The annoying snow in Roseburg turned into a snow mountain on the frozen coast. In the open space near the coast, businessmen who came from afar took advantage of the short daytime to set up their stalls, selling goods from Mela Products brought from the Lun Lake area.
The entire business scene was like a temple fair, with vendors wrapped in furry leather and huddled in a ball, showing off their wares for the wealthy Russians who came to buy them after hearing the news.
What they sell are mainly daily necessities, with pottery and woodware being the mainstream items. Some vendors are also selling small statues of gods carved from stone or wood.
Individual merchants are doing big business. They are gem merchants, selling raw rubies, raw amber stones, calcite crystal blocks, crystal blocks, raw zircon stones, and even extremely precious lapis lazuli.
Of course the most precious gems should be dedicated to the richest people!
At first Rurik paid no attention to these, until Klavason, who had finished making glasses, presented gifts in the evening, as well as important information about a group of strange businessmen.
Klavasen boasted that he had completed the mission assigned by Rurik, and that the people of the Northern Hunt were about to set out en masse, and his son was among them. He deliberately went to the winter market to buy some interesting things. He saw a stall with many people onlookers. He went over to take a look and was surprised that there were rare treasures here.
Among the many treasures, lapis lazuli has an elusive noble blue color. The Russians worship blue, which is the color of the sea and sky. Although there are pure blue stones, they are extremely rare and their origin is puzzling.
Everyone knows that the gems in this place are valuable, but they don’t know that some of them are extremely precious.
Clavason opened his arms and called everyone on the mast to retreat.
At this moment, the businessman wearing a bear skin sitting on the snow took off his velvet hat and raised his bearded head: "Are you a craftsman? Do you have enough money? Do you have enough money?" Do you know how precious the things I sell are?"
"Of course." Klavason smiled knowingly: "I am also a gemstone craftsman, I really didn't expect that the sky blue stone would come to light again."
p>"Oh? Do you know this?"
"Of course. It's lapis lazuli!"
The eyes of the businessman and the strong man who stood up to guard him all trembled. "It's amazing. Since I opened my business, you Russians have all pointed at the price of my gemstones and criticized me for charging too high a price. I thought that the people living in this great city were not only rich but also well-informed. I was a little disappointed for a time. Now it seems that I was wrong."
Klavasen smiled again, thinking that these strange businessmen had never seen Lord Rurik's wisdom. < /p>
"Of course. The leader there asked for too much tribute from us. I heard that you Russians are in urgent need of fifty silver coins.The tribute can be opened, and a group of us came. "
"Oh, so you are not from Uppsala, let alone Hjärmalen. "
"Them? The old businessman's eyes became even more trembling, and he deliberately asked: "What do you think?" ”
“That’s it. "Klavasen narrowed his eyes and nodded slightly, pretending to be questioning: "Do you think it's interesting to continue selling gems in the cold wind? You know full well that ordinary people can't buy it. "
The implication of Klavasen's words was very obvious, and the old businessman suddenly came to the end: "Can you recommend a good buyer for us? If you don't mind... lend me a moment. ”
Soon, Klavason came alone to the house sponsored by this group of strange businessmen.
This house was not good-looking, it was clearly abandoned by a Russian family. Longhouses. A large number of Ross families have completed the replacement of their houses. They have subsidized each other to build better wooden houses. Most of the old houses are used as warehouses. Nowadays, a large number of old houses are rented by new businessmen. p>
This is a secret place. As the wooden door closed and a group of exquisite bronze oil lamps lit up the room, Klavasen saw a strange little world.
The businessmen faded away. They took off their rough animal skin camouflage, revealing the frugal yet noble clothes underneath. There were obviously several female dependents in the room. Judging from their young appearance and cautious appearance, they were not the wives and concubines of the merchants, but their slaves. .
Absolutely not! The Gould family, the most wealthy merchants in Mälaren, have immigrated to Ross. Besides, Gould settled in Rossburg before he immigrated. Real estate, that's what the big businessmen of Melalen still do.
The businessmen treated the old blacksmith in leather work clothes with great courtesy, and the exquisite silver cups were filled with fragrant mead. Dried fruits and snacks were all placed on a low table.
The businessman greeted a young maid who was already sitting cross-legged.
"Let her go. "Clavason waved his hands impatiently, making the woman feel embarrassed.
The old businessman held the wine glass and laughed: "We are all men. Why? Why are you the only one who doesn't like women? By the way, I still don't know your name. "
There was a kind of ridicule in the businessman's words. Klavasen was not angry. Looking at the things in front of him, the once precious wine and dried fruits were no longer rare. What is a silver cup? My own house But it is the only glassware manufacturer officially authorized by the Principality of Ross!
