Rise of Rurik

Five merchants entered Kravasen's modest blacksmith shop, and they entered its inner room.

They saw an advanced furnace that the Kravassen family could smelt sponge iron without breaking, and they saw a rudimentary manual punching machine for pressing glassware.

They lack in-depth understanding of production and production, and when they see such objects, they basically turn a blind eye, and say that they will stain their beautiful fox fur coats if they are too close.

After the hustle and bustle of the afternoon, Kravasen and Rurik had not had time to divide the nearly 30 kilograms of silver, and now they had new business opportunities.

Seize the opportunity and make more money. Because money is not just some precious metal, it can also achieve greater power.

Rurik's brain is a little tired, and this body is also weak, not as good as those adults who have the ability to paddle continuously for more than ten hours.

He endured drowsiness and decided to have a good chat with these five clients with the help of Kravason.

Customers, their purpose is very simple!

When they were outdoors, they stretched their necks and smiled, bowing to Rurik, who looked like a "little devil".

Negotiating business? Come on then!

The meeting took place at Clavason's home.

Is the venue poor? That's really shabby. It is so simple that the drinking cup is made of clay, and only Kravason himself enjoys the high-end green and environmentally friendly potassium-calcium glass made by himself.

Rurik sat cross-legged on the leather cushion, and he gave these well-dressed old guys the feeling that he was not a child by any means.

Rurik's voice was childish, but his demeanor was quite calm, and he spoke like an adult.

"You want to do bigger business with me? Come on, I welcome you on behalf of our Ross tribe."

Rurik said some polite remarks and quickly enlivened the atmosphere.

An old furry merchant wearing a fur hat made of the finest velvet cap of a young white fox. He gently covered his heart with his right hand through the clothes, and bowed slightly to show his sincerity.

"My little lord, I admire the furs of your Roth tribe. When I was old enough to paddle from Merlaren to your Roth by myself, I began to live here. Because of you, I became rich."

It was another courtesy, and Rurik heard it somberly.

Rurik first gave a business-like smile and continued to be polite: "So, do you think you can become richer by working with me?"

"Of course!" The merchant suddenly raised his long shirt and sat up straight: "My little master, the five of us are here today to discuss with you. I hope you can trust us, just like the ancient man who trusted the Ankras tribe. Trust us, just like Germany. We hope to be able to…”

"Like a piece of oily barbecue, and you share?" Rurik asked knowingly.

"Yes. We are sincerely willing to cooperate."

After this person finished speaking, the other four agreed one after another.

In fact, as for Rurik, he learned that the other party clearly identified the identity of the Melalen tribe, and naturally calculated the possibility of opening the market.

Because Gould belonged to the Ankras tribe after all, the goods imported from him would theoretically be sold in the Ankras market to a large extent. Although Gould also made it clear that its dumping market is mainly in the large bazaars of the Mellaren people.

Eggs cannot be put in the same basket,

Nor can there be just one client.

Rurik closed his eyes and thought about it, and began to ask clearly about the exact origins of the five merchants, because before that, Rurik himself only had a very rough understanding of his identity, that is, "guest merchants".

They introduced themselves. Three were from the Meralen tribe and two were from the Uppsala tribe.

"Uppsala? I know such a name." Rurik's small waist suddenly sat upright.

"You know us well?" an old businessman with a black bear skin and a strange braided beard asked respectfully.

Rurik said proudly: "You are from Uppsala, I know very well. Our tribe has some precious wooden boards, and our long-lived high priest has recorded our ancient history. We, the Ross tribe, used to be with you. Neighbor."

"Huh? Does it really matter?!" The merchant wearing the bearskin hat really didn't know about it, but he felt that Rurik's words were an act of kindness.

"Of course." Rurik affirmed: "Our ancestors chased fur and fish, went to the far north, and came to the current position."

Because this is what is written on the planks of Villa, and the real history is also lost in the mist.

Uppsala's clan name will endure forever, as will Meralen's.

All the people who lived in the Svealand Plain were Germanic immigrants from the ancient Danish region.

At the end of the Roman Empire, some members of the Aros tribe in central Jutland began to participate in the great movement of expanding northward across the sea.

The immigrants of the Aros tribe entered the Svealan Plain, and many immigrants lived here, naturally forming a new tribal alliance.

But they have left Denmark. For hundreds of years, Denmark and Svealan, the two tribal alliance groups, have gradually become inexorable and intensified. The Aros people, who live northeast of Jutland, call themselves "Aros of the East", or "Ostraros".

But they have long since become different from their Jutland relatives, the article "Eastern" has been dropped, and it has become Ross.

Rurik was not aware of these events, but the ancestors of Rus were closely related by geography and blood to the people of Uppsala, the people of Ankras, and even the people of Meralen.

