An aristocrat with a noble title, or even an earl, can his personal life be safe and sound?

Robert, Earl of Layingau and his family have experienced a magical time in the past two years. The powerful family had to take sides in the civil war of the top Frankish nobles. Robert stood in Ludwig's position, but not only did it not bring prosperity to himself, but now the entire family is suffering.

The noble earl even encountered an unprecedented food crisis!

Robert himself is still strong enough to lead the remaining followers to hunt in the wild to feed his stomach.

He has an entire family and vassals. The so-called fimilino concept is "the aggregation of the noble family and all the servants". Robert has to support a lot of people. A crime of moral corruption, and being despised by other nobles is afraid that there is no chance of turning over again.

It stands to reason that he can collect the 11th tax from the fief villages in the entire earldom, and when the official autumn harvest ends, each village must have a sadly plundered surplus of grain.

The strange thing is that such a crucial plunder of Robert has not been realized, or from a practical point of view, someone more noble has actually deprived him of this power.

count? The new life of the family is not as good as that of a knight...

If life is not unsustainable, who would go to the neighbor's site begging for food.

With this mentality, Robert took his wife and children, and under the **** of a small number of followers, maintained the last ground of the earl's identity, and with this identity "high-profile" arrived at the old vassal Baron of Nassau, who had become the "pirate den" of the Rus. collar.

That's right, if Nassau had always existed as a sidekick of Leyingo in the past, Robert, who was unable to sustain his life, thought of going here to see the situation.

Some news is being passed between the nobles, Nassau has changed owners, and a woman is suddenly canonized as a baroness by King Ludwig. This woman's surname is indeed Nassau, and her aristocratic status is beyond doubt, but her husband is a genuine Norman Rus nobleman!

Robert was wearing his most gorgeous clothes - battle armor. His ten equestrian entourage, also dressed as cavalry, collectively escorted a small carriage.

The Countess and her two children were sitting in a flat carriage wrapped in a wool felt, and their dresses were very low-key.

There were also two empty carriages, and they were the vehicles that Robert planned to beg for food and then deliver the goods.

The scenic Taunus Mountains in the Hesse region, the main peak is nearly 900 meters above sea level, the southeast of the mountain is the rich riverside plain of the Main River, and it is also the richest fief area once owned by the Robert family, and it is also the whole area. The source of the comprehensive strength of the Earl of Laiying.

The population and financial resources are highly concentrated in the banks of the Main River from the southeast to the northeast of the mountainous areas, and the mountainous areas in the northwest. The limited population is just as bad as the agricultural level.

For a variety of reasons, the Roberts have virtually lost control of the wealthy areas in their fiefs, and even more tragically, even the villages in the mountains have become extremely weak due to extremely bad traffic conditions.

In the Taunus Mountains, there are lush birds and flowers in summer, and wild grape vines grow wildly in the gaps of the hills. Such geographical conditions are suitable for the development of characteristic wine brewing industry, but it is difficult to grow wheat. For ordinary mountain farmers, making wine is only an addition to life, and the most important thing is to produce more wheat in the barren land.

The towering main peak of Taunus is the barrier for Robert's family. He takes the village below the mountain, the knights who are legally loyal to him, as a place to live in seclusion.

The village of etiches, a small military stronghold since Roman times, is now inhabited by the Franks. With the suffix of the place name, it is a concise pronunciation of the local people, and the village has the name of Edenstein. There is another nearby village Taunustein, and the two knights from the two villages are the nearest nobles that the Robert family can contact.

The small village will not be honored in the slightest by the presence of the Count. The lord knight of the village only has the obligation of military assistance to his own earl. In fact, the knight has fulfilled his obligation.

The old knight had already joined the cavalry led by Robert himself in the summer of 840 and fell on the banks of the Elbe. The new knight is the son of the old knight. The young man has a grudge against the Count who has lost his troops. It stands to reason that he has no obligation to provide food supplies to the poor Earl's family. Still gave some money.

It really shows loyalty in adversity, but unfortunately, how much can a little knight do? The money given by the knight was received by the village priest and then passed on to Robert. On the surface, it became a charity from the church, and objectively it also showed the arrogance of the knight.

"It's not a tribute, it's pity me! However, the surplus food that your little knight has, can this support my family for a long time? Can it support my hope of revival?"

Living in seclusion on Taunus Mountain was originally Robert's act of venting his anger. As an earl, he "resigned to the job" and faced King Ludwig, who was increasingly dominating his own territory and fighting with force. The civil war continued to escalate on the fief of the Earl of Laying, and the king was frantically squeezing the human and material resources of this fertile region.

He looked at it and hated it in his heart, fantasizing about Ludwig's defeat in the civil war, and the best feeling of letting that military guy experience the loss of power, such as the man losing the title of Duke of Bavaria.

