Rise of Rurik - Chapter 708

[Chapter 709 Rebellious Confrontation]

When the Stad arrived that night, the Rose store began to evacuate during the night.

Escorted by thirty guards, the old Eric’s family quietly boarded the ship with a cash box, sailors and other personnel.

Nine armed cargo ships slipped away that night!

Only a few traditional long galleys belonging to Ross are still in the port.

The Ross shop became sluggish overnight, and the blue fox made them take away most of the money, including most of the money.

Those around him were rebellious old mercenaries, all of whom had high self-esteem and despised the Danish armed forces. Indeed, most of them had killed Danish soldiers.

And the thirty new Slavic warriors who joined the group, Vady Zdalovich and his men took up arms, and they have grown strong and powerful now.

Since the Ross people regard themselves as brothers, everyone is willing to fight for Ross.

Most importantly, they hated the Danish army. An enemy’s enemy is a friend, not to mention that a friend really treats himself as a brother.

Blue Fox has ninety armed guards, not too many and not too few. They are full of fighting spirit, and they all want to see what the new king of Denmark is.

He also had the determination to die, the so-called if the other party insisted on asking for tribute, he would definitely not give it.

If you will be killed, you don’t have to regret it. Your death will inevitably bring the most terrifying revenge from the Ross army. Maybe that kind of revenge will be a joint action by Sweden and Ross.

In short, Ross cannot be disadvantaged in Hedeby. The new king of Denmark must realize this, and must also recognize Ross’s unique status in Denmark, and stop all hostile actions against Ross.

The whole of Hedeby fell into a lot of chaos. Many vendors disappeared overnight. What’s worse is that many people apparently took advantage of the chaos to escape.

Ordinary soldiers are just drifters, just like ordinary wolves follow the leader wolf’s hierarchy.

Starkon noticed this situation, and he was a little bit annoyed by his preaching during the day, although all of these were requested by his master Horik, and it was true that the people in Hadeby added distrust after such a preaching.

This was never what King Horik hoped for. The king needed to establish a new order in Hedeby, and needed to restore rule, especially taxation rights.

This seaside trade market is known for its wealth, ordinary merchants can flee, and those big merchants will not slip away overnight.

His estimation is quite correct, many business families who are deeply involved here are entangled in bottles and cans, and there is no way to escape.

A businessman is indeed not a farmer, and will not be entangled in a piece of inherent land, but where else can he go after fleeing?

Will giving up everything in Hedeby and going to live in a new field become a big fat sheep at the mercy of others?

All the big merchant families are in a state of distress. They don’t want to pay taxes for Horik’s thing that popped up like a mushroom at all, let alone that it is considered a tax?

It is simply collecting tribute, which is gang behavior.

The next day, the soft summer sun shines on the whole harbour, but the supposedly prosperous Hedeby Port has become sluggish due to the uninvited guests who arrived yesterday, and the so-called urban CBD is also desolate.

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“Is this group of guys on strike? Is this an open provocation?”

Stad, who was riding a tall horse, led his men around the empty market. Seeing a figure swaying, he immediately sent troops to catch it.

They even caught a few children, and the children were timid and hurried to tell the reason.

Co-authored by all businessmen freaked out?

!

He sent someone to release the child, and threw a few copper coins at random.

As soon as the child saw it, he bent down to pick it up, and then ran away barefoot without a trace.

“Boss, is this place really rich?” Some soldiers couldn’t help but wonder.

Stade is also helpless: “They are worried that we will use means to plunder all their wealth. It is ridiculous. I just claim to require them to pay 11 taxes.”

“That’s all right. Boss, the king’s fleet is coming, and if he sees this, we will be punished.”

“It’s a big trouble. It’s okay! Let’s go to those manors and gather the big local businessmen. As long as this group of people take out the money, we will complete the task.”

Generally speaking, it is impossible to squeeze much food from the hands of ordinary people, and the only way to squeeze big businessmen is as milk cows.

This is the life experience of Horick and his group in Flanders. Apart from looting everywhere and even crossing the sea to attack Britain, their priority is to attack merchant houses and monasteries.

The Loot Divides the spoils at Port Durist’s lair in Flanders, so who’s the big buyer?

