On the night that Stade arrived, Ross Store began to evacuate during the night. Escorted by thirty guards, Old Eric's family carried the money box, sailors and other personnel and quietly boarded the ship. Nine armed cargo ships escaped that night! Only a few ordinary traditional rowing long boats belonging to Rus are still parked in the port.
Rose's shop became depressed overnight, and Blue Fox took away most of their belongings, taking most of their money with them.
The people he left behind were all 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 had joined the group, Vady Zdalovich and his men took up arms, and now they have become strong and powerful. Since the Ross people regard themselves as brothers, everyone is willing to fight for Ross. Most importantly, they hate the Danish army. The enemy of the enemy is a friend, not to mention that friends really treat themselves as brothers.
There are ninety armed guards under Blue Fox, neither too many nor too few. They are very motivated and want to see what the new king of Denmark is.
He also had the determination that he might die. 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 about the most terrifying revenge from the Russian army. Maybe that kind of revenge will be a joint action between Sweden and Russia. In short, Ross cannot suffer a disadvantage in Hedeby. The new king of Denmark must realize this, recognize Ross's unique status in Denmark, and stop all hostile actions against Ross.
The entire Hedeby fell into considerable chaos. Many vendors disappeared overnight. What was worse was that many people apparently took advantage of the chaos to escape.
Ordinary soldiers are just people who follow the crowd, just like the hierarchical relationship between ordinary wolves and the alpha wolf. Starken noticed this situation, and he was a little annoyed at what he preached during the day. Although all this was requested by his master Horik, it was true that such preaching increased the distrust of the people in Hedeby.
This was never what King Horik hoped for. The king needed to establish a new order in Hedebe, and he needed to restore his rule, especially his taxation rights.
This coastal trade bazaar is known for its affluence. Ordinary traders can just run away, but those big businessmen will not escape overnight.
His estimate was correct. Many business families who are deeply involved in this area have no way to escape because they are entangled in bottles and bottles. Businessmen are indeed not farmers and will not be entangled in an inherent piece of land. Where else can they go if they just run away? Will giving up everything in Hedebe and living in a new area become a big fat sheep at the mercy of others?
All the big business families were in a state of distress. They had no intention of paying taxes on Horik's thing that suddenly appeared like a mushroom, not to mention that it was considered a tax payment? It's basically just collecting tribute, which is gangster behavior.
The next day, the soft summer sunshine shone across the entire harbor. However, because of the uninvited guests who arrived yesterday, the prosperous early morning fish market in Haizeby Port, which should have been prosperous, became depressed, and the so-called city CBD was also desolate.
"Are these guys going on strike? Is this an open provocation?"
Stud, who was riding a tall horse, led his men around the empty market. When he saw a figure moving, he immediately sent troops to rush forward and catch him. They even caught a few children, who were timid and hurriedly told the reason.
Co-author Are all businessmen scared? !
He sent someone to release the child and threw in a few copper coins. When the child saw it, he hurriedly bent down to pick it up, and then ran away without a trace with bare feet.
"Boss, is this place really rich?" Some soldiers couldn't help but wonder.
Stade was also helpless: "They are worried that we will use our methods to plunder all their wealth. It's really ridiculous. I just claimed to require them to pay tithe."
"What should we do? Boss, the king's fleet is coming. If this is what he sees, 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 these people come up with the money, we will complete the task."
In terms of general rationality, there is not much money to be squeezed out of the hands of civilians. The only way is to squeeze the big businessmen like cows.
This was the life experience of Horik's group in Flanders. In addition to robbing everywhere and even crossing the sea to carry out sneak attacks in Britain, their priority was to attack merchants' mansions and monasteries. The spoils of loot are divided among the lairs of Port Durist in Flanders, so who is the big buyer? The real Count of Flanders is, and so is the Capetian family in the south. The gold, silver and jewelry that were grabbed were exchanged for food, meat and salt, and everyone cooperated quite well.
Stad ended up camping in the woodland and wandered around Hedeby with all his men.
The small group hoisted raven flags in an attempt to appease the local population. They were looking for big businessmen one by one, and the army stood at the door of the mansion. This often led to confrontations with the businessmen's guards, but the two sides did not want a military conflict to break out at all.
The big businessman came forward in person and looked up at Stade on horseback at the door of his house, and they made it clear to each other.
Although it is a tithe tax, the specific amount is very clear. Horik had no idea how lucky the merchants in Hedebe were, and how many could afford a large sum of money. He listened to the exaggerated descriptions given by the surrendered tribal chiefs, saying that each of the big businessmen living in Hedebe could give out 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, informed them of the benefits and asked them to prepare their taxes early, and even drew a big cake: "Anyone who gives money will be rewarded by the king." As for what the reward was, he did not say. .
Such behavior is clearly an act of armed tribute. Big businessmen often cannot afford to raise too many mercenaries due to cost reasons. They have already expanded the number of their men in advance, which is generally only fifty or sixty people. Even so, the comprehensive monthly payment must be at least five pounds of silver coins, which is really a huge expense.
