The Elbe River flows peacefully as it slowly flows westward into the Atlantic Ocean.
A small city exists beside the river. The wooden walls, towers and even the three gates reinforced by stone prove that the city is actually a military stronghold.
Morning fog filled the river, forest and farmland, and the whole world was gray. The soldiers who had been standing guard all night handed over tasks to their replacements, then took off their coarse cloth hoods to keep out the cold, took off their riveted iron leather armor, and retreated to their barracks. rest.
For the city of Hamburg, today is another normal day after autumn.
Earl Robert is still sleeping soundly. He does not need to worry too much about his work. The servants will take care of everything.
As the morning fog gradually dissipated, a small number of merchants in the city's "commercial streets" set up stalls one after another.
The curfew was over and after the city gates were opened, the vegetable farmers pulling their carts paid a city entry tax to the soldiers guarding the gates, then settled down in the open space of the market to openly sell their vegetables and surplus grain.
Cabbage is the largest vegetable sold here, and the buyers targeted by the vegetable farmers are the soldiers in the city, as well as the craftsmen, servants, and horse slaves who serve the Earl.
Naturally, there are also people who sell meat and leather. They are professional hunters or livestock herders, but the transaction volume in this area is not large.
The count and his family are all Franks, and more than a dozen of his closest bodyguards are also Franks. Apart from this, the entire city is inhabited by Saxons.
Hamburg was originally a Saxon riverside village in the past. After the entire area was conquered by Charlemagne, the Saxon tribes who surrendered to the Franks all converted to God and recognized the new Frank nobles as their lords. After some turmoil, they just went to worship a new one. God, pay taxes to the new lord.
The Principality of Saxony, which was formed spontaneously by the Saxons, has disappeared for thirty years. Thirty years is enough to dull people's memories. Not many Saxons fled into Denmark and joined it, and a large number of people still live in their hometown. They forgot their old place, they only knew their lord, they knew the taxes they had to pay every year, and they knew the days when they went to the monastery to worship.
Life is so monotonous and boring. The farmers live peacefully day after day. The lords, apart from being extremely active in collecting taxes and hunting, spend the rest of their days with boredom.
Earl Robert has long had enough of his wretched wife, who is getting older and older, but their divorce must be approved by the Holy See, and divorce is only a theoretical possibility.
Some things hindered his honor and had to be done secretly. The milkmaid he kept was actually his concubine. He could not let the priest know his behavior. He had to do things secretly. As for the maid giving birth to a child, although it was definitely If the boy is not recognized as the heir to the title, the boy will be trained as a page and later find a reason to be knighted. If it is easier for a girl, she will be sent directly to a convent to become a nun. He felt that his actions were very benevolent.
If there was anything else that could cheer up the count, it would be to put on a full set of armor and fencing with his men.
In recent years, the territory has been peaceful and the farmers are living a decent life, which is reflected in the fact that the agricultural tax is paid properly every autumn.
The grain collected from agricultural taxes was stuffed into warehouses. This was the survival material for noble families, servants, and craftsmen. Part of the grain will also be transferred as tribute to Prince Ludwig's residence in Regensburg, Bavaria.
The original meaning of Regensburg is the "City of the Roman Legions". The city was the residence of the Third Legion before the fall of the Western Roman Empire. It evolved from a large military camp into a city and is now Ludwig's core control area. His A thousand of the ablest soldiers were also stationed here. If his territory were to gain formal independence from the Franks, Regensburg would become a state capital.
Given the current traffic conditions, taking the overland road from Hamburg to Regensburg is really a bumpy road.
Fortunately, the Elbe River has a long history. If you go upstream to reach the upper reaches, and then take the overland road to Regensburg, the journey time will be shortened a lot.
The prince's official status is the Duke of Bavaria and the Duke of Saxony. Under the current enfeoffment system in East Francia, there is no marquis in the entire Duchy of Saxony, or the titles of marquis and earl are very vague. The Count of Hamburg was directly responsible to the Duke of Saxony, that is, to the prince himself.
