The sun is shining brightly today, but the spirits of the two women sitting in the carriage are somewhat depressed.
The Ostara tribe, which once had a large population, now has only about 200 people left, continuing to head towards the territory of the Hjärmalen people.
Many refugees fell into despair. Those people had hanged themselves to death in the forest, or fell to the ground weakly and became food for wild animals.
"Sister, is your leg feeling better?" Ella, the younger sister, asked weakly, leaning against Carlotta's shoulder.
"I feel a lot better."
"Then what's next."
When Carlotta mentioned what was going to happen next, she suddenly became alert. She noticed the man taking a nap from the corner of her eye, and she became less vigilant.
Carlotta put her mouth close to her sister's ear and whispered: "When we arrive at the port of Hjärmalen, you must listen to me."
"Well, I always listen to you."
"My dear, we may have only one chance to escape, and we must go all out when the time comes."
Her sister's words were like this, and her sister was very confused. Her sister Ella was too young. She naively thought that someone promised to give her and her sister daily food, and also promised to take good care of her in the future. Isn't this person a kind person?
However, Ella believes in her sister more. Maybe her sister has better countermeasures.
What about the reality? Carlotta's thoughts about the future can be described as naive. She thinks that if her identity as the granddaughter of the leader of Ostara is revealed, the leader of the Melalen people will treat her with courtesy.
Now, the Granite team is leading the way, followed closely by Vodegen's caravan. At the end of the team are the women who are determined not to betray themselves to Vodegen even if they starve to death. They bring their children with them.
He tried his best to follow the large army in order to get to the Yelmalen tribe and receive courtesy from the locals.
The time has entered June, the warm breeze of early summer is blowing across the world, and the water and grass are abundant at this time.
No one knew about the tragedy that happened in the southern Bleu Bay. The Hjärmalen people did learn some other news. For example, some fishermen from Mälaren claimed that the northern Rus people had begun to establish a stronghold in the Åland Islands.
The Rus did indeed have a new stronghold, and they had begun doing business with the fishermen of nearby Mälaren.
This situation further confirms that the legend about the Russian attack on Gotland is true.
However, those things don't seem to have much to do with the Yermalon people.
The Hjermalen people living by the lake continue to live their lives as usual.
These people are located near the lake in the inland area. There is a relatively wide river bed and a river with rugged rocks on the surrounding river beach. It continuously pours the fresh water of Lake Hjärmalen into the wide Lake Mälaren.
Generally speaking, the area at the mouth of rivers and lakes is very suitable for establishing a settlement.
However, the geographical conditions in that area were not satisfactory to the Yermalen people at all.
Being inland, this group of people simply does not have the strength to launch troops and plunder other places. Besides, not far to their due north is the range of activities of the powerful Melalen people. They can only rely on the "protection of the Melalen people"
"Let's live a good life.
The Hjelmalen people established a settlement in a small inlet on the south side of the lake where they are located. Generations of development have resulted in a large number of wheat fields along the lake appearing around the settlement.
This tribe with a population of 3,000 people owns a quite large area of land. Not only spring wheat is grown here, but also onions, cabbage, and peas are grown. In particular, onions and cabbage require ample water to grow.
and a warmer climate. It is early June, and the onions planted by the Hjärmalen people before winter last September have finally entered the harvest season after dormant and growing for more than half a year.
Onions are cold-tolerant and have been an important vegetable crop in Western and Northern Europe since ancient times.
Although people don't have the concept of vitamins, they all know that eating onions is not only good for the body, but its sweet and spicy taste actually adds a lot of spice to the boring life.
And it is also a low-priced crop in the entire "Lake Malaren Economic Circle", which even poor people can afford.
No, some traders from the Mellaren tribe have already rowed large transport boats up the Stone River and entered Lake Hälmälren.
Four to five hundred merchants and rowers entered the Hjärmalen port. The merchants had generally built their own houses, and the rowers either slept on the boats or set up tents by the lake.
Everyone was waiting, and when the leader of Hjälmalun gave the order, the entire tribe immediately began to harvest onions.
It is also at this critical moment that the tribesmen patrol their fields to be wary of thieves.
Opposite of those onions, there are a lot of green wheat fields.
There are still more than two months to go until the spring wheat harvest. Before the wheat harvest, the Hjärmalen people can take the lead in harvesting a large amount of onions and cabbage.
These dishes can fill the stomach, but relying solely on these cannot make a strong man energetic.
Ordinary tribesmen do not have so many requirements. They are very grateful for the gift of the so-called Lake Goddess, who has given them the ability to eat vegetables and survive stably during the traditional summer famine.
Yes, in the Hjelmalen people's concept, famine events are rare.
