Rise of Rurik - Chapter 1104

[Chapter 1104]

Can a woman be a baron too?

of course can.

In order to avoid the extinction of nobles, there are reasons for some extreme measures to be implemented.

The city of Mainz on the south bank of the Rhine River has thick Roman stone walls. She was originally a permanent city expanded by the Roman Empire. It stands on the left bank of the Rhine River and watches over the Germanic world in the north.

After all, the Germanic Franks established a new kingdom on the ruins of Rome, and Mainz, which was originally a border area, gradually became the hinterland of the kingdom.

The Alemanni tribe has disintegrated, and its tribal leaders have also turned into nobles of the Frankish system. This is a compromise for the surrounding tribes during the Frankish conquest.

Especially the Adalbert family, Earl of Metz, whose ancestor was a chief of Alemanni.

This land where the ancient Alemanni lived for generations has now become the peak area of the civil war, and a series of tragedies are taking place.

The thick stone walls cannot give the people who took refuge in Mainz absolute peace of mind. In the eyes of ordinary people, Charlemagne’s third grandson, King Ludwig of the East, is not a good person either.

In order to prevent his power from falling behind, this guy forced ordinary farmers to fight. Sadly, these farmers who had no choice took up weapons modified from farm tools, and faced almost their own race.

The army is entrenched in Mainz, and the ordinary peasants are suffering, and they dare not complain to Ludwig.

The king’s military operations have made no progress and suffered a lot of losses, so he can only take comfort in claiming that “there is no defeat.”

This year’s autumn harvest is just around the corner, and as many as 2,000 farmers have been lost in battle, which has further weakened the labor force, making the agriculture of Shanglaiyin and Laingao, which were already struggling due to the war, even worse.

The living must join in the autumn harvest, and even a group of peasant women with green faces must carry scythes to harvest oats and wheat.

The area south of Mainz is the Shanglaiyin Plain, a group of farms are abandoned, and a large number of refugees gather in Mainz.

The priest from the diocese of Worms appeases the emotions of these poor people, claiming that “your suffering stems from lack of piety”, trying to separate King Ludwig’s militarism from disasters as much as possible.

The people wanted to eat, and the main force of the Eastern Kingdom stationed here also needed to eat.

After some patchwork, Ludwig thought he still had a strong army of 3,000 people.

This was his last hole card in the middle reaches of the Laine River, and he didn’t dare to gamble for the time being.

Half of the 3,000 people are cavalry. People need to eat and horses need to eat grass. Such an army standing still is a huge material consumption machine.

Perhaps it is the best choice to disperse the army to the fields to collect grain in person. Not only did Ludwig never think of such a measure of caring for the people, but he never tried to think about it.

What he cares about is how much food he can receive this year, and he looks forward to saving enough supplies to avoid spending money to transfer food from Bavaria.

After all, what he was crazily wasting was mainly the people’s power in the Earl of Ingol. He had never used this place as his core territory, and he had no psychological burden on how to deplete it.

To make matters worse, the real Earl Laingau’s family went to live in seclusion in the Taunus Mountains in the north, without betrayal or loyalty, they simply left the entire fief and let Ludwig do whatever he wanted.

The local lord was doing badly, and Ludwig felt a little bit more venting his anger, and became more aggressive in searching for the local people’s surplus food and human resources.

Just when the situation was anxious and complicated, the Ross people entrenched in Nassau brought good news.

Blue Fox’s Ross army guarded the ships and camped outside the city.

He himself led a small group of elite soldiers, his brother Heihu, and his sister-in-law Sophia Nassau, and walked into the city of Mainz under the escort of elite Frankish heavy cavalry.

The larger the city, the lack of prosperity and firepower.

Blue Fox had an old face. He saw groups of decadent people sitting idle on the dirty street.

The old woman had a sad face, and the gray-white headscarf covered her face as if she was hiding her poverty, while the children with ignorant eyes had small dark faces, and no adults washed their faces with dry and hard snot sticking to their faces.

When these people saw Ludwig riding a tall horse, they didn’t evade at all, they just looked up and did nothing.

Ludwig didn’t pay attention to his own people either, as if he didn’t see them at all.

He is a horse guard and even more contemptuous.

The relationship between the monarch and the people is so numb to each other?

