Chapter 100 The business contract with the blacksmith Kravason's family
Until now, every metal tool of the Ross tribe is valuable, and the tribe has not squandered enough to use the iron tools at will.
Wealthy warriors would go to the blacksmith and order chainmail made of wrought iron wire drawing. Although wire drawing is not too troublesome, it is very tedious to twist the small iron bars into rings with pliers and then weave them together.
For work, the blacksmith charges a lot of money.
Among the Ross tribe, only a few people actually own their own chainmail.
Most people involved in combat generally wore leather armor for protection on key parts of the body.
Rosin, a viscous slurry with a special smell, is sometimes burned by priests to add incense to the ceremony to add a sense of mystery.
More often than not, this substance is used either as fuel for torches or as a leather hardener.
The cowhide purchased from the southern tribes is processed by applying rosin. The rosin penetrates into the cowhide and is completely dried and hardened. The entire cowhide becomes quite hard.
This kind of leather armor can withstand most cuts from iron swords, and is almost completely immune to rare arrows on the battlefield!
It is the only thing that cannot withstand the powerful and heavy chops of a battle axe. Similarly, the expensive chain armor may not be completely damaged in the face of a critical strike from a battle axe. Its owner may have been beaten to death.
All torn apart.
If the owner of the leather armor is worried, then wear a double layer of leather armor, or even put another layer of leather armor on the belly. This kind of assembly can effectively resist the sharp edge of the iron sword, and also has a certain resistance to the stabbing of the sword edge.
Even if the wrought iron sword has been quenched, its strength is still not satisfactory.
The tribal blacksmith's sword-sharpening skills are actually quite high. Due to the material defects of the iron sword, for example, when Klavasen polished an ordinary iron sword, he himself felt that the polish was almost the same. When observing the blade on a microscopic scale, the blade was not sharp enough.
But it is zigzag-shaped and is also in a slightly curled state in many places.
Because of the tribe's fighting style, each warrior always has a buckler tied to his left hand, and the same is often true for their enemies. In a battle between two people, it is not easy for a sharp sword to find the opportunity to kill with one stab. On the contrary
It's chopping to cause damage, which is an easier way to succeed.
The worst thing, and what a warrior needs to avoid the most, is the collision of two iron swords.
However, using swords to block in battle is a compulsory course for every warrior. Two not-so-hard sword blades collide with each other. After a battle, the winner must also face the consequences of his own iron sword being bent, broken, and curled.
Bad question.
After a fierce battle, if the warrior does not have another weapon, he can only continue fighting with a sword that can be said to break an iron rod until he can achieve perfection.
This is why Rurik ordered a special steel sword and cut six layers of cowhide at once, which would give the Klavasen father and son a great shock.
Klavason did it himself. He didn't use much force at all, and the six layers of cowhide were cut into a very smooth cross-section, which shone in the reflection of the flames of the stove.
Kawei brought over an iron sword that reflected gray-white light and looked at its length. Rurik felt that it was at least two-thirds stika.
His estimate was quite accurate.
"Rurik, look at this sword. It's white and bright." Klavasen introduced it at the right time. "This is my favorite work. Most of the iron swords I make look like this. Many people in the tribe use them."
It's my sword. Now, your sword has become my latest masterpiece."
"Really? I want to see the chopping. I want to make sure it can cut off an ordinary iron sword!" Rurik urged.
"Okay, next..." Klavason handed the sword to his son and gave special instructions: "This is a short sword. Remember to use your maximum strength to chop. Don't worry about anything. I guess the iron sword will do it."
Cut off." Finally, he patted his son's strong shoulder again.
Kawei, the son of a blacksmith, he just looks a little thin.
Little did he know that when this man took off his thick leather jacket and appeared in a linen shirt, the muscle texture of his arms really made Rurik envious.
This is not surprising at all. Any master oarsman or blacksmith in the tribe will always have some disharmony between their arms and body, simply because they need the muscles of their arms too much in their lives.
Kawei can swing a large forest ax, and within ten swings, a big tree can be chopped down.
Now he was wielding a dagger. Although it felt awkward in the hand, he had no problem making a powerful and heavy chop.
Two small whetstones lift up the iron sword, leaving a hollow chopping position underneath.
"Ready to go! I wish I could."
Kawei twisted his neck hard. He only held the dagger with his right hand, just like an ordinary warrior. Under the watchful eyes of Rurik and Klavason, he mobilized his whole body's strength and struck hard.
Everything happened so fast, with just a snap, without any delay, the iron sword was really cut into two sections.
