Rise of Rurik

Rurik had long expected that the leaders of the alliance and even the people of Meralen had a huge demand for leather, and if they knew where to get the best leather, adventurers would rush in. Although driven by huge interests, adventurers will unconsciously ignore risks. Rurik still had to put the stigmatization in the front, the so-called outline of a terrifying picture of a bear hunt, so that pretenders would be discouraged.

In fact, as long as you observe carefully, the leader can find strange holes in the bear skin. It was nothing else, it was the result of the crossbow's arrow.

In the past, the warriors swarmed up, and the bear hunting method with spears and javelins was weak.

Today, the Rus people use steel-armed crossbows to precisely aim at the key points of bears, and shoot pointed conical arrows to easily complete the hunt. Even those Kewen people who are generally short and physically weak, they can control the winch to wind the crossbow, and they can also use means such as ambush to complete the bear hunt at an unprecedented "long distance".

The situation was as Rurik had expected, and Olegin's expression was clearly expressing that the person's thoughts about the moment he sent people to hunt bears in person suddenly went out again.

Rurik continued to strike while the iron was hot: "Great leader, I can say that almost every bear skin that arrives in Melalen has the death of a warrior behind it. The two skins you have are the blood of our Rus people. It was paid for, and my father gave it to Carlotta in exchange for your recognition of Ostara."

"It's this matter again, needless to say, I have already admitted Carlotta's identity. Rurik, maybe the matters we are talking about now require your father to sit in person."

"Is that necessary?" Rurik asked.

"Perhaps not necessary, unless you have your father's authorization. Listen, this is a trade between our two tribes, and I need someone who speaks. Are you…are you honest?"

"Lord, are you suspicious of me?" Rurik simply looked at the high ceiling and swore: "The gods are watching, I have the sincerity of doing business! I have been authorized by the leader of Ross to conduct long-term trade with the Melalen people. , I will not, and I will not dare to cut off each other's trade because of some boring things."

This is not so much an oath, it is better to say that Rurik beat Olegin with words.

Olegin nodded; "In this case, our business can continue. Listen, in the past, it was only the businessmen who did business spontaneously, this time it is the union of our two tribes, my family, and your family. Do business directly."

Rurik's eyes were very determined. He knew that if both Melalen and Rus were promoted to city-states, of course, in terms of economic and political development, both of them had already entered the era of city-states. The transaction between the two parties is an official trade, and this bilateral trade is of great significance.

For the Baltic world, which is very dependent on trade, stable bilateral trade is the key to the rise and fall of a clan, city-state. Even a tribe like Melalen that has begun to self-sufficiency changes, some key materials are extremely dependent on imports. For a long time, the largest supplier of leather has been the Ross tribe. Rurik learned that they are now in great need of cutting-edge iron weapons. With such a powerful trump card, Rurik's tough statement just now was to rely on it as a strong foundation.

This is especially true for the Ross tribe, especially now, in order to meet the great promise of giving the tribesmen to eat wheat year after year, before the eastern regions harvest a lot of wheat, the tribe needs to import wheat from Melalen and from Novgorod. Germany's larger-scale looting.

"Let's continue to talk about leather." Olegin put down the bear skin: "If you can get more white bear skins, what price are you willing to pay?"

"This..." Rurik was stunned for a moment. When it comes to money, the price is really hard to say.

A problem that has plagued everyone for a long time is the price of various commodities. Due to the circulation of various currencies, these precious metal currencies are of various colors, forcing businessmen to become masters of mathematics.

One strategy for bargaining is to make yourself the decision maker of last resort and throw the trouble of indecision on the other side.

Rurik asked back: "You Melalonians are the buyers of these goods. Alliance Lord, please set a price, but I have to tell you that behind most of the bear skins is the life of a bear hunter."

"Oh, are you asking the price of human life? If it were me, I would have trained some slaves to hunt bears. After all, they are slaves, and those Briton male slaves are also good. They die when they die, like a male slave. Fifty silver coins. Well, if you bring in new bear skins, fifty silver coins."

"Ah?" Rurik was taken aback and immediately retorted; "How can you compare slaves and warriors?"

"But some slaves who are promised their freedom can also become brave warriors. Rurik, you may not yet understand this as a young man."

