"The legitimate ruler of Redburg and its surrounding lands, the Oxfam of West Frisia, the breaker of Nordhorn, Baron Peter from the Barony of Red, is here to visit you!" the young castle herald. He spoke loudly in a rich, rhythmic voice.
After a while, Simon, Baron Iser, and the nobles who were already sitting in the hall saw a man wearing a red muslin shawl, an exquisite yellow short robe, red and white color-blocking tights, and exquisite short boots walking into the door of the wooden tower. tall bearded old man. Behind him was a young curly-haired retinue.
"Hey, my old friend Bruce," Baron Red walked forward quickly and hugged Baron Iser, "I heard that Bruce, you defeated that damn Baron Arnhem, and I said it from the bottom of my heart. So happy for you!"
"Haha, thank you for your concern, Peter," Baron Iser said, taking a glass of fresh warm wine from the servant and handing it to Baron Red, "Hurry and take a seat, old man, everyone is here now. Now, I’ll ask the servants to serve the food right away!”
It is worth mentioning that people in the Middle Ages believed that humans were composed of four body fluids, and maintaining good health required constant regulation of the "cold" and "hot" fluids in the body. Generally, people think that the elderly are "cold", so they eat more hot food and drinks.
Since most of the attendees were elderly nobles and ladies, everyone was drinking specially heated wine.
"Hey, Calvin, Defoe, Daniel, Blair, you old guys! How have you been lately?" Baron Red sat in the empty seat next to Simon and greeted the nobles at the table. , seems to be very familiar with them.
"And dear Carly, Laura, and Lady Mary. I haven't seen you for a long time, and you have become beautiful again." After Baron Reid finished speaking, the ladies of several nobles on the table covered their mouths and giggled.
"But sir, I don't think I've ever seen you before." At this time, Baron Red noticed Simon next to him and smiled kindly.
"Hello, Lord Baron Reid, I am Sir Simon of the Dorsten family in the Earl of Berg in the south. This time I joined Baron Iser's army as a mercenary." Seeing that the other party was a baron, Simon said a little humbly. said.
But even so, he still noticed the instant disgust and cruelty in Baron Reid's eyes. For a moment, the atmosphere in the wooden tower hall was a little awkward.
In the eyes of the nobles, mercenaries are just a group of bloodthirsty, greedy villains who use money to do things. These mercenaries were hired as soldiers to get paid to fight during wartime, but when there was nothing to fight, they often played the role of bandits, plundering the villages of local lords to make ends meet.
In addition, many mercenaries will sit down and raise their prices in a despicable manner during the fiercest battles, leaving many employers furious but having to accept the new price. Obviously, Simon was regarded by this Baron Red as a shameless and cunning mercenary leader.
"Peter, your territory is far away from the Earl of Berg in the south, and you may not know much about the nobles and families there." Baron Iser saw Baron Red's slumped face and immediately came up and patted him. Shoulder, "He comes from a family full of honor and trustworthy. At the same time, he is also a noble knight!"
"I have to say that my victory this time was thanks to the brave and skillful Sir Simon and his catapult! If I hadn't convinced him to join my camp during his journey to Abeldoorn Port, It’s hard to say who will win and who will lose.” At this time, Baron Iser walked to his exquisite armchair and sat down, and slowly said to Baron Red.
"So that's it. I mean, Bruce, how could you let a dirty, bloody mercenary leader dine with us at the same table!" The coldness and disgust in Baron Red's eyes melted away, replaced by a cheerful look. Laughing loudly, "I like young warriors with a sense of honor best, haha! Come, little Simon, have a drink with this old guy like me!"
The joyful atmosphere as before returned to the hall. The nobles greeted each other, joked, and shared anecdotes about their personal experiences and hearsay.
"Hey, Bruce, this wine is really good! Did you buy it from the Burgundy wine merchant again?" Baron Red and other nobles shook the wine in the wooden cups, and they could smell the aroma without even getting close. It has a mellow aroma that I can’t help but admire.
"No, this is the Bordeaux wine I specially asked someone to go to the Port of Abeldoorn and buy from a West Frankish businessman." Baron Iser was a little proud. It seems that he really spent a lot of money on this banquet.
Although people in the Middle Ages did not respect and value the origin of wine as much as modern people do, wines from famous wine producing areas such as Burgundy and Bordeaux were still quite popular among the nobles.
