Can a hot meal force those serfs and sharecroppers to be grateful?

Rurik did not expect this at all.

These people witnessed the killing of the Ross army during the day, and now they are also under the surveillance of the powerful Ross garrison. They still don't know what the future will be like.

To break an old order, it can be done easily with a fast horse scimitar. It is not easy to establish a new order, especially since the Rus army entered the upper reaches of the Dnieper River as conquerors, relying on brutal killings, it is really impossible to convince the local people.

Now, the main settlement of Smolensk has been merged with Gnezdovo in the lower reaches of the river. Rurik intends to firmly control these two settlements to complete the radiation rule of the entire region.

Naturally, Rurik himself couldn't be the commander here, but he couldn't walk away after hacking and killing.

It's not too early to play, but returning to the capital city of New Rose Fort to participate in this winter's High Priest, maybe it's too late to start now.

It has been a while since that long snowfall, and the long period of sunny weather has given rise to some illusions. It is said that since there has been no snowfall for a long time, the days to come must be sunny, but the temperature is still very low.

In the process of changing weather, it is almost inevitable.

The sun gradually faded into concealment, and the world returned to its gloomy appearance.

All the people stationed in Smolensk are sure that a new snowfall process is not only brewing, but also that heavy snowfall is coming, and everyone must find suitable houses to escape this snowstorm.

A few days have passed since the raid and killing, and the time has entered December in the Julian calendar.

Hanukkah is approaching, which is a big festival that is routinely sacrificed to Odin. Because of the change of customs after Ross went east, it is also a festival to sacrifice to the Slavic Vulcan.

"Why don't I just welcome the year 843 in Smolensk," he thought.

At first, the serfs and tenant farmers who ate the food given by the Ross army thought that the reward was only once, but they never thought that they would start to enjoy a regular ration of food from the next day.

They really don't understand, their whole family was just serfs digging the land for the master in the past, why does the new master give food to everyone in the *** now?

If you are given food, you take it, and when you get it, you cook it immediately.

For many days, the people have been receiving food from the "Russian bandits", and those troops have never invaded the shabby villages, but only occupied the mansions of the nobles and lords in the past, and set up the blue and white flag of the Ross people in it to declare independence *.

He didn't want the army to offend those inferior people, so Rurik verbally restrained the soldiers of the army because of his subjective goodwill.

Objectively speaking, the Ross army and the allied army did not intend to attack those poor and weak serfs, at least not now.

A very practical reason. The main purpose of the army to capture prisoners of war is to be slaves. If all the captured slaves are sick, wouldn't it be necessary for the master to give them good food to supplement their health? Among them, the initial investment is not willing to pay for food.

What's more, King Rurik has declared his ownership of the slaves.

No money, just slaves, just granaries. Rurik was not really generous to the warriors. The booty he asked for was very purposeful, rather than plundering gold, silver and gems from the local nobles for a short time.

Gradually the slaves relaxed their vigilance against the conquerors.

Some slaves who fled earlier saw that the riverside plain was peaceful, and saw that the villages, large and small, returned one after another after not suffering any military disasters, and began to receive the food gifted by the Ross people.

Giving food to poor slaves was inconceivable, and incomprehensible to those free farms.

Russ stupid? Ross people are kind? Or a hidden conspiracy?

This has been the case for several days of continuous observation. Free farms in remote areas in a dilemma. They are extremely envious of those rioters getting food, and they are also worried that they will still be destroyed if they surrender. As for fleeing, they must face an immediate survival crisis. At this tangled moment, the local people had to make a choice.

"Perhaps it is not a bad thing to take refuge in the Ross people. Even if the new Ross nobles are the same as those Roman descendants,

It is also possible for everyone. "Many free farms have reached such a collective consciousness, and they subconsciously hope for a peaceful future.

One after another, the speakers they recommended also began to have a villager's attitude, and they had a series of connections in private, and they held secret discussions in the forest.

These tandem actions were not monitored by the Ross Army, and no scouts were even informed of the situation.

Large and small villages are hidden in the forest. They must have settled next to the tributaries of all kinds of big rivers. The tributaries of this section of the Dnieper River are densely packed and the distribution of villages is relatively complete.

Rurik and his army knew almost nothing about the people in this area. Even if there were defectors like Hagen, because the small community organized by Varyag merchants was close to the main settlement, they had no intention of going to various river ditches to explore , and nothing is known about the size of the Slavic population in this area.

But it is undeniable that, with the huge area of the riverside plain, the large farmlands and clusters of buildings already visible to the naked eye, Rurik is willing to believe that 30,000 people can live at the peak of this place.

As for the current population shrinking to what it is now, it is all because of the war.

A brand new snowfall process has already begun, and before that Rurik had ordered the army to complete the diversion.

A group of troops, especially the unruly Pechenegs, happily returned to the Gnezdovo camp with their share of the spoils. Beya Hill and her people withdrew. As the king's woman, she now has to exist as a female general.