Rurik doesn't understand? Do not! In fact, he is very clear, and is training his subordinates according to this routine. Most of the young children were servants and slaves, who ate Rurik and wore Rurik, and they had to work hard for their masters.

"No, fifty silver coins is too little."

Olegin squeezed out a faint smile: "Well, the bear head is another matter. I will pay twenty silver coins. As long as you process it so that it can be put on your head, I will pay such a price."

Rurik pursed his lips. In fact, the price had exceeded his expectations. In order to get more profits, Rurik deliberately said: "Great leader, are you being stingy? The price you gave is too low, and my warriors dare not take risks! They would rather catch ferrets everywhere, Zhang Mink sells six or seven silver coins, and if he catches ten ferrets, at least he will not be killed by ferrets. But the bear..."

"Then your price?"

"One hundred silver coins! One hundred. I know you have enough money to pay." Rurik said tentatively.

Olegin was short of money, but to buy some rare goods, this expense did not hurt or itch for him.

"this price……"

"Still expensive? Depends on how hard we went to get it."

"Then it's settled like this, a white bear skin, with a bear head, you bring a set and I'll buy a set."

Hearing that, Rurik was overjoyed, and on the bright side, he deliberately put on a somewhat embarrassed and helpless look, "reluctantly" to accept the price.

However, the problem was not over yet, Olekin put forward a very realistic condition: "Listen, since you are going to hunt bears, you are taking risks. I admire the courage of your warriors, so you can only bring one bear skin. The buyer, that's me! I order you in the name of the leader of the alliance to forbid selling bear skins to other tribes in the alliance, and forbid you to sell it to a big household."

Rurik didn't even hesitate, and hurriedly nodded in agreement.

Whether Olegin is trustworthy, Rurik believes that he will not overdraw his credit for some bearskins. A polar bear skin with a bear head costs as much as a pound of silver, which is really extreme. The price was proposed by himself and supported by Olegin. Presumably if someone changed it, the other party would definitely haggle the price, and ordinary families simply had no financial resources to expect to own it.

Olegin was satisfied with Rurik's decisiveness, pinching his beard and thinking about something.

After all, the Melalen tribe needs a lot of fur. The allies in the south, including the cattle and sheep farmers of this tribe, provide some common leathers of relatively large scale, such as deer skin, fox skin, ferret skin, and even now. Of the polar bear hides, the Ross clan monopolized the majority of the supply.

Through the conversation with Rurik, Olegin knew that the Rus people went to Sorgon in the east to open up a new source of leather. The hardest work was left to the Rus, and the Mellarens paid for the finest leather from afar.

Olekin knew his tribe too well, the tribe entered a long period of peace, everyone lived in a stable life for a long time, and the brave began to become slack. The disaster of the Ostara tribe gave the tribe a heavy blow, which made everyone realize that they need to be prepared for danger. Olegin began to build some defensive facilities, and based on this factor, he began to reorganize his troops.

These moves have further restrained the Melalen tribe.

Olegin wanted to send someone to follow the Rus' fleet and go to the Eastern World to get a piece of the pie, considering the risks involved, but he gave up as soon as he thought of it. If because of this decision, losing some people in the unknown world is equivalent to saying that your strength is damaged, how can you control the hegemony of the tribe, and even the hegemony of the entire alliance?

It seems that he has supreme power, but his pressure is not ordinary. Perhaps, seeing all his private soldiers wearing chain mail and holding the best swords provided by the Rus, he is really at ease with such a lot of martial arts. .

Olegin then changed the subject and talked about a very crucial issue of reality, which was also something that aroused his strong curiosity.

"Every year, my tribe has a large number of merchants who bring their families to your extremely cold Roseburg, isn't it an extremely cold world? You have attracted them with some treasures. Your treasures can't be hidden from me. "

Rurik didn't know what medicine this person was selling in the gourd, so he made a fuss with Wei She and asked the leader to continue talking.

"The merchants who came back told me some news, you Rus people will make the best swords, spears, and axes. Needless to say, a lot of leather, you are still selling a lot of soap and flammable spirits in the past two years, Even a lot of cherished glassware. Where did you get it? Wouldn't it be from the east where you call Novgorod?"

what! Is this guy still coveting the east?

Rurik didn't know what to say for a while, and he smirked helplessly.

"Don't play stupid to me. The merchant told me that you made these. Rurik!" Olegin suddenly became serious.

