Rise of Rurik

Ludwig was caught in a conflict. He wanted to use these Russians for his own use, as a group of vicious dogs to bite mercilessly in order to weaken Lothair's strength. If you do this, it will be a blasphemy against your faith.

Consecrating a Baroness, Sophia is just an ordinary girl who seems to be a bit greedy. What he is interested in is the man next to this girl - the black fox of the Gould family.

The blue fox that he loves and hates will leave, and the one who will stay in Nassau in the future will be the little fat black fox. This kid is fat and has the unique impulsiveness of young people. His eagerness to build a career can be exploited.

Ludwig needed to think carefully, so he arranged for the few people who came to the city to live in the city.

Just stationed in the really unimpressive city of Mainz?

Blue Fox reluctantly gave Ludwig a face, and by the way, he took a closer look at the bizarre life in this city under the rule of the Eastern Kingdom.

A large number of refugees stayed in the city with nothing to do, relying on the bread crumbs given by the priests and the watery wheat porridge to survive. Some women even resorted to blasphemy in order to survive, secretly having sex with the garrison just to get a mouthful of food.

There was always a stinky smell in the air, and Blue Fox noticed that the residence provided for him by the so-called noble Ludwig was quite ordinary.

At least the stone building is solid enough, and the interior decoration is really simple. There was a wooden bed but no bedding, and no other furniture.

The worst thing is that there are no toilets in the building, which makes them very dissatisfied after adapting to life in the north.

"Weird thing. Does that king want us to defecate in the corner openly?" Black Fox complained with a suppressed voice. After all, he had just found a secluded place to resolve such private matters during the previous secret banquet.

"Otherwise? What do you think is going on with Dandan's stench?"

"It's really dirty." The black fox, who understood, lowered his face and said angrily: "It's better to live outside the city. They think they are noble, but they might as well take care of Nassau Village in order like we do."

"I advise you to calm down. This is that guy's territory. Continue to be humble and show off to him, even if it's just for show."

"It doesn't matter...she is the woman who has suffered me."

The two brothers complained to each other, and now they really shared the joys and sorrows with Ludwig. They couldn't feel how much of a king this guy looked.

Their entourage also moved into the same building one after another, each made a bunk on the floor, and all of them slept in their clothes under the hint of Blue Fox, holding the sword in their arms to guard against any unexpected events.

The poor hard bed made it difficult for the two of them to sleep soundly. At least Sofia slept well, perhaps because the black fox's fat belly was really comfortable to rest on.

The early morning in Mainz started with the settlers cleaning up the filth. The drainage system built by the Romans basically collapsed, leaving only stone-paved main roads with grooves on both sides. Soldiers and civilians were throwing these things around, and they were not shy about treating them as the most commonplace thing.

The blue fox and the black fox had to follow the local customs. On the wall of the toilet, I saw that a lot of white stuff had long been deposited here.

It is soil saltpeter, which can be used as a tool to support combustion.

"Hey, brothers, don't be too busy pinching your noses, and don't be too dirty. Use a knife to cut the wall here, and we'll add some combustion-supporting powder." The experienced Blue Fox ordered his subordinates to do as he was told.

The efficiency of using a bow drill to make fire is pretty good. If you pour the specially collected white powder while drilling wood like crazy, the ignition speed will be even higher. The Vikings discovered the use of natural saltpeter in their wild lives. Then a few people began to collect it consciously, and now they are starting to make it intentionally.

Being in Mainz, Blue Fox and his party felt that this was an inferior barracks, and the city was a mixed bag. It can be seen with the naked eye that there are infantry wearing armor and stomach everywhere, and there are also cavalry cruising back and forth. Farmers dressed in ordinary cloth, wearing somewhat ulcerated leather boots, drove thin old horses and dragged wooden carts piled with withered grass. The piles of hay were extremely high and there were many wooden carts. It was obvious that someone was hoarding food and grass intensively.

These grasses must have been the war horses' winter reserves, and they gathered them in large quantities, and the blue fox was able to tell that Ludwig would be on the defensive from now on in late summer or early autumn.

"Thousands of soldiers have been lost and thousands more have died. Do you really have endless soldiers? If so, how long can you use them up? You have already lost 30,000 and now you have lost another 3,000. You are really not a smart king. You are not good at fighting at all. ." Blue Fox has secretly identified Ludwig as a king with a noble status but not good at fighting and governing the country.

The Ross army and their large ships docked at the riverside. It was the first time for the standing army of the Eastern Kingdom in the city to see these "winners from the north" from close range. A group of his colleagues died in the battle in the north, and perhaps the brothers have hatred in their hearts. However, now that the king has made peace with the northerners, he cannot vent his hatred. Now is the opportunity to carefully observe this group of new northerners with the identity of "Ross". Everyone does not dare to go to negotiate in person, so they can only watch from a distance with wide eyes.

It was indeed just a crowd of meddling warriors at first, but as this group of northerners openly set up a bargaining court in their riverside camp and listed some valuable goods, the transaction took place.

