Ludwig fell into a contradiction. He wanted to use this group of Russ for his own use, as a group of vicious dogs to ruthlessly bite, in order to weaken Lothair's strength. To do so would be blasphemy again.

Canonized as a baroness, Sophia is just an ordinary girl who looks a little greedy. What he saw was the man beside the 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 fat, and he has the impulses unique to young people. That kind of desire to build achievements can just be used.

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

Stationed in the really bad city of Mainz?

The blue fox reluctantly sold Ludwig a face, and took a closer look at the bizarre life in this city under the rule of the Eastern Kingdom.

A large number of refugees sat idle in the city, relying on the bread crumbs donated by the priests and the oatmeal with little water. Even some women did not hesitate to blaspheme in order to survive, secretly having relations with the garrison, just to get a bite of food.

The air has always been filled with the stench of Dandan, and the blue fox noticed that the so-called noble Ludwig provided him with a rather ordinary residence.

At least the stone building is strong enough and the interior is really rudimentary. There are wooden beds, no futons, and no other furniture.

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

"Strange thing. Could it be that the king wants us to go to the toilet openly in the corner?" Heihu complained with a full stomach. After all, he was looking for a secluded place to solve such private matters during the previous secret banquet.

"Otherwise? What do you think is the stench of Dandan?"

"It's really dirty." The black fox who understood it pulled down his face and became angry: "It's better to live outside the city. They are proud of themselves, and it's better than we do to take care of Nassau village in an orderly manner."

"I advise you to calm down. It's in that guy's territory, and continue to be humble and sell him face, even if it's a show."

"Forget it... it's the woman who suffered me."

The two brothers complained about each other, and now they are really sharing weal and woe with Ludwig, and they can't feel how much this guy looks like a king.

Their entourage also lived in the same building one after another, and they set up their own floors. They all slept in their clothes under the hint of the blue fox.

The bad hard bed made it difficult for the two to sleep well, at least Sophia slept well, perhaps because the black fox's fat belly was really comfortable.

Early in the morning in Mainz, when the settlers cleared the filth, the drainage system built by the Romans basically collapsed, leaving only the stone paved main road with grooves on both sides. Soldiers and civilians are throwing these things, and they are not shy about seeing it as the most common thing.

The blue fox and the black fox had to do as the locals do, just on the wall of the toilet, I saw a lot of white things have long since precipitated here.

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

"Hey, brothers, don't be too busy pinching your nose, and don't think it's dirty. Cut the wall here with a knife, and we'll add some combustion-supporting powder." The experienced Lanhuling subordinate did so.

The efficiency of the bow drill to make fire is good. If you pour a specially collected white powder when you are crazy about drilling wood, the ignition rate will be higher. It was in the wild that the Vikings discovered the use of natural nitrate, and then a few people began to collect it consciously, and now they began to make it intentionally.

Being in Mainz, the Blue Fox and his party felt that this was an inferior barracks, and the city was a mixed bag. The naked eye can see infantry with armor and stomach everywhere, and other cavalry cruising back and forth. The farmer dressed in ordinary cloth stepped on some festering leather boots, drove the thin old horse, and dragged the wooden cart full of withered grass. The haystack was incomparably high, and there were a lot of wooden carts. It was obvious that someone was hoarding grain and grass at a high intensity.

These grasses must be the winter reserves of the war horses, and they collected them so much that the blue fox was able to judge that Ludwig was on the defensive from the end of summer and early autumn from now on.

"Thousands of lost soldiers have died. Do you really have an infinite number of soldiers? If so, how long can you use them? You have lost 30,000 and now you've lost 3,000. You are not a smart king. You are not good at fighting at all. ." The blue fox has secretly defined Ludwig, who is a king of noble status but not good at fighting and ruling the country.

The Rus army and their big ships were docked on the river bank, and the Eastern Kingdom Standing Army in the city was the first time to see this group of "victors of the north" from a distance. One vote of his colleagues died in the northern battle, or his brothers had hatred in their hearts, but now the king has made peace with the northerners, although his hatred will not be released. Now it is a chance to carefully observe this group of new northerners who are "Ross". Everyone dare not go to negotiate in person, so they have to stare at it from a distance.

At first it was indeed just the onlookers of the good soldiers, and as the group of northerners openly set up a field at their riverside camp, listing some valuable goods, the transaction happened.