It's just that this area of Saxony is a new land conquered by the late King Charlemagne with iron and blood. Many Saxons died in the area, and the level of development is not as high as that of Bavaria. The prince never expected much tribute from the lords in the north. Their biggest task was actually only one: to prevent the Danes and Pomeranians from encroaching on the kingdom's territory.
However, the earl's financial resources can only support three hundred standing soldiers, and the viscount under his command can support even fewer soldiers. When it comes to the baron level, the baron can only go into battle and kill them in person.
The permanent residents of Hamburg have been maintained at 600 people for a long time. In addition to the stationed soldiers and a few soldiers' families, they are craftsmen such as carpenters, blacksmiths, potters, and horse slaves who are directly responsible to the count, and their families. Businessmen certainly existed, but the local political and economic conditions were insufficient to develop a large businessman like Ross's Gould.
In other words, Hamburg and other Frankish cities in this era lacked the soil for big businessmen to exist.
A star city among the cities of the Hanseatic League, it is still unable to demonstrate its commercial influence. It is just a regional military stronghold in the northern Frankish border area.
The count's small number of troops on hand can be regarded as a garrison of troops?
Frank is no longer Charlemagne's Frank. Although the three princes fought among themselves and civil war broke out, more areas can be said to be peaceful for a long time. The stable days have gone too long, and everyone is pursuing longer-term comfort. In order to increase their income, the soldiers received "salary" from the earl's service. In addition, they also engaged in small industries, cut wood and hunted to supplement their families or enrich their wallets, and then gathered in the only ale pub in the city to taste delicious food.
An ordinary-looking carriage came from the north. There were many people coming and going on weekdays. The soldier in charge of the gate wanted to stop him and collect the entrance fee as usual. When the people sitting on the carriage took off their burqas, an old man Showing the sterling silver cross hanging on his chest, it was the soldier's turn to stand in awe.
"I am Eskil, the Apostle of the North, Eskil. Children, go and inform the people in the monastery, inform the earl, I am back!"
Because Hamburg is the cathedral of the region, the reason why Eskil is respected by the noble lords and lower class people in the entire region comes from his other identity: the Bishop of Hamburg.
As early as the year before last, in 833, he proposed to Reims that the Hamburg area be taken out of Bremen to establish a new diocese. Archbishop Sinkmar of Reims not only agreed, but also appointed Eskil as the bishop of Hamburg. This appointment It was officially approved by Rome in 834.
It's just that the "Bishop of Hamburg" hopes to influence all Danes in his lifetime. In this way, by making a great contribution to a great cause, doesn't he also help the kingdom solve its border troubles? In the concept of the priests, the war will end after those barbarians disobey God, and Frank and Denmark will complete reconciliation. It is obvious that Denmark will peacefully merge into the rule of the Frankish Kingdom, specifically under the rule of Prince Ludwig.
The daily affairs of the Hamburg monastery were managed by a chief priest named Jacob. If nothing else happened, when Eskil went to Bremen to be the bishop a few years later, Jacob would take over the position of the bishop of Hamburg. Even when Eskil stayed in the barbarian territory outside the Great Wall of Schleswig for a whole year to hold on to his Hedebe Abbey, one purpose was to deliberately "play missing" in order to hone Jacob's work ability.
No, Jacob hurried to the small square of the city with more than a dozen young priests to meet his teacher Esquier.
Both parties were speaking in Saxon, which made it difficult for the watching Blue Fox. Even if they chat in Latin, you can still understand part of it.
Most of the priests lowered their heads, but one fat priest was looking around.
With a sense of business, Lan Hu immediately paid attention to the commercial street in the city. His eyesight was very good, and he saw at a glance that the green things sold there were spherical cabbage and some meat. kind. Nothing else? !
