Rise of Rurik

When the fleet anchored at the Kronshtadt anchorage and the veteran warrior's Aurora docked at the dock of New Roseburg, ruler Rurik put on a golden laurel crown and walked down the gangway.

A rather grand entrance ceremony began immediately, with soldiers in costumes walking majesticly along the Nevsky Prospekt along the river.

King Rurik himself rode a horse, and Queen Svetlana sat sideways in front of him.

Surrounded by many wives and concubines dressed as priestesses, the king and his wife were welcomed by the people on both sides of the street.

"Long live the King blessed by Odin!"

"Long live the great King Rurik! Long live the Kingdom of Rus!"

The soldiers arranged in the crowd shouted so, and they set up a lively rhythm because everyone cheered so.

King Rurik even waved to his subjects. He enjoyed the cheers of the people and felt the grand occasion that the kingdom should have.

The Kingdom of Ross has been officially born for more than two months, and New Ross Castle has naturally become the capital of the kingdom. The people here very much welcome the Duke's promotion to king. They are proud of becoming the people of the royal capital, as if their status has become noble immediately.

There is another appeal deep in the hearts of the people, that is, they hope that the king can give some charity and the people can participate in the grand event when they are happy and proud.

King Rurik intends to do this!

The notices were printed and posted widely on rough paper, the text was in deliberately large fonts, and the content of the notices was quite simple - half of any tax.

In principle, farmers who farm the land have to pay the tithe tax, or the production-type tax of the Kingdom of Russia, which is at least 10% of the output value as tax.

The tithe is a harsh tax standard. According to Eastern standards, it is often one for twenty or even one for thirty.

This was a tax standard set by Rome a long time ago. The rulers of many European countries had no better reference in the past, so they immediately picked up some of Rome's systems and used them. The Kingdom of Rus still follows the tithe tax, and no one thinks it is inappropriate.

In the past few years, the eastern part of the kingdom has been expanding its cultivated land, and reclamation work has been carried out in an orderly manner.

The newly cultivated land was included in the "Fish Scale Book" after it was reclaimed. In the first few years, the newly cultivated land was marked as "bad land". The so-called one Rus hectare (equivalent to 0.96 modern hectares) produced only 1,000 pounds of oats, which was taxable. One hundred pounds. The first year's harvest from a new field is completely tax-free, and the next few years are taxed at the rate of one hundred pounds.

The city of New Roseburg began large-scale construction eleven years ago. The flat terrain on the Neva River is an advantage, but unfortunately the climate here is too cold.

A large number of acres have been opened up, but only some acres along the river are defined as "good farmland" and "middle farmland", and most of them are still "poor farmland."

Even if local farmers pay taxes, since the implementation of the fixed tax law, they have not paid much in taxes. Similarly, a farmer can even cultivate two hectares of land. Regardless of grain cultivation and taxes, the oats that fall into his hands are not as huge as imagined. The biggest reason for limiting farmland output is certainly the climate, but farmers' lack of awareness of intensive farming is also a major reason.

Must farmers be ordered to cultivate intensively to obtain greater output from limited acres of land?

If Rurik had purely oriental thinking, he could force his farmers to do this, but everyone is a genuine Viking.

Boating and fishing has been a way of life for a long time, and it was only in the past ten years that the Russians immigrated to the country and started growing wheat. There is no need to pay taxes for fishing, but at least one hundred pounds of tax must be paid to the monarch for farming.

Wheat is an extremely shelf-stable food, and everyone would want more wheat if they could.

The king's notices were posted everywhere, and people throughout the capital were discussing them.

The king's army was destined to return late. The governor of the capital, Conuson, saw that the king had not returned and was unwilling to rashly collect taxes. In fact, he should fulfill his tax collection responsibilities, because Conuson had a hunch that this year's step-by-step tax collection would not be appropriate.

Cornuson waited until the king's triumphant return, and was glad that his decision to postpone the tax collection was extremely correct.

