Chapter 330 What was there in the farmers’ market in the ninth century?

Jevro continued to lead the team, and Rurik also noticed that the mercenaries under his command were relatively relaxed. Their right hands were inserted into their burqas, clearly holding the hilts of their respective steel swords!

This was unusual, and Arik also subconsciously approached his brother, and he covered the hilt of his sword under his burqa.

"Brother, it seems that your people are aware of the danger."

"Danger?" Rurik looked around at the people coming and going and the Melalen people he just saw. People are no different.

Jevro hurriedly answered the question: "Sir, we have entered the interior of Melalenburg, where bandits often appear. Don't worry, my brothers and I will protect your safety."

For example, of course each household builds its own toilet, but it’s normal for a large number of dry toilets to be located close to their mud houses, making the whole street stink. And this so-called road is a dirt road. Mälarenberg is close to a lake. The moist land (there is no real irrigation system) is very important for wheat. However, these fertile black mud really sticks to your boots, not to mention the long rainfall some time ago. It's just over.

Jevro’s reminder made Rurik be more vigilant. It is said that there will be patrols sent by the leader of Melalen to fight against the bandits, but the settlement is really too big. The patrol team is more concerned about the stability of the market area, and the lack of attention to ordinary residential areas is reasonable.

In order to enter the commercial area, the merchants who landed always had to pass through a civilian area. Rurik had just made it clear that the leader of Melalen would not guarantee the safety of the people and goods of foreign merchants everywhere. Businessmen almost always need to hire their own manpower to protect themselves.

Thinking about this, Rurik paid attention to the middle-aged men on both sides of the road who seemed to be doing nothing, as well as some half-grown men with dull eyes. The looks they cast seemed to become ambiguous.

They seem to be potential attackers, and they are the kind who can disappear into the intricate alleys of residential areas and escape in the shortest possible time after robbing everything.

In this way, a group of people, led by Yevluo, walked cautiously for a while.

"Sir, Colongo should be arriving soon." Jevro said calmly.

Rurik breathed a sigh of relief: "Damn it, I thought we were going to have a fight with those men. Maybe we should land at another location."

Yevro shrugged helplessly Shrugging: "That's impossible. The commercial area is close to the alliance leader's mansion, and ordinary tribesmen live near the lake shore. No matter where we land, we have to pass through dangerous residential areas."

"Okay, forget me." Rurik shrugged, thinking that Olegin, the so-called leader of the alliance, was really a thief in this regard. But when he thought about it carefully, since thatThe guy has always controlled the business of the market and collected huge tributes from it. For the convenience of management, not only must he create an area where only business is allowed, the area must also be within his reach.

Rurik felt much relieved after leaving the area where the crisis seemed. After a moment, some disharmonious scenes suddenly appeared in front of him.

There are still a large number of adobe houses here, which still seem to be some residential houses. There is a lively and low roar not far away. There is no doubt that there is the so-called business district, which is also the "Mälaren Market" in a narrow sense.

But there are some children sitting by the walls of some adobe houses. They are in ragged clothes. They are fundamentally different from the laughing children of Melalen. They are very dull, and what is worse is that they are all in ragged clothes.

Carlotta was obviously aware of the identity of these children: "Rurik, I'm afraid they are all beggars."

"Are they beggars?" Rurik Kxuan asked about Yevlo.

Gevlo was also surprised, because this was the area where he discovered and saved Carlotta last year. "They...should be beggars."

Hearing this, Rurik froze on the spot: "Ah, I have to save these children. Gould didn't do it well, he didn't rescue them all ”

With that said, Rurik didn’t want to rashly strike up a conversation with the children sitting in the corner. Their golden hair was covered with dirt, and their dejected looks could not be seen. men and women.

Yevlo also felt strange, because his old master Gould had obviously recruited no less than fifty new beggars, and coupled with the large-scale recruitment of beggars last year, it stands to reason that Unless the people of Mellaren abandoned their own children, how could some poor new beggars suddenly appear?

War? That’s not right! What Jevro knew was that, except for Arik and his brothers who secretly attacked the Gotland ships on the sea, there was no news about other alliance tribes using troops abroad, and there was no news about some tribes being harmed by wars and causing their people to be displaced. tragedy.

