Rise of Rurik

In today's era, coastal cities such as Calais and Dunkirk can at best be called fishing villages hidden in the coastal swamps.

Without military and trade needs, such fishing villages cannot develop into famous cities. What is very embarrassing is that their geographical location does fall into the category of "Greater Flanders County", but because it is located in a remote place and is full of salt swamps, it is still seriously lacking in utilization value.

If a deviating Viking fleet happened to break into such an area, it would naturally be possible to loot it with an ax if the supplies were compensated.

Such a situation did not occur in Ragnar's army that invaded Britain. A very simple reason is that they don't know what settlements can be robbed in those seemingly unfamiliar offshore salt marshes. The second reason is that they must abide by their treaty obligations and not plunder the County of Flanders.

Geographically, from the city of Dover occupied by Ragnar to the so-called Romney Marsh Beach at Dungeness Cape, this Kentish territory under the Kingdom of Wessex became the territory of the Danish Vikings. Loot area.

Never before had an army of Danes been here for long, and Ragnar made history.

However, for the parties involved, they did not feel that their actions had any long-term significance.

The plundering area faces a strait, and this is the Pas de Calais in a narrow sense, but there is no "Calais Stronghold" on the other side, and Ragnar has never planned to build one.

Each lord has made gains, and many plan to stop as soon as possible. Some lords think that they can use the city as bait to lure the King of Wessex. Perhaps instead of fighting head-on, it would be good to take the opportunity to extort a sum of money and force the other party to spend money to buy peace.

Evacuate with the loot? Or demand a tribute from the Wessexans?

"I am also a king after all! How can I retreat like a bandit?"

Ragnar undoubtedly became angry and called on the noble lords who were eager to evacuate to stay calm. After all, the initiative on the battlefield was always firmly controlled by the Danes.

However, the lords still plan to cash out as soon as possible.

Ironware, cloth, wool products, pottery pots...all kinds of strange things seized from the city were taken away as long as they had any use value.

It seems that if you stay, you can extort money from the locals to buy peace. The lords did not leave in order to get more money, but they also made compromises and sent their trusted people to organize small fleets across the strait. Rotterstad, a new stronghold at the mouth of the River Rhine.

It's midsummer and the first booty from Britain has arrived!

On the day when the Danish army left, the people who stayed in Rotterstad cut down trees and leveled the wasteland, and wooden longhouses rose from the ground. The various lords of Zealandia have deployed personnel, just like living on their home island. The guys who stay in Rotterstad divide their territories in a very harmonious manner.

The houses are densely packed and seemingly disorganized, but those who know better can distinguish which tribe of Denmark the area in front of them belongs to through the abstract coat of arms marked on them.

Relying on the Rotter River, the Danish settlements are growing with each passing day, but it still lacks the presence of the Russians.

So the Russians came.

Black Fox and Red Fox were delayed for some time in Hamburg. They unloaded some goods and immediately imported a batch of crude sea salt made by Saxons.

The two foxes are young. They have a deep understanding of the importance of salt in trade based on the trading experience of their two brothers. After all, it is known that most peoples in the world do not have the ocean-going capabilities of northerners, so it is difficult for them to produce salt on their own. This provides opportunities for Russian merchants to make huge profits!

Purity of faith? If life could be better, would the Frankish nobles and common people be willing to take the initiative to trade with the northerners?

The two foxes had already hung crosses on their chests, and they were convinced that this was the best pass to Frankland.

Ross's commercial fleet calmly approached the mouth of the Rhine River, but they did not continue to rush into Rotterstad.

The two people, who have lived a very good life since birth, don't really want to go to Jululanlui. After hearing that Rotterstadt is a new trading city built on the coastal wasteland, it is better to go to Utrecht, which has always been relatively prosperous. .

The fleet turned into the Amstel River and then gradually reached the city of Utrecht through small waterways.

When the Ross flag was hoisted high, the cross flag was also flying. Ordinary people who settled along the river first felt fear. Only the local knights boldly took their retinue and hurriedly dressed up five to six people to the riverside to observe the fleet. , while declaring one’s existence.

"Some armed men?" Black Fox observed them cautiously.

"Maybe they are local nobles and wealthy businessmen. We may deal with them." After saying that, Red Fox advised his brother not to be nervous.

The people of Russia are naturally not nervous. Even if there is a fight, the people here will suffer a big loss.

The people of Utrecht were very nervous. Fortunately, Ross and Utrecht had a private agreement last year, and with the great peace talks in early 841, arrangements for the entire Netherlands, including Utrecht, had been made. The dust has settled.

Not long ago, a fleet entered the Rhine River and sailed away. The fleet sent a messenger to inform Archbishop Arbery of Utrecht of the new situation.

When the local nobility is temporarily vacant, the bishop is obliged to perform the functions of the ruler.

Arbery is a kind man. He has good conduct and has no demands for worldly power. Now he only hopes to keep the people in this area safe.

Now that the Ross ship has really arrived, he took it for granted: "Maybe the Baron of Nassau has come to inherit the title?"

