Rise of Rurik

Grain, vegetables, flax, and a large population in desperate need of immigration, tiny Gould Island is nearly as far as it can go.

In almost all the wooden houses, a large amount of materials are piled up. The number of orphans that have been collected has reached a hundred people.

Rurik had more than half a million pounds of wheat in his hands. Since Gould had ordered some from other tribes, the total amount of wheat was approaching 600,000 pounds. This is just wheat, and the vegetables that need to be transported exceed 300,000 pounds.

The total number of personnel and materials has completely exceeded the limit of Gould's ability to organize a fleet.

As early as when buying food, everyone was sure that there would be no possibility of bringing all the supplies back to Roseburg at one time. However, when it was really about to leave, everyone felt the pressure.

Neither Rurik nor Gould wanted to prolong the time, because the weather was getting colder every day, and each day was getting closer to winter than the day before.

The only thing that makes everyone feel gratified is that the entire region has not been attacked by the autumn rain for the time being, and the Rus people who are holding a large amount of materials are facing an extremely critical transportation window period.

The planned return date is set for September 30.

Before the day came, a large number of ships were already crowded on Gould Island. The busiest pier, sailors, mercenaries, and even Ross warriors, all of them turned into porters, and began to move like ants. The burlap sack of oatmeal was thrown into the hold of the cargo ship.

The cargo ships owned by the Rus were entirely models built by Melalen shipbuilders. They have a spliced ​​thick keel, and they also have a solid body.

According to its design, merchants generally accepted that the safe load is around 8,000 pounds, which is equivalent to a little more than three tons. Of course it can carry more weight, that is, for every extra pound, the danger of sailing increases by one point.

Overweight brings a deeper draft, which also weakens the speed and flexibility of the ship.

This is not the worst, when the draft is too deep, the risk of hitting the rocks is even greater.

All fishermen generally have a fear of the vast sea, and only those who are willing to risk whaling and form a team to fish for herring will withstand the pressure and go to the open sea. Merchant ships and fishing boats like to rely on the coastline to sail, and they are willing to shuttle among the numerous islands. It is said that every time they can see the land, they feel more secure in their hearts. As everyone knows, the more islands, the more reefs, and overweight ships have been prone to hitting the reefs since ancient times.

Gould, who is an old fritter in the mall, doesn't know this,

But he also knew that he had no choice.

Rurik is basically the owner of all the goods, and Gould's property only accounts for a small part of it, but his own people have to shoulder the heavy responsibility of transportation and shoulder a huge responsibility. He wants to take risks, but also to ensure safety, contradictions Next he had to hope that Rurik would come up with some plans.

In such a predicament, Gould claimed that the best way to avoid liability was to let the owner of the cargo determine a route. He also deliberately listened to the advice of the brave Arik, after all, when it comes to sailing on the high seas, there are few people more experienced than this young man.

Every year on the return voyage, Gould routinely rushes the main personnel of the returning fleet to get together for a key meeting.

This year, it's even more important thanks to the participation of two Ross leaders.

It was a cold evening, and the atmosphere in the Gould Island Chamber was even hotter with the aroma of barbecue.

The most honorable people are Rurik and Arik. The girl Carlota has aroused her identity, and she also sat in a key position, even if she can't speak.

Some technicians with low social status also came. They are the shipbuilder Hortra and the master of the tailor's workshop, Fodgen. These two and their dependents will also form a fleet and join the great Rus people. in the fleet.

The cheerful atmosphere could not dispel Gould's hatred.

Tonight, all the spirits in his inventory were completely removed, and soon, the whole council room was full of wine.

After eating some meat and drinking a bottle of strong wine, Gould was in a good mood. He slapped the table vigorously with his thick hands: "Everyone pay attention, listen to me."

The lively scene was paused, including Arik, who happily hugged a small leg of lamb and nibbled at it, also put down the delicious food in his hand, and wiped his grease-filled mouth with his sleeve very casually.

"Now, we invite our Rurik, who was blessed by Odin, to explain the matter of returning to the voyage for everyone."

As soon as the words fell, everyone's eyes turned to Rurik, and he was already prepared for this.