The real Earl of Flanders is, as is the Capet family to the south.

The stolen gold, silver and jewels are exchanged for grain, meat and salt, and everyone’s cooperation is not bad.

After camping in the woodland, Stad took all his men to wander around the city of Hedeby.

This small group raised the Raven Banner in an attempt to appease the local populace.

They were looking for big merchants one by one, and the army stood at the gate of the mansion, which often caused a confrontation with the merchant’s guards, but the two sides did not want a military conflict to break out at all.

The big businessman came forward in person, looked up at Stadt on horseback at the door of his house, and made things clear to each other in this way.

Although it is a tax of eleven, the specific amount is very knowledgable.

Horick had no idea how blessed the merchants of Hadeby were, how many of them could afford a lot of money.

He listened to the exaggerated account of the surrendered tribal chiefs, and the so-called great merchants who lived in Hadeby could each give a hundred pounds of silver.

Stade was ordered to pass on the news according to this amount. As for the specific tax collection, we have to wait for King Horik’s navy to arrive in person.

He took the trouble to publicize the king’s orders from door to door, knowing the benefits and getting them to prepare the taxes early, and even painted a big cake: “Whoever gives the money will be rewarded by the king.” As for what the reward is, he doesn’t say anything. up.

Such an act is clearly an act of armed sorgon. Big merchants often cannot afford too many mercenaries due to expenses. They have already expanded the number of mercenaries in advance, which is generally only fifty or sixty people.

Even so, the monthly comprehensive remuneration must be at least five pounds of silver coins, which is really a big expense.

Merchants are calculating, and when Stad left with his all-armored army and cavalry squad, the merchant had to think hard.

Because King Horick seems to describe such a situation, as long as a package of one hundred pounds of silver coins is paid, the business can continue. This tax is very high, because everyone has not paid taxes in the past many years.

That is not the case with the tax Wang promised to start next year.

Wang also promised to ensure the safety of all tax-paying merchants. If anyone dares to embezzle the money of merchants and endanger the safety of merchants and employees, Wang will personally send people to capture the assailants and execute them.

If this is the case, why does the merchant need to support a team of mercenaries?

Maybe the taxes paid starting next year will be lower than the remuneration for raising mercenaries.

All of this must be based on the fact that the man Horik will keep his promise. It would be foolish for merchants to believe it naively.

Their hearts really began to shake. After Stad left, they began to connect quietly, vowing to hold another meeting urgently.

Stade’s precise preaching seemed to be effective, and the merchants showed no resistance, and some claimed that they would deliver the tribute on time, even if this may be a show.

He thought he would succeed until the army came to such a strange shop.

The wooden fence is not surprising, and the stalls are empty, but the wooden wall at the main entrance is obviously hung with white cloth sewn with blue cloth strips.

There are also guards at the door. They all wear chain mail, leather helmets, and a white cloth gown with a belt around the waist. The white cloth on the chest is stitched with blue cloth strips.

How is this going?

These people are too imposing, right?

!

Stad saw it, and he was riding a tall horse, and behind him was a kind of armored soldier, and nothing could make the guard stand intimidated.

On the contrary, those who stand on guard have sharp eyes when they see themselves, they are the ones who are arrogant!

Stad was so angry that he held the horsewhip in his left hand and pointed at someone casually: “Are you the merchant’s bodyguard? Let your merchant come out! I am the envoy of the King of Denmark, let your master come to me quickly.”

These Rose guards showed no expression. The brothers didn’t mind fighting with these new Danes. Unlike the blue fox, the guards all had the determination to fight to the death.

The behavior of these Danes holding up the Raven flag is disgusting, because Prince Rurik is the real “man blessed by Odin”, and everyone is a true servant of the “Son of God”. Die, isn’t this reporting to Valhalla immediately after death?

This is a good thing.

Blue Fox had a premonition about today’s events. Although the shop was vacant after a night of tossing, he didn’t sleep all night because of this. He took a nap in the morning and was awakened by the guard who sent the message.

“Finally the ultimatum is down. Come on! Put me in good clothes, and we’ll meet them.”

Most of the remaining guards had put on the robes of the Ross people. After all, it was made of white cloth as the background color, and it was enough to sew blue cloth strips on it.

