Rise of Rurik

The huge sled team rushed forward in the cold wind, passing through the twists and turns of the Neva River, and an icy lake with no visible boundary was in front of them and under their feet.

There is extremely thick ice attached to Lake Ladoga, and the wind sweeps across the ice surface and blows away all the snow. At first glance, there is nothing but black under the ice, and the nameless fear is also disturbing people's hearts.

The team moved along the shoreline of the lake and went ashore to camp at night.

The sky is filled with stars, and the green auroras are as dazzling as ribbons.

A large number of bonfires were lit on the shore of ice and snow, and more than ten people gathered at each fire, grilling frozen fish and eating cooked wheat.

More than twenty large iron pots were placed on the snow, and some specially brought stones were quickly assembled into a stove.

Bjorn was amazed just by the iron pot alone, not to mention there were many Russians. The wheat is cooked in a dark iron pot until it boils. Then someone picks up a big wooden spoon, scoops the oats into his own earthenware bowl, sprinkles a handful of salt and eats it.

Eating hot meals in the ice and snow is the most heart-warming thing. Those cold wheat cakes are now strung on wooden sticks by the owner and placed on the flame to heat them again.

Bjorn and other Swedish nobles were of high status, and Rurik rewarded these guests with a unique meal.

Braised noodles, although very bizarre, are indeed braised noodles.

The venison is infinitely cut into minced meat, then minced onions and yellow carrots are added, mixed with salt and chopped thyme, and filled with seal oil and deer oil, forming a sauce that will inevitably condense into a lump at low temperatures. The pre-made wheat noodles are frozen as hard as wire, cooked and topped with sauce to enjoy.

It didn't matter how those nobles ate this delicious meal. They had their own spoons and forks, and it didn't matter if they stuffed the sticky noodles into their mouths with their hands.

"This is also a special delicacy of the Russian people. You have to try it. The delicacies in this place cool down too quickly, so you should all eat them while they are still hot." Old Angreve grinned from ear to ear, leaning on a temporary fork he whittled with a wooden branch. Stuttered.

The braised noodles were overly salty and extremely greasy, which everyone thought was just right for the taste.

The colder the weather, the more delicious food heavy in oil and salt is needed. Bjorn ate it in big gulps, not forgetting to drink some Russian spirits and even stuffed a small lump of semi-solid honey into his mouth.

The nobles did not hesitate to talk about Rurik, his queen and prince around the campfire after eating and drinking.

It is really scary and brave for a newborn baby to brave the extremely cold journey. They also tacitly understood it, regardless of the evil thoughts in their hearts.

Just like Bjorn, how could he not be jealous when he saw the strength of the Russian people? He is even more aware of the terrifying crisis. The Melalen people are indeed facing the pressure of the Ross people. The Melalen people, who have been powerful since ancient times, are rapidly declining.

He even wished that the god-blessed baby Osborne Slav suddenly froze to death.

He wanted to see Rurik himself crying, thus venting his displeasure as the leader of Mälaren and the current king of Sweden.

However, Rurik's "Prince's Sleigh" is a perfect warm nest!

Rather than calling it a sled, it would be more appropriate to call it a "moving woodcarving".

The big sled is covered with a wooden house, which is equipped with an iron carbon furnace. Iron pipes rolled from wrought iron sheets are heat-welded and nested together to connect to the outside.

It was as warm as summer inside, but Svetlana was still curled up in the huge polar bear skin. The delicate Osborne was even more tightly wrapped.

She was well taken care of by many women, and several of Rurik's wives and concubines also chatted happily with her as the queen.

Rurik pushed open the thick leather curtain with a bowl of delicious food and committed himself to his beloved wife.

"It's time to eat, I'll feed you."

"Well, that's not good. Everyone else... is watching."

"It doesn't matter."

Countess Nolen of Narvik Port is here, and she is indeed Osborne's aunt according to her seniority. In terms of age, she is only slightly younger than Svetlana.

The child was sleeping soundly in the cradle on one side, and Rurik kept the noise quieter. He held the chopsticks and put the noodles into his beloved wife's mouth. She enjoyed her husband's intimate care more than the soft, glutinous and salty texture of the delicious meal.

Is this love? As sweet as honey, Nolen watched quietly from the side, turning into a light bulb.

"Rurik..." Nolen was so envious that he couldn't help it.

"Um?"

"I want to be like her. It's time for me to be a mother too. Quick! I want a child."

She said these words without any shame, and her voice would have been louder if the baby hadn't been here.

Looking at her and then at Lanna, Rurik didn't know what to say.

Lana cheered up, "It's time for Nolen to be a mother. Rurik, those women of yours...are all of age to be mothers. Especially the girls who came from the same manor as me, they are already old girls." .”

"Oh? As a queen, you actually urge me to have sex with other concubines?"

"Poor, I can't serve you now. All I have to do now is raise the child well..."

Svetlana didn't say any more, and Rurik didn't know what to say. It seemed like she had thought of a lot of things, yet she seemed as simple as a glass of water.

There were too many wives and concubines in the harem. Thanks to the previously established hierarchy, Rurik was glad that his wives and concubines did not become jealous and create a Shura field.