This is the case in Northern Europe. The closer the peninsula is to the south, the macroeconomic conditions of agriculture are gradually improving. The Hjärmalen people have enough food to feed themselves, and they can still make a fortune selling their own agricultural products every year, even because dealers come uninvited
, they don’t have to personally organize a fleet to run to the Mellaren Market.
Just as the tribesmen were eagerly looking forward to a bumper harvest of onions, farmers guarding remote farmland saw a mighty "army" driving a large number of cattle and sheep.
Oops! These cattle and sheep, who can even chew up grass roots and don’t understand the pungent and sweet roots, will chew up onions!
Suddenly the farmers were in a panic.
"No! Enemies are coming! They want to steal all our onions!"
"Brothers, take up arms and go to the fields to defend our property."
…
More than 30 farmers who were the first to run back to the settlement screamed for help on the tribe's intricate dirt roads.
As more farmers came with frightened expressions, some farmers immediately ran out with shields and short spears after returning home. Those who turned a blind eye for a while could no longer stand by and watch.
Several farmers simply broke into the leader's house and reported the terrible things to the guards guarding the house.
Winterson, the leader of Hjelmalen, was also shocked.
"What? A group of cattle and sheep from the south? And a large group of enemies? Really enemies?"
The guard also heard what he said: "Sir, the situation is very unclear now. Whether it is friend or foe, those cattle and sheep will definitely destroy our farmland."
"Okay, organize the army first. We must stop them from trampling on the farmland. Follow me."
With that said, leader Wenderson, a lean middle-aged man, immediately put on his leather armor, brought his sword and shield, summoned nearly a hundred guards under his command to enter the streets of the tribe, and declared war mobilization as the leader.
With such an order, the entire tribe fell into a high degree of tension.
Some people suspect that those cattle and sheep were brought back by the southern allies. But they appeared at this time, what happened?
Wenderson summoned all the 1,200 men in the tribe who could use weapons. More than 400 young women also took weapons, or simply shovels and hoes for digging soil, to join the tribe's camp.
Mileage recharge.
Together with the businessmen who live there, they will not think about continuing to do business this year or even next year if the Yermalon people's crops are destroyed. Out of the protection of their own interests, plus a slogan of supporting traditional allies, and
An alliance of more than 300 merchants and oarsmen joined Hjälmalun's army.
Suddenly, an army of up to 2,000 soldiers quickly assembled, rushed to the tribe's farmland, and stood densely packed on the ridges of the fields for a large area.
This situation made the slow-moving Granite team extremely nervous.
"Chief, are they going to war? We are allies. Could it be that these people have also defected to the Danes?"
"You are so stupid." Oak, the leader of the Gran people, knocked on the helmet of his subordinate.
The subordinate continued to admonish: "Sir, if there is such a possibility, you must be careful."
"Forget it. I think they are worried that our team will destroy their fields. The leader of Yermalen is called Wenderson. I know the character of the guy. That guy cares about his own fields the most. Inform the brothers to take good care of their own.
Cows and sheep, don’t go any further.”
After giving the order, the leader of the Gran people left the large army with ten people and headed for the opposite camp.
Because the allies in the south generally raise cattle and sheep, many of the furs needed by the Yelmalun tribe also come from the south.
Leader Wenderson squinted his eyes and saw clearly the guy who was gradually approaching.
"Are they Gran? Why did they come here?"
With doubts in mind, Wenderson also issued an order, ordering the tribesmen to stay on guard. He also brought ten of his proud warriors to negotiate with them.
In this way, the leaders of the two tribes met on the field ridge.
With some polite politeness, the Gran explained the truth about the destruction of the Ostara people.
"Danes? Could it be that our southern defense line has collapsed?! Doesn't this mean we have become the southern defense line?"
"It's absolutely true." In order to highlight the seriousness of the situation, Oak, the leader of the Gran people, deliberately claimed that there were only more than a hundred women and children left in the huge Ostara tribe. "According to the information I received, the Danes are like
Possessed by evil gods, they launched indiscriminate attacks. In order to avoid disaster, we escaped."
Upon hearing the news, Hjölmalen's Wenderson's eyelids twitched wildly, and his feet in his leather boots were covered in cold sweat.
"Could it be that...the Danes' pursuers...the enemy is coming?"
"They didn't come. Maybe, they felt they had won the victory and retreated."
"The Danes really didn't come?" Wenderson continued to ask.
"It is absolutely true. My friend, all our southern tribes have lost their homes. All tribes are fleeing. In order to escape death, I came with my tribe. I hope that my tribe can settle near your lake,
We will be neighbors from now on."
"This..." Speaking of a very real question, Wenderson realized that he could not give a straightforward answer to this matter.
