Rise of Rurik - Chapter 753

[Chapter 754]

Regarding the kind of Slavic people living in Kyiv in this time and space, the Principality of Ross will conquer and incorporate them sooner or later.

Compared with those residents, nothing is more important than the land around Kyiv!

That is a large area of black land, even without farmyard manure, it can maintain a high yield in the current time and space.

As for the natural easy-to-defend and difficult-to-attack land of the Four Wars, it is nothing compared to the unprecedented benefits that can be obtained.

The horses are not worth such a high price, and Rurik can understand that the so-called price depends on the rider’s mouth.

These are indeed rare and good horses, but these merchants are from the Slavic people groups in Kyiv, and they can naturally reveal a huge amount of information about the people in the south.

They are just businessmen, and the south is the era of Slavs and tribal alliances.

There is no large national group in the South, so merchants will not have anything to be loyal to. In other words, what merchants are most loyal to is money. If they promise big benefits, or make them feel that trade is profitable immediately, they will Tell what you know and hear clearly.

Hosting a banquet to entertain Ma Ke is also to stabilize them. If they do have the identity of the season, then they must do more to win them over. It is extremely necessary to take advantage of the opportunity to get some rewards to hang their appetites.

It is necessary to squeeze out all the information that Ma Ke knows, and express the goodwill of the Ross Principality to the people in Kyiv from their mouths.

After all, the strategy of long distance and close attack is really a great wisdom.

After all, the Principality of Ross wants to rule Kyiv. It would be great if it can be finally won there by relatively peaceful means. At least now and in the next ten years, there will probably be no strategic opportunities. Naturally, it is necessary to trade with them safely in these years, so that Ross can take advantage of it. It would be nice to have a large number of Pecheneg horses.

The horses Sakye turned into guests. They were lucky enough to enter the palace of Prince Ross and had dinner with the prince and many other elites of the Principality.

Of course, Medved and old Otto really felt that Rurik’s etiquette was too much. Novelty bugs.

The floor is flat and the tables are also flat. There are crystal plates and bowls on the table in front of each person. Such tableware carries a lot of delicacies!

In fact, it was just some dried fruit and sliced cold meat at the beginning, which was enough to startle the Ma Ke group trembling.

Sakey stared at the glass plate, and he muttered crazily in his heart: “I’m afraid I can’t trade a horse for such a plate. If I accidentally break a corner, my head will not be chopped off by them.”

Using overly precious tableware made Sakeyi feel anxious instead.

He carefully picked out the dark red dried raspberries from the glass bowl and put them in his mouth, enjoying the sweetness that was extremely difficult to enjoy in normal times.

Wait a minute, this dried fruit tastes extraordinary, it is absolutely honey soaked, it is an extremely sweet compote.

There is also a large amount of jerky on the plate, which seems to be beef or venison, and they have just the right amount of salt.

A clear cup holds a brown-yellow ale, and another cup holds a dark, slightly sweet kvass.

Seeing that the guests started to move their hands, this Indian way of eating is really indecent.

Rurik knocked on the table deliberately: “Everyone, in my territory, follow my rules. You…stop!”

The last word stopped the behavior of the horsemen.

Sakeyi quickly put on a smiling face to apologize: “Great prince, what kind of etiquette should we…”

“Of course…” Rurik thought for a while, then had an idea, “How about having dinner with guests from far away in your hometown Kyiv?”

“Us? Serve roasted daliba and salt, and have a meal of a roasted sheep by the campfire.”

Bread and salt, this set of customs of the Slavs has been formed since the ninth century?

Rurik shrugged: “If it’s just bread and salt, you’re about to taste it. What’s in front of you now is just some snacks before the meal, and the perfect meal is yet to come. Then, according to our interests, hold your Goblets, drink our Rus’ ale, and your Slavs’ favorite kvass.”

Rurik was the first to hold up the ale, implying that the Nordic Rus were the real rulers.

Otto, Medved and others raised their glasses sullenly.

This is the etiquette of the Ross people?

If they like to drink very much, I am very willing to accompany them.

