The old fox is dying, his heirs continue to develop his career, and the little foxes are running in all directions.
Old Gould claimed that he would die on Tombstone Island in the Åland Islands, a T-junction in the Baltic Sea. He had no more appeals, and he suddenly found that the whole world had rejected him.
Who cares about the thoughts of an old man who is about to die of old age? At least his son, daughter, and son-in-law have been scattered all over the world, and a huge world appears in front of them.
If a businessman is very attached to the one-third of an acre of land in his hometown, his career will not last long.
The Gould family was originally a traveling trader from the Onkras tribe in Sweden. In the past, the young old Gould bravely traveled to the far reaches of the world. He discovered the strange changes of the Ross tribe with keen eyes, and made a desperate gamble and made a fortune. He took it with him
The whole family bid farewell to Onkras and became new Russians.
But is Ross his permanent residence? Or rather, the huge world inside and outside Ross's influence is full of places to establish a foothold, and all the fox cubs need to do is explore it.
The Gould family has not really left their ancestral home in Onkras, because the eldest son of the family has become the city owner of the entire Swedish World Trade Center.
The second eldest son in the family is the most promising. This is Lan Hu, who has experienced many hardships and has seen a lot. A businessman became a warrior and a feudal nobleman.
The daughter married the old Eric family in Denmark, thus maintaining a trade route between Rus and Denmark's emerging trade ports of Copenhagen and Schleswig.
Now, the third and fourth sons are going to create their own wonderful things.
The Black Fox and the Red Fox received orders from King Rurik. Their journey was not just for the sake of their family, but their biggest mission was for the benefit of the kingdom. It was precisely because the two young men were too young that they achieved great results in the grand war.
, but rejected the two of them.
They are easily infected by grandiose things. Now the eldest brother, Bai Hu, Fatty, is older. He and the youngest brother are not from the same era, let alone the same people. Only the second brother's experience shocked them, and they hope to imitate it.
.
The old mother gave birth to four boys and one girl. Although the old father Gould was a sentimental guy, he was willing to take responsibility for his actions in the end. The children born from a concubine cannot inherit the name of the Gould family, nor have they the right to inherit the wealth.
After all, the children are the sons of slave girls, and at least they are now Russians. This status is already a great honor.
The tradition in the north means a certain kind of cruelty. Most of the wealth that Old Gould has worked hard for throughout his life will be inherited by the boss White Fox, even if the boss is already the governor of Stockholm.
The other brothers' wealth must be obtained by themselves. At least, the king provides the brothers with the opportunity to make meritorious deeds.
As for those lowly brothers who have the status of "sons of slave girls", if they want to stabilize and improve their social status, a shortcut is to join the standing army or join the ranks of professional sailors and rely on future wars to take advantage of the opportunity to become famous.
It is obvious that the world is unpredictable and war is an eternal melody.
Black Fox and Red Fox, who were ordered to go to the south, had a premonition that entering the Frankish world that was in chaos would mean more than just facing the war.
I'm afraid, brothers can still be the promoters of the battle in the new era of war.
An armed cargo ship and four longships were traveling in the vast Baltic Sea. The small fleet carrying goods in high demand from the north was heading for the most important relay station on its trip - Hamburg in the Principality of Saxony.
The fleet first passed through Copenhagen, the new city of the new Kingdom of Denmark. At this simple port, which was under construction, they replenished some fish and fresh water, and also received a major news.
"It seems they really took action."
"I don't know how much loot that Ragnar could get by running to Britain."
"Maybe a lot of wool, gold, and slaves."
"Impossible. The Franks are richer than those guys. Our brothers will definitely make a fortune when we go to the Franks."
The two brothers chatted for a while. They had no idea about Copenhagen. How could this desolate-looking port under construction compare with the big ports in Ross?
Now the question arises, who goes to Rotterstad and who goes to Nassau.
I'm afraid Rotterstad is still a flat wasteland, but it is a good place to build a good port. It is very close to the prosperous Utrecht. Even if basic port facilities cannot be built in the first year, it can be used in Utrecht.
There is no problem in looking at local resources.
To go to Nassau is to enter the Frankish hinterland, and you will be deeply surrounded by them for a while. No one can be sure whether Ludwig will become angry because of his humiliation after returning to his hometown after being defeated, and will insist on using his power to regain face.
For example, the risks involved in retaliating against the Russians living in Nassau must be very high.
The two brothers are similar in age. The two little fat guys stand together. It is difficult for outsiders to tell who is the elder brother and who is the younger brother. They do not care about their specific ages. Both brothers want to seize the opportunity to take risks. Even the younger brother will not let them.
Looking at my brother.
"Then let the gods decide." Black Fox suggested, and Red Fox deeply agreed with this.
A fine Frankish silver coin was turned into a dice. The obverse side of Charlemagne's head represented the journey to Nassau in the hinterland, while the reverse side represented the journey to Rotterstadt.
Who qualifies to go to Nassau? Black Fox wins the bet.
