Chapter 371： The tribute of Elon Orava Fort

Otto woke up in the groggy, he was surprised that he was lying on the ground, and he was accidentally put on a deerskin.

"What's the matter? What about people? Come!"

Otto called out loudly, and soon mercenaries guarded by swords rushed into the house. The person who came was not someone else, it was Jeflo.

"Big Chief, what's your order."

"What's wrong with me...?" Otto held his head to change and climbed up.

"You drank too much wine yesterday and became drunk."

"Oh, is it? My son, where is Rurik?"

"He went to the warehouse to check the tributes. He gave me an order to take a few brothers and stand outside the door waiting for your awakening."

"So that's it?"

Otto changed to sit up, he felt a bit of cold, and then he touched his left and right hands subconsciously, and he even touched a piece of wheat cake.

Yevlo hurriedly explained: "Liurik is afraid that you will be hungry when you wake up, so he prepared some food."

"This kid is very thoughtful." Otto shook his head vigorously, eating the cake in twos or twos, with a gesture of resurrection full of blood: "Let's go, Jeflo. Show me the tributes."

As the sea was about to freeze, a fleet of ships came to the far north of Fort Elon in order to collect iron tributes.

While Otto was still asleep, leaving Rick Ninja’s early winter cold, he put on a thick leather jacket, glanced at the old man who was lying in the lobby and continued to snor, and then took Sepolawa and left the house.

He gathered more than a dozen mercenaries, put on a very imposing aura, and gave orders to the city lord Mezzasta.

The order is to check all the tributes.

Coincidentally, all the most important materials were hoarded in the wooden walls. In line with the tradition of the scientific scholars, a large number of cellars were abruptly dug out.

What appeared in front of Rurik were five long wooden houses. They seemed to be semi-crypted houses, but there were indeed caves inside them.

Mezzasta is in good spirits, and he is eager to prove to his true master what loyalty is. Swearing an oath of loyalty to a little boy, Mezzasta didn't find it absurd. He and his people did get a little benefit because of this child, and after their life settled down, everything was going well. Now that the things that have happened have already happened, the people of Corvin are united and easily defeated by the people of Ross, so let's simply be a submissive servant.

Based on this thought, Mezzasta personally opened the wooden door of a room, and then, a feeling of coldness hit his face.

"My lord, this house is full of axes and spearheads. All the tributes you want are here."

Rurik glanced inward, and couldn't help but feel terrified. He was not afraid of pure darkness, but he couldn't see what was hidden in the darkness.

"Can't you come to light it?"

"Oh, I'm going to have someone start the fire." Metzasta said hurriedly.

"No need." Rurik waved his hand. "Let your people take out all the tributes and place them on the ground. I will personally count their numbers." As a power holder, Rurik must defend his own. Power, if you eat one, you can't be two. "A thousand axes, five hundred spearheads, but if one is missing, you will be punished."

What is the punishment? Metzasta didn't consider it at all. It is so easy to complete the owner's tribute request.

Soon, some men from the Iron Squirrel Tribe began to frequently enter and exit the wooden house, holding the bundled axe and walking out one after another. It's like the Corvin tribes living in the Oulu River, where people tie squirrel skins, and people here tie axe handles.

The wooden handle of the axe is tied with twine. If a person has ten fingers, the axe is tied with ten. They are placed on hard ground and arranged in a matrix for statistics according to Rurik's requirements.

After a while, a square matrix of ten by ten was arranged, and there were exactly one thousand axes, no more, no less. In fact, there are still some axe stocks in the warehouse, and Mezzasta has no intention to continue taking them out.

Those spearheads were also taken out, and all the spearheads were simply metal pieces polished into a spear shape. With the free forging system of the waterwheel, the hot iron ingot is easily beaten into iron pieces, and after some rough polishing, the spearhead is basically formed. It does not have a sleeve, but the blacksmith deliberately left a depression on the iron sheet behind the spearhead so that the twine can tie it to the wooden stick.

Is there a requirement that each of these weapons is a magic weapon?