"what!"

"As the leader of the alliance, I ask you to come up with a method."

"Ah?!" Rurik was shocked, and really didn't know how to answer.

Olegin continued to persecute: "Please give me the method of making these utensils."

Rurik's face changed in an instant, and he reckoned that if Gould was present, the old fox-like guy would definitely be able to use some words to round up the field.

This is something that must not be backed down. If the Rus people agree, how big is the technological advantage of Rus over other tribes?

But it might be a little unwise to say no outright, and downright stupid to agree with him. What else can I do? Do Tai Chi first.

Rurik had come to his senses, this Olegin was full of aggressiveness by nature, and this person did not like simple looting. His appeal showed his thirst for technology.

Maybe this guy controls a particularly belligerent clan, and he can lay down a huge territory. Fortunately, the will of the Melalen people cannot be easily changed because of an alliance leader.

Rurik deliberately said: "If the people of Melalen are willing to learn, of course ... yes. But I think powerful people disdain to do these things, like making soap, making glass, he is more than Tanning leather is even harder."

"Huh? Then let the slave do it, and the slave will die if he dies."

"It still won't work." Rurik shook his head, although he heard it awkwardly: "The so-called slave, or the stupidest person, or the coward on the battlefield, is this kind of person really reliable? Great alliance leader, all this is Like hunting bears, the most threatening work is done by us Russ, you get the best bear skins. We can make high-quality items in the worst environment, and as long as you need it, we will produce and supply you in large quantities every year. As long as you are willing to pay us a sum of money that we are satisfied with."

"It's a lot of money." Olegin waved his hand, he could see that Rurik meant to refuse, but he didn't dare to say it outright. The other party should not respond, and it is obviously not appropriate for him to force it. He estimated that the Russ would not give in in such a matter.

"Okay, I don't force you. Let's talk about another tool, it seems that you didn't bring it with you."

Rurik let out a sigh of relief. He was thankful that Olegin didn't ask questions, otherwise he would have to take a tough stance to refuse, and the scene would be tit-for-tat again. He hurriedly asked, "What is that?"

Olegin smiled and sighed: "A businessman told me that you use iron to make bows, and they are powerful, and the arrows you fire can easily penetrate the hull."

"Ah, you said it? Great leader, do you really believe it?" Rurik also showed a slight smile, that is, his heart was already running at a high load.

"You ask me if I believe it? I will, Rurik, I believe you do."

Olegin's slightly outstretched head, in Rurik's view, how could it be a judge?

Any weapon, only the crossbow, is the last thing Rurik wants to be controlled by foreigners. If this type of weapon technology is destined to spread widely, it must be monopolized by the Rus for at least half a century. Fortunately, regarding this matter, when he was on Gould Island, Gould who was inquired about some news reflected that he was vaccinated.

Rurik flatly denied: "No! Iron can make a bow? Isn't it strange? Unless a hound grows wings and flies in the sky, unless a ship sails by itself without wind and no oars, and unless a man can give birth to a child, iron can make it. bow."

"Hahaha!" Olegin laughed wildly, and he straightened his body: "I'll just say, those businessmen's words are not credible, they are businessmen, they always like to exaggerate, Rurik, you are the most honest."

Olegin was laughing, and Rurik hadn't figured out the situation, so he laughed with him for the time being.

"How come I didn't see it before, you are a little funny to talk about. You satisfy me more than your brother. Otto really has a good and good son."

"Oh, thank you for your compliment." Rurik slightly hooked his head and said that was really awkward to hear.

"Very well. Listen, you will serve me in the future, and you, Carlotta of Ostara, you will all submit to me, but also to my son. Karl is destined to inherit my power, I I heard, Rurik, you also want to inherit the power of the Ross tribe? Very good, now you have met my Karl, and he will be your leader in the future."

Although the son does not make people worry, considering the power of the family, Olegin has reason to introduce his only son to various leaders. He needs to get more clan support for himself, since Ross's successor is here, and then the meeting to discuss trade matters, Olegin by the way expresses his hopes.

He delusionally imagined that the Rus people who were eager to do business would support Karl without hesitation in order to take care of the overall situation.

However, there was an unexpected deviation in his estimates.

It's not the Rus people who Olegin misjudged, but Carl who completely miscalculated himself is really reckless.