Chapter 1090： New situation in Utrecht

In today's era, coastal cities such as Calais and Dunkirk can be called fishing villages hidden in the seaside marshes at best.

Without military and trade demands, such fishing villages cannot develop into famous cities. It is very embarrassing that their geographical location does belong to the category of "Great Flanders Country", but because they are located in the remote saline swamps, they are still seriously lacking in utilization value.

If a yawing Viking fleet happened to break into such an area, it would naturally be possible to loot with an axe if it was supplied to compensate.

This was not the case in Ragnar's army raiding Britain. A very simple reason is that they do not know what settlements can be robbed in the seemingly vague coastal salt marshes, and the second is to abide by the treaty obligations of not looting the country of Flanders.

Geographically, from the city of Dover occupied by Ragnar to the so-called Romney Wetlands beach at Cape Dungeness, this Kentish territory under the Kingdom of Wessex became the home of the Danish Vikings Raid area.

Ragnar made a new history without an army of Danes entrenched here for long.

However, for the parties, they do not feel that their actions have any long-term significance.

A strait facing the looted area, and this is the Calais Strait in the narrow sense, but there is no "Calais stronghold" on the other side, and Ragnar never planned to build one.

All the lords have made gains, and many people plan to take it as soon as possible, and some lords feel that they can lure the king of Wessex through the city as a bait. Maybe not to fight head-on, it is also good to take the opportunity to extort a sum of money to force the other party to spend money to buy peace.

Evacuate with loot? Or ask for a tribute from the Wessex?

"I'm a king anyway! How can I withdraw like a rogue?"

Ragnar undoubtedly stood up and called on those noble lords who were eager to evacuate to not be busy. After all, the initiative in the battlefield has always been firmly controlled by the Danes.

However, the lords still intend to realize it as soon as possible.

Ironware, cloth, wool products, pottery pots... all kinds of strange things seized from the city were taken away as long as they had use value.

It seems that if you stay, you can extort a sum of money from the locals for the purchase of peace. The lords did not leave for more money, but they also made compromises and sent people they trusted to organize small fleets across the strait to go straight. Come to Rotterstad, an emerging stronghold at the estuary of the Inn.

It's in the middle of summer and the first swag from Britain has arrived!

When the Danish army left, the people who stayed in Rotterstad cut down trees to level the wasteland, and wooden longhouses rose from the ground. The lords of Zeeland have installed personnel, just like living on their home island, and the guys who stay in Rotterstad each divide their own territory very harmoniously.

The houses are densely packed and seemingly disorganized, but those who know the inside story can distinguish which tribe in Denmark the area in front of them belongs to by the abstract coat of arms marked.

Relying on the Rotter River, the Danish colonies are changing with each passing day, but she has always lacked the presence of the Rus.

So here comes the Rus.

The black and red foxes spent some time in Hamburg, unloading some cargo and immediately importing a shipment of raw Saxon-made sea salt.

The two foxes are young, and they have a deep understanding of the importance of salt in trade by referring to the trading experience of the two brothers. After all, it is known that most peoples in the world do not have the ocean-going ability of the northerners, so it is difficult to produce salt by themselves, which provides an opportunity for Russ merchants to make huge profits!

Purity of Faith? If life could be better, would the Frankish nobles and commoners willingly trade with the northerners?

The two foxes had crosses on their chests, and they were sure that this was the best pass for Frankish.

Ross's commercial fleet approached the estuary of the Inn, but they did not continue to charge into Rotterstad.

The two, who have been living very well since birth, are not really willing to go to Yanlu Lanlan. They heard that Rotterstad is a new trading city built in the coastal wasteland. It is better to go to Utrecht, which has always been relatively prosperous. .

The fleet turned into the Amstel River, and then gradually reached the city of Utrecht through a small waterway.

The flag of Ross was hoisted and the flag of the cross was also flying. Ordinary people who settled along the river felt the fear first. Only the local knights and gentlemen boldly brought their entourage and hurriedly dressed up as five people and six to go to the river to observe the fleet. , while proclaiming its existence.

"Some armed men?" Black Fox watched them cautiously.

"It may be a local noble or a wealthy businessman. We may deal with them." After that, Honghu advised his brother not to be nervous.

The Russ people are naturally not nervous, even if there is a real fight, the people here will suffer a lot.

The people of Utrecht are very nervous. Fortunately, Ross and Utrecht made a private agreement last year, and with the great peace talks in early 841, arrangements for the entire Netherlands including Utrecht have been made. The dust has settled.

Not long ago, a fleet entered the Rhine and went away. The fleet sent a messenger to inform Archbishop Alberg of Utrecht of the new situation.

When the local nobles are temporarily vacant, the bishop is obliged to perform the functions of the ruler.

Arbery is a good man. He has a good character and has no demands for secular power. Now he only hopes to keep the people in this area safe.

Now that the Ross ship really came, he took it for granted: "Maybe the Baron of Nassau has come to inherit the title?"

