Rise of Rurik

Otto handed over the management of public affairs to Rurik for the time being, and he was training his only son so that he could inherit his career earlier.

Because time is running out.

Over the past few years, the Ross tribe has been rapidly becoming better, and now everything Otto did not expect, the tribe is walking on an unimagined path.

This road is not only a road of conquest or a trade route leading to the north and east.

It was a complete change to the tribe. It was Rurik's dream, but it was something that Otto and other old tribesmen could never have imagined.

Glassware that was once extremely rare, although it is not particularly cheap today, a considerable number of clans have already owned them, and the clan is still producing and selling at a relatively fast rate.

Indulgent drinking of ale seems to be a thing of the past, and condensing a large barrel of ale into just a few cups of violently burning spirits has become the new favorite of these old guys. Not only they like it, but different young men are eager to try the magical feeling of drinking burning spirits, even if it is likely that due to improper operation, half of their beards are burned like a leader.

There are more objects that were never owned, whether they are daily necessities, tools or weapons, the biggest thing they have in common is that they will surely make a lot of money when they are sold.

Otto was back, and he was very happy to get together with his mates, drinking "RUSVODKA" spirits, chewing jerky and prunes in an atmosphere like "two liang old white dry three liang pork head meat". They are a large group of battle-hardened old guys who are more eager to vent their anger at the enemy than to make money in business.

This year must also be the same as last year, the tribe needs to send in the army and continue to take revenge on the enemy. What's more, this year, the Russ have an excellent reason to fight - to avenge the Ostara allies.

As the equinox sacrifices passed, and the ice and snow had not melted, Otto and his guys were already discussing the specifics of revenge.

There are many technical details in this regard. It is by no means a commander and hundreds of strong men, carrying all kinds of weapons and screaming, landing on Gotland Island and killing the Quartet.

Everyone believed that the enemy was by no means a fool, and that they must strengthen their vigilance when they suffered a big loss.

Besides, the Gotlanders are the hounds kept by the Danes. Who knows what revenge the Danes will take for hitting the Danes' dogs?

It's not that everyone is afraid of the enemy's revenge. If this revenge expands, it will not be good if the business activities of the tribe and the Melalen people are in trouble.

But thinking of revenge on the enemy will not lead to no impact on one's own economic activities, this is easier said than done?

After several days of discussions, Otto and a few well-respected old guys had some conservative ideas.

For a young warrior like Arik, he just wanted to repeat a victory and loot a lot of food, silver coins and gems. No doubt this idea caused Otto's dissatisfaction.

"The situation this year is very special. We have to continue to build Rosberg and develop new conquered lands. I can't give you all the elites, and we don't have the ability to capture the entire Gotland Island." Otto said.

Yes, Arik's ideas are very radical. He hopes that his uncle can also delegate power, so that he can lead the young people of all Rus to organize a huge fleet to fight the Gotlanders in a final battle.

"Is it because we are few in number that we are afraid to fight? Are we on guard because we are worried about the Danes' counterattack?"

Otto asked solemnly, "Are you questioning me becoming cowardly?"

"I..." Arik gritted his teeth: "Boss, don't forget why your brother died. We... must take revenge! This is my life's mission!" It was Arik who was sitting and suddenly stood up, his uncle became conservative because he was too old.

But everyone knows that the leader of Otto leads his tribe and conquered slaves to return directly across the sea of ​​ice. This bravery is unmatched. Arik's accusation is obviously abrupt!

The elders asked Arik to apologize for his disrespect, but Arik refused.

He plausibly said: "We all have a common ancestor. As a fighting hero, I must continue to carry forward the glory of my ancestors. Now that I am grown up, I must avenge the Gotlanders, and now I have more to Aosta. Avenging people. I think if Rurik stood here, he would support my plan."

"Sit down!" Otto ordered silently.

In the end, Arik still respected his uncle, so he sat down and muttered softly about his rudeness, but he didn't feel that there was anything wrong with his decision.

It's ridiculous that my nephew dares to accuse himself of not being brave enough.

