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The Principality of Ross finally ushered in a new winter. A blizzard forced the people to hide in warm houses. Even the livestock and poultry kept were driven to strengthened warm-keeping pens for strict supervision.

Except for the Principality, there are more than 50,000 reindeer in total.

Despite the blizzard, no one fears its cold horror anymore.

The Principality is really full of six animals and thriving. In winter, the people don't have to worry about eating and drinking. Since they are trapped at home by the wind and snow, they naturally have to eat special food and do active work to fill their homes.

Otto's beard was completely gray, and the gray hair on the top of his head had fallen clean. His skin is already very loose, and his uncovered face has some brown visible age spots.

As a fighter, it is difficult for him to accept such a self.

When he carefully observed his son who had returned from the expedition, his increasingly heroic posture reminded him of the past. I think I was so strong back then, but the times did not give me many opportunities. At that time Ross was still a hunter in the fjord and was squeezed out by Sweden's allies. Although Rus was able to go to Novgorod to ask for tribute at that time, he still ruled here in recent years.

Everything has changed, and the veteran soldier has also decayed like dry wood.

According to tradition, everyone will rise by one year after Hanukkah.

The only son, Rurik, was born in the autumn. Even so, when the holiday passes, it can be said that he has grown up one year old. The holiday season is just around the corner, and Lurik will be eighteen years old.

A young prince has made unspeakable feats, but Ross's veterans are quickly passing away...

Otto is sixty-five years old. He never thought that he could live to the present, presumably everything is a gift from the gods.

However, if an veteran can choose, he will be a better destination on the battlefield.

Otto was not afraid of death, and even looked forward to it. He knew that the gods had reserved a place for himself in the Hall of Valor, but he could never leave now, he had to witness a great moment.

The clever little girl who was personally selected by herself in the past has a big belly now ten years later. Svetlana is not a Viking. In recent years, she has become more and more like a Viking warrior. As a pregnant woman, she joined the crusade against the Kingdom of Denmark. As for whether the bow and arrow have killed the enemy, this is not a question. The crux of the matter is that Queen Svetlana and the child in her womb are both involved in the battle, which is to win the merits for the unborn child in advance.

Svetlana finally settled down and waited quietly for the child to be born in Novgorod's natal home...

The winter life in the Principality is fully unfolded due to the complete freezing of rivers, lakes and seas, and the ice forms a road that can be moved quickly.

The reindeer sleigh above the ice layer began to move frequently, and the sleigh from the east of Ladoga Lake was unmatched in transporting stones and yellow sand. The newly-attached Ludi people did not hesitate to do sand and masonry because of the profitability. , Relying on the hammer and iron chisel obtained from the Ross people, rammed the rocks on the shore of Lake Onega, transported them to their villages with sledges, and sold them to the Ross merchants who came to deliver the goods. In this way, some Ross people are not masons, they are merely porters of stone.

Compared with the transportation of stone from Gogran Island in the Gulf of Finland, the time cost and travel risk of stone transportation from Lake Onega in the east are low.

The Shilla Fortress on the Neva River has a great demand for stone materials. After all, when people have the right to choose, including ordinary residents, they all hope to use stone to reinforce their houses and use it as a base to build two or even three floors. Residential.

It is not only the demand of the people, but the cement manufacturing workshop in Shilla Fort also needs to obtain raw materials. Now only the craftsmen trained by Lurik understand the principle of cement coagulation, and the knowledge is monopolized by the "League of Blacksmiths".

The construction of a cement workshop and the open space outside the capital, it is surrounded by wooden walls. There is a fire kiln inside the wall. The lime transported from the hometown of Roseburg is processed into slaked lime, and the yellow sand transported from Lake Onega is filtered into fine sand with a wire screen. The craftsmen here all serve the princes, and they can receive food salaries when they work.

The processed slaked lime and fine sand are always put into use immediately to bond the stones to build a solid wall and even pave the hardened road. However, the severe winter forced such construction work to be suspended, and the workers in the workshop completed the production of hydrated lime and fine sand and stored them.

Making hydrated lime requires a flame, and the local blacksmith needs a stronger flame.

The industrial areas of Fort Shilla are set up together. They are all close to the frozen Neva River. On weekdays, you can take advantage of the convenient transportation of the waterways. If you encounter a fire, you can also get water on the spot to put out the fire.

