All the nobles and envoys took their seats one after another. Even if this room was the old power supply of the Prince of Rus, it was a hundred times better than their residence in their hometown.
The wooden floor was laid flat, and everyone sat cross-legged on leather cushions. There were tables in front of them, with exquisite cold meals, and the utensils they carried were all made of glass.
The glass plate is filled with candied dried plums, tiramisu cake, steamed carrot slices drizzled with honey, and unconventional salted fish jerky with honey sauce.
Just some cold snacks were enough to open their eyes and make them salivate. The side dishes were all sweet, which fully proved the wealth of Prince Rurik and the hospitality he received everyone.
If they weren't nobles, they would have started eating it.
Rurik looked at the messengers. Some of them looked familiar to him. He couldn't help but suddenly sighed: "Brave warriors always hope that their old self will die gloriously on the battlefield, but many people don't have such an opportunity."
. Old soldiers will never die, just like flowers, they will slowly wither. I know you. I was still a child at that time, and my father fought side by side with you. Later, when I grew up, we fought side by side."
He said this deliberately and raised the glass deliberately: "It is fate that we are together now, to pay tribute to our friendship!"
Rurik raised his wine glass high. His legal status was that of a duke granted by the old king of Sweden, and his current behavior was like that of a king. However, the envoys had taboos, and they all looked at King Bjorn.
The scene was cold for a few seconds, but the middle-aged Bjorn gently raised his glass: "To our friendship!"
In this way, each glass was raised high like a group of warriors raising their swords. They drank the bitter ale as if bidding farewell to an old era.
They stared eagerly at the mere snacks and desserts in front of them, and it was really a pity for Rurik that they had not seen the world. He focused on the Swedish King Bjorn among the envoys. If this person particularly emphasized his own status at this banquet,
If the royal power shouts and shouts, Rurik will also issue an order to expel guests.
Ross has never been afraid of the old aristocrats of Sweden's homeland. Rurik set a red line for himself that would cause him to get angry, that is, his power should not be insulted, even by verbal insults. Obviously he was overly worried. Although Bjorn was the king,
He didn't say much, and his current expression was one of indescribable respect.
After all, he wanted something from me!
Rurik asked the waitress to fill the glasses with wine for everyone. He stopped being polite and said: "You must be starving already. Let's get started! Although it's just some snacks now, you need to fill your stomachs first for a real feast later."
Come on, let’s have a great meal. We can chat while we eat. There is nothing more appropriate than talking about big things while we eat.”
Bjorn thought that this was a good thing, and his eyes were fixed on the cake covered with layers of cream. He had been paying attention to this for a long time, and he was always salivating when he smelled the sweet aroma in the air.
Only rough people took action directly. The nobles and envoys were afraid that they would make a fool of themselves and humiliate their tribe, so they paid close attention to the actions of Prince Rus and King Bjorn.
The silver spoon stirred the cake, and King Bjorn dug out a soft piece and stuffed it into his mouth. In an instant, the extremely sweet and lubricating taste penetrated the entire mouth. He had never experienced such happiness in his life.
The time was so exciting that I shed tears.
"Ah! What is this? It's so delicious!"
Bjorn maintained great restraint, while the other messengers opened their mouths and ate a large piece of tiramisu one after another.
They shouted that they couldn't get enough of this delicacy because it was too delicious, and they asked for another piece.
"I expected you would be like this." Rurik suppressed his laughter and signaled his people not to laugh at them. He then ordered the waitress to go to the kitchen to bring more cakes.
Traditional Viking life was extremely difficult to access sweet things due to geographical factors, but the Slavic world was different. Relying on the skill of raising bees in tree holes, Rurik had more and more honey in his hands.
He gently picked up the cake to taste the delicious food, and pointed out with great interest: "Everyone here is a noble. We are all nobles, so we should treat them as significantly different from the people. We want an exquisite meal, and the way we eat it should be elegant."
Bjorn was cheerful: "Indeed, I seem a bit rude. Rurik." He called him by his first name: "What is the name of this delicious meal of yours? I... really want to go back to Sweden and taste it more often."
"This is called tiramisu."
"It's like the name of a beautiful fairy. I really hope you can provide such a delicious meal in my shop and restaurant in Port Birka. Look at this table, they are all my favorite meals. I can't wait to enjoy them every day."
Rurik could tell that King Bjorn said this to get closer. It was obvious that this guy wanted to formally mention the matter of buying a boat.
He simply mentioned it himself: "King Bjorn of Sweden, my white fox is back, and he told me what you want. Is it to buy a boat? I'm very interested."
Hearing this, Bjorn was already trembling with excitement. He straightened his old waist and said, "Exactly! I like your big ship, and I am also eager to organize a Swedish fleet!"
Bjorn had made his true desire clear and undisguised, and Rurik was quite surprised. After all, the establishment of a national-level fleet had to be at least slightly concealed. He was so forthright, he really did not conceal anything and had no reservations.
