After the wedding, Kiev gradually returned to peace, and as the nobles departed, the accompanying crowds also began to disperse.
While the joys of the marriage bed were intoxicating, and the young couple had a strong desire for each other's vibrant bodies, Rostislav still restrained his desires, partly out of consideration for his wife's health, and partly to resume his daily writing and training.
In this chaotic era, only the weapons in hand were the foundation for establishing oneself and one's career; recreating the glory of his forefathers depended on them. The blood of war flowed in the veins of the Valangian descendants, so training had to continue, and skills could not be neglected for a moment.
And in terms of writing, his wife could offer a lot of help. Zoe, after all, had received the most advanced female education in Constantinople, and her cultural attainments surpassed most people in Kiev.
For example, when it came to writing the miracle play scripts, Zoe, who came from the south, was much more familiar with them than Rostislav. After all, the south had no shortage of such plays, and Zoe's improvements made the overall performance even better.
Most importantly, for this young couple, such discussions were a way to spice up their married life. After all, nothing could foster affection more than a couple sharing the same hobbies, even if sometimes the discussions got too heated and turned into physical intimacy, ultimately wasting all their time (truly).
However, literature was ultimately a sideline. Rostislav spent most of his time primarily on war and the study of cavalry combat.
Unlike many Rus' people whose concepts were still stuck in the old era, Rostislav, as someone with a later perspective, was extremely enthusiastic about cavalry combat, which naturally led him to associate with the Black Hat Army outside Kiev.
Yes, it was the Black Hat Army that hunted slaves in the north, the people he once detested. However, after adjusting his mindset, he mended his relationship with the Black Hat Army; these people would have a great use in the future.
The Black Hat Army was mostly an ally of Rus', participating as auxiliary cavalry. They built cities on the Rus' border, lived a semi-settled life, and also served as the border guard for the Great Duke Rostislav.
It was also due to this relationship that the Nomad tribes forming the Black Hat Army were able to operate near Kiev, and even establish camps. Their ethnicity was very complex: Torks, Pechenegs, Polotsk people…
It was practically an exhibition of steppe peoples. Most of these tribes were losers in the eternal struggles of the steppe, and only by huddling under the protection of Rus' could they find a glimmer of hope.
The recent rise of the Polovtsy had greatly increased the number of tribes gathered here. The power of the steppe's new nobility was growing, and the Prince was well aware that these fellows would be a great enemy of Rus' in the future, so he dared not relax.
Rostislav often came to the Nomads' encampment with his companions, and these Nomads from the great steppe also liked such a Prince on horseback. At the same time, through his wedding, he met many steppe dignitaries and forged friendships with them, which further brought the two sides closer.
As early as half a month after the wedding, a grand celebration was held today at the Nomads' racecourse—which was actually just a wild field. Steppe herders and Kiev citizens and farmers all came to attend this grand event.
Astute merchants even directly started doing business, and the entire venue was bustling with people and extremely lively.
Figures wearing felt hats with upturned brims were everywhere, and the herders loved to use feathers as decoration. When all the riders gathered, the sight was so magnificent, as if it were an ocean of feathers.
His uncles were not keen on the gatherings of the steppe herders; they mostly kept their distance from such celebrations.
But Rostislav was different. He understood the challenges Rus' would face in the future, knew the direction things would take, and also understood what a powerful cavalry force could achieve. Therefore, he also brought his retinue to participate in this grand event.
Rostislav rode a 1.5-meter-tall red steed, its muscle tendons clearly visible, its nostrils like an ox, showing the valiantness of this warhorse.
This was a gift from Yaroslav to his grandson, this young Alexander, and it also represented the "Wise One's" expectations for his grandson.
The Prince wore boots with spurs. His legs were strong, capable of controlling the horse's direction of movement with his legs and reins. His movements were very skilled and extremely fluid.
The steppe chiefs present could not help but marvel at such horsemanship. Even among the steppe tribes, it was very rare to master such superb horsemanship at such a young age.
