Chapter 306： 1 transaction

Generally speaking, the Ross people and their servants live in extremely cold places close to the Arctic Circle. Due to the cold weather, everyone rarely sweats. In addition, there are a lot of sea fish in the food, and a little sea salt is always eaten into the stomach when the fish is cooked. On the whole, the Ross people have no salt shortage at all, and they are completely different from the inland residents.

The Balmerks also understood this, so Modgen’s plan was to sell salt to the Corvins in the interior, and then drag a large amount of leather back to Narvik Port, which is narrow and barren mountains everywhere. Own people to make a lot of money.

As long as there is no long-term intense physical exertion, the residents of the northern coastal areas will not suffer from salt shortage, regardless of the age.

Mordgen realized that his big buyers were also sea heroes. How could they have a strong interest in salt?

He cautiously asked: "Maybe, you are not very salt-short."

"Yes, we do not lack salt. But boiling salt is a troublesome thing. If you can provide a lot of salt, why should I separate my hands to cook the salt? Just like you and me, you cook salt, and I buy salt from leather. Isn’t it beautiful that everyone takes what they need?"

Hearing this explanation, Modogen couldn't help but smiled awkwardly.

Rurik sucked his fingers clean. With the salt alone, he estimated that the Balmers 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 good. Rurik feels that they are also good at controlling the temperature of salt precipitation. The bitter taste from magnesium chloride is hardly felt in this mouth. You should know that the pure taste of sodium chloride will give birth to a particularly pleasant sensation when it is perceived by the human tongue. If the bitter impurities are not removed during processing, the taste will be bad.

Rurik clapped his hands and proudly said: "I want all your salt. Don't you want fur? I have many kinds of leather here! I will exchange leather for all the salt with you."

Mordecen was overjoyed, and he didn't expect the other party to be so happy.

"You, what else do you have?" Rurik continued. "If it's interesting, I want it all."

"And... there are some iron tools, I think you only don't need this."

"Ironware? Well, we don't lack iron ourselves." Rurik returned to his seat: "Let's continue to talk about the problem of salt. You offer a price, how much leather do I need in exchange for all your salt."

In fact, Mordecen has always been a little worried. He is surrounded by some Ross warriors holding swords. Shuangfeng is doing business. He always feels a sense of spiritual oppression, in order to be safe from the fortress of the Ross people. Li left with the goods, but Modgen did not dare to open his mouth, and even he was willing to give a lower price for the smooth transaction.

Mordecen looked at the bear skins sitting under him and the bear heads on the wall: "If you want, I am willing to exchange a pound of salt for your...two of your bear skins."

"That's it?"

"Why? You are not willing." Modgen said hurriedly. "Our expedition used to exchange a pound of salt for as many as fifty squirrel skins from the Corvin. Although bear skins are more difficult to obtain, our salt is also very precious. ."

Rurik noticed that the other party had misinterpreted his meaning. According to Rurik's idea, their prices were actually much lower than their psychological expectations, as if they were deliberately showing weakness.

In fact, this is purely a matter of concern for Ricardo. 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 for the Russians.

Due to the long trade routes and poor transportation, one pound of salt for two bearskins does not actually tell who earns and who loses. The transaction between the two parties is actually difficult to measure by the weight of silver coins. In the final analysis, the Rus people exist In the trading system of the Mind Subtribe Alliance, the Ross talents have contacted the Balmerks this year.

"Okay." Rurik said no more: "Since you are willing to buy my bear skins at this price, we will trade like this. I trade your salt for sixty bear skins, but I am worried that you have no energy at all. Bring them back to their hometown."

Mordgen 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 ship the goods, I will be very happy."

"That won't work." Rurik shook his head: "I also hope you can bring in some slaves, you know, we Rus need a lot of slaves."

"Slave? Maybe, if we can catch it." Mordgen squeezed his beard and didn't say anything.

When he got here, Rurik didn't want to make a fuss about slavery, although he needed a lot of labor. Instead of letting business partners arrest 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, there will be many people vying to become servants later. Or renting a little metal farming tool can induce a large number of Novgorod people to reclaim land and become "tax citizens."

Rurik continued to ask: "You seem to have brought other goods?"

"It's some ironware. My lord, if you are willing to buy it."

"Let me see."

Mo Degen immediately motioned to his subordinates to open another linen pocket, only to see that it was filled with axes that had not yet been fitted 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 his head and glanced at it, but just glanced lightly and lost interest.

"These axes of yours are obviously rusty. They seem to be of poor quality."

