In front of the fork in the road, Julian and his men decided to go to the village of Kooser first, because Cuthbert had heard before setting off that Simon would often visit the village of Kooser to supervise the construction of various local projects, so, There's a better chance of finding Simon there.
There are many deep ruts on the path leading to the village of Kooser, and the water in the ruts shines in the sunlight. Julian thought that there might be frequent convoys carrying building materials and merchandise coming and going.
The gentle slopes beside the river were covered with green grass. Not long after Julian and his party walked forward, pieces of cultivated land and pastures enclosed by wooden fences appeared on both sides of the path.
The farmers in the fields and the cattle herders on the livestock farm spoke a language that Julian could not understand. He asked the more knowledgeable Cuthbet in confusion, and the latter also told him with some confusion that this might be the north. Lowland language.
"Simon will do anything to attract residents to this village," Julian curled his lips disdainfully, "I'm afraid he may not be able to understand these strangers scolding him in front of Simon, let alone Not to mention that if someone were to plot a rebellion, they wouldn’t even have to cover their voices!”
"That's right," Cuthbet agreed, "to be honest, I don't like people from the lowlands. Not only do they have an ugly language, but they are often more cunning than the residents of Cologne. They like business, but it is said that they Everyone is a born liar, and whoever does business with them will be really unlucky..."
The group walked through the pasture fields outside the village of Kooser under Cuthbert's endless "science" that was full of stereotypes and false rumors. An increasingly strong smell of ale captivated everyone's noses. .
Soon, they came to the source of the smell - a newly built tavern and a brewing workshop built with strips of wood next to the tavern.
Cuthbet's nose is very sensitive, but his long-term urban life has also made him unusually distressed - his nose has never been able to get used to the various mixed odors that others are accustomed to.
But now, he discovered something surprising - from the time they started walking into the outskirts of Keoser Village until they entered the village, except for the occasional strong odor wafting out of the "Holy Manifestation Pit" they passed by, and the occasional cattle passing by, There was an unavoidable smell of livestock in the shed, but he actually didn't smell that disgustingly familiar smell anymore.
Although the roads in Kooser Village are muddy and full of ruts and footprints, they are exceptionally clean. In other places, as long as there are human activities, you can see excrement everywhere on the ground.
Cuthbet thought that if he hadn't been concerned about his identity, he would have really wanted to settle in this village, even if he could not yet accept the lowlander neighbors and the local practice of using dung to fertilize crops.
Julian's reaction was slower, and his focus was not on the health of the village at all.
As an alcoholic, after Julian got rid of his status as a squire and became a minor lord, he finally no longer had to suppress his need to drink because he needed to watch what was happening all day long.
His cheeks were always red, because after he became a knight, as long as he had the opportunity to drink, he would never let it go. It was obvious that he was fascinated by the ale of Keoser Village just by smelling it.
"This fragrance is so charming." Julian thought, this smell has a sense of picture, and he now feels as if he is in the golden wheat field in autumn.
In fact, the ale of Keoser Village is now somewhat famous in the northern lowlands.
After Simon's territory took in the refugees and opened up new fields, the grain harvested in the second and third years could not even be contained in the newly expanded granary.
After keeping enough reserves, Simon ground part of the grain into flour and made bread and sold it to the lowland areas that were mired in war and the demand for food soared. The other part asked the old brewer and Alice to help him brew ale and sell it to the passers-by. Caravans and travelers.
It is worth mentioning that from time to time, military quartermasters from the principalities in the lowland areas would bring convoys to Simon's territory to buy wine and food supplies.
But Simon needed more than just money. He would always talk to the quartermasters and tell them that he needed strong serfs or skilled craftsmen. If they could bring some of them next time, Simon would buy them at slave market prices.
This is not difficult for quartermasters. In the protracted war in which the Principality of Flanders claimed the earldom of Helder, the most indispensable ones were homeless farmers, craftsmen with nothing, opportunistic robbers, and rioters who harmed one side.
Therefore, among the refugees captured by the lord's army, the thin guys who were starving and eating ergot (the mold that grows on rye bread) were eliminated, while those who had skills or looked healthier and stronger were eliminated. Taken south and sold to slave traders, or to lords like Simon who needed manpower.
The village of Kooser is currently made up mainly of slaves who have lost their free status. Compared to the ergot-eating life of exile, at least they can now fill their stomachs with normal food and don't have to worry about being cut open by brutal bandits. Thank God.
"belch!"
Julian, who was sitting on a chair in the tavern, burped and looked very satisfied. However, he did not forget the purpose of his trip.
