Rise of Rurik

When the Blue Fox was still drifting at a steady speed on the Rhine River, after he arrived in Cologne, coincidence and necessity were intertwined. He met his younger brother Red Fox and Count Baudouin of Flanders, who came to escort the wool for sale in person.

Archbishop Hardebold of Cologne, Count Baudouin of Flanders, Count Blue Fox of Gothenburg, and Governor Red Fox of Stadros Shop in Rotterdam.

The two parties, who had fought to a bloody head, put aside their past feud completely because of their common interests, and actually drank and talked and laughed happily in the elegant room provided by the archbishop.

Belief? Don’t we all have crosses hanging on our chests?

As for devout believers not doing business, this is true, but it can be changed. The archbishop explained again that in the so-called trade of one's side, no one gets something for nothing. "God gives the value of different items. Only the Almighty Lord knows the true value of each item. Even a servant of God like me must use gold and silver as a medium to complete the transaction of each item."

The archbishop couldn't drink, so he had to drink water instead of wine.

Everyone took Hardbold's words seriously, but he had no worries about trade. The whole of Cologne very much welcomes the resumption of trade and even broader progress. After all, the processing industry of supplied materials depends on the consciousness of tens of thousands of weavers in Cologne.

In fact, Cologne citizens with textile skills can also process leather, wood, etc. Cologne can produce some tricks in any handicraft industry on the market. \\./hand\\./machine\\./version\\./no\\./wrong\\./first\\./post~~

Cologne's financial resources largely come from these people, so Cologne's interests are bound to the Counties of Flanders, the Netherlands, the Principality of Saxony, and even the Rus at the mouth of the Inn River.

This year almost all the wool from Flanders was sold to Cologne, and with the help of the Russian fleet, the volume of wool transported reached a historical peak. This battle was the first time in Cologne's life that the people had seen it.

Even though he was severely ripped off by the Ross cavalry during the war, there was still a lot of wealth accumulated in Cologne's cellars.

Baudouin paid more attention to the surplus grain here, which paid for the goods. As for Blue Fox and his younger brother Red Fox, part of the profits they shared were exchanged for food, and part was exchanged for high-quality Frank silver coins.

In line with the principle that come what comes, the Blue Fox will naturally conduct some transactions in Cologne.

A hundred years ago, Archbishop Lullus of Worms (Mainz), who had the nationality of the Kingdom of Wessex, preached a special set of ideas.

Jesus suffered on behalf of others, and the Holy Grail was filled with His holy blood.

The sprinkling of grapes represents the holy blood. All devout people should drink wine. The more they drink, the more devout they become.

This concept was recognized by the Pope of Rome at that time, and since then it has established the sacred status of wine.

The Archbishop of Cologne told the Blue Fox this allusion, and then accepted the grape sprinkles from this "devout believer". The priests pay attention to asceticism and cannot indulge in some addictive enjoyment. Even Cologne, who is obviously very arrogant and extravagant, has to make some superficial appearances.

In today's era, priests in Western Europe can only drink ale secretly, and only wine can be drunk openly.

Wine is holy blood, but wine is wine. No one knows how to brew it better than Blue Fox.

At a certain moment, Blue Fox suddenly realized.

"Bah! What holy blood? Mainz and Worms, those areas are rich in wine. The same goes for Nassau and Leingau that we occupy. Where is it holy? It is obviously the archbishop who is trying to make money by selling the wine in his own diocese. , I racked my brain to come up with this phrase.”

But yes, since both the northern world and the Frankish world like it, this is the news that must be reported to the king.

Blue Fox bought some woolen garments in Cologne, the styles of which are very Frankish. He also bought some cold-resistant leather hoods, which seemed to cover the whole head. It would not be good to just wear them. He soon discovered the usefulness of this "priest's hood" - it served as an excellent pad for the lining of his iron helmet.

When the Blue Fox arrived at Rotterstad, it was no surprise that they pretended to be square with the Danes who had returned from the robbery. At the Danish settlement on the Rotter River, those victorious pirates set up a long flea market.

