The gray wolf Karl and his younger brothers are known for robbing merchant ships. They are pure pirates, and their base is in Hedebe City.
"Why? All the brothers who were dispatched were wiped out. It was you who wanted to attack those people. You must give me an explanation now!"
This old guy with a bald head and a big beard was furious, pointing at his subordinates and yelling curses.
All the subordinates could only hold back their tempers, knowing that the action was clearly decided by Boss Karl.
Gray Wolf Karl was still scolding his men, his attitude was too hysterical.
Finally, someone couldn't stand it anymore and started a crime. This move really scared Karl. After a brief embarrassment, the person showed a fierce look on his face: "We must take revenge."
"Yes! Of course we must take revenge." Karl bared his teeth immediately: "Those Russians are making a fortune. As long as we succeed once, we can live a good life. There are also those brothers who are not killed, we must take revenge. So, you
Any good suggestions?"
When it comes to revenge, everyone raises their hands in support, but when it comes to researching a revenge plan, everyone becomes quiet.
How to come up with a good plan?
Karl circled the patchwork square table and kept circling behind his men. As a result, he was shouting slogans so loudly that no one knew what to do.
"Are you all mediocre? Are you all afraid of the Russians?! You!" He pointed directly at the person who started the crime: "You were the first to propose it, think of a good way for me."
"Ah! Boss! The Russians... they..." This person wanted to say that the Russian armed merchants were too strong to deal with, but then he thought that saying so would destroy his prestige. This person also thought he had a quick wit: "Boss, maybe we should
Contact some strong outside forces.”
"You?" Gray Wolf Karl walked over with his head, his eyes seemed to be glaring to death, "Are you inciting me to beg for help?"
"How dare I. But..."
"Okay, you'd better be quiet!" Karl slapped the man on the head hard and silenced the others who were slightly noisy.
In fact, Gray Wolf Karl was just venting his emotions. Indeed, when he was cruising on the sea looking for a target, he accidentally noticed an armed cargo ship that had been sailing in formation. After approaching and observing, he learned that it was a Russian ship. The unique triangular sail was a distinctive feature.
A Ross shop appeared in Hedebe, and even though they had put on a disguise, the gray wolf Karl had already seen their clear identity.
Seeing that the Russians are making a lot of money, which gangster in Hedebe wouldn't want to take part in it?
There are merchant guilds and gang associations in the huge Haizeby. Although it is an ownerless city, this city at least has the most basic division of power.
Under normal circumstances, gangsters will not really attack big businessmen, but seeing some businessmen frantically making money, how can you not feel itchy?
Other gangsters don't dare to take action, but Gray Wolf Carl does!
What's more, the new businessmen have obvious Russian backgrounds, or they are the Russians themselves. They are outsiders, but they made a fortune in Hedeby. This is Denmark! The hostile Russians are actually taking advantage of the Danes.
, but a large group of Danish businessmen colluded with it.
Ross is a strong man, and if he can't find a clear reason for the attack, the brothers will be very afraid. Of course there is a reason, which is to defend the glory of Denmark.
How dare a group of gangsters call themselves "Guardians of Denmark's Glory"? It's really ridiculous.
But the minions, especially the newly developed group of horsemen, want to win the war against Sweden and Ross, but they have no chance. A good opportunity is in front of them, making the move to attack the big businessmen very practical.
legitimacy.
As luck would have it, when Karl came up with the idea and planned the attack, the Russians actually landed with a large amount of high-quality goods.
Killing is not the main purpose. Looting Ross's wealth makes the gang rich. This is the act of gaining both fame and fortune.
When the attack was launched, Karl wore a burlap robe and hid in a dark corner to observe. He saw with his own eyes that his cavalry launched the attack and were then killed cleanly by the Russians.
If you keep getting angry with your subordinates or even shirk the responsibility for failure, you, the boss, will be too cowardly.
How to deal with Ross merchants? Karl already has the answer in his mind.
"Yes! We do need to find an external friend. Brothers, we should also think about what will happen to Hedebe in the future. If Horik's army of outsiders really comes, we also need a new way of life. Simply
If you become a gangster, you will become an enemy of that man."
Boss Karl has made it very clear, but the brothers actually need a new backer, and that is the self-proclaimed king Horik Klarsson.
The failed attack has passed, and since then Karl has not dared to take action again.
The other gang leaders secretly mocked this blind arrogant man, but on the surface they naturally showed their composure. In the secret meetings of the gangs, the gang leaders made all kinds of excuses and flattery. They were very self-aware and armed businessmen.
It seems that the interests of the gang cannot be touched by themselves, and it is unwise to ridicule Carl. Although Carl is defeated, this gang is still the number one gang in Hedeby.
