Rise of Rurik - Chapter 676

[Chapter 677 New Roseburg Under the Autumn Rain]

An autumn rain was chilly, and Youdao was aggressive like fire. This rain forcibly extinguished the fire in the hearts of the Ross soldiers.

They wanted to take advantage of the victory to pursue and achieve major results before winter, but the whole world became muddy, and everyone in the wet and cold world quickly lost their fighting spirit.

Everyone is full of desire for the expedition to Karelia, hoping to grab a lot of deer in the first battle, but why did this war have such an anticlimactic result?

Do not!

Things didn’t get any worse.

Less than a day after the end of the battle by the lake, the sky was cloudy, and within three days it began to rain.

When the army basically cleaned the battlefield and searched for everything available, the cold autumn rain began.

Both the Suomi and Vipus say that once the autumn rains come, it will take at least five days and at most fifteen days, and no one should expect it to end hastily.

The people of Ross, who knew a little about the land of the East and this great lake, thought deeply that the world soaked by the rain would become muddy. Even if they were chasing the enemy, who would be willing to go north in the mud?

Unless the world freezes.

Over the years, most traditional Rus have changed their stereotypes.

Winter doesn’t mean dormancy, it’s a new opportunity and a season of war of a different kind.

Where did the fleeing Karelians go?

Is it the north?

Are there other Karelian tribes in the north?

The servant Vips pointed out the maze and made all the guesses come true.

Because those people will not run away, they will flee to the winter grazing point to accumulate strength.

Now that the enemy would spend the winter in a definite location, the Rus’ army, forced by bad weather to miss out on its opponents and its spoils, was no longer discouraged.

The army began to retreat, and all kinds of captured booty began to be transported to the ships.

Especially those captured women, they were firmly controlled by Suomi’s servant army, and the Vipus servant army also got a small group of female prisoners.

Instead of tying the elbows of captives with ropes, they were slaves in the Karelian community, and now their status was elevated.

Life is still going on, moving to the western Suomi territory, maybe I can finally live like a normal woman…

The Ross fleet formed a long snake formation and gradually withdrew from the small lake. Rurik announced the abandonment of the conquered lakeside camp. No one objected to this decision.

Why did Ross give up a newly conquered territory?

Rather than giving up, it is better to say that this move is an escape.

Before the rain fell, Ross’s army had already burned its fallen soldiers, and Rurik even publicly announced that the souls of the dead had gone to Valhalla along with the green smoke.

Both the Suomi and the Vipus suffered losses, and the overall loss was not small. Based on their own beliefs, they buried the war dead on the spot, hoping that their souls would enter the underground sea of souls.

Only the corpses of the enemies were still lying in disorder.

The Russian army couldn’t afford to collect the bodies of thousands of Karelians who died in battle. The dead were grouped together with the destroyed tents. The bodies had turned gray and the blood had turned black.

The corpses will rot and stink, become food for wolves, and finally turn into piles of bones.

This place is full of grievances and ominousness. Many people in the bleak autumn rain claimed to have heard the wailing of vengeful spirits at night.

It was actually the chirping of night owls on a rainy night. Ordinary soldiers didn’t care too much, but Rurik simply didn’t want to continue to be frozen in the rain, so the whole army began to retreat.

The fleet returned to Bear Sacrifice Town, and arrived at the only outpost on the northern shore of Lake Ladoga in the Principality of Ross in the rain.

Only twenty or so elderly Ross veterans will stay. They have taken a fancy to the local fishery resources and pretend to be excellent sentries for Ross.

It’s not far from Suomi’s hometown, so more than a hundred Suomi decided to stay.

This is not just “guarding the frontier for Ross”, it is to cooperate with the Ross people to fish in Lake Ladoga, and it is also to vent their hatred.

This place is a sacrificial center of the Karelians!

How refreshing it is for the oppressed Suomi to one day build their own houses on the territory of their former enemies.

It is a great thing that someone is willing to spend the winter in Bear Festival Town, because a batch of trophies of reindeer cannot be taken away for a while, and they have to stay here to continue grazing.

This time, the fleet will give priority to bringing more than 300 fawns on board. According to the plan, most of the deer will eventually be brought to Novosburg on the Neva River by means of ants moving. This should be done before the lake freezes. .