The king decided to reduce taxes. Governor Cornuson and his family held a heavy fish scale book in their arms. King Rurik pointed at it and ordered: "Collect taxes according to the list! Regardless of farmers, craftsmen or merchants, the taxes of any registered personnel will be reduced." Half! You must implement my king's orders. If I hear rumors about someone claiming to collect more taxes, I will hold you accountable."

Cornuson did not dare to neglect and signaled that he would get things done.

In New Roseburg, the autumnal equinox at the end of September in the Julian calendar is another traditional sacrificial festival.

This is the day in autumn when day and night are of equal length. After this day, the daylight hours will shorten at a perceptible speed. For all Viking peoples, from this day on, all families must seize all the time to stock up on supplies for the winter.

A sacrificial activity was held at the First Temple. Thousands of people flocked to Harvest Square. Whether they were farmers, fishermen or businessmen, they rushed to offer their silver coins to the statue of the god. Each silver coin was stuffed into the wooden box, and the coins jingled. The gods will definitely hear your prayers.

If five thousand people participate in the sacrificial activity and each person pays one silver coin, they will eventually receive a financial income of up to fifty pounds of silver coins. The fact is that the wealthy businessmen faced the largest gold-plated statue of God Frei they have ever seen in their lives. He was willing to spend huge sums of money for this God of Commerce, and in the end the income from the temple was quite considerable.

As long as there are enough good men and women, the "incense money" that is originally a supplement to funds can suddenly become an important financial supplement, which is what Rurik is happy to see.

After all, in a country like the Frankish Kingdom, a family of free farmers had to pay tithe to the lord's grandfather, and also had to pay tithe to the church in the suburbs.

During the tax collection season in the autumn of 839 AD, all taxpayers were exempted from half of the tax. People with more surplus wealth were more confident, and businessmen were more willing to "spend large sums of money" for the King of Rus.

The king is back! When the king returns, he will reduce taxes and preside over autumn sacrifices. After these big events, life will return to its former peace?

Many people felt that the matter was not simple, because the king should rush to Novgorod on Lake Ilmen and announce the king's announcement to the hundreds of thousands of local Slavs and important old Russian immigrants. .

The king was still lingering on something, and seemed to be preparing a shocking sermon that would shock everyone again.

In early October, a light snow suddenly fell. It started out as rain, then suddenly turned into freezing rain, and then into snowflakes all over the sky.

The snow came earlier, making people's winter life start about ten days earlier than in previous years.

Thin snow covers the city buildings, and New Roseburg is shrouded in silvery white.

The sky was quite gray, and the rolling ocean stirred up big waves. Thanks to the Kronshtadt anchorage at the mouth of the Neva River, which was a haven protected by island sandbars, the ships were swaying slightly in the gray water.

People are waiting for the sea to freeze so the much-loved winter fishing can begin. Hunters are also praying that the Neva River will freeze quickly so that they can rush to distant places to plunder and skin precious small animals and make a lot of money.

Rurik was also waiting for the real cold wave to come, so that he could quickly return to Novgorod on a sled.

After the snow, brand new notices were posted everywhere.

The news this time tickled the hearts of all men who could afford an axe.

Many years have passed, and Ross has not been without fierce fights with foreign enemies over the years. Ross has always been passively involved in wars. Although he still achieved great victories, those were not Ross's proactive measures after all.

Deep in people's hearts, they long for this large-scale war, because based on past experience, such a war will bring huge wealth to Russia, and the rate of increase in the value of this wealth can be much faster than farming and fishing.

The king gave the order, and the notice was very clear. The so-called Kingdom of Rus would launch a new national war in the Swedish region, and all the elite armies of Rus would gather to launch a war of conquest in the Götaland region.

The notice called on all the people to participate in war service and called on the people to produce logistical supplies this winter. The king would purchase them before the war starts next year.

What are war services and logistics supplies?

