The coldest January is coming to an end, and the daily daylight hours are increasing significantly.

Grass seeds sprouted in the snow-covered soil, and mortals also felt that the north wind was no longer so aggressive.

All signs are indicating the recovery of the earth, and the people who have been on the expedition for a year should finally go home!

The Elbe will not thaw until at least the end of February, but this is only an estimate by the Rus based on their own experience.

The Great Freeze of the Elbe in the winter of 840 was very abnormal. Its ice layer was enough to support tens of thousands of people fighting on the ice, and now it is slowly thinning in an imperceptible condition.

The Rus people have the custom of ice fishing. The warriors carry iron picks and forest axes to continuously smash the ice layer, cut square holes in the ice and throw the hooks in the hope that the perch will bite the bait. They did catch a lot of hungry fish, and they also discovered the secret of the thin edge of the ice.

Even at the extremes of the dry season, the Elbe-Hamburg section is still very wide. The fishermen found that the ice layer in the central area of the river had become less than the width of the palm of the hand.

After a long cold snap in January, winter seems to have used its last strength, and the days that follow are bright and sunny.

A large number of Rusian soldiers with sunglasses now have huge black eyes, and these foreign Normans are too weird for the local Saxons. They are already preparing to go home, and countless people are eager to retreat when the rivers and seas thaw immediately.

Each soldier is counting his loot, metal utensils, leather and food seized in the long war, most of these private parts have been consumed, or turned into valuable equivalents - coins.

Everyone's pockets were full of jingling copper and silver coins, and everyone also changed a piece of clothing.

The composition of the Ross Army is very complex, and it is filled with a large number of poor people. They are very determined to become rich because of poverty, and now their wishes are basically fulfilled.

A large number of iron rings are strung together to weave a chain mail, which is quite effective for ordinary swords and axes, and also has a resisting effect against ordinary arrow clusters. However, in terms of actual combat effects, when Ross began to produce riveted iron armor more efficiently, the process of producing chain armor in the past has been abandoned.

But most of the fighters didn't even get a chance to get a metal armor, such as the Slavs and Finns, they were not picky. It's yours to be clean.

The intact chain mail is directly worn, and the damaged ones are cut and hung on the iron helmet to protect the face and neck.

Before the war, Rurik was unable to popularize armor for his army, only his direct troops wore armor. Now the whole army is wearing metal armor, and iron helmets are also fully popularized, but this new outfit is too Frankish.

The mountains of swords that were seized were mostly shipped to Ruth's ships, after some were given to Saxon allies.

There is still a surplus of rations, and the loot of metal utensils fills the cabin.

However, many Rus soldiers died on the banks of the Elbe, and their ashes were packed in wooden boxes and marked with the soldiers' names and places of origin. The deceased will not be buried here, and Rurik will not do a water burial for the deceased. The ashes of the deceased will eventually be handed over to the family members, and then the family members will take the items of the deceased as funeral objects and bury them in the designated cemetery. The last stone.

Most of the soldiers temporarily ignored the tragic death of their comrades, and they would not be glad that they survived, nor would they reflect on the damage caused by this war.

They didn't feel any guilt, everyone felt like they had created a miracle, and those young men who were on the battlefield for the first time completed their bar mitzvah in such a crazy way. Everyone who returns to their hometown can show their huge spoils to the villagers and tell the story of the war for seven days and seven nights.

They still yearn for war, but a war that lasts for a year is beyond personal perception. Many people need to slow down their emotions, and after enough rest, they will resolutely respond to the king's call to fight again.

In all Viking concepts, war is legal plunder. They live in a world where the strong eat the weak and believe that the law of "if I don't rob you, you will rob me" is true. Unless there is a recognized strong man who makes a set of rules that everyone must admit, in fact, they don't want to live in such a difficult situation. Now that King Rurik is such an arbiter, the era of robbing each other in the northern world may be. Come to an end.

Since everyone legally won't rob each other again, no one thinks there's anything wrong with this kind of robbery. Just go and rob others! Robbery is an important production and way of life for northerners. If you don't robbery for a month, you will feel itchy.

No one understands this better than Rurik. To put it bluntly, the rise of Russ is to earn enough original capital through ten consecutive years of plundering wars. Although Russ is strong now, it is still necessary to regard looting as a kind of national behavior.

Allies cannot be robbed, at least not explicitly. Attacking the enemy is free. According to the signed covenant, it is an obligation for Ross to rob the Middle Kingdom in the future. In this case, Rurik decided to carry out this obligation in a short time.

Rurik secretly notes Blue Fox, Earl of Gothenburg, in the Ross barracks.

There are only two people in the quiet house.

"Your Majesty, you must have something important to do with me." The blue fox sat cross-legged, and his round face was full of uncertain desire for the outside world.

"You're getting fat again these days." Rurik pouted.

"That's right. Our entire army is like a hibernating bear. Now that the wind and snow has finally passed, I have the opportunity to come out and exercise."