Rurik squatted down, he untied a bundle of axes and held the small hand axe in both hands. Even a ten-year-old boy can use these axes. After all, its axe is really only the size of a young man's palm, and there is no hole for a wooden stick. The axe is still deliberately dented, and it is firmly fixed to the wooden handle after the easy-to-obtain pine glue bonding and hemp rope binding.

Rurik really knew how the two weapons were made. Hydraulic free forging can be said to solve the current situation of the absolute lack of muscular men in Elonburg, and the most physically consuming iron work has become the river's work. It is pure hydraulic free forging, which currently cannot be used for fine processing.

Seeing that Rurik was fascinated, his little brows were also a little tight, and Mezzasta lowered his head: "My lord, how do you feel about these tributes?"

"Feel? The quality has dropped a lot than the ones we originally produced."

"Ah! Because my men have just become blacksmiths, and their skills are far inferior to the experienced Ross blacksmiths..."

Mezzasta wanted to say a lot more, and Rurik said twice: "Stop talking. You did complete the task, and you proved your loyalty."

Mezzasta relieved nervously, and said, "It is my honor to be able to serve you."

Of course Ruriek likes to listen to compliments, and of course some of his heartfelt words are pressed in his heart.

For example, these weapons are not well-edged, even if they are spearheads, their blades still need to be sharpened. Did Rurik have no intention of blaming them for this incident? He still mentioned it unintentionally.

The slender spearhead can easily be made into a short spear and a javelin. These hand axes are not really suitable for felling big trees. After sharpening the axe blades, they can be used as good tools for cutting meat and bones. In combat, these small hand axes are completely flexible. Even if the axe blade is no longer sharp, the warrior can smash the enemy's head by swinging it with one right hand.

Just like golden melons and bones, they are basically short rods with iron heads, and their high degree of flexibility brings the flexibility to kill the enemy.

The new blacksmiths of these steel squirrel tribes, if they really give all the chromium iron axe spearheads and polish them with ore and sandstone, it will take too long.

They are ordnance, or a mass-produced ordnance, mass-produced ordnance only needs to ensure a bottom line of quality, and the rest is how to reduce the input of manpower and material resources to obtain greater output. With this awareness, Rurik didn't want to say anything, they were just tributes, and a batch of goods would be sent to the Merlaren tribe to equip Olekin's fighters.

They must be ferrochrome materials, which naturally have strong anti-corrosion ability. Although they have not undergone a long carburizing operation, after quenching, the sudden cooling forces the surface metallography to change dramatically. They are already extremely hard and will deny the advantages of all simple wrought iron weapons.

But compared to the weapons used by the Ross people, these tools are the so-called "monkey version."

Rurik clapped his hands vigorously and stood up: "I thought about it, I'm generally satisfied."

"So, my master, are you still a little unhappy?"

"It doesn't matter." Rurik shrugged, "You will follow this standard and give me mass production of axes and spearheads. Remember, your tribute will be doubled during the warm period next year. I know you can do this. "

Mezzasta gritted his teeth: "Okay, I will stick to it."

"Do it well. If you do well, I will reward you. What rewards you can get depends on what you do."

Life needs a head of hope, looking forward to it, and as a result, Otto, under the **** of mercenaries, came wandering around.

Either the methanol in the spirits did not evaporate cleanly, or simply because he was not sleeping well with his homework, Otto was agitated by the air conditioner, and his spirit was still a little sluggish.

Otto accepted the mercenary's guidance, and a group of people who seemed to be idle among them gathered in one place. He recognized Rurik, who was wearing a beautiful ferret hat, and saw a lot of reflections in the early winter sun. It was a return journey.

Immediately afterwards, he understood together.

The mental sluggishness disappeared. Otto received a strong shock. He simply sat on the ground and pointed his fingers at the equipment all over the floor: "Tomahawk! Why are there so many tomahawks? They are all made by Cowen?"

Jeflo and his guys hurriedly helped the stunned leader up, and Metzasta immediately approached and claimed the "brilliant" result.