Blue Fox easily unified the clothes of his subordinates, but a group of brothers still didn’t have such a defensive tool as chain mail.

Blue Fox changed into a jacket stitched with ferret fur. It was afternoon, and it was a bit hot to wear such a suit in Denmark in the warmest season.

It doesn’t matter to the blue fox, he has long, white swan feathers on his velvet hat, and the hat and clothes are dotted with amber and glass beads.

His belt is wrapped with gold thread and gold and silver pieces are hung, and a short sword is hung around his waist. The ruby (actually a piece of red glass) at the end of the hilt is more eye-catching.

He just walked out of the shop in such a noble outfit, his deliberately combed mustache trembled in the wind, he squinted his eyes and looked up at the visitors, but he was not timid at all.

Seeing that the other party has issued a flag, our own side can’t just stand still!

Stud was a little confused by the big businessman’s move, and he was shocked and astonished by the fact of the moment.

I saw a kind of men with almost identical attires coming out from the main entrance. They carried round shields on their backs to show that they had no intention of fighting, but they were standing in line, one by one showing their swords and axes at their waists.

There is also a wooden pole holding up a flag, the pattern of which is almost the same as that of each of them.

A very strange feeling arose spontaneously. Stade felt that he was facing a Frankish businessman, and these armed men dressed as classic Danish warriors might be the subordinates of a certain Frankish nobleman.

Stud was at a loss for a while. If it was really a Frankish nobleman, if an untimely conflict broke out, he would not be adding trouble to King Horik.

Very subtly, Starken himself hastily dismounted and became respectful.

“Who are you… exactly?”

“We are Ross people!” Blue Fox realized that he could obviously take the opportunity to lie, but that would violate his junior high school.

He did not change his name or surname, but he said that he was from Ross.

“You guys are from Ross?!” Stud put away his respectful attitude in an instant, and couldn’t help but clenched the hilt of his sword with his right hand. From the corners of his eyes, he also noticed those armed men in robes, and those people also held their swords handle.

Even if he has a tall horse and hundreds of brothers, the other party is obviously not easy to mess with.

The reputation of the Ross people is actually notorious. Legend has it that the prince of Ross killed the Danish king Hafgen.

Although Hafgen was a militaristic and reckless man, his own killing was a mental blow to the heroes of the whole Denmark, as if everyone’s honor had been tarnished by an outsider.

He is obviously from Ross, but he can do business in Hedeby in a grand manner, and there is such a huge garrison?

Seeing such a neatly lined up team, Stade suddenly realized that there was a reason why the Danish army lost the battle against Ross.

Although he didn’t know the reason, the Ross army in front of him did remind him of the regular Frankish army.

The blue fox deliberately paused for a while, then raised its fat belly, pinched its waist and threatened: “This is the shop of the Principality of Ross! I am doing business here by the order of the Prince of Ross! You are the envoy of the new Danish king. I have learned that After your speech yesterday, I know exactly what you want to get.”

It seems to be borrowing the words of the donkey under the slope?

Stud hurriedly asked: “Since you all know, you Ross people have to take out a hundred pounds of silver coins. But you are Ross people, and it is illegal for you to appear here. Maybe King Horik will forgive you… ”

“Are you threatening me?”

“Yes. This is a threat! In principle, Denmark does not allow you Ross people to do trade. Hedeby is Denmark’s Hedeby. Whether you have the right to do trade in the future depends entirely on the wishes of our King Horik, maybe …You bring out more tribute, and the king can give you the right to trade.”

Originally, Blue Fox planned to discuss with this person that he would meet Horik in person and persuade the new Danish king to give Ross trading rights, of course, the premise was complete tax exemption.

The other party’s messenger is so arrogant, it seems that his plan has completely failed.

Blue Fox didn’t want to lose momentum, so he threatened: “Hedeby is a free city-state, and it cannot be occupied by a person who claims to be the king of Denmark. Our Prince Ross intends to make peace with Denmark, since the new Danish leader is greedy. , It seems that we can only give up our thoughts. Let me tell you clearly that the Principality of Ross will not pay you even a single copper coin in tax. If you dare to prohibit us from trading here, that is choosing war.”