The existence of Bear Festival Town itself is a mockery of all Karelians. She is likely to attract the opponent’s crazy attack, which is exactly what the Principality of Ross wants to see most.

What is a crushing battle?

If there can be a bait to lure the main force of the enemy, the problem can be solved once and for all by killing them all.

Those who remained were men and women, some of whom would live as fishermen with their new men.

They will continue to build Xiongji Town, and at least build a stronghold that everyone can hold on to in case of accidents.

In the continuous autumn rain, the Ross fleet continued to head south along the lake shoreline, and the Veps returned to their hometown with a batch of spoils.

They went out to fight according to the order, and they who hadn’t tasted victory finally tasted the taste of victory this time.

The old ironware regarded as waste by the Ross people is regarded as a treasure by the Vips people. A batch of axes, spearheads and iron arrow clusters will quickly improve the lives of the Vips people.

Life is bound to get better, because Earl Telavis is trustworthy even though he is a young man, and he promised to bring a batch of good things to the village in late autumn.

That would be a lot of the advanced tools of the Duchy of Ross, as well as the ambition of a teenager.

The autumn rain swelled Lake Ladoga, which should have entered the dry season, and the flow of the Neva River increased slightly.

In the rain the fleet returned to their staging ground, and ships of all sizes were moored in the port.

The expeditionary army regrouped in New Rose Fort. The Viking troops such as the Ross and Balmerks entered the city, and the Suomi servant army camped outside the city. The relationship between master and servant is very clear here.

The rammed earth road can withstand the short-term soaking in rainwater, but this autumn rain lasted for half a month, and the Harvest Square that Rurik saw before, which was raised to dry the valley, has now become muddy.

The continuous rain made the residents in the city feel negative, and the cold air even diluted the joy of the harvest.

Both the people and the army stayed in their houses, and no one wanted to go out unless there was something important to do.

At least Harvest Square was rammed with stones by manpower for the needs of threshing, growing, and drying. Even though it was muddy, the situation was not too bad.

However, the situation of other routes in the city is uneven.

The Nevsky Avenue built along the Neva River and the ring road around the entire city wall have been rammed and paved with a layer of gravel transported from Kotlin Island. You don’t have to worry about walking here after the continuous rain Boots full of mud.

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The situation of the vertical and horizontal roads in the city is even worse, and here are the puddles everywhere, satisfying all of Rurik’s bad impressions of the village roads.

The returning Rurik was most worried about the granary located in the center of the city. Even though the road was muddy, he also made a rather meticulous inspection under the leadership of Governor Konusson.

It was an autumn rainy morning, and the whole world was in a haze.

Although there are no umbrellas that can be easily opened and closed, local residents have made movable sheds with leather and wooden strips.

The four guards worked together to hold the shed, and Rurik stood in it, meeting the governor Konusson who hurried over in front of the Duke’s palace.

“You are late.”

“My lord, if I hadn’t seen the light outside, I would have thought it was still night now.” Conuson argued, and then approached again: “It has been a while since the army entered the city, and I know many people are leaving, but The weather is really bad.”

“Oh? Are you driving me away?”

Konusson was taken aback, and hurriedly explained: “I dare not. I heard that the old prince will spend the winter in Novgorod this year. The two chiefs of the principality sit in the west and the east. New Ross Fort is absolutely safe. .”

“It’s okay. Many people in the army are indeed leaving, but let me remind you that I will leave with a batch of wheat. This damn rain directly disrupted the rhythm of the conquest. I warn you, if the wheat gets wet, you will Penalized. Very severe punishment!”

“Yes! I dare not be negligent, and I dare to guarantee with honor that even continuous heavy rain will not dampen the wheat.”

Rurik shrugged. “I hope. But your roads aren’t well built, look at this Harvest Square… just pray, pray it’s over before the rain makes the mud worse.”

Konusson smiled awkwardly: “In the future, I will continue to send people to ram it down.”

“Of course you have to level it, but all the roads in the square and in the city will be replaced by stone or cement roads. Don’t think you are very capable. Only I can do this. Your biggest responsibility now and in the future It is to keep an eye on the granary and put an end to the fire. Let me tell you, the granary here is related to the lives of us Russ! If something goes wrong, even if you have a hundred heads, it is not enough for the brothers to chop off!”