There were all kinds of daily necessities looted from Wessex. These things were not valuable. The blue fox looked at them with interest but then left disappointed.

A slave market has sprung up in the unparalleled Danish colony, and innocent villagers who have been kidnapped are being sold openly.

here. (The next page is more exciting!)

, is a lawless place, and the nobles of Flanders and the Netherlands will not go deep here, nor will they redeem themselves.

Because regardless of whether they are men or women, they are just ordinary people in Wessex. To a large extent, these villagers are also outsiders.

The Netherlands is a Flemish people, and Flanders is a mixed-race Walloon people. If we really want to redeem these villagers, either a few good people will come to pay, or the Principality of Saxony will take action.

Men became working serfs, and women became wives and concubines. Danish pirates were very pragmatic, and they were also actively digesting and absorbing these special trophies.

Ragnar rested for a while in Rotterstad before retreating. He was delighted to hear that the blue fox had returned, and he personally invited him here. The so-called brothers who had fought side by side must get together to have something to eat and talk.

Therefore, Blue Fox listened with all ears and knew everything about what the Danes did in Wessex. He felt it was necessary to report these matters to King Rus.

What's the use of robbing an ordinary and poor village, and taking a lot of people away...

Blue Fox didn't want to openly reprimand this tasteless piracy. After all, what he did in Trier was a hundred times more vicious than Ragnar. But he had his own set of principles. The robbery of Trier was secretly authorized by King Ludwig. Objectively, it was part of the Frankish Civil War.

Blue Fox didn't even tell the Archbishop of Cologne what he had done. The looted gold and silver artifacts had been hidden in wooden boxes. They were to be dedicated to the king. First\\./Posted\\./Updated\\./New`..Mobile version

He listened to Ragnar shouting about his great achievements, and then publicly beat his chest and applauded the courage of the young Danish king.

He coaxed Ragnar well, and the latter was greatly pleased, and gave him some gifts. Blue Fox, who had experienced many battles, accepted the pile of worthless "villager furniture" sent by Ragnar. They were indeed worthless, so they could just be given to the Götalans when they returned to Gothenburg, he thought.

For the Blue Fox, it is absolutely necessary for him to have a good relationship with the Danes.

Now the entire Jutland Peninsula is under Ragnar's control. Despite the brutal war, the Danes have recovered quickly. Danes who were forced to survive in Zealand in the past returned to the peninsula in large numbers. They had to start contacting Oslo immigrants who took advantage of the chaos.

Over the years, the Norwegians in Oslo have watched the Danes and Swedes compete at sea with great trepidation. They are the traditional allies of the Danish chieftain, but they only want to fight with the wind. Realizing that there is no benefit, they refuse the good intention of joining forces. Oslo has never formed a chiefdom, it is just a "business organization" where a large group of merchants came together.

A peaceful Baltic Sea is good for everyone. Oslo people are angry, and so are the people of Götalland.

Both sides are at the southernmost tip of Scandinavia, across the Strait of Great Denmark and opposite Jutland, Denmark.

Blue Fox's fiefdom is across the sea from Ragnar's kingdom, and merchant ships can follow the gaps in the fjord all the way into Schleswig Port and do business with the Principality of Saxony from the other direction.

Being a brother-in-law to Ragnar is as important as maintaining friendly relations with the Norwegians in Oslo.

Therefore, the blue fox had to go back to the fief to explain some matters before returning to the capital of Rus to report on his duties. The red fox simply wanted to go back and report to the king that he had fulfilled his mission.

The two brothers were accompanied by the triumphant army of the Danes on their return journey, and stayed in Gothenburg for a few more days before finally returning to Tombstone Island.

The bad sea conditions forced the two to stay, and they were also shocked to hear that their father Gould was dying.

Finally, Gould's life, which had laid a deep foundation for the family, came to an end.

It was cold and windy outside, and people were surprised to find that the fine winter rain had ended, replaced by fine snow, which gradually turned into heavy snow.

The early winter snowstorm of 841 came!

