Five businessmen entered Klavasen's slightly crude blacksmith shop and entered its inner room.
They saw the Klavason family’s advanced furnace that could smelt sponge iron without having to dismantle it, and they also saw a crude version of a manual press for pressing glassware.
They lack an in-depth understanding of production and production. When they see such items, they basically turn a blind eye, saying that getting too close will stain their beautiful fox fur coats.
After the hustle and bustle of the afternoon, Klavasen and Rurik had not yet had time to divide the nearly thirty kilograms of silver into their own, and now there was a new business opportunity.
Seize the opportunity and make more money. Because money is not just some precious metals, it can also achieve greater power.
Rurik’s mind is a little tired, and his body is also very weak, not yet as capable as those adults who can paddle continuously for more than ten hours.
He endured his sleepiness and decided to have a good chat with these five customers with the help of Klavasen.
Customers, their purpose is very simple!
When they were outdoors, they stretched their necks and smiled, bowing to Rurik, who seemed to be a "little kid but a big kid".
Negotiating business? Come on then!
The meeting took place at Klavasen’s home.
Is the venue simple? That's really crude. It's so simple that the cup for drinking water is made of clay. Only Klavasen himself enjoys the high-end green and harmless potash-lime glass he made himself.
Rurik sat cross-legged on the leather cushion. He gave these well-dressed old guys the feeling that he didn't look like a child.
Rurik’s voice is childish, but his demeanor is quite calm and he talks like an adult.
"You want to do bigger business with me? Come on, I welcome you on behalf of our Ross tribe."
Rurik said some polite words and quickly became active atmosphere.
An old fur trader wearing a fur hat made of the finest velvet hat of a young white fox. He gently covered his heart with his right hand through his clothes, and bowed slightly to show himself. of sincerity.
“My little master, I admire the furs of your Ross tribe. When I was old enough to paddle alone from Mälaren to your Ross, I began to live here as a guest. Because of you, I became a Be rich."
Rurik was pleasantly surprised by the polite words again.
Rurik first gave a business-like smile and continued to be polite: "So, do you think you can become richer by cooperating with me?"
"Of course!" Merchant He suddenly lifted up his gown and sat upright: "My little master, the five of us are here today to discuss it with you. I hope you can trust us, just like you trust Gould from the Onkras tribe. We. We hope that we can..."
"Just like a piece of roasted meat, let's share it with you?" Rurik asked knowingly.
“Yes. We are realSincerely willing to cooperate. ”
After this person said this, the other four people agreed one after another.
In fact, for Rurik, he learned the other party’s clear identity of the Melalen tribe, and naturally planned to open the market. Possibility.
Because Gould is from the Onkras tribe after all, this person imports goods from himself and will theoretically sell them in the Onkras market. It is also made clear that its dumping market is mainly in the large market of the Melalen people.
Eggs cannot be put in the same basket, and there cannot be only one customer.
Rurik. After thinking for a moment with his eyes closed, he began to ask clearly about the exact origins of these five businessmen, because before that, Rurik himself only had a very rough understanding of their identities, that is, "guest merchants".
They introduced themselves, three from the Melalen tribe and two from the Uppsala tribe.
“Uppsala? I understand the name. "Rurik's small back suddenly sat upright.
"You know us very well? "An old businessman wearing a black bearskin and a strange braided beard asked respectfully.
Rurik said proudly: "You are from Uppsala, I know you very well. Our tribe has some precious wooden boards, and our long-lived high priest records our ancient history. We, the Ross tribe, were once neighbors with you. "
"Huh? Is it true? ! "The merchant wearing a bearskin hat really didn't know about this, but he felt that Rurik's words were a sign of goodwill.
"Of course. Rurik affirmed: "Our ancestors chased furs and fish to the far north, and then came to where we are now." ”
Because this is what is recorded on the wooden board of Vilia, and the real history has also fallen into the fog.
The tribal name of Uppsala will continue, and Mei The same goes for Laren's name.
All the people living in the Svealand Plain were German immigrants from ancient Denmark.
It was Jutland at the end of the Roman Empire. Some members of the Aros tribe in the central peninsula began to participate in the great movement of expansion across the sea to the north.
Immigration from the Aros tribe entered the Svealan Plain, and many immigrants lived here, forming a natural phenomenon. A new tribal alliance was formed.
But they have left Denmark. Over the past few hundred years, Denmark and Svealan, the two tribal alliance groups, have gradually become incompatible and their disputes have intensified. The Aros people in the northeastern part of the Jutland Peninsula call themselves the "Aros people of the East", or "Ostraros".
But they have long become different from their relatives in Jutland. Again, the article "East" was removed, and this became Rus.
Rurik did not know these events, but the ancestors of Rus, the Uppsalas, and the Onkras, Even the people of Melalen have close geographical and blood ties.