Immediately afterwards, there was the sound of metal hitting the iron sword broken into two pieces as it fell to the ground.
"Ah! I succeeded!"
Kawei was still dazed, but Klavasen roared excitedly, raised his hands again, lifted Rurik up and spun him around, and then put him on the ground.
"Blacksmith, you are so excited." Rurik complained, but he was very happy inside.
Kawei, who was holding the dagger in his hand, suddenly felt a strong desire for possession in his heart. The dagger was so amazing. If it were longer, wouldn't it be comparable to the divine sword he had?
Times have really changed! Once upon a time, the entire tribe only had the "Destroyer" that could truly cut through an iron sword easily, and the blade was not damaged at all.
The dagger in his hand does the same thing. Although it does not have beautiful patterns, its overall bright whiteness and the extremely bright whiteness of the blade are not another kind of extreme beauty?
Just when Kawei's heart was pounding and he fell into an inextricable narcissism, Klavasen roared with excitement, roaring his soul back.
"Silly boy, don't stay still! Check to see if the blade is damaged."
"Oh! I'll take a look right now."
This sword belonged to the child Rurik. After Kawei regained his consciousness, he knew that this thing belonged to others. But he was not at a loss at all. In ten days, he and his father personally completed the iron ore to God.
All transformations of the sword. After the first success, it is no longer difficult to successfully reproduce it.
Kawei's eyesight was better than that of Klavason. He kept his eyes wide open and held his sword to the charcoal fire, hoping that with the help of the firelight, he could see the smallest damage.
Is there really any damage?
Kawei's eyes couldn't reach the level of a microscope at all. He couldn't see any damage, and he boldly touched it lightly with his fingers. The sharp feeling was full of danger, as if if he applied a little force, his fingers would be cut.
Gotta bleed!
"Ah! Dad, it's really not damaged. This sword is really amazing!"
At this point, Rurik has got the sword he wanted.
Klavasen tried hard to suppress the joy of his success. He turned around suddenly and put his hands on Rurik's young shoulders. His eyes were filled with a strong sense of urgency, and his beard was trembling strangely.
"Rurik, your sword has been completed. Now...now you must tell me all the reasons for this as agreed. I...I even..."
"You..." Rurik was a little confused for a moment.
"Thank you, you let me see a miracle. I don't even want you to have a silver coin. I just ask you to tell me the principle of everything. I want to know Odin's wisdom."
"Okay, I...I just want you to take your hands away now."
As soon as Rurik finished speaking, Klavasen decisively let go of his hand.
"Okay, I will tell you the principle. You can even produce iron swords by yourself in the future. I am a man of my word, and I should give you a lot of silver coins. But..."
"How is it?" Klavasen asked.
"I have taught you the techniques for making a good sword, and I will also tell you the principles. You got the techniques from me, so do you also have to pay some compensation?"
"Of course, I will definitely do it." Klavasen replied very simply, but Rurik's next words made the old guy a little embarrassed.
"Maybe you think that you can buy all the technology from me by paying a sum of money. Even if you have successfully completed it once, even if you don't get paid, you can still continue to make good swords. Now I want to make a condition, I will I will tell you all the principles, and as a price, you will give me a certain reward for every good sword you make in the future."
"Ah?!" Klavasen thought he heard an incredible request.
"Didn't you hear clearly? Okay, let me explain again..."
It would be difficult for an ancient person to understand that knowledge requires payment. In this era, scientific inventions often came from craftsmen, and the purpose of inventions was to produce faster. The work of the Ming family did promote social progress, but often the Ming family did not Because of how much benefit I have gained from my own wisdom.
Only those Ming dynasties who are favored by the monarch can receive rewards. The creations of the rest of the Ming dynasties are often used and promoted by imitators immediately.
Rurik spent a lot of time talking before the Kravassins understood his request.
Seeing the hesitation of the two of them, Rurik had an idea: "I won't charge you too much, so don't worry. I paid at least twenty silver coins for this sword, and you also spent ten days on it. .Actually, in my opinion, if you make a good sword that is two-thirds the length of a stika, you can definitely price it at fifty silver coins.
Believe me, any warrior would long for a sword that is as sharp as clay and very beautiful. As your skills become more and more proficient, it will not take ten days to build a sword.
I charge a tenth of your money. If a sword is sold for fifty silver coins, I charge five silver coins.
What do you think?"
When Rurik said this, Klavasen and Kawei were really moved.
They understand the thoughts of warriors. Everyone who came to their shop to buy swords and have them repaired was full of praise for the swords they received.