Otto had just stood up, his trembling mouth was trembling; "A year ago when I came... when I came, this was just our... temporary camp, and now it is a city. You people of science and literacy, it's actually perfect. A blacksmith? Even more efficient than our Ruth blacksmiths!"

"It is an honor for me to be praised by the big boss." Mezzasta quickly expressed respectfully.

In fact, Otto made a mistake. Regarding the output of ironware, what level is Elenburg here? A blast furnace in the screw fort rose from the ground. Since it successfully produced iron, it has completely restricted the operation of the furnace to a shortage of charcoal fuel and ore. It is a big stomach king, its efficiency of one stove alone is better than a hundred ordinary stoves! But it is a real pig iron smelting, and what is cast is iron daily necessities, such as a large number of trays, bowls, oil lamp holders, and even large iron pots for cooking. Cast iron can of course be weaponized, that is, to make a hammer, and become a useful blunt tool and production tool, but don't expect it to be polished into a useful sharp tool.

Otto simply took a look at the smelting in the blast furnace and knew that iron ore can also be turned into hot "water". He just observed this miracle, feeling that the miracle always came to the birth of the Ross tribe, and he didn't have any intuitive understanding of its productivity.

Now, he was shocked by the axe all over the floor.

He stroked his beard and thought: "I produce a thousand axes a year, and my soldier will soon have one manpower! No, two! My fighters will be full of powerful combat effectiveness."

Thinking of this, Otto even wondered how they were made. Mechasta shouldn’t be asked about this. Otto knew that all miracles came from his son Rurik, who was standing next to him.

Let an old leader see the power of technology, and Rurik is willing to help.

"Dad, do you want to know? I want to remind you, when you feel frightened, don't sit on the ground again."

Otto, who was self-consciously gagged, hurriedly beat haha: "I try to... try my best."

The river is rushing, and the residents living in the tribal era have no idea that the water itself is a kind of labor. The waterwheel system in the Middle Ages in Europe is one of the few engineering techniques left over from Western Rome. The appearance of waterwheel and other hydraulic machinery in Northern Europe in the ninth century is a miracle.

No, Otto really understood what those wooden houses with huge wheels along the river were.

They are to show miracles from Asgard in the world. Is not it?

If it wasn't for Jevlo's timely support, Otto would have to sit on the ground again.

What he saw was the Cowen craftsman wearing only a burlap shirt in the cold winter, constantly putting the red iron block burning in the small stove under an incredible automatic beating sledgehammer. It was as if Thor personally gave these sledgehammers supernatural powers and allowed them to be forged by craftsmen.

Otto didn't know that the wooden wheel full of blades that was constantly beating and turning by the water outside the wooden house was the core of the power, and because of the dry season, the efficiency of the wooden wheel's rotation was much lower than before.

"Dad, what do you think?" Rurik asked knowingly.

"A miracle! It's a miracle!"

"Yes, it's a miracle indeed." Rurik smiled and asked against his will. "Dad, what do you think this means? These hammers will keep beating for us Ross."

"It's us...that's not right!" Otto's eyes widened, then looking at his son's beautiful smile, his innocence also revealed sacredness and an inviolable prestige. "It's you! It's Odin and Thor, who bestows you supernatural power! Rurik, you showed a miracle."

Deny this is a miracle? Rurik didn’t want to deny it. He deliberately said: “It’s these people who surrendered to us who are making ironware. They have received Thor’s approval. This shows that God has approved them. Then, I also approve of them and ours. The relationship needs to be very close."

In an instant, Otto understood his son's true intentions, saying that this intention really made him very sensitive.

"Are you wanting me to admit that they are Roths, or that they exist on an equal footing with us Roths?"

"I didn't say that." Rurik said calmly.

"What do you want to say?"

"I'm just expounding the fact that Thor allowed the Kewen of the Iron Squirrel Clan to use his supernatural power. That's it."

"You..." Otto gritted his teeth and simply didn't ask.