As if to give a report, Rurik uttered his voice twice, raised his chin in his hands, and sat upright with a serious face.

"Everyone, it is reasonable to say that the return route is stipulated. I don't need to point fingers. We can follow the previous route and lead the huge team of merchants to return. But this time is extraordinary! Last year, we transported 230,000 pounds. Wheat, as many as 600,000 pounds of wheat need to be transported this year alone.

We are still partly following the plan last year, hiring some people with boats and a group of physically strong people who help us transport all kinds of materials.

But this year's cargo volume is too much, I do not have full confidence in those outsiders. I am afraid that if they transport it, they will steal the wheat of our Rus. Listen, I plan to arrange for every Russ person to eat wheat porridge every day for a whole year, three hundred and sixty-five days! "

Rurik's words were sonorous and forceful, and these words were mainly addressed to the sailor chiefs present. According to common sense, the sailors raised by Gould do not belong to the Ross tribe, and the Ross leader will not recognize them. Rurik suddenly promised that all family members and employees under Gould's command would be protected by the Rus if they remained loyal, and after a few more years of work, they could officially join the Rus tribe.

The clear eyes of the sailor captain trembled, and the way they smiled slightly exaggerated the ravine-like wrinkles on their faces.

"The most crucial wheat must be transported by our own people, and the rest get boats that can be hired by others. Now, we have a full balance of twenty-five cargo ships, thirty ordinary longboats, and twenty of my inferior fishing boats. I know you think that a cargo ship over eight thousand pounds is dangerous, and I'm sorry we have no choice, I now order that all cargo ships be increased to 12,000 pounds."

In fact, many people have a very vague concept of carrying weight. They know that the risk of being overweight increases, and no one pays attention to the critical point of this risk.

Rurik thought that he would get a burst of exclamation, but he couldn't think of it, only Hortra, who was good at shipbuilding, objected.

"My little master, you are taking an adventure!"

"Oh? My craftsman, I know I'm taking risks, but what can I do?"

In this matter, Hortra has the most say: "Many of the cargo ships you have now come from me. No one knows these ships better than me. I have tested its limit load, which is basically what you said. Twelve thousand pounds, but it hit a rock and sank while sailing in the lake. Do you want the wheat to be food for the herring, boy?"

Rurik wasn't angry at all. He stuck his head out. He couldn't think that this Hortra was very scientific in shipbuilding.

"Even so, I'm still going to do it. If we're afraid of hitting the rocks, we'll go far to sea."

"The risk is still very high." Hortra said cautiously. "Once there is a storm, because your ship's draft becomes too deep, a few big waves hit, and the ship will definitely sink."

"But what can be done?" Rurik said with a wry smile: "I hope to transport the materials away twice, for the purpose I can only do this. Even my inferior fishing boats have to participate in the transportation of materials. I Now it's using all the ships that can be mobilized."

Hotra held his old bones: "Since you are short of ships, the two cargo ships I have can naturally borrow you."

"Ah? Really? Why didn't you say you still have a big ship."

"You never asked me. My family can't complete a complete move this fall, and my people can go in small boats. Since you need big boats, I'll give them to you. Since you insist on being overweight, I only May we pray for good fortune. Oh, it would be better to bring those priestesses of Meralon on the day of departure, and kill a cow to be a priest."

Rurik nodded: "Forget the priest, I am the one favored by Odin. Now let's face it, our problem is that there are too few large ships. Hotra, I also hope to order larger ships from you, It's supposed to be huge. It's 12,000 pounds for a mere 12,000 pounds, and I want it to be 100,000 pounds at a time."

"Ah?! Are you serious? A bigger ship?!" Hortra said in surprise.

"I never break my promise. Listen, next spring at the latest, I want you to build me a big boat, and if you can, your family comes to Roseburg, and even if it's winter, the boat building will begin. I'm a little bit of myself in the boat building. You have to build it according to my ideas, wealth and status are naturally indispensable to you.”

Hortra hurriedly covered his heart: "Oh, that's really my honor. I'm also now in my lifetime, and I've built a huge ship that can transport 100,000 pounds."