?If this is true, then he is really a standard Viking warrior.
Rurik still wanted to make sure: "A fleet from the Kingdom of Sweden? Need to buy my big ship to serve as the main force?"
"Exactly! Just like...your flagship, the Aurora, and the big ship Guldot, which is anchored near my Birka every year."
"Oh? Are you planning to buy such a large warship? But..." Rurik scratched his head in confusion and said, "White Fox said you only want my large merchant ships."
"That's true. But! I'm willing to pay money to buy a big ship. Just make your price! No matter how high the price is, I'm willing to buy it."
Bjorn's attitude was very tough, and his eyes were as wide as bull's eyes. Rurik was forced to look at this man, feeling that he was being threatened.
Is this considered a forced purchase? The Aurora-class sailing cruiser is currently the main ship of the Ross fleet. The construction of ships of the same class has been temporarily suspended, and the production line can be restarted immediately. But it is not necessary!
How could King Hede of Sweden come to buy the Russian battleship?
Wait a minute! Bjorn is probably not just talking to me.
Rurik looked at the attitudes of other nobles and envoys. They were obviously embarrassed.
"Hey, of course I am willing to do ship trading with you. But a big ship like mine..."
"I'm willing to pay a high price, even..." Bjorn gritted his teeth, "Even double the price, I'm willing to buy it."
Can you buy it with double the price? Rose is not stupid enough to cultivate an evenly matched opponent!
Rurik neither refused nor supported for the time being. He changed the topic: "Lake Malaren is very big, and it is not just your tribe. My Rus is doing business with the princes of all Swedish tribes. Since it is selling boats, they can also
Buy."
At this moment, the white-bearded old Angrive, the Duke of Ancras, coughed twice and announced in a slightly hoarse voice: "Since King Bjorn is willing to buy it, we people of Ancras will also buy it. He will pay twice as much as the grain."
I'll pay three times the price."
Someone challenged the situation, and the plenipotentiary envoy of the prince of the Yermalen tribe, which has an equally large population, immediately expressed his position: "The Onkras people are like this, and so are we Yermalen people."
Now another large tribe, the Uppsala envoy who controls the largest altar in Sweden, also made the exact same statement.
The "big men" are vying to buy warships, which is a pain for the small tribes.
Just like the young Svalgard, the new leader of the Glen tribe, he came here to seek political protection from the Principality of Rus. Because the sea area was too peaceful, they moved back to the fjords in the south, which did not belong to Mei in the first place.
In the Laren Lake area, the tribesmen are not happy to worship Melalen as their respecter. They occupy the old land of the Ostara people. Since the remnants of Ostara have worshiped Ross, the Gran people can also use the past to communicate with the Ostara people.
The friendship that attracts people is respected by Ross.
Svalgard, Duke of Grant, openly stated: "We Grant people don't have much money, and we are willing to buy a smaller Russian ship. We are eager to do business with you, and... we are willing to accept full protection from Russia."
The Duke of Gran? That is the Gran tribe that could not muster a hundred male warriors even if they gathered all their troops?
Rurik wanted to say that this guy was serious, but then he thought about it and realized that this guy made it clear that he wanted to respect Ross!
King Bjorn was sitting here, and a group of nobles actually started to play against their king.
A king who came to power through a conspiracy and coup, a king who needed the support of the Principality of Rus from the very beginning, Bjorn was unable to convince the public as expected.
Rurik slapped his forehead and thought about the secret conversation he had with Bjorn himself. He said that he supported him in seizing power and recognizing the throne. From that time on, Ross was no longer a part of Sweden, and the two sides were countries.
Relationship.
However, it was a closed negotiation and was not explained to all the Swedish noble lords, so it would not receive their approval.
Bjorn was actually so angry that his liver ached. Originally, he was the only one who wanted to come to Rus. After the news got out, most of the lords either went out personally or sent envoys. As a result, they formed a joint mission with different agendas.
Inspired by the purchase of the ship, everyone put the conflict on the table in the palace of the Prince of Rus.
The little Duke of Glen is really not afraid of tigers. He inherited his father's title in his early twenties. He only has a hundred soldiers under his command, and no one takes this nobleman seriously.
But it's the same, this guy "thrown the firecrackers into the fish pond".
Duke Glen held his head high. He was only three or four years older than Rurik, and he did not feel embarrassed at all when he spoke respectful words.
He praised the illustrious military exploits of the Duke of Ross and called the Duke of Ross the real monarch of the sea. His reasons were logically strange, but also somewhat representative.
The so-called Gran people used to be vassals of the Ostara people, and they always lived in the same area and lived together. Now that Prince Rurik married the Duchess of Ostara, the duchess gave birth to a boy. So back to
The Gran people who came to their hometown actually helped the Ostara people manage their hometown, and the Gran people should naturally become vassals of the Principality of Rus.
