A mere 80,000 pounds of grain is just the beginning. The grain trade itself is also the largest traded item in the entire Siiya Tribal Alliance, and even in the entire sea area. Gould just wanted to gather more grain and transport it all to Fort Ross. He couldn't help but speculate that maybe even Rurik wouldn't have enough money to afford the grain he collected in August.
This matter is not a problem.
Food! It is used to eat and make wine, and it can be stored for many years without spoiling.
Gould figured that he could build a new home in Fort Ross and build a large granary. In this way, Rurik could slowly buy food from himself. By then, it is estimated that not only Rurik, but the entire Ross tribe will also buy food from them.
After all, the size of the population of Ross tribe settled in Rossburg is not much smaller than the core settlement of Melalen. The leader of the Rus is now keen on establishing a marriage alliance with Novgorod in the east, so that the future Rus tribe should be able to surpass the Melalen tribe. Gould was unable to make an accurate estimate of whether the Russians could become the new alliance leaders. The only thing he could be sure of was that he could obtain the development dividends of the Russians.
There is a better market there among the Rus, and because he has established an increasingly close relationship with the local chief, this relationship will bring a better future to his family. At that point, it won’t just be more money.
Gould began to have beautiful fantasies. The more he fantasized, the more he wanted to caress his goods and immerse himself in happiness.
It was late at night, and the mercenaries smoothed out the ruts left by the wheat carts in the empty field, and they fell asleep one after another.
Gould no longer lingered with the two maids, and he didn't even have time to talk to his other five wives, nor did he want to talk to his children.
He was alone, holding an oil lamp, caressing the large amount of wheat purchased during the day in his warehouse.
A figure walked into him quietly.
"Yevlo, haven't you rested yet?"
The mercenary captain Yevluo hurriedly said respectfully: "Oh, sir, I am your servant. I must closely guard your goods. I am here for routine inspection."
"Your loyalty reassures me. Now, let's sit down and talk."
They were all his own goods. Gould didn't mind the dirtyness of the sacks at all, so he randomly found a sack and sat down.
He put the oil lamp on the ground and patted the seat on the right: "Jevro, sit next to me."
"Sir, is this okay?"
"It will be over as soon as I let you come over!"
"As commanded."
The young Jevro is the only strong man. He is from the Finn tribe. Although he has not developed the bear-like appearance of the traditional Vikings, he has mastered many flexible fighting skills when fighting.
He always wears a piece of leather armor, and always hangs his sword on his waist. A hemp rope ties his forehead to restrain his curly short hair.
Jevro sat down, looking cautious.
"Sir, do you have a new order?"
Hearing this, Gould let out a long sigh: "Let's not talk about this for now. Look!" Gould pointed to his own goods: "These are all wheat, they are all wheat that they plundered from tribal farmers. These wheat, I have to transport it to Rossburg and sell it to the Ross people."
"yes."
He pointed to another pile of goods: "That's full of soapa, a kind of treasure with sulfur added, which can wash away all dirt. That was invented by Rurik of Rus. I will sell these and make a profit A fortune.”
"There's another pile of furs," Javlo added.
"Father goods are also made by the Russians. But this year, I can make a huge sum of money by selling all the soapas. In the autumn, we will transport the wheat to the Russians, and Rurik will pay me a huge sum of money." At that time, I can import another batch of soupa, and I will become richer next year."
Gevro listened carefully, and it sounded like the person who could bring wealth to his master was "Rurik of Rus".
"Rurik? That's a businessman?"
"Businessman?" Gould chuckled, and patted Jevlo's muscular back with his big hand. "My child, that Rurik is a businessman, but he is not a businessman either."
"So, who is he?"
"Oh, of course he is the next leader of the Rus. He is a man of God who has been blessed by God, although Rurik is only an eight-year-old child."
"What? That Rurik is only eight years old?! Only eight years old? Master, then those soapas..."
"That's him! And the sword I sold. It's a magic sword that can cut off everything. It was forged by Rurik's wisdom given to the local blacksmith. For you..." Gould turned sideways Looking into the eyes of this loyal servant, his hands gradually pinched Jevro's neck.
