Rise of Rurik - Chapter 1126

[Chapter 1126 Uppsala Autumn Festival]

Since the market price of grain is low, large-scale purchases are made. It is estimated that the market price of Lake Mälaren will be the same this year, and the grain situation in warmer Novgorod will be more optimistic.

Novgorod is the largest granary in Russia, and the local Slavic boyars rely on organizing people to sell the village’s grain in exchange for more means of production. The most available material for them is grain.

Rurik’s own private land is huge, and he pays to hire tenant farmers. Most of the royal land is taken care of by the people of White Tree Manor in the city.

The employed also have acres of land, and they also take care of Wangtian when they take care of their own fields. In exchange for benefits, they will be reduced or exempted from taxes, and the amount will come from the output of Wangtian.

He is at ease with this model. One of the most important reasons is that the queen is the second lady of the White Tree Manor, and the crown prince has half the blood.

The grain produced by the royal family’s fields can meet the normal consumption of the current standing army.

The royal mines and various handicraft workshops brought higher value-added products.

The foundation of life is still food, and oats and wheat can be used as currency.

The surplus grain in the market of Lake Mälaren is being purchased by the white fox on a large scale. According to the past contract, Rurik will get a corresponding proportion and get them at the original purchase price.

The scale of the grain trading market here is not large, let alone Baihu, when he bought a large amount of grain, his governor’s mansion and the guards he raised were unable to finish it.

He will share part of the surplus grain and sell it to Roseburg and Elronburg in the north, and then part of it will be raised to feed his beloved sheep and goats for daily feasting, and the last part will be used for brewing with strange additions such as raspberry , Nordic blackberry flavored ale to earn added value in the wine shop.

His work was not a concern for Rurik, and now, Rurik assembled his staff and set off for Uppsala next.

The autumn festival is the most important purpose of Rurik’s trip.

The largest temple in Sweden is in Uppsala, the northernmost part of the lake waters. A huge temple area stands on a mound. The nearby forest has been cleared long ago. Because it is the sanctuary, the nearby The flat areas could have been used for grazing, and the people of the Uppsala tribe did not dare to cross the border without reason out of awe.

The huge fir tree next to the temple building is too amazing, it is completely different from the surrounding trees.

The tree is so huge that people who know it call it “World Tree”.

The Uppsala tribe has a saying that this tree is a branch of the World Tree located in the human world. Then, when worshiping next to the big tree, there is no need to connect to Asgard through Tianyu, but directly through the veins.

The old priests of Uppsala made such a serious explanation. Since the belief is logical and self-consistent, Rurik recognized this idea, and even described it in the manuscript of “Rossaga”, as an official official. endorsement.

But the old priesthood has been purged, just as Ross has purged the tribe’s past priesthood.

Ross, it is not allowed to exist a group of priests that are not directly controlled by the ruler, they will either disband or physically disappear.

Rurik still prefers a simple and crude solution. The old priest was killed, and the mood of the Uppsala people cannot be said to be mixed with grief and indignation, but can only be said to be happy.

The new Priest of Uppsala, though black-haired, was a girl from the Land of the East.

Lumi, the daughter of the tribal leader of the Kewen Mermaid Lord of the Finnish tribe, was appointed as a priest.

She was one of the concubines of King Rurik, and now also gave birth to the king’s daughter.

The leader of Uppsala, Swinned, no longer needs to be controlled by the old group of priests. The people do not pay tribute, and the Temple of Uppsala is actually managed by Swinned himself under the king’s order.

Swinned changed from leader to governor, and the Uppsala tribe became a special existence in Sweden.

In terms of law, this tribe has been absorbed by Ross, has broken away from the Swedish system, and has become the core of the kingdom under the jurisdiction of the Principality of Ross.

It was the people’s responsibility to keep the Great Temple of Uppsala running, and besides paying almost no taxes, they didn’t even have to maintain a self-defense army.

Everyone can go all out and devote their energies to improving their lives, and the personal safety and economic security of the tribe are contracted and managed by the Governor of Stockholm.

This is a favor bestowed upon them by Rurik, which sets Uppsala apart from other Swedish tribes.

Objectively, this is also a method of division and disintegration. In principle, Rurik just does not want the possibility of the Mellaren tribe becoming bigger.

The big ship entered the small waterway and the keel was at risk of getting stuck in the mud. The fleet finally docked at the military fortress of Gould Island in the lake. The mighty fleet of 500 people, with Ross’s guard of honor, raised a large number of flags and drifted north.

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Twenty long boats lined up in a long snake formation, with all the sails furled, and rows of oars on both sides sliding rhythmically. The strong men with their sleeves rolled up ignored the north wind and sang chant and kept twisting their bodies in order to paddle Maximize efficiency.

The Uppsala fishermen who came across along the way watched the arrival of the Ross fleet in astonishment. They were surprised at first, then surprised, and then became the guides.

Because, Rurik himself stood up in a very high-profile way, and stroked the ferocious beast on the bow.

He wants the public to see his deep eyes and well-dressed beard clearly, to make the golden laurel crown on his head shine, and to show his elegant and luxurious clothing to the fullest.

