Vikings: Lords of the Ice Sea

Chapter 121 Trade Agreements
Late at night, on his soft velvet bed, Gunnar sipped a fine Bordeaux wine alone, thinking that this kind of life was pretty good. As for that wretched place in Cambridge, he would just let it fend for itself.

In a daze, he thought of the trade agreement proposed by Vig.

This request is not unusual. Ivar, Leonard, and Ulf, almost every nobleman, have asked me to buy warhorses, ranging from a dozen to over a hundred.

There is a great demand for warhorses in Britain today, and driven by huge profits, even if Gunnar doesn't sell, there are plenty of nobles willing to do so.

But the key issue is that he doesn't have enough stock!

"I can't handle this money by myself; I need to find a capable partner."

The following day, he met with Foreign Minister Lambert, and the two dismissed their entourages to walk and talk along the Seine.

The reason for choosing Lambert was not only because of his extensive network, but more importantly because he was bold enough to make money from anything.

Back then, "Bald" Charles sent reinforcements to Wessex. Having witnessed the power of the knights' charge, Ethelwaugh proposed purchasing horses, and Lambert readily agreed, making a fortune from the deal. Unfortunately, his secret was inadvertently revealed by his mistress, forcing him to hand over the ill-gotten gains in exchange for a pardon.

Now, faced with the proposal to purchase warhorses again, Lambert hesitated slightly, but ultimately accepted.

"Your Excellency, you are responsible for selling horses to Britain and collecting their silver coins and goods. As a reminder, it is recommended that you only collect the following types of goods."

Lambert carefully named a few items, including iron ingots, tin, furs, amber, and salted fish, goods produced in Britain or Northern Europe and suitable for sale in West Frankish territory.

Gunnar added, "We can also sell some wine over there. From now on, I'll handle the business in Britain, and you'll handle the affairs in West Frankish territory. We'll split the profits 50/50 and make a fortune together."

After some consideration, Gunnar selected three main trading partners: Vig, Ivar, and Ulf.

Vig and Ivar are deeply embroiled in war and have a great need for warhorses. Moreover, the two men occupy the North and Ireland respectively, giving them enough revenue to purchase horses.

Wolfe's territory of Kent is located in the southeastern corner of Britain, facing Calais across the sea. Some small and medium-sized orders are simply handed over to this guy, who is in charge of transshipment.

As for the dukes of Ethelwolf and Theowough, these two were wealthy, but their awkward positions prevented them from making large-scale purchases of warhorses, lest they arouse Ragnar's suspicion. Therefore, Gunnar categorized them as "potential trading partners," with the possibility of further cooperation in the future.

Finally, there was Ragnar, the High King of Britain, who was arguably the best possible client. However, ever since Gunnar had allied himself with West Frankish, he hadn't figured out how to face this old friend and former superior, and could only put the matter aside for the time being.

After a moment of silence, Lambert spoke again: "What would be a suitable price for a warhorse?"

"Slightly lower, three pounds of silver per horse, to prevent orders from being snatched away by Brittany, Rouen, Amiens, Flanders and other places."

Gazing at the bustling market on the north bank of the Seine, Gunnar was lost in thought. He had originally planned to ask for four pounds of silver, but considering the numerous competitors, he had to slightly reduce his profit to gain a larger market share.

After everything was settled, Lambert exclaimed, "Money breeds covetousness. If His Majesty investigates later, I'm afraid a portion of the profits will have to be handed over to the royal family."

"It doesn't matter, as long as I can make money." After more than thirty years of life, Gunnar now only believes in his own strength. "Bald" Charlie has indeed treated him well, but it cannot dispel the deep unease in his heart. No matter where he is, there is always a voice whispering, urging him to continuously accumulate strength to face the various threats that may come in the future.

"That's settled then. I'll return to Caen tomorrow and write to Vig, Ivar, and Ulf, asking them to prepare the payment in advance."

In early October, at Londonew.

Vig led the caravan through the North Gate. The soldiers guarding the gate dared not offend the Duke, and after a cursory inspection of the goods, they announced that the caravan could pass.

Upon arriving at the palace, he found it unusually deserted. He asked a palace guard on his right:
Where is His Majesty?

"South Wharf. Last month, the Royal Shipyard built a new cargo ship, and the shipwrights sailed her to Northern Europe for trial voyages. This morning she returned to the Thames Estuary, and His Majesty led a entourage to welcome her and celebrate the maiden voyage of the 'Gothenburg'."

Heading to the dock, Vig found it crowded with people. After verifying his identity, he arrived at the pier where the royal family was located.

"Your Majesty, this is this year's tribute."

Taking the list, Ragnar noticed there were only three items: woolen cloth, tin ingots, and iron ingots. He casually handed it to Pascal behind him and said slowly:
“I’ve heard about the war in the North. It’s going well; they’ve taken down the enemy’s main force in just a few months. It’s just a pity that you’re in the same predicament as Ivar. Despite winning the war, you’ve not only failed to make any money, but you’re also having to borrow money from everyone you meet.”

Vig: "Things are alright. If we can get through two years and my finances improve, I will definitely prioritize repaying your loan."

Realizing his vassal was still being stubborn, Ragnar was speechless and turned his attention to the cargo ships in the middle of the Thames.

At this moment, the Gothenburg is demonstrating its maneuverability. It has a larger hull than a typical Viking longship, about 25 meters long and 6 meters wide. The hull is constructed with overlapping structures, with several layers of oak planks stacked together, resembling roof tiles. The seams are filled with tar and felt to prevent seawater from seeping into the cabin.

A mast about ten meters high stands in the center of the deck. The sails are large enough to withstand more wind and increase speed when sailing downwind.

Soon after, the Gothenburg docked, and Vig stepped onto the ship on a plank for a tour. The ship's cargo hold was divided into two levels, and a square stern tower was added to the stern, which could carry approximately 100 tons.

"In terms of its design, this Coq is similar to ships from the Age of Exploration. In other words, the Coq evolved over hundreds of years, from a single mast to a three-masted sailing ship, eventually giving birth to the three-masted sailing ship suitable for long-distance trade."

Stroking the oak hull, Vig inspected the 12 square oar holes on both sides of the boat—twenty-four oarsmen are needed to row the oak oars when the wind is against them.

In contrast, Viking cargo ships also required twenty or thirty oarsmen to row, but had a carrying capacity of only ten tons. Fresh water and food took up space for cargo, increasing sailing costs.

According to his vision, the Kirk boat would have a larger carrying capacity, stronger resistance to wind and waves, and large sails that would provide ample power, eliminating the need for a large number of oarsmen, and would quickly become popular throughout Western and Northern Europe.

With that in mind, Vig asked the shipwright about the cost of the Kirk ship.

The shipwright replied, "Fifty pounds of silver. The larger the ship, the higher the cost will be, possibly exceeding one hundred pounds."

(End of this chapter)