“You are low-key outdoors, but you are quite luxurious inside the house. You are coming to our Roseburg for the first time, so naturally you don’t know me. I am Clavathon of Ross. My family has been a blacksmith for generations, and I am a person valued by the Duke of Ross. Danes! Please remember this. "
Hearing this, the old businessman suddenly tightened his face. He slowly put down his wine glass and smiled meaningfully.
"There is no longer any cover-up.. Yes, we are all from Denmark. "
Clavason shrugged: "It is true that you are the only ones who dare to sell such precious gems. Ordinary people don't understand it, but those gems can't fool me. But you are Danish! "
"Really? Do we have to fight each other? ”
“That’s not necessarily the case. Because the wealthy Duke of Ross is very interested in any businessman, but if you friends from the south suddenly appear in our market, you must already know a lot. Let me tell you! The only person who can generously purchase your ore is the Duke of Ross. You can choose to spend the entire winter in a low-key manner and leave quietly, but if you insist on asking me to connect you, you must be mentally prepared. You may be killed. "
These Danish businessmen were obviously a little panicked. The old businessman in charge pretended to be calm and tried not to panic: "If this is true, then the Duke of Ross will lose the opportunity to trade with Hedebe. "
They came up with a very important term, and Clavarson was startled: "You are actually from Hedeby? The richest place in Denmark? ! ”
“Of course! What do you think of us? In Haizeby I was just an ordinary businessman who had amassed a small sum of money. I am Eric of the Thorulf (Thunderwolf) family. What you see now are my four sons. We are very willing to do business with the leader of the Rus. If we are killed because we are Danes, it will prove that our prediction was wrong and we overestimated the leader of the Rus. mind. ”
“Eric Torulf? I see. But you are still Danes, and your status puts you at great risk. "
"Just as we travel to the far east, to the country called Rome, to the scorching deserts, to the far eastern world to buy precious blue stones from strange natives, we know the dangers involved , we are willing to take risks for the sake of profit. Just like you Russians used all your strength to defeat the Gotlanders, you are also risking the future of the entire tribe for the sake of profit. We are all the same. ”
Klavasen’s heart was beating wildly when he heard it. He was not interested in the business confession of the businessman. He paid special attention to the fact that these Danes knew very well about the military operations carried out by the Russians.
p>
Just because they know about this matter is a huge sin. They can claim to do business with peace of mind and no secrets of the Russian people will be disclosed to the outside world, but who will believe it?
Klavason Make this point without hesitation: “You have gone to the legendary world and experienced many adventures. But you know too much, and you will tell the Danish lords about our strength, and eventually the Danish army will launch a war to conquer us. "
"Maybe, if the Danish leader is willing to gamble with his power! Please remember that we are just businessmen, we do not want war, we just want to do business in peace of mind. I still hope to meet the leader of the Rus people, and I will donate some treasures. "The old businessman Eric winked a few times: "These women are all Saxons. They are well-trained slaves who know how to serve men very well. They are just dedicated to the leader of Ross."
Klava heard that Sen laughed loudly: "Oh, our real leader already has more than ten wives and concubines, and the most beautiful one among them is the sister of my daughter-in-law. Do you know that I, sitting in front of you, am also a noble wife?" People. But I don’t need fancy clothes to show my nobility, and I’m not interested in these boring women. I like your gems, and I think my leader will also like them.”
“That’s it. It’s agreed. I want to meet with Chief Ross. Not only do I want to sell all the gems, I also hope that Chief Ross will not be angry because of our identities.” Eric raised his head. He prepared to die when he landed at Fort Ross. Youdao seeks wealth through danger. He is betting on the life of his family, betting on glory and wealth.
In order to keep things going smoothly, the old businessman Eric took out a small piece of rough lapis lazuli with a little chalcopyrite attached and handed it to Klavasen.
Don’t forget that this rough stone is only the size of a fingernail. Its current value is equivalent to double the weight of gold, or twenty times the weight of silver!
Clavason left this seemingly simple old longhouse with mixed emotions. He came to the Duke of Ross's residence alone with a solemn look on his face. He went directly to the door and was released by the guard.
He entered the Duke's home and saw Otto, who had just drank a glass of newly distilled liquor and was a little dizzy.
He reported the incident truthfully, and Otto's violent actions and words were within his expectation.
"A group of bold Danes? It's a trick! Seize their gems, and then...kill them to avoid future troubles."
