Rise of Rurik

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Regrave had a good chat with Robert at the new count's residence. He was like an invited visitor, and all the conversations were held in a very private place.

Adelaide welcomes this conversation, because every time she sees Reglaf, she reminds her of her eldest son Wilfin, who she abandoned in Burgundy.

Of course she knew that her son was fine.

The Earl of Auxerre often promoted his son. Regarding the small kingdom of Burgundy (northern part) under Welfen, he made a big deal about it because it was recognized by the current emperor Lothair.

The eldest son was a few years older than Reglaf. The current standing figure of Reglaf did not look like a boy who was just twelve years old. He must be at least fifteen years old.

She abandoned her son, and now that she is older, she thinks of the ridiculous thing she did when she was young, such as abandoning her one-year-old son for divorce in a fit of anger, and now she blames herself for being careless every time she thinks about it. Her eldest son had basically never enjoyed maternal love, and she began to feel that the Earl of Auxerre and her ex-husband's publicity that Wilfin was a "young genius" was partly to vent his anger at her own demonstrations.

Reglaf had a good chat with the Robert family here. He was smart and kept silent about little Hugo's death. Even at the construction site not far away, he turned a deaf ear to the sound of a sledgehammer hitting the wall.

It seems that the city is just doing very ordinary demolition work.

Regrave also knew that Countess Adelaide had a son who had been missing for more than ten years.

His mother gave birth to him at the cost of her life, and Wilfen of Burgundy was abandoned by her mother. Sometimes, Reglaf would resent that he had no biological mother. When he thought about it carefully, he felt relieved when he realized the cause of his mother's death.

Where's Wilfin? That boy was abandoned.

Thinking of this, seeing Adelaide's kind-hearted look, and his attitude towards her later giving birth to two sons, Regrave felt increasingly conflicted.

If you put yourself in that Wilfin's shoes, you would be more angry and jealous.

A mother and two men gave birth to two sons, one of whom would be the Count of Tours and the other the petty king of Auxerre-Burgundy. One enjoys maternal love, the other does not. The two brothers are now in two hostile camps. If they were partners who grew up at the same time, the brothers would not fight each other, but...

The sensitive Reglaf was too lazy to think about it. He had once sympathized with little Hugo, so what was the point of sympathizing with little Robert and Wilfin now? They all have their own destiny.

I also have my own life.

After leaving here, he walked through the square and went to the cathedral to pay a final visit to Archbishop Vivian.

Today is just the most ordinary day. The priests perform their duties. They are busy cleaning and will not go to the cafeteria to eat Holy Communion together until noon.

Coincidentally, it was almost noon when Regraf arrived.

The Archbishop was busy writing documents in his office, his quill dipped in corrosive ink writing slowly on the parchment.

Each of his letters is written horizontally and vertically. At first glance, each word looks like a string of square objects, with only individual letters having sharp bends.

Since ancient times, documents in Tours have used this font, which was inherited from Rome.

As Archbishop, Vivian is also responsible for the order's library, and what he is writing now is the "Local Chronicle" of Tours.

Hugo IV passed away and power was transferred to his brother-in-law Robert. Various matters were of great importance. The documents he recorded were not only responsible for history and God, but also evidence that Robert's family could produce in the future - to prove themselves. Not a usurper or a usurper.

Vivian changed his clothes specially. After he left the office, he faced Reglaf in a rather formal manner in the huge auditorium: "You are here, my child. Today is not a holiday. You... have something to ask me for." .

Liregraf first made the sign of the cross on his chest, and then said respectfully: "Papa, I just want to see you again."

"Well, I can guess your decision. Have you decided to leave for Shannon?"

"yes."

Vivian takes a deep breath

He took a breath and said with piercing eyes: "You can go bravely. I have informed the Abbot over there about your affairs. Don't worry, Abbot Bode over there will help you stabilize the local people."

"You...have done so much for me?" Regraf really didn't know this situation, and his eyes suddenly lit up.

Vivian's eyes were bright and his attitude was sincere. He approached Reglaf and stroked the boy's head: "My child, compared to other nobles like you, you are the most honest to me and the most docile to me. Even if you are Nuo Man people.”

"You don't need to mention my identity again."