Sakye drank a glass of wine happily, and watched Prince Ross raise another glass.

A delicious meal requires a little waiting, and the most important time to chat is while waiting.

As the wine enters the belly, alcohol eliminates a lot of restraint.

Rurik immediately asked about the people of Kyiv, and even about the peoples living nearby, as well as about Smolensk and Pskov.

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Sakye was having a good time, completely unaware that he had fallen into Prince Ross’ scheme.

He completely ignored the existence of the beautiful and young Queen of Rose, Svetlana, and only noticed that woman fiddled with a feather at her desk from the side of his eyes.

In reality, Svetlana was not moved by the snacks now and the big meal later. She was a noble person, so it was normal for her to attend the banquet and sit next to her husband.

There was paper, quill, and ink in front of her, and she was ordered to write down as much as possible of Sakei’s eloquent words.

Rurik’s request was not extreme. He only asked his wife to record as much as possible. It was the prince’s responsibility to sort out key information from a large amount of drooling written records.

Youdao speaks the truth after drinking, and Rurik did hear some interesting and detailed descriptions from Sakei.

A very obvious fact is before us: Kyiv and Smolensk have a blood alliance in principle, but in the current years, this alliance has become quite fragile.

Kyiv, Smolensk, and Pskov all belong to the huge Krivich tribal alliance. Its meaning is just like its name describes, and it has a strong meaning of “blood for alliance”.

The brothers and tribes who were allied by blood will gradually split up in the years to come due to scattered development, which is normal in Eastern Europe where transportation is quite difficult.

Besides, speaking of ancient history, the Ilmen Slavs also split off from the Krivichs.

Rurik had to suspect that it was because of this unauthorized split that caused the other party’s jealousy.

Can’t a hundred years eliminate hatred?

I am afraid that the hatred has dissipated long ago, but the horseman described with certainty that the residents of Smolensk were not welcoming to the Ilmen in the north.

Ma Ke can only be sure of one thing: “Our great leader wants to go to the north to do business, but no one dares to take the risk. Countless eyes are on our brother’s success or failure, and once our deal with the prince is completed, there will be more Kyiv merchants head north. We are not afraid of the tolls charged by the Smolensk, and our brothers have found another route that is less difficult but safer. If you need to sell goods, we are reliable merchants.”

Rurik was agitated, but he suppressed his excitement on the surface. He deliberately asked: “So you actually got the order from the leader.”

“No. We acted spontaneously, but the action is known to everyone.”

“Very well. I now declare your trade a success.”

Sakey was very happy when he heard it, so he said carelessly: “It’s half the battle. We want to buy…” Under the influence of alcohol, he poured all the raspberry preserves in a glass bowl into the meat glass On the plate, he held up the bowl and said: “I like this kind of tableware very much. It must be very expensive. Since we sold the horse, it is worthwhile to exchange some of this crystal tableware.”

“You… want this very much?” Rurik trembled with excitement, his whole body leaning forward.

Seeing this, Sakye misunderstood and thought that the prince was unwilling to sell, so he quickly lobbied as a businessman: “We Kyiv people often trade with the Pechenegs, exchanging wheat, linen, and slaves for their horses and iron. You are very grateful. I like horses, and I also like this crystal utensil. If you can please my leader, you will get more horses.”

Rurik narrowed his eyes suddenly: “Can you still catch slaves?”

“The Mickeys in La, and the Drevlians, etc. We caught their men and sold them, and the women, hehe, naturally they kept them as wives.”

“Slaves sold to Pecheneg’s horsemen?”

“Exactly.”

In fact, after hearing these names, Rurik could tell that they were some other Slavic tribes.

Although they are all Slavs, it is normal for the major tribal alliances to fight constantly.

They were supposed to form a unified nation, but obviously relying on their own strength, at most they could create a bunch of small emirates.

If anyone can unify them, it’s Ross!

At this stage, the Principality of Ross lacks the strength to attack the Kyiv Group, and it is only today that they have a better understanding of their situation. As for their southern neighbor, Smolensk, they still know little about it.

The Principality of Ross is already too big, like a boa constrictor swallowing a cow, it takes a long time to digest its prey.