The top priority is to solve the expenses for the winter and next spring, and even make a long-term plan for the future.

At least, he saw in the north that the Rus people who were once enemies were by no means unreasonable villains. They were a group of reasonable Norman forces. The Rus king even advertised that he was very particular about the spirit of contract.

"Since they are willing to do business, they can have a good talk. In business, anything can be done in business! I... can use some special chips."

A conspiracy was born in Robert's heart. He calculated that as long as he negotiated this deal with the Rus people who controlled Nassau, the unlucky Ludwig would be the military in the future. As for yourself, what else is there to miss?

Along the small dirt road in the crevice of the hills, the small motorcade followed the valley stream to the Lan River, and then swayed and finally reached the village of Nassau.

A Rus' wooden fortress stands by the river, and a wharf appears like magic.

What once surprised Robert was that although there were extraordinary defense facilities here, the fortress was clearly flying the flag of the Rus, but where did the Rus go? There was only a long ship moored alone at the pier, and there was no sign of the Rus in all directions.

After all, Robert and his entourage came on horseback, and they raised the cross flag to declare their faith and existence.

In the previous attack and annexation of Koblenz, the armed forces of the villagers in Nassau Village objectively participated in the war. Although they were only responsible for raising the flag and shouting, the victory also had their share of credit. For the first time, ordinary farmers had the glory of victory. This glory made them exempt from this year's 11th tax. The villagers supported their new baron, and naturally safeguarded the baron's interests.

The armed peasant approached the unexpectedly visiting cavalry, and when he learned that the visitor was actually the Count of Leyingo himself, the arrogance of victory disappeared in an instant.

No matter how stupid an ordinary farmer is, he knows that the long-standing great nobles in this area are the Robert family who came to Ingau. When the farmers retreated, Father Conrad, with a lot of pressure, pulled Baroness Sophia to meet the noble one in person. Lord Earl.

But the latter did not have the slightest arrogance, and Robert, who had always suffered from defeat in his heart, did not dare to play with power in the actual control area of the Rus, not to mention that he had no power to show off now.

Robert hurriedly dismounted to negotiate with Father Conrad, who had arrived urgently.

"I know the Rus are building shops in Nassau, and I've been told they recently took Koblenz too. Now, what about them?"

Conrad answered lightly: "They made another expedition."

"Expedition? Where to go?"

"It's Trier, I don't know the specifics, but they will be back soon."

Trier is a sacred ancient city. Are the Rus people arrogant enough to dare to go deep into the hinterland of the Middle Kingdom? With Conrad revealing that the Rus commander in the actual battle was Joseph Blue Fox, Robert was relieved of everything. After all, that man was no stranger, even a Norman nobleman whom King Ludwig himself both loved and hated.

The Robert family had to respect the little girl Sophia. She was indeed a baroness, and her nominal status was lower than her own, but her husband was Blue Fox's younger brother, Heihu. They have to keep a low profile.

Father Conrad was kind-hearted, and was willing to provide room and board for the visiting Robert and his party, but the food was clean bread, and the accommodation was also a temporary house found by the monastery.

Robert was not in a hurry. He silently found that the villagers here continued their normal life, and they did not have the slightest disgust for the occupation of the Ross forces. why is that? He quickly understood everythingthe Rus occupiers exempted villagers from taxes and granted certain war bonuses, and ordinary farmers embraced them.

"Do you count as kindness? Joseph Blue Fox? If you give them benefits, it means that others will lose benefits. Your army can only make a living by looting others to show their kindness in Nassau..." Robert made a sharp judgment. The true intention of the Rus people to attack Trier.

The means of the great nobles to make a fortune actually do not require any intrigue, and often only need the most straightforward means, which is to send troops to **** a clean one from the enemy, and live on other people's granaries. Those Normans have no religious concerns, they are a large group of pirates who make a living by robbery, and even if they convert, they are still wild.

The Robert family was waiting in the village of Nassau, and then they waited for the priest of the Koblenz Abbey, Bahbert, who personally escorted the 11th tax, and chatted with the priest, and learned about the current situation of the Koblenz area.

After all, Koblenz is opposite the Layin River in the Earl of Ingau. Of course, the Robert family intends to expand the territory. The family has a coveted attitude towards Koblenz, but unfortunately it cannot legally occupy it. It was the Russ who used rude methods, and Ludwig's acquiescence in forcibly taking Koblenz was bound to be met with revenge from King Lothair in the future.

"No, Nassau is a place of right and wrong in the future. There are not many Rus people who stay here. I'm afraid that in the future, King Lothair's army will retaliate and the whole Nassau will be destroyed. I can only use this place for a short time. Think long-term! I have to leave this place of right and wrong..." Robert pondered silently, thinking that continuing to stay in the peak area of the civil war would definitely lead to the destruction of the entire family. For the sake of future prosperity, it would not be a shame to escape from this place.

