The Kravassen family is proud of their latest masterpiece, Otto was shocked by the ability of the new weapon to "smash through the fishing boat", and ordinary people sighed with Rurik's intelligence and his luck as a Ros.

Rurik is also inadvertently showing off his muscles to the merchants who live in the guest house.

At this very special juncture, Rurik actually openly tested his new weapon. It was not a torsion slingshot, but six! Rumor has it that the Ross Blacksmith has to make more, and the future will be the standard configuration of the Ross warship.

A vote of merchants had to be jealous. They felt that this was the silent threat from Chief Ross, as if they were saying: "You all see the power of the new weapon, it can easily destroy your ship. Only the person who pays the tax can Avoid punishment."

The sea is about to resume sailing. According to the agreement, this time Otto will organize a team, which no longer runs to Novgorod, but goes straight to Mellaren. Cha Cha will also be the leader of this fleet, leading a huge commercial fleet composed of ships of all kinds and others, and heading for Lake Mlaren in a mighty manner.

At least for those who are on the ship, they will have unprecedented security when they go south this year.

Rurik didn't want to spend too much time on testing the weapon. After completing the test, all the torsion slingshots began to be shipped to the ship.

Based on current technology, he reluctantly installed all six slingshots on the bow, which is the top deck of the so-called "Captain's Lounge".

The stern tower is actually higher, but the rudder is installed in it. When sailing in the future, it will also become a sailor's lounge or even a small storage room.

The loyalty of the entire ship is actually thicker. This is because the winch responsible for raising and lowering the sails is installed on the deck of the poop, and because the rudder itself has a lot of weight. Another big problem of the Aphrodite is the thick body and shallow draft. This body has an amazing cargo capacity. It needs ballast to lower the center of gravity and also to ensure the relative balance between the bow and the stern.

The top deck of the bow is a large space. The deck is nearly five meters high from the keel, and the length of the platform is more than five meters.

Suolurik installed all the torsion slingshots in a very compact manner and installed three on each side of the ship's side. In this way, the sideboard firepower is three, and the frontal firepower is two.

Naturally, such an arrangement cannot exert the maximum effectiveness of the torsion slingshot. Rurik knows he is fully capable of erecting three wooden stakes on the ship, with two torsion slingshots in parallel on them, just like a cruiser with three twin turrets, all Six torsion slingshots can launch ports facing the same side. Even if only six chisels made of cast iron are launched, they can dig multiple holes into the enemy ship to a great extent.

Rurik did not do this, simply because if it were converted into a three-seat parallel torsion slingshot, it must all be installed on the center axis of the hull. After all, the "tail" of the torsion slingshot is 1.5 meters, and the stretched torsion crossbow arms are also about 1.2 meters. For this five-meter boat in the deck area, it takes up too much space.

In fact, just install it on the sideboard, it also takes up more space, forcing people who board the bow to move only on the relatively spacious central axis.

But no one complains that they get in the way, because in the sea, when faced with a sneak attack by fishermen who turned into pirates, or even encountering Danish and Gotland ships that ventured north to looting, people have always complained that their weapons are too weak.

A series of tests proved the strength of the torsion slingshot.

In fact, for people in this era, their acceptance of long-range weapons is very low. Basically, as long as an arrow can be launched 100 meters away, it is a good bow. Although they have very good eyesight, but the distance between the two sides of the battle is 100 meters, the long-range weapon basically becomes a probability attack.

The steel-armed crossbow controlled by the Ross is just beginning to change people's stereotypes. Then, the torsion slingshot that can hit the short spear 100 meters away and still cut a hole in the pine board is very satisfied.

The ship will soon be launched. Even though the Aphrora is still sitting on a large number of sleepers on the shore, she is already the flagship of the Rus tribe, and has become the flagship of the leader, isn't it?

She stopped on the shore, and anyone standing on a high place could see her huge figure. Especially the merchants from outside, the big ship under construction is like a giant sword inserted in the stone, which is a strong threat.

Besides, the time is approaching. Merchants are actively counting the silver coins they have earned this year, and even the large quantities of goods they have purchased. They hope to make a fortune at the Mellaren Bazaar, and also allocate some money, waiting for the leader of Ross to bring someone to knock on the door. Because the money is the business tax they must pay.