Because these salaried standing army soldiers stayed in Mainz, which was devastated by the war and fell into hardship. Even if they had been paid, they could not buy anything good.

merchant? Merchants seek profit but worry about war. Since the news spread that Ludwig had forced a batch of merchant goods last year, the wandering merchants who roamed everywhere regardless of the division of noble territories, they stopped in Cologne, but dared not come to Mainz, Do business in inland areas such as Frankfurt.

The Norman Rus brought out two good things: common iron tools and coarse salt.

Especially salt!

In fact, Ludwig's fief is not lacking in salt at all. His stronghold is Bavaria. This Bavaria is a big concept that includes the eastern jurisdiction, that is, Austria. Among them there is a town named Salzburg, whose original meaning is exactly "Salt City".

The salt mines in Salzburg were an important source of wealth for Ludwig. Before the outbreak of the civil war, he also transported rock salt to the northern Italian region in the south to make money, and also used salt to treat the slaves Slav Sorbs under his control, as well as from Turin. Gen Hou earns profits in his hands.

The trouble is that the main force of the army is in Mainz, and the transportation cost of Salzburg salt is high. Unless, the means of transportation are replaced by the Viking longships of the Rus, and they are constantly tossed on many rivers to reduce costs with high mobility.

Participating in high-intensity military operations with heavily armored ordnance, the physical strength of the standing army has been greatly weakened. Their bodies were forced into a low-salt state, stifling recovery and the progression of future military operations. Although Ludwig has been forcing Bavaria to send recruits and supplies to Mainz, the delivery effect is really unsatisfactory.

Soldiers are not guaranteed, the Frankish standing army is taken from the military household system reshaped by Charlemagne. The father died in battle and the eldest son took over, and he was incorporated into the flag team to serve the king from generation to generation. These recruits were not yet qualified, and it wasn't long before the news of the North's defeat came back to Bavaria. Those young people had to accept the sad news of their father's death in battle. Even so, Ludwig ordered his subordinates in the rear to compile boys from the military household who were fifteen years old, and even if they were unarmed, they had to transport them to Mainz as soon as possible, and strive to deliver them before winter.

All kinds of personnel and materials must first be assembled in Regensburg, and then arrive by land in the Earl of Grappfeld (now the upper Main River in the area west of Nuremberg), passing through the fief of Earl Heinrich Popo (Poppo), And here through the waterway of the Main River directly to Frankfurt am Main for a general assembly.

Poor land transportation and poor water transportation limited Ludwig's conscription from his rear to the front. Even, if it wasn't for the Count of Grappfield to help the king ensure the logistics line, Ludwig would have died of internal exhaustion on the front line of Mainz.

The salt obtained by the Rus from the Atlantic direction was sold at the temporary farm in Mainz. One party was willing to sell it and the other was willing to buy it. The price offered by the Rus was actually higher, but the Mainz garrison had no choice.

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

Ludwig observed this situation. He admired the key materials that Blue Fox and his people delivered to him, but unfortunately it could not solve the big problem.

After thinking about it, he had a flash of inspiration: "What I am inconvenient to do, indeed they can do it."

Ludwig, still struggling with morals, beliefs and reality, finally made a decision after a difficult ideological struggle.

This privately recruited Fred, the newly loyal flag captain, to his palace.

Facing the King of the East, Fred obediently saluted him.

"You don't have to be polite. Fred, the army assigned to my eldest brother must not be what you want. Now, is your allegiance to me really voluntary?" Ludwig asked bluntly and deliberately meaningfully.

So there is something in the words.

"Your Majesty, I voluntarily pledge my allegiance to you."

"There's no reason to say it. Now that you and your people are eating my rations, how can you prove your true allegiance? You have to do something for me."

Fred guessed it consciously, so he tapped his chest: "The other flag teams are all concerned. If the king wants to start a new battle, my brother and I will fight with blood."

"That's what you said! Very well. You...know Trier."

"This..." Fred, who was stunned for a moment, rolled his eyes very quickly, and asked cautiously after being silent for a while: "Your Majesty wants our brother to attack Trier?"

"Yes, not all. How much do you know about the local situation? Is there a garrison of Lothair there?"

"Yes... There is a flag team stationed, about 400 people. The flag captain is called Buckhouse, and he is my colleague."

"Is this true?" Ludwig squeezed his curly beard, his eyes widened and murderous intent appeared: "Is still your colleague? No. This old colleague of yours will die."

"..." Fred felt that there would be a **** storm, but Trier was too far from Mainz.

However, when he learned of Ludwig's real intentions, he was so shocked that every pore in his body was oozing sweat. He cursed in his heart that this king was actually possessed by Satan, or that what he planned to do was to sell his soul to the devil.

