Original subtitles

More than 10 thousand Swedish captives

were sent to Siberia after the defeat of

Charles XII's army at the Battle of Poltava.

Meantime in the East, Dzungar Khanate

defeats the Chinese army.

Now, China needs an ally more than ever.

Many attempts of drawing Russia

into war against Dzungars failed.

This bar of gold is called "Paiza".

It is granted only to the heads of states.

The ruler who's taken the Paiza

has to enter the war on the side of China.

THE CONQUEST OF SIBERIA

EPISODE 1

Tobolsk.

The capital of Siberia Governorate.

Summer of 1713.

Knyaz Gagarin has been ruling Siberia for 3 years now.

Caravans from the East come here.

Tea, tobacco, spices to Nariman's stall. Come on, unload.

Assist, don't stay still.

Come on, come on.

Move aside.

Ni Hao, Talishen.

- Ni Hao - I haven't seen you for ages.

I congratulate you on the governorship,

and I would like to present you this.

My old friend, Talishen.

I hope this gift will smooth the bitterness of the news.

What news?

The Great Emperor Kangxi wants to forbid

Russian caravans in the Celestial Empire.

Is he out of mind? One caravan gives me more profit

than the whole Governorate in a year.

Why does he want to forbid them?

Because of the war against Dzungars.

Here is the golden Paiza.

The Emperor gives such Paiza to an ally

to start a war against China's enemies.

I think, you do this in vain.

The war against Sweden is enough for Peter.

Peter won't start a war against Dzungars

and won't take you Paiza.

Then our great as the Sun Emperor

won't allow Russian caravans.

You won't enrich your Tsar's treasury.

I know Tsar Peter favors you.

I'm begging you to help me conciliate him.

Accept our request.

We'll respond to friendliness with friendliness.

Okay.

Give me your tigers.

Will Russia fight against Dzungars?

Russia?

I will persuade the Tsar.

- Anisim! - Yes, sir.

I need your men

to guard all the goods of the Bukharans.

So, they won't be able to sell a tea-leaf.

Yes, sir.

Why you are angry with me, sire?

Kasym, I take all your goods

from the Chinese caravan to the treasury at fixed price.

But why?

From now on, only I, i.e. the Russian Government,

will do business with Chinese caravans.

- But how come? - What's wrong?

The Government buys a merchant's goods,

adds a mark-up and sells at its benefit.

The benefit

goes to the growth of the government.

To your protection from enemies.

Under Voivodes, the Bukharans always did business

with Chinese caravans.

The Tsar himself let us.

How much goods.

Kasym,

you are worried about your pocket,

I am about the Government's.

Only robbers act like this, not merchants.

You're taking everything.

I'll have nothing, like a lizard in the desert.

Go away to your Bukhara, then.

I'll inform the Tsar against you.

Inform as much as you want.

Mister, let's go to my stall.

I know what you need.

I'd like to know

what matter did your master Talishen

discuss with our Governor.

I can't tell you that, merchant.

Of course not. But, the golden key

opens any lock.

Stop. Bring back what you've taken.

This is a wise decision.

In the fall on that year,

Knyaz Gagarin paid a visit to Tsar Peter.

No army for you!

Saint Petersburg. Fall of 1713.

War? Dzungars? What's the reason I made you the Governor?

- To strengthen you authority. - That's how I strengthen it.

Please, sign this.

I'll build more frigates.

In summer, I'll be drowning the Swedes in latrine.

From you, Matvey, I need only money. Don't stand still, work.

A caravan from China brings more profit than the whole Governorate in a year.

Well, do something, work this out.

I need money. You bring war.

That's not gonna be a war.

The army will go to the steppe,

fire some cannons, the Dzungars will flee.

The Chinese will be happy and we'll keep the caravans.

Is it an amusement for you?

Fire cannon once,

and then there is no end of it.

One war is enough for me.

I can't do it without army.

You can hang me right now, if you wish.

I'm not signing this.

Gagarin, don't meddle in the government affairs,

it's not your rank's business.

I'll decide the things with China,

not you.

Have you brought the Chinese stones?

As I promised, Aleksander.

Good ones.

Hellishly good ones.

I hear Kangxi has forbidden our caravans.

Well, not yet. And he won't really.

Don't be afraid, Menshikov.

- I won't let this happen. - Of course you won't.

I guess you get twice as more as I do out of these caravans.

