After leaving Kiev, with a much larger queue than when he arrived, Rostislav quickly arrived at Smolensk.
Smolensk is still as prosperous as ever. After all, it is the central hub of North and South Rus', and no one knows how much gold and silver flows here every day.
Rostislav's team received a warm reception here. After all, everyone in the city knew that their top ruler was the prince in front of them.
Here Rostislav had a good chat with his uncle Visata, mainly asking him to strengthen the defense of Smolensk.
The second uncle's marriage to Poland made Rostislav very uneasy. It can be said that with the completion of the marriage, the second uncle will receive strong support, which will have a great impact on the situation in the south.
It is too convenient for Poland to interfere in the situation in Russia. It can be said that in an instant, five thousand Polish troops can come to Russia, just like they once invaded Russia.
Speaking of that war, Rostislav heard many elders and veterans talk about it. At that time, his grandfather and the "villains" who killed brothers fought for the dominance of Rus.
The "villain" was no match for his grandfather's army, so he directly invited the Polish army. Boleslaw I's army defeated his grandfather to a pulp, left him in a state of disarray, and took control of Kiev directly.
The Poles occupied Kiev for a period of time, but they soon left due to resistance from various parts of Russia, and the "villains" who lost foreign support were quickly defeated by their grandfather.
It was also because of this example that Rostislav never dared to underestimate the threat from Poland.
Poland is a country that was entirely founded on the conquests of the Piast family. Otherwise, the only fate of this land would be to be eaten away by the Rus and the Empire. The martial virtues of the Piast monarchs have never been low, and they can even be
It's said to be extremely high.
Moreover, Rostislav has also seen the demeanor of the current generation of Piast monarchs. There is no doubt that this is another war madman, and his war skills are not low at all.
However, neither the uncle nor the third uncle cared much about this matter. After all, in their opinion, the marriage between Sviatoslav and Poland was to make the entire family stronger, and they did not think that this brother would have any dissent at all.
Rostislav could only understand this, after all, the second uncle knew how to pretend.
Rostislav was different. The series of conspiracies he encountered when he was the prince of Novgorod had always warned him who his second uncle was.
Moreover, there is also the hatred of killing his father. Rostislav has never forgotten this hatred. He also knows very well that his second uncle has never forgotten it. Both sides know the other side well, and this means that there is no end between them.
Gone……
After his second uncle's strength increased, Rostislav decided to make some corresponding responses. The first was to strengthen the defense of Smolensk. Strengthening the city was the top priority.
He was beyond control of the situation in South Ross, so the only thing he could do was to guard the gate to South Ross and prevent some possible changes.
As a hub connecting North and South Rus', Smolensk is the most important strategic point in all of Rus', and for Rostislav, the ruler of Northeastern Rus', this place is even more important.
For the army in Southern Rus', if the army wants to go to Northeast Rus', it can only pass through Smolensk first, arrive in Northern Rus', and then head east.
It is not impossible to go directly from Kiev to Northeastern Rus', but if they take the road, then they will understand why Northeastern Rus' is called the land behind the forest.
What they will face next is an unobstructed forest filled with countless robbers and crimes.
There is no room for large armies to pass through this road, and even if you are walking alone, you must be a brave warrior and a traveler who is proficient in judging the direction.
Otherwise, you will either become a trophy for robbers, or you will be lost here for the rest of your life.
When Rostislav first arrived in Northeastern Rus, he once thought about whether he should build a road that could lead directly to Kiev, so that it would be more convenient to accept immigrants and caravans.
However, he then realized that this was not a waste of advantage. It was precisely because of this forest that was difficult for the army to pass that Northeastern Ross had such an advantage.
The most important thing is that this forest is too big. If you start to cultivate flowers, you won't be able to cultivate them for ten years. After all, you will have to cut down trees like crazy along the way.
Therefore, Smolensk is even more important. It is a big lock between northern and southern Russia. As long as this place is locked, the armies from the north and the south will not be able to pass.
And for Rostislav, it is also a good thing for him to keep this big lock, that is, once the gate is locked, the north and south Rus will be cut directly.
Then it will be easy to control Novgorod. With this city under control, the entire Northern Rus will be included in his rule of Rostislav. By then, no matter what happens in Southern Rus, he can easily deal with it.
Vashatta naturally understood what Rostislav was thinking about, and he also told the Prince of Moscow that he had been preparing for these things for a long time.
As an old man who has been involved in Russian politics for decades and has gone through numerous tests, Veshata's political sensitivity is not comparable to that of a young man like Rostislav.
In fact, soon after taking office as the mayor of Smolensk, Vishata was preparing for the future. The reserve of supplies had already begun at that time. He was very aware of the importance of this land.
Veshata also told Rostislav that he was already working on increasing the height of the city wall of Smolensk, and planned to erect another earth wall in front of the city wall and dig more trenches.
And after hearing his Uncle Visatta's orderly introduction of various countermeasures and arrangements for strengthening defense, Rostislav couldn't help but blush.
He thought that these things still needed to be reminded, but he didn't expect that Visatta had already started to make arrangements, and he did it better and more comprehensively than he thought. It can only be said that elders are elders, and he is still too young in comparison.
After talking to Veshata about this, Rostislav felt relieved. After all, Veshata had already prepared for it.
And then he did not stay in Smolensk for long, and soon continued on the road ahead.
Rostislav had to return to Moscow as soon as possible for the simple reason that his wife Zoe was about to give birth.
Although Rostislav is no longer as nervous as he was when Zoe gave birth for the first time, he ultimately hopes to be by his wife's side when the child is born.
Moreover, the prince of Moscow is still a little worried about Northeastern Russia. After all, he has been away for so long. During this period, almost all the government affairs in Moscow were handled by Zoe and his subordinates. He is really afraid that these people will cause trouble.
what is the problem.
However, as he set foot on the land of Northeastern Ross, he felt a lot more relieved when he saw the scene here. It was still as stable and peaceful as when he left. Businessmen were traveling between the cities, and they could always be seen on the highway.
crowd.
Moreover, when his vassals from various places learned about Rostislav's arrival, they came to greet him one after another, which immediately swelled the ranks of the prince of Moscow.
In the eyes of the new immigrants who came with Rostislav, the power of the Moscow princes was clearly visible. There is no doubt that this calmed the hearts of immigrants who were uneasy about coming to a distant place. After all, they did not come for chaos.
So far away.
Rostislav's heart also felt at peace because of this, and as his heart became slightly more settled, he began to send immigrants to various places.
The princes of Moscow have long explored a series of areas suitable for immigrants. These areas can be used at any time. They only lack the population to develop them. As long as someone develops these lands, they will belong to them.
In this regard, the immigrants who followed Rostislav had different reactions. Many nobles were willing to open up their new manor, but the common people still wanted to go to Moscow. Most of them were city citizens, so they naturally wanted to live in the city.
Behind the city wall.
However, after a period of struggle, a lot of people were finally diverted. After all, the nobles came with their vassal population.