Chapter 179： The beginning of the centralization of power

If the high priest is a wine bag and rice bag, how can it work?

A high priest with such integrity is a serious blasphemy against Odin and Valhalla. Even the people of the tribe would be very disgusted with such behavior of the high priest. Everyone needs the high priest to be a pious person.

What if the devout is a deer breeder? Is it Lumia?

Even if it is not her, who can take over the position of Veria must be a pious woman who respects the determination of the chief.

Otto was cruel: "I understand, high priest. If those priests continue to be decadent, I will kill them all by myself."

"Oh... everything is the sin of gold and silver."

Veria sighed, of course Otto disagreed with her statement.

"High priest, what's wrong with gold and silver? We all need gold and silver, but the priest should not be greedy for money."

"What you said makes sense, please help me up!"

Otto lifted up Veria's thin body, and the old man immediately grind out a bronze key in a small clay pot.

"High priest, you..."

"Come with me, Chief! Harrodsson has put a lot of treasures with me, and I will lock them in a room. And the common wealth of our priests."

Veria did not continue to speak, but stubbornly leaned on crutches and walked the aisle in the long house.

Her aging eyes stared sharply at the priestess sitting in the hall sober, she couldn't help wondering, don't these people know that there will be no more Bona in the future?

Soon, a small storage room appeared in front of Otto and the others, and Veria inserted the key and struggling to break it, and the door opened.

"Go to a few people and light up all the oil lamps on the wall." Veria ordered.

"Yes." Haro Zossen entered first, and soon, under the dim oil lamp, Otto saw a pile of boxes.

"It's all silver coins?" Otto asked.

"Yes. There are some gold coins, some gems."

"Open it to me quickly."

Hearing the order, Harrodsson personally walked up and lifted the lid of all the boxes.

In the dim light of the oil lamp, those silver coins and gold coins were shining brightly.

Otto had not personally participated in the revenge against the Gotland people three months ago, and he had no way of knowing what kind of vault the Rus army had built.

Even Otto had never seen so much money in his life.

In fact, by now, Harrodsson saw so much gold and silver placed here, his heart beating wildly again.

When it was Otto's turn, there was only a tremor all over, and this old face full of beards instantly bloomed with joy.

At this moment, Veria raised his crutches and gently fell excited Otto.

She said in a hoarse voice: "Don't forget about it after you read too much money. Chief, there are two boxes of priests in it, and the rest are gifts from people on the expedition."

"Gifts for me? Four boxes?!" Muttering, Otto walked over directly.

He knelt on one knee, put his hands into the box full of silver coins, and arbitrarily held up the shiny silver, his joy was beyond words.

He was happy for a while, then suddenly turned around: "Hello, Zosen, how much gold and silver did you rob?"

"This... we finally counted one thousand and eight hundred pounds of silver. There are also ten pounds of gold. Originally, we thought that the silver in a box was one hundred pounds, but it wasn't that much."

"Really there are so many?"

Harrodsson shrugged: "As you can see, there may be five hundred pounds of silver left here. We offer you three hundred pounds."

"Well, it's too much."

Otto dropped his silver and stood up. He suddenly thought of another thing, and immediately sank his face: "So, have all the soldiers who went on the expedition got their own reward? Is your distribution fair?"

"It's fair. It's the scene where the spoils are distributed. That Bona is too arrogant."

"Now that woman is dead." Otto shook his head lightly, looking at the gold and silver of Man Deng Deng, "You gave me too many silver coins. Maybe, I should give the people a part of jealousy."

If that is the case, Otto knew that his subordinates would never handle it. His words are just for the sake of fame.

Sure enough, Haro Zuosen quickly dissuaded: "Anyway, we won the battle, and you have the leadership of the leader. This is the honor of all the warriors, please take it away."

"Okay." Otto sighed, "It's a pity that I am old, so leave this money to Ric."

Veria approached the box with a cane: "Boss, your decision is very correct. I brought you here is not just to show money. I want to make an agreement with you."

"Agreement? What is it?"

