Tang Qi Tan

It was a typical Nordic-style shrine. Several mottled and old logs formed a platform-shaped frame, and a stone slab was inlaid inside; And the dragon snake and one-legged crow coiled under the tree.

As one of the few large stone buildings in Rotterdam, the hall, which was originally filled with various decorations, filing cabinets, and table cases, was cleaned up, leaving only a few old-looking tapestries on the wall.The tapestry's colorful patterns seem to depict some kind of epic battle scene.

From heroes fighting giant sea beasts in stormy waves, to groups of warriors wrestling and drinking in high halls; even above the battlefield full of swords and corpses, flying Pegasus chariots and armored women holding spears.Then, the figure kneeling in front of the shrine turned around and stood up.

Compared with the stoutness of most Britons, he is not outstanding, with deep and angular facial features, with a short beard, but no British oil paint lines on his face; his hair is braided behind his head, and he is dressed in brown with iron plates. Armed clothing is Jiang Tian's first impression when he sees it.

"Who are you?" However, the other party suddenly crossed the British sword in his hand, stared at Jiang Tian with gray eyes and asked coldly: "I have dealt with the Chamber of Commerce many times, and they hide their identities. It’s not enough, let alone asking around in the city.”

"Of course it's the new exclusive trading representative appointed by the chamber of commerce!" At this time, Huang Fa's mercenary was the first to speak: "The previous transactions were just attempts to verify each other's credit; now that the chamber of commerce has decided to deepen cooperation, it must be reassessed." Your strength to close the deal."

"Okay!" The British leader put down the sword in his hand without too much entanglement: "I need 100 million pounds of fine iron ingots, which must be Avignon iron produced in the south of the Kingdom of Zealand, or Bo Bram Iron of Simia; I can pay in gold or silver."

"No, we can't do what you want." The yellow-haired mercenary also shook his head and said, "The chamber of commerce doesn't have so much transportation capacity, and there is no way to cross the territory of the kingdom and the princes of the Netherlands. , how much unexpected risk and expense does it add?"

"Then I will adjust the requirements. I need [-] pieces of farm tools and the same amount of iron tools." The gray-eyed British leader said again: "But it must be high-quality cast iron produced by the kingdom, not those made of wood and iron. Brittle pig iron, a superfluous local inferior product of the Netherlands;”

"Sorry, this is also beyond the risk range of the Chamber of Commerce." The yellow-haired mercenary shook his head again, and said seriously: "The Chamber of Commerce can provide up to [-] units of iron tools, including picks, hoes and shovels. Pitchforks and rakes, and traded in batches over the course of a month."

"In this case, I can first provide five hundred pounds of silver as a deposit." The gray-eyed leader asked again: "But I need information about the Kingdom of Sealand, especially the movement of the Kingdom's First Army in the Netherlands. I also need a guarantee from the chamber of commerce.”

"In this case, I can send you a message about this for free." At this time, Jiang Tian, ​​who had been watching coldly, suddenly said: "At the same time as we came, the army of the Kingdom of Sealand has pacified Beini The strife in Teresa is invited into the Low Countries."

"So, I came here on behalf of the chamber of commerce, and I need to confirm one of the most basic questions. Under such circumstances, how can the British ensure their own survival, and how can they ensure the long-term value of continuing to cooperate with the chamber of commerce? Will the chamber of commerce be mere The Britons have offended the kingdom!"

"You are really a candid gentleman, quite different from the businessmen I have seen who are full of gorgeous words and empty promises!" Hearing this, the leader of the Britons laughed: "I am from Beibei. Utred of Gamburg, I don't know what to call you."

"Lucien Debrec, from Strasbourg, Alemania;" Jiang Tian also reported himself as being replaced. "It is also the plenipotentiary representative of the Chamber of Commerce in the Lowland Netherlands. Because of the doubts within the Chamber of Commerce, I will judge whether you still have the value of cooperation."

"You are still a naturalized German, I really can't see it;" Utred, the British leader, twitched the scar on his face and smiled: "From your accent and posture, I almost thought you Is it an out-and-out subject of the Kingdom of Sealand?"

The so-called Alemania region, located in the south of the Principality of Saxony, was once one of the large Germanic tribes around the Black Forest in ancient times; but compared to the predecessor of the Principality of Saxony that resisted to the end, the leader and prince of Alemania, But it surrendered to the Frankish Kingdom earlier.

As a vassal, it has obtained a relatively high degree of autonomy.However, the good times didn't last long, and then King Charlemagne's younger brother and contender for the throne, Carloman, planned to kill almost all the princes and nobles of the Alemanni in the name of a banquet in Canstatt (now Stuttgart, Germany).

Known in history as the "Canstatt" massacre.Not long after it was re-incorporated into the territory of the Frankish Kingdom, the Crusades to revive the Empire ushered in.Alemannia, which once invaded the Roman Empire and followed Attila, the "scourge of God" in history, has become a purely geographical term.

The rejuvenation movement of the Roman Empire, also known as the Crusades movement, finally shattered the Frankish Kingdom that almost swept across most of the Western Continent; it also created the current pattern of the countries in the Western Continent; therefore, on the Frankish wreckage The Kingdom of Zealand is not the only one that has risen.