Salt, ironware, dried fish, wheat, high-quality leather, high-quality hemp rope and animal sinews, animal ointment, pine gum, feathers, etc.

Talented people can also use scrapers to make arrow shafts, and people with woodworking skills can undertake the rough processing of some weapon parts.

The Götaland area is familiar to all Vikings, especially the Viking immigrants living in New Roseburg. Their tribes of origin are diverse, but all of them have a common identity - they are from Sweden.

Although everyone immigrated to the East, their blood is completely the same as that of Sweden in the West. Now Rus is integrated with Sweden.

The Götaland region in southern Scandinavia is a region that the Swedes have wanted since ancient times. Finally, King Rurik will lead all the people to start this conquest that will surely make history.

People who call themselves warriors need the glory of victory, and more people focus on the huge benefits that this war of annihilation that will begin next year can bring.

Speaking of benefits, haven’t everyone already begun to enjoy the dividends of the war?

In principle, when Rurik made the new announcement in October, the New Roseburg area was already on a state of war readiness.

The king was willing to pay for the purchase of war supplies. He did not name the specific demand for various supplies, but revealed from various channels that the army had a huge need for various supplies.

The kingdom's army will summon many servant tribes to participate in the war, and will select a large number of Jingrui from the country.

Folks began to spread the idea that the king would gather all the heroes. An army of 10,000 people might be too far-fetched, and the number of troops must be at least 5,000.

Ever since the army swept across Gotland, Lord Otto was still the Duke at that time, and Rurik served as the actual commander. Since then, the logistics of the Ross army have been valued by the commander.

Each soldier did not even need to pay for dry food, weapons and protective equipment out of his own pocket. The ruler Rurik always provided guarantees for the army, so that every army won every battle and the food he had prepared before was not used up. The soldiers had never experienced logistical difficulties, and they did not even have any thoughts in this regard. All their thoughts were very simple - they were ordered to bravely kill the enemy and loot the loot.

The ruler Rurik provided the logistics and transportation for the army, so it was natural that he would plunder the most loot after winning the battle.

Ordinary soldiers didn't have much idea. They plundered some scattered silver coins, captured some women as wives and concubines, and even took away all kinds of daily necessities. These were all tacitly approved and recognized by the king. As long as the brothers did not move the bulk of the supplies they plundered, the rest of the supplies could be plundered by the brothers based on their ability, and the ownership of the spoils was recognized by Lord Rurik.

So, what about those at New Roseburg who were included in the King's levy?

Three traditional rowing long boats floated towards Lake Ladoga carrying letters from King Rurik.

A ship rushed to Vipsarava in the west of the lake to inform the local chief Terravis to send troops to join the war.

A boat rushed to the Ludi camp east of the lake and told the old female chief that she must also send troops to join the battle.

Only one boat braved the cold wind from the north and ran against the current of the Volkhov River to Novgorod, briefly explaining two major events to the local people: preparations for war and tax relief.

In New Roseburg, King Otto was guarding his grandchildren, still staying in the old palace, waiting for the final completion of the new palace.

In addition, the "New Winter Palace", which can be said to be the first building in the capital with a five-story height on the top platform, will be completely completed in the spring. In principle, it is already habitable, but the interior furnishings must be improved in every aspect. It is a generous tower and attic, big enough to accommodate the entire royal family. It is also a natural place for political discussions and can receive distinguished guests from afar.

It is located on the banks of the Neva River. The king stood on the highest observation deck and had a bird's eye view of the entire capital.

This is an ordinary morning in early winter. Most of the first snow has not yet melted. The earth is dry and cold. However, today's vision is not bad.

Rurik and Queen Svetlana asked the carpenters to continue their work, and then climbed the wooden ladders to the roof of the palace layer by layer.

The shrill north wind whistled, and Svetalana, wrapped in thick leather, shrank tightly.

