The gray wolf Karl and his younger brothers are known for robbing merchant ships. They are pure pirates, and their base is in the city of Haizeby.
"Why? All the brothers who were dispatched were wiped out. It was you who wanted to attack those people. Now you must give me an explanation!"
The bald and bearded old guy was furious. Pointing at one's subordinates means yelling.
The subordinates could only hold back their tempers, knowing that the action was clearly decided by Boss Karl.
The gray wolf Karl is still scolding his men, his attitude is 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 have to take revenge." Karl immediately bared his teeth and said: "Those Russians are making a fortune, and we can live a good life as long as we succeed. Then, we must take revenge. 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 have a good plan?
Karl circled around 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 made the accusation: "You were the first to suggest it, come up with a good idea for me."< /p>
"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 was also wise: "Boss, maybe we should contact some strong external forces."
"You?" Gray Wolf Karl walked over with his head, his eyes seemed to glare to death, "You are instigating I asked for help?"
"How dare I do that?"
"Okay, just be quiet!" Karl slapped the man on the head hard and ordered him to stop. Others appear noisy and quiet.
Actually, Gray Wolf Karl was just venting his emotions. It was indeed when he was cruising on the sea looking for a target that he accidentally noticed the armed cargo ships that had been sailing in formation. After closer observation, he learned that they were Russian ships. The unique triangular sail was a distinctive feature. Hedeby showed up at the Ross shop. Even though they had disguised themselves, the gray wolf Karl had already seen their clear identity.
Looking at the Russians making a lot of money, which gangster in Hedebe wouldn't want to take a part in it?
The huge Haidebi has a merchant guild and a fraternity of gangs. Although it is a city without an owner, 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 gangs dare not take action, but Gray Wolf Carl does!
What’s more, the new businessman has an obvious Russian look.Background, or they are the Rus themselves. They were outsiders who had made a fortune in Heideby. This is Denmark! The hostile Russians were actually taking advantage of the Danes, and a large group of Danish merchants were colluding with them.
Ross is a strong man, and the brothers will be very afraid if they can't find a clear reason for the attack. Of course there is a reason, it is to defend the glory of Denmark.
A group of gangsters dare to call themselves "Guardians of Danish Glory"? It's really a big joke in the world.
But the minions, especially the newly developed group of horse boys, want to win the war against Sweden and Russia, but they have no chance. A great opportunity presented itself to justify an attack on a big businessman.
By coincidence, 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 horsemen launched the attack and were then killed cleanly by the Russians.
If you keep losing your temper with your subordinates and even shirk the responsibility for failure, you, the boss, will be too cowardly.
How to deal with Ross merchants? Karl already had the answer in his mind.
"Yes! We do need to find an external friend. Brothers should also think about what will happen to Hedebe in the future. If Horik's army of outsiders really comes, we also need to A new way of life, if you simply become a gangster, you are afraid of becoming an enemy of that man."
Boss Karl has made it very clear that the brothers actually need a new backer, which is to become independent. King's Horik Klarsson.
The failed attack has passed, and since then Karl has not dared to take action again.
Secretly, the other gang leaders were secretly mocking this blind arrogant maniac. On the surface, they naturally showed their composure. In the secret meetings of the gangs, the leaders made all kinds of pretense and flattery. They are very self-aware. It seems that the interests of armed merchants cannot be affected by themselves, and it is unwise to ridicule Karl. Although Carl was defeated, this gang was still the No. 1 gang in Hedebe.
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 resounding names, and the names are even quite wild and domineering. Most of the gangs have a lot of manpower, and most of them can gather as many as fifty brothers.
In and around Hezeby City and in the nearby sea areas, various gangs have negotiated their own spheres of influence, either collecting tribute from small traders, craftsmen, and farmers, or directly attacking merchant ships to kill people and steal goods. They are the purest violent group, but they are completely unable to completely build Hedeby into a free city with prosperous commerce. 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 woodland here, which was a good place to hide. There is no clear organization that will sanction gangsters. In theory, there is no need for them to be secretive. They spend so much time just to avoid the eyes of those big businessmen. After all, Carl's blatant armed robbery in the port area instantly attracted all the businessmen. They are all strengthening their own arms.
The gray wolf Karl is the focus of many bosses. This arrogant man slaps the square table and declares: "I have only one thing to explain to the brothers today. I hope you can all see the situation clearly! The Russians have already Infiltrating into Hedebe, they are openly raising their flags, and they are frantically grabbing our wealth. Not to mention the big businessmen, the vast majority of people are being drained of their wealth by the Russians. Ordinary people have become poor, and we are not. The oil and water can be extracted, and the Russians are forcing us all to destroy them.”
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 initiated the action and suffered a small failure. Our brothers are too weak. If I can’t do it without wiping out the whole army?”
This person’s words were already very euphemistic, but he still touched Karl’s objections, 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’s just as infuriating to be criticized as a “coward.” He slapped the table and stood up: "You go ahead!"
