Chapter 1131 The noble in the Viking ship-shaped coffin
When the Blue Fox was still drifting at a steady speed on the Rhine River, after he arrived in Cologne, coincidence and necessity were intertwined. He met his younger brother Red Fox and Count Baudouin of Flanders, who came to escort the wool for sale in person.
Archbishop Hardebold of Cologne, Count Baudouin of Flanders, Count Blue Fox of Gothenburg, and Governor Red Fox of Stadros Shop in Rotterdam.
The two parties, who had fought to a bloody head, put aside their past feud completely because of their common interests, and actually drank fine wine and talked and laughed in the elegant room provided by the archbishop.
Faith? Don’t we all have crosses hanging on our chests?
As for devout believers not doing business, this is true, but it can be flexible. The Archbishop explained again that no one in the so-called trade of his own gets something for nothing. "God gives the value of different items, and only the Almighty Lord knows the true value of each item."
Value, even for a servant of God like me, must use gold and silver as a medium to complete the transaction of various items."
The Archbishop could not drink, so he had to drink water instead of wine.
Everyone took Hardbold's words seriously, but he had no worries about trade. The whole of Cologne very much welcomed the resumption of trade and even broader progress. After all, the processing industry of supplied materials depends on the consciousness of tens of thousands of Cologne weavers.
In fact, Cologne citizens with textile skills can also process leather, wood, etc. Cologne can produce some tricks in any handicraft industry on the market.
Cologne's financial resources largely come from these people, so Cologne's interests are bound to the Counties of Flanders, the Netherlands, the Principality of Saxony, and even the Rus at the mouth of the Inn River.
This year, almost all the wool in Flanders was sold to Cologne. With the help of the Russian fleet, the volume of wool transportation reached a historical peak. This battle was the first time in Cologne's life that the people had seen it.
Even though he was severely ripped off by the Ross cavalry during the war, there was still a lot of wealth accumulated in Cologne's cellars.
Baudouin paid more attention to the surplus grain here, and they paid for the goods. As for Blue Fox and his brother Red Fox, part of the profit they shared was exchanged for grain, and part was exchanged for high-quality Frankish silver coins.
In line with the principle of come and go, the Blue Fox is going to conduct some transactions in Cologne.
A hundred years ago, Archbishop Lullus of Worms (Mainz), who had the nationality of the Kingdom of Wessex, preached a special set of ideas.
Jesus suffered on behalf of others, and the Holy Grail was filled with his holy blood.
Wine represents the holy blood. All devout people should drink wine. The more they drink, the more devout they become.
This concept was recognized by the Roman Pope at that time, and since then the sacred status of wine has been established.
The Archbishop of Cologne told the Blue Fox about this allusion, and then accepted the wine "tributed" by this "devout believer". Priests pay attention to asceticism and cannot indulge in some addictive enjoyment, even if they are obviously arrogant and luxurious.
Cologne also needs to do some superficial work.
In today's era, priests in Western Europe can only drink ale secretly, but only wine can be drunk openly.
Wine is holy blood, but wine is wine. No one knows how to brew it better than Blue Fox.
At a certain moment, Blue Fox suddenly realized.
"Bah! What holy blood? Mainz and Worms, those areas are rich in wine. The same goes for Nassau and Leingau that we occupy. Where is it holy? It is obviously the archbishop who is trying to make money by selling the wine in his own diocese.
, I tried my best to come up with this phrase."
But yes, since both the northern world and the Frankish world like it, this is the news that must be reported to the king.
Blue Fox bought some woolen garments in Cologne, the style of which was very Frankish. He also bought some cold-resistant leather hoods, which seemed to cover the whole head. It was not good to just wear it. He soon discovered that this kind of "priest"
The good thing about "hood" is that it is an excellent helmet lining pad.
When the Blue Fox arrived at Rotterstad, it was no surprise that it was pretending to be square with the Danes who had returned from the plunder. At the Danish settlement on the Rotter River, the victorious pirates set up a long flea market.
