Rise of Rurik

Compared to his hometown in the north, the situation in Nassau Village in the Lan River Valley is much better.

Although it is covered by the university, Lanhe River will not be completely frozen. The riverside area was so full of ice floes that it was almost impossible to walk on them, making it unnecessary to push existing longboats onto the riverbank.

The wild grapevines on the hillside were completely covered with snow. They all looked withered, but they were not.

The grape planting industry in the Lan River Valley is now defined by Black Fox as the baron's development strategy. Although he himself does not know how to grow grapes, the villagers of Nassau do.

In the past, growing grapes to make wine only met the needs of the lords, and the people lacked enthusiasm for labor because it was almost impossible for them to benefit from it.

Otherwise, the wine from the river valley will be transported to the north with all its strength, and everyone who works in this job will get dividends.

In the late autumn of 841, the shrubs on the slopes on both sides of the river valley began to wither naturally on a large scale.

There are many types of trees in this area. Although it appears to be a forest sea of ​​red pine and cedar, it is also mixed with maples, oaks, maples, and even ash trees.

There must be treasure on the mountain! As for the black fox occupying this place, since he has left his hometown in the north forever to become a hereditary noble here, he should find out the products in the territory as soon as possible.

Farmers were organized and for the first time, armed with knives and axes, they deliberately cleared away the withered grapevines, leaving only the viable roots, and then inserted a "cross" into them, making the hillside look like a cemetery. In fact, it is not the case. The withered vines just tie up the wooden sticks available to the pitcher. The wooden frame is made in the autumn and can be used as a climbing frame for the new grapes the following year, making it easier to harvest the grapes in late summer.

People had to go to the mountains to cut firewood to store for winter heating. Due to the garrison, Nassau's human resources seemed quite abundant.

Pine and fir trees were cut down and chopped into pieces to build walls.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, those ash trees that were found were plundered by plundering them all. It would be a waste to simply burn them. Their elasticity is extremely important. They can be used to make bows and can also be used as the key elastic lever of a manual wood lathe.

Because Black Fox's men are not just pirates or warriors, they are fishermen, hunters, and craftsmen.

Due to the harsh living environment in the north, those with versatile talents are better able to survive.

They have converted to God, have a fortune in their hands, and have a variety of skills. Most of them are young, tall and strong, and at least have a completely different temperament than ordinary farmers.

The overall female population in Nassau and Coblenz is relatively large, or due to war, disease, malnutrition, overwork and other factors, the lifespan of local male farmers is not long. The most critical thing is the overall poverty, which will happen every winter. Someone froze to death. Widowed women often went to convents, and many more women were not allowed to choose their own spouses.

The brothers came here from the north not because of their strong belief in certain beliefs. It is a bitter cold land in the north. Although there is winter in Nassau, the feeling is only the late autumn in the north.

Then when Blue Fox issued a request in the name of the baron, Coblenz, which had a larger population, had to come up with a group of young women. Even a few knights in the mountains south of Koblenz handed over some of the unmarried serf women they had, fulfilled the monarch's requirements, and received some real cash.

In late autumn, a limited-scale mass wedding was held in Nassau Village.

The ceremony ended in one day, and there was no feasting or feasting afterwards. This move seemed to Father Conrad to be a good move. After the incident, those who were watching were ready to take action.

In the first spring after the first mass wedding, those women were already pregnant one after another.

The Normans did not bully these women! My married daughter actually gained weight!

Especially for the people of Koblenz, in the early spring when the warmth turns cold, some villagers took their young daughters and forcibly rowed a boat through the River Inn, and eventually entered the depths of the River Inn, in order to get a good betrothal for their daughter. husband. In other words, the greater willingness is that the villagers are eyeing the cash in the hands of the Normans in order to "sell" their daughter for a good price. They don't have any psychological burden, just because facts have proven that by marrying off their daughter, they can get a supporter for their family.

It looks like Nassau and Koblenz are entering a new age

The moon is quiet and in a pastoral state.

If there is no civil war, if all trade lines are absolutely safe. Black Fox and his Norman army controlled the gradually expanding population, so they could naturally live happily in this area.

But Koblenz was actually the front line of the Civil War! The Nassau side will not sit still and wait for death, and the Black Fox will still take the initiative.

