Rise of Rurik

The fishing boats were bought, but when Rurik started inspecting the boats himself the next day, he somewhat regretted his hasty decision.

Yevro reviewed his mercenary captain's responsibilities, and now his biggest job is to serve as Rurik's personal bodyguard.

He followed Rurik, and more than twenty other mercenaries, dragging the ropes on the shoulders, shouting the number to further tow all the fishing boats to a unified position.

It was afternoon, and the gentle sun shone across the fjord. The weather was very pleasant, but Rurik was a little displeased by the multitude of ships in front of him.

Looking at these fishing boats, of course, they were built with the usual shipbuilding techniques of Viking tribes. The layers of dry wooden boards were soaked in seawater and swelled, and the gaps were smeared with turpentine, and the whole boat remained closed.

Rurik's little hand touched the old dark hull, and he could clearly see a lot of scratches on the wooden board, and even signs of aging and cracking.

What bothered him even more was that the hull was too thin in general.

He was walking around a small fishing boat about five stika lengths (nearly five meters) under Yevlo's watch, and soon noticed some unusual holes in the boat's board.

"Yavlo!"

"exist!"

"These ships..." Rurik wanted to say something, but now he didn't bother to say it.

"Sir." Yevlo approached and asked tentatively.

"It's nothing, you take me aboard, I want to see the structure inside."

"As ordered."

Without a ladder, Rurik could not have climbed directly onto the boat on his own. He was held up by Yevroto, then rolled over and entered the cabin.

Rurik sits on a relatively flat plank at the bottom of the boat, this is not really a deck, it's just a plank laid so that fishermen can stack their catches smoothly, and even have a flat spot when floating at sea Rest on your side.

Although the interior of the ship was not completely straight, a standing column full of wood shavings immediately caught Rurik's attention.

He immediately put his hands on the side of the boat and asked Yevlo: "What's the matter? Where's the mast of the boat? You cut it down?!"

Yevro hesitated for a moment,

He hurriedly replied: "Sir, we cut it."

"Why?! A good sailing fishing boat is now a paddle boat."

"This..." Yevlo wanted to say that this was what Arik ordered. Considering that the man was his master's brother, it was obviously unwise to blame him.

Yevluo had a good reason, and it was also Arik's reason: "Sir, we can't take care of so many sailboats. In order to avoid confusion when returning to the voyage, all the masts were cut off. As for those canvases, the brothers of Tombstone Island cut them off. Take it to make clothes."

"Making clothes? It's amazing." Rurik was taken aback, then Hunter grinned helplessly. "They are already so poor? You haven't looted many good things? How is it possible."

"My lord, they are indeed...really poor. I'm sorry I offended them."

"It doesn't matter." Rurik waved his hand, then raised his small head and sighed: "Alas! Twenty boats are all broken boats. Those Gotlanders, are they fishing with these broken boats?"

"Yes, their ships are terrible. Your lord, maybe you spent four thousand silver..."

Rurik immediately stopped Yevlo: "I know you're going to say that I wasted money. It doesn't matter, I've always been a trustworthy person."

In the two-month-long robbery battle, Arik and his outspoken Ross army were the main force in the battle, and Yevlo and his mercenary brothers assisted in principle. Based on this principle, even if twenty of them carry a crossbow and launch a salvo from the enemy fishing boat, basically a single blow will hit the fishing boat with no actual deck, very thin wood, and no effective defense throughout the body. Permission to share loot.

During the long fighting period, Yevlo and his people were completely the tool people under Aric.

After all, he was a mercenary, and he had to obey his master's orders in doing this.

So Arik really used Yevlo and others as tools. They floated at sea almost every day, and the so-called rewards were only fish meat and distilled fresh water. For other Rus people, they can often rest on Tombstone Island and digest the spoils they have caught as soon as possible.

Anyway, to be mercenaries, Yevlo and his brothers are more willing to be Rurik's mercenaries. As for the suffering, blood and sweat and unfair treatment at Arik's hands, they swallowed the suffering themselves.

