Chapter 208 The second suffering of profiteers and Ostarans
After all, Fo Degen is not the leader.
As a businessman, when wandering around the Mälaren market, he was willing to give some copper coins to the small group of poor beggars wandering around the dirty streets in order to get the satisfaction of giving alms.
With the experience of giving alms in the past, Fordegen could not ignore the refugees who were sitting quietly waiting to die.
He is not the kind of so-called saint who can deliberately bankrupt his fortune for charity. He simply enjoys the satisfaction brought by charity.
Now, he couldn't watch a group of refugees from his allies die miserably.
Save them? How?
The refugees need food! The only food that can be obtained quickly now is the cattle and sheep from the Gran people.
The attitude of the Gran people is very resolute, and they will not give away their property generously.
However, if you use money to solve this problem, it is not a problem.
Fordegen was indeed moved with compassion. He closed his eyes and thought about it, and suddenly thought that if it was because of his help, a small group of refugees would run to Mälaren and tell the locals who the savior was.
Fo Degen feels that he should have a good reputation among businessmen. After all, everyone has amassed a lot of wealth and they are all "philanthropic".
He naturally thought of the great businessman Gould, and it was exactly when he thought of this old guy that he suddenly thought of a plan he learned from Gould during the chat.
Suddenly, Fordgen, who was still hesitant, stamped his feet fiercely. Facing the leader of the Gran people, he said firmly: "I have decided, I will try my best to save people, and I will try to take the refugees to a safe place."
Where.”
"Ah? What are you trying to do?" the leader asked with a confused look on his face.
"What are you trying to do? It's just a reputation and a secret."
"Oh, then you are really a kind person. Maybe you think you can win over them and then become the new leader of the Ostara people yourself."
"Who knows?" Fordegen shrugged, "I only have one last request for you."
"Tell me what you want."
"I want some cows."
"You!" The leader immediately said with veins on his face: "You are just a greedy cow. You are really a wicked person."
"Oh, calm down my friend." Fo Degen deliberately opened his robe and showed off the linen bag hanging on the exquisite belt: "Look, I will pay a good price. My friend, you have opened up a new place.
The settlement must also be short of money."
In difficult times, the most important things are food and clothing. The leader of the Gran people pinched his chin, considering that he would have to start dealing with the Yelmalen people when entering new areas to explore. At that time, no one would object to having more money.
The leader looked at Fo Degen and said in a difficult tone: "I can sell you some cattle, but I can only sell you a little."
"That's okay too."
Now is the time to extort money. The leader closed his eyes and thought: "There are too many refugees in this group. I think they can eat two fat cows every day. I'm sorry, I can only sell you two."
"You! You are so stingy."
"I'll price a cow at two gold coins, or twenty silver coins."
"Ah? So expensive? I can buy you a cow with five silver coins. I think you don't want to cooperate at all. You are robbing money." Fo Degen said angrily.
"Robbing money?" The leader blew his beard and made an angry expression. He leaned his face over and threatened: "In times of crisis, we can rob your caravan. You see, I didn't order this.
Do. Fo Degen, while I am still kind, don't make me angry."
"You!" Looking at the old guy's wide eyes again, Fo Degen could only give in.
For Degen's caravan, those oxcarts were also pulling a batch of cowhide and sheepskin, and the convoy even carried their own luggage.
And the precious sword in his waist.
If they offend the Grans, they will not hesitate to transform into existences exactly like the Danish pirates.
Fed up, Fodegen obediently took out forty silver coins and took away two old, skinny cows from the Gran people.
Killing two old cows can save all the refugees? That is impossible.
The Granites took away the young women with the best health among the refugees, leaving behind a group of people who were in poor health and could survive as long as they had one or two meals.
Fordegen personally walked into the refugees.
He saw some mothers holding their sons and daughters in their arms. The mothers looked in pain and helplessness, shouting for help. The children's eyes were empty and confused.
Fordgen stood among the refugees, his brows furrowed and deep wrinkles revealed.
His mercenary leader hurried over and reported: "Sir, there are many women with children, some helpless children, do you want to take them away?"
"Take them away? To put it lightly, we can't save them all."
"So……"
"Take your brothers and try to gather the refugees to my place. Also, take a few more brothers to slaughter the two cows and start roasting the beef immediately."
His subordinates immediately conveyed the order of the benefactor, and the refugees who felt that they had met a kind man also moved towards this noble man who was gorgeously dressed and supported by many warriors.
Hunger and exhaustion still affected the spirits of the refugees. They sat on the ground and kept begging the nobles for some food.
At this time, Fo Degen hurriedly and clumsily pulled out his exquisite sword. The blade buzzed, and while the soldiers admired the gold master's good sword, the refugees fell silent.