The snowstorm wasn't extreme, at least that's how it felt on Tombstone Island.

To be fair, this snowstorm is reasonable, but its power is indeed not strong. As the dry arctic cold wind blows away the warm water vapor on the sea, the slow-starting freezing of the Gulf of Bothnia is accelerating, with heavy snowfall. It disappeared, leaving Tombstone Island covered with a layer of knee-deep snow, leaving only the dry and cold wind.

It was extremely cold outside, and even the Slavic immigrants who farmed on the island took refuge in wooden huts with fireplace chimneys.

People poured in as best they could into the building, which was guarded by thick wooden walls. (The next page is more exciting!)

In Tombstone Island Fortress.

What can people who have lived in the Northland do for thousands of years when encountering such a snowstorm? People are like hibernating brown bears hiding in caves, sleeping through the cold and boring periods of snow and ice. w_/a_/p_/\\_/.\\_/c\\_/o\\_/m The Russians will not remain dormant forever. As long as the snow stops, winter life will resume. Once the sea is really frozen, there will be enough ice to carry people. The layer extends to the entire Åland Islands, and reindeer and pony sleighs immediately replace boats. Just like the Lapps who herd deer, everyone begins their winter life on sleighs.

The knowledgeable people on Tombstone Island are already lighting oil lamps, wearing thick leather coverings, and tinkering with sleds, spreaders, hemp fishing lines, bent rod drills, etc. in their own warehouses to catch big fish and seals in winter. appliance.

At this time, Stockholm Governor Big Fat White Fox and his fleet also arrived at Tombstone Island before the heavy snowstorm.

Ships crowded the port, and even some cargo ships took the risk of being pulled into the mud near the shore and were semi-stranded. Ships of all sizes were parked in rows, all tied to each other with thick special cables. Although they could not afford the luxury of chain necklaces, the masts were only connected to each other with cables to ensure that the damn wind and snow would not damage the ships.

An experienced Slavic carpenter took on a big job.

This carpenter family made a living by farming after immigrating to Tombstone Island. Ten years ago, he joined Ross's expedition to Gotland. He served as an auxiliary and was responsible for repairing the wooden materials for the army's medium and heavy weapons. When necessary, In fact, he also used a torque slingshot to help in the battle.

Having this kind of experience and indeed having good carpentry skills, he is respected by the Ross people on the island and considered one of their own. In addition, he is now using high-end carbon steel tools, and his advanced technology is even more impressive. .

The fat white fox is the head of the family. It is a great honor for King Rurik to be willing to personally organize his father's funeral. However, as the eldest son, he must pay for the coffin.

He lavishly gave the selected carpenter family as much as two pounds of silver coins. He then provided the specific shape of the coffin, the material of the coffin, and the patterns that should be carved on the outside.

According to the rules, a Viking ship-shaped coffin is far less expensive than two pounds.

There are many oak planks available on Tombstone Island, which are leftovers from shipbuilding workshops. Even the scraps are dried in the shade, and they can be processed into durable household utensils, such as wooden spoons, wooden shovels, wooden bowls, etc. There is no problem in making a boat-shaped coffin by assembling larger boards.

Building a coffin is like building a ship. This is the Viking belief. Those who choose to be buried will definitely arrange for their close relatives to prepare a sealable coffin that resembles a ship.

The oak strips are assembled into the keel, which is assembled into the ship's ribs by mortise and tenon joints, and then the ribs are quickly installed with iron nails.

In terms of appearance, it looks like a "single-paddle kayak", with a layer of leather inside to ensure comfort.

Objectively speaking, it can indeed exist as a one-person rowing boat, and now it is a coffin.

The whole family went into battle and worked day and night. The carpenter, his wife, and children first painted on the shell with a quill pen dipped in carbon ink, and then processed it with a carving knife.

Gould was a big businessman, so Frey, the god of wealth, was his first patron saint. When Gould was young, he went to explore many places and drifted on the cautious sea, so Thor was also his patron saint.