As a result, two little fat guys came down.

After some negotiations, the truth came out, and the vigilant Utrecht completely relaxed.

Standing in Arbery's position, he was even very moved when facing the Black Fox and Red Fox brothers.

In the church, Arbery personally received the two young believers who had come from afar.

"It turns out that it was the holy Esquier who baptized you. He is a respectable person, and obviously you two will also be promising children. I know that your arrival means peace."

The words were spoken in Latin, otherwise the bishop could only speak Flemish.

The black fox and the red fox were glad that they had learned Latin. Not only can this language be spoken to by senior clerics everywhere, but it will also be regarded as a superior person by these social elites.

"We are indeed coming in peace." Red Fox said to him, "I am the Red Fox of the Gould family. I will be stationed in nearby Rotterstad. In the future, I will have close contact with you."

"Oh! Okay." Bishop Arbery composed himself, "The brand-new Durist is full of dangers. Maybe you are the only one who can have a friendly relationship with the Danes there. Both of you have been called by the Lord, Maybe there is a possibility that all of Rotterstadt could be converted and everything would be at peace.”

The two brothers didn't quite understand what they were saying, and the room fell into a small silence.

Red Fox said again: "We are just doing business under the orders of King Rus. Compared to Rotterstad, Utrecht is now more affiliated. As far as I know, Baron Nassau has not arrived yet, and you are the local boss." Noble. What do you think? We should start business cooperation immediately."

"This..." Arbery immediately fell into trouble.

"how?"

"My child." Arbery shook his head helplessly, "I am a servant of God, not a businessman. I am not qualified to do business. You... are really forcing things to be difficult. But cooperation is possible. The only thing I can do is Organize some local little nobles and go talk to them."

The two of them knew almost nothing about Catholicism. The so-called conversion situation to fulfill the king's order was essentially dismissive of them. They only thought that it was a tool for smooth business.

They have a similar attitude towards any god, neither liking nor hating them. They adhere to the principle of believing in whatever is useful to this day.

Only when it comes to issues of real interests, their seemingly sluggish attitude instantly turns into a lively one.

If the Russians came here not to harass them but to do business, the local knights met the two brothers quickly and held a small business meeting.

Part of the coarse salt imported from Hamburg is unloaded and sold to local knights at a higher price. The second is a batch of mass-produced Ross iron farm tools. Their production cost is not high, but the local small nobles in Utrecht are extremely expensive and lack these tools. Both parties have mutual needs, even though the locals obviously have to pay more. The deal was a hit or miss.

Buy farm tools and rent them to tenants to get more agricultural products during harvest. The knight is naturally a brave warrior when he is fighting, but he always wants to be a shrewd landowner. They will calculate their own accounts and calculate that they can make more money in the future by trading with the Russians, so they will naturally agree to the deal happily.

Although many Russians disembarked, they did not rob or harass, and were even willing to spend money to buy agricultural products from the local area.

So the farmers in Utrecht heard the news. At first, a few people took the risk and took the newly harvested peas, cheese, milk, and eggs to the temporary camp of the Russians to exchange some money.

At first, the two brothers’ fleet did not know the local prices in Utrecht. Since the Kingdom of Rus has collected a large amount of silver and copper coins in the past ten years, the Kingdom is actually in a state of so-called imported inflation. With the increased production of various materials and the King's intention to tighten the currency in circulation, the soaring prices have been contained. It is slowly becoming more rational, but the general public still has a lot of money on hand. The old Russians and their descendants were the direct beneficiaries of the expansion. They did not feel that they actually had a lot of wealth, but in Utrecht, the Russians suddenly had a new name of "Kangdai".

The people stationed there actually spent a lot of money to buy local agricultural products such as eggs and cheese, and actually suffered a loss. As the saying goes, blessings outweigh disasters. The ordinary people of Utrecht urgently need some good people to give them more money to repay their debts to their lords. Even if the Russians quickly figure out the local basic prices and have a lot of money, They are still happy to purchase.

After all, compared to the bitterly cold northern world, the Netherlands faces the warm Atlantic Current, which means it is not extremely cold in winter and not extremely hot in midsummer. But for the Russians, this is as warm as a dream.

It is now the pea harvest season in the Utrecht area, and due to its unique geographical advantages, peas here can be harvested twice a year. Usually this is a non-staple food for local people to supplement their meals. Since the Russians are willing to pay a higher price to buy it, it is the right way to sell it as much as possible.

Red Fox and Black Fox never thought that instead of being afraid of them, local farmers were actively engaged in agricultural trade. They were worried about the fleet's supply problem, but now the food problem has been solved.

It was during this peaceful trading environment that Henry Nassau's immigrant army arrived.

The longboat was filled with people from the village of Nassau. Henry Nassau took his family with him and successfully floated to the city of Utrecht.

He saw the city early on and was delighted that it was much larger than his hometown village of Nassau.

"Ah! This will be my main city from now on!"