As an amateur red wine lover in his previous life, Simon was sipping the red wine in his glass and thinking rapidly in his mind.
"I think I can make a brand new top wine with a very unique taste." Simon had an idea and couldn't help but smile.
Botrytis wine.
Botrytis wine actually originated from a war in the Kingdom of Hungary in the mid-seventeenth century. At that time, the Turkish army attacked during the grape harvest season in Tokaj, Hungary, causing people to not start harvesting grapes until early November. At this time, the grapes had begun to shrivel, and the surface was covered with mold.
People had no choice but to use these rotten grapes to make wine, but they were surprised to find that the wine produced was much more mellow than the wine usually made from fresh grapes. As a result, Tokaj's noble rot wine began to reach glory, and people gave it the title of "Imperial Wine". Even the upper-class French nobility called it the king of wine.
"Basically no one knows the secret of botrytis wine now. Maybe, I can be the first person to eat crabs," Simon thought, almost grinning from ear to ear. "If I remember correctly, Li Bei The wine grapes produced in Frankfurt, which is not far from the Count of Gege, are very suitable for making noble rot wine.”
A new way to make money gradually took shape in Simon's mind.
At this time, servants carrying dishes came in from the door of the wooden tower and gently placed the dishes on the large wooden table where everyone was sitting.
Under the elegant and sweet sound of the viele played by the musicians, the bard Ludwig also began to sing passionately.
"My God! Handsome ancestor! He is really a descendant of your ancestors! He swallowed a huge pig's shank and drank a gallon of wine in two sips. Whoever he used force on, this man's life is in danger!"
During Ludwig's moving singing, Simon picked up a square plate made of white bread placed in front of him by a waiter, took a sip of broth, and placed the bread plate with the large pieces of goose and meat on it. The long strip of bacon took a big bite.
"Grrr, pfft." Baron Red next to him picked up the wooden bowl, rinsed his mouth, turned around and spit on the ground "politely".
This was such a table manner behavior in the eyes of the nobles at the time, but it was still so rude and unbearable in Simon's eyes.
When Ludwig finished his chant, the clown walked up.
The clown wore a red triangular pom-pom hat and a bright green short robe with exaggerated patterns. He held an old rattle in his hand and danced hilariously, even falling hard while doing a backflip. Dog chews mud.
"Hahaha!" Looking at the clown's poor performance, the nobles couldn't help but laugh out loud.
"Little Simon, this clown actually has a problem with his head," Baron Red said to Simon while holding a tray, chewing the bread and meat in his mouth, "The costume he is wearing is actually a satire on the current trend among the aristocracy. Clothing style. Sometimes, he would also use unpleasant words and silly songs he made up to ridicule his lord."
"Then Baron Iser isn't angry?" Simon was a little confused.
"Ha, didn't I tell you? He has a problem with his head, and no one takes his words seriously. No matter how much he scolds, everyone just thinks he is making people laugh." Baron Red directly broke a large piece with his hands The grilled beef was stuffed into his mouth.
"It feels so good." Baron Red swallowed the beef with satisfaction and spat on the ground. "By the way, little Simon, I heard that you have a powerful catapult. I wonder if you have any intention of selling it to me."
"Oh? Baron Red, do you want to fight?" Simon saw that the relaxed look on the Baron's face was completely free of any tension or solemnity.
"Almost, but it's a little too early now. My territory is on the seaside, where those damn Norman pirates often visit. I think I must have a sharp weapon to break their strong shields. Wall. Without further ado, you can just ask for a price, as long as it is within the range I can accept." With that said, Baron Red grabbed another roasted lark and ate it.
"I think eighteen Denier silver coins should be enough." Simon held his chin and thought for a while. Anyway, this trebuchet is just a temporary work made in a hurry. After selling this trebuchet, I can make a more advanced counterweight trebuchet.
"What? Little Simon, are you kidding?" Baron Red was a little unbelievable.
Just when Simon thought the price was too high and was about to lower it, Baron Red suddenly laughed: "This is much cheaper and more cost-effective than spending nearly forty or fifty deniers of silver coins to hire an engineer to come over and build a catapult directly. We have an agreement, little Simon! Eighteen Denier silver coins!"
Simon curled his lips and wanted to say something, but in the end he didn't say anything. He felt as if he had made a mistake.