Businessmen intend to get closer to Rurik, and the same goes for Rurik.this.
Since everyone doing this has a close ancestral relationship.
Rurik said: "Then let's talk about what you want to buy and the right price."
"We want to buy your crystal cup. Oh, no , it’s a glass,” said the man in the white fox hat.
"Continue to buy? Welcome."
"Yes, we hope for a better price. However, we will definitely buy more."
Liuli Ke held his chin and thought for a moment, "Discount? I can consider it. You guys tell me first, how many do you plan to buy?"
The five of them looked at each other, and the man in the white fox hat said: "Two, maybe. , just twenty. There are five of us, each of us will buy twenty from you. We will go south to see if we can sell it well."
Five. People just buy a hundred glass cups. In fact, making these cups does not require too complicated technology. Even the so-called most troublesome step is actually the blacksmith going into the mountainous area to look for ore. After all, making a glass cup is much easier than forging a steel sword.
Rurik did not reply immediately, but continued to ask: "Let's talk about the price first. From what you heard, you think the previous price of two hundred silver coins was too high. You hope I can give you a discount. . ”
“Yes. Today, you sold a cup to your tribe for only sixty silver coins, but I hope that when we buy it, the price will be at least low... "Twice as cheap."
"How can this work!" Klavason suddenly spoke up, and he was more excited, "Listen, except for the steel sword and glass here, you are in other places. Maybe you can buy it, you will only pay more. Do you know that Gould’s glass bottle costs three hundred silver coins! We sell it to you for two hundred silver coins, which is already a discount.”
< p>These five businessmen also respect Clavarson quite a lot, simply because the blacksmiths in Ross have now begun to forge magical steel swords.The businessmen sitting here also have their own needs for steel swords.
Rurik had a small face and gently raised his right hand to signal Klavasen not to say anything.
Seeing this, the strong Klavasen hurriedly shut up.
Rurik thought of something. He did not explain it, but said: "Twenty is too many, I can only sell ten to each of you. Also, I can give you the price." You're getting a discount." Rurik deliberately put on a bad face of "losing money": "You think the discount price of two hundred silver coins is not good enough! One hundred and fifty silver coins, I can't. The price has been reduced again. Do you accept it?"
"Accept it! Accept it!" The old guy with the white fox hat nodded respectfully. .
But some people also asked why they only planned to sell fifty units in total.
Klavasen lightly touched Rurik’s arm a few times, then leaned closer to the child’s arm.Ear: "Rurik, we can definitely produce more. If they want a hundred in total, then give them to them. I don't feel tired."
Rurik still stared at him, ignoring Krava at all. Sen's suggestion.
Seeing this, Klavason sat upright and had nothing to say.
Rurik continued: "If you are all willing, we will formulate a contract. We will make fifty ordinary glasses. As for the price, it is undoubtedly one hundred and fifty silver coins. If you If you have gold coins in your hand, that’s fifteen gold coins. Listen, I actually prefer gold coins.”
Yes, Rurik still prefers gold coins to silver coins.
Not only because of the beautiful and shiny appearance of gold, but also because of its rareness. As for gold, its natural currency properties are something Rurik strongly agrees with. It is also easier to carry than silver.
Both silver and gold are good things.
Even if there is no paper, the contract still needs to be scratched on the wooden board with the tip of a knife, and then smeared with ink to confirm the contract. As a businessman, contracts are very important.
The five businessmen were so moved that they almost cried. Because Rurik wanted to make a written contract to ensure that neither party would turn their backs on each other.
The wooden board recording the contract is also a proof of the close business relationship between them in the future.
The five of them felt that they finally got a share of the pie from the extremely wealthy Gould. Maybe they couldn't sell soap on a large scale, but they should be able to make a lot of money selling glasses.
The wooden plank contract was carved, and the contract stipulated that Rurik should make all the glasses within five days. This matter is indeed not difficult, it just requires Clavarson to go to the mountains and river valleys to select suitable ores and river sand.
It is finally getting late at this moment, because the summer solstice is gradually approaching, and the days in Roseburg are getting longer and longer.
Another contract order of up to seventy-five pounds of silver was confirmed. Klavasen was already gearing up. He thanked Rurik in his heart and started production just as he was about to stand up.
However, business transactions will continue.
Of course, these five businessmen have less financial resources than Gould. However, these second-rate dealers are quite capable.
They also hired guards to protect themselves. Purely based on their ability to buy and sell, each of them could earn at least a thousand silver coins a year.
The most ordinary Russian fisherman may only spend three silver coins on food per month.
In this society, the gap between the rich and the poor is so extreme, which objectively stimulates fishermen to transform themselves into warriors, rob the wealthy families of rivals, and possess their lifetime savings.