Veria pointed to the two boxes: "That is the public wealth of our priests and belongs to all the priests. Bona, who was executed by you, tried to occupy it alone. This is a huge sin. Maybe, let the priest control too much money. , It will inevitably bring about a huge disaster. I have already thought that the transfer of the public wealth of the priests will be controlled by the chief leader."

"What? It's me?" Otto's eyes widened, and he was so refreshing. He hurriedly asked: "Is it really okay? Since ancient times, your priest's money has been used by yourself."

"The times have changed, my child. In the past, the expenses of the priests depended on the sacrifices of all the people, and the priests were always poor. Now it is good. After the priests become rich, one by one is eroded like mud. We still have 20,000 silver coins. Just to solve the problem of eating and sacrificial tribute, 20,000 silver coins are enough to be used for a hundred years! I am the high priest, I have decided that the priest’s money will be controlled by the high leader, and it will always be like this in the future."

Otto's face became solemn, he was very excited, and now the money of the sacrifice is also under the control of the chief leader, which means that it is not only the control of money, but also the control of the daily activities of all priests.

High priest Velia, when she was about to end her life, did she hand over the financial power of the priest?

Otto stood up slowly, facing the elderly Veria, and asked the most fundamental question: "High priest, our future, is it an alliance or a subordinate relationship?"

Veria pursed her wrinkled mouth, and resolutely said: "I am a subordinate. I will do my best to train Rumia to be a high priest, and Rumia you are the son's servant. In the future, only your son will be yours. Rurik can lead us to prosperity. As I said, I don’t allow anyone or any group to threaten him, even if I’m dead.”

"I already understand everything. Then, please give me the keys."

The bronze key with crude workmanship, Otto held in his hand. This key is like a token of power transfer, and Otto fully understands the weight of this power.

Starting today, the inherent priest group is no longer an independent organization, and all the priests’ eating and drinking expenses are at the mercy of the chief leader.

After getting the key, Otto looked up and looked at the room: "Yes, it's a good place to be a warehouse. For now, let's keep all the money here."

Veria nodded: "Well, maybe a lot of coins are very safe in the priest's long house. So, I have another worry?"

"what is that?"

"Rurik, you never think of his wealth. He has at least ten thousand silver coins."

Hearing it, Otto instantly exploded his hair: "Huh? Isn't he only five thousand? In just three months, just..."

"That's the truth, you should ask him yourself."

"Okay, I'll just ask it tonight."

Villia knocked on the cane: "Liurik has a lot of money, and he will get richer and richer. I am very worried that there will be money from the clan who steals or attacks Rurik."

"What? How is this possible? Does any clansman dared to steal the money from the big leader's house?" Otto had never thought of this possibility, just because he thought it was weird.

Veria's attitude is very firm: "You should think of this possibility now. As far as I can see, put all your money in the long house of the priest, and you send your cronies to take care of them, and there will be people on guard throughout the night. Our clansmen are OK. Trusted, you must now beware of foreign visitors, and beware of robbers who get in."

Otto thought about it carefully, the words of the high priest did make sense.

"I need to discuss this matter with Rurik. After all, it is his money. I think I now need you to summon all the drunk priests and tell them the new situation."

Veria nodded: "Then follow me."

Otto always didn't want to bend around in business, seeing those priestesses who were still dizzy, gathered one by one in the living room of the long house. Seeing their still confused faces, Otto couldn't wait to slap them one by one.

In the presence of all of them, Otto, on behalf of Villa, charged the priest Bona.

Bona has been executed!

Upon hearing this news, the confused brains of all the priestesses seemed to have been shocked by electric shocks, one by one awake instantly.

"Bona sinned very badly, trying to murder the high priest Veria, trying to monopolize all the treasures, and even trying to do things against Rurik. Bona is dead, you did not stop Bona's actions when the high priest was seriously ill, and you are also guilty!

Now, you follow the orders. From now on, all the treasures shared by the priests will be confiscated. From now on, the priest's eating and drinking expenses, and ritual expenses will all be controlled by the chief leader.

All the wine you have bought and your crystal glasses are confiscated.

Remember, your identity is to worship Valhalla, to perform all rituals. You have no right to pursue wealth, otherwise, you will be executed. "

Otto knew that the priests all had crystal cups, and he believed that this was evidence of the extravagance of the priests, and it must be bought at a high price from foreign merchants.