The merchants deliberately got close to Rurik, and so did Rurik.

Since everyone who is doing this has a close relationship with their ancestors.

"Then talk about what you want to buy, and about the right price," Rurik said.

"We want to buy your crystal glass. Oh, no, it's a glass," said the man in the white fox hat.

"Continue to buy? Welcome."

"That's right, we want a little better price. But, we'll definitely buy more."

Rurik pinched his chin and thought for a moment, "Offer? I can consider it. Let's talk about it first, how much are you going to buy?"

The five of them looked at each other, and the man in the white fox hat said, "Two, just twenty. The five of us will buy twenty from you each. We plan to go south as soon as we get the goods, and see if we can. Sell ​​it well."

The five people just bought a hundred glasses. In fact, making these glasses does not require too complicated craftsmanship. Even the so-called most troublesome step is actually the blacksmith entering the mountain to find ores. After all, making a glass is much easier than forging a steel sword.

Rurik did not give an immediate answer, but continued to ask: "Let's talk about the price first. I hear what you mean, I think the price of two hundred silver coins was too high. You hope I can discount it."

"Yes. Today, the clan cup you sold to you is only sixty silver coins. We can all understand, but I hope that when we buy it, the price will be at least as low as ... twice as low."

"How can this be done!" Clavathon suddenly spoke up, feeling more excited, "Listen, except for the steel sword and glass that I have here, you may be able to buy it elsewhere, you will only pay more Money. Do you know Gould's glass bottle? That thing is three hundred silver coins! We're selling you two hundred silver coins, which is a good deal."

The five merchants also respected Klavathon, all because today's Ross blacksmiths are beginning to forge magical steel swords.

The merchants sit here and have their own needs for steel swords.

Rurik held a small face and gently raised his right hand to signal Kravasen not to say more.

Seeing this, the sturdy Klavathon hurriedly shut up.

Rurik thought of something. He didn't explain the matter, but said, "Twenty is too many. I can only sell you ten each. Also, the price, I can give you a discount." Rurik deliberately put on a bad face of "losing money": "You think the preferential price of two hundred silver coins given to you is still not good enough. That's good! One hundred and fifty silver coins, I can't lower the price any more. This is the final Do you accept the price?"

"Accept! Accept!" The old guy in the white fox hat felt that he really took advantage of the price, and nodded respectfully.

However, some people asked why they only planned to sell 50 units in total.

Clavasson touched Rurik's arm lightly a few times, and then leaned over to the child's ear: "Rurik, we can definitely produce more. If they want a total of 100, give them to them, I don't think so. tired."

Rurik remained fixed, ignoring Clavasson's suggestion in the slightest.

Seeing this, Clavasson sat up straight, and couldn't say anything.

Rurik continued: "If you are all willing, we will make a contract. We will make fifty ordinary glass. As for the price, it is undoubtedly one hundred and fifty silver coins. If you have gold coins in your hands, it is Fifteen gold coins. Listen, I actually prefer gold coins."

Yes, Rurik prefers gold coins to silver coins.

Not only because of the beautiful appearance of gold gleaming, but also thought that it is more rare. As for gold, its natural monetary properties were strongly recognized by Rurik. It is also easier to carry than silver.

Both silver and gold are good things.

Even if there is no paper, the contract still needs to be written on the wooden board with the tip of a knife, and then smeared with ink to confirm the contract. For businessmen, contracts are very important.

The five businessmen were moved to tears. Because Rurik is to make a written contract, so as to ensure that neither side will turn their backs on them.

And this wooden board that records the contract is also the proof of the close business relationship with each other in the future.

The five of them felt that they finally got a piece of the pie from the particularly rich Gould. Maybe they couldn't sell soap on a large scale, but they should also make a lot of money selling glasses.

The plank contract was completed, and the contract stipulated that Rurik should make all the glasses within five days. It's really not difficult, it just needs Kravason to go to the mountains and rivers to choose suitable ore and river sand.

At this moment, it is finally getting late, because the summer solstice is approaching, and the days in Roseburg are getting longer and longer.

Another contract order of up to seventy-five pounds of silver has been confirmed. Cravason is already gearing up. He thanked Rurik in his heart and was about to stand up and start production.

However, commercial transactions will continue.

These five businessmen, of course, their financial resources are not comparable to Gould. However, the skills of these second-order traffickers are not small.

They also hired guards to defend themselves. Purely based on the ability to buy and sell, they could earn at least a thousand silver coins per year.

For the most common Ross fishermen, the monthly food consumption is probably only three silver coins.

In this society, the gap between the rich and the poor is so extreme, which objectively stimulates the fishermen to turn into warriors, to loot the hostile large families, and to have the savings of a large family for a lifetime.