"Sir, do you have any... orders? I am your sword, and I will do anything for you."
"My sword?" Gould smiled bitterly and shook his head. Then, he raised his head and looked up at the beams of the warehouse. His empty eyes looked at the shadows on the roof that were swaying under the weak flame of the oil lamp.
Gould's thoughts couldn't help but go back to a long time ago. "Yevluo, you were still a child at that time. I gave you the possibility to live, and you did a lot for me. It was I who raised you, and I trained you to be a warrior. You were like My son, you are not my son either."
"grown ups……"
"How I wish my sons could have a body like yours, but they are more interested in eating and drinking, and they will eventually be as obese as me. Now, I have taught my sons how to do business. Business matters ultimately depend on Their self-struggle. I made an agreement with the Russians and Rurik. Our era of Onkras is over. From now on, our family will be protected by the Russians.
I am already old, and perhaps my life will soon come to an end. Whether my sons can carry forward the family property I have accumulated throughout my life is their business. And you! "
"Sir?" Jevro asked alertly.
"You are the token of my agreement with Rurik. Yevro, you have to leave me and you have to serve a new master."
Hearing this, Jevro's heart felt as if a sword had been pierced through.
Jevro stood up in a hurry, half-knelt in front of Gould, and almost kicked over the oil lamp.
"My lord, is it because of my poor service?"
"No. If you were my son, I would be very happy, but unfortunately you are not. Since you want to be my sword, that's fine. I want to give you to Rurik, and you make Rurik's sword. Serve Him and be faithful to Him.”
"Sir!" Jevro suddenly raised his head, his eyes full of regret and confusion.
More than ten years have passed, and Jevro has forgotten the faces of his biological parents. When he was young, he was kidnapped by a group of pirates and was already transported to the market of Malaren. Or maybe because of his unruly nature, he doesn't have a buyer.
Only Gould, this man did not taboo anything.
Gould, what he needed back then was not a "talking animal", but a loyal personal soldier. Due to this need, Gould gave Yevlo some care and love. He didn't give much but just the right amount.
From Gould, Jevro has gained a considerable amount of wealth over the years, and he has also developed martial arts skills that can fight ten with one.
Today, Gould's home is located in the Onkras tribe, and the commander-in-chief of the mercenary guards is Jevro.
This trust and care has completely transcended the relationship between master and servant.
In Javlo's heart, Gould has become almost a father-like presence.
Gould was never the real father. Times have really changed...
"Are you depressed?" Gould asked deliberately.
"No, it's your order, I will do it well."
"Your voice is a little low, and you are still depressed. Yevluo, you are already twenty-five years old, and many men have already had two children by this time. Do you plan to give everything for me? When I die of old age, You want to die for me? Don’t be stupid!"
"I...I do."
"Shut up!" Gould's big hand suddenly covered Jevlo's fluffy head. "You should have a better piety. I can't give it to you, but Rurik can. That is a person with infinite possibilities. His child is also a very reasonable child. Rurik is not only a man blessed by God, but also a virtuous and good man. And you, be his guard captain and protect his safety. I have already talked to Ross People have made an agreement that when autumn comes to Roseburg, I will no longer be your master."
Gould said it to death, and these words also spoke to Jevlo's heart.
Rurik? Is that a magical child? The owner made such wild claims about the child that Yevlo was doubtful. Looking at the goods in the warehouse, it was obvious that the owner was serious.
Tonight's night talk made Jevro's mind very confused. He returned to his independent small house, lay on his own leather mat, and rested his head on his hands without sleeping all night.
In Onkras, as Gould's mercenary captain, Jevro had great power at a young age.
For example, Jevlo is personally responsible for the security work of the entire "Wooden Castle". He has held this power since he was twenty years old and defeated other mercenaries under Gould's command through internal competition.
To be a servant of Rurik the Rus? The future is full of unknowns.
Time passed in peace like this.
In ancient times, life in rural areas was always extremely slow-paced.