Merchants are all very calculating. When Stad left with his all-armored army and cavalry squad, the merchants had to think carefully. Because King Horik seemed to describe such a situation, as long as he paid a package of one hundred pounds of silver coins, he could continue to do business. This tax was very high because everyone had not paid taxes in the past many years. This will not be the case with the tax that Wang promised to start next year.
The king also promised to ensure the business safety of all tax-paying merchants. If anyone dared to embezzle merchants' payments and endanger the safety of merchants and clerks, the king would personally send people to capture and execute the attackers.
If this is the case, why do merchants need to maintain a team of mercenaries? Maybe the taxes paid starting next year will be lower than the remuneration for raising mercenaries.
All this must be based on the fact that Horik will keep his promise. It would be stupid for businessmen to believe it naively.
Their hearts did begin to waver. After Stade left, they began to communicate quietly, vowing to have another meeting urgently.
Stade's precise preaching seemed to be very effective. The businessmen showed no resistance, and some claimed that they would pay tribute on time, even though this might be a show of force.
He thought he would succeed until the army came to such a strange store.
The wooden wall is not surprising, and the stalls are empty, but the wooden wall at the front entrance is obviously hung with white cloth sewn with blue cloth strips.
There are also guards at the door. They all wear chainmail and leather helmets. They wear a long white cloth gown with a belt around their waist. The white cloth on the chest is stitched with blue cloth strips.
How is this going? Are these people too majestic? !
Stade saw it. He was coming on a tall horse, and behind him was a kind of armored soldier. Nothing could scare those on guard at all. On the contrary, when those on guard saw themselves, their eyes became sharp. They were the arrogant ones!
Stade was furious. He held the riding crop 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. Ask your master to come see me quickly."
These Ross guards showed no expression of emotion, and the brothers did not mind fighting with the new Danes. Unlike the Blue Fox, the guards were determined to fight to the death. The behavior of the Danes holding high the raven flag is disgusting, because Prince Rurik is the real "man blessed by Odin", and everyone is the real person who serves the "Son of God" and died to protect Rurik's interests. , isn’t this reporting to Valhalla immediately after death? This is a good thing.
Lan Hu had already had a premonition of what would happen today. Even though the shop was empty after a night of hard work, he didn't sleep all night because of it. He took a short nap in the morning and was awakened by the guard who was delivering a message.
"Finally the ultimatum is here. Come here! Get me some nice clothes and we'll go meet them."
Most of the remaining guards had put on Russian robes. After all, they were made of white cloth and could be sewn with strips of blue cloth. Blue Fox easily unified the clothes of his subordinates, but the group of brothers still didn't have a defensive tool like chainmail.
Blue Fox put on a coat sewn with ferret fur. It was afternoon, and it was a bit hot to wear such a suit in Denmark during the warmest season. The blue fox didn't care. His velvet hat was decorated with long and white swan flight feathers. The hat and clothes were dotted with amber and glass beads. His belt was wrapped with gold thread and hung with gold and silver pieces, and a dagger hung on his waist. The ruby (actually a red glass piece) at the end of the hilt was even more eye-catching.
He walked out of the shop in such a noble outfit, his mustache combed deliberately trembling in the wind. He squinted his eyes and looked up at the visitor, but there was no cowardice at all.
Seeing that the other party has sent out a flag, we can't just stand there in a daze!
Stade was a little confused by what the big businessman said, and what happened for a moment really shocked him.
I saw a type of men dressed almost exactly the same walking out of the main entrance. They carried round shields on their backs to show that they had no intention of fighting, but they were actually standing in line, each one showing the swords and axes on their waists.
There is also a wooden pole holding up a flag, the pattern is almost the same as what each of them is wearing.
A very strange feeling arose spontaneously. Stad felt that he was facing Frankish merchants, and these armed men dressed as classic Danish warriors were probably subordinates of some Frankish noble.
Stade was at a loss for a moment. If it were really a Frankish noble, and if an untimely conflict broke out, he would be causing chaos for King Horik.
Very subtly, Starken himself dismounted hastily and became respectful.
"Who...are you?"
"We are from Russia!" Blue Fox realized that he could obviously take the opportunity to lie, but that would violate his junior high school policy. Whether he changed his name or his surname, he simply said that he was from Russia.
"You are actually Russians?!" Stad instantly put away his respectful attitude and couldn't help but hold the hilt of the sword with his right hand. From the corner of his eyes, he also noticed the armed men in robes, who also held the sword. handle.
Even though he has a big head and hundreds of brothers, the other party is clearly not easy to mess with.
The reputation of the Rus' people is actually infamous. Legend has it that the Rus' prince killed King Hafgen of Denmark. Although Hafgen was a merciless and violent man, his own killing was a spiritual blow to the heroes of Denmark, as if everyone's honor had been tarnished by an outsider.
They are obviously from Russia, but they can do business openly in Hedeby. How can they have such a huge garrison?
Seeing such a neatly arranged team, Stade suddenly realized that there was a reason why the Danish army failed in the battle against Ross. Although he didn't know the reason, the Ross army in front of him did remind him of the Frankish regular army.