The brightest and authoritative sovereign,

The Tsar and the greatest Knyaz

Peter Alekseevich Romanov.

The devil himself won't take a prey

from a wolf's mouth, right?

Attention!

I'm glad to see you, my children.

Art of war

is the first art.

The art of war led us from darkness to light.

Look!

What a gift I've brought to you, Ekaterina.

These are with emerald

and these are with ruby.

Precious ones.

Help me to persuade Peter.

I need an army and he won't give me one.

On the occasion of successful graduation from abroad,

I award you all a rank of lieutenant

of the Russian army. Vivat!

Vivat! Vivat! Vivat!

I've got with diamonds as well.

What a rascal you are, Gagarin!

Tsar Peter, it's for the birthday.

You want to bribe me like this?

Tsar Peter, I swear to God, no bad thing intended.

What have you asked for?

Are you mumbling about the war again?

Let me speak, Tsar, it hurts.

Tsar Peter, I have an offer.

I want to get gold for the country.

There is a place.

It has piles of gold.

We should send an expedition.

Let's talk it through.

Then comes Menshikov with his boys!

- The Swedes backed down! - And fled!

And then he comes, the fattest one.

Right in front, on hands and knees.

Jumping and hopping.

Vanya, Vanya, Vanya.

- Who are you, motormouth? - Lieutenant Demarin.

- What did you study? - I'm excellent at strategy, tactics,

artillery, fortification, engineering drawing.

Wow. You are a jack-of-all-trades.

- He could be useful for the expedition. - Yeah.

Will you go to the Tobol, motormouth?

What is the Tobol?

You were taught poorly, Lieutenant.

The Tobol is a border river in Siberia.

But there is no war in Siberia!

That's why I'm sending you there. To keep the peace.

As you appear on the battlefield

all the enemies will flee

jumping and hopping.

My Tsar,

I learned abroad to help my country

in art of war.

And you are sending me to Siberia now?

Don't speak like that to the Tsar.

You are too young for this.

Green ones!

I have a service for you.

It's not a war, but a severe test.

A peaceful campaign to the borderline in search of gold.

Colonel Bukhgoltz will be in charge.

Matvey, I'll give him a dozen of officers...

That's not enough, Tsar.

Don't interrupt me.

I'll give him a dozen of officers.

He'll find recruits right in Siberia.

I'll give money, everything you need.

Don't start a war.

The expedition must be strictly peaceful.

You understand, Lieutenant?

- But Tsar... - I said peaceful, Matvey.

Go on dancing while you still have you legs.

Saint Petersburg. 1709.

Four years earlier.

Good job. Who designed it?

Semyon Remezov. An icon-painter from Tobolsk.

Only one man in the country knows Siberia.

And he is in Tobolsk.

Aleksandr,

I want to send you to Siberia.

For God's sake why, my Tsar?

You'll become the Governor.

Look at the great space.

The war is going on. The whole cavalry is on me.

This is a lack of thinking from you.

I need my man in Siberia, the one who knows what's good for the state

and how the things are done.

Send Knyaz Gagarin, then.

He is in Siberian Prikaz and served there when he was young.

- Right, Matvey? - I did serve.

In Irkutsk and in Nerchinsk.

And he doubled the profit, mein Hertz.

Tsar Peter, I still need to finish rebuilding Moscow after the fire.

You are an utter fool, Aleksander.

But God gives you a great idea from time to time.

Since when have you been in the Prikaz?

Since 1706, Tsar.

That makes you the most useful man. And you know the area.

Matvey, I need money badly.

Charles decided to set the Turkish on us.

We'll have to start a campaign.

Siberia must supply the state.

That decides me.

- Go to Siberia, Matvey. - My congratulations, Matvey.

Treble the profit,

and the state will never forget.

Well, if it's what my Tsar desires,

I cannot object to the order.

I'll treble.

I give you my blessing.

The first Siberian Governor

arrived in Tobolsk in 1711.

Here he is.

The new Khan of Tobolsk.

How deep his pockets are, I wonder.

We'll full his pockets.

He is neither the first, nor the last.

We only need him to stay out of our business.

Don't you regret leaving Moscow?

I promised Tsar to treble the profit, so I will.

Let's see what kind of beast

the new governor is.

I guess, Gagarin can't compete with the previous voivoda.

How do you like your city, mister Governor?

It was 20 years ago, when I visited the city

for the first time, can you believe it?

OK. The cannons are ready.