Even if she is married to Rose, and her status has recently been updated as the Countess of Demyansk, she is still the younger sister of the Khan of the Pecheneg Khanate generation. It is her identity that can calm down all the prairie brothers who have traveled all the way to the north.

Instead of capturing new slaves, the prairie cavalry seized a large amount of food and a large number of very practical daily necessities. Naturally, they also seized a batch of iron tools, such as hand axes and daggers, which immediately became the secondary weapons of the cavalry.

Some Eastern Roman silver coins and Eastern Dinar silver coins were divided up by Bejahir and Quetzal. Ordinary steppe warriors must obey their masters, and the two major Pecheneg nobles here basically divided up the most valuable spoils.

Beja Hill took the money and used it to fund the construction of his count country. With the money, Quetzal naturally wanted to buy a lot at Ross's market, and transport the urgently needed supplies to his hometown on the grassland.

The prairie people left, and now the most subjective and uncontrollable prairie cavalry left the populous Smolensk.

Five thousand meritorious deeds cut down the army, and the garrison troops were cut in half.

Even so, the most effective and destructive cavalry unit in inland operations was led by Rurik himself and firmly stationed in the large settlement on the Smolensk Riverside Plain.

And another nobleman from Old Ross was also here.

He was none other than Arik Ogiersson, Rurik's cousin.

A new snowfall has begun...

The north wind howled outside, and the door was blocked by heavy snow overnight.

Fortunately, all the occupied noble mansions have become Ross barracks, and each banner team has enough rooms to live in. War horses are the glory of cavalry. In order to care for these outstanding comrades-in-arms, war horses are directly invited to continue to feed oats as if they were supposed to be houses for people, so that both soldiers and war horses can stay in the warm room and go directly to the current round of snowfall. Finish.

Day after day, as long as the wind and snow don't stop, people hide in their rooms and hibernate like bears.

The Russian army can stay in the warmer old noble mansion and continue to eat and drink. Of course, staying with the horses has to face the smell of horse manure every day, so it's good to get used to it. The smell of sweat and body odor on everyone who has time to take a bath is bad.

The situation of the serfs was as bad as ever, but in the face of the new situation, it is fair to say that the situation they faced has improved greatly.

As the snow began to fall, the Ross army distributed more food to these people. It is estimated that there are five people in a serf family, and an average of 20 pounds of grain will be distributed to each family. These people don't eat much on weekdays, and twenty pounds of grain is enough for a family for a week.

Could it be snowing for another week? Maybe.

Rurik from

Based on our own experience, it is estimated that the large-scale snowfall will last at most a week. The Smolensk region is further south but also deeper inland. The winter here will be colder. The difference from the northern hometown is that the hilly areas and dense forests greatly weaken the arctic cold wind. Slightly better than the Gulf of Bothnia in the north.

At least the Rus' army had some crowd games.

Playing cards, or playing cards that Rurik has completed re-engraving. Since the kingdom of Rus mastered the "birch bark papermaking technique", the birch bark, which had been discovered by the Slavs for a long time, had the potential for writing, and was promoted to serious paper.

The printing technique of wooden movable type was then reproduced by Rurik, and the novel things derived from printing technique also became popular, such as playing cards. All this happened many years ago, and after years of development, it is showing a trend of flourishing.

But the Danish brothers from the Gulf of Riga brought a chess-like game called Talf. It is more popular in the Danish world, it is novel in present-day Lake Mlaren, Sweden, and the Ross tribe who lived further north knew little about it in the old days.

Men's happiness is often very simple. Ross's standing cavalry, who owns war horses and is good at riding and archery, does not hesitate to play the game of flying arrows and throwing pots besides playing poker. Silver coins looted by nobles.

The game made the boring wind and snow gathering more fun.

Naturally, Rurik was not exempt from customs, playing cards, throwing pots, throwing axes, throwing daggers with his subordinates, everyone could always find some fun.

Of course, he had an intention to keep his elder brother Arik and a group of veterans of the First Banner Squad in Smolensk, and Arik had more or less guessed his intention.

Otherwise, my brother would not ask himself the question before marching: Are you willing to defend the newly conquered land and people for Ross.

At that time, Arik won casually. Thinking about it after the war, this may not be a good thing, but staying in Smolensk is really far away from his hometown.

so far? True warriors, true explorers don't dwell on this one.

But Arik still has some regrets. If he really stays in Smolensk, he will definitely miss the expedition to Frank next year. The eldest son, Askad, has been fighting in the Frankish world, and that kid may grow into a real man right away, but...

Arik envied his elder son very much. As for the fact that he was actually in Smolensk in the far east, one of the father and son was in the west of the known world, and the other was in the east. Could it be that this was the arrangement of the gods.

The youngest son, Jill, was still with him, the boy who had participated in the large-scale winter war at a young age after participating in the long expedition in the summer. Jill hadn't killed an enemy, and he certainly couldn't at this young age. But his experience of working with the army can really be said.

For a moment, Arik felt he was being marginalized.