"Your Majesty, Duke, you have to think twice. !" Klavason hurriedly advised; "Those guys are not afraid of death at all. They want to sell the gems and ask for a chance to cooperate." "Oh? Are you really bored? Let's kill them. Just in case, this gem is still ours." Otto waved his hand and shouted: "Have you finished the wonderful glasses Rurik asked you to make? Many brothers know about it and they are waiting to buy it. Oh! Stop talking nonsense and prepare your glasses. I will order a stall to sell them tomorrow. I need these treasures for the sake of my brothers’ eyes."
Otto said nothing more. Instead of going down, he lay directly on the leather, enjoying the wonderful feeling of spinning around.
Clavason sighed deeply, and decided to continue waiting. The short day was coming to an end, and Rurik, who had gone out to log wood with a group of children, was about to return.
Soon, Rurik returned after having done enough exercise. It was surprising to see Klavasen waiting at home before dinner.
He told his female family members to go to rest, and did not care about his father who had not yet sobered up. He sat next to Klavasen,Asked bluntly about glasses.
"Everything has been done? You must have come here to report this matter."
"It has indeed been done, and we can start talking about it tomorrow. But... "Clavasen frowned deeply.
"Something happened?"
"There was a group of wonderful visitors, and they brought this." Clavarson took out the small gem.
The moment he saw this stone, Rurik suddenly jumped up like a cat with exploded fur.
"It's lapis lazuli! It's actually it!"
"That's it." Clavarson looked solemn, "And these people have obviously been to its mysterious origin."
p>
"What? It's actually! Afghanistan? They are...really Vikings..."
Rurik said an extremely unfamiliar word, and Klavasen heard the word, Apparently Lord Rurik used this word to describe the origin of lapis lazuli. Moreover, Lord Rurik obviously knows more!
The so-called lapis lazuli, Rurik described it as "the stone of the blue sky", which means he said the word "azur", which itself comes from the classical Latin word Lazuri. The languages of various Indo-European language groups have more or less commonalities, and the words used to describe some common things have their origins.
The wonderful color of lapis lazuli, anyone who sees it will think of two things, the sea and the sky.
It is produced almost exclusively in Central Asia, which, considering the current era, is dominated by food.
Rurik showed a strong interest because Klavasen said that these Danish businessmen brought a large amount of gems.
“Let them come to see me quickly!” Rurik’s excited face showed no murderous intent.
Klavason still wanted to suggest: "Whether they want it or not, they already know many secrets about us Rus people. Please don't kill them rashly."
"Let them come first! By the way, that's tomorrow. You go and take care of selling sunglasses with Arik, and I want to receive those Danish businessmen at home."
"Okay, they will live there Here..." Klavasen pointed out the current residence of the Danish businessman. Rurik did not hesitate to assign his own elite mercenaries. More than ten people were ordered to monitor those people overnight and "arrest" them immediately at dawn the next day. Send it to me.
After all, they are Danes. Currently, the relationship between Sweden and Denmark is tense. The attitude of the Russians towards the Danes is also simple hostility. Although many people have forgotten the source of hostility, in short, hostility is hostility.
The Duke showed politeness to Danish businessmen, which was a wrong move that deeply hurt people's feelings.
However, Rurik did not intend to make things too absolute. For example, he had no plan to kill them at all, even if there was a high probability that these people would act as informants.
So what? Could it be that the Russians are powerful and the confident Rurik doesn't care at all if any secrets are leaked?. He even accidentally revealed the true strength of the Ross people, letting the people in power in Denmark know about it. Not to mention making the other party fearful, at least it also let the opponent know that there is a powerful Ross principality in the Reddy Kingdom.
If war is inevitable, Rurik is not afraid of launching a naval battle with any enemy. After all, next spring, the principality will have three Aurora-class "Caravel-type battleships." Actual combat has proven that Aurora is basically a naval battle with obvious generation differences compared to traditional Viking longships.
Rurik is not afraid of war at all, but he does not want to actively provoke a war for the time being. The Principality of Rus is still actively preparing for war in the future, and most of the money plundered will be invested in arms expansion and the improvement of the physical fitness of the military and civilians. . In the final analysis, any commercial activities must be under the overall planning of the Duke of Ross and Rurik himself, and serve the rise of the strength of the Principality of Ross.
The principality must use all forces to enhance the principality’s comprehensive strength, especially the development of military strength.
Think about next year! Three Avora-class battleships, and as many as forty modified armed cargo ships. Each ship is taller, wider and larger than ordinary long ships. Each ship has a terrifying bow collision angle. On the deck All are equipped with torsion slingshots. The soldiers on the ship basically gave up the tactics of gang-hopping, and instead used angle collisions and various long-range weapon shooting methods to pursue and attack local ships without decks.