"This..." Mordgen felt a little displeased, helplessly under the eaves, and he mocked himself: "Obviously, our ironing skills are not excellent. In your opinion, these axes are very bad, if... …"

"Oh. You mean that you will make a fortune when you sell it to the Kewen people? Say, how many pieces of leather are you going to exchange for an axe?"

Mordgen did not hesitate: "An axe is equivalent to a pound of salt, and I am willing to price it this way. Sir, if you are willing to buy, we speak the same language, presumably all use silver coins. I would like to have ten silver coins per axe. I will buy you all of them at the price of yours."

Mordgen proposed the price, which he thought was reasonable, but the Ross Warriors on both sides couldn't help laughing.

"What? My pricing is a bit ridiculous?"

"No!" Rurik stretched out his right hand to stop everyone's ridicule, and then stared at Modgen's eyes: "Friends in the distance, you look at your products too highly. Your axe is obviously the worst. How dare you set a price for ten? silver?!"

"you……"

Modgen raised his chest, he felt the humiliation from a child, and this unprecedented feeling made him resent.

The anger was only in his heart, he tried his best to suppress the tremor of his skin, and deliberately said: "So your axe is better?"

"Of course! You can easily destroy your axe."

"what?!"

"Why, don't you believe it?" Rurik deliberately provoked.

"No! I just..."

"Just what?"

Mordgen guessed what the other party wanted to do, "My lord, the two axes collided, and the sharpened blade was damaged. It doesn't matter if my axe is damaged, I'm just worried about hurting your axe."

Hearing it, Rurik was stunned, and then slowly laughed: "Why do I think you are mocking me?"

"No, I never meant that."

"It doesn't matter, the only thing that will be damaged is your axe. Since you have confidence in your own axe, we will try it. It just so happens that we can also show you our Rus axe!" Rurik said confidently. A mercenary stood up, then took his chrome steel hand axe and approached Modgen.

A warrior in chain mail stood in front of him, and the strong pressure made Modgen rush to fear.

What made him even more surprised was that the color of the axe in the opponent's hand was so special?

The darker color does not look like simple iron.

Rurik asked one last time: "Your axe will be destroyed. Don't regret it."

"Yes, I don't regret it."

"Then let's start."

Rurik gave the order, then the mercenary with the axe was glaring, his right hand gripped the axe handle tightly, facing the back of an axe of Modgen, he chopped it down desperately.

After all, they are completely full-time mercenaries. Their daily affairs are either cutting down big trees with an axe or doing combat training. They have become very strong beings, especially the strength of their arms is the most amazing.

The chrome steel hand axe chopped and chopped down at a great speed. The moment it was smashing, only a pop was heard, and something amazing happened!

After all, it is a Nordic style axe. The axe brought by Modgen has a slender axe back, and now the axe back is split into two sections.

The mercenaries were not surprised at this. Because most of them smashed their old swords after they got their chrome steel hand axe for celebration or a sacrificial act.

The mercenary played with his axe. He checked the axe blade and muttered proudly: "Sure enough, my axe has no scars at all."

At the same time, everyone saw the shocked faces of outsiders.

Modogen just didn't know what happened, his mouth kept shaking, recalling the memory of this life, he had never seen such a miraculous thing.

In his concept, the collision of two axes will definitely cause deep dents on both sides of the axe blades.

The ending completely surpassed his cognition, and the Ruth's axe was unharmed? !

Everything was in Rurik's expectation, and he secretly congratulated him: "Your axe must still be processed in the same way."

Ilurik's understanding of the current smelting technology in the Nordic world, except for the two regions under the Russ, the rest of Europe not only did not know how to manufacture low-carbon steel, they did not even understand the quenching heat treatment process.

Therefore, although outsiders know how to smelt iron, their axe is just a piece of wrought iron that has been beaten into an axe as it gradually cools down. When it is basically formed, the metal is also difficult to wake up because it is not hot enough. They are pure irons that are naturally cooled. Their hardness can only be said to be pretty good. At least they are sufficient for logging. The only trouble is that they require frequent maintenance.

Chrome steel is a completely different existence! Ferrochrome is naturally hard. After the surface layer is infiltrated with carbon, its hardness is further improved, and then after quenching treatment, its hardness and rigidity have reached a peak. Using it to make a sword, it is extremely lacking in malleability, it is easy to break, but as an axe, it is really an indestructible treasure.

Rurik looked proud: "This time I won. Friends from afar, this is the axe of our Ross people, what do you think?"

"This... is simply... a magic weapon unique to Asgard, right?!"

Mordecen looked silly, and the arrogant mercenary announced on behalf of his master: "You guessed it, this is the axe owned by the people of Asgard. My master did get it. God’s blessing, otherwise it would be impossible to create such a tool from the ores of the world."