Because a group of long trophies from Denmark were towed to Shilla Fort and Tombstone Island, the ships were immediately sold, and all the money gained was put into the treasury. The new ship has had an impact on the shipbuilding work in all of Russia, but it has no effect on the workshops that make large ships.

Roseburg, Novgorod and Novgorod, the three large shipbuilding workshops still manufacture standard cargo ships on shore. Up to now, some cargo ships' orders come from princes, but the other half of the orders come from pure merchants.

Of course, merchants of all different groups have the right to buy cargo ships that can hang spinnakers. Because it is jointly monopolized by the Hortra family and the Rurik family, its selling price was waved by Rurik, and the price was one hundred pounds of silver coins. Or one hundred thousand pounds of wheat.

Isn't the traditional cargo ship inferior to it? This is indeed the case.

In Rurik's expedition to Bornholm Island, the twenty standard cargo ships were both troop carriers and cargo ships, and even trawlers frantically squeezing the wealth of the ocean.

A great white shark cruises the ocean, and there will always be a few Indian fish trailing around. Ross' Marine Expeditionary Army was also followed by a group of Swedes, naturally mixed with fishermen, who were indeed spies serving the Swedish King Bjorn.

Before the Russian Navy planned to attack the Danish capital, a large number of Swedes evacuated with their catch.

King Bjorn of Sweden knew about the ship. This general speaker elected by many nobles, although expensive as the master of Port Birka and King of Sweden, his true strength is limited to the Mlaren tribe. For ten years, he has witnessed the expansion of the strength of the Rus and the decline of the tribes in Sweden. This must be fate. Sweden's attempt to defeat Denmark to seize hegemony suffered a disastrous defeat, and the victory over Denmark came from Rose.

Especially the nobles of the Mellaren tribe want to break their heads. They don't think that their fighters are worse than others. I am afraid that the main difference is that the ships are not good.

The Ross people set up shops in Birka. Because of the alliance treaty, Sweden could not charge even one copper coin for taxes on this huge shop.

The obese Ruth white fox (Snoreva) Gouldsson has long been ordered by the Lord Ruth to manage the shops on the shore and the completely fortified Gould Island on the lake. These areas are extrlegal areas relative to the Kingdom of Sweden.

Ordinary inland lake trade, relying on traditional long rowing boats and traditional sailing cargo ships based on the expansion of long boats is enough. However, Bjorn has always felt that the inland lake trading rights of Lake Mlaren are declining every year. A lot of wealth was taken away by the Russians through peaceful trade.

Days can't be said to be poor. The spies came to report that the so-called Prince Ross was actually inviting various Swedish fishermen to fish in the South Baltic Sea. In addition, the area around Lake Mlaren has been a food producing area since ancient times, and a group of people from the Mlaren tribe have emigrated. Gotland, and even now, the Russ have not declared their complete ownership of the territory of Gotland.

Life cannot be said to be poor or rich. For the common people in Sweden, life has improved to a certain extent because of the overall peaceful environment, but for the nobles, they find that they do not have the ability to quickly accumulate wealth.

Snow and wind swept across northern Europe, and meetings in the parliamentary courts of the Mlaren tribe were in full swing.

The nobles first discussed the purchase of the Ross People's Ship, and discussed that in addition to unanimous opinions, they went to Tombstone Island to invite Ross's big merchants. For this reason, the white fox himself also took part in this meeting of the Swedes by sleighing across the ice sea from the Tombstone Island in the land Islands where he is stationed in winter.

After all, this is foreign-related trade. Even if the trade partner is traditional allies, things have to be taken seriously.

The obese white fox returned to the shop in the Principality's Port of Birka first. The people who stayed behind saw that the boss suddenly returned.

He listened to the chatter of his subordinates, walked into a separate hut, opened the door and saw some boys sitting inside.

"Are they slaves?"

"Neither. I took the initiative to defect to us." said the left-behind.

"Are they driven out by their family?"

"Perhaps. Everyone is a poor boy, and each is very thin. Since the prince wants to collect such cubs, we will act according to orders, and you will be rewarded by the prince." The speaker said flattery, and the white fox shrugged and shut the door. close.