He held his sword high as if he were a warrior, but his big belly didn't match the image at all.
"You people of Ostara, I can only save some of you. Are there any of you who have money? If you have money, follow me, and I can give you barbecue."
It’s as if the refugees don’t understand.
Fo Degen yelled again: "Those with silver coins, follow me! I'll sell you barbecue!"
Money? In fact, many people in Ostara did escape with some money.
Some people may even have more than ten silver coins in their linen pockets.
It's just that the richest people in the tribe are often the bravest. They use their money to buy and make leather armor, mail armor, and a variety of weapons. Some tribesmen even spend a lot of money to make bows.
After all, in the Nordic world, there are too few excellent bowsmiths in the current era, and it costs a lot of money to make a single oak bow and some arrows.
I found that I can use money to buy meat. No matter how much money I spend, the barbecue is really worth it.
This somewhat fat businessman is much kinder than those Granites anyway.
Including the pair of sisters, after learning that they could use money to buy food, the elder sister seemed to forget about the pain in her legs for an instant. She pulled her younger sister up with difficulty and followed the moving crowd.
However, there are still many people who have no money and have nothing left.
In order to survive, they also got up and tried to grab a piece of meat to chew on.
About three hundred people followed Fo Degen. Faced with so many refugees, he firmly believed that there must be freeloaders among them.
Except for the freeloaders, did the rest of the people carry a lot of money with them? Based on his past understanding of the Ostara people, Fodegen believed that this group of suffering people was very pitiful, and maybe they all had money with them.
Heavy silver.
Businessmen are talking about business.
Because the commotion was over, the vigilant Gran people relaxed. It was getting late now, so continuing on the road was not a good option.
The Gran people camped on the spot and lit bonfires. Some tribesmen even took the opportunity to drive cattle and sheep to graze.
On the edge of another forest, Fordgen established a camp here.
Except for those refugees who died in the stampede, most people gathered in front of his "barbecue shop" and looked eagerly at the beef roasted on the fire, dripping with laughter.
Under Vodgen's instructions, his people processed the beef very thoroughly.
As a reward for their hard work, his guards took away the best meat from the two cows and roasted the rest of the edible parts on the fire.
Even cow intestines, which exude a strong offal smell, have now become meat and potatoes that can keep people alive.
There's even cow blood.
The sky is getting darker and the beef is starting to be cooked one after another. Looking at the current situation, even the woman holding the child has become an evil ghost.
People will lose their minds when they are hungry. Fo Degen estimated that if his subordinates did not all have swords and shields in their hands, looting would have happened long ago.
He did give orders to his subordinates that anyone who tried to rob, no matter who they were, would be put to death immediately without mercy.
The unkempt people looked at the fragrant beef eagerly. Standing at the forefront was a group of women. Their sarongs were badly worn, and their half-exposed legs were covered with wounds.
They have now forgotten the need to cover their bodies; all they can think about is eating meat.
A soldier struggled to grab a wooden stick with about thirty kilograms of barbecue skewered on it. Judging from the outside, the meat was already cooked.
Upon seeing this, Fo Degen immediately issued an order: "The meat is ready. People with money come over and eat the meat! Guards! Ask them to show their money, and only those with money will be let in."
Then, some women began to show their money bags, which contained some silver coins, and the first diner was let in.
She approached the arrogant Fordgen, took out more than ten silver coins of her own, and asked weakly: "Sir, is this money enough? I...I still have two children."
"You?" Fordegen readily accepted the money and motioned to his men to cut off two fist-sized pieces of roast beef.
Facing this piece of meat, the woman's face was full of embarrassment: "This... Sir, can you give me some more? I'm going to Häjälaren, and I have to go to Hjälmälän to hire a boat. I need some money. I
Need more food."
"More meat? No."
"Oh! Sir, for the sake of us being allies." After saying that, the woman knelt down directly.
Seeing her miserable face, Ford felt compassion. But when he saw those eyes that stared at her like hungry wolves, he also became cold.
After all, there is only so much meat. It would be fine if the Granites gave them two fat cows, but they were obviously two old and thin cows.
Besides, if the thirty warriors who protect me don’t treat my own people well, will they rebel?
The more he thought about it, the more Fodegen felt that the Gran people's decision was correct.
At this time, you must be cold.
Seeing that he was indifferent, the woman's mouth turned foul: "You seem to be a Melalen businessman. Only you Melalen people are like this. You are simply profiteers."
"Profiteer? Forget it." Fo Degen pointed his sword at her face: "I can give you more beef, but you and your children must be my slaves."
These words are undoubtedly a bolt from the blue!
"Aren't we allies? You shouldn't give us such treatment, and you shouldn't let your allies be slaves. You Mellaren people can't be so cruel."
