Chapter 1,346 Rewards for Those Who Lead the Way

Now Rurik found out why the merchant from Pskov stayed in Riga throughout the winter.

It’s not just about doing business to make a fortune, it’s also about survival.

Because the Gulf of Riga contains salt, a vital commodity for Pskov locals.

The entire Baltic Sea has extremely low salt content. Even the Gulf of Riga, which is located in the Eastern Mediterranean, has a salt content of only seven thousandths.

The west coast of Jutland faces the sea, and the water is saltier than the water on the east coast. The Danes know this, but they don't yet know the secret.

This extremely low salinity of sea water does not prevent people in Riga from boiling the sea to make salt.

It's just a matter of adding more firewood, not to mention that the most important thing in this area is trees.

The efficiency of sea boiling in Riga is terrible. However, because it is colder here, ordinary people do not have much opportunity to sweat profusely. Only a small amount of salt is enough to maintain daily life.

No one in the coastal area thinks that salt is a precious thing. When a family boils a pot of brine, the crystallized sodium chloride precipitates and sticks to the wall of the pottery jar. The remaining bitter brine is poured out, and the salt block is peeled off. , such coarse sea salt is enough to live for a long time.

Everything is based on experience, and also comes from people's testing with the tip of their tongues. When you feel that the precipitated salt blocks do not have a bad bitter taste, it is considered good salt. Even if it tastes a little bitter, it doesn’t matter, everyone can tolerate it.

Salt, which is considered commonplace by locals in Riga, is precious in Pskov.

The Pskov people live on the shore of the Great Lake, and there are no natural salt mines in the area. Although the salt can be replenished from milk, it is not as satisfying as replenishing salt directly from salt blocks.

In the perception of Pskov

, the nearest salt exchange place is in Riga.

The rulers of Pskov were also Danish immigrants, who together with the local Krivi tribe built a large settlement called Pskov. Riga has a community of Danish immigrants who share a common language, so there is no need to worry about hurting each other when doing business.

In the Slavic context, Pskov means "the ford where two rivers meet."

There are indeed two rivers that flow into the lake at adjacent locations. The rivers nourish a lakeside plain with rich water and grass, which is excellent for growing wheat and grazing.

The locals in Pskov have a very limited understanding of the structure of the earth. So far, only one expedition has accidentally encountered the Rus' cavalry and entered the Rus' capital deep in the Gulf of Finland.

That encounter was purely an accident. Since Rurik was the person involved, the incident had a strong legendary color and he could not help but remember it freshly.

Several explorers spent the whole winter in New Roseburg. Since these people had names that were too common in Northern Europe, when Rurik mentioned the names of those people, Olafin immediately remembered them and explained them. An explorer's experience after returning to Pskov.

The cordial talks continued, and Rurik and Olafin became more and more congenial as they chatted.

"Haha, so your leader Gore is very interested in our Ross. Since he intends to form an alliance, I should really seize the opportunity to participate in this grand event with him."

Completely relaxed, Orafin became more casual and continued to compliment: "The generosity of King Rus has long been spread in Pskov. It was just a legend at first. Now that the king treats an ordinary traveling businessman like me so favorably, everything has been confirmed. The legend is true.”

"Of course, sir

Tribes that submit to Rus will have a better life. You should know that Ross will not use his power unless necessary. Of course, Ross has never been afraid of war. "

These words had a faint threatening nature, Rurik did not understand the words clearly, and the clever Orafin also fully understood the meaning. The King of Rus is hinting at one thing, that Pskov and Rus can form an alliance, but this alliance will end with Pskov being merged into the Kingdom of Rus.

This is like a marriage. Pskov married into Russia, so it cannot betray or break away from Russia in the future. If it wants to become independent, it will encounter a military crusade from Russia.

They are all smart people, and it would be bad if they spoke too clearly, because everyone needs some decency.

Olaf concealed his inner calculations with a smile. He hesitated for a while and then asked: "Then the great King of Rus, when Pskov surrenders to the King of Rus, how will you treat our boss? Is it like you did in Riga? Are the things you’ve done so ordinary?”

"A knighthood? Of course. I will make Goyle an earl. What do you think?"

"Me?" Olafin shook his head: "I'm just an ordinary businessman, how can I have any feelings?"

"You? Are you still an ordinary businessman?" Rurik shook his head, "I don't allow ordinary people to see me. You are a boyar now, you are a lower-level noble."

Boyar, whose original meaning is "leader's attendant", through the information he has learned in Riga in the past few months, Olafin has a general understanding of the Russian aristocratic system.

The nobles were divided into four levels, the highest being the king, the "ruler of the entire territory."

The next level is the Duke and the Prince,

This is a word borrowed from the Roman world, the first citizen. Those who can hold such titles in Rus are currently the Duke of Ostara and the small principalities in Sweden. Even the chief title of the King of Rus is also a duke. All of this came from the great tetrarchy of the old Swedish king ten years ago, and Ross inherited the legacy of that year in this regard.