Henry was in a great mood, and his family were all dreaming about a better life in the future.

However, the accompanying Russians were very vigilant. They saw their own ships anchored at the dock and realized that friendly forces had arrived. These people are hardly from the old Ross tribe in terms of blood, and they are indeed subjects of the Kingdom of Ross. They actually know the identities of the compatriots who have arrived in Utrecht, and those people are more noble than themselves.

Fortunately, the clothes of both parties are very similar. Standing together, outsiders can't tell who is the old Russian and who joined later.

Henry Nassau, who landed, was eager to declare his power. He roared on his new territory, shouting like an ape, as if he wanted to shout away some of his unhappiness.

It can be said that Henry looks like a clown at this moment, but his performance is very real.

I don’t know how many generations of ancestors there are! Finally, in my generation, I became an earl and a great noble!

Indeed, titles similar to dukes are reserved for the heirs of top nobles. Now Ludwig of the Eastern Kingdom has always called himself the king, and his legal first status is still the Duke of Saxony.

Henry Nassau was keenly aware that he finally had power firmly in his hands. He had become a great nobleman second only to the king-level nobles, and he could indeed live like a king in the future! Moreover, compared to the cramped village of Nassau, Utrecht is much richer.

It was different from the imagination of the local bishop Arbery. When he really came into contact with Henry Nassau, the first Earl of the Netherlands, he realized that this man had a strong desire for power and wealth.

Arbery, like his priests, adhered to a life of asceticism as possible, so-called achieving simplicity through the most extreme frugality, thereby approaching the mysteries of purity. It's not that he can't be extravagant, it's just that he can't stand the extravagant bad habits of the Cologne diocese. Want something extravagant? Too easy.

At first glance, Arbery didn't like Henry Nassau very much, but neither did the Baron Utrecht in the past.

Henry gave orders to the archbishop: "I will leave and live in the house where I saved the count. I will settle my people immediately. Open the warehouses in Utrecht and put them at my disposal immediately! The residents of this city will pay this year's tithe immediately. I Need funds. Oh, add one more, give me one more for last year’s tithe tax.”

To be fair, Henry Nassau did not go too far. The first priority for any nobleman who obtained a new territory to demonstrate his power was to tax the local area. Henry only asked for two years of tithes, and it was a mercy on his part that he did not ask for three years or more.

He didn't think so. This was a bitter experience for the people who had just received benefits from the Russians.

For the local Flemish people, the Normans such as the Rus and the Danes were outsiders, and weren't the Nassau people who floated down from the upper reaches of the Inn River also outsiders?

The Flemish and Nassau people spoke different languages, the former had an overwhelming majority of the population, Henry Nassau had not many immigrants.

There is really no other way. The people who have been tamed by the church like gentle lambs can only pay taxes to the new nobles.

Of course, the local knights and Baron Groningen quickly declared their allegiance to Henry Nassau and the Netherlands. Still according to the rules set by Charlemagne more than half a century ago, lower-level nobles did not pay taxes to higher-level nobles, and the knights only had the obligation to provide military assistance. All taxes were placed on farmers, and the status of the local small nobility was not reduced by Henry Nassau's move, but was instead strengthened.

It was here that he met Blue Fox's two younger brothers.

Two young fat guys, they have obviously just grown beards, and their skin is indeed fresh and tender, which proves that they have not experienced the wasted tempering of time.

"So, who is my son-in-law?"

Even before settling in, the immigrant community resettled in the city was still buzzing. Henry Nassau, who had just moved into the old count's mansion, immediately met Blue Fox's two younger brothers.

He and his wife looked at the two fat guys up and down, and then suddenly asked: "I have learned about you from your brother and King Ross. Which of you will go to my hometown of Nassau Village?"

"It's me." Black Fox raised his head and said. "I am the third son of the Gould family, and my name is Black Fox."

"But you are not black at all, you are even very white." Henry Nassau deliberately joked.

"Oh, I can blacken my face with charcoal if you want."

Cheerful laughter immediately erupted in the house.

"I'm quite satisfied." Henry's wife said with a smile.

"Very good." Henry Nassau composed himself: "Black Fox, your brother is already operating in Nassau Village. I will not give up there. We will always cooperate. Therefore, my young daughter needs to marry an excellent person. Obviously, that’s who you are.”

"Is there such a good thing?" Black Fox's eyes widened instantly.

Henry Nassau thought that the fat man didn't understand, so he deliberately explained: "If you marry my daughter, I will entrust you to help me manage it. You will have full power in Nassau Village, so that your king's decision can be implemented without any merit." You can also gain power. This is a great thing! And my daughter is very beautiful and younger than you. She will be a good wife."

He, a black fox, didn't understand, so he knew very well that this was a "noble marriage." Hidden under the appearance of a peaceful businessman is Black Fox's ambition. He needs an opportunity, but he never thought that Henry Nassau, a "big fool", would give away the opportunity in vain.

Black Fox didn't hesitate anymore and said bluntly: "Then, I can call you father..."