As a result, two little fat men came down.

After some negotiation, the truth was revealed, and the vigilant Utrecht was completely relaxed.

Standing in Arbery's position, he was even very moved by the brothers Black Fox and Red Fox.

In the church, Arbery personally received the two young believers who had come from afar.

"It turns out that it was Holy Esquil who baptized you. He is a man of honor, and obviously you two will be promising children. I know that your presence means peace."

The words were spoken in Latin, otherwise the bishop would have had to be full of Flemish tongues.

Black Fox and Red Fox are fortunate to have learned Latin. This language can not only be talked to by high-ranking priests everywhere, but will also be regarded by these social elites as high-class people.

"We did come peacefully." The red fox replied, "I am the red fox of the Gould family. I will be stationed in nearby Rotterstad. In the future, I will have close contact with you."

"Oh! All right." Bishop Arbery settled down, "that brand new Durist is full of danger, and perhaps only you can be friendly with the Danes there. Both of you have been called by the Lord, Maybe there is a possibility that the whole of Rotterstad can be converted and everything will be at peace."

The two brothers didn't quite understand these words, and the room fell into a small silence.

The red fox added: "We are only doing business under the orders of King Ross. Compared with Rotterstad, Utrecht is now more affiliated. As far as I know, the Baron of Nassau has not arrived yet, you are the local leader. Noble. How? We should start business cooperation immediately."

"This..." Arbery was immediately in a dilemma.

"how?"

"My child." Arbery shook his head helplessly, "I am a servant of God, not a businessman. I am not qualified to be a businessman, you... It is indeed difficult for a strong man. But cooperation is possible. The only thing I can do is Organize some local small nobles, you can talk to them."

The two of them knew almost nothing about Catholicism. The so-called conversion situation to complete the king's order was essentially disdain for them, and they only thought that it was a tool for smooth business.

They have a similar attitude towards any god, neither like nor dislike, and they have adhered to the principle of believing if they are useful.

Only when it comes to the issue of real interests, their seemingly sluggish attitude instantly turns into vitality.

If the Russ were not here for harassment or business, the local knights and the two brothers quickly met and had a small business meeting.

Part of the coarse salt imported from Hamburg is unloaded and sold to local knights at a higher price. The second is a batch of production-type iron farm tools from Ross. Their production costs are not high, but the local nobility in Utrecht is extremely expensive and lacks these tools. Both sides have mutual needs, even if the locals obviously have to pay more. The deal is still a hit.

Buy farm tools and rent them to tenants, and get more agricultural products at the time of harvest. The knight master was naturally a shrewd warrior when he was fighting, and he usually wanted to be a shrewd landlord. They will settle the accounts themselves, and they can make more money in the future by making sure that the transaction with the Rus people, and the transaction will naturally agree.

Although there were many Rus who disembarked, they did not rob or harass, and were even willing to spend money to buy agricultural products from the local area.

So the peasants in Utrecht heard the news. At first, a few people took the risk and took the newly harvested peas, cheese, milk and eggs to exchange some money in the temporary camp of the Rus.

At first, the two brothers' fleet did not know the local prices in Utrecht. As the Rus Kingdom has collected a large amount of silver and copper coins in the past ten years, the kingdom is actually in a state of so-called imported inflation. With the increase in the production of various materials and the king's intention to collect currency in circulation, the state of soaring prices has been curbed. And slowly become rational, but the general public still has a lot of money on hand. The old Rus and their descendants were the direct beneficiaries of the expansion. They did not feel that they actually had a lot of wealth, but in Utrecht, the Rus suddenly had a new title of "Kang".

The people who were stationed actually spent a lot of money on local produce such as egg and cheese, and in fact suffered a loss. As the saying goes, the good and the bad, the ordinary people of Utrecht urgently need some good people to give them more money, so as to pay off the debt to the lord, even if the Rus people quickly find out the local basic prices and have a lot of money They are still happy to purchase.

After all, compared to the bitterly cold northern world, the Netherlands faces the warm Atlantic Current, which is not extremely cold in winter and not too hot in midsummer. But for the Rus, this is a kind of warmth like a dream.

It is now the harvest season of peas in the Utrecht region, and due to its unique geographical advantage, the peas here can be grown twice a year. Usually, this is the non-staple food that the locals supplement their meals. Since the Rus people are willing to pay a higher price to buy it, it is the right way to try to sell it as much as possible.

The red fox and the black fox never thought that the local farmers were not afraid of themselves, but actively engaged in agricultural trade. They were worried about the supply of the fleet, and now the food problem has been solved.

It was also in this peaceful transaction that the immigrant army of Henry Nassau came.

The long boat was full of people from Nassau Village, and Henry Nassau dragged his family and his family and drifted smoothly to the city of Utrecht.

He had seen the city early, and was delighted that it was much larger than his native village of Nassau.

"Ah! This will be my main city from now on!"

Henry was in a good mood, and his family fantasized about a good life in the future.