Internal affairs are taken care of by two priests, and Blue Fox temporarily lacks the ability to directly command the vassal knights in the Koblenz Mountains across the river. What he wants to do is to manage the Lan River Valley that he firmly controls, control the fishing village of Ranstad at the confluence of the Lan River and the Rhine River, and gradually turn the Emsbach quarry and hot spring into a fortress.

The Emsbach quarry has a unique geographical location, and the open-pit granite quarry stone can be cut at will. Black Fox had a dream to build a stone Nassau Castle in such a place to replace the old baronial mansion.

In other words, he will soon be upgraded to a count and needs a more domineering building to show his extraordinaryness.

He knew that no one had conferred the title of earl on his family. According to the agreement at the end of 841, he replaced Laingau and bought the fiefdom from the Robert family, and he also received the title of earl. This matter will definitely not get the support of King Ludwig of the East! How about that? Does that guy think he has more troops?

If Black Fox waits any longer, he will have to wait for his second brother Blue Fox, and even more, for the Robert family.

Spring has arrived, and the Robert family arrived stubbornly in a carriage.

They were not the only ones who came!

A peaceful and stable life has always been the desire of the northerners. Those warriors who had been silent for a winter were ordered to put on their chain mail again, put on clean Ross white background and blue pattern robes, carry their round shields behind their backs, and hang them on their waists. Wearing a sword, following behind the overly ornately dressed black fox, Robert prepared a mighty war to welcome his family's move.

The cavalry guarded the carriage convoy, and there were quite a few of them.

The wheels made deep tracks, and Robert's boots stepped on mud as expected. However, after walking for a while toward the riverside wooden fortress with the Russian flag flying, the mud on the soles of his feet was clean.

"The ground has been pebbled again. You guys are thinking too much..."

Looking up, Robert estimated that these Normans were determined to settle permanently. No village has the time to build its own roads, and that's not the case for the Normans, who actually spread gravel on a large scale in settlements.

Taking a neat step, the warrior kicked his legs neatly. Their formation was not rigorous, but the chopping rhythm was accompanied by the characteristic Viking war cry, and the sound they made was very regular. Their appearance seemed not to welcome them, but to enter the battlefield.

The two young knights, Gilbert von Ettigenstein and Ballard von Bredenstad, had never been to Nassau. Their father, who died fighting in the north, had been there too many times during his lifetime. Second-rate.

Young people are very ashamed of their limited knowledge. The huge Hessian mountainous area limits everyone's activity space. The two of them lacked knowledge of the outside world, and this realistic factor of being stubborn made them unwilling to leave the fiefdom at all.

Who is the real Baron of Nassau? I heard it was a young girl.

Who is the Norman who represents the real power of the baron? Are you afraid that he's not that well-dressed little fat man?

It is true that Heihu has gained a lot of weight because of his second brother Heihu who has successfully lost weight. In the past year, because he had to do a lot of things, this young man who could barely call himself eighteen years old had to bear multiple pressures. He was still a little thinner, but he was wearing a polar bear skin and a fox fur hat with dyed feathers on his head. He also deliberately opened his chest to show that he was wearing a Ross shirt, which was very different from the Frankish nobles.

A striking feature is the boots of this Norman nobleman. They are high-top leather boots. It cannot be said that there are no shoes of this style. It can only be said that they are only worn by the Norman troops in front of them.

From any angle, the two young knights put on their most gorgeous and domineering attire, completely showing their timidity in the face of the uniform Norman army.

Robert was in a good mood. He dismounted and winked at the two finalists, Zhong Chen.

In a moment, the down-and-out Earl had even eaten up the remaining food, and he still controlled her arrogance.

The armed attendants were replaced by two years old

In fact, this scene made the blue fox squint his eyes like a fox, and he had to think: "Those two guys are not like ordinary guards."

"Finally, you are finally here." Black Fox said boldly, and this moment could be described as disrespectful.

The black fox had a condescending attitude, and Robert was not angry. The boy just looked a little fat and naive, but once in a fight, he was as ferocious as a three-headed hell dog.

"Yes. It's finally here. Maybe... I came a little earlier. I looked at the dock and your brother's ship hasn't arrived yet."

"I'm waiting too." Black Fox shrugged and turned slightly to signal his army: "Brothers are impatient to wait! Everyone hopes that the war will continue and we can continue to make a fortune this year."