Soon, the fleet arrived at a small lake owned by the Uppsala tribe. The boats rushed into the soft lakeside mud, and everyone jumped deep to complete the landing.

As long as you stand here, you can clearly see the beautiful appearance of the big tree on the mound in the distance.

Verika looked at the novelty: “Dad, we are here again. I saw that tree again, why is it so big.”

“Because it’s connected to the World Tree. That’s a sacred tree.”

“Oh. I remember. Sometimes I think, what if we move this tree to New Roseburg? Put it in the square, such a great tree, next to our great temple.”

Is it really childish talk?

Rurik glanced at his daughter who was laughing and joking, and thought that maybe it wasn’t her daughter’s nonsense.

He sighed softly, thinking that his daughter is also a person with ideas, not a mediocrity.

“Forget it, let this tree stay here. We will have a ceremony there soon, and you are the deputy priest! It is the arrangement of fate, and it is right for me to bring you here. I will go to the autumn sacrifice this year, and you just happen to participate. ”

“Oh, okay.” Verika nodded.

“And your Aunt Lumi. You are all priests, and the ceremony is up to you.”

“Is that her? Great, I’d love to see her.”

Verika blushed with joy. Although her father had many wives and concubines, she also had many aunts.

As for which one Verika likes best, based on his blood, he likes Lumi more.

The name of that aunt and his mother are essentially the same, and their appearance is also very similar. To a large extent, they are still members of the same clan.

The high priest, Rumia, is from Lapp, and Rumia is from Cowen, both of them are branches of Finnish tribes, so there is a high similarity in language.

It’s just that Verika was deliberately educated, and some bad things were completely erased as if they never existed. She had no idea that the Kewen people would capture the Lapps as slaves in the past, and now she only cares about family affection.

The spectators flocked to the lakeside. Lumi, who was already busy preparing for this year’s autumn festival, also carried her child, and happily ran towards the lake with her priest team composed of Uppsala girls.

Governor Swinnerd arrived in time. He recognized the noble king at a glance, and immediately led the guards to kneel down and salute the king.

“Stay flat! My governor, everything is fine. Haha, I haven’t seen you for two years, and you’ve gained weight. I see that your people are also enthusiastic, which shows that you are a very good governor.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty, for your concern. You… have also become more handsome and stronger, and you are a king respected by everyone.”

After some concerned greetings, the governor ordered the people to retreat temporarily, and the guards brought by Rurik gathered in the lakeside area to camp.

Two years ago, Rurik built a military camp by the lake, and after the enthronement ceremony that year, the camp became a public building for the locals.

The good houses were converted into public granaries, and another group of tribesmen settled here so that they did not have to build new houses.

As the walls of the temple were demolished, the sense of sanctity in the past was broken, and any sacrificial activities were open to the public for two years.

Any sacrificial activities of Uppsala civilians will be participated on a large scale, so the grand event will also attract some nearby people to participate, and even attract small traders to row boats to sell some goods while taking advantage of the excitement.

In addition to maintaining order, the guards organized by Governor Swinneder are also responsible for arresting pickpockets and punishing injustice, and transferring the captured criminals to the Governor of Stockholm for his disposal.

The Governor’s Palace has nothing to do with luxury. It was originally Swinneder’s mansion. The house has been expanded and some new wooden houses have been erected.

Rurik and the queen chatted with the governor and the mansion as usual. The governor met the prince and the future high priest, and Rurik also met the sons of the governor.

It was another high-profile mutual praise. Swinned fully supported Crown Prince Osborne and the next high priest Velika, and Rurik also reiterated that Swinned’s eldest son would succeed the Governor.

According to the man’s description, Uppsala lived a peaceful life.

A small number of people participated in the 840 War, and the loss of the tribe was minimal. Although the spoils brought back were not many, the gains far exceeded the cost.

If it’s better to live in peace, they don’t want to venture out.

Vikings are a way of life, they don’t plunder, they are just ordinary Uppsala farmers, fishermen and herders.

Rurik also doesn’t want the people here to go out, they’d better just stay in this place for a long time to be quiet, and use all their body and mind to maintain the operation of the temple.

However, if necessary, five hundred fighters could be called up from Uppsala.

There were originally four thousand people here. When Rurik landed, he saw many women in furs holding children in their arms. He wanted to come to this place because life began to improve and the population began to increase rapidly.

He had already talked a lot with the Governor, and just as they were finishing talking about what kind of feast tonight, and finalized the slaughter of a goat for roasting, Priest Lumi led her team to make a grand appearance.

Queen Svetlana was present, and she dared not show intimacy to the king.

Lumi and even Rurik were able to keep a distance. Her daughter was about to turn a year old. Has the good news reached the king’s ears?

She tried her best to suppress her excitement, but she couldn’t stop crying when she saw Rurik, even though her eyes didn’t live up to expectations.

“Why cry? Lumi, the great priest of Uppsala. The king is here to participate in this year’s autumn festival. Wipe away your tears! You came just in time, let’s discuss this year’s sacrifice.”

Rurik was equally sensible, and he toned down his excitement with absolute formality.