But what alarmed Otto the most was his nephew's apparent pursuit of power.

Times have changed! I am afraid that the Ross clan will never have to compete for the position of the leader, and the entire clan will have an unlimited age competition.

I am already very old, and being able to continue living for ten years is a gift from God.

There are only three most prestigious members of the tribe today: Rurik, Arik, and Harrozosen.

But Harrodsen expressed from the very beginning that he had no intention of competing for the position of leader, and neither did his son.

Rurik was indeed the man of the highest prestige, but was that or was he fully embraced by the young warrior? Otto thought he didn't.

Although the glacial battle with the Kewen people, Rus warriors and servants defeated several times their own enemies and achieved an unprecedented victory in exchange. Otto knew that the young warriors felt that they were fighting with the great leader to win, and that the glory of victory belonged to Otto, not Rurik.

In the hearts of all men from fifteen to thirty years old, Arik, the young man who killed at least twenty elite Gotland and Danish warriors with his sword, is the most typical leader in everyone's hearts. Because since ancient times, the leaders of Ross have all been fierce men in the hacking and slashing world, and Otto himself has come to the top because of this.

In the final analysis, no matter how well Rurik does things, his biggest shortcoming at this stage is his lack of military exploits.

The problem is, no one would expect a **-year-old child to be able to kill many heavily armed men with a sword on the battlefield, that is too unrealistic.

Otto couldn't help but think, the feeling of being held in the hearts of the people is wonderful, and it will definitely make people's hearts swell. Even if Arik loves his younger brother deeply, he can clearly conflict with Rurik on the idea of ​​tribal development for the sake of the righteousness of the tribe.

Ask yourself, Otto also supports Arik's "absolute revenge" theory. However, Aric is his eldest nephew after all. When it comes to feelings, Otto will always identify with his own son. Just because that kid could train the boys and girls of the tribe to form complex formations neatly and orderly with just a few very simple commands, he felt that only the path envisioned by Rurik was the most promising.

Today's discussion had an unpleasant ending. Otto's mood became a little heavy. He always felt that Arik, who had become more and more full-fledged, was bound to become a powerful force in the tribe.

Otto's face was a little red, only the tip of his nose was red, which was a sign of drinking spirits.

He ate some jerky before returning to his house, without saying a word to Niado, who was leading his adopted daughters to sew leather. His eyes were full of thoughts about Arik's plans.

Is it reasonable to start an all-out war now? Pooh!

A soft, flat and large wooden bed, a warm log cabin with a fireplace, and this loose but slightly fitted linen dress can be cleaned all over, accompanied by spirits every day. Otto was used to this kind of comfortable life, and he wanted to enjoy more.

In this life, the slaves who lead the entire tribe's men and servants to launch full-scale revenge on the Gotlanders, forget it! The time is simply not ripe.

"Arik, you are a reckless fool. You are not as wise as your brother."

"You can be a very good battle leader, but you can't bring real prosperity to the tribe."

"If you are the leader, our tribe can only gradually die out in the war."

At the meeting, Otto did not make a clear statement. Last year, all the military operations tribes lost more than 100 elite soldiers, which is clearly a serious blow to the tribe. War will kill people, everyone has this awareness, but as the leader, Otto must weigh his own gains and losses after the war. Can't just see how much money, food and slaves have been obtained, but also calculate the loss of warriors of the tribe.

Because the most reliable fighting force that the clan can mobilize at present is barely 2,000, of which the elites are at most 800.

The Ross tribe, even if the various residents living in Roseburg can swell to 8,000 people at one time, the population that can really guard this tribe is only 2,000 people.

Thinking of Rurik, Otto thought of even more wonderful possibilities.

Apparently his son realized that the total number of fighters in the clan was still too small, so it was incredible to train the girls. He couldn't imagine whether a girl who grew up could fight as a real female warrior. The only thing he believed was that if there was a war, the women of the tribe would at least be able to defend themselves and not be a drag.

Thinking of his son, Rurik suddenly came back.

They came back together with a few mercenaries led by Yevluo, who reasonably returned with two heavy suitcases.