"Let them rest first. I don't have time to take care of them for the time being. These cubs seem to be too young. Give them fish and wheat and train me to be thugs who don't have to pay commissions."

"But is such an investment really appropriate?"

"Just do it." The white fox emphasized: "This kind of cub is to beg for a living. If you give some food, they are willing to work for us. After training and staying in our fortress, you can fire those mercenaries or persuade them to go. Dongfang goes to be a subordinate of the prince. I only want someone who I can trust."

The people who stay behind don't know why the boss struggled with this. It seems that this big white fat man is worried about his danger? Lake Mlaren is peaceful and the trade is prosperous. Even though the bandits do not dare to get involved in the Ruth industry, the nobles have a very good relationship with the Ruths. What should I worry about if they are all like this?

There are certain things that Baihu does not need to talk to his subordinates, and the central idea must be kept secret.

When his subordinates asked him why he had to sit on a sled suddenly in winter, he just declared that he wanted to have business dealings with the nobles, so he stopped talking, and his subordinates were also ignorant.

The King of Sweden dispatched an envoy to Tombstone Island and made it clear to Old Gould, who lived on the island, that he had bought a cargo ship. The Goulds are all merchants, specifically a super dealer, a family of tools to collect money for King Rurik. The Gould family has no right to establish a bilateral trade agreement with the Swedish nobility, but it has the qualifications and obligations to negotiate with the Swedes in advance for Rurik as a trade intermediary.

Poor old Gould, because of his indulgence in his old age, his decayed body was no longer able to linger with the young female slave he raised. He felt that he would die at most one more year, and if he died, he had made a decision to bury his beloved servant. He has high blood sugar and high blood fat, the world freezes after a storm, and his head is always troubled by headaches. Old Gould's face is always red, although this has a lot to do with this guy's love of the glass bottle of spirits called vodka, and the other is because the old boy's symptoms of high blood pressure are already obvious. .

The people of the old age are leaving. As the eldest son, the white fox will inherit most of the family's property. In this matter, the younger brothers have no right to compete with themselves. As a son, he hoped that his father would be happy before he died, and it would be better to die in the joy of the female slave, which was considered to be in line with the father's wishes.

The white fox himself is also getting old. He is over forty years old, and he even married two daughters of the old Danish Eric family and gave birth to children. He has a grandson, and there is no clear distinction between a grandson and a grandson in the Nordic world, which is equivalent to saying that the Gould family has four generations under one roof. It's just very unlucky, I haven't had a living son yet.

The white fox has taken over from his father, taking over all the family's trade in the western part of the Principality, and this year he paid heavy taxes to the Principality in accordance with the contract.

It was also that he negotiated with King Bjorn's messenger first, and then he arrived at Birka Port in winter.

The prosperous port in the warm period suddenly depressed, or a large number of Swedes would rather stay at home until the spring, which is completely different from the situation in the Duchy of Ross.

The Mlaren people's parliament court ushered in him such a heavyweight, big white fat man, who was really out of place among a crowd of thin and bearded Swedish aristocrats.

Everyone sat on the ground, but the fat white fox was struggling to sit on the leather cushion, which made the nobles think of seals covered in oil.

The nobles mocked this naive fat man in their hearts, but they did not dare to show a trace of smile.

The nobles didn't intend to be polite, but the white fox spoke first: "No need to say anything. I came here in winter to take care of your face. If you want to buy the big ship of our Ross people, it is not my choice."

This big white fat man spoke a little arrogantly, his arrogance was naturally based on Rose's strength.

King Bjorn laughed alone: "We are always an alliance, and the trade in the past has been good. I admire your... large cargo ships. It is said that one ship costs one hundred pounds of silver coins? The price is a bit more expensive, I still plan to Buy."

"Oh. I can't decide this matter either." Blue Fox sighed slightly, as if the price the Swedes were willing to offer was a bit unsatisfactory.

"Do you think you have too little money? I can pay more for the big ship."

"Oh? Really?" The white fox stared into King Bjorn's eyes, and deliberately said nonsense: "You really want to get the Ross ship, this matter is very important, you must explain this to Prince Rurik personally. There is no prince. I don't have the right to decide. Besides, Wang Gongping is very busy every day. Even if you are the King of Sweden, you should understand your true identity. Our prince will not easily take time to meet people unless..."