There are also some who participated in the Crusades of the past dynasties, and after expelling, annexing or eliminating the remnants of the Franks, they became new lords and vassals under the name of the empire on the spot, and even managed to separate the principalities, Powers of princes such as Hou Guo and Bo Guo.

Therefore, in this area of ​​Alemannia, there are fragmented distributions. Among the many religious and secular princes and lords formed after the Crusades, they were also the first among the Germanic people who once believed in primitive jungle shamanism/Druidism. Areas of acceptance of the Catholic faith and collective conversion.

"Whether it's Germanic, Norman, or Dutch; what's the difference before chasing the common goal of money?" Jiang Tian responded calmly: "But Chief Yoder, You still avoided my question, and you still haven't cleared up your doubts!"

"Let's put it this way, my soldiers and I just wanted to get a piece of land to live in. Therefore, we need the support and cooperation of the locals." Utred also slowly restrained his expression when he heard the words: "And the Earl of the Netherlands The rule of the Communist Party of China has given us more confidence and credentials."

"In my hometown, even the most ignorant shepherd knows that he must take good care of his herds and protect them from wild animals; only then can he ensure the supply of fur, milk, and meat products. But these lords and deputy officials They are more cruel and greedy than wolves and beasts."

"At least among the rulers I have seen, there is no one who is more harsh and vicious than the rule of the Earl of the Netherlands. Therefore, my subordinates just abolished some tax items slightly according to the tradition and practice of the tribe, and copied Some corrupt people are welcomed and supported."

"Even the Earl's vassals and citizen groups can't stand his stupidity and brutality..." The British leader Utred suddenly stopped talking when he said this: "That's why I can defeat him again and again, He gathered an army, and even took the city."

"Having said that, when I look at it from an outsider's identity and position, you are still too optimistic." Jiang Tian also shook his head and said: "Do you think these local residents will more or less sincerely support and welcome the rule of outsiders, And more afraid of the power you show?"

"And how did you ensure that those vassals who secretly cooperated with the Earl of the Netherlands were not trying to use the power of the British to get rid of and weaken the constraints of the vassals; to seek greater benefits for themselves? In fact, in the Netherlands The moment the Earl is killed, you are useless."

"..." At this moment, the British leader Utred fell silent.Then, I heard Jiang Tian continue to say: "How many Britons are there under your command, 1 to [-], or [-]? After previous battles, how many advanced people can take up arms?"

"Or, do you think that after you just defeated the Earl of the Netherlands and his surrounding vassals and lords among the lowland princes, you can continue to fight alone with your existing strength, and the tens of thousands of troops that are about to arrive in the Kingdom of Sealand; The combined army of the princes of the Netherlands?"

"So, do you think that under such a huge power disparity, the local subjects will continue to support the existence of the British? How many vassals will continue to stand with the British? After all, no matter how stupid the current Dutch count is, But you are the foreign invaders!"

"So, I once sent someone to contact the kingdom, requesting to become a vassal of the new dynasty, unfortunately..." British leader Utread sighed softly: "However, representative Lucien can have such insight and experience, Presumably you are not just an ordinary Chamber of Commerce member."

"Let's put it this way, I'm actually here to ask you and your subordinates to give up their weapons and accept the disposal of the kingdom government." Jiang Tian said lightly: "This is not a negotiation, nor a negotiation, but an ultimatum. Before You are wandering everywhere, difficult to destroy and encircle."

"But you have captured the big city of Rotterdam; while obtaining sufficient supplements and resources in the short term, in order to occupy and control this city, you have also concentrated most of your power here. The city of Rotterdam is enough to become the majority The prison of the Britons."

"What about you? Are you planning to become a martyr before the war? I thought about letting you stay and become a special consultant appointed by the Chamber of Commerce in Rotterdam!" Utred slightly shook his head regretfully and said: "The next moment , The side door of the hall, which was originally empty, was knocked open by someone.

There was an influx of guardsmen in scale mail and snout helmets, with iron-clad bucklers and Viking swords.The leader was a heroic woman with a fishbone braid holding a hand ax and a short sword. Under her command, these elite soldiers who obviously belonged to the leader's guard surrounded the scene without saying a word.

Among the several people present, except for the two guard knights who took the initiative to cover Jiang Tian, ​​and Lieutenant Colonel Mines who calmly pulled out his weapon; the most unexpected and unresponsive person was the old yellow-haired mercenary Then, he just changed his color and hesitated for a moment before standing beside Jiang Tian.

"I will create an opportunity and try to hold the other party's leader." The next moment, the yellow-haired mercenary said in a low tone: "Then, you take the opportunity to escort the nobleman out; I have observed that as long as you can rush to the street If you go up, you will have the opportunity to temporarily hide in a residential area."

"I am willing to swear by Odin." However, the British leader Uhtred on the opposite side laughed: "For the sake of your information and analysis of the situation, I will never harm your life, and I can even Let go of your entourage and report back, as long as you can stay."

"It's not necessary at all." However, Jiang Tian gently pushed away the other people in front of him and said, "Actually, you made a mistake; since you rejected my ultimatum; then it's your turn Let me tell you: You are all surrounded by me, you can only survive if you lay down your weapons!"

Strongly push "Since the Accounting: Roman Khanate" again