When the ice in the north shattered and the snowstorm came to an end, those merchants who had stockpiled supplies for the winter and were eager to transport them to the capital for sale decisively started their business activities.

This year's Novgorod spring caravan was small compared to past years.

In previous years, the boats could only cover the surface of the Volkhov River, so that each boat had to arrange people to stand on high ground, staring at other boats to avoid hitting them. But bumps cannot be avoided, and these long ships have also wrapped sheepskin balloons on both sides of the bow, and the sheepskin is stuffed with hay, which acts as a cushion to protect the ship as much as possible in the event of a bump.

The small-scale boat drifted smoothly into Lake Ladoga together with a large amount of crushed ice. They did not even stop at the fishing village at the mouth of the lake, and continued to rush towards the Neva River.

On this not-so-long river, they accompanied the last Ladoga Lake current and sailed at a high speed that paddles could not reach. It is very risky to do so, but considering the time difference because I acted first to sell the goods at a high price in the capital, all the risks are worth it.

The current capital, New Roseburg, has also started their spring plowing. There are not many local farmlands and almost all of them are oats. The locals are still opening up wasteland, and their goal is to ask for living space from the southern forests.

This is really a virtuous cycle. The felled red pine and spruce are mostly used as construction and shipbuilding materials, and the remaining corners are made into furniture, tableware, and firewood.

In addition to the huge restrictions on rebuilding new houses in urban areas surrounded by walls, new houses cannot go to important areas such as markets outside the city, shipyards, altars, and cemeteries in front of them. Houses can be built in other places in principle.

Take Finn Su

A "migrant worker" community dominated by Omi people has sprung up and continued to expand. They not only come to the capital to work, but also actively start to open up new fields.

The roots of those unlucky big trees were pulled out in various ways, and if a piece of acidic wasteland was not necessary for building a house, it was divided up by the Suomi and the Slavs, and then they began to reclaim the land.

Objectively speaking, the growing food self-sufficiency rate in the capital has improved the economic environment here, but all industrial and commercial operations in the capital still need a large amount of imported grain as a backing.

The urban population of Novorosberg is much larger than that of Novgorod, and the fishing industry cannot support so many people. In the end, it has formed the traditional work of purchasing grain at Lake Mlaren in Sweden, which has become the key to avoiding famine in the capital.

In addition, it belongs to the grain transport fleet from Novgorod.

A group of armed cargo ships and smaller Kirk ships were parked at the Novgorod pier. They were the main force of the grain transport ships, and the grain unloaded by Rurik from the large granary was piled up in it. However, considering the particularity of this year, many large ships were vacated, and the horses were stuffed in as much as possible under the condition of ensuring safety.

"As soon as the wandering is over, the Southern Merchant Ship should arrive."

The main wealth of the kingdom is in the capital city, and the "big treasury" of the royal family is in the capital city palace.

The people in the capital have a lot of property, and they expect the caravans to buy them in large quantities. Businessmen from Denmark, Sweden, Finland, and Gtaland are waiting for their goods here, especially the key products they sell: leather shoes and finished clothes.

These merchants have already hoarded a batch of goods, and they are waiting for the southern textiles to arrive, and then go home after purchasing, even though they know that King Ross is planning a personal conquest this year.

In the expectation of the people,

The southern caravan floated quickly with the flag high. They mainly used traditional paddle longboats. As they approached, people who were waiting at the pier gradually realized that something was wrong.

What about the big ship? What about those grain ships?

The size of this year's caravan... that's it?

The long ships are calling at the port one after another. Although all the ships are displaying a variety of goods with their tarpaulins lifted, it is too bad compared to last year.

"Hey! There are only so few of you here? Could it be that the big troops are coming from behind?" The resident businessman who was anxious to find out why was asking, and the puzzled people got the news immediately.

"The king organized an expeditionary force in Novgorod. This year's main supplies have been purchased, and most of the ships have been requisitioned! Don't wait any longer, now we have this year's new goods..."

A ship boss said or lied, and all the merchant ships that arrived had such a statement, then it was true.

Suddenly, the happy atmosphere at the pier gradually turned into a collective disappointment.

Even so, cargoes from merchant ships arriving in Hong Kong were still hot, and with limited supplies, these merchants made a fortune.

Those who do not believe in evil are still looking forward to the port, hoping that there will still be large caravans arriving in the future. However, after waiting for many people, there are still only scattered merchant ships arriving, and there are even ships transporting bear skins from the north of Ladoga. The scale is just small.

What else can the resident merchants do? Some take their existing goods back home, and some are still willing to wait. Since there is a saying that "King Ross's royal conquest", it is better to continue to wait for the king to return and try his luck.

Today, the weather is fine, and the warm southerly wind makes the capital drier. Once covered with snow, a solid

Bing's Harvest Plaza, which has been restored to its original flattened appearance.

A large area has been paved with cement, but at this stage, the Portland cement manufactured by Ross is not doing a good job in quality control.

With constant trampling, rain, snow, and even daily exposure, it became rougher, and powder flew up when the wind blew.

However, it is still a rare large-scale flat land.