"Okay. No one can stop you. I know something about the situation in the south, but it has nothing to do with me."

"Oh? Why don't you say something?"

The squinting Black Fox was actually waiting for this guy to comment on the sneak attack on Trier last year. Robert realized that he just refused any comment.

No, Robert solemnly introduced his last two loyal ministers.

"This is Gilbert, this is Ballard..."

Even if he is just a knight, because he is a pure mountain local, even though he is a minor noble, his title is extremely long. Robert explained their respective names on behalf of the two. This showed that he could not forget the friendship in the past, and he was also doing the two young people a favor.

A long title makes you look domineering, right?

The black fox opened his eyes wide. No matter how he looked at him, he felt that the other person was completely the same age as himself.

"I leave these two to you." Robert sighed softly: "These two are the real knights of Yingao. When I was down and out, they never left me. They can be loyal to me, and they will also be loyal to Na." Baron saucy."

"Oh? Do you want to be loyal to me?" Black Fox asked tentatively.

"Yes! No. They are the vassals of the real baron, that is... your wife. Obviously, Sophia is not here." Robert said again.

"Her? She's still too young. Maybe she won't be able to see such a battle for the time being?"

"It doesn't matter. We can do a ceremony of allegiance in the monastery. They can only be loyal to the real baron, and they also need to implement the sword ceremony. The etiquette is indispensable. It is best for the priest to be present as a witness."

"It's just another matter of red tape, whatever...it can be done anytime. What about you?" Black Fox stared into Robert's eyes: "Don't forget that our transaction is the most important thing."

"Am I going to forget? The lower-level vassals of Laingau are loyal to you, and I have lost everything in the north. And you will become the Earl of Laingau. At least my wife and I admit it."

Youdao didn't waste any time. He wanted to control the black fox who came to Yin Gao to expand his strength as soon as possible, so he quickly pulled up his fiancée who was sleeping soundly.

Legally, Sophia is Black Fox's fiancée. She is the owner of the baron's mansion, and Black Fox has become a lodger. In daily life, the black fox acts more like a big brother. Everyone, including Father Conrad, is waiting. Only when Sophia reaches the age stipulated by Frankish law can the two get married. Although the people who immigrated here criticized a series of rules, because the rules were not based on principle and disrupted life, everyone tolerated them.

A sleepy-eyed Sofia ate some cheese and was taken to the monastery.

She was dressed up, put on beautiful clothes and put on a heavy iron helmet, just to show that she looked like a military noble.

She is young and is completely different from other aristocratic women in terms of culture and knowledge. The most important thing is the study of Latin. She may be uneducated, but because of the pressure of the black fox whom she calls her eldest brother and is actually her fiancé, she spent the past winter cramming in knowledge, and now she does have an extra intellectual ability. beautiful.

It can be said that she is wiser than her two brothers who immigrated to the Netherlands.

She already realized what she was going to do next, so she took the broad-bladed swords from the two vassals.

The sword was a bit heavy, so she had to pick it up with both hands, place it on the shoulders of the half-kneeling knight, and finally put it on the knight's head. She repeated the oath in Latin and declared to be a knight of Nassau.

All this was witnessed by Father Conrad, and confirmed by Black Fox, Robert, and even Adelaide, the daughter of the Earl of Tours.

With the recognition of the clergy and the great nobles, this stubby canonization has a certain degree of legitimacy. As for whether King Ludwig of the East recognizes it or not, it will not be considered.

But it's not over yet.

Sophia is young but not a fool. What she has experienced in the past two years has been like giving herself a new lease of life. She is already a young girl. At the end of her childhood, her father participated in a war that decided the fate of the Nassau family. Now she is ordered to stay in her hometown, shouldering the noble status of Baron Nassau, and is no longer qualified to be a guardian.

Koblenz-Nassau-Leingau must be born as a county!

She is only in her early tenth year and may lack the ambition to achieve a career for the time being. Faced with the reality, she has to adapt to the responsibilities of this era.

Lai Yingao will become a terra incognita due to the departure of the Robert family. Nassau is its old vassal, and now it is a good idea to replace it peacefully.

The canonization ceremony had just ended, and the two knights stood up with sullen faces. Sofia raised her head with a calm face and a slightly freckled face: "Soon, when the money is delivered to Lord Robert's hands, I! I will automatically serve as the Count of Laingau. . You are the last knights who come to Yingao to serve you. You will be promoted to baron immediately. At least we will recognize it! The northern countries will recognize your status as baron."