Mordecen was holding his two-section axe, and he felt that the cross-section of his axe was very smooth. It's not that it is broken by an impact. The Ruth's axe does something like a meat-cutting knife to cut a fish with ease.

A bold idea immediately came to his mind: "My lord, I have a strong request now!"

"Please? Tell me."

Seeing that the other person’s attitude has become kind, Mordgen boldly said: "I am eager to buy an axe of yours, and I am eager to have a tool that Asgard has. I am willing to exchange thirty pounds of salt for yours. ax."

Rurik couldn't believe his ears. If the other party had such an attitude, wouldn't he be able to slaughter these wading businessmen? Although it is a business trade, business has never believed in tears since ancient times, and it does not require too much favor. The other party is willing to sell at a low price, and the seller is willing to snap up the purchase, and everyone gets what they need.

Rurik still tentatively said: "Don't you want bear skin anymore? Also, why do 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 with your axe, all of mine has become waste. It has become worthless."

In fact, as long as these so-called wastes are smoldered and carburized for one to two days, and then forged and quenched again, although they are not as good as chromium steel, low carbon steel is still a magic tool.

Rurik just couldn't think of it. They struggled with all kinds of dangers. In order to get a magical axe, they would exchange all the goods at no cost?

If this business is completed, they will really lose money.

Of course, Rurik could finalize the business in one fell swoop and let the other party seek benevolence.

But when he did so, Rurik couldn't help but worry whether it would be a short-sighted behavior. By default, both friends and potential competitors can be stupid and can be deceived. Then, you are stupid if you have such an idea!

Now that the Russ and the residents of Narvik have finally started to communicate, the two sides must build a better bilateral relationship. Because the geographical distance is far enough, the strength of both sides is not weak, and Rurik did not intend to invade them, presumably they saw that they had powerful weapons, and they did not dare to be ambitious.

Is it profitable? At this time, perhaps giving up a little bit of interest is to win a potential ally for the Ruths. Ah, not to mention an ally, it is also a trading partner.

Rurik noticed the great strategic value of the Balmerks in Narvik Port at this stage-they can provide the best sea salt.

Rurik cleared his throat and became enthusiastic.

"Friends from afar, you have come all the way to let us know that there is a friend in the far west of the mountains. I am willing to make friends with you on behalf of the Russians. We can trade with each other and make us stronger."

Mordgen was a little confused, and it seemed that the situation had improved overall, "Are you willing to accept my trading terms?"

"No." Rurik shook his finger.

"Oh, do I have to pay a little bit more?"

"No. Both you and your people will get an excellent axe of our Ross people. The leather trade between you and me was terminated before, and ten axes were exchanged for all your goods. What do you think?"

Modgen couldn't believe what he heard: "My lord, are you sure?!"

"I am sure!"

"Oh! Then you are really a child blessed by God." Mudegan's eyes flashed when he spoke, and his guys felt that he had made a lot of money.

"But there is another condition." Rurik continued.

"What's the condition? Just say it."

"I invite you to our home city of Roseburg. We are very interested in you Balmerks, and we are eager for further trade in the future. I will arrange for you to meet with our real leaders to formally discuss our future. I may also ask you to bring greetings from our Ross people to the leader of Balmerk."

"Okay! I want to see the world too. But, you really are not the leader of the Ross people?" Modgen asked in surprise.

"I am, but I am not."

"Then who are you? Dear friend, I haven't even reported my name since we met. I am guilty."

The name is probably a code name, and Rurik has no intention of knowing more about the names of these outsiders whose usefulness to him is relatively unknown.

"Okay. What is your name?" Rurik asked.

"Mudegan."

"Okay, Mordgen." Rurik shrugged and then straightened up: "I am Rurik, Rurik of Ross, son of the leader Otto, I got Odin Eunhui is the future leader of Rose. You may think that I am a child from the beginning, and you feel that I lack credibility. Now I tell you that I deserve your trust.

I will buy all of your purchase price immediately, and I can hand it over to you now. I also ask you to continue to live in my settlement until a few days before the summer solstice, we will take the boat south back to Roseburg.

You will live in our territory for a period of time, and you will be treated well. I promise you that I will not break my promise. "

It sounds so tempting, Modgen thought it was incredible: "Oh, it's a wonderful favor. But my lord, what's the price?"

"It's a peaceful trade between our two tribes! For example, we sell you leather and the best weapons, you sell us the best salt or whatever. In the end, you will be my escort. The messenger is on the way back. You must let your leader know about the existence of our Rus people, our strong strength, and the hope for trade."

So far, Modgen has understood everything. He knelt down immediately, clenching his right hand and banging his heart: "My lord, we are willing to help you."