This situation does not exist at Ross.

“Ludwig will always be an arrogant guy.” Blue Fox’s initial perception of him has not changed after so many years.

The black fox was shocked to see the corruption in the city. The little Sophia Nassau just subconsciously kept grabbing the black fox’s fat arm, instinctively thinking that this place was a bad place for right and wrong.

It has a good name, but its prosperity is no longer due to the devastation of the war.

“Prosperity may be restored, provided that their civil war can be terminated.” Thinking of this, the blue fox looked at the back of Ludwig’s horse again, and felt that this man would not let it go.

The main roads in the city are paved with dense stone slabs, which are the legacy infrastructure of the Roman era, as are the thick stone buildings.

A stone building with remnants of Roman style became Ludwig’s temporary residence, and here he intended to entertain Blue Fox and his party as a landlord in a merciful way.

In the final analysis, Blue Fox also has the status of earl, and his younger brother Heihu has the status of baron under the Frankish system, at least because he is married to the Nassau family.

Earls and barons, as well as marquises (border earls), there are only a handful of great nobles in the legally controlled area of the Eastern Kingdom.

Jurisprudentially, the earl is indeed higher than the baron, but it is not necessarily true when it comes to military strength.

The aristocratic king, Ludwig was captured and during the peace talks, he saw too many strange things in the north.

It is fair to say that he appreciates the complex and delicious food and beverage set up by the Russians, and now he has a batch of glass tableware from the Russians and he can’t put it down.

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Compared to being noble and elegant, the food and beverages that Ludwig can provide today can be described as very rough.

He ordered a local goat to be roasted, and he must choose a goat with fat enough fat for roasting.

There are no special leftovers for the roast lamb, only coarse salt and chopped thyme. When eating meat, the nobles cut the meat with knives or even tore it with their own hands.

Like a bear sitting among stones comfortably warmed by a fire, Ludwig was such a beast.

He deliberately waited until the fat sheep was cooked before announcing the start of the banquet, and invited the foreign nobles who were in a daze in the city to a private meeting.

No wives, no maids.

Of course, Ludwig has the right to raise some maids secretly, and it is also possible to produce some illegitimate children.

He disdains to do this, it’s not because of his belief in mental cleanliness, the so-called elder brother Lothair clearly wants to put himself to death, when life and death, he should put all his thoughts on war, why think about anything else?

The stone house was like a secret room. All the attendants left, and there were only four people in the room: King Ludwig, Earl of Gothenburg Blue Fox, Baron Nassau’s son-in-law, and Baron Nassau’s daughter Sophia.

The four of them are all nobles, and tonight can be described as a secret meeting of the nobles. Even the young Sophia felt uncomfortable in this nervous atmosphere.

Maybe the girl should leave this rough aristocratic secret meeting, but she covets the sizzling roast lamb.

Of course she can’t go, because she is a key person.

For the blue fox, Ludwig’s attitude is extremely complicated.

He fiddled with the ruby-studded Rose steel sword, and cut the mutton himself with this sharp treasure, deliberately to let the blue fox see clearly.

“That sword used to be the sword of King Ross. I gave it to you back then.” Blue Fox had sharp eyes.

“Indeed. I was beaten so hard by you last year! The noble me was almost captured by an unknown soldier, but fortunately the other party was actually a nobleman. This sword was not taken away by your Rurik in the end. It is really a good sword. ! Still mine.”

“It’s a good sword.” The blue fox smiled and stood up again, and pulled out his own sword suddenly. The sword wind buzzed, and it was the sword that attracted Ludwig’s attention.

Seeing his brother like this, the little fat black fox also pulled out his sword and showed it off with a smile.

The so-called self-defense with a sword in hand, Ludwig felt a slight threat, so he covered up his embarrassment with a smile, but when he looked at their swords, a strong sense of familiarity emerged spontaneously.

Blue Fox said with a little arrogance: “Do you really know the origin of the sword?”

“I don’t know.”

“Your sword was first ordered by my father and given to King Rurik, then the king passed it on to me, and finally gave it to you as a gift. The swords of our four brothers all have similar styles, all from the same master hands.”

Ludwig never knew this, “So my sword is not very noble?”