We haven't fired them for ages. Maybe we shouldn't?

How come we shouldn't?

We're meeting the first Siberian Governor.

Go!

What's wrong?

I'll do it.

- Take this. - Thank you.

Actually, it looks like an exile more.

Don't be afraid, Efimka. We'll raise Siberia and come back

to Saint Petersburg and to Moscow.

How long did the previous voivoda rule, pa?

I didn't count, Senya.

About ten years.

Dad, let me go to the Savelievs to talk.

Stay with your father and brothers, Pyotr.

Right. If I see you again with Dasha Savelieva,

I swear, I'll make you a soldier.

Why it doesn't shoot?

-The gunpowder is wet. -I'll beat you!

The Governor is approaching.

Go away!

Let's sail home.

- No, Michael. - Everybody, drink!

You've got nothing to drink at all?

Go away!

God bless me!

God bless us!

Get away from me!

Fire!

Long live the new Governor!

Let me bow, Knyaz. I am Karp Bibikov.

The Commandant of this city.

Don't worry, Karp. We'll get along.

Mister Governor, I'm Colonel Cheredov.

I command service class in Tobolsk.

Siberian Army? Take the burse, Colonel.

Let the army drink for the health of the new Governor.

Thank you, sir.

Mister Governor, let me introduce myself. Kurt von Wreech, the alderman.

I command all the Swedish captives in Tobolsk.

The burse prepared for the Swedes.

Thank you, sir.

Kiss the hand.

And now we are becoming Asians, Junker.

Bless me, master.

I'm glad to see you, Matvey.

How's the trip? How's the health?

The God was kind to me. The Tsar has sent you book, icons,

and church utensils.

God save Tsar Peter, a great toiler.

By your preaching, Master.

He considers your texts as holy ones.

He reads them before bed.

Matvey, flattery is for friendship,

but lie comes from Satan.

Let's go pray together.

The river Ob. Ostyak settlement Pevlor.

Knyaz Pantila, we've come to take all that's left.

Why do you have to?

For the gift to the new Governor.

We've already paid the yasak to Tolbuzin.

We've paid the tribute.

Your people traveled the river for the whole winter.

We gave them horses, dogs.

We pulled the sleds ourselves.

We have nothing left.

Our laws make us congratulate the man,

give him gifts.

Then you do it.

We've done it already. It's your turn now.

Try this on.

They stink. Should we take stinky ones too?

I'm not afraid of stink.

Should we give them to Egor the furrier to re-tan?

Tobolsk custom house.

- God save you, brothers. - God save you.

- Do they make it tough at the customs? - They always did.

I've been here for two weeks.

The tax-collector demands a bribe.

I transported six pieces of canvas last year.

He took two of them.

Is it the tax he set?

Yes. Two out of six.

Make your complains, brothers.

- He takes a half of goods! - We'll settle this up.

They bled us dry! They want bribes!

- This is for you, your lordship. - For me?

- Yeah. - Oh, you little birdie.

- And this is for you, then. - Thank you.

- Let's go. - Knyaz Matvey Gagarin.

- Who? - The new Governor.

You filthy chief!

Are you drunk, Governor?

I'll dig you in! Have you stolen all the custom money?

Have you, rogue? Well, you won't cheat me.

What the hell are you talking about?

The whole yard is moaning, skinflint.

Merchants always moan at the customs. So what?

What is mine is mine.

I don't take any extra.

I, as the Governor, dismiss you from the position.

And be grateful that I don't turn you in to the commissioner.

Aren't you punching above your weight, Knyaz Matvey?

The most respected merchants went bail for me.

Get him out of here!

Efimka!

Find some clerk in our crew

for this custom house.

And he must be as dumb as being able

to count, but not to steal.

Tobolsk. The settlement of the Swedish captives.

Hello, come in.

Hello. please, come in.

I've got a question.

Here's the thing.

I want to make the map of Siberia.

As you realize,

many in Europe will be interested in it.

That's why I dare to ask you

to send my map to Professor Franke

so he could publish it.

- Where's the gathering? - It's not here. We are sorry.

My dear Tabbert,

I don't want to break the laws.

It's forbidden to send maps.

Then tell me, Kurt,

if there're any locals

who know the area well?

You've been here longer than me.

There's a man. Semyon Remezov.

Officer Novitsky, our future teacher,

will introduce you to him.

Nisla Evanichev? Check mark.

Akutya Tupov?

Check mark.