"Brother, it seems that this is the will of the gods." Black Fox even got an advantage and behaved a bit.
"I can't help it, this boat is quite bumpy..."
Red Fox accepted this reality, but from a business perspective, he felt that he might be more profitable. A Rotterstad to replace the burned-out Durist Port, Ross would set up a shop here equivalent to a military base.
.The city will be a gathering place for Danes, Rus and other northerners. Legally, it is jointly governed by the Kingdom of Denmark and the Kingdom of Rus but does not have a city owner. I am afraid that this port will be freer than Durist in the past, and will be more consistent with the city.
The closest one is Heiseby, who has withdrawn from history.
This place would be Britain, the Frankish hinterland, Flanders, the distribution center for northern goods, an extremely free trade market, and Red Fox felt that he would definitely make a fortune.
And Black Fox won the bet, and also won the opportunity to make military exploits. Did the little fat man dare to fight? He felt that he was not really ready, but the opportunity was rare. He thought that his second brother Lan Fox had also survived the danger alone.
Well, you can do it yourself. Going to Nassau is not just as simple as building a new Ross shop. The second brother Lan Fox was ordered to run a stronghold there first, and he accepted it immediately after arriving. Then, he was ordered to plunder the Middle Kingdom.
Produce materials and then sell them to make money? Where can you get money quickly from looting?! Moreover, in the peace treaty after the war, the Russians have the right to loot against the Middle Kingdom. This matter is legally supported by the Eastern Kingdom.
The two brothers had a peaceful journey across the Strait of Great Denmark. Now, they were facing the boundless Atlantic Ocean.
With the salty sea breeze on the shop floor, a whole new world is right in front of you.
The small fleet also turned and followed the coastline that began to extend to the southwest, relying on the advantage of the jib to drift against the mild southerly wind until it reached the mouth of the Weser River.
Starting to enter the inland river, the four long boats quickly transformed into tow boats.
This is not the first time for some of these brothers. They have witnessed the war and have lived in the Hamburg area for half a year. For these guys, the village not far away was the salt boiling stronghold in the early spring. Now it is a new fishing village for the Saxons.
, and inherited the salt boiling facilities from the past. What can be seen with the naked eye is that there is thick smoke billowing here. Sea water is boiling in large and small pottery urns, accompanied by thick smoke billowing from burning resin.
The two brothers were surprised when they first saw all this. The busy salt boiler felt very friendly when he saw the fleet flying the flag of Russia.
The people of Saxony have a very friendly attitude towards the Russians. They are not as close as brothers even if they have different beliefs. What is the future of cooperation simply for the sake of money?
The arrival of the Ross fleet quickly caused a sensation in the city of Hamburg. A group of fishing boats escorted it and led them to the city on the inland river smoothly.
Even in the summer flood season, the water flow of the Weser River is still limited. The river water washes away everything from the winter war. Many corpses of Frank soldiers frozen in the river ice drifted into the Atlantic Ocean as the snow melted. Traces of the war can no longer be found.
Hamburg was originally a small settlement, but after the war it became the largest settlement in the entire Principality of Saxony. Even though many war refugees have returned home, there are still 20,000 people living in the city-centered area.
Agricultural production has recovered faster than Duke Liudov imagined! At least they have retained the necessary grain. Although they will be in trouble during the spring famine and summer famine after sowing, as long as they harvest in the autumn, everything will be fine.
Therefore, the Principality of Saxony was extremely weak after the war. Even if it wanted to expand its preparations to face the new war that would inevitably come in the future, Duke Liudov could not do much because of poverty.
In this case, Rurik's de facto eldest son Reglaf, even if he had big ideas in Hamburg, he could only implement a small part of them.
Reglaf, the legal heir to the throne of the Kingdom of Mercia, was actually in exile in the Principality of Saxony. He could only maintain a so-called "King of Mercia's Guard" consisting of thirty Russians and seventy Saxons.
He wanted to imitate his great father, but due to the poverty of his father-in-law Liudov, he could only maintain this small number of troops, and the soldiers were actually equipped with their own weapons.
Even so, this hundred-man team is temporarily included in the armed forces of the Principality of Saxony. It is obviously very young and can be said to be young, and Regraf is also a general of the Principality of Saxony.
The "Great Peace Talks" only ended four months ago. As the main battlefield in Hamburg, the people are licking their wounds painfully. Although East Frankfurt suffered heavy losses, the losses of the weak Saxons were equally heavy. Last year's autumn harvest suffered a blow.
Famine has actually occurred. If it were not for marine fishing and boiled salt sales to purchase food from the Greater Flanders and Cologne regions, starvation would be the norm.
The whole people lived like ascetics, and they did not fall into endless lamentation. At least the Northern Archbishop Eskil was in Hamburg. This well-traveled old man finally located the bishop's seat in Hamburg, just like a shepherd pointing the way to all the lambs.
Teach the people to live a life of poverty and live as frugally as possible to achieve the purity of the spiritual world. With black bread, wild vegetables and water, this old guy can lead his subordinate priests to live a monotonous life.