Is Lanna such a generous person? Do you really want your mother to honor the world? I'm afraid this matter is not simple.

Rurik didn't think much about it for the time being, but he didn't have any intimate relations with Nolen or other wives and concubines on the current occasion. There is no other reason than that the huge team is undergoing an expedition. It is necessary to ensure the stable delivery of large quantities of goods to Novgorod, and then complete the transaction with the old Pecheneg-Kiev business group.

Noren and the other wives and concubines all had their own tented sleigh, and Rurik's big sleigh served as the residence of the prince and his wife while traveling.

Late at night, the baby Osborne suddenly cried. Rurik just smelled the bad sour smell and his baby trembled. The couple woke up from the torment. Thanks to Rurik's preparedness and his noble status, the diaper was thrown away. After washing his baby, he immediately put on a new diaper.

Along the way, Rurik has been personally taking care of his eldest son. He really liked this son, and such a caring attitude also declared to the whole team the prince's meticulous love for the prince.

But the fact that he changed his son's diaper was shocking to other nobles. Not to mention those Swedish nobles, even my cousin Arik never changed diapers for his children. Shouldn't those be done by the child's mother? Besides, as a great noble, it would be better to leave this kind of thing to the servants soon.

My brother really likes Osborne!

But Rurik was still troubled by Queen Svetlana's remarks that she ignored the Shura field and could be called the mother of the world. Although the queen was sleeping next to him, a strange dream suddenly woke him up during an ordinary night of travel.

"Emperor Zhou...I am Emperor Zhou now. How could I have such a strange dream? Yes! It's the enfeoffment." Rurik muttered in his mind in a daze.

There was a glimmer of light coming from the cracks of the iron stove, so that the sleigh shed, which was wrapped in leather and wood, was not completely dark. Looking at his sleeping wife and son, Rurik guessed his beloved wife's hope.

"When they all have children, they can take some people out of the core area. Noren takes his children back to Narvik, and the others go to further areas to establish villages, communities and cities. The sooner they give birth to boys, the sooner they can Go to the new world to open up settlements, and no one will threaten your and Osborne's status. Right..." Rurik's thoughts were buried in his mind. If this was the case, Svetlana's hope was understandable.

Because, he thought so too.

But Rurik was even more looking forward to his father seeing the happy appearance of his eldest grandson, and the old man Ligus, who might be happy to see his grandson, the heir apparent.

The sled team always maintains a dense formation, and each sled has a flagpole to make the Ross flag fly. The sleds are all temporarily numbered, and several sleds form a group, which are counted each night when taking a break. According to the plan, if someone is found to be left behind, there are motorized sleds that can turn back immediately to find them.

Nothing bad happened. For example, no one was left behind during the ten-day journey, and the weather was dry and cold as always.

Even in February, warmth seems to have nothing to do with Northern Europe.

When the team entered the frozen Volkhov River running north to south, the team happened to encounter a large number of sporadic hunting team sleds, and began the final rush.

Bear hunting is an extremely dangerous job, and a simple sled carrying a torsion slingshot still doesn't allow everyone to sit back and relax. Usually about ten people get together, nominate a boss, and go into the forest area to hunt bears with weapons such as wooden arm crossbows, short wooden bows, and short spears.

The bear hunting team has a lot of hunts, because most of this area is no man's land, and there are too many polar bears that are not hibernating.

The main force of the hunters are almost all veterans of the First Flag Team. The young men who used to be in their twenties are now in their thirties. They decisively brought their newly grown sons with them. Since the prince’s school does not open in winter, he should spend time with his family. We go hunting bears and wolves together to grow into men.

Even some of Ragnar's tribesmen who were living there were also involved.

A group of hunters quickly gathered around Rurik, and they all came to hunt bears. The reason behind this was heartwarming.

Someone explained: "It is the Pecheneg people in the grassland who have a huge demand for leather. Those grassland people are actually involved. They hunt in the southern forest and want to hunt a large amount of precious furs. All their achievements, but Their appetites are too big..."

The hunters explained a series of important matters. Before meeting Kagan, Rurik was already sure that this transaction would have a successful outcome.

The huge sled team was connected with flags. At first glance, it was clear that it was a huge army roaring towards the city of Novgorod.

Thanks to the extremely cold weather, the Volkhov River was frozen solid enough. If the ice were thinner, the sled team would have to fall into the ice cave on a large scale.

Those who endured the severe cold to cut trees noticed the sled army, and as soon as they saw the flying flags clearly, they knew that the prince was back.

The prince must come back to participate in the spring plowing work. This is a rule he personally set, not to mention that this year involves large-scale trade with the Pecheneg people.

Although Prince Rurik did not rush back, Novgorod had spontaneously started trading with visitors from afar.

In the area around Lake Ilmen in Novgorod, most of the military forces of the Rus' Principality are located here. With nearly 300 foreign troops stationed here, Governor Medved was worried at first, but the old man Duke Otto slapped his thigh and appointed Kagan as an honored guest.

