The distribution of Rus' lands did not affect the lives of ordinary people; after all, for the common citizens of Kiev, it made no difference to their lives who became the Grand Duke.
While the powerful figures in Kiev were busy with the change of power, ordinary people continued their peaceful lives. The large amount of spoils from the war stimulated the prosperity of the Kiev market, as soldiers who acquired gold, silver, and livestock always needed to sell and spend.
Previously, the prosperity, which had arisen due to Yaroslav's great purges, was abnormally suppressed. But with the calming of the purges and the change of power in Kiev, that once-suppressed prosperity returned with even greater intensity.
However, amidst this peaceful life, several rumors began to spread. No one knew where they came from, but they made the citizens and farmers of Kiev uneasy.
The first rumor was that the Grand Duke's sons would make the farmers who caused trouble in Kiev pay, bringing them destruction with blood and fire, even to those village communities that had surrendered their goods and robbers.
This rumor spread through the countryside at an extremely fast pace, as even though the farmers were incredibly frenzied that night, as their hormones receded, worries about the Princes' reckoning began to surface.
Many people started inquiring about news, and some even began preparing to flee. After all, Rus' was so vast, there was nowhere they couldn't go.
The second rumor intensified this chaos, making even citizens who normally didn't care about such matters uneasy: news of Nomad invasions.
Under the circumstances where Yaroslav had already defeated the Polovtsy, such rumors should have been unfounded. However, when news of looted homes and Nomad cavalry activity came from the outskirts of Kiev, and after the firsthand accounts of those involved, the citizens became agitated once more.
Such rumors should have been suppressed immediately, but the Kiev Veche, responsible for grassroots administration, was in a semi-paralyzed state due to the turmoil caused by the change of Princes. It could only maintain the most basic urban security, unable to manage affairs outside the city, let alone anything else.
Kiev thus became anxious once again. The populace had already experienced the baptism of great chaos, and they did not want to endure such a nightmarish ordeal a second time.
It was at this time, while the citizens of Kiev were worried about potential political upheaval and Nomad invasions, that Rostislav, the current Rostov Prince, announced a recruitment drive. He was about to take office in Northeast Rus', and he needed to recruit a group of farmers and citizens to settle in Northeast Rus'. At the same time, the Prince promised land and houses.
This attracted a large number of people. After the chaos, many citizens in Kiev found themselves bankrupt or on the verge of bankruptcy. For them, instead of continuing to live in poverty in Kiev or being forced into slavery by those cursed Jewish usurers, it was better to try their luck in the legendary Behind-the-Forest Land.
There were also some people who were influenced by those rumors. They feared the return of war and unrest, and these worries prompted them to join Rostislav's immigrant party.
Finally, some were simply opportunists. They were wealthy and not concerned about the rumors, but out of a desire for prosperity, they chose to follow Rostislav, betting on this Prince to lead everyone to wealth and strength.
Furthermore, there was the influence of Zoe's reputation. Zoe's actions in quelling the unrest in Kiev had earned her a very good reputation among the citizens of Kiev. Many trusted her name.
Consequently, Rostislav's Red Mansion was suddenly overflowing with people. Farmers in coarse rags and well-dressed citizens crowded together in line, joining the Prince's immigrant party under the record-keeping of Greek Scribes.
"Attention, everyone! Maintain order! No cutting in line!"
Gvaran, fully armed, walked among the crowd. This Rus' strongman's face was stern. Under the deterrence of this strongman, whose whole being exuded the aura of the battlefield, even the most unruly citizens and farmers obediently lined up—of course, the Bodyguard Unit, with their hands on their sword hilts, also played a part.
Whether literate or not, those in line were asked to draw a circle on two birch bark documents filled with text when they met the Scribe. The Scribe would then give one copy to the signer as proof of joining the immigrant party.
Birch bark was a cheap writing material in Rus'; after all, birch trees were everywhere, and with a little processing, they could be used for drawing and writing. Its application was very widespread in Rus', from literacy and drawing to family letters and official documents.
It was for this reason that Rostislav chose it as the material for signing with the immigrants. After all, if he used parchment for everything, Rostislav's financial resources simply couldn't withstand it. The Prince's many years of writing made him more aware than anyone of how expensive parchment was.
After obtaining the birch bark that indicated their identity and represented the agreement, these immigrants, after delivering their belongings to the Prince's designated location, could receive a sum of money from the finance officer nearby. It was a full amount of grivnas (which can be understood as silver). This money was for the immigrants' mobilization expenses, to be used for purchasing necessary supplies.
To prevent duplicate claims, the Prince requested the assistance of the Kiev Veche. These militiamen, who maintained order, knew most of the people on the streets, and their presence was enough to prevent most fraudulent claims.
Leo was responsible for overseeing this Scribe and the militiamen; all data had to be comprehensively aggregated by him. This bureaucrat from Constantinople was now immersed in work, but it brought him a sense of familiarity. When he was an official in the imperial capital, he was often this busy!
However, today's queue was suddenly disrupted by a team of Rus' soldiers who came running. Those soldiers cleared the crowd, allowing the important figure behind them to approach Rostislav's Red Mansion.
The Rus' Prince leading them wore a velvet coat over a black tunic, and on his head was a clearly expensive fur hat. Behind him were Polish knights and Rus' Bodyguards.
And this person was none other than the current Kiev Grand Duke, Rostislav's uncle, Izyaslav Yaroslavich.
Gvaran looked at this scene and felt a sense of dread. He instinctively thought this person had come to punish them; after all, extensively recruiting people in Kiev was damaging the new Grand Duke's interests.
Many people thought the same as the Captain of the Guard, and quite a few had already slipped away directly, lest the Rurik Princes' divine battle affect them, the small fry.
Izyaslav scanned everything before him with interest, but he said nothing, nor did any expression of displeasure appear on his face. He simply rode his horse to his nephew's Red Mansion.
Leo, responsible for registration and statistics, immediately put down his work and rushed to the Grand Duke, bowing respectfully and asking his purpose.
And Izyaslav's answer was very simple.
"I have come to see my nephew."
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