It was because the population was too small that the Duke of Glen actually said this: "The Duke of Ross should be king. Only you are the hero who is truly loved by Odin. Your ancestors are in Sweden, and you should become the king of Sweden."
Hearing such shocking words, Rurik was so shocked that he could neither eat nor drink.
Arik, the slimmed-down Blue Fox, the big fat White Fox, and Governor Konuson and his son were all here. Everyone heard it clearly, and then they were shocked along with Rurik.
What does this mean? It is clearly to encourage advancement.
Rurik had to pay close attention to the attitude of King Bjorn of Sweden. The guy was not angry, but looked as embarrassed as if he had been constipated for a week.
"Brother, are you serious? You are a duke, and I am also a duke. Your king is here, and you don't support your king?" Rurik asked deliberately while teasing poor Bjorn.
King of grace.
Rurik originally thought that the young Duke of Glen would stay rational and talk about the flowers well, but in the end, Svalgard's words were even more straightforward: "Even if you don't want to be the king of Sweden, I will still lead all the people of Glen to do it."
Your vassal. Because it was the Russians who defeated Denmark and made our Swedes’ long-cherished wish to own the southern Baltic Sea come true. From now on, we no longer have to be afraid when going out to sea to fish. All this is your credit. No one is more qualified than you.
king."
A feeling of being in a yellow robe arises spontaneously. Is this called the one who wins the hearts of the people wins the world?
Rurik also thought about this, but he was not willing to spend a lot of money to marry and rule the whole of Sweden. Obviously the current situation is very good. He can make money in Sweden through trade surplus to earn food and cloth, so why rule directly. Not to mention Ross
The team's ptsd, which was squeezed out by Sweden in the past, has not been completely eliminated.
When Rurik was hesitant, Angreev, an old man, burst out in anger: "The Duke of Glen said it well! Rurik, your father and I have a long history of friendship. Otto gave birth to a hero.
That’s you! We Angkrasran have always respected the strong, and now I want to buy your big ship and respect you as the king.”
How could it still be like this? Rurik, who was waiting to see what happened, began to face a more complicated situation, because the tribal envoys, large and small, were clearly completely willing to risk their lives. They were all trying to persuade him to come forward, as if it had been rehearsed.
Only the "constipated" King Bjorn of Sweden and the leader of the Mellaren tribe, Bjorn, remained silent.
But asking Bjorn about his attitude now is equivalent to a slap in the face.
Rurik waved his hands hastily: "Maybe I'm not qualified, besides..." He paused deliberately, glanced at Bjorn, and inadvertently looked at each other again.
Eyes speak louder than words, Bjorn deciphered Rurik's entangled desires and the arrogance of a victor.
In fact, Bjorn envisioned that when he convened a general meeting of Sweden, once the Prince of Rus attended, there was a high probability that the dukes would express their respect for Rurik as king.
The leader of the strongest tribe also serves as the king, which was the tone set when Sweden was founded. It has only been seven years since Sweden was founded. The Rus can claim to be independent of Sweden, but now it seems that a group of nobles do not recognize it.
Bjorn knew that Rurik wanted to give an explanation himself, and other nobles and envoys also wanted an explanation.
He felt that he was being roasted on the fire by Rurik. The truth was even more absurd than this, because behind his becoming king was Rurik's military support.
What else could Bjorn do?
He coughed a few times: "Since everyone has this intention, what should I do? I have not led everyone to win the war since I took the throne. I am only qualified to be the leader of Mellaren, not the king of Sweden. I! I can do it.
Go to the king! Rurik!"
"Um?"
Bjorn sighed and finally made up his mind: "A king who is not supported by all the nobles is not a king. You are the real King of Sweden, and the throne will be handed over to you!"
When Bjorn finished speaking, the whole room burst into applause. Rurik did not expect this at all. He paid for a banquet for the nobles. The Swedish nobles responded with surrender and encouragement, and even the real King of Sweden even expressed his abdication in public!
Just take it...
"In this case, it seems that I must be the King of Sweden."
"So about buying a boat..." Bjorn asked again.
"Even if I become the king of Sweden, I will only sell armed cargo ships. Each ship costs one hundred pounds of silver. I will not raise or lower the price. If you order it, I will build it."
But now the problem is no longer as simple as buying a boat. Bjorn is still technically the king of Sweden, but the handover of power by the new king requires a ceremony.
Bjorn asked for a congress of all Swedish nobles, because this must be the unification of Sweden, Rus, and even part of Norway, and the gods needed to be worshiped in a glorious place. Not even in the great temple of Novorossberg.
Where? It is the most traditional and oldest Uppsala Temple in Sweden.
There, Rurik became king, and the merger of Sweden and Rus also meant the birth of a huge Baltic feudal country. This matter could only be postponed until a formal ceremony was held in the spring and summer of next year.