Petruma and his brother Etka?

Where's Petruma?

Petruma is at home, crying.

- He gave you his last fells. - Check mark.

Don't forget Myngup the Armless.

- He gave away his wife's squirrel coat. - Check mark.

- Anisim! - What?

This old man has nothing to take from.

Come here.

He agrees to give one of his daughters to slavery.

Are we taking her?

A girl is goods as well. We're taking her.

- Which one? - Which one you like more?

But they are the same.

The left one.

Aykony!

Homany!

Let me go! Homany!

Homany!

Why are you smiling, Ahuta?

You've lost one of your daughters.

I have only one daughter,

but crafty Hyn-Ika God doubled her.

I haven't lost her. I've given the Russians

only a half of what they wanted.

I've cheated them. I'm very cunning!

Let's begin, my friends.

I'll speak Russian.

We all speak different languages,

but it's the only one uniting us.

I've gather you to share the news.

I was sent a letter

from Professor Franke.

- Captain, have the commissariat set... - Sent.

- ...sent our hay... - Pay.

...Yeah, pay. In crowns.

Yes. The money has arrived.

So, Professor Franke suggests...

- Michael! - Shut up, Brigitta!

...suggests building a school in Tobolsk.

Yes?

Will this school be for our children only?

Or for Russian ones too?

For Russian ones too.

The Governor is ready to give us money right now.

We are captives. Why do we need a school

which is for Russians as well?

This is a good affair.

Pleasing for the Lord.

Well, have you decided to build the school?

Yes, we have, Mister Governor.

That's great.

I want to present you the money

and one more thing,

an ABC book from me personally.

- God bless you. - Thank you.

Alderman.

I wish you well. Good bye, then.

Maria, always sight check the paper.

Good one has watermarks.

I only need this kind of sheets.

With wolf, sword and shield,

head in clown's cap.

The rest of paper is only good

for cleaning nose.

I'll bring rice paper from China soon.

That's what I'm talking about.

Look closely, this is my daughter, Maria.

I'll send her when I'm busy.

What a beauty she is!

I'm looking for a wife to my younger brother,

what's your bride price?

OK, she's available.

- Dad? - Silence.

Name the price.

I want a...

crocodile.

What does it look like?

What can a crocodile do?

It's the best beast of burden.

You can plow, you can ride it,

you can hunt with it.

And it gives three buckets of milk a day.

Draw it to me.

You are a drawer, so draw me one.

I'll find one in Bukhara, they have everything in there.

Remezov, what about the drawing?

Ladies and gentlemen, good bye.

Grigory,

I want to introduce you to Mr Tabbert.

Herr Tabbert!

He wants to make a map.

Introduce him to Mr Remezov.

Herr Novitsky, Herr Tabbert.

Please, give Semyon this ABC book.

I need several copies.

We'll pay money for the job.

Captain Felipe Jogan Tabbert.

Colonel Grigory Novitsky.

Where did you learn German?

I was an ambassador under the hetman in Warsaw.

I'll introduce you to Semyon Remezov. Let's go.

With pleasure.

Hey, men, swoop down.

The wagon came from Vyatka yesterday.

We'll do business here for a week only.

We'll do business here for a week only.

Are they slaves, dad?

Yes, they are.

The unsold ones will be sent farther to Siberia.

What will happen to them after being bought?

Nothing really. They'll become wives, that's all.

There's a lack of girls in burgs.

What about her, Dad?

Hey, cheat!

- What's wrong with her? - She's not state-owned.

Tolbuzin sells her,

he took her as a tribute.

What's your name?

- Are you christened? - A pagan. Her name is Aykony.

- How much is for her? - Five Altyns.

- Father, let's... - Let's go.

But, daddy.

Look, the German is drunk again.

Leave me alone, whore. I'm tired.

Michael stop, come here.

- Michael! - I wanna go home.

I wanna go home.

Mister officer,

could you help me bring him home?

I don't speak German.

I'm sorry. Can you help?

Bring. Home. Please.

Take this. Get up, soldier. I'll do it myself.

I can help.

Get up, soldier.

Hey, it's you again!

No, please. He's my husband.

Please, don't.

A whore!

I wanna go home.

You're a whole. And you're a Swedish pig!

It's here.

I wanna go home.

Here's my work Karp.

From Moscow to Kamchatka and to China.

I've corrected Kamchatka, now it's fine.

I washed the stain from the Baikal region.

