Generally speaking, the Ross people and their servants live in extremely cold places close to the Arctic Circle. Due to the cold climate, everyone rarely sweats. In addition, there is a large amount of sea fish in the food, and a little sea salt will always be eaten when cooking fish. On the whole, the Rus people do not have the problem of salt shortage at all. They are completely different from the residents who farm in the interior.
The Balmoks also understand this truth, so Modgen's plan is to sell the salt to the Kovin people in the interior, and then bring a large amount of leather back to the port of Narvik, which has a narrow land and is full of barren mountains. One's own tribe, in order to make a lot of money.
As long as there is no long-term strenuous physical exertion, the residents of the northern coastal areas will not be short of salt, no matter what era.
Modgen realized that his big buyers were obviously heroes of the sea, so why were they so interested in salt?
He asked cautiously: "Maybe you are not very short of salt."
"Yes, we do not lack salt. But boiling salt is a troublesome thing. If you can provide a large amount of salt, why should I dedicate manpower to boil salt? Just like you and me, you boil salt, and I buy salt with leather , wouldn’t it be nice for everyone to get what they need?”
Modgen couldn't help but smile awkwardly after hearing this explanation.
Rurik sucked his fingers clean. Based on the salt alone, he estimated that the Balmoks not only obtained salt by boiling Atlantic seawater, which has a much higher salt content than the Baltic Sea, but they must also know some techniques for boiling salt.
The taste of this salt is really great. Rurik feels that they have a good ability to control the temperature of salt precipitation. There is almost no bitter taste from magnesium chloride in your mouth. You know, the extremely pure taste of sodium chloride, when felt by the human tongue, will give rise to a particularly pleasant feeling. If bitter impurities are not removed during processing, the taste will be bad.
Rurik clapped his hands and said proudly: "I want all your salt. Don't you want fur? I have many kinds of leather here! I will exchange all the salt with you for leather."
Modgen was overjoyed. He didn't expect the other party to be so happy.
"What other products do you have?" Rurik continued to ask, "If they are interesting things, I want them all."
"Also...there are some iron tools. I think this is the only one you don't need."
"Iron? Well, we are not short of iron ourselves." Rurik returned to his seat: "Let's continue to talk about the salt issue. You guys offer a price, how much leather do I need in exchange for all your salt."
In fact, Modgen has always been a little worried. He is surrounded by Ross warriors holding swords. Shuangfeng is doing business. He always feels a sense of mental oppression. In order for him to safely escape from the Ross fortress He left with the goods, but Modgen didn't dare to open his mouth. He was even willing to give a lower price for the smooth transaction.
Modgen looked at the bear skin sitting under him and the bear head on the wall: "If you are willing, I am willing to use a pound of salt in exchange for your... two of your bear skins."
"That's it?"
"What? You don't want to." Modgen said hurriedly, "Our expedition once exchanged one pound of salt for the Corvin people for as many as fifty squirrel skins. Although bear skins are more difficult to obtain, our salt is also very valuable. .”
Rurik realized that the other party had misinterpreted his meaning. According to Rurik's thinking, the price they offered was actually much lower than their psychological expectations, as if they were deliberately showing weakness.
In fact, this is purely Rurik's over-worry. In the port of Narvik, because the Atlantic seawater is more salty, the cost of boiling salt for the locals is much lower than that of the Russians.
Due to the long trade routes and poor transportation, one pound of salt for two bearskins does not actually explain who wins and who loses. The actual transaction between the two parties is difficult to measure by the weight of silver coins. In the final analysis, the Russians exist in In the trading system of the Siya Tribal Alliance, only this year has the Russians come into contact with the Balmoks.
"Okay." Rurik said nothing more: "Since you are willing to buy my bear skins at this price, let's deal like this. I trade sixty bears skins for your salt, but I'm worried that you don't have the strength at all. Take them back to their hometown.”
Modgen smiled: "It doesn't matter, we are strong people. Oh, if you are willing to sell me some slaves (referring to the Corvin people) to help us transport goods, I will be very happy."
"That's not possible." Rurik shook his head: "I also hope you can bring some slaves. You know, we Russians need a lot of slaves."
"Slave? Maybe, if we can catch him." Modgen pinched his beard and said no more.
At this point, Rurik didn't want to make a big fuss about the slave issue, although he needed a lot of labor. Rather than asking business partners to capture unknown people as slaves, why not develop the local labor force in Novgorod? I am afraid that as long as a little favor is given, many people will rush to become servants. Or renting some metal farm tools can induce a large number of Novgorod people to cultivate land and become "tax residents."
Rurik continued to ask: "You seem to have brought other products?"
"It's some ironware. My lord, if you are willing to buy it."
"Let me see."
Modgen immediately signaled his men to open another linen bag, only to see that it was filled with axes that had not yet been installed with wooden handles. He took out all the axes one by one and showed them to everyone present.
