This is the first time that Varu has seen the Rus prince, whose martial name is well-known in Kiev, and his youth surprised the chief who has been fighting for decades.
Rostislav is only sixteen years old this year. Although he is considered an adult in Russia and is tall, his face still looks a little childish.
But no one will despise him when he sees the strength of his arms.
Facing the steppe chief, Rostislav had no unnecessary expression on his face. He just gently asked him to sit down in front of him and asked the blond maid to serve him two glasses of mead.
During this period, Rostislav looked calm and moved with a calm and unhurried temperament. It is hard to believe that he is only 16 years old.
What a handsome young man.
Varu sighed in his heart, and did not forget to drink mead to cover up his inner surprise. After seeing him, Varu no longer doubted that his praise of Rostislav was exaggerated. He was so graceful, so calm, and so charming at first sight.
It belongs to a warrior's arm, how can there be moisture in it?
"So, Chief Waru, why did you come to see me?"
Rostislav also drank the mead and went straight to the topic.
"My people and I want to take refuge with you."
Without any hesitation, Varu bluntly stated his request, which made Rostislav slightly stunned. He seemed to be a little surprised by Varu's straight ball, but he soon returned to normal, and the smile on his face became stronger, because he
Now is the time when we need strength, and when we need heroes from all walks of life to come and join us.
"I welcome anyone to join me, Chief Waru, including your tribe, of course. So how many people do your tribe have in total?"
Rostislav's tone changed slightly. Since he was here to defect, he didn't need so many honorifics. He also directly threw out the subtext:
How many soldiers can your tribe bring me?
"Three thousand, all the elderly and children add up to three thousand. If you need it, we can bring out up to seven hundred scimitars to fight for you."
Of course, Varu understood the subtext and immediately reported the manpower they could provide. Of course, if necessary, they could directly use one-third of the entire tribe to fight for the prince, but who would give up the chips from the beginning?
Throw them all out?
"Seven hundred... is fine."
Rostislav recited this data silently, with a thoughtful look on his face. Although he was facing a 16-year-old child, Varu was still very worried when he saw his thinking.
His choice is related to the future of his tribe. If he does not accept them, then he will have no choice but to take his tribe to the grasslands to fight for their lives.
"Chief Waru, we accept your surrender. From now on, you will be my subordinate."
Rostislav waved his hand and signaled the maid to bring a plate with five or six silver rings on it. Prince Rus took one out and handed it to the chief.
"This is a small gift. I hope you will accept it. It is also a symbol of status, symbolizing that you are now my subordinate."
When Varu took the ring, he glanced at it. The ring was engraved with a picture of a rider stabbing a dragon. He knew that this was the scene of St. George, the saint worshiped by Christians, slaying the dragon.
Varu felt relieved and accepted the ring. It can be said that he has become a member of Rostislav, and the future of his people is safe.
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After seeing off the nomadic chief in front of him, Rostislav's calmness and calmness immediately disappeared. Now his face is full of joy, which is more in line with what he should look like at his age.
As for why he was so happy, it was because these nomads took refuge at the right time.
After leaving the Vladimir Palace, Rostislav has been busy meeting with the forces belonging to his father in Kiev. Since that time when he went to the Vladimir Palace, he understood that his grandfather's death was just this month, so
It's time to prepare for this - to prepare to leave.
Under Rostislav's arrangements, these forces belonging to him have begun to purchase various supplies, especially food, in preparation for the upcoming journey.
Unlike his uncles, Rostislav did not want to stay in Kiev for one more second after his grandfather's death.
The reminder from his grandfather that day alerted him, reminded him of the things that happened in the north, and reminded him to be careful about his second uncle. This made Rostislav, who had been relaxed because of the conspiracy, immediately remember that there was someone secretly trying to kill him!
Therefore, he had to leave Kiev early. After attending his grandfather's funeral and hearing the announcement of his will, he had to leave. Only by reaching the fief could he be away from danger.
Grandfather's words also allowed Rostislav to confirm who was responsible for all this. But Rostislav, his second uncle, knew it very well. It would not be surprising for him to do the most outrageous things, and he might not know what to do with it when the time comes.
The despicable means led to the death of his nephew, who had already appeared to be a threat.
So he summoned various nobles, merchants and mercenaries to discuss various matters with these people so that he could bring more power to the fiefdom.
He wanted to discuss the allocation of manpower with the nobles. After the great victory over Polovets, many people expressed their willingness to follow, and he needed to recruit them.
He wants to discuss the purchase of supplies with merchants. Whether he is going to the fief or on the road, these supplies are absolutely indispensable and are related to future development.
As for the negotiation with the mercenaries, it was to gather more power. The vast land of Ross was a land that needed to be opened up with fire and sword. He needed strength and more power.
As for strength, the support of those herdsmen not only gave him more strength, but also brought about another effect, that is, it allowed Rostislav to better complete his rumored plan.
This is a plan that Prince Rus plans to start after his grandfather's death. The core idea of the plan is to use rumors of foreign invasion or riots to prompt some Kiev citizens to follow him and leave this land to develop in his fiefdom.
Rostislav needed to tame the people under Rurik's authority. These people would be the basis of his future rule.
After all, in the vast territory of Russia, farmers still need to be tamed and the land needs to be developed. It is naturally much better to have a group of reliable people. They are a reliable force in both production and combat.
And if a group of nomads robbed near Kiev, it would further prove the authenticity of the rumors. At that time, people would be panicked, and many people would definitely follow him.
As for the peasants, Rostislav planned to spread the word that his uncle wanted to kill all the peasants who participated in the robbery of Kiev. After all, Yaroslav's prison jewels were in front of him, which was enough to scare many villages into letting them leave with him.
.
It was amid such preparations that the day finally arrived.