The five of them bought all kinds of furs and other things of the Rus people every year, and then sold them to the tribes in the south at high prices, and even secretly sold them to the Danes for even greater wealth.

For ten glasses, they spent two years of net profit, and they had already calculated an account for themselves, which is of course more cost-effective than buying and selling.

In fact, even if it is still two hundred silver coins, it is still cost-effective.

After all, the old guy from Gould is a shrewd person, and the glass bottle is three hundred silver coins, which is the market price in the south.

Therefore, there is a price difference of one hundred silver coins. Thanks to the favor of the future leader of the Ross tribe, the profit of the difference has skyrocketed to one hundred and fifty.

What kind of concept is this? If it is safe to sell it, this year's sales will be worth the past two years!

Of course, with such precious possessions in their arms, they also know that there will be people who are eyeing the sea to kill them and snatch away their belongings. Even so, risk taking is a very rewarding action.

The five businessmen decided to gamble at all costs. They held their respective wooden contracts, and they had the consciousness of success if they failed.

Trading continues.

This time, the subject became Kravason.

It was the man in the white fox fur hat of the Melalen tribe who said, "We all plan to buy steel swords from you. But we are different from your tribe. We have always had a lot of wealth, and we naturally want the most Good sword."

"Hehehehe." Clavason smiled in a good mood: "Okay, what kind of sword do you need?"

The five of them each began to explain their needs. The core requirement is that the length is 2/cm), the blade has a bloodletting groove, and the groove should be inlaid with gold. They all demanded that the hilt be not only of solid oak, but also inlaid with some silver.

The most important thing is the end of the hilt, where a large amber must be placed.

They also have some personalized requests, which Clavason wrote on a long-used wooden board with charcoal blocks. This is a memo.

"Then let's talk about the price!" Today, the iron smelting industry is still controlled by the seller's market, and Kravassen sells it at one price; "Five hundred silver coins for a steel sword."

"Ah?! It's so expensive." The white fox hat merchant was taken aback, as were the others.

Even Rurik was equally shocked.

But Kravason claims that such a high price is reasonable: "Do you think it is expensive? Don't ignore it, I'm a blacksmith and a jeweler. Look at what you ask for? Hardwood, gem-set, and more. Plate the sword with gold and silver. Remember, if you go to the end of the world, you will not find another craftsman with this kind of skill if you leave our Ross tribe!"

Rurik really admired it secretly. He had the ability, and he was tough when he spoke.

When they thought of owning a divine sword that was not inferior to Otto, the big chief of the Ross tribe, and spent half a year's income to buy it, the five of them made a ideological struggle and expressed their approval.

It takes time to craft a sword.

In the face of these wealthy people, Clavason, in line with professional ethics, did not intend to stop using "Twenty Refinements" as "Fifty Refinements" when making Hundred Steels. Clavasson knew that he also had to take Rurik's attitude into consideration, and disappointing the merchants would affect Rurik's interests, and it could be said to be harmful.

The agreement on the special steel sword was also signed. It was completely different from the former. The delivery date of this agreement was postponed to the autumnal equinox, which is the day when the day and night will appear in the second half of the year.

For the merchants, that is, they go to the south with all kinds of goods to sell clean, and when they return with other goods, they can also get their own magical steel swords.

They were the first to pay a deposit of one hundred silver coins for this purpose.

They were all merchants, and Rurik did not forget the opportunity to continue trading.

Merchants wanted to maximize their trading volume in the warm summer to make profits, just by transporting the goods from Roseburg to the south, and the money earned was only a share. The Rus people have also needed some goods from the south since ancient times, that is, for a long time, the demand of the Rus people was not large. One of the most critical imported goods is flax!

Rurik made another verbal promise to them: "You try to buy necessities in the south. Especially grain and flax! You buy wheat in the harvest season in the south and bring it to us, and I will pay you twice the price. acquisition."

Rurik, as the future leader, made sure that he was not joking, but he did not make a written contract.

Because the Svealan plain can grow wheat, and Rosberg does not have this condition. Oats and rye in the harvest season, because they have not been dried, and farmers lack excellent storage technology, they all focus on selling wheat during this time period.

But the price of wheat is stable in normal years, and the value is not high. In fact, it is better to make money by trading in some special commodities than selling wheat.

For example, merchants resell looted alien populations. Because more labor force is strength!

Since Rurik used his honor as a bargaining chip, the merchants were willing to do it! Rurik's double purchase price made the wheat trade really profitable in normal years.

However, how did the businessmen and even Kravason know about Rurik's little calculus.

Especially Clavasson, he waited for the merchants to sleep in their own homes, so that he could have a good talk with Rurik. He could make more glasses and make a lot of money, so why was Rurik forcibly restrained? !