The feeling of being on top of a tall building is not enjoyable, at least not yet. The sun was slanting sharply, and the golden light shone on the earth. The entire city wall of Fort New Ross was in full view. In the west, a large number of ships were anchored at the anchorage. Although the sails were all unloaded for routine maintenance, the Ross flag was still flying on the mast of the battleship. The swaying appearance in the wind can be seen clearly.

"It's so high here! It's so cold..." Lana seemed to be talking nonsense. She tightened her body and smiled while speaking, which seemed to have a different flavor to the nonsense.

"Standing at a high place, you have to endure the cold." Rurik stroked her shoulder and looked at the sun with emotion.

"What...what did you say? I can't hear you clearly."

"Oh, the wind here is really loud. Lanna!" Rurik continued speaking freely: "Did you see it? The entire capital is right in front of you! This is the highest point of New Roseburg City, and you are my queen. ! She is the most noble woman in the kingdom.”

"Yes! I... never thought I would see this city like this."

"You've seen it now. Come on, you can see something more exciting."

The observation deck at the top of the palace has not yet installed wooden railings. It still needs a lot of decoration, so it is a very dangerous place at the moment.

In Rurik's impression, there are always some madmen among the so-called Maozi who especially like to climb high and low. Even if a wrist is loosened and it ends up being shattered to pieces, it is this state between life and death that they regard as the most serious thing. enjoyment.

Svetlana's bloodline is an extremely pure Slav. Will she also have such crazy enjoyment? In other words, can she survive the trial of being afraid of heights?

Naturally, Rurik himself wanted to feel it.

They both walked forward, and if they took another step now, they would fall...

Rurik maintained his utmost concentration. He stretched his head to look at the people walking below. As long as he made a mistake, he would fall. He would definitely die from a height of about thirty meters.

But Lana tried hard to look at it for a while, then staggered back and collapsed directly.

She was covered in cold sweat, and her feet felt more like they had stepped into a swamp.

Rurik's heart was also beating wildly, and he was out of danger, sitting next to his frightened queen, looking at her wide eyes.

"Are you scared?"

"I...I'm scared. It's too high. I almost died."

"You are afraid. I am afraid too. Ah..." The huge body suddenly lay down, and Rurik looked up at the blue sky. There was only the queen here, and he just wanted to take the opportunity to confide some of his inner thoughts to this first pillow person. "Lana, do you know?"

"What do you know?" In this way, Svetlana also wrapped her leather clothes tightly, huddled next to her husband and lay down.

"These past few months have been a dream for me. I became a king, I wore a crown."

"Isn't this a happy thing? I seem to hear your melancholy?"

"When you wear a crown, you have to bear its weight."

"Crown? Your golden crown is not heavy."

"But the weight of royal power is on top of my head, and my responsibility is very heavy. I just wanted to stand on the edge of the cliff. If I make the wrong decision, not only me but also the entire Ross will fall. We... Standing on a cold high place, as long as the king has the right to stand here, only the king has the right to feel the cold wind..."

Lanna tightened her grip on her husband's arm: "I don't understand. But you are the king, you are the best, and you will do everything well."

"I will naturally do everything well." Rurik cheered up. At this moment, he also knew that he could not be lazy in any way.

He confided the king's pressure to his woman, and his words were too philosophical and implicit. Lanna really couldn't understand it, but she had a woman's way of appeasing her man.

Next year King Rurik will go into battle personally, and Queen Svetlana will also accompany the army to the war. The royal family has expressed its strong emphasis on the conquest of Jotalan. The most direct manifestation of this emphasis is that the entire New Roseburg has entered a state of war readiness and turned into a huge arsenal.

Kamnier was the general manager of the state-owned iron factory in the city, and his craftsmen worked hard to finish the incoming cast iron blocks.

A large number of carpenters were essentially employed by the king. They were no longer "stragglers". A large number of people were gathered together to produce arrows with full force with spare parts in hand.

