Now Rurik figured out why the merchants from Pskov stayed in Riga all winter.

It's not just about getting rich in business, it's about surviving.

Because the Gulf of Riga has a vital commodity for the locals of Pskov-salt.

The salinity of the entire Baltic Sea is extremely low. Even the Gulf of Riga, which is located in the Eastern Mediterranean, has a salinity of only 7/1000.

The sea facing the west coast of Jutland is more salty than the sea on the east coast. The Danes know this, but they don't know the secret yet.

The extremely low salinity of seawater does not prevent the people of Riga from cooking sea salt.

It's just a matter of adding more firewood, not to mention the most indispensable thing in this area is trees.

The efficiency of boiling the sea in Riga is terrible, but because it is colder here, ordinary people don't have much chance to sweat profusely, and only a small amount of salt is enough to maintain daily life.

None of the people in Binhai think that salt is a valuable thing. When a family boils a large amount of brine, the first crystallized sodium chloride precipitates and sticks to the wall of the pottery urn. The remaining bittern is poured out, and then the salt block is peeled off. , such coarse sea salt is enough to live for a long time.

Everything is experience, and it also comes from people's temptations with the tip of the tongue. When the precipitated salt block does not have a bad bitter taste, it is considered good salt. Even if it tastes a bit bitter, it's okay, everyone can bear it.

The salt that the locals of Riga regard as a common thing is precious in Pskov.

Mrs. Psko lived on the shore of the Great Lake, and there were no natural salt mines in the area. Of course, the salt could be supplemented from milk, but it would be better to supplement the salt directly from the salt block.

In the perception of Pskov

, the nearest place to change the salt is in Riga.

The rulers of Pskov were also Danish immigrants who, together with the local Krivich tribe, built a large settlement called Pskov. Riga has a Danish immigrant community, and they share a common language, so there is no need to worry about harming each other when doing business.

In the Slavic context, Pskov means "the ford where the two rivers meet".

There are indeed two rivers that flow into the Great Lakes in adjacent places, and the rivers nourish a lakeside plain with rich water and grass, which is excellent for growing wheat and grazing.

The locals in Pskov have a very limited understanding of the structure of the earth. So far, only one expedition team encountered the Ross cavalry by mistake and entered the Ross capital deep in the Gulf of Finland.

That meeting was purely a chance encounter, and since Rurik was the person involved, he couldn't help but remember it as a very legendary event.

Several explorers spent the whole winter in New Roseburg. Since these people had names that were too common in Northern Europe, Olafin immediately remembered the names of those people when Rurik mentioned them, and explained the names of those people. What happened to the first explorer after returning to Pskov.

The cordial talks continued, and Rurik and Olafin chatted more and more speculatively.

"Hehe, so your leader Gore is very interested in our Ross. Since he intends to form an alliance, I should seize the opportunity to join him in the grand event."

Olafin, who was completely relaxed, became more casual and continued to compliment: "The generosity of King Ross has long been circulated in Pskov. At first it was just a legend. Now that the king treats me like an ordinary traveling businessman so favorably, everything should be proved. The legend is true."

"Of course, sir

The tribes that submit to Ross will all have a better life. You should be clear that Ross will not use powerlessness unless necessary, and of course Ross has never been afraid of war. "

These words were slightly threatening, Rurik did not understand what he said, and the clever Olafin also fully understood the meaning of it. The King of Ross is implying one thing, the so-called Pskov and Ross can form an alliance, but this alliance ends with Pskov being merged into the Kingdom of Ross.

This is like a marriage. Pskov was married into Rus, so in the future it cannot be betrayed and separated from Rus. If it wants to be independent, it will encounter Rus' military crusade.

They are all smart people, it would be bad if they spoke too thoroughly, because everyone needs some decency.

Olaf concealed his inner calculations with a smile. He hesitated for a while, and then asked: "Then the great King Rus, when Pskov surrendered to King Rus, how will you treat our boss? Whether, like you did in Riga What about the things you've done?"

"A knighthood? Of course. I'll make Goyle an earl, what do you think?"

"Me?" Olafin shook his head: "I'm just an ordinary businessman, how can I feel anything?"

"You? Are you still an ordinary businessman?" Rurik shook his head, "I don't allow ordinary people to see me. You are a boyar now, and you are a low-level nobleman."

Boyar originally meant "the leader's attendant". Through the information he inquired in Riga in the past few months, Olafin probably understood the aristocratic system of the Ross people.

The nobility is divided into four classes, the highest being the king, the "ruler of the realm".

The next level is the duke, prince,

This is a word borrowed from the Roman world, first citizen. Those who can have such a title in Ross currently have the Duke of Ostara, as well as those small duchies in Sweden, and even the chief title of King Ross is also a duke. All of this came from the great entrustment of the old Swedish king ten years ago, and Ross inherited the legacy of that year in this respect.