Rurik returned with a confident smile, and he was immediately embraced by his mother.

Niya asked enthusiastically, "Are you hungry? I'll prepare some jerky for you."

"Let's take a look at these two suitcases."

Rurik snapped his fingers, and Yevrod ordered the suitcase to be opened, revealing the silver coins inside.

It was only a year ago that Niya jumped with excitement when she saw so many silver coins. In just one year, this old woman's attitude towards money has changed dramatically.

There is indeed a lot of money in the suitcase, but the family has accumulated an unprecedented wealth, enough to buy food to feed hundreds of mouths.

Carlotta, Ella, and even Seporava, the three girls hurried around. Compared with the other two girls, when suddenly seeing so much money, the Kewen girl, Cypolava, was the only one who was most shocked.

Niya asked casually, "You went to the blacksmith to collect your benefits this year? Could it be that the blacksmiths..."

Nia knew the contract between her son and those people, and 10% of the profit went to the leader, so wouldn't the benefits of the blacksmiths be more exaggerated?

Rurik immediately laughed: "This is a brand new tax, and I asked the big businessman Gould for this money."

"Huh? You have signed a contract, and you have all the business profits of Gould. You also get dividends from him. Can you easily get money from him?"

It is true that he and Gould had a clear business contract and ridicule. Strictly speaking, the relationship between the two parties is a business partner.

"The situation has changed. Now Gould is from the Ross, and we are the chief family. I want Gould to spend some of the money as a tax, which is reasonable."

"Is he so willing?!" Niya herself doubted the concept of "tax" between her husband and her son, and never thought that her son had gone so crazy in order to make money.

Rurik said with a wry smile, "It's not that easy. What about Dad? I'll discuss something with him."

"He's in the closet."

After a while, Otto, who had just fallen asleep, was awakened. He remembered that his son went to Gould to discuss some things. He never thought that the discussion between the two would be so long.

Otto poured himself a small cup of spirits in a newly pressed, mass-produced fine glass, and after drinking it, he felt refreshed.

Let's talk about the so-called "fine glass", it is a new invention of the blacksmith shop. It's Lilia, who is pregnant, and is studying and making more strange glassware with Kamne when she has nothing to do. Following the advice of his daughter-in-law, Kravasen made a bronze mold and a pure wooden "hand stamping machine" with a long lever. Later, Kamne, a Novgorod native who was only eight years old, Like a monkey grabbing a branch, he pressurizes the viscous glass liquid in a mold with all his strength. In the end, Lilia held a knife and cut off the spilled semi-solid glass liquid.

Compared with other glassware, this thing is a delicate little utensil for drinking fine wine, and the blacksmith shop has already sold a hundred of them to customers! That is the price of this thing, only ten silver coins. It is indeed a cheap thing in the eyes of merchants, and Otto, the wealthy chieftain who uses this glass wine cup, does not feel bad about it.

Of course, Rurik also earned his considerable share for this reason.

It was precisely Rurik, who had also returned, who immediately went to the blacksmith shop to get his profits back. During the conversation with Kravassen, he had a fairly realistic understanding of the economic situation of all the guest merchants.

After all, those businessmen, they all know that the Ross blacksmith, who is under the command of the Ross leader, is allowed to make steel swords for anyone in the alliance who is willing to pay, as long as the money is taken out, everything can be said. Those businessmen came with real money and silver, and the ease of paying, really surpassed those native Rus warriors who must be fighting with steel swords.

Kravason and his colleagues all know that these merchants who do not know how to strike iron, do not know how to select various ores, and are more afraid of fighting in person, but they are very eager for a useful and beautiful short sword for self-defense. In fact, Kravason understands that self-defense is fake, and it is fundamental to show one's financial resources. They are holding steel swords for the purpose of showing off, so they have to engrave patterns on the hilt and scabbard, inlaid with gold, silver, and even gems.

Then, in front of business partners, he used a steel sword inlaid with gold patterns and gems to cut off iron and copper pieces, claiming that he had obtained a magic weapon to show his extraordinaryness, and hoped to improve his own business reputation.