As for the more skilled carpenters, they were commissioned to make heavy equipment such as torsion slingshots, wheelbarrows, and torsion trebuchets.

All men aged between fifteen and thirty in the city have been given special attention, and the policy of army expansion has begun. Governor Cornuson has been ordered to recruit a team of four hundred to five hundred men to fill the ranks of the exhausted veterans. In the Second Flag Team.

Indeed, the members of the Second Flag Team established ten years ago were the old guys from the Ross tribe era. They were willing to let the older men continue to be warriors. The warrior culture itself was willing to follow orders, but it was not a good thing for Ross. As long as conditions permit, the best soldiers must still be men around the age of twenty.

However, some special personnel were in principle born from the registered residents of New Roseburg, but were not within the scope of Governor Cornuson's recruitment.

Most of these personnel are in Novgorod. Their parents donated a cavalry quota to their sons. The children became noble cavalry. The so-called cavalry unit that is the pride of the kingdom must participate in the war against Jotalan.

Those wealthy families who had the property to donate cavalry to their sons were summoned by the king himself, and dozens of people gathered in the large parliamentary chamber of the Rus Duma next to the old Winter Palace.

I thought a tall, strong man walked with firm steps in the parliamentary court to preach.

"I guess you actually want your sons to become better, so you spend a lot of money to let them become cavalry. Now I can proudly tell you that your sons are all real warriors. I summoned you today to tell you They have all become excellent cavalry. As my most valued elites, they must participate in next year's expedition. The cavalry will sweep across the Jotalans. The land we all dreamed of in the past will finally be ours, and your sons will build a great empire. With his outstanding achievements, he will become a great warrior. Countless young women will spontaneously stick to your son's side. They are all eager to give birth to children for the hero. Your family bloodline will also be greatly expanded..."

Rurik talked so much that his mouth went dry.

This time, he wore a golden crown and blew a rainbow fart to a crowd of people who spent a lot of money, which moved them to tears.

Because it is a fact that the cavalry has become a standing regiment appointed by the king, unlike the first to sixth banners, which are all citizen soldiers.

All the cavalry warriors are the king's confidants. The cavalry warrior's father is already very proud of this matter. Today, the king praised it with great rhetoric. Everyone was so happy that they couldn't find the north anymore.

Just seeing them smile, Rurik showed his true face.

"Yours still needs better armor and better weapons. As their father, no one wants his son to die accidentally in battle, right? They are honorable, but they are not invulnerable. I suggest you better spend more money , buy a brand new steel sword, iron-plated chainmail, and a stronger leather helmet..."

Even if some people suddenly realize that the king wants a group of wealthy households to pay for heavy equipment. How about that? After all, these equipments were protective gear and weapons given to his son. Of course he had to grit his teeth and spend money to buy them from the king. Find bookstore www.zhaoshuyuan.com

Because war is extremely costly, if the value of the loot is lower than the investment, expansion war seems to be a thankless task.

He will use treasury assets to launch this expedition, attack the Götaland region and conquer it. The strategic purpose is to face Denmark across the Denmark Strait. From then on, he will strongly threaten the Kingdom of Denmark and also be able to frighten or directly annex the entire Norway. After conquering the Götaland region, the Kingdom of Rus can gain the strategic initiative in Scandinavia. Although the value of such a strategic achievement far exceeds the huge amount of national funds invested in it, if there is something that can save some money We still need to save some space.

It would be great if this war could be induced by me as the king to become a war that the people actively invest in. They themselves may encourage their sons to join the war and devote a lot of assets to the war, all in order to get the spoils and the glory of victory and glorify their ancestors. . The Viking family that had never received glory needed a big victory to gain glory, and presumably the tribes of servants also needed victory to prove that they were also good.

Rurik has only one goal. It is said that as long as the people participating in the war are eager for victory, they will do their best to win. The war to conquer Jotaland cannot be a royal war, it must be a war for everyone in the Kingdom of Rus, and the whole country must be united in this war. .

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