I've fixed the parts eaten by mice.

So, the treasury owes me 20 kopecks.

There's no money in treasury.

I don't remember when it was.

There's always no money! Shit!

I cross my heart, Semyon.

You want to take advantage of me again?

Go ask some money from the Governor.

Each of his boot costs more than my house.

Then I'll go myself.

I'll tell him

that the Commandant owes a bone to the dog.

Knyaz, send him to the church-porch to beg for money.

- Semyon, let's settle this some other way. - What way?

I can give you some timber.

I can give you a Swede as a worker.

The best one, a heavy-faced. A cobble, for example.

He'll also chop woods, cut hay, everything.

This is interesting.

You are a dear friend with Tolbuzin, right?

Tell him to give me his prisoner girl.

An ostyak girl.

Aykony is her name. Then, it's paid up.

Okay.

A great man you are, only swear a lot.

That's the only way to deal with your kind.

Oh, daddy.

Let's go.

A bow from the Tsar for you, Master Felafey.

The same bow as for metropolitan bishop Ioann?

All brethren amuse themselves over your sweet flattery.

Well, I did lie a bit, I've sinned.

But the Tsar really cares for you.

How's your health?

- Health? - Yeah, health.

Thought I might be dead?

Screw you, I'm alive.

I need to talk to you.

You know our Governorate well.

From Pustozersk to Albazyn

there are so many beliefs,

and Siberia needs a baptizer.

I'm 61. I won't make a good baptizer.

You just need to begin. I'll give you all you need:

money, guards, flat-bottomed boats.

- No. - Why not?

I'll die somewhere on the road. No.

We'll all die somewhere.

Listen,

why do you need this?

- It's a must. - Oh, a must.

Heathens must be christened.

Your position's must is stealing.

Really? And yours is fornication.

- I'm old. - And I'm rich.

Take this in mug!

On your arse now.

Who is being taught with the sticks, Colonel?

Getting arrears back.

Colonel, the Governor has come to you.

If you come - welcome, if you leave - good bye.

It looks like you command a group of highwaymen rather than a regiment.

Listen Knyaz, we hardly survive and have to supply you.

So, mind your own business. If there's an order, we will execute it.

Our ways is not your concern.

You make men's lives a hell.

There are piles of denunciation of you.

So what?

You'd better believe me, Knyaz.

I haven't seen you riding sober in order to believe.

Knyaz Matvey,

I'll tell you straight up.

I know well, that there was a mutiny

while you were in charge in Nerchinsk.

They wanted to run over the Abakan.

Mark my word, I won't allow the same thing in here.

But you have to respect me.

Okay, Okay.

Come with me.

There's a serious affair.

We need your help with foreign tradesmen

who've gone out of control on the river Irtysh.

You forgot.

The hat.

Thank you.

Thank you for the help.

I'm...

I'm Johan Gustav Rennet.

At your service, Mrs Zims.

I'm Brigitta Christina.

The soldier's wife.

Why do you bear such a treatment?

Zims is my only support.

I first married an officer.

I loved him very much.

We went to the war to Poland

and he died there.

I couldn't come back home, so I married for the second time.

An officer too. But the Russians captived us,

and he died too.

So, I married for the third time.

A soldier.

It was Zims.

He is my third husband.

I did it...

to survive.

I'm sorry for making you remember

all these sad things.

It's okay.

I don't care anymore.

We are very similar.

I do everything to survive as well.

You doing well?

Not really.

But I don't lose hope.

And I wish you the same.

These Russian open spaces

keep us prisoners better than shackles.

But I'll figure something out.

I'll surely be free

and come back home

to Sweden.

I surely will.

Brigitta?

Brigitta?

I'm sorry.

Is it me?

No, it's just...

the war's been for 13 years.

I'm tired of being a stranger.

I want to get back to the place I belong.

Let's go... to my place.

To Sweden.

- To Sweden. - Yeah.

- Would you like to? - Yes.

Very much.

Tobolsk public bath-house.

Odd-even.

Shake them.

I bet a fox fell.

Your bet, Karp?

Three beaver and three arctic fox fells.

That's not enough.

Arctic foxes are not valuable these days.

There are as many as rats of them in my Berezov.

OK. I bet a small marten instead,

but we roll 3 rounds, Agapon.

Deal. Shake them.

Odd-even.

- Tolbuzin, pass the bath broom. - Take it yourself.