If Otto really has some scientific literacy, he should be able to see the constantly rotating wooden shaft and the raised wooden blocks of the bearing forming a cam structure longitudinally, which is the driving force for the operation of the hammer lever. He is a shrewd man of power calculation, but he is not a craftsman, and he doesn't even look down on the craftsman himself. He only admires brave warriors. To say that young blacksmiths like Kawei should be despised by Otto, however, Kawei has long shown a warrior side, proficient in iron smelting, which gives Kawei more advantages and personality charm.

Otto watched for a while, and he became more and more fascinated, and he also sighed: "It is really unexpected that your people are still giving birth on such a cold day. Since God has rewarded you, I should also give you a little reward."

Mezzasta was taken aback when he heard Jeflo's translation. He knelt down immediately, as humble as a hound, which made Otto even more happy.

But these people are all Rurik's servants after all, and the matter was decided by himself. Otto looked at his son: "Liurik, they are your servants. In the name of the chief, I ask you to reward them."

"Me? Is it necessary?" Rurik asked deliberately, and he was also surprised that the old man was afraid that it was not the wine that hadn't passed yet. You must know that he used to be harsh and stingy with all kinds of servants.

"You must be rewarded, or I'm sorry to the gods. Let's do it!" Otto slapped his head and pointed to the kneeling Mezzasta's forehead: "I will give you 10,000 pounds of food. I will reward you for your diligence and loyalty, and I also respond to God. Grace. I will order your master to give you a little reward."

Mezzasta was not excited for the first time. He felt that the matter was a bit weird, but since a large amount of precious oats might fall in his stomach, the fool would refuse.

Seeing that the old man was so determined, Rurik had planned for more "carrots" based on these scientific scholars to raise loyalty measures, and there was no worries now.

"Then I will also provide you with some food." Rurik said directly in the language of the Kovins: "I also got some magical woods, which will be processed into extremely flexible long bows, which are shorter than yours. Wooden bows are even easier to use. Since you can all shoot arrows, I will reward you. Once there is a war in the future, you will send troops to fight for us."

This "send troops to fight for us" is the most significant promise! Mechasta knows the abominable Salmon Lord tribe, even if they fought against the Ruths, because they were servants, they still enjoy a lot of freedom, unlike their own tribe. Once they become infidelity, Must be severely punished by the Ross people.

Fighting side by side clearly represents a higher position in the Rus.

Isn't there a living example in front of me? The Finn Jeflo, this person is obviously more senior than many Ruths, simply because he is a loyal fighter.

Mezzasta made a promise: "My people are all excellent hunters. A good bow is a better hunter. We look forward to an opportunity to play for the Ross people."

Jevlo was smart enough to add fuel to the translation, which made Mezzasta even more respectful.

"Hahaha, maybe you are eager to prove that your battle is not far away! You Kewen people should prepare well."

A war Will there really be a war? The words of Chief Rose did not seem to be a joke after drinking.

Mezzasta smiled flattery on the surface, but muttered in his heart. Are the Rus really planning to attack the Tavastia next year? It is true that the Kovins continue to fight internally. If the Tavastias are invaded, the tribes still have to unite, otherwise everyone has to be slaves to those people.

But Otto and Liurik really have nothing to say. Both felt that there was a huge risk of war, which was also an escalation of the war with the Danes and Gotland. Tavastians? Otto is simply not interested in these guys. Of course Rurik is not interested in them, and even the Karelians are more interesting than them.

If the soldiers think there is some fun in the war, it is looting the gold and silver of the Gotland people. It turns out that those guys are really rich.

Otto suddenly came up with an idea, that is to let the archer composed of Corvins take the boat, so that when his nephew Arik looted the Gotland fishing boat, the Ross would have a greater tactical advantage. Moreover, these Kewen archers will be extremely easy to use. They are just slaves. They cannot be paid like mercenaries, and they have no right to distribute the spoils. They are a kind of tool, even if they are approved by the gods, they can use their divine power here. Ironing is nothing but a tool that can be controlled by the Ruths. It is indeed important to maintain and treat your tools well.