very pragmatic and made a preliminary census of each farm.
This allowed Rurik to know more clearly how many men, women and children there were in each farm.
Once all the data was compiled, what Rurik learned was not just the number of acres, but also the rough distribution of the locations of the acres in each farm, as well as an estimate of how much land each mature man in each farm could be responsible for cultivating.
Being able to raise taxes in an orderly manner truly tests a political power's organizational capabilities.
The principality is in a period of transformation. A tribe that mainly focuses on fishing, hunting, robbery, and trade will enter the agricultural era. Many things must be done by the monarch himself to serve as an example. If there is a group of technocrats, Rurik does not have to do it personally. The current
The major contradiction lies precisely in the existence of these technical civil servants. If there are any, they are just guest appearances by their own wives and concubines.
Civil servants will give priority to promotions among the group of young people they have personally trained. Regardless of male or female, those with outstanding mathematical abilities and language skills will be selected and appointed. Of course, in all fairness, Rurik would prefer a group of male scribes to stand out.
Rurik decided to take his men personally to collect taxes, and he also made a field trip to the entire circular lakeside of Lake Ilmen, and even to see what the life of the Ostara people who had immigrated to the southernmost tip of the lake was like.
He wasted no time in sorting out a list. He first made a rough draft with charcoal, and then used a pen made of wild goose feathers dipped in ink to write the official list, and he collected taxes accordingly.
Through these statistics, he has learned that the total population of the Slavic farms under his control, including a group of newborns, has reached nearly 30,000 people. When the boyars of each farm held conferences in the past, each one
He described his farm as having a small population. According to past knowledge, the farm that clearly submitted to Ross's rule seemed to have a population of just over 20,000. But now the results of the investigation have revealed the truth.
They don't want to expose their economic strength and become big fat sheep whose wool is frequently cut, and they don't dare to expose their potential military strength in front of the Russian army. They are all trying to pretend to be weak, and Rurik understands the reason for pretending to be weak.
Because the agricultural tax of the eleventh tax is still considered a heavy tax based on the current production, Rurik has not even ordered a poll tax this time!
In ancient times, the agricultural tax rate in the East could be as low as thirty to one tax, but the poll tax must be collected. The poll tax allowed the country to accurately know the population of the subjects under its rule, and secondly, it encouraged the people to open up wasteland and grow food, and through the new harvest
To offset the loss of tax revenue. As for the wealthy families raising slaves, the means to curb them is to impose heavy taxes. For example, double or even triple the head tax on slaves, the tax will naturally have to be borne by the master's family.
This model has advantages and disadvantages. In a country, like the rising sun in the morning, its advantages outweigh its disadvantages.
A poll tax must be collected, even if it can be as low as only one silver coin, or the equivalent of ten pounds of oats. It is not just the local Slavs, this tax applies to everyone in the principality, and those who are qualified to pay this tax are considered real
Subjects of the Principality of Rus.
The poll tax is a very new thing for everyone. They only fully accepted the agricultural tax this year. In order to avoid complaints, Rurik decided to postpone the matter of the poll tax. He still needs to think deeply about the matter.
Because the number of Slavic people in this region is not at all the 30,000 people listed on these books!
Rigus revealed that Governor Medved had been conducting an armed expedition in the dense forest with more than 300 men. The "expedition" was still continuing and would not be suspended until the autumn harvest.
It is said that Medved's work has made some progress, but the methods used are very violent.
Some of those "hiding people" are not really isolated from the world. There are paths in the forest that allow the small farms hiding to communicate with the large farms by the lake. The residents of these farms are often only a hundred or so people, but they are very large in number.
Just like a large group of dim stars surrounding the bright stars in the night sky.
A messenger conveyed news to Novgorod that Medvet had used military means to force as many as ten small farms to relocate! These people were moved to a reedy wasteland not far south of Msskisk.