Reality forces the principality to seize the time to rectify its internal affairs, and for a period of time it is going to hang up the card and hide its strength and bide its time.

An extremely vicious situation is clearly in front of the Principality.

The principality’s commodity dumping station in Denmark has been taken over by the enemy. How can it be cured without a stronghold for making money.

If there is no big buyer, every spring will become “squirrel fur is unsalable, help us”.

Who will come to help in the end?

Who has the financial means to help?

I’m afraid the Slavs of Kyiv will be a great savior.

Because Kyiv residents themselves are not big buyers, they can transport goods to the Pechenegs, and even sell them to Eastern Rome.

As long as they can make money as middlemen, they are willing to buy goods from Ross.

Rurik immediately slammed the table, the sound really shocked everyone.

Old Otto, who was busy shaking his head, looked up at his son and complained, “Why are you making such a loud noise!”

Rurik put on a serious face, stretched out his right hand and pointed at the bewildered Maksakey, and then laughed out loud: “I like you! You want to do business with us, and I want to do business with you too. I appreciate your chief’s desire. You may rest assured that you will return with many goods, and as for the glassware, I will sell you myself.”

“Ah! And what’s the price?”

“The price of the glassware? It won’t be so expensive that you will faint. Two glasses of wine are not enough, let’s continue to drink.”

According to Sakye’s self-report, gathering people to drink in Kyiv is a means of getting in touch.

If this behavior is a means of bonding, it is evident that it has been found all over the world.

Because the per capita food supply in Ross is extremely high due to special reasons, the cost of brewing wine has been reduced, and every household has jars to brew low-alcohol ale.

Slavic families could not help brewing ale and, by the way, kvass.

Since there is a chance to drink, it should be drunk, so the fine nectar and jade liquid are served.

Rurik was slightly drunk, and he had already thought of the grand occasion of selling goods to Kyiv to earn a lot of horses, and he drank too much for the first time.

Look at Otto and Medved again, the two of them talked about drinking, their faces were sullen, and they were all happy.

Rurik held up the glass vial, gestured to the ten horsemen with shining eyes, and shouted very loudly: “You all! Look at what this is! Open the lid, this is the water of life! It is the most perfect wine! Give me… a drink!”

Her husband was already drunk, and Svetlana felt a little uncomfortable, frowning for a moment and did not dare to stop him.

Rurik was so excited because he was drunk, he simply poured the wine into a special glass goblet, and saw that the wine was as clear as water.

It seems to be really water?

The air smells strangely of booze won’t lie.

Sakey has never had a scene where “the room is full of wine”, and the following scene has surpassed his cognition of the world.

The eyes of the ten horsemen stared like copper bells, and the eyeballs were only one step away from collapsing.

And look at Prince Rurik of Rus, the young man’s wine glass has become a torch!

Holding the burning goblet high, Rurik muttered with a sense of ceremony: “Life is like a fire. In our limited life, we should all dance like flames. The Slavs worship flames. Look at it, I hold it in my hand.” The strong wine is burning, and I will drink it. I dare say that Peron, the god of fire you believe in, will protect me, and I am indeed a great man.”

In fact, the words were a bit self-willed, and Rurik was indeed incoherent because of his excitement.

A bottle of vodka is poured into a goblet for about two taels, and the degree actually exceeds 50°.

This is an Eastern European Erguotou brewed with wheat and oats, and the taste is naturally very strong.

Rurik held up the flaming liquor and drank it in public. From the perspective of Sakye and other horsemen, he undoubtedly saw a kind of magic.

Forget it, Rurik burped deeply…

“My lord. Are you… all right?” Sakeyi said in shock.

“It’s okay, I feel very warm in my stomach. You…should try it too. If you want to do business with me, just follow my rules and don’t disappoint my expectations of you.”

The goblets were handed out one by one, the bottle caps of the spirits were pulled out, and the liquor was ignited by the flames of the oil lamps on the table.

The ten horsemen resisted at the beginning. Don’t they want to eat a ball of flames in their stomachs? If they don’t have the blessing of Vulcan, wouldn’t they be burned alive?

wait!