Because, he saw a lower priest standing next to Lumi, the girl was holding a leather sleeping bag, and there was a child sleeping in it.

Whose child is this?

The answer couldn’t be more clear.

Governor Swinned cleaned up the wooden restaurant, and he ordered the waiters to leave, and only the waiters who passed the dishes could enter.

Roast lamb is a great meal tonight, accompanied by local grilled fish, stews and traditional salted oatmeal.

It was because of the sudden arrival of the royal family that the governor purposely slaughtered the sheep, otherwise he would have lived more of his life eating grilled fish as a governor.

There are no idlers here, and it is more like a royal family banquet in a sense.

Governor Swinned clearly took the eldest son to participate in it as a close minister.

Everyone resumed their journey, and Rurik was wearing only the lining of his sackcloth, with his sleeves rolled up to reveal his hairy arms, breaking off a leg of lamb without any effort.

He shaved the meat off the bone, and gave it first to the queen, then to Verica and Osborne.

Then, the final pieces of meat were placed in Lumi’s glass dish.

Swinned waited for his eyes to be amazed, he was embarrassed to say anything, it seemed that the king really loved his family, so he greeted him with a smile: “The king is really a good man. A king who loves his family must also love the people There is a reason why everyone admires you.”

“It’s flattery. But I like it. Hehe, my woman, my child, of course, must be loved by this king.” After finishing speaking, Rurik cut another piece of mutton.

We had dinner together to talk about a lot of things. Swinneder was like listening to the great king about the war in the Frankish world. This is not a problem for Rurik. The article about the Frankish Wars was a printed matter. In the past, because of the limited technology of the printing workshop, the printing efficiency It is not good, and the proofreading of the article is also flawed. After all, it is publicly posted on the square and everyone can understand it.

How could he pass up the opportunity to publicize his glorious deeds? Rurik brought the old printed documents of “War Discipline” with him this time. The papers were all folded, and the content was also in runic text. He reckoned to put them in Uppsa The locals can understand it.

He has already thrown a copy of the same document in the Mellaren tribe, presumably those nobles have already circulated it.

Taking advantage of the opportunity of having dinner together, Rurik wanted to clarify this year’s ball festival.

It was also this opportunity that he welcomed his second daughter, Sarah.

“I thought it was a boy.” Taking the swaddle, Rurik saw the child’s brown-black hair braided, and immediately confirmed the gender.

Lumi looked at her man affectionately, she really couldn’t hold back now, and she burst into tears again.

“Just a girl. Maybe a boy is better.”

“Isn’t it better to be a girl? It’s perfect to be a priest. It’s really wronged to put you here.”

“This is my destiny.” Lumi said from the bottom of her heart, and now she has to consider what the queen thinks.

“What’s the baby’s name? Did you name her?”

“It’s Sarah.”

“Sarah? God of the sun.”

“What? You are a hero favored by Odin, of course your daughter should have a great and noble name.” Lumi wiped away her tears and said.

“Oh, that’s right to think so.”

Sara is pretty common as a girl’s name.

Saraphim is the name of the seraphim, and its most primitive image only refers to the sun, the Frankish world, and some girls enjoy such a name.

In the Nordic tribes, Sarah has always been the name of the sun.

This name is extended to warm, and further extended to good images such as maternal love and kindness.

Naming his children was a nerve-wracking affair, and Rurik was glad his woman could name them herself.

Sara is not even a year old yet, and Rurik is counting the time until the last time he and Lumi had an intimate relationship two years ago, it really hit the target with a sharp arrow.

This year’s autumn sacrifice was done step by step according to the old tradition. Since Rurik participated with the royal family, the scale of the sacrifice this time will be large.

Considering that there are not enough local cattle and sheep, the king brought a hundred selected reindeer as sacrifices for the enthronement ceremony. This time, use two local cattle.

Completely different from the stone boat altar, the sacrificial point of the Uppsala Great Temple is under the shade of the sacred tree. The same thing is that the blood of the sacrifice must flow on the altar.

Soon after Rurik arrived in Uppsala, there was a light rain, but fortunately, the autumn rain did not last long, at least in the area of Lake Mälaren.

The day of the autumnal equinox is a bit cloudy, but it still does not affect the sacrificial activities.

Lumi put on the replica Ross antler helmet and performed the ceremony according to the local rules.

Velika continued to participate as the deputy priest, so the thousands of onlookers noticed that she was holding the broken blade given to her by the king’s father. This little girl really stabbed the sharp blade into the neck of the sacrificed bull .

The cow was firmly held down by ten strong men, and the blood of the cow was sprayed everywhere on the big tree trunk.

Verika was not afraid of such a barbaric sacrificial activity. She herself was sprayed with cow’s blood, her face was bright red, and the sword in her right hand was dripping with cow’s blood.

Does she look scary?

Quite the opposite!

The Valkyrie is also a god bathed in blood, such a deputy priest has a different style.

The autumn festival ended with the cheers of thousands of people and the kneeling worship of the sacred tree.

Only the royal family of Rurik did not have to kneel to the sacred tree.

Just because he was blessed by the gods.

[End of this Chapter]