According to the description of the messenger, these forcibly relocated people were afraid of the powerful force of the new rulers. After learning that they could freely develop the fertile land on the lakeside, most of them were indeed willing to stay. They only hoped that the adults would allow them to at least harvest this year's food.
So that you can survive the winter smoothly.
Rurik believed the description of the messenger, and he might be able to count thousands more people when he went to the east coast of the lake and the emerging settlements of forced immigrants there.
He had no doubts about Medved's methods. Even though they were both Slavs, their positions were completely different, because Medved was a noble relative of the principality.
Medvet, who is named after the bear, and his men all imitate authentic Russian warriors in their dress. They must be fanatical converts. He will first use force to force immigrants. The best strategy of Sorgon and Proton has not been implemented at all. Forced
The decision to immigrate came quickly.
"Perhaps forced immigration, destruction of families and settlements is actually a good strategy for long-term rule, but the method is too violent. It must be appeased! I will also ennoble the new boyars, give them new farm tools, provide them with grain and so on..."
In the future, more and more people will be pulled out of the dense forest. Those people will probably be the losers in the competition, so they have to leave the lakeside farming area with better water and soil. Rurik doesn't care about their emotions, but Lake Ilmen needs to
A large amount of labor is needed for further development. From the perspective of the monarch, Rurik now needs a labor force loyal to Rus to cultivate wasteland, grow wheat and pay taxes. If the area actually has a Slavic population of 200,000, then they can all be taken out and dragged to the lakeside.
The region is building one village after another.
Is 200,000 people considered a large population for Lake Ilmen?
Even in the current purely agricultural society, where 200,000 people can form villages and corresponding farmland, people's lives around Lake Ilmen, a large inland lake, cannot be said to be in shortage of resources.
As for why a large number of people stay away from the lake, Rurik is clear about a practical reason - the old Pine Needles Manor does not want others to plunder their interests. The entire lake was once its sphere of influence, and the manor who is allowed to continue to settle must submit a request to the Pine Needle Manor.
Pay tribute.
The leader of Pine Needle Manor indeed had the qualifications and strength to proclaim himself a prince, but it was a pity that he was instantly turned into powder under the attack of Ross's powerful military strength.
Rurik finally fell asleep. He was undoubtedly having fun with his wife. He had just arrived in Novgorod for a short rest. In the next month, because of the wheat harvest, the entire region's labor force would be busy. He only had to
I'm afraid my arms will be sore from exhaustion.
The fleet that had been parked for only three days continued to move forward. The immigrants took a rest and got some supplies. The next stop was Mstisk, full of hope!
Soon, a huge lake came into view. The Russians who were used to seeing the sea didn't think it was anything. They were more concerned about the eastern area of the fleet, the flat area near the coast reflected by the dark green pine forest sea. The scenery there was indeed
Never seen it.
It seems to be a vast grassland with green grass everywhere?
Indeed, if a herd of goats were released, they would mercilessly clean up the spring oats that had just begun to ear.
The first batch of oats sown in late April has entered the heading period, and the oats that were delayed until early May will have their heading period further delayed. Regardless of whether they are heading or not, these crops are all grass cereals, and they are grasses.
.
The Russians have lived a good life with wheat every day for many years, but they have never seen a large area of wheat fields. When someone pointed out that this was a wheat field, many pure Russian women were shocked! It was the local Slavic women who married into Russia.
Feeling proud.
The dock in Mstisk is beginning to take shape, but the huge fleet docked in Rus still seems to be insufficient.
Arriving here again, a sense of historical vicissitudes came to my face. Rurik stood on the deck, and the south wind with a faint smell of grass blew in his face. The wind was strong, and the calm lake surface was blown into sparkling waves.
, the water waves kept beating against the reeds on the shore.
Compared to three months ago, this settlement has seen significant development.
A defensive and windproof wall system has been built, and wooden frame towers have been erected at regular intervals. Some Russian flags flutter in the wind on the wooden walls, indicating that this is the residence of the Russian people.