Among the many merchants, the Gould family unintentionally bears the heaviest taxes.

A businessman has a big business, and ordinary taxes don't matter to them anymore. The situation this year is very good. Soap, iron tools, iron weapons, various types of leather, a small amount of glassware, and a small amount of combustible spirits are the main commodities of the Gould family. He himself became essentially the "Secretary of Trade" of the head of Ross, and now that pure gold, silver or gemstones can no longer meet the needs of the Gould family, they hope to have some power.

Among all the goods to be shipped, a considerable part is Rurik's goods. Gould is going to take an official stand and sell for the leader of Ross, so that he has always enjoyed the most favorable purchase price of all kinds of goods.

But he is not a "secretary of trade", essentially he is still a big businessman who was entrusted with important tasks by Rurik and other Rus rulers, and he is a tool man. The Gould family is self-aware and can only continue to make a good tool at this stage to free up political capital for the family's future. Therefore, Gould himself is not willing to let go of any opportunity for performance, and he also urges his children to perform well, as long as it is for the benefit of Chief Ross, it is nothing to lose.

"Maybe this year is the same as last year?" Gould prepared a hundred pounds of silver coins, as the business tax to be paid this year, he waited for Chief Ross to come in person.

No, the leader is here!

Otto began to preside over this year's tax collection. He only announced this to all the merchants who lived there, ordering them to prepare silver and copper coins within three days. If there is no cash, they will prepare a batch of equivalent goods. He also issued a stern warning that once the tax evaders are caught, all their property will be confiscated, and his family will be demoted to slaves for logging and sent to remote places.

The time for the official tax collection was three days after the announcement. Before that, Otto, Liurik, and the father and son conspired something. They took the decision after discussion and took the lead to prepare for tax payment. Erde Mansion, because father and son need the richest merchants of the entire tribe to set an excellent example.

The father and son came in simple dresses, and for Gould, an old friend, they couldn't show authority.

The two dressed simply and decently, Otto looked vicissitudes, depth and strength, while Rurik looked beautiful, calm and potential.

In contrast, Gould and his few sons who came to meet Da Shimian competed one by one like seals in winter, that is, they were simply fat.

They sat cross-legged on comfortable leather cushions, and today they were just talking about things, and Gould only prepared wine and food.

There were some red raspberry preserves on the glass plate beside him, which Rurik had no intention of eating.

He saw Gould's face with a happy face, without any politeness, and straightforwardly pointed out the purpose: "You should know the reason why we came, then we will go directly to the topic."

"It's tax." Gould said kindly: "One hundred pounds of silver coins are ready. As long as the leader wants, I can send someone to move the box to the priest now."

"Huh? It's pretty good, it's just this one hundred pounds...isn't it..." Rurik gently hooked his head, buckling his already clean nails.

Who is Gould, he immediately understood the implication.

"Huh? Add some taxes? This...no problem."

"You are very interesting." Rurik raised his head, he glanced at the happy old man, then continued to sullen his face and stretched out his right hand to make a "scissors hand". "This year we made a difficult decision to double the tax for all merchants. For you, Gould, the tax collection was originally for all foreign merchants. You joined us, but..."

"I understand! I fully understand." In order to show his loyalty, Gould not only snatched words, but also continued: "Perhaps there are still many Ross people who have some doubts about my identity. If you actively pay taxes, you can alleviate this concern. , I am happy to take the money. Two hundred pounds of silver, I can also take it out now."

It can be said that rich talk is hard-hearted. After all, Gould himself bought a batch of grain out of his own pocket in Mlaren, and now the grain is basically sold out. As the leader of Ross forcedly ordered that grain prices were not allowed to rise, the Goulds did not make any money in the grain trade, but they did not lose. He has the right to use the food payment to pay taxes, after all, his business is based on leather.

"I am touched by your positivity, and that's what we need to discuss further." As he said, Rurik stood up, and he looked left and right: "There are a lot of people here."

"Huh?" Gould smiled at a loss.