The next level is count, or "war chief". Olafin knows this word very well, because the ruler of Pskov, Gore, is his "war chief" in the eyes of local Danish immigrants. It is accepted by everyone as a title term.

But there is also a title called "Governor" in Ross, which has the same status as an earl. However, the title cannot be freely hereditary. In principle, these governor-general areas are directly managed by the king. However, because the king cannot handle everything, some powers are divided. To cronies. The king retains the power to withdraw power at any time.

The most inferior one is the "boyar", which is of course meant to be a servant. In Rigaros, King Rus suddenly made a large enfeoffment to the village leaders, and all the village chiefs in Latvia became boyars.

Orafin himself became a boyar, and he understood what it meant.

"So, if you make me a boyar, will you grant me a fief?" he asked tentatively.

"Fiefdom? Of course there will be. I have an idea."

"Your Majesty, you can say whatever you want."

Rurik tilted his head slightly and looked at Olafin's face clearly: "Only you know the path from Pskov to Riga best, and our army will also need you as a guide next. Our trade will be more frequent in the future, I think , maybe we should build a trade route between Pskov and Riga

Build a new city. "

This hint was already very obvious. Orafin pointed at his face: "Does the king want me to build a new city?"

"Exactly."

"This..." Orafen looked obviously troubled, and the ceremony was unclear.

"It seems that I am making things difficult for you." Rurik shook his head again: "In other words, just naming you a boyar is not enough. Let's do this! If you successfully build a city, I will recognize you as a count. You don't want to Is it under the name of Gore who has lived in Pskov for a long time? Think about your future and your family. I will give you the opportunity to develop your family. If you are smart, don’t miss it? "

It would be foolish for him to give in at this point, so Olafen had no choice but to bite the bullet and agree.

Rurik nodded: "Now you are Boyar, and when you complete the task, you will be the count. Sometimes the name and title are more important than the actual territory."

"As you command, I will complete the task of leading the way." Olafen thanked him at the end.

Because during the meeting, Olafin had described the road to Pskov to Rurik. The road involved waterways and land operations, especially through a swampy forest area. In short, it was a tortuous road.

The cost of communication between Pskov and Riga is relatively high, but in order to get salt, some people are willing to take risks.

To Orafin's surprise, in King Rus's concept Lipskov should have been more easily connected to Novoros Fort by water. Just because King Rus described a path that the people of Pskov had never heard of yet - all the way north in the Great Lakes area until they reached a river leading to the sea, but this river was not the Luga River.

It is as if King Rus knew the structure of the earth and the vast universal

Skow Lake is directly connected to the sea by a waterway.

King Rus said it with all his heart, so it must be true.

The Russian army will no longer stay in Riga, and the army is about to leave.

After a conversation, "Nightwalker" Orafin left the scene with complicated emotions after learning a huge amount of information. Rurik did not treat him badly. After giving him a sumptuous supper, he told him to give up his plan to go home in the spring and hurry up. Time to prepare your luggage and go to Pskov with the Russian army.

…

"He left." Beyathil, who had been a bystander, muttered silently.

Rurik, relieved of his burden, breathed a sigh of relief: "Yes."

"You make him an earl...is it really appropriate? He is just a traveler."

"Are you unhappy?"

"How dare I. It's just that... I am your Earl of Demyansk, and I am your woman, so I have such qualifications. But that person is not even a relative of yours, why do you bother? A boyar is enough It’s a huge blessing.”

Rurik was embarrassed to say that he had indeed given Orafin the title of Count because of his sudden hot-headedness.

He had no choice but to pat his forehead and make amends: "After all, we need a relay station for future trade. I have already thought of it, since Olafin mentioned a lake in Lubans Lake, let him be the local earl. There is a vast area there. With the vacant land, he can attract some immigrants to build a city. Of course, he can also choose not to do it, but in that case... the title will become a joke."

"You." Beyathil almost stopped, thinking of her current status as Countess Demyansk. If she didn't take her cronies to build a settlement in the Hafen River, her title would become a joke.

She deliberately

Asked: "So I am the same as that Orafin, and my county is also a relay station? In this way, the people of Lake Ilmen can pass through my county and reach Lake Valdai in the east smoothly. That Ora So does Finn."

"Yes. Olanfen will be the count of Lake Lubans. In the future, if Mrs. Pskov wants to do business in Riga, she must go through his fief. And this is also a dilution of the power of the leader of Pskov."

"So, my existence..." Bayahir gently covered her mouth and whispered, "Is it a dilution of sister Carlotta's power?"

"What do you think?" Rurik said no more. He stood up and directly picked up the petite Beyah Hill: "That's it. Let's go to bed."

Who would want to live under others for a long time? Ambitious people will never do this.