The large square, which was laid out in grids, is now being repaired in grids. All the damaged areas are smashed, and then new cement is laid, smoothed and waited to dry.

Ross Dumari of the capital city was always on the lookout of the city, and everyone held a small meeting to discuss and pass the proposal for road construction. After all, the money is taken from the treasury of the Governor's Mansion, and almost everyone in the meeting will not take the money in person. As long as the Governor Konusson is happy, the repair of the urban road system will start quickly.

Roads and squares need to be repaired in sections, so that it will not affect the daily life of the people, and finally this year's autumn harvest will not affect the people drying rice in the square.

As for Konusson, he did not dare to neglect the infrastructure of the capital.

Fort New Rose is the face of the king, the window to the western world, the meeting point of the continent and the sea, and the first trading center of the kingdom.

The expedition to Frank is about to take place again. Considering that the king will definitely win, the triumphant army will also make a grand triumph around the city. If the road conditions and surrounding buildings are dilapidated, wouldn't it be a shame to the king?

Every spring, every family will repair their houses, take the opportunity to build roads, dredge the city sewer, repair and update port equipment, all of which are important tasks of the Governor's Mansion.

But this year is very special, and the responsibility on the shoulders of Konusson is great

The weather is fine today. In addition to the confident Governor Konusson Jr., there are also Blue Fox and Yevlo who have been staying for several months in the Governor's Mansion.

They get together for a drink and discuss the issue at hand.

"Now the situation has become complicated. I can't figure it out. Since the king is going to expedition to Frank, he also took time to do a winter expedition. The king should have returned around Hanukkah (winter solstice), and it is almost summer now, and the king is still there." Novgorod?" After finishing speaking, he drank another glass of red wine.

"Are you complaining?" Blue Fox asked.

"No, I'm just... worried that the King's expedition will be delayed."

"It is true that I am also a little worried." Blue Fox suppressed his worries with a smile, and continued hastily: "The news from the pier has come. The army organized by the king is still in Novgorod, and he is in the south. A lot of manpower and material resources have been raised, and it is estimated that the expedition will start immediately after arriving in the capital?"

"You... have no confidence in your heart, do you?" Konusson shook his head and continued to look at the blue fox's face: "It's you! You, the commander of the expeditionary force, left the army in the Netherlands. Now that the sea is thawing, you You should hurry back and continue commanding."

"There is no need to worry. I have organized another group of Jianyong in my fief, and I will at least bring them to support. Besides, I will disappoint the expeditionary army if I go back by myself, so it is better to wait for the king."

Little Konusson nodded, and asked Evro again: "What about you? Brother, you are not allowed to bring your Finnish army to help this time?"

"Me? I'll let it go. But if your majesty likes it, I can send another group of elite longbowmen." Saying this, Yefro gritted his teeth: "Take all the arrows in my hand."

Hand it over. "

"Arrows? That's not a problem. I'm the one who focuses on this issue, so I don't dare to neglect the task that the king has given me long ago."

"Oh?" Blue Fox raised his head: "Have you completed all the logistical work that the king asked you?"

"That's natural. I'll just wait for the king to come to do business. Instead, it's you, Lanhu, who's getting fatter."

Blue Fox shook his head, then lowered his head and smiled slightly: "This is the case if there is no war. When I go to Frank again, I will lose weight soon."

"By the way, that woman of yours...how is she going to tell the king? Will she really report the truth?"

"Little Conusson, why do you mention this?"

"I think it's better to report the truth. We all know this secret, but the king must know. That girl and Verika are so close to each other that they sleep in the same bed, hey..." Little Conusson couldn't understand some things, The inseparable relationship between two girls of the same age is too close, even if they are sisters, it shouldn't be like this!

That is the future high priest, the princess of the kingdom, little Conuson dare not make irresponsible remarks. As for the other heroine, she has a very noble status, and with a high degree of political sensitivity, he had no choice but to take advantage of the strength of alcohol to sidestep Blue Fox.

"It doesn't matter." The blue fox drank another cup: "I am surprised that the blackbird is used to life now, and I am also very happy when she is happy. As for whether she belongs to me, it is indeed up to the king to decide. And..."

"How?" asked little Knudson.

"After all, she is a descendant of Charlemagne, maybe the king will make a fuss about her. What a poor girl."

The news has spread throughout the city, and it is precisely because of King Ross's active preparations that he will have arrived in the capital.

All the goods sold are expropriated and purchased as military funds.

Originally, the capital took half a year to prepare. They are reflected in the sufficient weapons and equipment. What makes the little Konusson proud is the great success of forging the breastplate as a whole, plus the large amount of spoils brought back by the blue fox "bright lead" , after this unprecedented new metal is treated with fire-gilt on the armor, the style of the armor becomes magical, and the viewers call it "the holy armor from Asgard".

Weapons and equipment, military rations, and new clothes, each of the three major sections has its own person in charge, and the Governor's Office, as the dispatcher and supervisor, urges them to carry out their tasks.

If the king gathers the resources of Novgorod and combines them with the resources of the capital, what kind of huge strategic material reserve is this?