Rurik spoke very seriously, although Conuson didn’t understand it very well, since the Duke must have a reason for what he said, just do your own thing.

Of course, with regard to the management of the granary alone, Konusson can indeed pat his chest and say that he has not let everyone down, and he will not in the future.

This inspection is not just for show. These very Novgorod-style fence-style woodcuts make the granary, which is already on the high ground in the city, even taller.

The wheat was either tax collected or tribute shipped from Novgorod, especially the output of the destroyed Pine Needle Manor this year.

The sacks are like bricks and stones piled up like a city wall, and each sack is stuffed with 200 pounds of oat grains, so that the sacks fill all the granaries, and the warehouses that were vacant in the past are now basically filled.

On the surface, everything looks normal, but the air smells like earth, and the air here is a bit humid.

Rurik suddenly pulled out his sword, and stabbed at the “grain wall” in front of him.

Both sides of the short sword are bloodletting grooves, because Ross has advanced forged steel sword technology, the sword highlights the effectiveness of stabbing but not chopping, the blade is narrow and the bloodletting grooves are deep, which has the effect of a grain spy.

The short sword was pulled out, and the bloodletting tank was full of intact oat grains.

Rurik touched it with his hands, especially the chewed pellets.

“Very good, the depths of the sack are dry outside. You did your job.”

Konusong’s face did not change, after all, it is impossible for this matter to be complicated.

He flattered again: “Congratulations, my lord, we have had a bumper harvest this year, and our food has never been so pure and abundant…”

What the Governor said was flattery is also true.

Rurik inspected all the granaries, this time he deeply felt the sense of security that hit the soul.

Food is the life of the people and the root of the Principality of Ross.

Fence-style wooden buildings can largely insulate water, and the roof is made of leather, and then attached with thatch and shingles. There will be no problems with them within three to four years.

However, the permanent granary still has to be transferred to masonry buildings. The roof can be made of leather for waterproofing, and tiles made of clay are a must.

New Roseburg must set off a construction boom again. The buildings in the key parts of the city will be improved first. The most important thing is to build a better road system, so the biggest problem is who will provide the construction funds.

The so-called corvee service that forces the people to build can be done. If the people are paid enough food, they will work happily.

In this way, the importance of the granary and food is above everything else.

Rurik was very satisfied with the inspection of the granary, and he could have a deeper thought on this matter.

The rain continued to fall outside, and the Duke’s palace was still very lively.

The first wife, Svetlana, is here, the sisters Carlotta and Ira are here, and the ten maids are also here.

These thirteen people have a common identity – the Duke’s wife.

Although they were respectful and orderly, everyone hoped that Duke Rurik would pamper him.

But now, only Svetlana has the right to be intimate with Lord Rurik at will.

Tonight was an accident!

No matter how rich and powerful one is, a man’s sleep is but a narrow bed.

Ella and ten sisters were ordered to arrive in New Roseburg for almost a month. After the Duke ordered the natural mission, he led the troops north to fight.

The Duke has been back for many days, and sister Svetarana was ordered to leave. I got this opportunity tonight, is it…

She was apprehensive and nervous, because in Roseburg she had already gone through the bar mitzvah in the Viking tradition.

Kneeling in front of Rurik, she shyly took off her woolen gown, and was stopped when she wanted to get the soft linen lining.

“My lord, I… don’t I deserve to be a woman…”

“I guess what you want to do, the time is not yet ripe. It’s still a bit cold in the room, put on your woolen sweater.” Rurik ordered with a smile.

“I’m you and sister, she obviously…”

“You…” Rurik rubbed his head and looked into her eyes: “Ella Hestoria. The name I gave you is not simply to be a daughter of a nobleman. Bear an heir to inherit Duke Ostara, it is enough to have your sister, you do not need to have the shackles of your hometown. I will make you a scribe, and I will take you to investigate the conditions of the fields in Novgorod soon. I will give you enough It’s time for me to report on my work now.”

“It’s just like that? You…you can definitely talk in the hall.” She pouted with a hint of puzzlement.

“That’s fine, don’t you want to be alone with me?”

“I…I think. I even!”