Karl was also furious, pulled out a 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 businessman?"
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 houses of the Russian people and take away all the money. If you are not happy, forget it. However, We can still look for external support."
Karl found a way out for himself, making other gang leaders feel like they had eaten flies.
What is external support? Horik Klarsson, of course.
"Horik will not let Hedeby be a terra incognita. This place is the city built by his grandfather. You don't have to doubt whether Godfrey is his grandfather. He holds the Many tribal leaders respect him as king. Brothers should also consider their own future. Horik's messenger has already expressed his attitude. My suggestion is that brothers join Horik and use his power to expel the Ross forces. Dropped."
Horik Klarsson? This man prides himself on HaizebeenThe leaders had long known about the true owner, but the first one to take it seriously was Gray Wolf Karl.
Some people ridiculed: "Wolves move in packs, and you call yourself the Wolf King. What? Now you want to admit that idiot Horik who jumped out of nowhere as the new Wolf King, and you still want to Serve him like a she-wolf? Carl, do you lack a father?"
"Pay attention to your attitude!"
But the man shrugged and said nothing. .
Presumably many people say that they "lack a father". In fact, they are not entirely wrong. Karl needed to ensure his vested interests in Hedeby. He originally wanted to unite other gangs to form a large force and then contact Horik about 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 you need to do is go all the way north to the northernmost part of the peninsula to find the emerging city of Godfrehagen.
It is already July. Gray Wolf Karl has recruited a group of new cavalry, reorganized the internal affairs, and purchased a batch of new weapons, so that the nominal number of cavalry under him has expanded to 200. That's it. The strength is no worse than many viscounts in Frank. He already knows what the other gangsters think. It's just that if there is no one here, there will be a place for him. If Heidebi can't stay any longer, the brothers will row a boat to find a small island to make a den, and then continue to be pirates. . A group of gangsters also have their own ideas. The news about the frequent successes of Norwegians and some other Danish brothers in the British Island is spreading, and everyone is eager to try it.
It’s really a pillow when you’re dozing. In mid-July, the messenger of the self-reliant Danish King Horik came to Hedeby again.
A man named Staken Francosson 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 Hedeby.
The Starkens 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 10% tax before you can continue your business activities."
Although there was news, the two months of calm made the people think that the so-called restoration of Horik's rule was far away. Could it be that it was far away? Horik has decided to take action?
In an instant, people in the city were panicked, and some vendors had already run away with their pushcarts overnight. Almost all of the escapees were Frankish and Saxon businessmen, and all believed in Christianity. They rush south quicklyCrossed the essentially unguarded Schleswig Great Wall, 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 Horik of Denmark was preparing to officially take back Hedebe this matter.
These merchants originally had to pay taxes to the Frankish nobles, and they were afraid of being exploited by Horik. Although the news was that a tithe was collected, no one knew what this so-called tithe actually meant. Due to the merchant's sensitive sense of smell, they felt that the arrogant messenger sent by Horik would never be able to spit out ivory, and the crazy exploitation of the merchant must be inevitable.
These Frankish businessmen who ran away are indeed sophisticated.
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. They were also uniformly dressed?
Qiao Zhuang’s dressed-up Ross mercenaries 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, and Horik Rick is his grandson and 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 merchants must pay more. A lot of money. Otherwise, Horik's army will severely punish those who resist the tax, and those who are serious 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, Ross's shop will be doing seasonal sampling in less than a month. Only a few people left behind will watch the scene, and the newly purchased goods and a large amount of money will be shipped away.
Blue Fox and Old Eric felt really uncomfortable after hearing the report.
"Maybe 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. Retreat quickly." Old Eric's advice is very valuable.
The blue fox thought for a while and patted his chubby belly: "I have eaten endless delicious meals here and earned huge wealth. I am the one who cultivates this field under the orders of the prince. You You can evacuate with your family, but if I...if I run away with my brothers, I will betray the prince's trust and lose my status in the family! Maybe the prince will punish me as a slave for mining."
"You? Do you mean to stay here?" Old Eric was shocked and continued to admonish: "We are weak now. While the Horik navy has not come back, our fleet is in an emergency. Evacuate. We will tell the prince, and he will not blame you. He is fair and does not really think that you and I can fight against the entire Danish king."
"What you said makes sense, but I can't leave!" Blue Fox sighed: "Back then, my father also secretly infiltrated Hedebe. If he was discovered at that time, he would definitely be killed by the dead Godfrey.Catch and kill. At this point, the ownerless Hazeby has already accommodated Ross's influence. 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 gambling with your life! "
"Yes! Wealth is sought in danger, I will take the risk here. However, your suggestion does make sense, so why don’t we prepare for both things? ”
Why be prepared with both hands? Blue Fox plans to take the mercenaries to stay here to see how the situation will develop, and a large amount of money for goods and other supplies, and even women bought from the slave market , the children were all packed into armed cargo ships to be sent away quickly