"No! I am merciful. Your money is only enough to buy this little meat. Do you want to eat more beef? Yes. I can even send you to the port of Mälaren. This is not what you want. Yes? If you give me a thousand silver coins, I can escort you all the way, but it's a pity that you only have fifteen.
I will not ask you to be a slave, but you and your children will have to work for me in the next few years, and then I can give you your freedom.
I think this deal is fair. Do you choose to starve to death now? Those leading men are already dead, and the Gran people are not going to save you. Only I can save you. Do you have any better choice?"
It has to be said that this woman has no beauty at all. While Fu Degen said harsh words, he also complained that the Gran man took away all the beautiful women.
The woman didn't appreciate it at all. She took the beef and said angrily: "I won't be your slave! You are a profiteer!" After that, she turned around and spat hard.
Seeing this man's stubborn appearance, Fo Degen felt a fire rising in his heart and his eyelids were twitching. He wished he could stab this woman to death on the spot for being disrespectful to his benefactor.
Profiteers? Is money still money in times of trouble? If you starve to death, you are sitting on a mountain of gold. Can you enjoy it in the underworld?
After the woman left, a second woman was let in.
This woman was even more generous. She actually took out twenty silver coins. Faced with her demanding beef supply, she had no complaints. How could Ford not be shocked by this situation? It seems that he is indeed a big profiteer. Because of this The old cow provided by the Lan people only cost twenty silver coins.
Fordegen was a little surprised that the refugees had a lot of money hidden in their hands.
More than a dozen female refugees got the barbecue and left. They first gave the meat to their hungry children, and then ate the rest themselves.
The two girls sat with their backs against the big tree, looking eagerly at this kind scene, their eyes full of envy.
My sister muttered, "Sister, you have to buy some meat for us too."
"No, dear. We are too weak. We have to wait until the end."
"Why? I'm very hungry."
"Be patient, let's take a look at the situation." When she said this, her sister's hand, which was covered by her burqa, was tightly holding a piece of high-grade amber that was polished and crystal clear.
People often lose their minds when they fall into extreme hunger.
Many poor refugees, even if they are women, may not be able to defeat sword-wielding warriors, but why can't they deal with women of their own race.
The riot came without warning.
Almost instantly, those women and children holding beef became the target of public criticism.
People started screaming, and the fight caused them to fight, and suddenly there was a lot of crying and shouting.
The sudden chaos surprised Gould, and what happened next was even crazier! When these hungry refugees saw that it was difficult to grab a piece of meat, they began to rush to the barbecue site.
Now, no one is afraid of the warrior's sword.
"Damn it! Defend! Defend quickly! Let's stab him to death!" Fordegen had never seen such a wild scene, and his guards were also shocked.
The warrior's instinct acted on the guards' heads, and now those who dared to attack the barbecue stall were enemies.
Those who fought for food were either knocked to the ground with shields or stabbed to death instantly with swords.
This group of mercenaries are dedicated to killing people, and they always do things neatly and neatly.
But they couldn't handle the large number of refugees, so a large group of people rushed to the barbecue stall. Regardless of the heat of the flames, they started grilling meat with gun butts.
Seeing this situation, Fordegen also became ruthless and immediately ordered: "Brothers, kill all the robbers! They are no longer refugees, they are all enemies who want to rob my goods. Brothers, wait until you get to Melalen
, everyone can get a gold coin!”
Next, there is the madness of the guards.
They became efficient killing machines, and for a time, the Fordegen camp was filled with terror.
There were more and more corpses on the ground, and blood seeped into the grass.
Beef? No! All the barbecue stalls collapsed. Some refugees who were stabbed fell into the fire pit and soon transformed into ferocious people on fire.
"Sister, what's wrong with them! I'm so scared!"
"Damn it! Let's hide!" The elder sister, who was afraid that she would fall into chaos and die unknown, took her younger sister and hid in the shadow of a big tree.
The two sisters survived the catastrophe, and those who also did not suffer were the refugees who did not participate in the looting operation.
Seeing that the looting had been curbed by the most profiteering method, the furious Fodegen loudly ordered: "Brothers, enough is enough! You take all the corpses away, and we will continue to sell barbecue!"
The refugees who were still alive fell into panic. They were all sitting in the sunset. Many people felt that they were about to be killed and were completely at a loss.
It was obvious that the businessman did not want to continue the violence.
The corpses were carried away one after another, and some roasted beef was pulled out of the fire.
Holding a sword, Fordgen staggered towards the frightened refugees, escorted by five mercenaries.
He roared in a low voice: "Now, the troublemaker is dead. What about you? Do you want to live or die? If you want to live, bring money. No matter how much it is, I will sell you beef. Remember! If you dare again
Robbery and stab him to death on the spot!"
So this is it? Some refugees who were once frightened staggered over with money.