Again, the first level is the earl, or "war chief". This word Olafin is very clear, because Gore, the ruler of Pskov, is his own "war chief" in the eyes of local Danish immigrants. It is accepted as a term of title by everyone.

But in Ross there is also a title called "Governor", which has the same status as an earl, but the title cannot be freely hereditary. In principle, these governorships are directly managed by the king, but because the king can't do everything, he divides part of the power. to cronies. The King reserves the right to withdraw power at any time.

The last one is "Boyar", which is of course intended to be an attendant. King Rigaros suddenly gave the village chiefs a large entrustment, and all the village chiefs in Latvia became boyars.

Orafin himself became a boyar, and what that meant was clear to him.

"So, if you make me a boyar, will you give me a fief?" He asked tentatively.

"Fief? Of course there will be. I have an idea."

"Your Majesty can say as much as you want."

Rurik raised his head slightly and looked at Olafin's face clearly: "Only you know the route from Pskov to Riga best, and our army will also need you as a guide. Our trade will be more frequent in the future, I think , perhaps we should repair the trade route between Pskov and Riga

Build a new city. "

This hint was already very obvious, Olafin pointed to his face: "Could it be that the king wants me to build a new city?"

"Exactly."

"This..." Olafin obviously showed embarrassment, and the ceremony was vague.

"It seems to be embarrassing you." Rurik shook his head again: "Or, it is not enough to just make you a boyar. Let's do this! If you successfully build a city, the king will recognize you as an earl. You don't want to Have you lived under the name of Gore in Pskov for a long time? Think about your future, think about your family, I reward your family with the opportunity to prosper, smart you can't miss it, okay?

At this point, it would be foolish to back down, so Olafin had no choice but to agree.

Rurik nodded: "Now you are a boyar, and you will be an earl when you complete the task. Sometimes the name and title are more important than the actual territory."

"Obey, I will earnestly complete the task of leading the way." Olafin finally thanked him.

Because during the meeting, Olafin had described to Rurik the road to Pskov, which involves waterways and land operations, especially through a swampy forest area. In short, it is a tortuous road.

The cost of communication between Pskov and Riga is high, but in order to get salt, some people are willing to take risks.

To Olafin's surprise, it should have been easier for Lipskov to communicate with New Roseburg by water in King Ross' conception. Just because King Ross described a path that Mrs. Pskov had never heard of until nowall the way north in the Great Lakes area until she came to a river leading to the sea, but this river was not the Luga River.

As if King Ross knew the structure of the earth,

Lake Skoff is directly connected to the sea by waterways.

King Ross said it so confidently, and it must have been true.

The Russian army will not stay in Riga anymore, the army is about to leave.

After some talks, "Nightcrawler" Olafin left with mixed emotions after receiving a huge amount of information. Rurik did not treat him badly. Time to prepare your bags and go to Pskov with the Russian Army.

"He left." Beja Hill, who had been a bystander, muttered silently.

Rurik, who was relieved, let out a long sigh of relief: "Yes."

"Is it really appropriate for you to make him an earl? He is just a traveler."

"Are you unhappy?"

"How dare I. It's just... I am the Earl of Demyansk you named, and I am your woman, so I have such qualifications. But that person is not even your relative, why should you? A boyar is already A huge boon."

Rurik was ashamed to say that he had indeed given the title of Count Olafin because of a sudden fever.

He had no choice but to pat his forehead to make up for it: "After all, we need a relay station for future trade. I have already thought of it. Since Olafin mentioned a lake in Lubans Lake, let him be the local earl. There is a He can attract some immigrants to build a city. Of course he can choose not to do it, but in that case... the title will become a joke."

"You." Bejahir almost didn't hold back, thinking of his current status as the Countess of Demyansk, if he didn't bring his cronies to the Hafen River to build a settlement, the title would become a joke.

she deliberately

Asked: "So I am the same as that Olafin, and my country is also a relay station? In this way, people from Lake Ilmen can pass through my country and reach Lake Valdai in the east smoothly. That Ola So does Fern."

"Yes. Olanfin will be the earl of Lake Lubans. In the future, if Mrs. Pskov wants to go to Riga to do business, she must pass through his fief. And this is also a dilution of the power of the leader of Pskov."

"So, my existence..." Bejacier covered her mouth lightly and muttered in a low voice, "Is it a dilution of Sister Carlotta's power?"

"What do you think?" Rurik didn't say much anymore, he got up and hugged the petite Bejahir directly: "This is the end, go to bed."

Who would want to live under others for a long time? Ambitious people never do this.