Didn't this guy Eskil say that Hamburg is a big city in the north? Could it be that there is a huge deviation between my understanding of the city and his?
Soon, the blue fox also saw something disharmonious.
There was a woman carrying a wooden basin and pouring something brown. When she looked closely, it turned out to be excrement. What was even more terrifying was that it was splashed directly on the dirt road in the city.
He also saw a man lifting his robe, with his back to the road, and was constipated at the base of the wooden wall.
This explained the faint sour smell that permeated the city. Looking at the slightly muddy land where my boots were, I guess the mud had nothing to do with rainfall.
"You Franks and Saxons, are you willing to live in such a dirty place? If you were in the Principality of Rus, if you dared to throw excrement on the street, you would be punished by cutting down at least a hundred pine trees!" Blue Fox cursed in his mind. , so far he is not optimistic about the business atmosphere in Frank at all, and he is even more worried after witnessing the life of the locals.
He was longing for the good old days in Ross, and he really didn't want to stay in this stinky place for a while.
But where can we go?
Blue Fox is dressed as a priest, but his still fat image has nothing to do with a priest. The way he looked around was noticed by one person, Robert, Count of Hamburg.
When meeting the great "Apostle of the North" and the real Bishop of Hamburg, Eskil, he was not allowed to wear battle clothes. This nobleman knew the ways of the priests very well, so he put on a rather simple coarse linen clothes. The sword on his waist and the calfskin boots on his feet show his extraordinary status.
Even the Slavic woman Vardy behaved like a priest, but the blue fox's behavior was too frivolous, and the way he looked around made the count wary.
"Soldiers, listen to my order and seize that fat sheep in black." He said.
The soldier's attitude was obviously very tense. After all, is detaining a young priest a disobedience to the Lord?
The count ordered: "I suspect that the fat man is a Danish craftsman. Everyone, be vigilant and don't let the long days of peace paralyze your brains."
Esquier recognized the count, and he greeted the local lord with open arms and a smile. Count Robert naturally greeted him with courtesy.
Unexpectedly, the soldiers who received the order suddenly pushed the fat blue fox to the ground very roughly. Blue Fox struggled instinctively, but was pushed to his knees. The sudden situation confused the person involved, and Eskil was even more shocked.
"Robert, what are you doing?! You can't be rude to the priest! Let Joseph go." After saying that, Esquier kept crossing himself.
The count was also making the sign of the cross, and he had his own way of saying: "Honorable Padra, please forgive me for being rude. If you misunderstand me, I will go to the monastery to repent. But I am the local governor, and it is my responsibility to protect my people. You The priest was looking around, 'Is this appropriate? I'm worried that this guy is going to be a safety risk to my burgers.'
Eskil's heart tightened when he heard this. He glanced at the speechless Blue Fox and secretly cursed the Russian for not learning the rules of being a priest even though he knew he had entered the heart of Frank.
He continued to smooth things over: "Joseph is a recent convert. All this is the Lord's arrangement. Robert, you can rest assured that he is safe."
"Okay." The count shrugged and ordered the soldiers to loosen their hands.
The blue fox stood up slowly. It was his protruding fat belly that made the slightly thin earl feel very strange. He couldn't help but joked: "I have never seen such a fat priest. I have never seen such a fat priest." Fat man. Perhaps, this is also the will of the Lord. Padra! You really unearthed a strange piece of amber in the territory of the barbarians."
They all spoke in Saxon, and the blue fox almost became an outsider. He didn't know where to start what he wanted to say.
This place is not suitable for public greetings, and Eskil arrived in Hamburg with a strong purpose. He has returned to his own territory, always shouldering a major mission. He has to go back to the monastery to arrange his daily work, and at the same time listen to the work report of the priest who stayed behind.