“No. Even if our brothers serve different kings, we are all aristocrats. The sword you ordered is worth a lot. The sword you hold is worth two pounds of silver coins.”

What is the businessman’s tactful wisdom, what is meant by “the king who is loyal to him is different”, Ludwig glanced at the little fat man who married into the Nassau family, and was delighted.

“Since we all carry swords, we are all great nobles. I allow you to move freely! Come! Let’s share this fat sheep.”

A piece of fat leg of lamb was cut into a glass plate by the black fox, and he personally brought it to Sophia Nassau.

The little girl was drooling with greed for a long time, and she didn’t dare to say anything. Now she sullenly took the prepared knife and fork to cut up the meat and ate it.

Originally, it was inappropriate for such a little girl to participate in the noble secret banquet rather indecently, but Ludwig specially allowed the youngest daughter of the Baron of Nassau to participate, and did not regard her as a pure woman in essence.

It stands to reason that the humble Baron of Nassau in the past existed as a small vassal of the Earl of Lyingau, and he didn’t even have the right to face the king.

Of course Ludwig doesn’t respect this girl now, but only the fat guy next to her, and the Ross army who can easily capture Koblenz.

After gnawing his stomach hard, Ludwig smashed the small dagger (a kind of tableware) on the oak table in a vulgar way, and said proudly: “To be honest, I appreciate your capture of Koblenz. Your behavior in the south. The king’s recent war in the south has not gone well, but you have saved me face in the west. You are also very clever in sending the captives to me, which really alleviates some of my lack of troops.”

Obviously, this guy’s talk is to pave the way for a deep secret conversation.

Looking at the king, during the short time he stayed in the city before, Lanhu urgently inquired about something.

With a wink, he told his brother Heihu to shut up, and he smiled meaningfully for a while, and then said: “In this way, you will get a benefit, so we also need a benefit.”

“Benefits, what do you want?”

“It’s like the treaty we signed with each other at the beginning of the year. Me! As Earl of Gothenburg in Ross, I led the army to help you fight the war, help you take Coblenz, and give you the prisoners. You must pay me a sum .”

“Money? What am I paying for?” Ludwig’s haughty face relaxed.

“One hundred and forty captives, worth two pounds each.”

“You? Seriously?!”

“really.”

“Greedy!” The surprised Ludwig poked his head and asked sharply, “Why bother?”

“Oh? Could it be that the noble past couldn’t even take out three hundred pounds of silver coins? You must know that the bishop of Cologne paid five thousand pounds of silver coins for peace. Noble you are not as good as a bishop?”

Ludwig, who was so aggressive, gritted his teeth. As a king, it is inconvenient for him to point out that he is really short of money now.

More than just a lack of money?

At present, we are really exhausted and exhausted.

There were moments when Ludwig appreciated the fact that the Normans could plunder in longships.

Forced by one’s own status, doing banditry is not only lowly but also a blasphemy of faith, but going to a distant place to plunder is a shortcut to solve the problem of military supplies in a short time.

In fact, since the moment he saw Ross’s army at the landing point, the evil thoughts in Ludwig’s heart arose.

It is indeed not suitable for you to send people to do evil things, but the Normans are recognized as “Apostles of Satan”. How about arranging these evil people to do evil things and then divide the spoils secretly?

Just like the group of Norman mercenaries from Denmark that I raised before, some dirty work that was not convenient for me was done by the down-and-out Danish nobleman Harald Clarke.

There is also the Danish Horik who was taken off by the remote control commander Nai He, and he was a good dog before he turned his back on the water.

As long as northerners can be used, they can become good dogs by relying on the temptation of fame and fortune.

Ludwig knew that he couldn’t use the blue fox, but his younger brother was obviously very good at it.

He didn’t say that he couldn’t afford the money now, but instead asked: “You must have robbed Koblenz when you occupied it. Lothair occupied that place, so you must have made a fortune.”

“We are only fulfilling our treaty obligations in this matter. As for the captives and some ordnance sent, you have already taken the captives, and you owe me three hundred pounds of silver coins. As for the captured weapons and equipment, I can sell them to you cheaply. Those I will distribute the silver coins to the soldiers, I hope you can pay them quickly.”