In any case, Yevlo didn't like the captured fishing boats.

Of course, in the looting battle, most of the enemy ships were destroyed in the first place, and the best quality ships became the treasures of the settlers of Tombstone Island. Rurik.

Yevlo regrets his master.

"These boats are terrible. Since you need boats, why not just hire local boat builders? There's plenty of wood for boat building in the mountains here. You can make better ones. Why use Gotland's broken boats?" ."

"I just need it now," Rurik corrected himself.

"Sir, don't you... do you expect me to take my brothers and drive these boats to fish? Oh, you look down on me too much." Saying that, Yevro smiled heartily.

"What's wrong with that? You're a Finn, and the rest of the brothers are almost all Meralen. You all know how to row and fish."

"But we are warriors."

"I know. But you all get old one day! When you are old and can't fight with weapons, what do you do? You have to continue to fish to support yourself."

"Then die in the last battle." Yevlo joked, "The beliefs of those people are about fighting to the death."

"Can you? Are you a warrior of Odin?"

"I don't care. You know, I'm a Finn, and thanks to your lord's concern, if I'm too old to lift a sword, please let me stay with those Kewen people. I have more of a common language with them."

Rurik couldn't hold back his smile. He was still lying on the boat, looking at Yevro: "These broken boats can continue to be pushed into the sea to fish anyway, and they can paddle without sails. Yevro, you and your brothers have both. On the old day, if that day comes, don't worry, I will not forget your achievements when you were young. I will reward you with fishing boats, you can fish by yourself and continue to live. If you are really old enough that you can't even fish , you still don't have to worry. I will send someone to reward you with fresh fish every day until you naturally come to the end of your life."

Rurik's words, Yevlo, were unheard of, and he was moved, but still absurd.

The conversation between the two gradually attracted some mercenaries who had finished dragging the ships. They gathered and quickly realized the wonder of Rurik's words.

Because, his master is talking about a thing that no one has ever considered - old age.

Talking about old age in ancient times? It is an unrealistic luxury.

It's not that Rurik didn't know this. In fact, it's not that he was unwilling to do it, but that he was forced to do it in an era of poor productivity.

The ancients of the East have a saying, the journey of the road, the widows, the lonely and the disabled are all supported. This is the philosophical thought put forward very early in the eastern world, and it is also the theoretical basis for exploring the feasibility of building a harmonious society.

However, the Western world has been in a "jungle ecology" for a long time. The so-called concept of social relief and old-age care is really a miraculous thing for the kingdoms established by a group of barbarians. Even if they generally believe in God, they still believe that helping the poor is the work of the priest, and weddings and funerals are also managed by the priest. Finally, the nobles are more concerned about whether the land tax has been obtained.

Therefore, for a tribe with a more backward civilization such as the Ross tribe, Rurik has long been trying to change something.

Now Rurik doesn't bother to mention to Yevlo his attacks on tribal governance, such as organizing a group of widows and impoverished women to buy labor for their tailoring jobs; hiring a group of elderly men to buy them logging and construction labor.

Especially for the orphans of the whole tribe, and even all the young children, both male and female, Rurik controlled them all, training their bodies, educating their minds, and giving them better food.

Since the death rate of men and women in the tribe rises rapidly after the age of 50, the Rus people do not need to consider the issue of old age.

Therefore, a withered old woman like High Priest Veria, who is now seventy-four, is a miracle of life.

But Rurik had to think about some things in advance, that is, the tribes under his rule, as people's living standards began to improve, so did their lifespans. Especially with the widespread use of soap and the appearance of newer and warmer Novgorod woodcuts, the health of the tribe has improved significantly.

Although everyone still believes that everyone has their own destiny, now the leader can properly take care of the children of the tribe, and if he can also take care of the elderly of the tribe, then the power of the leader can be further supported.