Fred was already stammering: "Really...really? They...allowed them to destroy Trier?"

"That's right. Just destroy it! It's not my fief anyway, and I don't plan to take it there. You! I've given Koblenz to the new Baron of Nassau, the Normans who captured you. I'm going to let them do this kind of thing, I really need a guide, obviously you're a good fit. Don't tell me you rejected it because of your conscience! Let your conscience go to hell! Lothair won't let me live, won't Don't blame me for being ruthless when I'm my own brother. You guide those Normans to the place, and any killing has nothing to do with you. Don't worry, if God wants to punish me, it will punish me too.

Fred could not refuse, Ludwig intended to reward, but also punished for refusal. Out of the instinct to seek advantages and avoid disadvantages, he could only bite the bullet and agree.

Ludwig had already wanted to understand the bottom line of the Eastern Kingdom in this civil war. The area enclosed by Koblenz and the Saar River, that is, half of Saarland (Lai Inland and Palatinate), belonged to the Eastern Kingdom, and the rest belonged to the Eastern Kingdom. The territorial divisions were made according to the treaties made by the previous kings. Even if his strength is weakened, he can take advantage of the treaty with the northerners to help him regain face on the battlefield.

Besides, in the long run, who will use who is not necessarily! In the bitter cold land of the north, the so-called Rus army that Ludwig saw completed their conversion one by one. As long as a large number of brave northerners converted and settled in Nassau, it would be a big deal to change Nassau from a barony to an earl. With a group of supporters who are powerless and abundant, the strength can quickly recover.

At this stage, they need to exchange enough money for their work, and the subordinates of "Fox Brothers" are like a mercenary group. I don't have the money to pay them for the time being, but I gave them 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, the military aristocracy has less red tape, Ludwig did not prepare a banquet, and he stated his opinion straight to the point: "I will arrange a chance for you to make a fortune."

Chance to get rich? Only the blue fox and the black fox participated this time. Although the two were very interested, they did not know why Ludwig, who was obviously not rich, made such a statement.

"Can you give me a bunch of gold?" Lanhu asked deliberately.

"No. However, there are people who have a lot of gold, and you can get it yourself. Listen, from your newest Koblenz, go all the way up the Moselle. Arrive at the city called Trier. The town is quite rich, but unfortunately they are loyal to Lothair. I authorize you to loot arbitrarily, you can do whatever you want, and the property you loot is yours. You can even burn Trier to the ground."

"This is a good opportunity to fight!" Heihu took the lead and couldn't hold back his emotions.

The blue fox tugged at his younger brother's shoulder and looked at Ludwig: "It seems that the action will be very smooth? Can we get rich easily? I don't believe it. Since the local area is very rich and it is Lothair's territory, the local area must be heavily guarded. . How can I trust you?"

Ludwig shrugged: "The opportunity to make a fortune is right in front of you, and you can choose not to go. If you want to go, I can provide guide support." After that, he clapped his hands, and Fred, who had a blank face, appeared and greeted him. stand by its side.

"That's him? A prisoner?" Lan Fox gave him a slightly disdainful look.

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

Then, Ludwig changed his words: "Paul Black Fox, is this your name? Your fiance is just a little girl, and you are the de facto new Baron of Nassau. This king appreciates you very much and authorizes You launch this assault. In this way, I will send some soldiers to help you attack, which is a joint operation between me and you. Listen, black fox, I need talented nobles now, and you do have talent. Think about it~ www.mtlnovel.com~ You can do great things for me, help me promise a civil war, and your fief will be bigger in the future. I don't know how you are in your hometown, but here you will become stronger.

To be honest, the blue fox was very disgusted by Ludwig's words, and looking at the excited look of his younger brother's eyes, he was sure that his younger brother was already on his head.

Either way! The second and third sons of the Gould family can only inherit a little bit of family wealth at most, and the brothers must develop according to their abilities. Now my brother has a chance how not to take me?

The blue fox no longer hesitated, and made a decision on behalf of his younger brother: "Okay! We will march. It's just that we don't need your people, we can do this ourselves. We will act according to the cruel methods of the northerners, and we will not even fight. Under your banner, and not Nassau. We are northerners! Now the northerners are here! Without some restraints, we can let go of our hands and feet."

It is equivalent to saying that these guys also broke their promise when they converted. Ludwig can't say anything, and he himself is half-hearted.

There were only three nobles in the secret meeting. The flames in the room were shaking, and the murderous aura in the room was overflowing. The three of them had already sentenced Trier to death, but the locals didn't know it...

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