It can be seen that their desire for the divine sword does not need words to describe.
Klavason thought about it again and stamped his foot vigorously: "Okay, Rurik, I will listen to you."
"Very good, we need to sign a written agreement for this."
"Huh? Do we still need to carve it on the wooden board?"
"Of course. Just like you carve the clan's orders on a wooden board to facilitate your memory, I do the same. We have to sign a contract and carve it on the wooden board to remind you that I will always remember it."
This child will be the future leader, not only because of an oracle, but also because of his actions.
Clavarson thought no more and immediately ordered his son to get another oak board.
"No! It's two oak boards. Our agreement must be made in two copies, one for you and one for me. This is our contract."
"Okay! Kawei, take two, two without any engraving." Klavason further ordered.
The rune alphabet is used by only a few people. After all, it is a kind of writing. Iron forging is a very technically demanding job, and blacksmiths must learn the writing of their own ethnic group. Writing is really good, and with it,
By chiseling or scratching the mark at the customer's request, the blacksmith always knows the order of his work plan, so that no customer is delayed.
Holding a small carving knife in his hand, Rurik extemporaneously described the content of the agreement while paying attention to Klavasen's chiselled words to make sure that the words were clear.
Since the terms Rurik asked for were not many and it did not take much time, Klavasen completed it.
This contract is the second written commercial cooperation contract of the Ross tribe, and it is also the most important contract regarding blacksmiths.
For the sake of the contract, Rurik temporarily named the newly completed steel sword "ste1svard", which means "hard sword".
There are only two terms of the contract:
First: Rurik himself owns 10% of the profit for every hard sword made, and the sale of each sword must be reported to Rurik.
Second: This contract stipulates that all iron products processed by hard sword processing must be paid to Rurik 10% of the profits. Iron products processed by traditional methods and all bronzes are not covered by the contract.
In addition, there are some curse words such as "The contract is mutually fair and is subject to the double supervision of Odin and Thor. Those who embezzle wealth will be punished by the gods."
Is it useful to add such words? Rurik believes that it is useful, even if people's hearts will change. Due to the fact that everyone in this time and space is generally superstitious, they believe that there are great beings in this world who supervise various affairs in the human world.
Klavasen carved two wooden boards, and Rurik personally took a chisel and hammer to carve his name on the two wooden boards.
"Ah? Do you still want to engrave my name on it?" Klavasen asked curiously, "I already have the board in my hand."
"We must engrave the name, which means we personally acknowledge that it is valid."
"Do you think I will have problems with my character after I've lived a long time?" Klavason asked gently, displeased.
"No. This is a necessary ceremony and a proof of the spirit of our contract. We need such a meaningful ceremony."
Klavasen thought for a moment and realized that what Rurik said made sense.
If you think about it more carefully, this contract is obviously beneficial to you!
Think about it, in the past, it often only cost three silver coins to make an iron sword. To make a hard sword named "ste1svard", the result is completely different. A hard sword costs fifty silver coins, and you can donate it to Rurik.
With the money, as well as the cost of charcoal and whetstone, my family can still earn forty silver coins.
Even if three swords are made in one month, it is a huge income of at least 120 silver coins! In the past, my family could not earn so much in a year.
Rurik's mind was filled with the process of signing a modern agreement, although in this time and space he was limited by the problem of signing materials and had to simplify the content.
After the contract was signed, he estimated that Klavason would not be stupid enough to tear up the agreement for no reason for the huge benefit. Often those who tear up the agreement do so because they have found a greater opportunity to gain benefits.
Rurik really couldn't imagine how other than learning the technology of making steel from here, Klavasen and even Kawei could find a more efficient and safe way to make money.
At present, they only know the technology and don’t know the principles at all.
Rurik put the board away and let out a long sigh of relief.
Klavasen didn't feel at all that it was time to relax. At this moment, the old guy's eyes were blazing as he faced Rurik and asked sincerely: "Dear Rurik, now, can you tell me how everything works?"
"Now, isn't it a little late?"
"It's not too late! It's not too late!" Clavarson ordered his son again: "Go find your mother, cut some meat, and get some bread slices. Go quickly!"
Seeing Kawei run away quickly, he faced Rurik again: "I'll prepare some food for you. You can eat it slowly. You must tell me the reason."
"Okay, I was going to tell you originally. When Kawei comes back, the three of us will sit here, and I will tell you some truths about our human world that you will never believe. I hope you will
I feel deeply for the great wisdom of Odin and Thor."