There is no shortage of gangsters in Hedebe. Most of the local poor boys or runaway slaves will be absorbed by the gangs first, and even be trained into brave and fierce warriors. Each gang has a variety of famous names, and the names are even
They are quite wild and domineering, and most of their gangs have a lot of people, and most of them can gather up to fifty brothers.
In and around Hedeby City and the nearby sea areas, various gangs have negotiated their respective spheres of influence, either collecting tributes from small traders, craftsmen, and farmers, or directly attacking merchant ships, killing people and stealing goods. They are the purest violent group, but they are not at all
It was unable to completely build Hedeby into a free city with prosperous commerce, and now it is just a sin city with very prosperous commerce.
A secret gang meeting was held in an unknown forest house. It was outside the city port area. There was an undeveloped forest here, which was a good place to hide. There was no clear organization that would punish the gangs.
, Theoretically, there was no need for them to be so secretive. The reason they went to so much trouble was just to avoid the eyes of those big businessmen. After all, Carl's blatant armed robbery in the port area instantly caused all the businessmen to strengthen their weapons.
Gray Wolf Karl was the focus of many bosses. This arrogant man slapped the square table and declared: "I have only one thing to explain to the brothers today. I hope you can all see the situation clearly! The Russians have infiltrated into Hedebe. They
They actually openly raised their flag and they are frantically grabbing our wealth. Not to mention those big businessmen, the vast majority of people are being drained of their wealth by the Russians. Ordinary people have become poor, and we have no oil and water to extract. The Russians are
It's driving us all to destruction."
The leader raised his head and asked: "Do you want everyone to kill the Russians together?"
"I! That's what I meant."
"Forget it! You are recognized as the strongest among the brothers. You launched an action and suffered a small failure. Our brothers are too weak. If we take action, the whole army will not be wiped out? I only have this little wealth."
This person's words were already very tactful, but he had no choice but to touch Karl's counter scale, and what he got was destined to be Karl's criticism: "Coward! Of course we can succeed if we act together. Look at you, you are all afraid of your own losses."
It was the same man just now, who was equally angry when he was criticized as a "coward". He stood up and shouted: "You can do it!"
Karl was also furious. He pulled out his dagger and slammed it on the square table with an angry look.
I saw that man also pulling out a dagger, and many leaders thought that this was the "grey wolf" acting arrogantly, so they drew their swords one after another.
"Who doesn't have a dagger? You have the ability to deal with the brothers, but you have no ability to deal with the Ross merchants?"
Realizing that something was wrong, Karl had no choice but to put away his arrogance: "I'm not here to quarrel with you. I'm telling you, give your brothers to my command, and I will definitely demolish the Russian houses and take the money."
Take them all. Since you are not happy, forget it. However, we can still find external support."
Karl, on the other hand, found a way down the stairs, making the other gang leaders feel like they had eaten flies.
What is external support? Horik Klarsson, of course.
"Horik will not let Hazeby become a terra incognita. This place is the city built by his grandfather. You don't have to doubt whether Godfrey is his grandfather. He has heavy troops in his hands, and many tribal leaders respect him.
As the king, the brothers should also consider their own future. Horik's messenger has already expressed his attitude. My suggestion is that the brothers join forces with Horik and use his power to expel the Ross forces."
Horik Klarson? This man claimed to be the real master of Hazeby. The leaders had long known about it, but the first one to take it seriously was Karl the Gray Wolf.
Someone then ridiculed: "Wolves move in packs, and you call yourself the wolf king. What? Now you have to admit that idiot Horik who jumped out of nowhere as the new wolf king, and you have to act like a she-wolf
Go and serve him? Carl, don’t you lack a father?”
"Watch your attitude!"
But the man shrugged and said nothing.
Presumably many people say that they "lack a father", and in fact they are not entirely wrong. Karl needs to ensure his vested interests in Hedeby. He originally wanted to unite other gangs to form a large force and then negotiate with Horik.
And the matter of surrender, unexpectedly, a group of gang leaders expressed a common attitude in various forms - we do not lack a father.
The gang meeting broke up unhappy. Since he couldn't win over those guys, Carl took matters into his own hands.
How can the messenger directly see Horik Klarsson? It seems that all he needs to do is go all the way north, to the far north of the peninsula, and find the emerging city of Godfrehagen.
It was already July. Gray Wolf Karl had recruited a group of new cavalry, reorganized internally, and purchased a batch of new weapons, so that the nominal number of cavalry under him expanded to 200 people. This strength was no longer comparable to that of many viscounts in Frank.
That's bad. He already knows what the other gangsters think. It's just that if there is no place for him to stay, he will have his own place. If Haizebi can't stay any longer, the brothers will row a boat to find a small island to make a den.