A person's status changed drastically in an instant. Olafin never expected that he would have the courage to face King Ross. When he left King Ross' palace, his ordinary self would suddenly become an earl, a "war chieftain" at the same level as Gore. ".

The difference is that Gore really has an army in his hands, and the local Krivich Slavs also serve him.

As for myself, there are only a small group of good brothers who have grown up together, and even the brothers are in the family of Pskov.

Olafin is not young anymore, some of his guys are the sons of his brothers back then, and many young people still call him uncle. This kind of trade across forests, swamps, and rivers must form a team of travelers, and the relationship between members must also be close.

Olafin's men were only ten people, and they floated to Riga in the warm season with two canoes.

The reason why the longboat is not used is because it has no

Is necessary.

There is no reason for everyone to enter the ocean and drift. The boats will drift in a very soothing river. The merchants pay attention to the convenience of transportation, and this team uses Pskov calico to buy salt in Riga. Both materials are Not taking up much space makes it unnecessary for them to use high-capacity longships.

Besides, when passing through the only forest area, everyone has to "sail on dry land".

Small and slender canoes are towed by ropes by young and strong people. Taking advantage of the muddy characteristics of the forest, it is easier to travel, but it takes a lot of effort to use a long boat.

Returning to my rented residence in Riga, the oil lamps are lit here, the brothers gather together, and the whole room is full of happy air.

If you have good meat, you can't forget my brother, and the guys who ate in the side house specially reserved some dried meat, and brought them back to share with the guys who didn't meet King Ross.

For a while, everyone was too happy to notice that the boss, Olafin, had some more worries.

Until someone asked about the boss's future plans, and even asked what he had said to King Ross.

Olafin sat still on the leather cushion, and he gathered all the brothers in the siege circle, and placed the oil lamp for lighting in the center.

He looked around for the last time, and said a little seriously: "Some of you are brothers who have played with me since childhood, and some are brothers' sons. We are actually a family here. Over the years, we have earned money together and ate meat together."

"Brother, why are you mentioning this?" A middle-aged man yelled.

Olaf cleared his throat and asked again, "What do you think of King Ross?"

"A nice guy."

"He gave us meat and wine, what a man

Good man. None of our Gower bosses ever rewarded us with these. "

"Yes. Gore is not as good as King Ross. I heard from those brothers who have been to New Rose Fort that it is more comfortable for them to eat and drink there. Boss, in my opinion, we will work for King Ross in the future. We can make a fortune following him." The young man's eyes reflected the flames of the oil lamp, as if his eyes were on fire, and his open mouth made him even more excited.

The words resonated with everyone, and everyone talked about King Ross's goodness. Since there were no outsiders here, everyone became more bold to say that the boss of Pskov, Gore, was stingy.

Olafin cleared his throat again, he already understood the attitude of the guys, and the stone in his heart fell to the ground.

"Be quiet, listen to me now! King Ross said, as long as I take them to Pskov and lead King Ross to meet and form an alliance with Gore, we will have made meritorious service. Then King Ross will seal me As earl, I shall be in the same position as Goyle."

Suddenly everyone's eyes widened.

"What does this mean? Boss, you will be the same as Gore? Are you a war chief?" A young man was shocked.

"Exactly. We will succeed, and we must succeed. In the future, I plan to leave with my family, and you will follow me. We are going to build a settlement on the trade route, and King Ross will **** me for safety. Look at you again, some are young, some are already old, who doesn't want to live a better life? Since King Ross has given us the opportunity, we should seize it.

Olafing paused, he knew that he could not only eat meat, but everyone should share the fat together. if bo

Earl, then King Ross gave the earl the power to entrust his own territory~www.mtlnovel.com~ I am an earl, and all of you are boyars. We owe our allegiance directly to King Ross, and there will be good times ahead. "

Ordinary descendants of immigrants suddenly became petty nobles, especially the young people present, who valued honor very much. Boyar, the last noble in the kingdom of Ross, even if a boyar has no land, he has a name after all, and his status is nobler than ordinary people.

Olafin continued: "King Ross asked me to choose an area as my territory. It must be on the trade route. I have already thought about it! I plan to establish my territory in Lake Lubans. What do you think?"

Everyone looked at each other and no one questioned it. After all, Olafin is now a nobleman of Ross, and the brothers followed their boss to gain glory. In the past, everyone never questioned Olafin leading the way again and again, even if it was walking at night. As long as Lu is with him, he is not afraid of anything, and now he has to listen to him even more.

"Since no one has any doubts, let's do it!" Olafin said solemnly: "The canoe is still here, we seize the time to check all the goods, and soon we will leave in a Ross sleigh."

Everyone obeyed, and immediately everyone lost sleepiness, so they took advantage of the dim light of the oil lamp to pack their bags.