Esquier explained to the count: "Robert, you have a keen eye. My Joseph not only has a strange belly, he is indeed a special person. I also have important news to inform you, I want to ask you to do something for me. And my Joseph will also be very important to you. I still have some necessary work. I will go back to your mansion to visit you personally tomorrow, and I will have a good talk with you about some things. "
Earl Robert was a little confused after hearing this, but he still didn't take it seriously and said casually: "Okay. Please forgive me for being reckless."
"You are a vigilant lord. This is good! This is why His Royal Highness the Prince values you in guarding the northern border. You should be aware that your job is likely to be difficult in the future."
Eskil used "hard" once in particular, and Robert noticed some indescribable feeling, as if he was walking in the forest and was ambushed by a gangster with a bow, and the arrow cluster was already aimed at him.
Blue Fox felt quite awkward, and the group was walking on the final road back to the monastery.
He complained: "Eskil, that man is the local lord? Is he the Earl of Hamburg you mentioned? He actually targeted me like this."
If Blue Fox is indeed a lower-level priest, Eskil will definitely criticize him severely, and he will also be punished by confinement in a separate room for reflection.
"You are too showy. Joseph, you should keep a low profile."
"Am I being too high-profile? I am a Rus businessman. Since that man is a lord, I am willing to discuss business with him. You know, we Rus people need customers to buy our furs."
Eskil wanted to laugh, but he couldn't hold back his laughter and his old head shook slightly.
"why are you laughing?"
"Nothing. Earl Robert has a keen eye. You are indeed not a qualified priest, and you cannot be pious."
"But your Lord has blessed me, and the Lord must have His intention. This is what you said." Lan Hu emphasized.
"That's true, so I will keep my promise and give you the opportunity to introduce him, but it depends on the count's attitude. Oh! In fact, tomorrow's matter itself has nothing to do with you. I will find a way to meet the prince, and let the prince choose at that time Will I receive you? You should understand that big nobles don’t like businessmen, and Frank is like that.”
"Absurd. Don't their great nobles like to do business? Who can have trouble with money?"
Eskil shrugged: "Frank businessmen are always accompanied by mortgages. This is an act of the devil."
"Why not? Isn't it reasonable to lend money to people in need to help complete the work in advance, and then the businessman will take a reward afterwards?"
"This is making a deal with the devil." Esquier wanted to say that although merchants were important in Frankish society, they were also very humble. The big lord was unwilling to meet the merchants for the sake of his own face. However, when Blue Fox asked angrily, Eskil could only point out the reason tactfully.
The blue fox was angry, gnashing his teeth in anger!
"Damn! In Ross, we merchants are highly respected. Our prince is not only a prince, but also a big businessman! Do the Franks think we are despicable? In this case, why should Ross do business with them?"
Hearing this, Eskil stopped with a dull expression, turned to look at Blue Fox and pointed out seriously: "Then, you have to make a choice. In what capacity do you want to meet the count? Priest Joseph? Businessman Blue Fox?" Or an envoy from Prince Rus?”
This was said so well that Lan Hu froze.
"Yes! I am the special envoy of Prince Rus! It is in this capacity that I meet with the great nobles of Frank."
"Very good! Stop complaining. I will eventually go to Ross for a good look, and I will need your guidance then. I am old, and you have to help me complete the final work of my life, and I will always protect you. I I just ask you not to do anything outrageous again. If it is not necessary, just be a calm priest. Even if you are pretending, at least you have to pretend a little bit like it."
The two chatted for a while, and Blue Fox and Eskil finally reached a consensus.
The content of their chat was naturally overheard by the little priest around them. Everyone trembled after hearing this. The little priest who stayed behind waited for the teacher to come. Unexpectedly, the teacher actually communicated with a fat man in Latin throughout the whole process.
What is the identity of the fat man?
The most nervous person was Jacob, the chief priest who stayed. Faced with a more talented priest (referring to a Roman who was proficient in using Latin and could be called a resurrection), he was afraid that he would be replaced by this person as the bishop of Hamburg. Jacob had no choice but to pray to the Lord...