300 rubles in silver,

20 icons of the Savior,

the Holy Mother, and Saint Nicholas.

It makes total of...

1,220 rubles.

Father, you were a good keeper at the Kyiv Lavra, indeed.

We'll do it.

It's half the deal.

I need you to sign Berezov to the voivode

in order him to help me.

He, also, must release all debts

to new-christened ones

and release them from the tribute

for three years.

What a scrounger Tolbuzin is. I'll show him who I am.

Great.

I'll take my brethren and soldiers,

who know the area, with me.

The chief of my guard will be...

Grigory Novitsky.

Colonel in exile.

- In exile? - Yeah.

What are you exiled for?

- He was one of Mazepa's. - What?

- It's the devil's work. - What?

Mazepa's? No!

Knyaz Matvey,

I have this Mazepa's dirt on me too.

I came and confessed to the Tsar on my own.

He forgave me.

Oh, Fathers.

OK, we all have sinned.

I have to go now.

Well, how are the things with the Customs?

Bad, Agapon.

Gagarin dismissed the old burgomaster and set his man.

Our wagons can't go through Verkhoturye.

You have your secret route, Karp.

Away from the Customs. Through Soldinskay Sloboda.

The secret route is treason, Agapon.

If the wagon with fur-skins got caught, we would be hanged.

Voivodes have never been hanged

for duty-free fur-skins.

We are commandants now, not voivodes. Small people.

The governor can do anything he wants now.

Tolbuzin, the bath broom is waiting for you.

Go away! Take and wash that skunk.

I'll wash her last, she stinks a lot.

Karp,

my chests are full of sable fur-skins.

I need to ship the goods to Russia.

If you are afraid of going the route,

give me your guide, then.

I will. For a third of the profit.

What a snake you are!

I can't fall asleep.

This gnat is killing me.

I'm sick of it.

- Uncle Yerofey. - What?

The Bukharans.

Wake up the Colonel.

Wake up, lads.

Colonel, sir.

The Bukharans are approaching.

What's going on?

Khoja Kasym,

Where are you going to?

Haven't you heard Voivode Bibikov's order?

It's right to say commandant Bibikov now.

It's right to say go back home, Kasym.

What's wrong? Winter is your time to take the tribute.

In summer we buy fur-skins.

But not this summer.

The Voivodes have given an order

to take the tribute from Ostyaks again.

So, you have nothing to do in there.

Listen, Colonel.

You take arctic foxes without paying.

That's why Ostyaks give you few of them.

But we pay for them,

that's why we get a lot of them.

Let us pass to the Ostyaks,

and you'll get a quarter of fells.

Now you listen to me, Bukharan.

We don't take what is given,

we take all.

So, turn around, and go to Tobolsk, Kasym.

I'll inform the Tsar against you.

If you want to inform against me,

inform straight to Muhammad.

We'll meet again!

That, I promise.

- Good health to your, Semyon. - And to you.

Captain Tabbart wants to speak to your dad.

He's out.

Hang it.

- Will he come soon? - Who knows?

I have a business to you.

What business?

We need to copy with ABC book by hand

as we have no printing machine.

With pictures.

Ten pieces for school, it's not for free.

- The Swedes will pay. - OK.

Who are the guests?

Semyon, have you seen more of these?

I have.

About nine years ago,

Levonty and I sketched some.

This is petroglyph on the river Irbit.

- Did you cast it yourself? - No.

The Tatars from Yal Tur did.

They were found under mounds

along the Tobol. I didn't steal it.

They are you mounds, your land,

your gold, so take it. I'll bring more.

- What are you, Bukharans? - Merchants.

We'd been in Siberia long before Russians.

Tsar Godunov let us trade in Astrakhan,

Ufa, Siberia without traveling documents

and duty.

What do you trade?

Everything we have, but you don't.

Sit down.

Color fabrics, silk,

Damascus swords, copper ware,

rice, nutmeg,

dried apricots, sugar, pepper, everything.

I'll bring the best, specially for you.

And you bring sables to Bukhara?

Right you are, but we don't have sables now.

- We're getting poorer. - Why so?

You let us buy fur-skin only from those

who have the same religion,

but Tatars just plow, they don't hunt sables.

Let us trade with minors,

and I'll be the most generous friend of yours.

Thank you for the precious gift, Kasym.

But I won't let you trade with minors.

Nuts to you!

BASED ON ALEKSEY IVANOV'S NOVEL "THE TOBOL"