Chapter 544： Leurik's Adventures in Eskil

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Is the new leader Bjorn a good leader? The people of Mellaren didn't care too much.

The defeat of the war also coincided with the failure of the grain harvest. The large families with large acres were busy selling wheat, and the people's grain was also raided.

Life is not too bad, but Bjorn is really no better than Carl in the intensity of tax collection.

Gould reported to Rurik on the issue of buying grain: "I can make a small profit, and I will never lose. Only we, Rose, are the largest grain purchaser, and only we have a large amount of cash. I will discuss with them, once the harvest fails this year. , The purchase price is still eleven pounds a silver coin."

This is actually a bet. If this year is a bumper harvest, according to the agreement, the Ross people cannot change the purchase price.

"The weather this year is too cold, and the poor harvest has been settled since the sowing. They bet against me. They had a fluke mentality. It turns out that we Russ predicted the current situation and we won."

Rurik heard why there was some grain futures in it?

Wait a minute, the main reason for the fact that the fleet has not returned to the voyage is that all the supplies have not arrived.

Rurik asked, "I suspect that some of the leaders who participated have regretted it. They have been so slow, it seems that they don't plan to hand over the food?"

"Exactly." Speaking of this, Gould was angry in his life and immediately remonstrated, "Since our two big ships are here, it happens to oppress them. You brought sixty fighters, and there are more than one on my island. Fifty people. Organize the others and recruit a hundred men who are short of money on the shore. We can easily organize two hundred people and ask for food."

"No, I don't intend to go to war with them. But the premise that I can suppress Bjorn and support him in this matter is that this man helped us collect the food."

Because the key to this bet is the Mellaren tribe. Even though this tribe has undergone great changes, it is still a huge population, and it seems that other tribes have become small settlements.

The guys who dangled are mainly Mellaren's big families, since that's the case, things are easier to handle.

Gould's proposal was considered by Ruriek, since he planned to use two ships to show off his power. So, why not organize hundreds of people, dressed in chain mail and cloaks, and landed with flags?

For the remaining supplies after the war on Gotland, a large number of blue-patterned robes were placed on Gould Island as the clothing of the local garrison.

There are still a lot of robes in stock, and they are beginning to fully equip the people that Rurik brings.

The Balmerk mercenaries suddenly changed their outfits, and even Noren could not have imagined that the people in his hometown were completely uniform, standing together in a uniform, majestic atmosphere.

If they are seen by the enemy, the enemy will tremble with fear, right?

Rurik really organized a hundred soldiers, and they were divided into two large ships to wait for the landing in Birka.

On the day of the appointment, the battle-tested veteran Aphrola and the new leader Gurdot, the fishermen working on the lake saw the two big ships of Ross heading straight to their market.

First they gathered together with curiosity, then feared one after another.

Because they saw that the decks of the two ships were full of uniformly dressed samurai! They are afraid that they are not going to attack the Mellaren tribe and looting Birka!

A powerful army landed, and the people on the shore evaded immediately, and then squatted on the roof wall, watching the movements of the Moros people uncomfortably.

"We're landing. My lord next..." Gould smiled again, and muttered with laughter, "Look, the Mälaren people are almost defenseless. If you intend to go to war, you can really dismantle Bjord all at once. En's home."

"No. I don't kill, I just want Mellaren to see who is the strongest. Let's go, let's go to the market for a round."

"Well, I just want you to see Birka's new situation."

Yesterday’s conversation, Gould retained something, not that he wanted to cover it up, but that if he said it, he was disrespectful to the "son of Odin", Rurik.

Rurikben didn't care either. Gould mentioned the tavern yesterday. It became one of his goals to get the ownership of the tavern.

Noren is dressed in full costume, and Ruriek is also full of vigor.

Dressed in a blue-patterned robe, tied with a belt and hung a battle axe and sword, all of Rurik's mercenaries were terrifying and majestic.

The small leather drum row brought back by Nolen was put to use. Someone beat the leather drum, and the sound of the team's forward drum attracted the attention of passers-by.

Most of them were holding spears nearly three meters high, with blue and white cloth strips tied to their heads. In the cramped lanes of the Birka Bazaar, these spears have very limited fighting significance, and they serve as a guard of honor.

Evlo was honored as the officer in charge of the flag, and while holding high the flag, he kept close to Rurik's side.

They swaggered past the city and caused the Mellaren people to whisper in mixed emotions.

Someone murmured, the Ross people have not finished their business this year, and the Ross people plan to buy more things...

The discerning person can see that the Ross people are just showing off their power. They are afraid that they will not do any trade. They are demonstrating their strength to the big families who killed Karl, and they are deterring Bjorn.

Rurik did not intend to pay attention to the bottles and cans peddled by vendors on both sides of the aisle, and even the slaves for sale whose necks were **** by ropes. He was also not interested.