There were all kinds of daily necessities looted from Wessex. These things were not valuable. The blue fox looked at them with interest but then returned disappointed.
A slave market has sprung up in the unrivaled Danish colony, and innocent villagers who have been kidnapped are being sold openly.
This is a lawless place, and the nobles of Flanders and the Netherlands will not go deep here, nor will they redeem themselves.
Because regardless of whether they are men or women, they are just ordinary people in Wessex. To a large extent, these villagers are also outsiders.
The Netherlands is a Flemish people, and Flanders is a mixed-race Walloon people. If we really want to redeem these villagers, either a few good people will come to pay, or the Principality of Saxony will take action.
Men became working serfs, and women became wives and concubines. Danish pirates were very pragmatic, and they were also actively digesting and absorbing these special trophies.
Ragnar rested for a while in Rotterstad before retreating. He was delighted to hear that the Blue Fox had returned and invited him personally. The so-called brothers who had fought side by side must get together to have some food and talk.
Therefore, Blue Fox listened with all ears and knew everything about what the Danes did in Wessex. He felt it was necessary to report these matters to the King of Rus.
What's the use of robbing ordinary and poor villages, and taking away a lot of people...
Blue Fox didn't want to openly reprimand this kind of tasteless piracy. After all, what he did in Trier was a hundred times more brutal than Ragnar. But he had his own set of principles. Robbing Trier was the only way to get Ludwig.
The king secretly authorized it, which was objectively part of the Frankish Civil War.
Blue Fox didn't even tell the Archbishop of Cologne what he had done. The looted gold and silver artifacts had been hidden in wooden boxes, and they were to be dedicated to the king.
He listened to Ragnar shouting about his great achievements, and then publicly beat his chest and applauded the courage of the young Danish king.
He coaxed Ragnar well, and the latter was very pleased, so he gave some gifts. Faced with a bunch of worthless "villager furniture" sent by Ragnar, the blue fox, who had experienced many battles, temporarily
So he accepted them. They were indeed worthless, so they could just be given to the Götalanders when they returned to Gothenburg, he thought.
For the Blue Fox, it is absolutely necessary for him to have a good relationship with the Danes.
Now the entire Jutland peninsula is under Ragnar's control. Despite the brutal war, the Danes recovered very quickly. The Danes who were forced to survive in Zealand in the past returned to the peninsula in large numbers. They had to return to the peninsula.
Started to come into contact with Oslo immigrants who took advantage of the chaos.
Over the years, the Norwegians in Oslo have watched the Danes and Swedes compete at sea with great disdain. They are the traditional allies of the Danish chieftain, but they only want to fight with the wind. Realizing that there is no benefit, they refuse the good intention of joining forces.
Oslo has never formed a chiefdom, it is just a "business organization" where a large group of merchants came together.
A peaceful Baltic Sea is good for everyone. Oslo people are angry, and so are the people of Götaland.
Both sides are at the southernmost tip of Scandinavia, separated by the Strait of Great Denmark and opposite Jutland, Denmark.
Blue Fox's fiefdom is across the sea from Ragnar's kingdom, and merchant ships can follow the gaps in the fjords all the way into Schleswig Port and do business with the Principality of Saxony from the other direction.
It is necessary to be friends with Ragnar, but it is equally important to maintain friendly relations with the Norwegians in Oslo.
Therefore, the blue fox had to go back to the fief to explain some matters before returning to the capital of Rus to report on his duties. The red fox simply wanted to go back and report to the king that he had fulfilled his mission.
The two brothers were accompanied by the Danish victorious army on their way back, and stayed in Gothenburg for a few more days before finally returning to Tombstone Island.
Bad sea conditions forced the two to stay, and they were shocked to hear that their father Gould was dying.
Finally, Gould's life, which had laid a deep foundation for the family, came to an end.
It was cold and windy outside, and people were surprised to find that the fine winter rain had ended, replaced by fine snow, which gradually turned into heavy snow.