"Let your son go. Next, there will be a secret conversation between the three of us, a secret conversation between the Chief Ross family and you. I don't want the fourth person to know about it."

The atmosphere suddenly became tense, and Gould's smiling face disappeared. He immediately turned his head and ordered his sons to avoid immediately. Even so, Rurik still felt unsafe.

Otto also felt that his son was overly careful, and eventually the three of them discussed matters in Gould's bedroom.

When he came to Gould's bedroom for the first time, Rurik had nothing to say about the old fat man's taste. This man was sitting on a lot of wealth and started sleeping on a wooden bed in the last year. On the wooden wall hangs a specimen of deer head, a shield painted with indigo dye, and two axes. Does this fat man also have a soldier's dream in his heart? But he shouldn't expect to be a fighting warrior in his life.

Rurik sat on Gould's bed now, while Otto and Gould sat on low wooden stools.

"It must be quiet enough here, please go ahead." Gould said cautiously.

"In fact, the problem is very simple." Rurik stretched his head, with a very serious attitude: "Everyone thinks that you are a big family and you have to take more money. Just like last year, the tax you submitted alone was worth two hundred. Merchant, you paid half of the tax burden."

Gould smiled: "Thank you for your compliment. As a new Ross man, I need to make some contributions. I will pay 200 pounds of tax this year."

"No, you are still a hundred pounds."

"Huh?" Now, Otto, who was able to listen quietly, couldn't sit still at all, because it was different from the conspiracy of father and son. "Liurik, are you good at making decisions?"

Gould didn't know why, so shut up for the time being.

"Yes, this is a strategy, otherwise I wouldn't enter this place."

Neither Gould nor Otto understood what Rurik's strategy was. In fact, this strategy was a bit "dirty".

"Gould, you must be a Roth. As a leader, how do we collect taxes on you according to outsiders' standards? Of course you have to collect taxes. This year's tax is still 100 pounds."

"That...two hundred pounds..."

"That's for outsiders! You've seen the situation this year. In order to build our Aphrodite, I calculated it, and I spent one hundred and forty pounds of silver just to build it up to now. This money must be paid by me? No! The money must be paid by merchants from outside. I have to increase taxes. We Roths can't have too much economic loss."

"Let me set an example for them?" Gould asked nervously.

"Yes, they are all looking at you, a big business! Your two hundred pounds of silver coins will be handed to me in public. I just want those merchants to see what the richest merchants do. I'm just worried. They are not happy after the tax increase, I have to appease them, let them die, and take out the money obediently. And you! Afterwards, I will return you a hundred pounds of silver coins."

"Huh? Can this be the case?" Gould understood completely, and realized that this matter really cannot be known to the fourth person. If the news is leaked, what will happen to those merchants, such as tax resistance? That's not enough. However, the credibility of the Ross chief family will be damaged, which may be detrimental to public opinion for Rurik who values the contract.

"That's it. UU reading www.uukanshu.com, they are afraid of losing money, they want an average, and they want to take advantage. You openly give me two hundred pounds of silver coins, of course those people will complain about my tax increase, and they will also comfort themselves. Someone was suddenly forced to pay a hundred pounds of silver coins, which is worse than them. Haha, this will not cause trouble."

Rurik added one more sentence: "In the end, it is not necessarily the direct return of silver coins. It can be replaced by goods. You are an important seller of my goods, or in the future payment, I will allocate one hundred pounds to you. ."

Gould secretly underestimated "this kid is really playful", and felt that he had been reused by the Ross people. He thought for a moment that his family's fortune was ultimately driven by the ship of the Rus. The Rus have risen, and his family has developed along with it. In this way, clinging to a mere one hundred pound silver coin, the pattern is small.

The reason for Rurik's so-called tax increase is that most of the tribe's population was used for shipbuilding, and they were not paid too much for a single person. If a thousand people add up, that would be a huge scale. It is obvious that Rurik has been living in the extreme north madly for nearly four months. He is just to make excellent shipbuilding wood, and he is announcing to smart people that Chief Ross attaches great importance to building big ships.

This is the case, Gould thinks for a moment, and just retaliate!