Rurik wanted to go straight to the tavern to step on it, and he really hoped that he would become the owner of the tavern this year.

In a daze, he suddenly saw a wooden building under construction.

What is special about long houses in general?

Do not! It's not ordinary!

It has a wooden spire. Although it is under construction, there is a cross on it?

Rurik was suddenly stunned, causing the whole team to stop.

"Ah! Am I dazzled, this is a Christchurch?"

"My lord, do you know it?" Gould was also taken aback.

Rurik pouted and shook his head, and some of the old mercenaries around him laughed out loud.

"Huh? What are you all laughing at? Sir, since you know it..."

"Of course I know it, not only do I know, I took the Balmerk army but killed 3,000 of them in Britain! This is the monastery, and I also snatched some treasures!"

Hearing this, Gould subconsciously felt that his funder had hatred and desire to plunder against this foreign belief?

Rurik thought for a while, his instinct was very absurd.

"It's weird, who would allow missionaries to build monasteries in the Melaren territory?"

"Of course it's Bjorn."

"He? Did that guy betray the gods and believe in the new?"

"That's not true, it's just that the missionary is from Frank. Bjorn lacks support, this guy panicked, this year a missionary suddenly visited, Bjorn and that guy reached an agreement."

"Really... I have nothing to say. Let's go!"

"Indeed, I'm not interested in those guys either." Gould said casually.

"No! I want to find that missionary and talk to him."

Hearing it, Gould felt even more absurd and scared, "My lord, you can't do it here. Bjorn and the family allowed the Franks to build a monastery here, and they paid tribute. You kill them to break the rules. ."

Rurik frowned, "Who said I would use force? I am interested in them, but I want to see which missionary dares to come to Northern Europe."

The Russian army rushed straight to the construction site of the monastery, and the hired workers who carried and chopped wood hid one after another.

Most of these workers were baptized and took their wives and children to become new Christians, which is really peculiar in the core area of ​​Odin’s faith. But these people have their own sufferings, and Odin and Freya can't comfort their hearts. Now, a missionary has arrived, and this person claims that "God can save you lambs."

The workers were scattered with birds and beasts, and only a bald middle-aged man in a black robe, holding a small wooden cross, approached Rurik very cautiously.

"My lord, he's coming to you..." Jeflo asked cautiously, "I'm going to draw the sword. A woman will affect the speed at which I draw the sword. Please ask your Noren to avoid it."

"No. This man is equivalent to our priest. I know their beliefs. Frankish missionaries cannot use force, let alone kill. Maybe he sees me as noble?"

The fact is just as Rurik guessed, the bold bald missionary saw Rurik's extraordinary at first glance.

In other words, when this person arrived at Lake Mälaren by boat, passing by Gould Island, he was shocked and puzzled by seeing the anchored "giant ship" and the "GULDOTTER" spelled in secular Roman letters on the ship's side. And when he saw the flag flying on the wooden fortress of that island, he felt a sense of intimacy again.

The missionaries learned that these were the Rosses. They were different from the Mälaren people. They were the northernmost existence in the entire Swedish region, and they were also the strong men who stood out in recent years.

The missionary's trip was to boldly go northward, trying to go further north to rescue new lambs.

Unexpectedly, the Ross people actually came in person.

Look at their equipment, the mighty momentum is far better than the armies of the Earl of Hamburg and the Earl of Bremen, and I am afraid that the private guards of the Frankish kings can match it.

Rurik didn't panic at all, even with his right hand in the depths, he skillfully drew a big cross between his chest and forehead.

It was this dreamy action that shocked the missionary on the spot, and then shuddered incoherently.

What is going on? Jeflo only felt that his master had used some magic power to make the approaching person suffer from tics.

The missionary tried to regain his spirits and then walked forward, standing tremblingly in front of Rurik, and he was the old Saxon.

Speaking in a crappy Gnostic language full of Saxon emphasis (Old German), this man respectfully said: "Welcome you, people of Ross. I didn't even know that you are also holy believers."

Rurik smiled, naturally.

"Saints? No, we are descendants of Odin."

"Ah! Young child, what you did just now..." The missionary felt that he was poured cold water, and his spirits fell instantly.

Rurik immediately changed his words: "I know that you are of faith, and that you are from Frank. I know a little about you, and I am also a little interested in your faith."

Hearing the thorn again, it was as if the missionary in the ice cellar was guarded by a heat, and suddenly soared to a warm place.

He only felt that this noble boy was not even a believer. Since he was interested, he only needed a baptism and a confession to become the lamb of the Lord.

The missionary immediately took an offensive. The so-called mission does not require any special venues. He openly proclaimed the Lord's sacredness and greatness. He also said that the most humble and ordinary people who have accepted the faith can go to heaven after death.