“This…” Ludwig said with a low face, “Anyway, people have already pledged their allegiance to me in my hands. Now is the time when the king is employing people, and the personnel and supplies are relatively tight. Let me take the money immediately, and I will tell you clearly , let’s talk about it next year.”

“Is this deliberate debt?!”

“That’s right. This king is owed on purpose, how?”

Blue Fox was pretending to be angry, but seeing that the other party seemed to be serious, he calmed down with a smile.

After all, Lanhu concluded that this guy is not rich for the time being based on what he saw and heard in the city, so there is no need to force him to pay.

“Okay, I’ll write down this account first. I have another important event this time. It’s really my brother Heihu and my sister-in-law Sophia.”

Ludwig still had a sullen face, and said meaningfully: “I have already guessed what your intentions are.”

“Really? But it’s definitely not a comprehensive guess. I know you Franks are very particular. My younger brother needs a title, and my sister-in-law needs a title. Henry Nassau plans to give Sophia the old place of Nassau, and also This is the girl. How? My lord, do you agree?”

Recognition is naturally no problem, but at this juncture, Ludwig is more concerned about the benefits he can get after acknowledging.

“Of course the king has the right to confer a new baron, even a woman. But what good will it do me?”

“Naturally the allegiance of a new nobleman.”

“It’s your brother?” Ludwig said, his eyes were fixed on the eager black fox.

“It’s not…”

Therefore, Blue Fox solemnly put forward his proposition, intending to bargain with Ludwig.

His plan is this: Sophia Nassau is canonized as Baron Nassau, ruling the old land of Nassau and Koblenz.

The black fox acts as the baron’s butler, and the actual chief baron leads the military administration.

The future son of Black Fox and Sophia will inherit the title and continue to serve Ludwig and his successors.

The Ross army stationed in Nassau can act as the Nassau Baron Army, especially participating in the civil war from the standpoint of the Eastern Kingdom.

Ok?

Of course!

A long time ago, under the strong military oppression of Frank, the Danish leader Godfrey surrendered to Charlemagne in name.

Although his successor, Harald Clarke, was down and out, he still led a group of soldiers to serve the Eastern Kingdom.

Of all the Frankish nobles, Ludwig’s fief was geographically marginal, and his armies were comparable to those of the Normans, Wends (generally known as the West Slavs), and the Moravians. close contact.

The Normans are not simply “Apostles of Satan”, they are fierce and can be used, and the rising northern monarch Rurik is indeed a hero who can communicate.

Everything is for profit!

Faith is just a fig leaf for competing interests!

Ludwig saw the truth very clearly, especially the Cologne Diocese, which had expanded its power after the Great War. Those priests are now servants of God. They have clearly begun to become nobles and lords, and the executors are clearly earl-level large-scale authority.

With the power of the gods and the military, and the power of finances, they can claim that they can build a paradise on earth in Dar es Salaam.

But in Ludwig’s view, such things are a great threat to his own power.

First of all, it is impossible for the black fox to be loyal to Ludwig legally, but his future son can.

Sofia had to kneel on one knee now, and the little girl would serve Ludwig like a male noble.

In the stone chamber, the identity of a baroness was confirmed.

But Sophia was ignorant of all this. She was very afraid of the bearded king. When the sword rested on her left and right shoulders and the top of her head, which had taken off her turban, she trembled subconsciously. Finally, she learned to say a Latin phrase to announce allegiance.

She is just a little girl, but completing the enfeoffment means two big things.

First, the Baron of Nassau who is also in the Lyingau region still exists, so that there is a new nobleman in the area, and Ludwig no longer has to worry about everything.

Second, enfeoffment is tantamount to agreeing to the Baron Nassau’s right to rule Koblenz, and this matter will definitely not be recognized by the Middle Kingdom. Then the Barony or the de facto Rossi forces will suffer a major blow from the Middle Kingdom. Derwig is happy to see a strongman helping him to spread the pressure.

So, based on the second benefit, can the third benefit be derived?

The Norman Ross, who bears the title of Baron of Nassau, is clearly more greedy and cunning than the Danes.

Considering that he couldn’t come up with a batch of money to redeem the captives immediately, those ruthless people in the north would definitely be angry, unless they authorized these guys to do something more to satisfy their hunting appetite.

[End of this Chapter]