"My lord, as you can see, if you are willing to buy these twenty axes."
ax? Rurik stretched out his little head to take a look, but after just a brief glance, he lost interest.
"These axes of yours are obviously rusty. They look like they are of poor quality."
"This..." Modgen felt a little dissatisfied. He was helpless under the roof, and he laughed at himself: "Obviously, our blacksmithing skills are not excellent. In your opinion, these axes are very bad. If... …”
"Oh. You mean to say that if you sell it to the Covin people, you will make a fortune? Are you planning to exchange an ax for a few pieces of leather?"
Modgen did not hesitate: "An ax is equivalent to a pound of salt, and I am willing to price it this way. Sir, if you are willing to buy it, we speak the same language, and we must all use silver coins. I am willing to pay ten silver coins per axe." For the price, I’ll buy them all for you.”
Modgen proposed a price, which he thought was reasonable, but the Ross warriors on both sides couldn't help but sneer.
"What? My pricing is ridiculous?"
"No!" Rurik stretched out his right hand to stop everyone's ridicule, and then stared into Modgen's eyes: "Friends from afar, you think too highly of your own products. Your ax is obviously the worst, how dare you price it at ten silver?!"
"you……"
Mordgen raised his chest. He felt the humiliation from a child. This unprecedented feeling made him resentful.
The anger was just suppressed in his heart. He tried his best to suppress the tremors on his skin and said deliberately: "So your ax is better?"
"Of course! I can easily destroy your axe."
"ah?!"
"What, you don't believe it?" Rurik deliberately provoked.
"No! I just..."
"Just what?"
Modgen guessed what the other party probably wanted to do, "Sir, the two axes collided, and the blade that was finally polished was damaged. It doesn't matter if my ax is damaged, I'm just worried about hurting your axe."
Hearing this, Rurik was stunned for a moment, then laughed slowly: "Why do I think you are mocking me?"
"No, I never meant that."
"It doesn't matter, the only thing that will be damaged in the end is your axe. Since you are confident in your axe, let's give it a try. Just in time, we can also show you our Russian axe!" Rurik ordered with a confident look on his face. A mercenary stood up, then picked up his chrome steel hand ax and approached Modgen.
A warrior wearing chainmail stood in front of him, and the strong pressure from the force made Modgen panic.
What surprised him even more was the ax in the opponent's hand. Why was its color so special?
A darker color does not look like simple iron.
Rurik's final question was: "Your ax will be destroyed, so don't regret it."
"Yes, I don't regret it."
"Then let's get started."
Rurik gave the order, and the mercenary holding the ax stared angrily. He clenched the ax handle with his right hand, pointed at the back of one of Modgen's axes, and chopped down with all his strength.
After all, they are completely off-duty mercenaries. Their daily tasks are either cutting down big trees with axes or doing combat training. They have become very strong beings, especially the strength of their arms is the most amazing.
The chrome steel hand ax chopped down at an extremely fast speed. In a flash of lightning, there was only a snap, and something amazing happened!
After all, it is a Nordic-style axe. The ax brought by Modgen has a slender back, and now the back of the ax has been split into two sections.
The mercenaries were not surprised at all when things turned out like this. Because most of them broke their old swords after getting their own chrome steel hand axes for celebration or as a sacrificial act.
The mercenary played with his axe. He checked the axe blade and muttered proudly: "Sure enough, my axe has no scratches at all."
At the same time, all everyone saw were the shocked faces of outsiders.
Modgen just didn't know what happened. His mouth kept trembling. Looking back on his memories in this life, he had never seen such a magical thing.
In his concept, the collision of two axes would definitely cause deep dents in the ax blades of both sides.
The ending completely surpassed his cognition. The Russian ax was actually safe? !
Everything was as expected by Rurik, and he congratulated secretly: "Your axes must still be processed in the same old way."
Based on Rurik's understanding of the current smelting technology in the Nordic world, except for the two areas under the rule of the Russians, the rest of Europe not only does not know how to make low carbon steel, they do not even understand the heat treatment process of quenching.
Therefore, although outsiders know how to smelt iron, their ax is just a piece of wrought iron that has been beaten into the shape of an ax during the gradual cooling process. When it is basically formed, the metal is not hot enough and becomes difficult to wake up. They are just some naturally cooled pure iron. Their hardness can only be said to be pretty good, at least enough for logging. The only trouble is that it requires regular maintenance.
Chrome steel is a completely different existence! Ferrochromium alloy is naturally hard. After carbon is infiltrated into the surface, its hardness is further increased. After quenching, its hardness and rigidity reach a peak. Used to make swords, it is extremely lacking in malleability and can easily break. However, as an axe, it is an indestructible treasure.
Rurik looked proud: "Now I win. My distant friends, this is the ax of our Russians, what do you think?"
"This... is simply... a magical weapon that only exists in Asgard, right?!"