The early winter snowstorm of 841 came!
This snowstorm is not extreme, at least that's how people feel on Tombstone Island.
To be fair, this snowstorm is reasonable, but its power is indeed not strong. As the dry arctic cold wind blows away the warm water vapor on the sea, the slow-starting freezing of the Gulf of Bothnia accelerates, and there is a heavy snowfall.
It disappeared, and Tombstone Island was covered with a layer of knee-deep snow, leaving only the dry and cold wind.
It was extremely cold outside, and even the Slavic immigrants who farmed on the island took refuge in wooden huts with fireplaces and chimneys.
People crowded into the Tombstone Island fortress, which was protected by thick wooden walls.
What can the people who have lived in the North for thousands of years do when encountering such a snowstorm? People are like hibernating brown bears hiding in caves, sleeping through the cold and boring snowstorm period. The Russians
Instead of dormant forever, as long as the snow stops, winter life will resume. Once the sea is really frozen, the ice layer enough to carry people extends to the entire Åland Islands. Reindeer and pony sleighs will immediately replace the boats, and everyone will be like those who herd deer.
Like the Lapps, they begin their winter life on sleds.
The knowledgeable people on Tombstone Island are already lighting oil lamps, wearing thick leather coverings, and working in their wooden warehouses on sleds, spreaders, hemp fishing lines, bent rod drills and other equipment for catching big fish and seals in winter.
At this time, Stockholm Governor Big Fat White Fox and his fleet also arrived at Tombstone Island before the storm.
Ships crowded the port, and even some cargo ships took the risk of being pulled into the mud near the shore and were semi-stranded. Ships of all sizes were parked in rows, and they were all tied to each other with thick special cables. Although they were not extravagant,
The iron chain necklace is also the mast connected to each other by cables to ensure that the damn wind and snow do not damage the ship.
An experienced Slavic carpenter took on a large job.
This carpenter family made a living by farming after immigrating to Tombstone Island. Ten years ago, he joined the Ross expedition to Gotland. He served as an auxiliary and was responsible for repairing the wooden materials for the army's medium and heavy weapons. When necessary,
He also used a torque slingshot to assist in the battle.
Having this experience and indeed having good carpentry skills, he is respected by the Rus people on the island and considered one of their own. In addition, he is now using high-end carbon steel tools, and his technology is even more advanced, which is even more impressive.
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The fat white fox is the head of the family. It is a great honor for King Rurik to be willing to personally conduct the funeral of his father. However, as the eldest son, he must pay for the coffin.
He lavishly gave the selected carpenter family as much as two pounds of silver coins. He then provided the specific shape of the coffin, the material of the coffin, and the patterns that should be carved on the outside.
According to the rules, a Viking ship-shaped coffin should not cost more than two pounds.
There are many oak boards available on Tombstone Island. They are originally leftover materials from the shipbuilding workshop. Even the leftover materials are dried in the shade, and they can be processed into durable living utensils, such as wooden spoons, wooden shovels, wooden bowls, etc. Larger ones
There is no problem in making a boat-shaped coffin by assembling the boards.
Building a coffin is like building a ship. This is the Viking belief. Those who choose to be buried will definitely arrange for their close relatives to prepare a sealable coffin that resembles a ship.
The oak strips are assembled into the keel, which is assembled into the ship's ribs by mortise and tenon joints, and then the ribs are quickly installed with iron nails.
In terms of appearance, it looks like a "single paddle kayak", with a layer of leather inside to ensure comfort.
Objectively speaking, it can indeed exist as a single-person rowing boat, but now it is a coffin.
The whole family went to battle and worked day and night. The carpenter, his wife, and children first painted on the shell with a quill pen dipped in carbon ink, and then processed it with a carving knife.
Gould was a big businessman, so Frey, the God of Wealth, was his first patron saint. When Gould was young, he went to many places to explore, and he had to wander on the cautious sea, so the God of Thunder was also his patron saint.