"Sir, of course you can save him. We will do it soon. You don't need to deal with it yourself. These children will be taken back tomorrow at the latest."

"Well, I hope they can survive until tomorrow."

"Then it depends on their fate, sir." Yevro laid out a theory, "You gave them a baby The opportunity also gave them a test. If they can be taken back alive by me and my brothers tomorrow, it means they have been forgiven by God."

This reason is really a bit absurd, but it is. Everyone in this era believed this, so Rurik didn't say anything.

He looked at the children in the corner, and suddenly saw a woman wearing coarse cloth walking out of the house. She was obviously the mistress of the adobe house, holding a wooden stick and swearing on her lips to drive away the children sitting in the corner of her house. Child.

Those children, they rolled away in fear...

"Look."Jevro shrugged, "They are all scared. Maybe when we try to take them in, they will think we are going to abuse them and run away!"

"But as a servant, at least you can eat. ." Rurik sighed.

"How could they not know? They are too young. I am afraid that only you, my noble master, are the only one with the financial resources to take in these poor children. Oh, it is really strange. There is obviously no war, and there is obviously no war. Lord Gould has just collected many children, so why are there new foreign children coming to Melalen?"

"Maybe there is something hidden," Rurik didn't think much about it for the time being, "Let's go. , Go to that Colongo. Maybe the people drinking there can reveal some information, or the merchants setting up stalls can tell me something. Oh, I also want to hear any other new information."

Jevro nodded and asked them to continue following him.

The group tried their best to keep a low profile. At the same time, all the mercenaries had their right hands inserted into their robes, holding their sword hilts tightly and ready to fight.

Because most of the mercenaries are from the Melalen tribe, they know very well what lies ahead on foot.

Just in front of the winding road, the structure of the residential buildings there has undergone some changes.

Gone are the houses with adobe walls and haystack roofs, replaced by a large number of wooden houses. Compared to the area we passed before, the area ahead is obviously more lively.

There have also been some changes in the pedestrians coming and going. Most of them are no longer empty-handed, or they are leading some cattle and sheep, or they are carrying baskets filled with charcoal blocks, or they are simply carrying bundles of charcoal. of firewood.

The place ahead is none other than the Melalen Market in a narrow sense. It is also the busiest, most chaotic place in the entire settlement, and the place most likely to breed crime.

"Ahead is where merchants from all walks of life do business. Sir, please follow me closely and never get separated." Yevluo deliberately stopped and gave a cautious instruction.

Rurik was stunned for a moment: "Ah! There won't be anyone robbing children in this place, right?"

"That's not the case, but please be careful. "

Rurik swallowed hard. He looked up at the chaotic scene in front of him and couldn't help but sweat.

When there is demand, there will be corresponding supply. Doing business is simply human instinct. Since the leader of Mellaren intentionally brings together as many merchants as possible to form a market under his control, it is not surprising that typical problems and chaos will occur in a typical market.

Originally, the Melalen tribe did not have the concept of planning streets. The so-called roads in the settlements were just some agreed upon roads, and the same was true for the roads in the market.

The Mälaren Market in the narrow sense is built around a somewhat winding and narrow dirt road.

There are a large number of wooden houses on both sides of the road, and there are many people occupying the road and setting up stalls in front of the houses. There will be absolutely no punishment for occupying the road. Fortunately, these businessmen have not yetSome are bold enough to close roads.

There are some regular merchants in the market, and most of the wooden buildings are the shops of these merchants. The people who run the shops are either local professional merchants in Melalen, or people from other tribes who can live here for a long time and do business.

There are a large number of such merchants, and they are trying to do some transactions almost all year round. Even in the coldest gatherings, they are willing to sell some winter-caught fish. It is they who form the middle of Mellaren's traditional business.

In addition to them, there are also a large number of traveling merchants carrying their own baskets, or unloading backpacks full of goods, and sitting directly on the ground at the roadside, with baskets and baskets as the center. , peddling their wares. Most of these people are ordinary Malaren people. They sell some agricultural and sideline products they get after farming. They sell them at the market to earn some copper coins, and then go to other people's stalls to buy some daily necessities to support their families.

How long has the market been around? No one can tell.