"Of course." Rurik laughed at himself and patted his belly, "I'm also fatter. If I don't move my muscles, I'm doomed to be fat! I still like how you've lost weight. You probably already know the news about your arrangement. "

"I heard the news, Your Majesty, are you serious?"

"Seriously, of course. You..." Rurik settled down. "You don't look surprised. Are you actually satisfied with my arrangement?"

"That's natural. I'm a businessman in essence. I travel far to find business opportunities. This is the custom of the Gould family."

"Really? Then I'm relieved. I want you to lead your army and **** this guy Ludwig back to his Mainz, I know you've actually been to Frankfurt Mainz. Along the way, we have to raise the cross flag and disguise ourselves as the Frankish army. If another general does this or there is a lot of resistance, I know that only you can do it well."

"Of course." Blue Fox subconsciously showed the sterling silver cross on his chest, "because I believe in their god."

"You?" Rurik couldn't help laughing arrogantly, "Do you believe this? I know your Gould family too well, just like your family's name points to gold. The gold and silver you believe in, as for Which **** you believe in is always adaptable."

"Haha, Great King Huiyan."

"You're very smart, and I know you want your family to grow stronger. You have two brothers, how are they?"

"Red fox and black fox? Not only them, but also my sister and my sister's children. By the way, and my own children. I hope my family can develop further."

"That's a must." Rurik knew it in his heart, and now he can speak bluntly about the situation: "Henry Nassau is going to move his family to the Netherlands, and his village of Nassau in the interior is almost a power vacuum. In principle it's still the Nassau family fief, but the actual power may be someone else. We're going to shop in Nassau Village, just like you did in Hazelby. You're very experienced! "

"Huh? Is the king planning to put me there for a while?"

"I think you'd like to."

"Thank you for the arrangement." The blue fox kept slapping his thighs, "I still don't want to be a nobleman in Gothenburg, even if the geographical location is very important. I want to explore the inland area for the king, and that Ludwig , I still hate him."

"Hate him neglecting you?"

"He tossed me so hard!"

"The times have changed, and he may ask you to do something in the future. I want you to build the shop in Nassau Village first, and remember that it must be built as a fort. You have to convince your soldiers to go there, and you can rob at will. The villages and noble territories of the Middle Kingdom have been plundered to make a fortune, and they must continue to spy on me. We have a stronghold in Rotterstad at the mouth of the Rhine River, and the news will be sent back to the north. You can rest assured. Your title of Earl of Gothenburg is permanent, and your descendants will always inherit it."

Lanhu immediately understood Wang's arrangement, and he hurriedly thanked him.

He added: "Then our shop in Nassau Village will eventually be handed over to someone the king can trust."

"That's natural. Why don't you choose someone?"

"My younger brother, the red fox or the black fox, they should also have the opportunity to develop. The king has seen them, and now the two have grown up."

When the blue fox asked Rurik, he immediately remembered that, of course, it was not the two men who had done any great deeds. It was the old Gould guy who named his sons "foxes". The so-called businessman should have a fox. As cunning, as a person with a strange name is really memorable. What's more, the blue fox is a big weirdo, only the blue fox lost weight because of crazy adventures, and the other guys surnamed Gould are fat regardless of gender.

Both the red fox and the black fox are little fat people. Are such people really reliable? Maybe.

Rurik nodded: "There are only four men in your Gould family. I know the business layout of the old Gould, which is also recognized by me. Your elder brother White Fox is responsible for the North Baltic Sea, and you are responsible for Denmark. I am wrong about the East Baltic Sea. Your family is open, and your two younger brothers can explore the southern market. I am very satisfied with your brothers supporting each other. Well, I will meet with the red fox first when I go back. I hope this boy supports your opinion. "

"Thank you for the grace of the king."

As a result, Blue Fox fully understood his new mission.

The war is over, and for the Blue Fox this is the beginning of a new era.

He secretly made up his mind to build an extremely strong stronghold in Nassau Village, which he had never met before. It must be a fortress to ensure that it can stand for more than half a year in the face of war in the future.

After all, the blue fox is not a simple person. He believes that the arrogant guy Ludwig is only tactical. Of course, when he returns to his hometown, he will endure for a long time because his strength is seriously weakened.

He felt that he would do something bigger, but just reaping the wealth of gold and silver could no longer satisfy his personal ambitions.

For this purpose, the Blue Fox will hold a special squadron, which includes armed cargo ships and longships. The longboats are responsible for oars and towing the large boats, fortunately to sail against the current on the Rhine, and to set sail once the wind is in the right direction.

He estimated that he would be able to assemble a team of five hundred people, all from the ancestral Ankras tribe folks, as well as the Gothalan followers who had recovered from Gothenburg. Most of the people who can follow the army to the present are still thinking of continuing to make profits. As for those who are thoughtful, let them leave. There should be no shortage of manpower, especially those who are eager to get rich.

The Saxons in the Hamburg area were so poor that some of them took advantage of it, and only five hundred people could meet the king's request.

