As an important Rus' city in the east, Yaroslavl has always been significant.
Most of the Rus' tribute teams and colonists heading east had to pass through here, and the Moscow Prince also regularly stationed a part of the Chud Camp here to deal with any possible border conflicts.
As for why Rostislav chose to go there instead of taking the shortest route to Bulgar, it was because Yaroslavl managed a Christian colony on the other side of the Volga River.
Compared to taking dangerous and unfamiliar roads, Rostislav preferred this route with a popular base, and he could also find reliable guides locally.
Moreover, bypassing the hills and heading east along the Volga River was clearly more reliable because the river could quickly transport supplies, ensuring the army's material provision.
More importantly, this could bypass a series of Bulgar defenses; as a direction of multiple Rus' invasions, there were many defensive fortifications there, and the Bulgar people must have prepared early, so the Moscow Prince did not want to chew on this bone.
Although the army itself had guides, the old men who had experienced the Vladimir era were too old, and many things were unclear in their memories.
Furthermore, after so many years, many things had undergone tremendous changes, and the road conditions were completely different, so they needed new guides.
As for now, with the arrival of the Winter Army, Yaroslavl had transformed into a city of soldiers.
The streets and alleys were filled with soldiers, either well-equipped or simply dressed, and their military camps outside the city were even larger than the city itself, a sea of tents.
Tiberius, the future Bulgar protagonist, brought his team to hold various religious ceremonies outside the camp every day, making a grand spectacle and even using various religious incenses.
This was what Rostislav wanted to see; after all, nominally, they were a "Crusaders" army, so they had to put on a show and make sure there was enough religious flavor, which would make it easier for the monks to record (brag about) their deeds.
Regardless of whether this ceremony truly invigorated the "Crusaders" in the army, it did lead many local tribes and residents to convert.
This was their first time seeing such a religious ceremony, and they couldn't help but become engrossed.
During Akad's invasion, Yaroslavl was forced to hold out against the powerful, far-beyond-normal Bulgar Army, and even its colony and network of relationships established on the East Bank of the Volga River were almost abandoned.
If Akad's army had wanted to attack Yaroslavl at that time, the city would have definitely not been able to hold out.
But the Emir's heart was only set on Kashin, his mind full of Kashin's silver mines, so after confirming that the Rus' would not send troops, he ignored Yaroslavl.
In Akad's view, as long as he occupied Kashin, then the entire Northeast Rus would fall under his rule, and his idea was indeed correct, it was just that the war was not successful.
And after Akad's defeat and forced retreat to Bulgar, Yaroslavl immediately struck while he was down, capturing many defeated Bulgar people, and even once discovered Akad's tracks, but unfortunately, they ultimately failed to catch that slippery fellow.
After a series of internal upheavals in Bulgar and the entry of Moscow's garrison, Yaroslavl suddenly found that the situation they faced was incomparably better than in the past; the Bulgar forces were almost unable to pay attention to the old engagement areas and could only retreat again and again, having to sit by and watch the Rus' infringe upon their interests.
The next few years were good for them; the furs collected increased, the colonies continuously expanded, and more and more indigenous tribes chose to ally with them, until the eldest son of The Sherikhov Family was attacked and killed.
However, for them, it was very good; the Moscow Prince quickly sent a strong force to stabilize the East Bank colony, which had been affected by the deaths of The Sherikhov Family's eldest son and many key figures, and the Moscow Prince also announced that he would launch a large-scale campaign against Bulgar.
This gave Yaroslavl a strong boost; the city most eagerly awaited the arrival of the Winter Army, because once the army arrived, the factors hindering their expansion would immediately be swept away.
For this, they made many preparations, such as repairing roads that had been somewhat abandoned due to fighting, leveling the land outside the city to prepare for the army's encampment, collecting supplies for the army, and mobilizing their own military forces and allies.
Therefore, in Yaroslavl, the arrival of the Winter Army caused no chaos or disturbance, settling down very smoothly.
Since the local area was so cooperative, Rostislav naturally had to meet the local leaders well, but even if the local area was not cooperative, Rostislav still had to meet these masters.
And as another nominal leader of the Winter Army, Adam went to gather the Bulgar people of Yaroslavl.
Although there were constant conflicts between Rus' and Bulgar, their commercial exchanges had always been very close, especially in border towns, where both sides had expatriates, and exchanges were never few.
And due to internal conflicts in Bulgar, many people came here to seek refuge with relatives, and a considerable number of people could be drawn from these people, so Adam had to go personally.
In the castle of Yaroslavl, Rostislav met the leader of the Sherikhov Family, the strong, tree-trunk-like Old Ivan, and another Yaroslavl dignitary, Fedunkin Vasily Novich Lotnikov.
The Lotnikov family was an old aristocratic family of Yaroslavl; their family was granted land during Vladimir's campaign against Bulgar, and then became the dignitaries of Yaroslavl, and the Sherikhov Family was even supported by them.
These two were the two giants of Yaroslavl, dividing the city's power, and they also intermarried to ensure the succession of power.
Rostislav was very cordial to these two; all along, Yaroslavl had chosen to acknowledge Moscow's authority.
Even when Rostislav first arrived in this land, it was the same, and these two families contributed greatly to this; if not for them, Yaroslavl could not have submitted so quickly.
Because these two families wanted to expand their colonization eastward to collect more furs and earn more gold and silver, these people believed that the existence of a Prince uniting Northeast Rus was a good thing for them, and therefore were very willing to pledge loyalty to Rostislav.
They also had the most skirmishes with the Bulgar people; in those river bends and dense forests, various small-scale engagements and the instigation of alliances with indigenous tribes were never lacking.
Therefore, their need for Moscow's help was also the strongest, and their attitude was the most grateful; similarly, their loyalty to Moscow was also very strong, willing to do anything for the Moscow Prince.
The Moscow Prince first exchanged a few simple pleasantries with them, and then asked them about the movements of the East Bank Finn tribes, which was related to the direction of the upcoming battle and subsequent arrangements.