Is it still necessary to follow the standard of 3,000 people for the planned expeditionary force?

This is the first time that such a rich battle has been fought.

All kinds of news spread to the ears of the priests along with the people who went to the great temple to pay homage to the gods.

The priests could not ignore the matter of the expedition.

The high priest Lumia guarded the capital without saying that it was inevitable to hold a grand sacrifice for the march of the army.

The Kingdom will definitely organize a team of priests to go with the army. They will give the final dignity to the war dead and lead the heroic spirits to Valhalla in the faith. They are also military doctors, and they will treat the wounded soldiers with Rose's existing medicine.

The daughters of rich merchant families and Ross military families, after passing the test, they were gilded in the Great Temple. Girls are by no means weak, and even if they aren't Valkyrie-like female warriors, they have basic military training.

But when the news came, Rumia, who had been waiting for a long time, was finally so excited that all the lower priests were anxious, her speech immediately

Caused an uproar.

The inner hall of the Great Temple, where the priests discuss matters.

Rumia, with a crown of antlers on her head, held tightly the wooden staff inlaid with gemstones. For a moment, she seemed to be possessed by the spirit of the deceased high priest.

Even Verika, the deputy priest, had to stand quietly and listen with her personal female companion.

"It's all good! The expedition of the Great King Ross is about to begin, and some priests will be lucky enough to go out with the army! Listen, your parents arranged for you to go to the Great Temple to serve the gods. I know the hopes of those people, and I thought it was safe and secure The experience of serving God can marry a good man.

However, your life has never been so secure. You have to advance and retreat with the king's army, and you may die in the battle, and you may be captured by the Franks..."

Speaking of this, the topic became extremely serious, and Rumia said ugly words first, which scared the girls, and then they looked haggard.

"What? What are you terrified of? Are you afraid?!" Rumia emphasized: "Usually you are not afraid of deer sacrifices, but in the future you will walk on a battlefield full of corpses! I hope you will remain calm by then."

She continued to speak, and suddenly showed a dagger publicly, which was originally a deer slaughtering tool for general sacrifices.

"Remember! The Frankish army has different beliefs from yours, and you are all beautiful women! Once caught by them, you will suffer the most miserable persecution. For your own glory, if you encounter the most terrible thing, you will use This ego ends.

This kind of thing basically won't happen, you still have to be vigilant. You are about to enter the battlefield! Now those who heard the name left the team one after another! "

At

Yes, the first person whose name was read was Verika. As the eldest daughter of the king and the future high priest, how could the expedition be without her?

Verika wasn't afraid at all, on the contrary, the longer the expedition, the longer her father would spend with her. war? Nothing to be afraid of.

She was so, but the blackbird was startled when the High Priest said "Theresia."

Rumia just started to say the name, and the frightened blackbird interjected weakly: "Why? Why do I still want to go to that cursed country?"

"You?" Rumia gave her a blank look: "Because Verika is your master. Your master went to the battlefield. As her servant, you still want to stay in New Roseburg?"

This is indeed an unassailable reason, and of course Blackbird felt that this was the intention of the high priest.

Didn't Rumia do it on purpose?

Some things are just a set of rhetoric on the surface, with complex hidden secrets behind them. The hidden secrets are never mentioned, but it is the real reason for their existence. The blackbird is Gisla, and Rumia knows her blood identity, and she knows that it is impossible for such a character to completely cut off from Frank.

Unless, death.

Rumia is also in Rurik's army, and Blackbird must join the army to fight, and the job will be a priest at that time. The relationship between Blackbird and Verika is too close, and Rumia is too embarrassed to separate them. She is really worried about her daughter, and she is afraid that this enemy nobleman will mislead her in some way.

So far, the blackbird has not behaved strangely, but Rumia is not sure if she really betrayed her Frankish father!

After all, a daughter betrayed her father

, what else can such a person do?

It's better to find a reasonable way to send this woman to Frank and watch her performance. If joining Rose was just a stopgap measure, this woman would definitely want to escape when she ran back to Frank. In Lumia's opinion, this is the best. As a mother, she doesn't want her daughter to have a suspicious follower. UU reading www.uukanshu. com

"Teresia, you don't have to go, then you can kill yourself when you go out to sacrifice, and use your own blood to sacrifice to the gods in order to win our army! Or, just follow your master to go on an expedition!" Lu Mia's words were extremely serious. Verika felt unfamiliar with such a mother, and there was still a trace of fear in her heart.

The blackbird was stunned, and then mumbled mechanically: "I am willing to go."

It is said that there are twelve Valkyries under Odin's command, but Ross has already promoted the late high priest to Valkyrie. Ross has his own explanation for how many there are.

Rumia's standards are simple and rude. Rurik is Odin's spokesperson in the world. There are as many as eighteen wives and concubines including himself, which is equivalent to eighteen Valkyries.

Verika and Blackbird served as the chief and deputies of the priests of the expeditionary army, and eighteen beautiful blond girls served as followers.

Twenty priests, this is Lumia's gift to the king. Presumably these women who walked out of the great temple will give great spiritual encouragement to the expeditionary army during the unknown battle.

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