Rurik, the blond prince of Rus, is clearly a Varyag. He himself has been blessed by the God of Vulcan. Isn’t he a born king?

If you have a good relationship with him, will Vulcan also bless you?

Rurik made the best use of the situation this time, making the horsemen drink a glass of flaming spirits to become a badge of honor.

Sakei did it desperately, and the flaming spirits entered his stomach, and he didn’t seem to feel crazy.

As for some people, they were quite unlucky, some beards were burned off by the burning wine, but luckily they were extinguished in time and did not produce bad results.

Rurik nodded, and said in a deliberate way: “This is the most perfect wine in the world. It has the power of Vulcan. It is an enjoyment that even your leaders can’t experience. I am a benevolent prince. Since you drink it The flame wine has passed the trial of Vulcan, and the high horn cup and bottle will be rewarded to you!”

Prince Ross is so generous?

Sakye’s head had not yet been eroded by excessive alcohol to become drunk. He hastily shouted that the prince is a great saint, and even threatened to return to his hometown in Kyiv to introduce the kindness of Prince Ross to the people in his hometown.

Indeed, Rurik’s oriental soul can’t help paying attention to reciprocity.

On the surface, this is true, but in fact, he still sets up his position as a big patriarch.

Under this philosophical system, subjects are all children, and princes are the fathers of all people. Fathers naturally reward their sons more, even if they may cultivate rebellious sons.

These horsemen are the unofficial messengers of the Kyiv people, and they can even become the official messengers of the Principality of Rus.

Rurik can’t be very radical to send his own people to form a direct regiment to Kyiv. After all, it’s only been a day since I saw the Kyiv horsemen. Make a trade agreement after spring plowing.

Because spring plowing is also a good show, let Ma Ke take a good look at the farming technology of the Principality of Ross.

As the Slavs of the Kyiv community of a purely farming nation, Rurik is sure that they will be very interested in Qu Yuanli, and then there will be a peaceful sale.

Finally, the real hard dishes have completed all the complicated processing procedures.

This is a roasted deer, and the venison was brushed with honey before being roasted, but the process of brushing with honey was time-consuming and laborious.

The staple food is also baked large bread with Slavic characteristics. Instead of using rye bread, the bread slices that are presented are all baked with high-gluten wheat from British cold-resistant varieties.

It is vulgar to tear meat and take bread with your hands. At least here in the Principality of Ross, Rurik ordered all the cubs who can eat the king to observe and implement the three tableware principles of chopsticks, spoons and knives. He described eating with bare hands as stiff hands. for stupidity.

The cubs who want to compare themselves naturally don’t want to be fooled by their partners, and they eat with chopsticks honestly. As a result, after a while of training, their fingers are extremely flexible.

As for eating with a knife, there is no one else. This is the law of the ancestors of the Ross people, which cannot be changed and cannot be changed.

It’s just that everyone is busy drinking, the final amount of spirits is about four taels, which is a huge one hundred milliliters when converted into pure alcohol.

For this group of horsemen who could only drink a small amount of low-alcohol ale on weekdays, they drank such a large dose of alcohol and quickly got over their heads.

They drowsily ate the barbecue and frantically tore the big fluffy slices of bread, and they wobbled and fell down one by one.

Looking at Otto and Medved, they also slowly lay on the floor with a lot of smirks.

“Can I continue to eat like this? I’ve drunk all of it!” Rurik thought this subjectively, but his body didn’t obey.

He muttered to his wife next to him: “This time I…really drank too much. Don’t be afraid, I’m just drunk. You go…call someone. Pull everyone back to sleep.”

Forget it, he just lay his head on his wife’s lap and started snoring after a while. Svetlana, who was speechless, patted her husband’s face vigorously. Seeing that the snoring continued, she had to stand up and hurried to the gate of the palace to greet him. The guards moved the man away.

By the way, as the queen, she also ordered the guards present: “I don’t care whether you have eaten dinner or not. I will reward you with this partially eaten roasted deer. Remember not to waste food.”

[End of this Chapter]