All this was discussed by Heihu and his fiancée, but the actual situation surprised them both.

No one would have thought that there were many knight leaders in Lai Yingao, but in the end, a large number of these guys became loyal to Ludwig.

Only two knights pledged their allegiance to Laingau, and they were the only ones to change their ways.

After spending a lot of money to buy it, I came to the large uninhabited mountainous area of ​​​​Yingao, and all I got was the loyalty of two knights and a monastery. I felt that I was gaining face, but I was losing some money.

However, it was a done deal. The Robert family arrived in Nassau before the Ross fleet arrived, and they were stationed here to wait for the ship.

For this reason, the black fox still needs to be fed good food and drink.

At first, Black Fox felt that the two knights were a little dull and cautious. They are basically the same age, don’t they know how to drink?

Barbecue was served with ale and wine. Black Fox spoke the local dialect with a stutter and at least danced so that the other party could understand. He especially invited two new friends to feast and drink with the vulgar pride of northerners and the rare tableware displayed on the table. , and quickly became one with them.

Colored plates and wine glasses made of glass are not surprising in the north, although the prices are generally high due to shipment issues.

But in a remote village in the Hesse Mountains, they were classified as hereditary knights. The two young men had to eat wheat from wooden bowls like ordinary farmers. At least they could eat better than ordinary people.

What's going on here in Nassau? Even the drinking quilt is made of blue "crystal"? !

This moment showed the arrogance of the black fox: "My wife is the ruler, and my son is hereditary. I am a housekeeper, not an earl, but in another identity, I am a northern noble. After eating this meal, you will all use these tableware Get it. We will be brothers from now on, eating meat together and drinking wine together..."

The fat black fox with a belly was in sharp contrast to the two thin knights, even though they were the same age. Obesity represents abundance of food and clothing, and what the two saw in Nassau Village completely refreshed their understanding of the Normans.

Besides, Black Fox, who held a large number of soldiers, was indeed not a baron in the legal sense. Gilbert and Ballard did not feel uncomfortable with this call of brotherhood.

They also saw that the Robert family, who moved their family to Nassau Village and continued to make a living, continued to provide good food and drink every day even though the Nassau side had fully understood the situation.

Spring has arrived and even early summer has arrived!

Everyone is waiting for the Blue Fox fleet to arrive. Something seems to have happened?

Indeed, there are problems in some places.

After all, the civil war is still going on, Lothair's summer offensive is inevitable, and Ludwig's summer counterattack must also be carried out. The two top nobles, who held heavy troops, coincidentally made new moves at the same time.

Nassau in the Lane River Valley was actually on the front line of the Civil War.

, Koblenz, which is at the confluence of the Moselle and Rhine rivers, has long been targeted by Lothair! The tranquility of the years is just a paralyzing appearance before the crisis strikes.

No, war broke out!

A very regular infantry banner of King Lothair, accompanied by a squadron of banners, and more than 200 armed civilians given by Count Metz to escort the logistics supplies, assembled an army of more than 800 people. With the goal of recapturing Koblenz, the summer offensive in this direction began.

This matter was never a whim of King Lothair. He wanted to capture Coblenz and guard it heavily to make up for the loss of this place due to underestimating the enemy last year.

In this regard, when the army set off, Black Fox and Robert had to wait stupidly for the ship.

Until the knight leader in the Koblenz Mountains was treated as a traitor and deliberately attacked and plundered, the knight was on the verge of collapse, or he didn't want to fight the invaders in the first place. The knights and the refugees rushed towards the village on the Rhine River and reported to Eric "Toothless" who was stationed at the mountain castle. Father Bachbert took a boat to Landstein at the mouth of the Blue River in despair. This mind-breaking news woke up the black fox who was immersed in the happiness of expansion.

"It's unreasonable that they actually take the initiative? What qualifications do they have to take the initiative?! Brothers, kill them!" A fat man drew his sword. After experiencing the war, he finally looked like a warrior.

But this time, the second brother Heihu will not help him. Fortunately, the northern heroes under his command were still very interested in killing, not to mention the new wives who hugged their Norman husbands' laps and cried bitterly when they heard the news. Now, the army had an unshirkable obligation to protect Coblenz.