But the nobles were not ascetics, and the people did not really feel that this extreme fasting was necessary to last forever.
At least the northern church is playing a huge positive role in these difficult times.
It was in this atmosphere that the Ross Squadron docked.
In any era, the docking of a long-distance cargo ship will cause a sensation, especially when the Saxons living in poverty are as excited as seeing the Ark when they see the Ross cargo ship docked in the port.
The facts also meet the demands of the poor people.
Liudov and his whole family rushed to the inland pier. Reglaf and his "King of Mercia Guards" simply flew the flag of Ross to greet the ship from his hometown. The boy even imagined that his father Rurik would come in person.
Already.
A lot of people gathered on the pier. When Eskil came with a group of black-robed priests with a calm expression, leaning on a cane, suppressing his inner excitement, the people spontaneously made way for them.
The rowing Russians retracted their giant oars. After landing, they worked together to pull the cable and tow the big ship to the pier.
After the ship stopped, the two fat men awkwardly disembarked along the rope ladder, almost directly connected, and the unloading of materials began.
Black Fox and Red Fox came to Hamburg for the first time. They noticed that the city was like spreading out a big pie, with buildings densely packed, but some buildings were very regular and too messy. At least the inner city is pleasant, it has
Walls, and a tall stone fortress in the center.
The two of them straightened their clothes and put on their leather hats with colorful feathers to clearly distinguish them from the others.
Is he a new Rus noble?
While Liudov was confused, his good son-in-law Reglaf was already in a great mood.
"Child, these two people... do you know?"
"I know. One is a black fox and the other is a red fox."
"Oh?!" Liudof suddenly realized: "I know there is a Russian noble named Joseph Blue Fox, who must be that person, brothers?"
"Yes."
"Ah...this is what Rurik explained before."
Liudov heard Rurik mention that he would send trustworthy people to the Frankish world to develop new business matters. Of course, it would not only be business, but also the pursuit of power.
Regarding this matter, Northern Archbishop Eskil has more news, because everything has been discussed. The old guy has been waiting these days, and I think he finally met the right person.
When they met for the first time, the Black Fox and Red Fox brothers were quite reserved. However, they knew very well that Reglaf was the King's de facto eldest son after all, and the fact that there was indeed a Ross flag flying on the shore made them feel even more cordial.
So at the dock, both parties briefly introduced themselves.
The visitors are not soldiers, and they will not stay in Hamburg. Instead, they will leave a batch of supplies that can help the Saxons survive at Rurik's request - food.
Part of the space in the armed cargo ship was stuffed with oats, and the total amount was nearly five tons. This batch of grain was not given in vain. In exchange, the Principality of Saxony exchanged it for salt.
The two brothers quoted King Rurik's trade requirements, and what they got was naturally Liudov trembling with excitement. In addition, a small batch of farm tools were also unloaded. They were just plowshares and shovel heads, leaving only the work of installing wooden handles.
To the buyer, this same batch of goods can also be exchanged for salt.
The grain would immediately improve the summer famine situation in the Hamburg area, but the two brothers were also killed. Half of this batch of grain was a gift to Reglaf.
Reglaf received not only a batch of grain, but also ten pounds of silver coins!
This wealth has at least completely reversed the predicament Reglaf is currently facing. This is a start-up capital given by his father to his son, at least the first batch of start-up capital. But compared to these, Reglaf still hopes that his father Rurik
You can come and see yourself again.
The little boy had tears in his eyes, but he held up his chest pretending to be strong, showing the arrogance of the so-called King of Mercia. He silently asked the older Black Fox: "My father...ah no! When will King Rus come to Hamburg again?"
Woolen cloth?"
The Black Fox was quite surprised that Reglaf called his father so vividly: "The king is busy with his own affairs. I learned that this year's Rus has a truce. However, the king ordered us two brothers to develop in Frank.
Order us to deliberately create some trouble."
So Red Fox deliberately added an intriguing sentence: "If war occurs, the king should send troops."
"That's good." Reglaf fought hard and responded in a very official manner: "I will lead the Mercian army to fight side by side with the Russian army."
It seems that young Reglaf has become accustomed to his new identity, or has made compromises with his life.
The Fox Brothers' stop in Hamburg to deliver supplies was a small task, and it was ultimately a normal business practice.
Their biggest goal is to find the Northern Archbishop and deliver a letter written by King Rurik.
They are no longer ordinary people. They have received a very formal church Latin education. Even if the language is not fluent at all, it is not a problem for them to stutter and communicate with the old man Esquier. Of course, this is not a problem for Esquier.
It's a miracle.
There were notes with very personal characteristics written on the paper. Esquier had already accepted "paper" as a high-end writing medium, and even recognized that this was Rurik's own handwriting.
It was a letter of introduction, and the content was wrong and the content was most to Eskil's liking.
The old guy's eyes were trembling with excitement. He looked at the two fat guys as if he were looking at his long-lost son.
He opened his aging arms with a kind face, "My child, I... am your godfather. Baptism is tonight."