The legend of God Frey taming the golden boar is carved on the port side, and the legend of Thor defeating the giant python in the world is carved leisurely. The large wooden board sealing the coffin is carved with the image of the goddess Freya. This god represents life, that is,
May the souls of the dead be reborn in Asgard.
The carved dents were not painted with blue (woad, chalk mud mixed with rosin) and black ink (carbon black powder mixed with rosin), and the rest of the area was painted with chalk mud mixed with rosin.
The work was completed very quickly, and it took several days for the paint on the outer shell to dry naturally.
While the carpenter was busy, the fox brothers had put on new clothes for their dead father and prepared a large number of funerary objects.
"Ah! Now the wind and snow have finally stopped, winter has arrived!" Rurik deliberately went for a walk outdoors. Looking at the sea, it was a plate of light blue, with only the high-level cumulus clouds of the lake in the sky, and the nearby islands were covered in patches.
White, so is the world beyond.
Gould's body was extremely difficult to decay in the extreme cold. His cold body was forcibly carried into the wooden house where the coffin was stored, along with a wooden board.
Rurik recognized the many patterns on the shell at a glance. Looking at the ship-shaped coffin, it was really big.
He was the king, and since Gould was his close comrade-in-arms, he and the three fox brothers worked hard to stuff the heavy dead man into the coffin.
Then, a large number of funerary objects were filled in.
"You have always liked drinking in your life. Back then you showed off your wine, and now you enjoy the last intoxication of your life..." Looking at Gould's sunken eyes, Rurik muttered, and finally filled the bottles one after another.
A glass bottle of fine wine is placed in it.
Flammable spirits vodka, high-quality wine from Nassau, Novgorod honey concoction, and wonderfully flavored kvass.
Glass cups, walrus ivory cups, horn cups, gold and silver utensils, peacock feathers... all kinds of things that the deceased used before his death must be stuffed into it.
Although the deceased was not killed in battle, his gem-encrusted sword and dagger, although they had only decorative functions during his lifetime, were now included.
The deceased was dressed in a polar bear fur coat and a ferret velvet hat, covered with beautiful Novgorod floral cloth, and finally covered with a Russian flag.
This was not the end. Gold and silver coins were sprinkled into it, two large ambers were put into the deep eyes of the deceased, the mouth was opened by the white fox's own hands, and a small piece of pure gold was put into the mouth.
"That's it. He will be buried in the capital cemetery. At that time, the king will personally attend his burial ceremony. It won't be too late, just this year." Rurik said and took another good look at the white fox.
"Thank you, Your Majesty. In fact, my father's funeral ends here. Since both Your Majesty and my father refused to be buried, the funeral has been simplified. I have nothing to say."
White Fox indeed felt that it was enough. Even Velika, the deputy priest of the kingdom, personally sang a eulogy for the deceased. The funeral had to be divided into two parts. Now the most critical coffin ceremony, the three sons of the deceased who were present and the son-in-law who avoided it all felt that it was enough.
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"Then seal the coffin." Rurik looked at them again, and then the four of them held hammers in unison, and Gould found his rest, although this was not exactly what he wanted.
Due to limited conditions, the cremation in Gould's will could not be carried out. The current situation is even more grand.
In fact, Rurik and others did not understand Gould's concerns before his death. After all, he was a big businessman, and his family would inevitably prepare a large number of funeral objects, which would very likely arouse the malicious intentions of thieves in the future. If he turned into a
The ashes are all gone. If there are still bones, it would be too tragic.
Although Rurik did not know this situation, he did assure the Fox Brothers: "Anyone who dares to destroy the rest of the great businessman Gould will be exterminated." In fact, the law has already stipulated that whoever dares to destroy the "Valhalla on earth"
If a cemetery is damaged, make a blood eagle to apologize to the deceased.
No one dares to go looking for death, and the cemetery has always been a solemn and ghostly existence.
Obviously, the most distinguished person buried in the cemetery for a period of time was the great businessman Gould.