Chapter 10: The Viking Lifestyle of the Rus Tribe

Chapter 10: The Viking Lifestyle of the Rus Tribe

When spring returns to Scandinavia, the trade season of the year begins again, and of course, trade often comes with conflict. Those longships that disappeared in the bays suddenly reappear. The Danes and Norwegians once again explore towards Britain, or head south along the coastline.

The various tribes of Scandinavia, in addition to the inevitable conflicts with the Danes at sea, began to engage in regular trade with the Slavic peoples across the sea. The Rus tribe here does the same, trading with their southern relatives and also doing business with the more southerly Slavs. The only difference is that the Rus tribe has mastered the secret route of a waterway deep inland.

Its a long voyage; last autumns Sogon voyage encountered an attack by the Gotlanders, making what was once a safe route now fraught with danger. Nevertheless, as long as the army is arrayed and the battle axes keep banging on shields, the formidable aura can make the locals of Novgorod obediently hand over their treasures.

In fact, if they were a tribe with strong combat capabilities, the Rus would trade peacefully with them, striving to avoid conflict. But those people are wealthy yet weak, and in the lawless 9th-century Baltic region, might makes right! They dont even consider plundering a sin.

In early May of 822 AD, the spring Sogon voyage is launched again under the leadership of the chieftain Otto, this time the fleet cleverly skirts the coast of the Finn territory, slipping to the mouth of the Neva River, and then the path ahead is clear. The tribute demanded by Otto, the Svegs are as cowardly as ever. At least thats what Otto thinks.

The obsequiousness of the Svegs delights Otto and his warriors. In a moment of generosity, Otto for the first time gifts each of the few family chiefs a small piece of amber, a token of reward. Could this small piece of amber signify a subtle change in the relationship between the Rus and the Svegs of Novgorod? Maybe, maybe not. Otto simply out of his own pleasure, gave the commonly seen amber in Scandinavia to a few family chiefs. But for the Svegs, this might be the start of a thaw in their relationship with the Rus after their encounter.Follow current novels at novelhall.com)

As early as 754 AD, explorers of the Rus tribe found the mouth of the Neva River to the west. The place was desolate, with thatch under the snow. Bears and deer roamed here, and their fur might be the only value of the place. But as they found the river leading inland, a warm land unfolded before them. They went upstream, initially trading with the huge village of Novgorod, until they realized that the people there were not excellent warriors, and malicious ideas arose.

Over the past two years, Liu Li was weaned early. He felt that he had to eat meat before he was one year old. In the following days, only occasionally could he eat not-so-good-tasting bread. Most of the time, the food he could eat was various meats. Yes, various meats, and those not carefully cooked.

He saw the tribes fishermen hunting seals in the Baltic Sea, casting nets for herring, fishing for cod, even shark fishing. Perhaps its the land here thats too barren, peoples food mainly depends on marine fishing, and trade with southerners for cattle and sheep. As one of them, Liu Li also had to eat the same meals as them.

A sheep, its skin peeled off for clothing, its meat completely eaten, followed by almost all of its organs, and even its bones could be further utilized. The taste of the food is quite crazy, but the extremely young Liu Li had no choice but to eat these strangely flavored meats, even shark meat.

Historically, Rurik will establish a Slavic state in Eastern Europe and name it Rus. Moreover, Rurik was invited by the locals to be a prince. Liu Li finds it absurd, but his name does sound undoubtedly Rurik, and Rus is indeed the name of his tribe. He is happy that his biological father, the son of the tribe chief, is a very strong white man, albeit always emitting an annoying smell. But he should be a qualified father, as his birth mother Nia said, the biological father is also a qualified chief.

The entire tribe respects his biological father, and they are already in awe of him, an infant. The situation is not just because he is the offspring of the chief, but because of a prophecy from the tribal elders the chiefs son will bring prosperity to the tribe.

Well, I dont know what kind of life historical Rurik should have. If my destiny is to become a chief in the future, leading them to collectively migrate to the vast plains of Eastern Europe, they can indeed prosper. But by then, their descendants will no longer be Vikings.

All of Liu Lis thoughts are hidden in his heart.