The blue fox deliberately paused for a while, then raised his fat belly, pinched his waist and threatened: "This is the shop of the Principality of Ross! I am doing business here on the order of the Duke of Ross! You are the envoy of the new King of Denmark, I understand I fully understand what you hope to gain from your speech yesterday.”
It seems that he is borrowing the words of the donkey under the slope? Stade asked hurriedly: "Since you all know, you Russians must come up with one hundred pounds of silver coins. But you are Russians, and your presence here is illegal. Maybe King Horik will forgive you..."
"Are you threatening me?"
"Yes. This is a threat! In principle, Denmark does not allow you Russians 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 … If you bring more tribute, the king can grant you trading rights.”
Originally, Blue Fox planned to negotiate with this person to meet Horik in person and personally convince the new King of Denmark to grant Ross trading rights. Of course, the premise was that it would be completely tax-free.
The other party's messenger was so arrogant that his plan had completely failed.
Blue Fox didn't want to lose his momentum, so he threatened: "Hedeby is a free city-state, and it cannot be occupied by a person claiming to be the King of Denmark. Our Prince Rus originally intended to reconcile with Denmark, since the new Danish leader is greedy , it seems that we can only give up the idea. Let me tell you clearly, the Principality of Rus will not pay you even one copper coin in tax. If you dare to ban our trade here, you are choosing war."
"You!" Stad, who was instantly furious, drew his sword directly. This move also forced the Ross mercenaries to draw their swords collectively. Many of them also removed their shields, looking like they were about to fight fiercely.
The two sides were instantly at war with each other. If a fight really broke out, it would not end well.
The two sides confronted each other. The Ross mercenaries surrounded the Blue Fox and formed a shield wall in front of it. Each cold light sword was attached to the shield. They must have received training in such an orderly manner. Stade noticed this, not to mention it. Dare to act rashly. He also saw that a group of spectators had gathered nearby. If a fight suddenly broke out, it would definitely be indistinguishable and might injure the onlookers. The worst thing would be negative public opinion. The so-called King Horik would attack the businessman. Looting everything, that would be bad.
Stade hurriedly ordered his men to sheath their swords. He hurriedly sheathed the weapons, laughed maliciously, and asked: "What is your purpose? Just to do business in Hedeby without paying taxes at all?"
The blue fox poked his furry head out of the shield wall and stared at it with disdain with a dull face like a Tibetan fox: "I would like to meet your king. We Ross just want to do business in Hedeby, but there is a matter of paying taxes. 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 are not afraid."
It is impossible to pay taxes, it is impossible to compromise, and a group of people are not afraid of death. How can such stubborn people have the slightest sense of being businessmen?
Stade felt that he had met the toughest person in his life. With such an attitude, his heart was like a volcano erupting. He relied on his willpower to suppress the fire in his heart and wanted to chop off this fat man's head.
He still held back, after all, he could chew this hard bone with his own strength, and his teeth would eventually break. As for making King Horik surrender? absurd!
The King has long told his brothers that he will change the relationship with Prince Ludwig when Denmark is completely conquered, and strive to achieve the same level of country-to-country relations between Denmark and East Frankia. If not, it will be a war. Horik didn't think Ludwig would accept this new situation and recognize Denmark's independence. It doesn't matter. With Denmark's real power and a strong army, Horik also wants to do whatever he wants.
If not forced by the situation, who would be the unruly Danes to be dogs to outsiders? The exiled Sea Wolf has returned to his hometown. After winning Denmark, everyone will no longer be Ludwig's eagle dog. After the internal affairs are stabilized, they can let go of the sneak attack on East Francia.
A group of arrogant Russians are like fishbones piercing the flesh. This group of armed merchants should be eradicated. Are they not afraid of death? Then let them die!
Stade firmly believed that King Horik would continue to maintain a hostile attitude towards Ross for the sake of his authority, and would first attack these armed merchants.
He led his men to evacuate, and before leaving, he threatened: "Arrogant Russians, you can leave, I will give you time so that you can survive."
Blue Fox choked back: "We won't leave! I won't leave without permission from Prince Ross."
Stade didn't speak anymore. In fact, everyone knew it. It was like the dry river bed was shaking, and everyone expected that the flood was on its way...
Blue Fox immediately informed his subordinates: "Hurry up and transform our shop into a fortress. Be careful of what that bastard on horseback does."
Everyone said in unison that they would obey the order, and some people couldn't help but ask Lan Hu. Is the purpose of everyone's persistence just to obey the prince's order? Indeed, if persistence itself does not make much sense, brothers are looking for death.
The Blue Fox quickly explained his arrangement: "We must express Rose's attitude to Horik. If they attack, they will choose war. If they choose negotiation, we will naturally escape unscathed. We transformed the shop into a fortress in case of any eventuality. , if we die, the prince will avenge us. If we complete our defense or achieve negotiation results with the Danes, all of you will have a prosperous future."
To die is glorious, to live is glorious and to make a fortune. These old mercenaries are no longer just working for Ross for glory and wealth. They have their own arrogance. Everyone can see the contemptuous eyes of the guys on horseback just now. Their self-esteem does not allow them to be cowards who run away, even if The opponent has given everyone a window period to escape.
