Since ancient times, trying to collect taxes from business activities has tested a country's ability to govern.

To get those businessmen to pay their taxes obediently, they can either use force to force them, or create a good trading environment and force them to be willing to pay for this environment.

Even so, from big business families to small boat traders, they can avoid paying taxes.

However, they want to sell their products stably, and it is an optimal solution to sell them on the market.

In the bazaars that appeared spontaneously and in the bazaars built by the kingdom, all the merchants were charged with taxes, and if they couldn't get the money, they were personally controlled and imposed fines. This is tax collection, and more like asking for tribute.

For a long time, Rurik relied on the threat of military deterrence and personal control to force the merchants in the Rus trade to come out with money. This kind of action has lasted for more than ten years. People gradually get used to it. In order to avoid being disadvantaged to themselves, they Willing to prepare the prepaid business tax before sailing each spring.

This kind of business tax is more like a poll tax, the tax paid by the merchants has nothing to do with their distribution, as if the money is just buying "trading rights in Rus".

Such business tax collection costs are low, and the total amount collected is not much.

Taxes similar to customs duties have been collected by the Rus Kingdom many years ago.

The kingdom of Rus is now the king who has kneaded some communities of the northern world together through military might. The basic part of the kingdom is still the Duchy of Rus. The merchants in the duchy are completely exempt from customs duties, while the merchants in Sweden, who row into the rapidly expanding largest trading center of New Roseburg, must pay the berthing tax when they arrive at the port. , it has tariff significance.

When an alien ship arrives at its own port, it is only reasonable for the owner to ask for a sum of money.

If one port charges sky-high prices for the cost of stopping ships, the merchants will bleed a lot, and they will be deeply stabbed in the future business activities. This is a trade-off problem, and the owner of the port has to make the best solution in collecting money and maintaining trade prosperity.

So who benefits from a 1% tariff?

Naturally, it is extremely beneficial to the Rus Kingdom.

The principality of the Rus Kingdom is controlled by the royal power of Rurik, and the Swedish part is supervised by the Governor's Office, which is equivalent to the customs of Rus.

The entire Gotaland region was conquered, and Gothenburg was expanded as the region's economic core. The Count of Gothenburg has the right to collect customs duties, but not the right to collect taxes on merchant ships from the Duchy of Rus. And merchant ships that display the flag of the Earl of Gothenburg are also exempt from customs duties when they trade in other ports in the kingdom.

The entire Swedish region with Lake Mlaren as the core is more like joining the kingdom as an ally in terms of customs duties, and is not regarded by Rurik as "part of his own flesh and blood".

The issue of customs tariffs can spy on relatives. For those allies who joined the "Northern Alliance", Ross is a military alliance with them and is now a commercial alliance.

As the lord of the alliance, Ross can make concessions because of friendship, so that the allies can charge a 1% tariff is the biggest concession!

Of course, there are many loopholes and problems. Considering the actual situation, the merchants who can conduct ocean trade are all from the Viking regime, and among them, the official Russian merchant ships have the ability to sail safely. The prosperous ocean-going trade did not exist for a period of time, and Rurik also decided not to pay any taxes for ten years for many tribes.

The 1% tariff is a huge benefit to the ocean trade directly commanded by the king. If it can be maintained for a long time, it should be maintained as much as possible. In the agreed year 850 AD, many tax-free clauses expired, and the 1% tariff may be re-determined for the customs of the allied countries.

However, in this turbulent Western and Nordic world, it is a miracle that a stable and peaceful alliance can exist for ten years.

The nobles solemnly signed the decision of this trade alliance. All nobles were willing to abide by the unified 1% tariff. At the same time, they also confirmed each other that the landowners had the obligation to build the market and protect the safety of the merchants.

For this very fair business agreement, a man pondered deeply.

It was a calm and cold night, and there was endless snow like shards of ice outside. People overwintering regardless of their ethnicity just wanted to stay in a warm shack.

Rurik lived in the Russ army camp outside Hamburg, and now a large area of the riverside has formed dense wooden buildings. Even if the Ross Army is only temporarily staying, for half a year or more, everyone has to reinforce their houses.

The woodcuts made of logs are still filled with a faint smell of pine resin, and the smell is easy to calm down. The war is over, and Rurik has personally written down on rough paper what terms to come up with in formal peace negotiations with Ludwig.

He could finally settle down, and now he would rather be alone for a few days in absolute tranquility.

And tonight, he will specially summon Henry Nassau, Earl of the Netherlands.

The wooden door opened, and the array of oil lamps in the room shook violently.

The cold air was blowing outside, and a large number of broken ice broke in with the people who entered the house.

Henry Nassau took off his icy leather coat, hung it on the ledge of the wooden wall at the door, and saluted King Ross with his right hand beating his chest.

"No need to be polite, come quickly." Rurik, who was sitting cross-legged, waved.

