Chapter 63: 063
A few days later, Leif returned from Hamburg. The expedition was successful, but another 300 slaves appeared in Kattegat and another 300 mouths to feed ... Leif split the loot and delivered me my share. I wasn't particularly interested in this loot, a few pounds more or less didn't matter much now, for me the expansion plans were more important.
(Leif / Rollo POV)
- Leif, you haven't heard yet, but Ulf wants to stop raiding for a while, now he's just planning to expand Kattegat and talking about the future.
- I know, I talked to him and he convinced me. He has chosen a goal and he is going to it and what he says makes sense.
- How did he convince you ?!
- Rollo, you only think about the fight. Ulf's plans are more than one year ahead ... He wants us to be self-sufficient when it comes to food, and he wants to develop trade.
- Leif, it doesn't interfere with raids. He...
- Do you remember the raids under Jarl Haradrlson? One raid to the west is like several raids to the east. If every year we attack them ... a bald sheep will not give wool ... but if you want, rent a ship, gather the crew and sail alone without Ulf.
(End POV)
I have ordered over a hundred slaves to be transported to one of the nearby islands. Their first task was to build a houses, a few small farmlands, warehouse and dig a well. When everything is finished here, slaves who know how to make beer, mead and wine will live here.
Fruit, honey and other essentials will be delivered from Kattegat to the island, and the finished produce will be taken away, the islanders will not have access to the land. It was my intention to limit the possibility of an organized rebellion or flight... As there were quite a lot of islands in the area, I did the same with slaves who knew about weaving, dyeing and blacksmithing.
Boatbuilders, cheesemakers and carpenters stayed in Kattegat, it made no sense to transport wood and milk each day, it took too long and was ineffective.
To solve the food problem, several of my boats went out to sea every day to catch fish and seals. My next idea, it was not an immediate solution, but it looks good for the future, I sent a dozen or so slaves to the forest to catch as many hares as possible. Thanks to their high fertility, they will be perfect as a backup source of food and fur.
The days turned into weeks, the immediate area of Kattegat was cleared of independent settlements, their inhabitants were forced to submit to my government, of course there was a stick and a carrot ... Those who agreed to my protection were taught about compost, field rotation, could buy cheap slaves and new farming tools. In return, I only required loyalty and a fifth of their crops. Those who resisted were punished for example... and my taxes were lower than Jarl Haraldson's anyway, he took a third of everyone's income.
Cowsheds, pigsties, stables and other animal housing have been built. The construction of toilets has also already been completed. There were thirteen of them all over the Kattegat, each with a wooden barrel, which was replaced every few days with a new one, a full barrel was loaded onto a cart and taken to a secluded place, emptied and then cleaned... it wasn't a technological boom, but I felt more confident knowing there was even such a primitive solution... Either solution is good to avoid the plague.
But the reconstruction of the roads was problematic, soil hardening, without heavy equipment, it was not easy and fast, the only thing I could think of was to build a sleigh, load it with stones and drag it along the roads.
I also gave up the stone roads, at least for the moment, the stones were only used to make ditches to drain water.
There were also a few problems, because of the large amount of work and minimal food for slaves, more than thirty of them died, there were also voices of dissatisfaction among Danish slaves, they thought that since they pray to the same Gods as us, they are better than the Christians ... To make them understand their mistake, I ordered each of those who complained to burn their left eye with hot iron... I warned the rest that next time I will not be so merciful and they may lose more than one eye.
A few of my boats were rented, not all of the norsmen wanted to farm, and my raids made them hungry for more. I reminded them not to be too ambitious, because they do not know the terrain and the language so well ... but I don't know if they will listen to me.
Kattegat changed from day to day, it was cleaner, new buildings were built and people's life was probably better. Due to the large number of slaves, the workload on farms, livestock and logging has decreased. People with more time wanted more entertainment, luckily it was easy to do... and I also got information that Ragnar and Thora are expecting a baby. I was curious if it would be like in the sagas or in the series...
Summer came, I was sitting with my daughter on the beach and we watched the ship approaching Kattegat ... I watched she was sleeping. From the sail, I recognized that it was a ship belonging to Skarde.
(Skarde POV)
I hope Ulf will be pleased, twenty slaves, limestone and iron. Almost everything he wanted ... but ... Kattegat looks different, last year there wasn't such a big port here ... and there are a lot of new buildings here ... Ulf suddenly got rich? No ... Even if he had a lot of gold, he wouldn't be able to build it all ... a lot of work, a lot of raw materials. Wondering won't get me anything ... when I get there, I'll find out everything.
(End POV)
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