The Robert family continued to wait until the Russ fleet arrived.

The fox brothers were victorious. The gold, silver, iron, and grain looted from Trier weighed down the long ship. Thanks to the traditional longboat's low draught and the smooth flow of the Lan River, a tributary of the Inn River, the fleet returned calmly. Sao Village. As they had learned that the Earl of Leyingo was uninvited, the black fox was angry and the blue fox was surprised. When the brothers were about to land, they saw a nobleman at the pier wearing a Frankish armor and looking forward to it.

"Damn. This place is his territory! It seems that we are the guests." Heihu himself is the legal butler, and has the right to exercise all the baron's power. Seeing that some nobles stole his limelight, he was angry in the era.

Lanhu comforted his younger brother: "Boy, this Robert is our defeated general. What is an earl? Your brother and I are also an earl. My strength is far better than this guy, and even you are much stronger than him. Don't be polite to him for a while. , and don't be arrogant to him. Remember, let's hear what this guy thinks first. I'll go and meet him first."

All are counts, and some counts are more noble.

In principle, the blue fox can mobilize the military power of Gothenburg. The local Viking Gotaland people are still in the state of all soldiers. They have a strong desire for sailing and looting, and they are looking forward to a noble leader to make a fortune. In fact, the blue fox has already thought of the measures to make a fortune on its own fief. After all, Gothenburg is the mouth of the Yota River. It faces the Great Denmark Strait. There are some rocky islands at the mouth of the sea as a barrier, which can cover the port and prevent it. The tide can really develop into a good port for trade. The wine produced in the Nassau region is continuously transported to the north, and Gothenburg can be used as a distribution center, and can make a lot of money by reselling the wine.

Rich and powerful, the landing blue fox attracted Robert's dread. Of course, only a few of the Rus army behind him are real Rus, and most of them come from a variety of backgrounds, so Robert dare not despise them. Because every soldier in this army is a ruthless person who participated in the battle on the frozen Elbe last year and survived, and now returns with the riches they robbed from Trier.

To be honest, Robert admired this army that was fiercer than Hungry Wolf. If he had such a strong army, he would not have been so miserable.

The blue fox first looked at the nobleman and said with a straight face: "Count Robert, you shouldn't be here! We didn't invite you. I can think that you are threatening us."

Robert was startled, and without any strength, he had to hook his head: "Joseph Blue Fox..."

"Shut up! I am the Earl of Gothenburg in the Kingdom of Ross. I have the strength to easily mobilize a Norman army of 3,000 people to rush to Nassau by boat. You are not qualified to call me by my name!"

"Okay. Honorable Earl of Gothenburg... I really have no threat to you. I came with a peaceful attitude."

"It's not too bad." Blue Fox nodded with satisfaction: "Remember, you are a loser. Are you peaceful? Indeed, I have no ill will towards you. I knew you were here in Koblenz, I also know your intentions. I can't imagine that you, who once had the ability to lead three thousand iron cavalry, actually fell to the point of borrowing food from us to live. It's so miserable!"

Joseph Blue Fox is actually sympathetic? Do not! Clearly a mockery. Robert clenched his teeth and felt uncomfortable now. As a man, he could not wait to duel with this blue fox, just considering his family, his ideal of reviving the family, and his envisaged revenge against King Ludwig, now facing ridicule Only forbearance.

"Indeed, I'm so poor that I'm starving. Where is the real Baron Nassau? Oh, it must be you." Robert looked at the young fat man beside the blue fox.

"It's me. I'm Paul Black Fox." Black Fox curled his lips and looked arrogant. His understanding of Robert was that he was the defeated general~www.mtlnovel.com~ Since this guy is uninvited, he The first contact with Robert felt pretty bad.

"Oh! A young and promising nobleman, you will have a great future." Robert could only compliment a little nobleman who was much younger than himself with a wry smile.

It was this humble attitude that made Heihu feel a little better, "Of course I have a future! I am the Baron of Nassau, and even your King Ludwig has to respect me three points."

"Certainly so. I learn that you have plundered Trier, and now even King Lothair fears you. Honorable Baron Nassau, I salute you."

Robert had to say some compliments with his conscience. After all, every nobleman was brave and ambitious when he was young. This black fox was at this savage age and urgently needed the approval and compliment of others.

The black fox was very happy with Robert's humiliation, and the blue fox was also happy with this man's peace.

"I know you are here to ask for some food." The black fox pinched his waist and said in a high-profile manner as a local owner: "We can have a good chat, of course we can give you some food, but you still have to pay some price. For example, using Silver coins, leather purchases, give me some fiefs, anything can be discussed, and now we admit you as a guest."