It’s just that the Melalen tribe is the most powerful in the entire region. Their market has naturally existed since ancient times and has spontaneously formed a relatively stable trading scene during the long-term evolution, thus forming a fixed market. city. .

Each tribe has its own market. What makes the Melalen people unique is that they have a real comprehensive market that Rurik is convinced.

Now, even though the Ross tribe has become very powerful, the tribe still has not built a market. It is a custom among the Russians that around every morning and evening, a dew-like market quickly forms near the beach, which rises and dissipates just as quickly.

Gradually, Rurik’s inner vigilance was diluted by the dazzling experiences.

Some were selling charcoal, some were selling fish, some were peddling fresh fish, some were peddling live sheep, and many people piled bundles of flax on the ground, shouting about a price they claimed was very favorable.

Occasionally there will be a group of sword-wielding warriors wearing leather armor among the pedestrians. They move in a relatively neat column. Obviously these people are the so-called maintenance of market order and only obey the command of the leader Olegin. private soldiers.

Jevro saw Rurik looking around and asked: "Master, have you seen anything you like? We will buy it when we see it."

“Well, in the whole market, I just felt that those selling linen were tempting me.”

“Them? Then buy all their linen and take it back to weave it into fine products. "It doesn't matter." Rurik shrugged, "It seems that there are many people selling flax in this market." We don’t need to be in a hurry.”

Jevro nodded and revealed: “The lakeside area of ​​​​this lake is not only suitable for growing wheat, but also for growing flax. The flax is harvested before the wheat is mature. My lord, if you wish, we can purchase a large quantity of freshly cut flax stalks this year.We need to continue processing ourselves. "

A mercenary captain actually knew a lot of information about business. Rurik was surprised and had to think carefully about Yevro's suggestion.

This is the fact. To put it simply, the geographical conditions of Lake Malaren are not suitable for the growth of oats. It is at a high latitude and the light level is not high throughout the year, so it is destined to be difficult to produce high wheat. However, because of the infiltration of the Great Lake, the light level is limited and the frost-free period is limited. Enough flax to complete a life cycle, so that many areas around the lake were transformed into flax fields by the Malaren people.

Without cotton and a severe shortage of excellent cold-resistant leather, ordinary people in Malaren had to rely on comparison. Cheap flax is spun into flax, and mixed with limited wool threads to make thick, cold-resistant cloth. Without it, flax itself is the most important raw material for making various cables.

The harvest season of flax usually coincides with the autumn harvest of grain. Similarly, the huge vegetable trade also coincides with the autumn harvest of grain. For a long time, the flax trade has been hidden in the bustling grain trade, and now oats are still heading on a large scale.

Businessmen selling linen almost gathered together to sell, turning a small area of ​​the market into a "linen market". >Right next to the "Flax Market", there are a large number of stalls selling large and small brown pottery. Most of them are pottery urns and pots, and some are obviously drinking cups and even lamp holders for oil lamps.

There are also many people selling wooden products, and you can tell they are craftsmen just by looking at their finished products. They are selling hooped wooden barrels, large wooden cups, and even wood carving crafts.

The entire market is clearly a large comprehensive farmer's market. Up to now, Rurik feels that what he has entered is like a temple fair. It is also like entering a huge vegetable market with many merchants selling a variety of products. They are all ordinary Daily necessities related to people's clothing, food, housing and transportation.

What's special about it? Where is the slave market controlled by Norwegian merchants that is rarely seen?

There are indeed many people wandering around in the market. Rurik feels that he cannot describe it as being crowded with each other, but there is indeed a risk of getting lost.

He is wearing a burqa or wearing a gray robe. There are a lot of people adjusting velvet hats, and most of them are middle-aged men. There are so many merchants and customers walking around. If you don't follow up with your mercenaries, you will really get lost, and you might end up in Mera. Getting lost in the huge shantytown of the Lun people.

If there were no locals as guides, Rurik was sure that he would be blind, and maybe someone would come up with his own ideas.

Rurik was convinced that there must be many shops in this place that deal in skin and meat business. This thing, like banditry, can be called a "profession" of mankind since ancient times. The warning of "Don't get lost" actually implies this..

It's not that Rurik is narcissistic, he actually feels that he is a "very beautiful boy" who is naturally charming. People, no matter men or women, are instinctively attracted to any pretty things, right?