In fact, Harrodsson and others who knew the inside story hadn't had time to say that the "Crystal Cup" is no longer a magical rare item in the Ross tribe.

Veria was very old. Originally, the priestesses squeezed out Palla, who did not listen to Bona, and tried to cling to Bona to take advantage of themselves in the new era.

The dream ends here, they face the big leader Otto, who is very important, and they can only agree with this choice.

Up to now, neither Otto nor Villa has clearly realized that they are actually making a great change.

The chieftain is concentrating power, and the chieftain of the Ross tribe, or the chief chief, is spontaneously transforming into a monarch.

Otto didn't want to be a real monarch, or he didn't have a clear idea about it.

Otto had come to report to the high priest, and he wanted to be anxious for the first time that the old men in the tribe gathered in the long house of the priest, so that he could personally do what the army had seen and heard in Novgorod. A detailed report.

The execution of the rebellious Bona and the control of the priesthood were purely accidental.

The situation quickly stabilized. Since the high priest decided to delegate power, Otto instantly gave orders to all the priestesses as the master.

"This time, the leader got one hundred and sixty girls in Novgorod, and they have finished their wedding ceremony locally. That's not counting.

A part of the women stayed in Shilla Fort, and the other part came back with the ship.

I have decided to place all the newlyweds back tomorrow night for the wedding, and you priests will prepare as soon as possible. "

The priestesses who were terrified in their hearts looked at each other. At this moment, the high priest Veria, who was sitting cross-legged, struck a cane hard: "Didn't you hear the command of the leader? Start preparing now. The wedding ceremony must be tomorrow night. It went smoothly. The news must be spread tonight!"

"Yes!" The priestesses unanimously said, and their hearts were full of anxiety.

Ah, they just felt that the planning of the ceremony was made by the chief personally, and they were a little uncomfortable.

Otto continued to order: "After you finish tomorrow night's ceremony, all the priests will split up. You have to split up and live in the new settlement of our tribe!"

Every settlement must have an altar, because of the decision of Harrodsson and Arik, the new settlement of the Rus has added a "tombstone island".

Shilla Fort can surely become the next core of the Ross people, and Tombstone Island obviously has great strategic value.

New settlements need to set up new stone ship altars, and the mother city of Roseburg must send priests to station. What's more, Tombstone Island is buried with 65 young people who died in battle. The tribe must send priests to perform a condolence ceremony to reassure the entire tribe.

The people of the tribe need a sustenance for their hearts, and the people of the tribe need an altar.

The priests are not women who can only recite ancient prayers. They generally know some basic medical techniques to deal with some minor diseases. They know how to gather herbs and cook medicines to treat diseases. Although their medical skills are not very good, it is better to have something than nothing.

Their faces were embarrassed, and Otto knew their worries well.

Veria knocked on the crutches again: "You have no right to oppose, and follow the arrangements of the chief. If you let you go to settle in Fort Shilla, you must go."

With Veria's endorsement, Otto no longer has any concerns.

Of course Otto couldn't name the priestess, specifically he didn't care about it.

All the priestesses were here. He pointed with his finger and selected three priestesses to be stationed on Tombstone Island, and another five went to Shilla Fort.

Get rid of Bona, and get rid of Palla who was maliciously expelled before Now there are only 13 priestesses working.

The group was divided into three, and in the end there were five people left in Roseburg's hometown.

The number of people is a bit small, Otto no longer wants to change. Anyway, this kind of work of the priest, as long as the high priest Veria let go of the conditions, he can find some poor women who have no money to live, and do the work of the priest to get the rations of life.

Originally, the existing priests were poor women.

They didn't want to die for their dead husband or remarry, so they had to go to the chief priest's house to find a job.

So from the beginning, they have a purpose, and their hearts are not religious.

Regardless of whether it is pious or not, someone has to do the ritual.

The great plan is buried in Veria's heart, and that is to train a competent Lumia with the last of his life. Lumia will train more priests, and these brand-new priestesses will only listen to Rurik.

At that time, he and the chief leader Otto, and even many older people in the tribe, had passed away.