But what use does this do for Rurik?

Rurik interrupted the man immediately, he had no intention of refuting the argument that Valhalla was far better than heaven, and he didn't want any theological speculation at all.

"What's your name? What are you doing from Frank and coming to Mellaren? When are you going to leave?"

Three simple questions on philosophy made the missionary a little confused.

"My name is John Paul St. William Eskil. I accept the invitation of the Bishop of Reims and the invitation of the former king of Denmark to spread the sacred faith in your territory."

Last name Eskil?

Rurik is naturally unfamiliar with this name, but he can't think of it at all. When the wheel of history rolls to the present time, he can bring the Ross people to influence the course of history, but the general trend of history is inevitable.

Eskil came, and the Christianization of the Swedish region, especially the Mälaren region, began with the permission of the local leader Bjorn.

Rurik vaguely felt that he was on the forefront of the changes of the times. He has opinions on Odin’s beliefs. The so-called bravest fighters can go to the Valhalla Temple. What about ordinary people?

He instructed to kill Rose’s old priesthood, establish new priests and a new priest culture. While worshiping Odin, other major deities also erected statues, and even made the dead Vilia a god. All actions are intended Take care of all men, women, old and children of the tribe and stabilize the hearts of the people.

But his actions are patching the fragmented mythological beliefs in Northern Europe.

The emissary from the Roman Pope from the South is here. It is a new and perfect set of theological thoughts!

Although Rurik didn't know who Eskil was and his possible historical position, he knew very well that the faith of Christ was spread among the lowest group of people in the Roman Empire.

Poor and helpless people, people living in hardship, they are warmed by this new belief, believing that their piety and kindness can be exchanged for the qualifications to enter heaven.

Is not it?

Rurik saw that the people who built the house were the most ordinary Mellarians, and he keenly saw these people who were wary of others, all of them with a wooden cross pendant hanging on their chests.

Rurik looked at the building again and deliberately said: "Christchurch, when will you finish the construction? How many lambs have you influenced here?"

Hearing the words of the boy again, Eskil was trembling with excitement and couldn't wait to pull him into the room, and then pressed into the water to be baptized. He even felt that this young man had read great scriptures.

"Why? No answer?" Rurik asked again.

"My child, I think...you...you are called by the Lord. You can..."

"No! I won't accept your faith, at least not now."

"Then it will be in the future?" Eskil looked a little aggressive.

The self-knowingly talkative Rurik immediately changed his tone, "I understand your beliefs and I am also interested in you. There are a group of slaves in my hometown, and I allow them to maintain their beliefs. Even..."

"you……"

"I am the great nobleman of the Duchy of Ross. You! Missionary Eskil, I want to know everything about Frank. I want to invite you to take my big boat to the north. I allow you to build a monastery for our slaves. There is a place of worship with peace of mind. Only when they feel at ease can they do well for me."

This is undoubtedly an olive branch from heaven!

While Eskil was ecstatic, he was still using his words softly. The so-called interest means liking, and liking can become a believer.

"You are a noble and beautiful young man. You must have received the Lord's gift. You should become a saint and go to Rome for a pilgrimage..."

"Shut up!" Rurik held his forehead and sternly reprimanded, "You stay here and continue to build. If you want to go to Ross, row to my island before October 5th and recognize our Ross flag. Don't go to the wrong island. Listen, come to Ross, I want to have a good chat with you."

"Oh! Honorable lord, that's my honour." Eskil bowed in greeting.

Rurik turned and left with his brothers. Gould had just said nothing, and now he finally spoke.

"My lord, maybe your action... is wrong."

"Nothing. People like him are the people in black in Rome that Villia said. The sixty-year-old sheepskin book we Rose is in charge of is actually a scripture! We have a relationship with them for a long time."

"So you invite him?"

"Of course. Their beliefs can comfort the poorest and most humble people. The soldiers will not believe this, but the farmers will also, the mothers of the children who died, and the women of the husband who died. I can use this, so I You can also do business smoothly with some major southern countries, such as Frank and Eastern Rome."

Rurik has a set of ideas. The so-called theological belief itself is neutral. The Pope of Rome holds the right to interpret it. It is better for the people of Ross, especially the Duke of Ross, to get the right to interpret.

This is like the actions taken by King Henry VIII of England, the German Luther.

Gould couldn't think of Rurik's great idea.

Gould is a fat old man dying. He is full of his family's wealth, his own life can continue, and his old age can enjoy abundance and glory.

Of course, the old guy felt that Rurik had this extremely realistic consideration in addition to his high-sounding words, otherwise he would be full to invite that Eskil.

Rurik said clearly and simply, "He knows Latin and Saxon. I want to learn it."