He raised his sleeves and wiped the corners of his mouth, paid for six glasses of ale for himself and his men, patted the pocket with the letter, and walked out of the main entrance of the tavern.
This newly built tavern is located on a gentle slope by the river, with a wide view of the entire small village.
The road in front of the pub stretches forward to the bank of the Rhine River downhill. Semi-ground residential huts are built on both sides of the road. At the end of the road is a small wooden pier surrounded by vendors' stalls, with a boat used to cross the river docked at the pier.
The sharp-eyed Julian soon discovered a strange building not far from the river bank. A large "wooden wheel" with evenly distributed grooves was "installed" on the water side of the double-story building. At this time It is spinning in circles with the flow of the Rhine River. He had never seen anything like it before, and he thought it was really weird.
"Cathbet, please tell me what that is? How could someone make a wheel about the same size as a house and soak it in the river? God bless it, it can actually move around on its own!" Julian's cheeks were slightly red after drinking. He yelled like the country bumpkin he usually looked down on the most.
"I don't know either." Cuthbet looked a little shocked. This monster that could move on its own was obviously built recently. Otherwise, someone like him who pays special attention to the developments in Simon's territory would definitely hear about it.
They wanted to find a villager to ask, but then they remembered that these guys were all strangers who spoke Lowland, so they had to give up the idea.
In fact, it was a water-powered mill built by Simon under the guidance of carpenters and masons.
In Simon's eyes, there was not much technical content in building a water-powered mill. In addition to the troublesome making of large windlass, the installation of gears and the transportation of large millstones, other construction work such as laying the cornerstones of houses and building double-story attics can be completed well by masons and carpenters.
The water-powered mill in the village of Kooser is not far from Colive's family mill. The latter was shelved by Simon after the water mill was built. It is now used exclusively for storing grain and flour, and is also equipped with two fully armed soldiers to live in. Keep an eye on the house.
"Sir, let's go and have a look at that house." Cuthbert looked at Julian and pointed at the long wooden house next to the ferry pier. "That's the biggest house in this village. I think there might be us there." The person you want to find.”
Julian waved his hand and walked downhill with his men. After passing by the busboy in the tavern and two patrolling soldiers, they arrived at the dock.
Here Julian reined in his horse and took a closer look at the water-powered mill.
Just then, a man in a white miller's uniform walked out with difficulty carrying a bag of ground flour. Julian then knew that this was a mill that operated with the help of water power.
There was a huge wave in his heart.
He thought, why did Simon master such a magical and exquisite technology? Could he really be favored by God? Thinking of this, he couldn't help but feel a little uneasy about the plan he was going to implement next.
There were two young soldiers with spears guarding the entrance to the yard of the long wooden house. Looking at the soldiers' heraldic robes with the coat of arms of the Dorsten family, Cuthbert was sure of his thoughts - Simon Just inside the house.
It must be mentioned here that although Simon got rid of the current head of the Dorsten family Lange with the help of the Duke of Cologne, as one of the branches of the family, he still uses Dorsten Family coat of arms.
If Simon marries another family, he can combine the crest of the married family with that of his own family to create a new crest of his own. The current change is nothing more than changing from "Simon from Dorsten" to "Simon from Woldburg".
"What do you want?" The young soldier noticed this group of armed guys early. When the leader, Cuthbet, walked near the longhouse yard, he called them vigilantly.
"Lord Julian from the Kempen Valley brought a letter from Lord Lange to Baron Simon." Cuthbet said arrogantly.
"Hold on."
One soldier turned and walked into the yard. The other soldier tightened his grip on his weapon and looked at Julian and his group with cold eyes. If they made any move, he would immediately shout a warning to other soldiers, and then fight them with all his strength. .
This was Simon's order to his soldiers - to be wary of any of Lange's men.
Although Lange is unlikely to send an elite team to assassinate Simon in such a blatant manner in full view of the public, Simon does not want to bet his own life - the two rich baronies are very important to the current first heir, Earl Lange. It's still very tempting.
"Lord Simon is meeting Lord Bruce from Isselburg. You have to wait for a while." The young soldier who reported the news returned to the gate of the courtyard and responded to Cuthbert's arrogance just now in a cold tone.
"Damn it, Simon didn't take his brother Lord Lange seriously at all!" Cuthbet said to Julian impatiently.
"Be patient, Cuthbet." Julian frowned and pressed his hands. Although the group of them was ignored by Simon, he knew that having an attack now would only make him look like a fool and lose his grace. .
"It won't be long before he will pay for what he has done." Julian said to himself in his heart.