Bjorn was not a fool. The white fox was suggesting something he could guess, and he asked, "So what do you want? A sum of money? How many women?"

Hear, the white fox deliberately looked at all the Mellaren nobles present, their faces were solemn, everyone did not speak, and only King Bjorn was croaking during the whole process.

The white fox patted his body: "I want money, and I am also very interested in women..." At this point, he can raise his head and smile maliciously: "Just as you long for our Rose ship, I know you plan to do it. What are you doing? Since this matter is stupid, I can guess it, and our prince knows better."

"Then... In your opinion, will Prince Rose agree?"

"It depends on your sincerity. Moreover, I will say a lot for you."

In some words and in some situations, even though the people in the conversation know each other well but are in a tacit understanding, they won't get it on the table.

Bjorn suddenly said with a serious face: "What do you... personally plan to ask for."

By now, Bai Fox didn't pretend: "I know you have multiple daughters, and now the youngest daughter can also be married. Marry her to me, and I will do my best to help you complete the ship purchase."

"Ah!?" King Bjorn was really embarrassed when he heard it. He couldn't think that this big white man would ask for his little daughter's marriage. Although their daughters themselves are also bargaining chips for the exchange of political rights between the nobles, their marriage is destined to be a political marriage, but they have to marry such a guy.

The white fox simply patted his chubby belly and muttered meaningfully: "My ancestral home is from the Anklas tribe, and now my family has a great status as a Rus. It's really pitiful. I had the eldest son a few years ago, but An illness caused me to lose my beloved son. For this reason, my wife almost collapsed, and my father fell ill. Now my father is dying, I will inherit the main family business, so who will inherit me in a long time What about his wealth and status? You know, I'm forty years old, and how painful it is to be a man without a biological son."

Beads really hit Bjorn's head, and for an instant, King Bjorn, who was also forty years old at the same age, suddenly opened up. He couldn't help feeling that this white fox was indeed a kid of the Gould family. For the sake of wealth and status, he not only bet on the Roths, but also bet on himself now. The loyalty of the merchants has always been absurd, but they are There is no doubt that the pursuit of wealth, the latter is also a point that can be used.

In fact, he was more willing to present his youngest daughter as a gift to Prince Rose. After so many years, the handsome boy must have been a brawny man, and he was better than the big white fat man in front of him. It's just that his little daughter's appearance is not outstanding. The saying that Prince Ross is like an April bull and his wives and concubines has been spread everywhere, presumably that boy also looks down on his daughter.

The family has no record of marrying female members to merchants, but in order to get the big boat, Bjorn is willing to contribute his youngest daughter.

In an instant, King Bjorn's inspiration flashed.

He asked: "The ocean is frozen. Can I go straight to your Silla Fort in a sleigh? I want to meet your prince and my old friend Otto in person. I want to negotiate with your nobles in person."

Bjorn's attitude is quite determined. Although the white fox has no experience of sledding in severe winter, the Balmerks who sell salt and a group of Finns are good at sledding in winter in recent years~www.mtlnovel.com~ The trade line above the ice and snow from the port of Narvik in the extreme north to the Fort Shilla in the far east already exists.

"I am not afraid of the wind and snow!" Bjorn looked at everyone seriously, soothing everyone's astonishment, and then emphasized: "I want to arrive in Shilla Fort this year. I am the king of all of Sweden. I have this right. These are two things. The meeting of a king, no one can stop me from going to the east!"

He deliberately stated that he was also beating other nobles. The so-called "I am the legal king of Sweden" is to warn others not to take any power by thinking about the moment of their departure, even if King Bjorn's power has not been in the first place. stable. It is also the reason for the instability of power. It is even more necessary to buy big ships to support themselves, and to strengthen the support of the Ross people for themselves, and even buy the support of the largest trader through a marriage.

Bjorn made it clear that he would leave for Ross and meet the Prince Ross in a manner similar to a tribute in fact. Indeed, as the name of the Swedish region is now unified, all tribes have their own ideas. King Bjorn cannot call the Prince Ross five or six from the perspective of strength. This time, the merchants who have seen the popularity of the Prince must also be respectful.

Naturally, before leaving, Bjorn would hold a wedding for the white fox Gouldsson.