Being neighbors? This is a good thing based on the current situation, but with the arrival of the Gran people who are good at raising cattle and sheep, if the cattle and sheep are not controlled well, they will definitely become monsters that destroy farmland.
Considering the mentality of the tribesmen, Wenderson estimated that it would be absolutely impossible for the Gran people to actually live together.
After all, the visitors were all old friends, and Wenderson did not make things difficult for these people anymore.
His only request is that the cattle and sheep must be restrained. Once the onions are destroyed by cattle and sheep, the Gran people must use the cattle and sheep in their hands to pay off the debt.
In order to avoid unnecessary trouble, Wenderson temporarily pointed out a temporary resting place for the Gran people.
"Your large army will first go to the northeast of our tribe, which is an undeveloped wasteland. You guys have a rest for now. My friend, please allow me to invite you to my home. Maybe we should discuss the future."
The Gran people, who had suffered from the fatigue of traveling and traveling, really needed a rest, so the leader Oak agreed to his friend's kindness.
The war alert was lifted and life seemed to be able to resume quickly.
The large army of the Gran people moved in a new direction, but as a businessman, Fodegen saw a large number of buildings not far away and realized that he must have arrived at the initial destination.
"Carlotta, Ella, we have arrived at Hjärmalen. My dear, just wait a little longer so that we can all rest."
The two girls observed everything around them attentively. Carlotta held her sister's hand tightly, her eyes trying to observe the details of everything in order to find an opportunity to escape.
"What's wrong? Are you two asleep?" As he said this, Fordgen turned his head and noticed that the eyes of the two children seemed to be looking at something else.
"Is this your first time coming to Hjärmalen? Haha, don't worry. We will spend one night here and leave for Malaren tomorrow. Haha, be patient a little longer. When we get to my island, I will give it to you.
Arrange the most comfortable room." Fodegen kept talking about his promise, his words full of pride.
What Carlotta understood was that she and her sister had a chance to escape, tonight!
Now Fodegen has no time to care about the affairs of the Gran people. What he needs to consider most is how to bring back the nearly a hundred Ostara refugees under his control. The food expenses for so many people are not a small number.
I don’t want to waste my time in Hjälmalen at all.
More than a month ago, when Vodgen left Mälaren for the south, he took the sea route, but he also traveled by land many times.
He understood the geographical situation of Yermalen, and as a merchant, he placed the caravan in a small piece of wasteland that had been reborn in troubled times near the local settlement.
While it was still dark, the businessman took a few of his proud subordinates and rushed to the dock to look for the boaters. In the end, he could only reach a business agreement with his business colleagues.
Because only their fellow merchants brought large transport ships, the local fishermen in Hjärmalen couldn’t do it with their small boats!
We are both businessmen, and all we care about is credibility.
Colleagues all learned about the fall of Ostara, and they never imagined that they were all from Melalen and knew something about Vodgen.
They were envious of this guy who survived the catastrophe and actually got a hundred slaves. What else could they do but be envious?
Even though Fordegen tried his best to defend himself, his colleagues, while joking and teasing, also came up with their conditions.
It turns out that these merchants were just waiting to transport onions! Soon the Yermalen people’s onions will be harvested, and whoever’s fleet is at the port will be able to purchase the best batch. At this critical juncture,
Vodgen must give a good reward before the fleet can take this group of people to Melalen.
Are you forced to stay here?
impossible!
Fordegen estimated that if they left with a large number of onions, they would have to wait until the cabbages were harvested again. If he could not reach a deal with them immediately, he would be in trouble!
He had no choice but to pay a deposit of two pounds of silver coins to a caravan, and he would have to pay another two pounds after the event was completed.
For the caravan, this is a simple act of extortion. To transport all the people and belongings of Vodgen to Mälaren, the fleet basically just goes down the river, and it may take a whole day to transport them all to Fodgen.
Degen's territory. Why not earn four pounds of silver coins?
For this caravan, which specialized in selling agricultural products, they were rip-offing Verdegen. The income of four pounds of silver coins had almost caught up with their annual gross profit from trafficking. Even the owner of the fleet, this person's age
The net income is only about a hundred silver coins. The trick is to stock up onions to sell in the winter and wheat to sell in the summer famine, so as to make money by putting them on the market when supply and demand are out of balance.
But most of the fleets are run by small-scale businessmen. If it hadn't been for the Danish incident and the loss of all the ships, Vodgen would not have bothered to communicate with this group of people.
After all, in the business circle of Fordegen, all I know are big businessmen who are active in the "Melaren Economic Circle"! His level of Fordegen is naturally much lower, and it depends on who he compares with.
During the prosperous and peaceful years, he expanded his fur business and earned twenty pounds of silver from his annual net profit, which was more than enough.