How could a grand event be without exciting competitions? Among them, the steppe's grey wolves' favorite events, pole-pulling and rapid arrow-shooting while galloping, were absolutely indispensable. These were the competitions that best showcased the superior horsemanship and mounted combat skills of the sons of the steppe.
Rostislav naturally participated in the competition, and he forcefully won first place. Whether with a spear, a long sword, or a bow and arrow, the skills displayed by this Prince were always so exquisite and proficient.
The battlefield skills displayed by the Rus' Prince received unanimous praise from everyone present. The people of the felt tents were captivated by this martial art, which was quite rare even among the various steppe tribes, while the Rus' people cheered for their Prince's ability to showcase his talent at the steppe gathering.
Winning the competition's crown spread Rostislav's fame far and wide. Now, people knew that Kiev had a Prince on horseback.
After the competition, Rostislav recruited thirty steppe experts. Among these people were Rus' old friends, the Torks, as well as the steppe's new nobility, the Polovtsy (also known as Kipchaks or Cumans), and the Pechenegs who operated further west. They were all masters of cavalry combat.
Although his finances were tight, supporting a few dozen Nomad warriors was still not a problem.
The reason for recruiting these riders was simple: the memories of the later generations told Rostislav that conflict between Rus' and the steppe would come sooner or later. He had to prepare early, strengthen his understanding of the steppe, and only with preparation could he avoid trouble.
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Times of peace are always very short. While Rostislav was still carrying out his day-to-day routine in Kiev, war arrived unknowingly.
In the autumn of 1053, a large Polovtsian army arrived near Pereyaslavl (hereinafter referred to as Pei City). For Nomads, this season was the season for war. With high autumn skies and fat horses, it was precisely the time to launch wars.
Since the collapse of the Khazar state, there had been no order on the great steppe. Warfare had become the norm, and one steppe overlord after another rose suddenly, only to be quickly overthrown. The peoples of the steppe were constantly changing.
The Polovtsy were the new nobility of the great steppe in recent decades. The former overlords, the Oghuz (who were the Torks) and the Pechenegs, had already been defeated by them. These Nomads now dominated the great steppe that spanned Eurasia.
And now, this large army of the steppe's new nobility appeared on the Rus' border. The momentum of the vast steppe army as it advanced was simply earth-shattering. Countless warhorses galloped across the land, riders' feet clad in leather boots (Note 1), and the dust raised as they advanced covered the sky and earth.
Their target was Pei City. This was Kiev's shield and the only way for Nomad raiders to reach Kiev.
In those days, "Saint" Vladimir fought the Pechenegs here and established a series of fortress cities, as well as defensive earthworks and wooden walls that ran through the entire region.
The population of this region was very mixed, with Slavs who had migrated from various parts of Rus', Chud people from the Baltic Sea coast, and Poles from Cherven.
They were settled here for only one purpose: to take up arms and bravely fight the enemy when a large Nomad army attacked.
However, now, due to the complacency caused by prolonged peace, the large Polovtsian army had easily broken through the defensive line made of earthworks and wooden walls, massacred and plundered a large number of unprepared settlements, and then arrived at the walls of Pei City.
And the one commanding the army in Pei City was Rostislav's third uncle, Vsevolod Yaroslavich.
After attending his nephew's wedding, this Prince returned to his garrison in Pei City. This place was truly too important, so the third uncle had always represented the Rurik Dynasty, stationed here permanently, wary of all movements on the steppe.
Because the enemy arrived too suddenly and the defensive line was breached too quickly, the third uncle could only gather the city's citizens and nearby farmers. Even with his best efforts to recruit soldiers, the number of qualified soldiers he had barely exceeded two thousand, but they faced an enemy numbering over ten thousand, with more Nomads arriving.
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Note 1: Leather boots were generally a symbol of Nomad residents. Rus' agricultural residents mainly wore bast shoes.