Nassau hurriedly came and sat down, looking into Rurik's eyes, he was still very polite, and subconsciously said something polite.

"There's no need to talk about that! Let's stop dawdling and talk about what you think. Not right! I know that Esquil and you have a secret conversation about something that has nothing to do with it.

Negotiations have something to do with it. Maybe that old guy thinks something might irritate me and chooses to shut up, you may as well have a chat with me. "

Nassau was not surprised by this and said frankly: "It is true, King Ludwig of the East Frank is revealing a message."

"I heard a little bit, it seems that it is not rumors?"

"Yes. Ludwig has an incredible attitude to cooperate with our Northern Alliance."

"Is it an alliance? Ah, the fact that he can have such an idea shows that he is a smart person."

Nassau nodded deeply, "These are what Eskil said. They...hope to ask the King your attitude through me."

"Why is it so complicated, just ask Ludwig to have a secret talk with me in person! Some issues are resolved in advance, so that the formal peace talks will be full of endless discussions. We northerners don't want to talk nonsense."

"Yes... It should be a fact that Ludwig intends to form an alliance with us. And once this alliance is implemented, it will not only be him who will be the new ally of our Northern Alliance."

"Anyone else?" Rurik couldn't help but wonder.

"And the Archdiocese of Cologne. Eskil revealed to me that Ludwig decided to give the whole of Westphalia to Cologne. Archbishop Hardbold has jurisdiction over here, and Ludov loses the count of the place. title."

"Is there such a thing?" Rurik subconsciously stuck his head out, and after thinking about it, he pouted a little, "That's true. Ludov betrayed him, and he took back and transferred Westphalia, It's also Ludwig's power. Give Cologne a piece of territory? Is he really willing?"

"I don't know about this. But Cologne is like a small kingdom. If Ludwig asks for an alliance, then Cologne will also ally with us. This way..."

"Oh!" Rurik slapped his thigh, his mind already realizing a perfect result. "In this way, I can't rob the rich Cologne, and in exchange, my boat can go up the Rhine to your village of Nassau?"

"Exactly!"

"My merchant ships, in principle, will not be attacked by the Franks. That's exactly what I dream of."

"Yes. My Netherlandish country still has the fief of Nassau Village, so I assure the great King of Ross that I fully invite you to build a shop and a barracks in my Nassau Village."

Henry Nassau had such an active request, and this was really what Rurik wanted. He was emotional, and it was perfectly fine to pat his thigh happily.

Nassau's stern face immediately smiled.

Rurik continued to shout with a smile: "Speaking of which, you also betrayed Ludwig, your family was detained by him, and many men in your territory were recruited by him to participate in the war and now most of them die. He can take revenge on your The family vented their anger. He didn't?"

"No, maybe it's a sign of his sincerity. Your Majesty, even if we have different beliefs, you don't care about it. Although I have a brand new Netherlands fief now, my military strength is too weak to manage it properly. . I need the cooperation of the Rus army, and I must work closely with you."

"You are very witty."

Therefore, in this secret meeting between the two, Henry Nassau became, in a sense, the messenger of the defeated King Ludwig.

Ludwig was absolutely unwilling to make a very unseemly peace. He needed to find a way to detect King Ross's attitude through the middle. If the other party disagreed with him, he could adjust his strategy.

Of course Rurik refused to join the defeated East Frankish Kingdom and the Archdiocese of Cologne to join the Northern Alliance dominated by Ross, for the very simple reason that a so-called comprehensive alliance could only allow one core.

Even if East Frank were defeated, would this defeat really destroy their fundamentals? Bavaria and Osteria still belonged to Ludwig, and in principle the man's sphere of influence had reached south to the Adriatic. He only lost the power in the northwest direction, and the southeast direction remained the same. He still has a huge population of Catholics, and has a strong regenerative power. For this kind of character, either killing him or limited cooperation, trying to control him is pure wishful thinking.

Killing Ludwig would only lead to a vacuum of supreme power in the Eastern Kingdom, and the nobles without any masters would instantly recognize Lothair's power. The Frankish Civil War was a war caused by Lothair's decision to cut the vassal. To kill Ludwig was to help Lothair to rule the country!

Thinking along this line of thought, Rurik had to imagine a possibility.

"This Ludwig lost his troops in the north, and I killed more than half of the elite. He will suffer a lot in the future civil war, maybe I will send troops to help him! If this guy is defeated by his big brother, I will go to Western Europe. No action in the hinterland can go smoothly."

Rurik felt that Ludwig's alliance request was a conspiracy, just as Henry Nassau put the request for military protection of Rus on the table, the respectable Ludwig did have this demand, but it was difficult for him to understand. Say.

That being the case, the terms of the alliance should be added, especially the trade treaty.

As for any taxes, including customs duties, only what Ross received from Frank, Frank had no right to ask Ross for money.

The secret meeting between the two ended, and Henry Nassau completely got Rurik's attitude.