The five of them buy all kinds of Russian fur goods and other things every year, and then sell them to the tribes in the south at high prices, and even secretly sell them to the Danes to make even greater wealth.
For ten glasses and two years of net profit, they have already made a calculation for themselves. This is better than buyingOf course it's cost-effective to sell.
In fact, even if it is still two hundred silver coins each, it is still cost-effective.
After all, that old guy Gould is a shrewd man. The glass bottle costs three hundred silver coins, which is the market price in the south.
So there was already a price difference of one hundred silver coins. Thanks to the favor of the future leader of the Ross tribe, the profit from the price difference soared to one hundred and fifty.
What kind of concept is this? If it is sold safely, one sales action this year will be worth as much as the past two years!
Of course, with such precious property in their possession, they also knew that there would be people on the sea who would be eager to kill them and take away their property. Even so, risk-taking can still be a highly profitable move.
The five businessmen decided to take the gamble at all costs. They took their respective wooden contracts and realized that if they don't succeed, they will succeed.
The transaction continues.
This time, the target became Klavasen.
The man in the white fox fur hat of the Melalen tribe said: "We all plan to buy steel swords from you. But we are different from your tribe. We have always had a lot of money. Wealth, we naturally want to get the best sword."
"Hehehe." Klavason said with a smile, "Okay, what kind of sword do you need?"
The five of them each began to explain their needs. The most core needs were that the length of the sword should be 2/3 stika (about 65 centimeters), and that the sword should have a bleeding groove and gold should be inlaid in the groove. They all requested that the hilt of the sword should not only be made of hard oak, but also inlaid with some silver.
The most critical thing is the end of the hilt, where a large amber must be placed.
They also had some personalized requests, which Klavasen wrote one by one on a long-used wooden board with charcoal blocks. This is a memorandum.
"Let's talk about the price!" Today, the iron smelting industry is still a seller's market that controls prices, and Klavason offers a fixed price; "A steel sword is five hundred silver coins."
< p> "Ah?! So expensive." The white fox hat merchant was shocked, as were the others.Even Rurik was shocked.
But Klavason claimed that such a high price was reasonable: "Do you think it is expensive? Don't ignore it. I am a blacksmith and a gemstone craftsman. What are your requirements? Processing Hard wood, inlaid with gems, and gold and silver plating on the sword. Remember, if you leave our Ross tribe, you will not find another craftsman with such skills even if you explore to the end of the world!”
Rurik was secretly impressed after hearing this. After all, he was capable and spoke tough.
When they thought of owning a divine sword that was not inferior to Otto, the leader of the Ross tribe, and spending half a year's income to buy it, the five of them had an ideological struggle and expressed their approval.
It takes time to craft a sword.
Faced with these wealthy people, Klavasen, out of professional ethics, had no intention of producingWhen steel is being made for a hundred times, "twenty times" will no longer be used as "fifty times". Klavason knew that he also had to take Rurik's attitude into consideration. If he disappointed the businessmen, it would affect Rurik's interests, which would cause endless harm.
An agreement on special steel swords has also been signed. It is completely different from the former. The delivery date of this agreement has been postponed to the autumnal equinox, which is the day when day and night appear in the second half of the year.
For merchants, that is, they take all kinds of goods to the south and sell them all, and when they return with other goods, they can get their own magical steel swords.
They took the lead in paying a deposit of one hundred silver coins.
They are both merchants, and Rurik does not forget the opportunity to continue trade.
Businessmen want to maximize the transaction volume during the warm summer to gain profits. They only earn a share of the goods from Roseburg by transporting them to the south. The Russians have also needed some southern goods since ancient times, but for a long time, the demand of the Russians has not been large. One of the most critical imported goods is flax!
Rurik made another verbal promise to them: "You try your best to buy daily necessities in the south. Especially grain and flax! You buy wheat during the harvest season in the south and transport it to us. I I will pay you twice the price for the purchase.”
As the future leader, Rurik confirmed that he was not joking, but he did not make any further written contracts.
Because wheat can be grown in the Svealand Plain, but Roseburg does not have this condition. Since oats and rye during the harvest season have not been dried, and farmers lack excellent storage technology, they focus on selling wheat during this period.
But the price of wheat is stable in normal years, and its value is not high. Selling wheat is actually not as fast as making money by trading some special commodities.
For example, merchants resold the plundered foreign population. Because more labor force means strength!
Since Rurik used his honor as a bargaining chip, the businessmen were willing to do so! The double purchase price proposed by Rurik made the wheat trade really profitable even in normal times.
However, how could the merchants or even Klavasen know what Rurik had in mind.
Especially Klavasen, he was waiting for the merchants to go to his house to sleep so that he could have a good talk with Rurik. He could obviously make more glasses and make a lot of money, so why was he left here? Did Ke forcefully restrain himself? !