From the very beginning, Rurik did not trust the myth of the so-called "son of Odin" to maintain his prestige for a long time. Perhaps he was indeed the "son of Odin". However, what the real clansmen need most is always sufficient food and warmth. residence and clothing.

Seeing his mercenaries gathered, Rurik was a small talker, and now he has to take it seriously.

It used to be an imagination, and now Rurik feels the need to draw a giant pie for these guys who work for themselves before they get old.

Rurik immediately stood on the bow and said loudly: "Brothers, you are young and powerful now, but you must also think about what to do when you are old."

Everyone looked at each other, because no one really thought about it.

"What do they do?" a mercenary said carelessly, "We will work for you, and you will give us money, that's all. If we are rewarded by you for our military exploits, and become members of the Ross tribe, we will be the greatest of us. pleasure."

"Torr? That's all you want?"

"Otherwise?" Yevro shrugged. "My lord, do you really want to implement your words? Reward your brothers with fish and meat every day in a few decades?"

As soon as Yevluo finished speaking, everyone burst into laughter.

It's clear that these guys are obviously indifferent to their future.

Then someone laughed and said: "We are all soldiers, how can we get old? Maybe we will die in the next battle."

"That's right! As long as we can bury our dead, or burn them into ashes, that's fine."

Of course, some people think that if they are lucky enough to live to the day when they can't hold an axe or a sword, and can still get the reward of the master of Rurik, then they will bless the master's family in another world to prosper forever.

So no one doubts that the rich Rurik is bragging. They really don't think so much about their future. The so-called day is a day.

Only a young mercenary said carelessly: "Sir, as long as you reward me with a woman, I will fight for you for the rest of your life, no matter what kind of battle."

I'm afraid this is the only thing a mercenary can't say!

Yevluo slapped the boy on the head directly: "You are an idiot. How can you make such a request to the adults?"

"He's right!" Rurik slapped the boat gang to attract everyone's attention: "Don't you just want women? All right! You are loyal to me, you are my fighters now, and you will be my fighters in the future. You promise that when you have fought for me for five years, I will find beautiful young women for you as wives. You will bear me more boys, and your sons will continue to be my warriors. When you are old, Don't worry, you'll get some food until the end."

Everyone believed that Rurik would not break his promise. This kid was never a liar. He had already fulfilled too many promises. He must have fulfilled what he said solemnly now.

In this regard, Yevluo was very happy in his heart, but did not show the excitement on his face.

On the contrary, the other mercenaries stomped their feet, shouted Rurik's name, and praised his greatness.

The inspection of fishing boats encountered such a small episode, after which Rurik thought about the feasibility of implementing these matters.

Anyway, in this era, the highest level of thinking about the elderly is that when you are too old, you can get some food that will not starve to death. After all, no one wants to die, everyone wants to live forever. Once strong and proud warriors, they would rather die in battle than commit suicide in old age.

If the reward of some fish is considered as old age, the financial expense of this kind of old age is too small.

Rurik decided, according to this standard, he felt that he could simply build some nursing homes, especially for the old guys who had fought all his life, continue to take care of them until they died of natural causes, and finally encircle a piece of land as a cemetery for veterans to bury.

In the final analysis, Rurik felt that only by doing so could he obtain self-satisfaction and the support of the elite warriors.

That's right, a young soldier recruited, because he fought for the master, he got his own woman, house, and even a living industry that he could engage in after retiring at an old age. The master is also responsible for the end-of-life pension.

With such good things, Rurik couldn't believe that they didn't die.

Rurik saw that the young warriors of the tribe were all supporting the battle hero's cousin Arik, what could he do? The little warriors under his command, even if there are girls, are only more than 300 at present. They are all children!

Facing his cousin, Rurik really felt a hint of worry. All he could think of was to recruit more fighters, especially fighters from other tribes in the same alliance, and give them good treatment in order to make them die.

The more he thought about it, the more Rurik felt that the motivating slogan of the ancient generals, "robbing money, food, and women" seemed vulgar and even ugly, but it actually had underlying logic. In particular, a bunch of tribal warriors from the Ross tribe are more appropriate to describe them as pirates than warriors.