Because these standing army soldiers with salaries stayed in Mainz, which was devastated by the war and fell into trouble. Even though they had been receiving salaries, they could not buy anything good.

merchant? Merchants are pursuing profits but are worried about war. Ever since the news spread that Ludwig forced a group of merchants to conscript their goods last year, the traveling merchants who wander around regardless of the division of noble territories have stopped in Cologne and dare not come to Mainz or Mainz. Do business in inland areas such as Frankfurt.

The Norman Rus came up with two good things: common iron tools and coarse salt.

Especially salt!

In fact, Ludwig's fiefdom was not short of salt at all. His base camp was Bavaria. This Bavaria was a big concept that included the eastern jurisdiction, that is, Austria. Among them is the town named Salzburg, which literally means "Salt City".

The Salzburg salt mine was an important source of wealth for Ludwig. Before the outbreak of the Civil War, he also made money by transporting rock salt to the northern Italian region in the south. He also used the salt to treat the slave Slavic Sorbs under his rule, as well as those from Tulin. Genhou earns profits in his hands.

The trouble was that the main force of the army was in Mainz, and the transportation cost of Salzburg salt was high. Unless, the means of transportation is replaced by the Viking longships of the Russians, which then continuously move on multiple rivers to reduce costs with high maneuverability.

Carrying heavy armor and weapons to participate in high-intensity military operations, the physical strength of the standing army was severely weakened. Their bodies were forced into a low-salinity state, inhibiting physical recovery and inhibiting the progress of future military operations. Although Ludwig has been forcing Bavaria to transport recruits and supplies to Mainz, the transport effect is really unsatisfactory.

The soldiers did not have to be good. The Frankish standing army was derived from the military household system reshaped by Charlemagne. After his father died in battle, the eldest son took over. He was incorporated into the flag team and served the king for generations. He received the salary and the land given by the king for generations. These new recruits were not qualified yet, and the news of the defeat in the north had not long returned to Bavaria. Those young men had to accept the bad news of their father's death in battle. In principle, they had already joined the kingdom's army, and they were still far from becoming qualified standing army soldiers. Even so, Ludwig still ordered his subordinates in the rear to compile military boys who were fifteen years old and older. Even if they were unarmed, they had to transport them to Mainz as soon as possible and try to deliver them before winter.

All kinds of personnel and materials must first be assembled in Regensburg, and then travel overland to the earldom of Grapfeld (the area on the upper Main River west of today's Nuremberg), passing through the fiefdom of Count Heinrich Poppo. From here, they will be transported directly to Frankfurt on the Main River for general assembly.

Poor land transportation and poor water transport capabilities limited Ludwig from recruiting troops from his rear to the front. In fact, if Count Grapfeld hadn't helped the king secure the logistics line, Ludwig would have died of internal friction on the Mainz front.

A batch of salt obtained by the Russians from the Atlantic was sold at the temporary market in Mainz. One party was willing to sell and the other was willing to buy. The price offered by the Russians was actually higher, but the Mainz garrison had no choice.

Those Russians, they started doing business as soon as they arrived!

Ludwig observed this situation. He appreciated Blue Fox and his people for delivering key supplies to him, but unfortunately it did not solve the big problem.

After thinking about it, he suddenly had an idea: "They can indeed do things that are inconvenient for me to do."

Ludwig was still struggling with morality, faith and reality, and finally made a decision after going through a difficult ideological struggle.

This led him to privately recruit Fred, the newly loyal flag captain, to his palace.

Facing the Eastern King, Fred bowed obediently.

"No need to be formal. Fred, I must not be assigned to my eldest brother's army as he wished. Now that you are loyal to me, is it indeed voluntary?" Ludwig asked straightforwardly and deliberately.

There is something in the words.

"Your Majesty, I voluntarily serve you."

"There is no basis for what you say. Now that you and your people are eating my military rations, how can you prove that you are truly loyal? You have to do something for me."

Fred consciously guessed it, and beat his chest: "The other flag troops don't care. If the king wants to start a new battle, my brothers and I will fight with blood."

"That's what you said! Very good. Do you... know anything about Trier?"

"This..." Fred, who was stunned for a moment, rolled his eyes very fast. He was silent for a while and asked cautiously: "Does the king want our brothers to attack Trier?"

"Yes, not quite. How much do you know about the local situation? Is there any Lothair garrison there?"

"There... there is a flag squad stationed there, with about four hundred people. The flag captain is called Backhouse, and he is my colleague."

"Is this true?" Ludwig pinched his curly beard, his eyes widened with murderous intent: "Is he still your colleague now? No. This old colleague of yours will die."

"..." Fred felt that there was going to be a bloody storm, but Trier was too far away from Mainz.

However, when he learned Ludwig's true intention, he was so shocked that sweat dripped from every pore in his body. He secretly cursed in his heart that this king was possessed by Satan, or that what he planned to do was to sell his soul to the devil.