However, the accompanying Rus were very vigilant. They saw their own ships moored at the dock and realized that the friendly forces had arrived. These people are hardly from the old Ross tribe in blood, and their identity is indeed the subjects of the Ross Kingdom. They actually knew the identities of their compatriots who had arrived in Utrecht, and those people were more noble than themselves.

Fortunately, the clothes on both sides were very similar, and outsiders who stood together could not tell who was the old Ross and who joined later.

Henry Nassau, who landed, was eager to swear his power. He stepped on his new territory with a roar, shouting like an ape, as if to roar some unpleasantness.

It can be said that Henry at this moment is like a clown, and his performance is very real.

I do not know how many generations of ancestors! Finally came my generation, became an earl, became a great noble!

Indeed, titles like dukes are reserved for the heirs of top nobles. Now Ludwig of the Eastern Kingdom has always called himself a king, and his legal first status is still the Duke of Saxony.

Henry Nassau was keenly aware that he finally had the power firmly in his hands, and he became a great aristocrat second only to the king-level nobles, and he could indeed live like a king in the future! Moreover, compared with the cramped village of Nassau, Utrecht is much richer.

It was different from what the local bishop Arbery imagined. When he really came into contact with Henry Nassau, the first earl of the Netherlands, he realized that this man had a strong desire for power and wealth.

Arbery, like his priests, adhered to the ascetic life as possible, the so-called extreme thrift to achieve simplicity, thus approaching the mystery of purity. It's not that he can't be extravagant, but he just doesn't like the extravagance and bad habits of the Bishop of Cologne, that is, it's not that he can't be unwilling. Want extravagance? It's too easy.

At first glance, Arbery didn't like the man Henry Nassau very much, but the former Baron of Utrecht was not very good either.

Henry commanded the archbishop: "I want to leave the house where I live to save the earl, and I want to settle my people immediately. Open the warehouse in Utrecht, and I will control it immediately! The residents of this city will pay this year's 11th tax immediately. Funds are needed. Oh, add another one, and I will pay another one for last year's 11th tax."

It is fair to say that Henry Nassau did not go too far. If any nobleman who acquired a new territory wanted to show his power, the first priority was to tax the local area. Henry was only asking for the 11th tax for two years, and it was his kindness not to ask for three years or more.

He didn't think so, it was hard for the people who just got the sweetness from the Rus.

For the local Flemish people, the Normans such as the Rus and Danes are outsiders, and aren't the Nassau people who have drifted down from the upper reaches of the Inn also outsiders?

Flemish and Nassau speakers spoke different languages, with the former having an overwhelming population, and Henry Nassau having fewer immigrants.

There is really no way, the people who have been tamed by the church like gentle lambs can only pay taxes to the new great nobles.

Of course, the local knights and the baron of Groningen very smoothly declared their allegiance to Henry Nassau and the county of the Netherlands. Still in accordance with the rules set by Charlemagne more than half a century ago, the lower nobles do not pay taxes to the high nobles, and the knights are only obliged to provide military assistance. All taxes were placed on the peasants, and the status of the local nobility was not reduced by Henry Nassau's stay, but was strengthened.

It was also here that he met Lanhu's two younger brothers.

The two young fat men, they obviously just grew beards, and the skin is indeed new and tender, which proves that they have not experienced the wasted training of the years.

"So, who is my son-in-law?"

Even before settling in, the immigrant community settled in the city is still flying, and Henry Nassau, who has just moved into the old earl's mansion, immediately meets the two younger brothers of the blue fox.

He and his wife looked at the two little fat men up and down, and then asked abruptly: "I have learned about you from your brother and King Ross. Who among you will go to my hometown of Nassau?"

"It's me." Heihu raised his head. "I am the third son of the Gould family, my name is Black Fox."

"But you're not black at all, even your face is very white." Henry Nassau joked deliberately.

"Oh, I can blacken my face with soot if you want."

Immediately, there were cheerful laughter from the house I am quite satisfied. ' said Henry's wife with laughter.

"Very good." Henry Nassau calmly said: "Black fox, your elder brother has already run a business in Nassau Village, I will not give up there, we will always cooperate. Therefore, my young daughter needs to marry a good person, Obviously, that's you."

"There is such a good thing?" Black Fox instantly opened his eyes wide.

Henry Nassau thought the little fat man didn't understand, so he deliberately explained: "You marry my daughter, and I will entrust you to help me manage it. You will have full power in Nassau Village, so that your king's decision can be implemented without merit. You can get power too. That's a good thing! And my daughter is beautiful and younger than you. She'll be a good wife."

One of his black foxes didn't understand, making it very clear that this was "a marriage of nobles". Hidden under the appearance of a peaceful businessman is the ambition of the black fox. He needs an opportunity. He really never thought that Henry Nassau, a "big fool", would give the opportunity away in vain.

Heihu didn't hesitate any more, and said bluntly: "Then, I can call you father..."