Modgen looked stunned, and the arrogant mercenary announced on behalf of his master: "You are right, this is the ax owned by the people of Asgard. My master has indeed obtained it. God’s blessing, otherwise it would not be possible to create such a tool from earthly minerals.”
Modgen held his two-section ax head, and he suddenly realized that the cross section of his ax head was very smooth. It was not broken by impact. What the Russian ax did was as easy as a meat-cutting knife cutting through a fish.
A bold idea immediately came to his mind: "My lord, I have a strong request now!"
"Request? Just say it."
Seeing that the other party's attitude had become friendly, Modgen said boldly: "I am eager to buy one of your axes, and I also long for tools that only Asgard has. I am willing to exchange thirty pounds of salt for one of yours." ax."
Rurik couldn't believe his ears. If the other party had such an attitude, wouldn't he be able to kill these businessmen who traveled across mountains and rivers? Although it is commercial trade, commerce has not believed in tears since ancient times, and it does not require too many favors. The other party is willing to sell at a low price, the seller is willing to snap up, and everyone gets what they need.
Rurik tried again: "Don't you still want the bear skin? And why did you ask me if you can use all your inferior axes in exchange for one of my best axes."
"How is that possible?" Modgen said humbly, "Compared to your axes, these of mine have become waste. They have become worthless things."
In fact, as long as these so-called wastes are smoldering and carburized for one to two days, and then forged and quenched, although they are not as good as chromium steel, as low carbon steel, they are still magical tools.
Rurik just didn't expect that they would go through so much trouble and risk to get a magical ax, and they would exchange all the goods regardless of the cost?
If this deal goes through, they will lose a lot of money.
Of course, Rurik can seal the deal in one go and let the other party be kind.
But after actually doing this, Rurik couldn't help but worry that this would be a short-sighted behavior. By default, friends and potential competitors can be stupid and deceived, so you are the only one who is stupid for thinking this way!
Now that the Russians and the residents of the port of Narvik are finally in contact, both sides must build better bilateral relations. Since the geographical distance is far enough, both sides are not weak in strength. Rurik has no intention of invading them. They must have seen that they have powerful weapons, and they dare not be ambitious.
Give a profit? At this time, perhaps giving up a little benefit can win a potential ally for the Russians. Ah, not to mention an ally, it is also a trading partner.
Rurik realized that the Balmoks in Narvik Port had great strategic value at this stage - they could provide fine sea salt.
Rurik cleared his throat and became enthusiastic.
"Friends from afar, you have come a long way to let us know that there is a friend we can make in the west of the distant mountains. I am willing to make friends with you on behalf of the Rus people. We can trade with each other and make us all stronger."
Modgen's mind was a little confused, but it seemed that the situation was generally getting better, "Are you willing to accept my transaction conditions?"
"No." Rurik shook his finger.
"Oh, do I have to pay a little more price?"
"No. You and your people will both get an excellent ax from our Rus people. The previous leather trade between you and me was terminated and ten axes were exchanged for all your goods. What do you think?"
Modgen couldn't believe what he heard: "Sir, are you sure?!"
"I am sure!"
"Oh! Then you are really a child blessed by God." Modgen's eyes lit up when he spoke, and his guys felt that they had made a lot of money.
"But there is another condition," Rurik continued.
"What conditions? Just say it."
"I invite you to our mother city of Roseburg. We are very interested in you Balmok people, and we are eager for further trade in the future. I will arrange for you to meet with our real big leader to formally discuss your future and mine. I may also ask you to bring the greetings of our Rus to the leader of Balmok.”
"Okay! I also want to see the world. But, are you really not the leader of the Ross people?" Modgen said in surprise.
"I am, but I am not."
"Then who are you? Distinguished friend, I have not even stated my name since we met. I am guilty."
The names were probably just code names, and Rurik had no intention of knowing more about the names of these outsiders whose usefulness to him was still relatively unknown.
"Okay. What's your name?" Rurik asked.
"Modgan."
"Okay, Modgen." Rurik shrugged, then straightened his back: "I am Rurik, Rurik of Rus, the son of the leader Otto, I have received the favor of Odin, and I am the future Rus. Big boss. You may have thought I lacked credibility since I was a child from the beginning. Now I tell you, I am worthy of your trust.
I will buy all your money at once, and I can give you the ax now. I also ask that you continue to live in my settlement until a few days before the summer solstice, when we will sail south back to Roseburg.
You will live in our territory for a while and you will be treated well. I made a promise to you and I won't break it. "
It sounded so tempting that Modegan thought it was incredible: "Oh, what a wonderful favor. But my lord, what is the price?"
"It's a peaceful trade between our two tribes! For example, we sell you leather and the best weapons, and you sell us the best salt or something else. In the end you will be under our escort, as my The messenger embarks on the return journey. You must let your leaders know the existence of us Rus, as well as our great strength and hope for trade."
At this point, Modgen has understood everything. He immediately knelt down halfway, made a fist with his right hand and struck his heart: "Sir, we are willing to serve you."