A person's status changed dramatically in an instant. Olafin never expected that he would have the courage to meet King Ross. After leaving King Ross's palace, his ordinary self would transform into an earl, a "war chief" at the same level as Gower. ".

The difference is that Gore actually has an army in his hands, and the local Klivi Slavs also obey him.

As for me, I only have a small group of good brothers who I grew up with, and even my brothers' family members in Pskov.

Olafion is not young anymore. Some of his guys are the sons of his brothers, and many young people still call him uncle. This kind of trade across forests, swamps, and rivers requires travelers to form a team, and the relationship between the members must also be close.

Olafin's men were only ten people, and they took two canoes and drifted to Riga during the warm period.

The reason why longships are not used is because they do not

Is necessary.

There is no reason for everyone to enter the ocean for rafting. The boats will drift in the very soothing river. The merchants pay attention to the lightness of the means of transportation, and this team used Pskov flower cloth to buy salt in Riga. Both supplies were available. It doesn't take up much space, so they don't need to use high-capacity longships.

Besides, everyone has to "dry land" when passing through the only forest area.

Small and slender canoes can be towed by ropes by young and strong people. Taking advantage of the muddy nature of the forest, it is easier to travel along. It would take a lot of effort to use a long boat.

Returning to his rented residence in Riga, oil lamps were lit here, the brothers gathered together, and the whole room was filled with a happy atmosphere.

Don't forget your brothers when you have good meat. The guys who also ate in the side room specially left some dried meat and brought it back to share with the guys who didn't meet King Ross.

Everyone was so happy for a while that they didn't notice that the boss Olafen was worried.

Until someone asked the boss about his future plans, or even asked what he and King Ross had said.

Orafin sat quietly on his leather cushion, and he caused all the brothers to gather in a circle around the city, and placed the lighting lamp in the center.

He looked left and right for the last time and said with a slight seriousness: "Some of you are brothers who have played with me since childhood, and some are brothers' sons. We are actually a family here. Over the years, we have made money together and eaten meat together."

"Brother, why are you bringing this up?" a middle-aged man yelled.

Olaf cleared his throat and asked again: "What do you think of King Rus?"

"He's a good man."

“He gave us meat to eat and wine to drink, what a

Good guy. Our boss Gower never rewarded us with this. "

"Yes. Goyle is not as good as King Ross. I heard from brothers who have been to New Roseburg that they are more comfortable eating and drinking there. Boss, in my opinion, we will work for King Ross from now on. We can make a fortune by following him." The young man's eyes reflected the flames of the oil lamp, as if his eyes were on fire, and his big, gaping mouth showed his excitement even more.

What he said resonated with everyone, and everyone spoke highly of the good things about King Rus. Since there were no outsiders here, everyone became more and more bold to say that Pskov boss Gore was stingy.

Orafin cleared his throat again. He already understood the attitude of the guys, and the stone in his heart fell to the ground.

"Everyone be quiet, listen to me now! King Rus said that as long as I take them to Pskov smoothly, and lead King Rus to meet Gower and form an alliance, we will have made a meritorious service. In this way, King Rus will grant me the title As an earl, my status will be the same as Goyle's."

Suddenly everyone's eyes widened.

"What does this mean? Boss, are you like Gore? Are you both war chiefs?" A young man asked in shock.

"Exactly. We will definitely succeed, and we must succeed. In the future, I plan to take my family away, and I believe you will follow me. We are going to build a settlement on the trade route, and King Rus will protect my safety. Look at you again, some are young, some are old, who doesn’t want to live a better life? Since King Rus has given us the opportunity, we should seize it."

Ora Fen paused for breath. He knew that he could not only eat meat, but that everyone should share the fat meat together. If it's Bo

Then the King of Ross gave the earl the power to enfeoff in his own territory, "I will be the earl, and all of you are boyars. We will directly pledge allegiance to King Ross, and we will have a good life in the future."

Ordinary descendants of immigrants suddenly became minor aristocrats, especially the young people present, who attached great importance to receiving honors. Boyar is the lowest noble in the Kingdom of Rus. Even if a boyar has no land, he still has a title and his status is nobler than ordinary people.

Olafin continued: "King Ross asked me to choose an area as my territory. It must be on the trade route. I have already thought about it! I plan to establish my territory in Lake Lubans. What do you think?"

Everyone looked at each other and no one doubted it. After all, Olafion was now a noble of Ross. The brothers followed their boss and got rich. In the past, everyone never questioned Olafen's leading the way again and again, even if it was walking at night. As long as he is with you on the road, you are not afraid of anything, and now you have to listen to him even more.

"Since no one has any doubts, let's do it!" Olafin said solemnly: "The canoe is still here. We take the time to check all the goods, and soon we will leave on the Russian sleigh."

Everyone obeyed the order, and immediately no one felt sleepy at all. They took advantage of the dim light of the oil lamp to start packing their bags.