Thinking that this man still had a big boat, Rurik immediately turned to look at Fodgen: "Friend, do you have a big boat?"

"Me? I'm sorry, I really didn't."

Fodegan's face was rather timid. He really didn't have a cargo ship on hand, but there were quite a few ordinary longboats with oars.

Since the other party didn't have a cargo ship, Rurik didn't force it. He began to formally explain the return route, and this line was also discussed with his cousin Arik.

"This time, after we left the Great Lakes, we did not simply go north. Our entire fleet was heading northeast. There is an archipelago there, which is now the sphere of influence of our Rus. The settlement of Tombstone Island is there, but the local Hundreds of brothers have settled down! Tombstone Island will be the frontline stronghold of our future crusade against the Gotlanders. If we want to manage it well, we must naturally provide enough provisions for the brothers who stay behind to help them survive the winter.

I have decided that this time the fleet will pass through the archipelago. I don't care about the danger, because we will avoid all the reefs and reach Tombstone Island directly under the leadership of the navigator Arik.

I just want those brothers to see that our Roth transport brigade, the fleet led by me, is not inferior to my father's Sorgon fleet.

I just want them to see that I, Rurik, are indeed trustworthy.

Oh, and by the way, we can also borrow the boats there to share our load pressure. "

Rurik's words in front of him were filled with righteous indignation, and everyone listened to him with all their might, and when the last sentence was reached, everyone couldn't help but be amused.

Regarding this route, Arik has a great right to speak. He took the words of his brother and said, "Brothers, have you ever known the archipelago to the northeast of Melalen? In my opinion, it was originally inaccessible, and now it is already there. Rus settlements. Listen, this year's fleet must reach the archipelago first, whether you like it or not.

This year is not a special case. Every year in the future, our fleet from Melalen must pass through the archipelago, and it is best to rest at Tombstone Island. This is not only what I meant, but what Rurik meant. "

Arik didn't get to the bottom of what he said. Rurik simply stood up and said loudly to everyone: "Everyone, for us Ross, Tombstone Island has a very critical strategic position. The inaccessible archipelago has raised our settlements. Point, it's our turf! With Tombstone Island, there's a break for the boats coming out of Lake Mälaren, and the fleet of Gorod the cowards. Even our fishermen, who go south to fish They can rest on Tombstone Island without going back to Rosburg. Also, when we start operations against the enemy, Tombstone Island is the best gathering point for our Ross warriors. With it, our warriors no longer need to Continue sailing for four days before launching an attack..."

Everyone present has understood the importance of Tombstone Island to some extent. As for how amazing its strategic value is, because they couldn't associate it, everyone watched Rurik's indignation and passively expressed their support.

The so-called meeting was, to put it bluntly, an out-and-out report meeting, and others could only agree with Rurik's decision.

Gould, Rurik and Arik have already discussed the details of the entire route.

The only thing that surprised everyone at the meeting was Rurik's regulations on the weight of cargo ships. Anyway, the property rights of the ship belonged to either Rurik or Gould. What the owner of the ship should do, others can only do it.

In fact, a practical problem has been plaguing Ross's Tombstone Island - it's really off the beaten track.

Due to the competitive pressure of the Gotland fishermen, the Mellarens probably would not venture out of the lake and into the sea, even though the leader Olegin had already sent people to build several strongholds that functioned as guard posts on the islands at the mouth of the sea. . Olegin was old, and he very much wanted the stability of the alliance under his rule, so his long-term policy was passive defense against the enemy. Only now, many internal and external pressures have hit him, making him intentionally make a difference, but not now.

Only a few people dared to enter the sea on a single Melalen fishing boat. They soon saw the strange fishing boat from a distance, and they thought that this was a Gotlander. In fact, it was a Ross fishing boat that went south to seize the living space.

As for the Gotland fishing boats, they were sunk by Arik more than forty! In the huge sea, the figure of Gotland has become rare. Even if it appeared, it was not a fishing boat, but an armed patrol boat sent by Gotland's wealthy family. Even these boats did not dare to rush north.