Rurik was very satisfied with their construction. After all, it was necessary to guard against others. As outsiders, Russian immigrants were in a vast sea of Slavs. At a time when national integration had not yet been completed, they had to avoid gang rebellions and any settlements would be vulnerable.
The city must be well defended. In fact, it is not the Slavs living along the lake that must be defended, but the Slavic national group further south - the Krivi League.
There were many men fishing on the lake, and some even drifted into Lake Ladoga.
After the fleet entered the pier, the immigrants happily walked out of the trestle and stepped on the solid flat land by the lake. The so-called pasture that the immigrants could see clearly, and looking around the lakeside, were actually wheat fields that were about to mature!
No one can ignore such a fleet, and the people stationed in Mstisk have learned that the fate of their hometown has arrived a few days ago.
Arik eagerly awaited the victory of his clansmen into the harbor. When the ship docked, he would lead a group of strong men to roll up their sleeves and drive a small carriage, or push and pull a two-wheeled carriage, and happily come to help.
Men are the most positive. What they greet is no one else but their own wives and children.
The women who landed took care of their pots and pans, boxes containing money, and bundles of spare leather clothes and cloth. Young children were held in their mothers' arms, and some urchins began to run around happily.
There are also those tribal elders who immigrated. They completed the last and longest voyage in their lives in their dying years, and finally arrived in this warm, rich and fertile land that the prince had won for everyone. They will sleep forever after their death.
Here, I can be happy in my old age, and I am so happy that I shed tears.
Just unloading the goods takes a long time, and a large number of net bags are unloading all kinds of people's belongings. The furniture is not heavy overall, but it is the daily necessities of as many as 600 families. Everyone estimates that unloading will have to take until tomorrow.
Rurik organized people to unload cargo on their own and was pleased that some fishermen suspended fishing.
Those fishermen were all young soldiers of the First Flag Team. They found their wives and children as soon as their boats docked. They were not distressed at all when they learned that their hometown house had been sold. Seeing the happy expressions of their wives and children, they only felt aroused in their hearts.
, there is endless strength in the whole body.
Arik and his men arrived just in time, and the young and strong people immediately joined in the unloading work.
"Brothers, please pay attention. Find your wives and children, and transport your belongings first. Come back immediately to help when you get home!"
"Use the handcart well and help other brothers transport goods. Put your children on the handcart or carriage, and watch your children not to run around."
"There must be no quarrels. If anyone quarrels, they will be punished by me!"
Arik is giving orders this time. He is the manager of Mstisk. The brothers of the First Flag Team all admire him. This makes the entire unloading and transportation scene seem chaotic, but in fact there are rules. Some families who have packed the supplies have already
Pulling a small car on the dirt road in the countryside and heading straight to the city gate, more and more families began to leave singing songs.
Rurik finally let out a sigh of relief and patted his shoulder hard with a big hand.
"Aric? Is there anything else?"
"It's nothing." Arik said with a smile, "There are no clan members in your hometown anymore, right?"
"There are still a group of people left behind."
"Why?"
"Because we must control the mines and our shipyards. Even if we immigrate, our hometown must not be lost."
Arik nodded happily. He still had another concern in his heart. He felt really at ease hearing this: "This way, I don't have to rush to move my father's tomb here."
"Uncle's tomb? Don't worry, the tribal cemetery in my hometown has always been taken care of. Many of the New Rus' people who later joined us still live in Roseburg. The Haro Zuosen family is still responsible for the management. We need the iron ore from our hometown very much, and we still need it.
There is salt from further north. We are just people who have left our hometown, and we will still have very frequent contact with our hometown in the future."
"That's fine. It looks like we are going to light a lot of bonfires tonight and have a good celebration. Now we have to continue unloading, come on!" Arik patted his brother on the back, "Boy, you are already a strong man. As a
Prince, you have to show your manly strength to your brothers. We brothers will unload the goods together and finish the work at the dock early. In the evening, we will have grilled fish. By the way, I will tell you about the good conditions of this farmland and the ones in the south.