“You!” Stard, who was burning with anger, drew his sword directly. This action forced Ross’s mercenaries to draw their swords collectively. Many of them even took off their shields, looking like they were going to fight fiercely.

The two sides were at war with each other in an instant, and if this really started a fight, it would not end well.

The two sides confronted each other. Ross mercenaries surrounded the blue fox and formed a shield wall in front of it. Every cold light sword was attached to the shield. It must have been trained in such an orderly manner. Stad noticed this and dared not I acted rashly.

He also saw that a crowd of spectators had gathered nearby. If they suddenly fought, they would be indistinguishable from each other and might hurt the onlookers. The worst thing would be to cause unfavorable public opinion. Looting everything would be bad.

Stud hurriedly ordered his swords to sheath, he put away the weapons in a hurry, laughed maliciously, and asked again: “What is your purpose? Just to do business in Hedeby without paying taxes at all?”

The blue fox poked out his furry head from the shield wall, and stared at it with a dull face like a Tibetan fox: “I want to meet your king. Our Ross wants to do business in Hedeby, but after paying taxes It is impossible. Since your king is coming soon, I can wait. Don’t worry, we are not afraid of death, even if your army has thousands of people, we will not be afraid.”

It is impossible to pay taxes, impossible to compromise, and a group of people are not afraid of death. How can such a stubborn person have the slightest intention of being a businessman?

Stad felt that he had encountered the toughest bone in his life, and the other party had such an attitude. His heart was like a volcano erupting, and he relied on willpower to suppress the fire in his heart, wishing to chop off the head of this dead fat man.

He still held back, after all, he gnawed on this hard bone with his own strength, and finally his teeth cracked.

As for making King Horik subdued?

absurd!

The king told his brothers a long time ago that when Denmark is completely won, he will change the relationship with Prince Ludwig, and strive to achieve the same level of state-to-state relations between Denmark and East Franks. If it does not succeed, it will be a war.

Horik did not think that Ludwig would accept this new situation and recognize Denmark’s independence.

It doesn’t matter, with the real power of Denmark and a strong army, Horik also wants to do whatever he wants.

If it weren’t for the situation, who would treat the rebellious Danes as dogs to outsiders?

The exiled sea wolf has returned to his hometown, and everyone will no longer be Ludwig’s eagle dog after they get Denmark. After the internal affairs are stabilized, they can let go and attack East Frankland.

A group of arrogant Ross people are like a fishbone piercing into the flesh, and this group of armed merchants should be eradicated.

Are they not afraid of death?

Then let them die!

Stud firmly believes that King Horik will continue to maintain a hostile attitude towards Ross for his own authority, and will first attack these armed merchants.

He evacuated with his subordinates, and before leaving, he threatened: “Arrogant Ross, you can leave, I will give you time, so that you can survive.”

The blue fox retorted: “We won’t go! I won’t leave without the order of Prince Ross.”

Stad didn’t speak any more. In fact, everyone knew it well. It was as if the dry river bed was shaking, and everyone predicted that the flood was on its way…

Blue Fox immediately notified his subordinates: “Hurry up and transform our shop into a fortress, and be careful of that bastard on horseback.”

Everyone said in unison that they obeyed, and some people couldn’t help asking Blue Fox that the purpose of everyone’s persistence was just to obey the order of the prince?

Indeed, if it doesn’t make much sense to stick to itself, the brothers are courting death.

Blue Fox quickly explained his arrangement: “We must show Ross’s attitude to that Horik. If they attack, they will choose war. If they choose to negotiate, we will naturally retreat unscathed. We will transform the shop into a fortress to prepare Unexpectedly, if we die, the prince will avenge us. If we complete the defense or achieve a negotiation result with the Danes, all of you will have a prosperous and prosperous future.”

To be dead is to be honored, to be alive is to be honored to be able to make a fortune.

These old mercenaries are no longer just working for Ross for glory and wealth. They have their own arrogance. Everyone saw the contemptuous eyes of the guys on horseback just now. Everyone’s self-esteem does not allow themselves to be a coward who escapes. A window period has been left for everyone to escape.

[End of this Chapter]