After all, Nassau was not Ludwig's messenger. He needed to inform Esquil of King Ross's attitude, and finally the northern saint would inform Ludwig and Hudbold of the news.

This is how things have developed.

Conspiracy is meaningless in this situation. There is no need for the two sides to conspiracy outside the negotiating table. It is precisely the highest level of wisdom.

It is Yang Conspiracy.

Ludwig was showing weakness in a sense, and his attitude towards the Normans was extremely flexible. Actively involved in Danish world affairs, spearheaded by missionaries, followed by countermeasures against Danish pirates and nobles. He was deeply troubled, and felt that his defeat today largely underestimated the determination of the vastness of the northern world and the northerners, and especially did not expect that there were extremely fierce Normans like the "Russians" in the world.

The two former chiefs of Denmark, Harald Clark and Horrick, both worked for themselves, and especially the Danish mercenary group loyal to them also participated in this war.

The Danes craved wealth and status, and Ludwig knew all too well whether their faith in Odin, the barbarian god, was solid. "Where there is piety, if it is for the wealth status I offer, those people are always willing to convert to God."

The key is to let these sturdy mercenaries get money, so in a political sense, the Eastern Kingdom recruits troops from the Norman world, and King Ludwig has no absolute resistance.

The rising Rus Kingdom is not easy to mess with. If that Rurik really doesn't have greater expansion ambitions for the Eastern Kingdom, using them is an option.

So, Esquil returned with the newly obtained information.

The wind and snow still remained outside, and the continuous snowfall seemed to suspend everything in the world.

Formal peace negotiations should be placed before Christmas and Hanukkah, and a negotiation result that both parties are satisfied with can end the war.

The dark humor is that Ludwig is eager to end the war by Christmas, and things are moving towards his long-cherished wish.

In the warm house, the simple Ludwig still had to show his majesty as a king. Liudov still avoided him, but kept offering good wine and good food.

Now his mood is getting better and better. Through the observation of these days, the Russ are indeed different from the Norman pirates in his concept. They are not vicious, and everything in Hamburg and the surrounding area is peaceful now.

What Ludwig knew was that when the war broke out, a large number of captured Frankish villagers were always under the control of the Norman-Saxon coalition. Subjectively they had no intention of killing these captives or taking them to the north as slaves. The captives have been used as bargaining chips, and he now has the news that King Ross intends to release the remaining captives.

Since this news, Ludwig also released the words, he will recognize the Netherlands, pardon the entire village of Nassau, and will not deprive Nassau of the fief in the Rheingau area.

Both sides were making compromises after the war, making it possible for peace talks to continue.

Now that Esquil was back, he took off his hood to keep out the cold, revealing the old man's wrinkled smile under the dim oil lamp.

The two people in the room are Ludwig, King of the Eastern Kingdom, and Hardbold, Archbishop of Cologne.

Eskil couldn't wait to sit down, facing the two His Holinesses who were full of expectations, he said excitedly and bluntly: "Russ King Rurik finally revealed a lot of information to me. The two of you asked for an alliance, and the attitude of the Rus people basically agreed. of."

"Basically agree? Does this count as agreement?" Ludwig hurriedly asked.

"Yes. The Rus are interested in setting up a camp in Nassau Village, and won't ask for more. They seem to want business, and as long as you meet that requirement, Rurik, he..."

"How is he? Come on!" Hudbold asked eagerly.

"He will guarantee that all Normans will not loot along the Rhine in the future, as long as you meet their normal trade needs. Rurik only promises not to loot the Eastern Kingdom, including Cologne, but for the Middle Kingdom, they Still willing to do it. This is... not what I want to see. I want peace." After that, Esquil crossed his chest.

Hearing that, Ludwig and Hadbold were overjoyed, and the two simply stood up and paced left and right with a smile.

Their attitude has been charged to show full support for this approach to the covenant.

"They intend to rob the Middle Kingdom? Let them do it! Let Lotaire fight them! I'll watch them fight. No! I'll help the Normans when they fight... Hahaha..."

Ludwig became more and more incoherent, and he realized that the enemy of the enemy can be an ally, since the Russ are only in the village of Nassau, not far from their three military camps of Worms, Mainz and Frankfurt. If you set up a camp here, then the Rus are really involved in this civil war.

The Norman mercenary regiment that lost the aged Harald Clark, now immediately gets the mercenaries of the Norman kingdom of Rus. Rus people are said to be very interested in business interests, and in this case they will work hard to protect their business and the Middle Kingdom.

Ludwig felt that this kind of thing was also the conspiracy of Rurik, King of Ross, and it seemed that this would not hurt his own interests at all.

After all, the elder brother Lothair has ignored the brotherhood, and he is really implementing the plan to annex the entire Eastern Kingdom through war. A full-scale war against the Middle Kingdom is the top priority. The plan to attack the Middle Kingdom with a large number of Norman soldiers is very hypothetical!