Fred was already stuttering: "Really...really want this? They...allow them to go to Trier to destroy?"

"That's right. Just destroy it! It's not my fief anyway, and I don't intend to take it. You! I have already given Coblenz to the new Baron of Nassau, who is actually the group of Normans who captured you. I plan to let them do this kind of thing, and I really need a guide, and you are obviously very suitable. Don't tell me that you refuse because of your conscience! To hell with your conscience! Lothair won't let me live. I am your brother, so don’t blame me for being ruthless. Just lead those Normans to the right place, and any killings have nothing to do with you. Don’t worry, if God wants to punish him, he will punish me.”

Fred really couldn't refuse, Ludwig intended to reward, but also punished him for refusing. Out of his instinct to seek advantages and avoid disadvantages, he could only bite the bullet and agree.

Ludwig has figured out the bottom line of the Eastern Kingdom in this civil war. The area enclosed by Koblenz and the Saar River, that is, half of the Saar region (Linland and the Palatinate) will return to the Eastern Kingdom, and the rest will be returned to the Eastern Kingdom. The geographical division of the country was based on the treaties established by the previous kings. Even if his strength is severely weakened, he can still take advantage of the northerners' treaty and borrow troops to help him regain face on the battlefield.

Besides, in the long run, it’s not certain who will take advantage of whom! In the bitter cold land of the north, Ludwig saw that all the so-called Russian troops had been converted. As long as a large number of brave northerners converted and stationed in Nassau, he would probably change Nassau from a barony to a count. In this way, he would gain With a group of powerful and energetic fans, your strength can be restored quickly.

At this stage, they have to exchange enough money and food for their work. The subordinates of the "Fox Brothers" are like a mercenary group. I don't have money to pay them for the time being, but I can point them to "there is a treasure here", which should be able to exchange for their combat power.

After a few days of silence, the secret meeting between Ludwig and Blue Fox resumed.

Just like the first time, there were no red tapes for the military nobles. Ludwig did not prepare a banquet. He went straight to the point and directly stated his opinion: "I will arrange an opportunity for you to make a fortune."

An opportunity to make a fortune? This time only Blue Fox and Black Fox participated. Although they were very interested, they didn't know why Ludwig, who was obviously not rich, said this.

"Can you give me a pile of gold?" Blue Fox asked deliberately.

"No. However, someone has a lot of gold. You can get it yourself. Listen, from your latest possession, Koblenz, push all the way upstream along the Moselle River. Arrive at the city called Trier. The town is quite wealthy, but unfortunately they are loyal to Lothair. I authorize you to loot as much as you want. The looted property is yours. You can even burn Trier to the ground."

"This is a good opportunity to fight!" Black Fox was the first to hold back and was extremely excited.

Blue Fox pulled his younger brother's shoulder and looked at Ludwig: "It seems that the operation will go very smoothly? Can we make a fortune easily? I don't believe it. Since the local area is rich and it is Lothair's territory, the area must be heavily guarded. .How can I trust you?”

Ludwig shrugged: "The opportunity to make a fortune is right in front of you. You can choose not to go. If you intend to go, I can provide guide support." After that, he clapped his hands, and a stony-faced Fred appeared and said Stand beside him.

"That's him? A prisoner?" Blue Fox glanced with disdain.

"You are not a prisoner now, but one of my flag captains. He knows Trier very well and can help you succeed. Your ships are superior and you have many people, and he is also willing to support some of your warriors."

Then, Ludwig changed his words: "Paul Black Fox, is that your name? Your fiancée is just a little girl, and you are the de facto new Baron of Nassau. I admire you very much and authorize you to You launch this attack. In this way, I send some soldiers to help you attack, which is a joint action between me and you. Listen, Black Fox, I need talented nobles now, and you do have talent. Think about it, By doing things for me, you can build huge achievements, help me agree to the civil war, and your fiefdom will be bigger in the future. I don’t know how you are in your hometown, but here, you will become powerful."

To be honest, the blue fox was disgusted with Ludwig's words. Looking at his younger brother's excited eyes with fire breathing, he was convinced that his younger brother had gone crazy.

Whatever! The second son, third son, etc. of the Gould family can only inherit a little bit of the family wealth at most. The brothers must prosper based on their abilities. Now that my brother has a chance, how can he not kill me?

Blue Fox no longer hesitated and made a decision on behalf of his younger brother: "Okay! We will march. We just don't need your people, we can handle this matter ourselves. We will act according to the cruel methods of the northerners, and we will not even fight. We will fly under your banner, not under the name of Nassau. We are northerners! Now the northerners are here! Without some constraints, we can let go."

In other words, these guys also broke the promise they made when they converted. Ludwig couldn't say anything, and he himself was half a catty.

There were only three nobles in the secret meeting. The flames in the room were trembling, and the murderous aura inside the room was overflowing. The three of them had already sentenced Trier to death, but the locals had no idea...