Not only was he deliberately marginalized by his younger brother who was the king, but he was also inferior to his three sons. The eldest son Askad went on an expedition to Frank, the second son Gustav was destined to become a big businessman, and the youngest son Jill's future was immeasurable.

"Only me. I'm not too young..."

Aric was twelve years older than Rurik, and he was thirty-five years old, even though he was now in the prime of life, and this peak state was inevitably going downhill. A man who can live to seventy years old must be blessed by the gods. He believes that the old leader Otto, who is carrying the mission bestowed by the gods, is also blessed with a long life, and he is still alive even though he is extremely old.

According to traditional cognition, a man should consider his own affairs if he can live to fifty years old. It is not common to live to sixty years old.

Since the age of nineteen, Arik has led most of the robust youths of the Ross tribe to launch the first revenge operation, and now Arik has been fighting for sixteen years.

Such great achievements have not been given a clear title of nobility. Until now, they are only the banner captain of the First Banner Team of the Citizens' Army and the lord of Mstisk. Even though he is the lord of the city, since Mstiysk looks like a replica of the old Roseburg, the folks in his big hometown live basically the same life as his hometown.

You can take care of yourself.

He has no real power. Although he has the nickname of "Double Swords" in the kingdom, everyone knows that he is a famous berserker, not only because he is the nephew of the old king and the cousin of the new king. It is well known that he has not really become the leader of a party.

It was a calm snowy night.

The little boy Jill was very clingy to his uncle the king, so he also jumped into the arms of his father Arik, just scurrying back and forth like this.

Sitting on the floor in the room were all the captains of the cavalry banner, and as always, everyone was sitting together eating meat and eating oatmeal.

They also seized a batch of ale, which had a rather sour taste, but as expected, they found many large oak barrels filled with kvass. Apparently the aristocrats were very particular about it, and even the raw material for brewing kvass was rye bread. Its sour, sweet, sticky and foamy taste added joy to life no matter what.

Rurik summoned his brothers, especially his cousin, to announce the event in the small circle.

Everyone drank some wine and kvass, and when they were feeling comfortable, Rurik also talked about it.

"Now we have ruled here. To master the residence of the nobles, the next step is to force the nearby free residents to submit. I don't want to use my powerlessness to force them to submit. I believe in time. Time will make them recognize the new order."

Arik was very alert, and immediately asked: "What kind of order is it? Establish a new principality and entrust the nobles to govern this place."

Looking at his cousin's eyes, Rurik also guessed: "Brother, I won't say more! The matter is very simple. I hope you are brave and stationed in Smolensk with some troops."

"Me? Hehe, no problem."

"Answered so succinctly?"

"Otherwise?" Arik winked at his younger brother: "Of course I will help you if you are brave. Don't worry, I will guard this place firmly. Those who submit are our cattle and sheep, so naturally we must protect them. As for the rebellion Those who are not, will be killed by me. I think, you just want me to do this."

"That's true." Rurik nodded: "Since you know everything, big brother, things will be easy. I will not establish a principality or counties in Smolensk. The land here is more fertile and has a large population, and it is adjacent to the Dnieper River. It can be developed into an important trading city. All past feuds between the Smolensk people and the Ilmenites in the north should be put to an end here! I will be here in the Governor's Palace."

"Governor's Mansion? So, I'm the Governor? Hehe. I have no complaints." Arik laughed.

"Very well, it seems that you really listened to what I said a few days ago."

"Of course. You...you always hide something when you speak, so I have to think about it. Then..." As he said, Arik pulled his youngest son Jill to his side: "Old rules, governors cannot be hereditary. Look at your lovely little Nephew, he is so cute, he took part in the oriental expedition at a young age, and he was really at the source of the Msta River. Now he is standing in Smolensk. I am already old, and your nephew when I am old and my beard turns gray Just grow up. In my opinion, he can succeed the post of governor, what do you think?"

"Oh?" Rurik narrowed his eyes slightly: "Brother, you are obviously very young."

"Since you want me to be the governor ~www.mtlnovel.com~ stay away from my hometown. You have to fulfill my little long-cherished wish, at least my youngest son must be the next generation governor. Just like the son of Conuson Like..."

The Knudson mentioned by Arik was the old man, who had been replaced by his eldest son as governor of the capital city of New Roseburg.

Little Conuson managed the security of the capital well, and this is not hereditary. As a descendant of Old Ross, Little Conuson is really his own family. lake.

It was Rurik who appointed Conusson the Younger to succeed him as governor, and he always had the right to appoint governors.

Rurik nodded, and waved his hand to summon the grinning little nephew Jill, who didn't know what had happened, and hugged him in his arms, proving his affirmation to his cousin with this action. "Of course, Jill is very talented. He can manage the future Smolensk well. He will be a very good governor. Of course! Brother, you are also a very good governor, I trust you

, presumably everyone also trusts you. "

The king had already spoken, and all the cavalry captains who were born in the old Ross were naturally laughing and congratulating.