At the end of April, the Russian expeditionary force made a surprise attack on Gotland. However, it was already May when news of the attack on Gotland reached the areas around Lake Mälaren!
It was in late May that a traveling merchant from the Mellaren tribe was selling iron farm tools. He set up a stall under a big tree and chatted with bored farmers about distant stories. Gotland was attacked! Some traveling merchants claimed that the Melalen tribe was responsible. After all, only the Melalen tribe could organize a powerful force to avenge the previous armed battles.
And more traveling businessmen insisted that it was the Russians who did it.
The news reached the Gould family, and the entire family's public opinion was moved by the Ross people's righteous deeds.
Because those Gotlanders were traitors to the alliance, and they actually defected to the Danes!
Only Gould was happy to see the Russians win the battle. Everyone also knows that the Gotlanders are very wealthy, and it is in order to gain more wealth that they actively collude with the Danes.
Gould keenly estimated that the victory of the Russians would definitely bring a large amount of loot, such as a large number of silver and gold coins.
It can be said that after learning this good news, the entire Onkras tribe fell into joy.
The majority of residents of the tribe are already facing the dilemma of not having enough food to eat. They know that the landlords have forcibly bought the surplus food from them. They are verbally angry about this, and that's it.
You can't just abandon your farmland and leave your hometown! For example, going to work as a coolie worker in the Melalen tribe? It would be better to stay in my hometown and be a farmer.
The Angkras tribe living in the inland areas cannot, like other members of their tribe, enjoy grudges on the sea, or obtain food throughout the year just from fishing in the sea. The farmers were itching. They had never seen the appearance of the Ross people. In short, those people were their allies.
The traveling merchants deliberately exaggerated what the Russians did on Gotland for the sake of storytelling.
Some traveling merchants even claimed irresponsibly that the Russian army had completely wiped out the entire island of Gotland.
The tribesmen lamented the mighty power of their allies, and couldn't help but feel itchy in their hearts, imagining that they were part of the army that conquered the Gotlanders. This will not only avenge the alliance, but also get a large amount of loot for yourself.
The good news greatly eased the hungry bellies of the Onkras people, and the good news was like spiritual food.
Here in Gould, he stocked up on 80,000 pounds of dry oats, plus his own surplus grain, the total amount reached 100,000 pounds.
No one in Gould's family understood the feeling of hunger. Even the mercenaries, their daily meal consisted of two pounds of wheat, and basically every meal was accompanied by fish. The energy these mercenaries get from food every day is close to the level of heavy infantry more than a thousand years later. After eating so much food, they are not only fat and strong, but also spend a lot of time in combat training every day.
The mercenaries were all lamenting that their sponsor was so incredibly generous! If I stop training and still eat this kind of food, I will turn into a fat seal within half a year.
But those ordinary farmers are too skinny, especially the farmer's children, whose ribs are clearly visible.
The farmers were frightened just by seeing Gould's group of burly mercenaries.
Gould had no intention of selling any more wheat to his own people, and he would continue to stockpile the grain until August.
He just sits and watches his people starve, because it has nothing to do with him.
What's more, the big leader Angreev always encourages hungry farmers to go fishing in streams and lakes to satisfy their hunger. Why does a businessman care so much?
Gould only cared about whether he could make a big fortune at the Melalen Market. He counted the days and finally set a time to set off.
It’s already May 30th, and Gould has stayed in his hometown for more than thirty days in total!
It was also during these thirty days that he determined two other things.
The two Brythonic women he bought next to him had no menstruation in May in the Julian calendar.
What this means is clear.
At his own home, Gould held a pleasant family dinner, and then rewarded the two women with beautiful clothes and some jewelry made of silver, just like the last three of his five wives.
The status of the two maids has been upgraded! It's just that if they want to be promoted to wives, they must give birth to a son for Gould. Regarding this matter, Gould was always very trustworthy and responsible. Even if they gave birth to a daughter a year later, Gould would not dislike it, but asked the two maids to have sex again as soon as possible until they gave birth to a son.