So when the Rus's Danish army was busy preparing to return home, the blue fox led the squadron to the village of Nassau and began to publicize it with great fanfare.

The squadron increased the mission of the cruise ship, and Henry Nassau, Ludwig, and Hardbold, and even a large number of the released Franks, would all go home on this tailwind fleet.

There is no need for the blue fox to hide his future arrangements, he is recruiting in a high-profile manner in Hamburg.

"A man who thinks he has strength! A man who wants to make a fortune! Come with me now! I'll take you to the south to make a fortune."

It is really poor that people have nowhere to go. Now that this Russian with a cross on his chest has converted, he should be able to survive in a desperate situation.

Blue Fox easily recruited fifty people. Most of these Saxon villagers also have families, but they are obviously more powerful. They also fought with spears in the war before. The experience of participating in the decisive battle and fighting side by side is a common memory of each other. Blue Fox can trust these people, and maybe these people will show mercy when they rob villages in the Middle Kingdom in the future.

Those who insisted on going home were eliminated, and the blue fox did not hinder them. In this way, more than 300 people were determined to go to the south to see how the world was going. No matter how good the situation was, they could rob and make a fortune, and then rob another beautiful girl to solve their marital problems. . The Saxons, who were also recruited in the recruitment process for many days, had similar simple and extremely barbaric dreams.

Now, unlike in the past, because of the mountains of weapons and armors captured, the blue fox can arm his own people better.

The leather helmet is equipped with chain mail, and the outer body can also be put on a leather riveted iron armor.

All have leather boots sewn in cowhide, as well as very good cowhide armbands.

Swords and axes are must-have weapons, and a light wooden crossbow is featured.

It's just that they used the equipment captured from the Frankish heavy infantry on a large scale, and now they are transformed like the resurrection of the dead heavy infantry. They were too much like the Frankish army, and it wasn't until everyone showed off their huge Viking-style round shields and skillfully built up shield walls that they didn't clearly prove their identities.

The Ross flag is very particular. The diagonal lines of the square white cloth are stitched with blue cloth strips. The original intention is to refer to the snow and an abstract pair of oars. The totem of the Rus tribe has been like this since ancient times, and Rurik just simplified and improved its abstraction.

However, there can be multiple explanations for this flag. Even the Archbishop of Cologne, Hardbold, considers that the Rus ships will often visit the city of Cologne on the Rhine River in the future. The war should be over, and the Rus will need to have some activities in Cologne in the future Reasonable endorsement.

Hardbold doesn't believe that the Russ will always show the cross flag, but their own flag is so similar to the cross flag that this should not be just a coincidence, it can obviously make a big fuss.

He personally visited Rurik and explained his special understanding of the flag.

"It is said that our saint Andrew was crucified on an X-shaped cross, just like the flag of your Ross. In the future, I can point out to the people of Cologne that the flags flying by those cruising ships are the Andrea Cross, so that the people You shouldn't feel intimidated."

Rurik tried hard to hold back his laughter for a while, but in the final analysis, this flag was originally Ross's naval flag. His original design was to implement a history. Of course, the naval flag was essentially the "Saint Andrew's Cross".

Hardbold will return to Hamburg on the same ship of the squadron. The sudden visit of this person is to ask Ross to fulfill the agreement not to loot Cologne, and to emphasize that no matter what Ross does in the future, as long as it does not hurt the Cologne Archdiocese. Interest ~www.mtlnovel.com~Cologne will remain silent.

What can Rurik say about this. He was delighted with the pragmatic spirit of the old man, and said casually: "You make a statement, pointing out that our flag is the symbol of Saint Andrew, as if all of us Rus had converted to your faith. You are here By coaxing your people, you are comforting yourself. But I am very satisfied with this statement."

Hardbold couldn't say anything about it, he just returned a wry smile.

He met privately, essentially hoping that Rurik would continue to make guarantees. The meeting had additional success, even if it was just a verbal prospect of cooperation.

After all, there are more than 10,000 people living in the city of Cologne during peacetime. The city is not only where the bishop sits, and its wealth is not simply obtained by looting the farmers' 11th tax.

How much can you earn from agricultural tax alone? Cologne is not a big city, but there are many textile workshops in the city. Large quantities of wool from Flanders and the Middle Kingdom arrived in Cologne, and the people of Cologne devoted all their efforts to wool processing and linen spinning during the slack. Textiles were the main source of money and taxes, and the nobility and their squires were the main consumers.

Hadbold was not a pure devout believer. Although this man was devout, his interpretation of his beliefs was flexible. He found that the Rus people were not mere butchers. Since the entire northern world made the monarchs vow not to kill each other due to some treaties, and signed a very clear commercial treaty, then Cologne should not miss this opportunity.

The Cologne Line has found a new big buyer, and it is a very stable one. The wool felts, woolen clothes, and linen cloths made in the future can be sold directly to the Russians who are lit up with the "Saint Andrew's Cross", but anyone who doubts will use "Saint Andrew" to prevaricate.

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