“I will satisfy you in the future. Ella, I like you very much, and your wisdom. What I tell you to do is related to the future of the Principality of Ross. Only you can measure the acres of land.”

Erla still didn’t understand, she had already made a series of measuring tools during this period, and declared in front of Rurik that the accuracy of the measuring tools, especially the rope ruler, was acceptable.

Among the many female relatives, Erla was appointed by Rurik to supplement mathematics knowledge. In fact, all the female relatives have learned addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division operations with numbers up to nine digits, basic algebraic operations, and are proficient in multiplication formulas. mental arithmetic ability.

Ella, otherwise, Rurik has already instilled in her the knowledge of limit thinking and calculus.

Is tonight just the coexistence of the Grand Duke and the Royal Concubine?

Rurik listened to her work report under the covers, and took the opportunity to instill some abstract mathematical knowledge into her, regardless of whether she understood or was too advanced, the cramming can be done as soon as she can, and there is still more powerful supplementary knowledge waiting for her .

Because Ella was designated as the first scribe by Rurik, she must become the founder of the civil service system of the entire Principality of Ross.

That night, Rurik verified Ella’s ability to calculate the area of irregular figures by dictating the questions, which can be perfectly used in the calculation of the area of farmland.

Rurik is full of endless wisdom. He has grown up very quickly, and now he has everything a strong man should have.

Ella hugged this man tightly, thinking that being a scribe is very good, so that although her status is not as good as Svetlana’s, at least she can always stay by his side and do things for him.

Ella was very relieved, she left the Duke’s bedroom with a smile in the morning, and happened to be pulled aside by Carlotta, who got up early and waited.

The older sister cornered the younger sister into a hidden corner.

“Ella, did he… did he do it?” Carlota asked cautiously and bluntly.

“No.”

“No?! Didn’t I tell you? Don’t you dare?!”

“Sister.” Ella complained, frowning, “I asked you to arrange it, but my lord said I was too young.”

“Ridiculous. Rurik is like an April bull, uh…” Carlotta looked at his sister’s rather flat chest again, “Maybe he is right, you are not as attractive as I am for the time being.”

As if being ridiculed, Erla puffed up her cheeks and said, “Rurik said that I am very important, and there are some things that only I can do.”

“I asked you to measure the fields? Well, you should do it well. It’s strange that the revival of the family can’t depend on me alone. I have done so many times with him, why… Ella, listen to me carefully. You and I A boy must be born to inherit the duke position, and if I can’t do it, you must.”

She still didn’t quite understand her elder sister’s troubles, she hurriedly turned her little head away and hummed twice because of her shyness, and didn’t say anything more.

There is nothing more important than the revival of Ostara, Carlotta’s mind is full of this, and she will give birth to a boy, which will be the beginning of the revival.

But……

Carlotta began to wonder if she had been deprived of her ability to conceive by God. She dared not give up. If she was such a tragedy, wouldn’t her younger sister also be cursed by God?

She didn’t want to give up, and even persuaded her younger sister to take the initiative immediately.

Rurik, the younger sister of the sisters, didn’t know about it, or didn’t bother to figure it out.

What was Rurik thinking about writing again?

The anticlimactic expedition to Karelia was forcibly ceased in this way. It was September, the muddy autumn rainy season in the Eastern European world, so most of the Sorgon sailing fleets in the past chose to return in October.

“Oops, I became the German army in September 1941. The damn mud makes it difficult for my army to advance. I have to wait until Lake Ladoga freezes to fight again…”

Fortunately, the hateful autumn rain has finally stopped, and there is no intention of repeating it in a short time.

When the rain stopped completely, it was already the twentieth day of September in the Julian calendar.

The world has grown so cool through this long rain that early risers can see their own white mist when they exhale.

The chimneys of many buildings have been emitting smoke frequently. As soon as the rain stopped, someone went outside the city with an ax to chop wood, which was used as fuel for the fireplaces in the rooms.

Late autumn has descended on Eastern Europe, and New Roseburg can only feel warm when the sun shines at noon and afternoon.

What’s the first thing to do after the rain stops?

The army that was forced to rest heard the sound of horns one after another, and the army began to gather in the dry Harvest Square to accept the review of the Duke and all residents of New Roseburg.

[End of this Chapter]