The legend of the god Frey taming the golden boar is carved on the port side, and the legend of the god of thunder defeating the earthly python is carved leisurely. The large wooden board sealing the coffin is carved with the image of the goddess Freya. This deity represents life and prays for the soul of the deceased to be reborn in Asgard.

The carved dents were not painted with blue (woad, chalk mud mixed with rosin) and black ink (carbon black powder mixed with rosin), and the rest of the place was painted with chalk mud mixed with rosin.

The work was actually completed very quickly, and it took several days for the paint on the outer shell to dry naturally.

While the carpenter was busy, the fox brothers had put on new clothes for their dead father and prepared a large number of funerary objects.

"Ah! Now the wind and snow have finally stopped, winter is coming!" Rurik deliberately went for a walk outdoors. Looking at the sea, it was a plate of light blue. The sky was only the high-level cumulus clouds of the lake, and the nearby islands were covered in patches. White, so is the world beyond.

Gould's body was extremely difficult to decay in the extreme cold. His cold body was forcibly carried into the coffin by everyone, along with the wooden planks they were lifting. (The next page is more exciting!)

wooden house.

Rurik recognized the many patterns on the shell at a glance. Looking at the ship-shaped coffin, it was really big.

He was the king, and since Gould was his close comrade-in-arms, he and the three fox brothers worked hard to stuff the heavy dead man into the coffin.

Then, a large number of funerary objects were filled in.

"You have always liked drinking too much in your life. Back then you showed off your wine, and now you are enjoying the last intoxication of your life..." Looking at Gould's sunken eyes, Rurik muttered, and finally put on the wine in turn. A glass bottle full of fine wine is placed in it.

Flammable spirits vodka, high-quality wine from Nassau, Novgorod honey concoction, and wonderful kvass.

Glass cups, walrus ivory cups, horn cups, gold and silver utensils, peacock feathers... all kinds of things that the deceased used during his lifetime must be stuffed into it.

Although the deceased did not die in battle, his jewel-encrusted swords and daggers, although they had only decorative functions during his lifetime, were now included.

The deceased was dressed in a polar bear fur coat and a ferret velvet hat, covered with beautiful Novgorod floral cloth, and finally covered with a Russian flag.

This was not the end, gold and silver coins were sprinkled into it, two large ambers were put into the deep eyes of the deceased, the mouth was opened by the white fox's own hands, and a small piece of pure gold was put into the mouth.

"That's it. First\\./Posted\\./Updated\\./New`..Mobile.Version He will be buried in the capital cemetery. At that time, I will personally attend his burial ceremony. It won't be long Late, just this year." Rurik said and took another good look at the white fox.

"Thank you, Your Majesty. In fact, my father's funeral ends here. Since both Your Majesty and my father refused to be buried, the funeral has been simplified. I have nothing to say."

White Fox indeed felt that it was enough. Even Velika, the deputy priest of the kingdom, personally sang a eulogy for the deceased. The funeral had to be divided into two parts. Now the most critical coffin ceremony, the three sons of the deceased who were present and the son-in-law who avoided it all felt that it was enough. .

"Then seal the coffin." Rurik looked at them again, and then the four of them held hammers in unison, and Gould found his rest, although this was not exactly what he wanted.

Due to the conditions, the cremation in Gould's will could not be carried out. The current situation is even more grand.

In fact, Rurik and others did not understand Gould's concerns before his death. After all, he was a big businessman, and his family would inevitably prepare a large number of funeral objects, which would very likely arouse the evil intentions of thieves in the future. If he turned into a handful of ashes and died, it would be too tragic if there were still bones.

Although Rurik was unaware of this situation, he did assure the Fox Brothers: "Anyone who dares to destroy the rest of the great businessman Gould will be exterminated." In fact, the law has already stipulated that whoever dares to destroy the "Valhalla on earth" If the cemetery is damaged, make a blood eagle to apologize to the deceased.

No one dares to go looking for death, and the cemetery has always been a solemn and ghostly existence.

Apparently, the most distinguished person buried in the cemetery for a period of time was the great businessman Gould. .