Continue to be pirates. A group of gangsters also have their own ideas. The news about the Norwegians and some other Danish brothers' frequent successes in the British Isles is spreading, and everyone is eager to try it.
It was really a good idea to send a pillow when you were dozing off. In mid-July, the messenger of Horik, the self-reliant Danish king, came to Hedeby again.
A man named Staken Franckson arrived at Hedebe by land with more than a hundred armored warriors.
Although this Starken is a Dane, he has actually been living in Flanders with Boss Horik for many years and has had many contacts with the Franks.
He rode a tall Frankish horse, brought more than a hundred infantry, and more than 20 cavalry suddenly appeared in Hedeby City.
A raven flag was flying, and their appearance was immediately met with a strong onlooker from the people of Hedebe.
Starken and others immediately announced in public: "Hedebe people! Your city belongs to the Danish King Horik Klarsson! This is his property, and you are all his subjects! The king ordered you to pay eleven
, only then can you continue your business activities!”
Although there had been news for a long time, the two months of calm made the people feel that the so-called restoration of Horik's rule was far away. Could it be that Horik had already decided to take action?
For a moment, the people in the city were panicked, and some small traders had already fled with their handcarts overnight. The escapees were almost all Frankish and Saxon merchants, and they all believed in Christianity. They rushed south and quickly crossed the Schleswig Great Wall, which was essentially unguarded.
, entered the city of Schleswig, paid a tax to the local baron and returned to the embrace of the Frankish Kingdom, and conveniently reported that Danish Horik was preparing to officially take back Heideby.
These merchants originally had to pay taxes to the Frankish nobles, but they were afraid of being exploited by Horik. Although the news was that they collected a tithe, no one knew what this so-called tithe actually meant. They were motivated by the sensitive sense of businessmen.
, I feel that the arrogant messenger sent by Horik will never be able to spit out ivory, and the crazy exploitation of the merchants must be inevitable.
These Frankish merchants who ran away were indeed very cunning.
The Franks rode big horses, and the horses were also covered with iron-covered leather armor? A group of soldiers wearing iron helmets and leather armor appeared, and they were also highly uniformly dressed?
The Ross mercenaries dressed up in Qiao Zhuang blended into the crowd to watch, and hurriedly reported everything they heard and saw to Lord Blue Fox.
"The man who called himself Starken claimed to be a war chief under Horik, and claimed that the king's navy would soon enter Hedebe. The city was founded by Godfrey, of whom Horik was a grandson.
, has full claim to the city. All residents living in the city must pay the tithe tax that has not been paid for more than 20 years to Horik. In particular, all businessmen must come up with more money. Otherwise, Horik will
Rick's army will severely punish those who resist the tax, and those in serious cases will be killed and their homes will be confiscated..."
This is simply an ultimatum! After all, it is already the end of July. According to tradition, the Ross store will start seasonal sampling in less than a month, leaving only a few left behind to watch the scene, newly purchased goods, and a large amount of money.
Ship away.
Blue Fox and Old Eric felt really uncomfortable after hearing the report.
"Perhaps we should evacuate early. Since Horik can quickly make almost all Danish lords recognize his authority, he is not an easy guy to deal with. I think we should seize this opportunity and retreat as soon as possible." Old Eli
Ke’s suggestions are of great reference value.
Lan Hu thought for a while and patted his chubby belly: "I have eaten endless delicious meals here and earned a huge amount of wealth. I am a person who cultivates this area under the orders of the prince. You can evacuate with your family, but
I...if I run away with my brothers, I will betray the prince's trust and lose my status in the family. No! Maybe the prince will punish me as a slave to mine ore."
"You? Do you mean to stay here?" Old Eric was shocked and continued to admonish: "We are weak now. Before the Horik navy comes back, our fleet evacuates urgently. We will tell the prince the news.
, I think the prince will not blame you. The prince is fair and does not really think that you and I can fight against the entire Danish king with just a hundred mercenaries."
"What you said makes sense, but I can't leave!" Blue Fox sighed: "Back then, my father also quietly infiltrated into Hedebe. At that time, if he was discovered, he would definitely be caught by the dead Godfrey.
Live and kill. Now that the ownerless Hedeby has accommodated the Ross forces, the prince actually plans to reconcile with Denmark. Maybe this is an opportunity for me to talk to Horik personally and be a mediator in peace negotiations.
."
"You are risking your life!"
"Yes! Wealth can be found in danger. I will take the risk here. However, your suggestion does make sense. Why don't we make two preparations?"
Why be prepared with both hands? Blue Fox plans to take the mercenaries here to see how the situation will develop, and a large amount of money for goods and other supplies, even women and children bought from the slave market, are all packed into the armed cargo ship.