After all, the order was given to Gould, who was going south to do business. Presumably this year, the old guy will arrive at Roseburg with a large amount of living materials and a group of people at the end of August and early September. At that time, a new batch of mercenaries will definitely join the team, as well as a batch of poor children.

At that time, I am afraid there will be another problem. Rurik is a little worried that the old mercenaries will see the newcomers with the same salary as themselves, and they will inevitably have opinions, even if they keep it in their hearts.

What should I do? Salary increase!

As a result, Rurik quickly increased the salary of his mercenaries. The so-called ordinary mercenary's monthly salary is ten silver coins, and now it has risen to fifteen. For someone like Yevro, the salary has risen to thirty silver coins.

Of course, getting more pay means that the mercenaries continue to do hard and boring work in times of peace. Usually they do logging work, so they can exercise their physical fitness, and they can earn a little money for Rurik through wood processing and sales, thereby reducing some net expenses.

The mercenaries have a new job, which is to use the captured ships to go fishing in the sea.

After all, most of the mercenaries were fishermen themselves. They were too poor in their hometown of Melalen, because they couldn't compete with their elder brothers for the family business, and they were not recruited by Melalen leaders to be private soldiers, so they had to go out alone. In their hearts, the Rus people are giving themselves a chance to develop, even if the master is a child and there are magical legends, anyway, the master is really giving real silver coins and good weapons, they thank themselves 's master.

So when Rurik asked them to take turns being fishermen in peacetime, everyone was very satisfied. If you are a little dissatisfied, the boat you use is too old.

Everyone complained that the Gotlanders used the island's poor-quality wood to build wrecked boats, but there were only such boats on hand.

In fact, Rurik arranged all twenty ships!

There are some elderly men in the Ross tribe. They are only in their forties, and they are aging more seriously. They can no longer go to the battlefield, and the work of logging and fishing is not very important.

Rurik soon signed a contract with some people, that is, as many as fifteen fishing boats were rented out, and as for the rent, it was completely paid with half of the catch.

For the time being, because of the simple folk customs of the tribal residents, Rurik didn't have to worry that these charterers only paid less than half of the fish because of their conscience.

As for the other five boats that were used by the mercenaries in turn, all the catches naturally belonged to Rick. Even so, the mercenaries are still working hard, because they know that they are not fishing for the master, but the rations of the mercenary brothers! They feel that it is reasonable to fish and eat for the brothers, so that in future battles, because of the friendships established in these lives, they will have brothers guarding their backs.

The captured fishing boats are finally starting to show their worth!

Rurik also personally selected the tenants for chartering the boat. He chose fishermen who only had worse boats at home. They were trying to catch fish by saving money to order new fishing boats. Now they can lease Rurik’s boats for a long time. Fortunately, I did another financial calculation and found that my standard of living would improve. So is there any reason not to sign a contract?

Rent fishing boats to obtain catches, Rurik is such a purpose, it can be said that only in this matter, Rurik has become a "classical landlord" in the true sense. However, Rurik did not need to sell the fish caught by the fishermen, and even Rurik gave priority to buying the remaining catch of the charter fishermen. All the catch is eaten by the children, so what is the result?

Its benefits are obvious.

Even due to the underdeveloped technology of the fishing industry in the current era, the number of fishing boats can be piled up and the yield of fish can be increased.

The total amount of food Rurik gave to his children did not change, but Rurik's economic expenses did drop significantly!

What's more interesting is that because Rurik sent the captured fishing boats with strange letters on wooden sticks, all twenty boats had hull numbers on their bows.

The so-called hull numbers are from "RFB01" to "RFB20". Its meaning is very simple, R stands for Ross, FB stands for fishing boat.

They are Rurik's boats, and other fishing boats do not dare to disturb the operations of these fishermen in order to avoid suspicion, which brings another interesting effect-the average catch of Rurik's fishing boats is higher than that of their peers. .