Even so, Medved must be on guard. Although the grassland people came here to sell horses, they actually gathered 200 armored cavalry and traveled for three months to reach the north intact. What else could this be but a strong army? Even though Kagan and Prince Rurik drank blood wine and became brothers, this was a custom in the steppe, and the Slavs of Lake Ilmen did not have this rule.

Especially there are some businessmen from Kiev...

Maksakye, this guy is at it again. He was a native of Kiev, and by blood he was indeed no different from a native of Smolensk. They were all from Krivich, and this was what alarmed Medved the most.

Maybe it was because the old Duke was addicted to the family happiness of being with his children, or maybe he was satisfied with this life. When Medved, as a child, first saw Otto rowing his longboat with all his power, he was extremely frightened. But now, Otto is as honest as his own father Rigus. A warrior has lost his strength and vigilance.

The total of 600 horses that the steppe people and the Kiev people planned to sell, although the delivery of the products has not yet been completed, is now under Medved's care. A messenger had already been sent to New Roseburg. Medved already knew that the prince's "armed fishing" had turned into a crusade against the Danish king and achieved a great victory. He also knew that the prince would never let go of any opportunity to buy horses. Therefore, although the transaction has not been completed legally, the Principality of Rus has actually obtained 600 strong horses capable of trekking for three months in autumn and winter.

The Pecheneg warriors in Kagan were actually under surveillance. He felt a little uncomfortable. Considering that he was the owner of the land, he should obey the local customs. However, I came with the hope of this tribal alliance and the alliance's elite cavalry. I can't trade directly with Rurik for the time being, nor can I stay here and stare.

Horses and recurve bows are strategic materials that can only be traded with the Prince of Rus himself, and other prairie specialties carried are already on sale.

The goods were sold cleanly, and Kagan and the Kiev people did not get many supplies in exchange. They wanted to hunt spontaneously, but were banned by Governor Medved.

"This is the territory of the Rus' Principality, and the forest is also the principality's wealth. People in Kiev are not allowed to hunt. Anyone who dares to hunt is stealing the property of the Rus' Prince. The Pechenegs can go hunting, but they must form a mixed team with the Rus' people, and only Able to hunt on the Volkhov River.”

Kagan fully understands this. This is like a grassland. A grassland with rich water and grass can attract the Pechenegs and Khazars to war. It is reasonable that the hunting ground of the Russians can only be hunted by the Russians. Kagan was very happy that he drank blood wine with Rurik, so that his subordinates could personally hunt the giant red squirrels that did not exist on the grassland and obtain their hides.

The Pechenegs were dispersed, and they even gave up riding and cooperated with the locals in hunting, so that Medved could feel at ease.

Kagan himself stayed in the city of Novgorod. He was fed good food and drinks, and took baths and saunas. Except for the fact that there was no beautiful girl to serve him, everything felt great. The Russian Novgorod is still very cold, but it is indeed a happy and dispute-free place.

He expected that his Rurik brothers would come to trade with him with the huge amount of supplies they had raised after receiving the message from the messenger.

No, here’s the good news!

The city of Novgorod suddenly became agitated, with drums and horns blaring loudly. People walked out of their homes, dragging their families with them, and rushed to the frozen docks and snow-covered rivers.

"My son is back, hehe!"

Otto was leaning on a wooden staff and wearing a bearskin cloak, and he did not forget to buckle his iron helmet on his head. He was closely guarded by his attendants to prevent the old prince from slipping and falling.

Rurik was not surprised that thousands of people gathered outside the city.

The huge team finally came to a stop, and people of all kinds got off the sleds.

Rurik and his wife stepped out of the sleigh and saw his old father and mother as soon as he stood on the ice. At this moment, he held an indescribably huge object in his arms and walked straight towards his father under the gaze of thousands of people.

"You brat, I heard that you almost chopped off the head of the second King of Denmark. You are a real man." Old Otto had just finished speaking, his eyes completely fixed on the thing in his son's arms.

Otto didn't know what it was, but Niya could already guess what her son was holding just by looking at the way Svetlana was walking. She was so excited that she cried and covered her mouth and nose with her hands.

Rurik said nothing until he stood in front of his father.

"What is this? A gift?" Otto asked.

"It's a gift."

After saying that, Rurik gently lifted the thin linen cloth and looked for Shuyuan www.zhaoｓhuyuan. com It was obvious that he had caught a cold. The child started to twist his body with his eyes closed and started to scream.

"Ah!" Otto's hair trembled all over his body, and his full white beard stood straight.

"It's a boy, his name is Osborne Slav. He is your direct grandson."

Overtaken by ecstasy, Otto's legs weakened. Thanks to the attendant's immediate help, he prevented him from falling.

Supported by his attendants, Otto could no longer stand on his own. He was so excited that he couldn't stop laughing. He wanted to take a good look at his direct grandson. The more he looked at the child's face, the more he liked him.

Although Otto already has several grandchildren who have inherited his bloodline, this child is the most extraordinary.

He claimed that the last concern in his life was the birth of this child. Everything ended successfully! I have no regrets in this life...

But Otto also knows that his end is not imminent, and every day he lives now is a day earned. There are no regrets anymore. When to leave depends on the wishes of the gods.

Please remember the first domain name of this book: . :