Vivian continued solemnly: "You have to mention it. The locals are afraid of you unless you can truly show mercy. You promised this, and you are now standing in the mission hall. Face God and keep it in your heart. , the price of lying is hell.”

"I will not break my promise. I will treat them well. This is my promise."

"I want to believe you. I also... care about your donation." Vivian paused deliberately.

In fact, priests generally love money and are greedy for money, but they cannot ask for money carelessly in the open. In this era, indulgences of various grades have not yet been invented, and there is no shame in making money.

Vivian didn't mention the word "tax", she just said "donation", although the difference between the two is not big.

"I will, that's what happened this year..." Reglaf looked humble and lowered his head.

"It doesn't matter, I'm looking forward to next year. I know you are a good boy." After saying that, Vivian's big hand with withered knuckles continued to pat the boy's cheek.

At this moment, Reglaf acted like a docile sheep.

He made the archbishop very comfortable in the cathedral, and at noon, he took communion in the refectory.

Everything follows the Catholic meal routine, and here the Archbishop is also with all the lower clergy. Regraf and his followers awkwardly muttered some prayers with them. One of the attendants muttered, "This is stupid," and was stepped on by Reglaf.

As for the food in front of everyone, it was nothing more than a piece of brown bread, a bowl of vegetable soup, and a pile of thick, mushy salty yogurt.

It looks very simple, but in fact it is very simple.

The Benedictine Order has always been frugal, and the practices in Tours are already rich. For example, in the north, Archbishop Esquier and the junior priests only eat black bread and a glass of water.

Reglaf simply couldn't stand such a simple meal. In order to consider the impact, he also asked his entourage to whisper: "Let's just eat it and let the bishop see our piety."

Indeed, pairs of eyes kept glancing at the uninvited guests here, watching in surprise as they finished eating the black bread.

"This soup is not bad." A follower commented in Norse.

"Indeed, the only one that satisfies me." Reglaf said. In addition to this, he also liked the sour black bread and the thick yogurt that could not suppress the sourness of salt.

Comparing the two, Rus is still particular about sumptuous meals. The positioning of the Rus Grand Temple is exactly like this cathedral. The food in the Grand Temple is different every day. The characteristics of the meals are to emphasize the saltiness, freshness and mellowness, and the proportion of fish to meat. Very big.

During their time in Tours, Reglaf and his people could only follow the local customs, but they ate meat whenever they had the opportunity, so the war period was an opportunity to feast on meat.

What will happen to Shannon? Brothers cannot continue to be ascetics in the past.

After visiting the two distinguished men of Tour City one after another, Reglaf returned to his base with satisfaction.

Now, his men are basically ready.

The room was brightly lit, and more than fifty brothers gathered here. They lit oil lamps and shared two lambs together.

After asking carefully, it turned out that this was a gift from Count Robert.

"Boss, old Eric is already at the dock with a group of brothers. This sheep... was sent by Robert." The subordinate who stayed behind reminded him.

"Very good. He has quite a conscience." Regraf was satisfied and muttered in his heart: "It seems that the effect of pretending to be my son over there is not enough."

wrong. But... wait! "

"What's wrong?" everyone asked in unison.

"Big horns? Is this a goat?"

"It's a goat. Sir, what's the problem?" Another subordinate continued to ask.

"There is indeed something wrong with this matter. Forget it. Maybe I'm overthinking it."

That's all, Regrave announced publicly: "I had a chat with him, and we have no regrets about leaving him. This sheep is what I got for you. Give me the good leg meat, and we can eat it! Also, share it Send one to the dock."

One brother smiled naively and said, "That's not necessary. Robert also sent two of them, which have already been delivered to the dock."

"Oh? That guy is so thoughtful. That's fine..." Regraf found a place to sit down: "Then let's start eating. Note, we will set sail tomorrow and there will be no drinking tonight."

A new day on the Quay of Tours.

The Roberts did not come to the scene in person, nor did they leave. Instead, they stood on the city wall and observed the situation from a distance.

After all, Robert has already gone to count, and he needs to consider some implications. Even though Regrave is already Baron Shannon, his subordinates are all Normans. It may not be good to hang out with them publicly for too long. Robert needs to consider the criticism behind him.

No one saw off Reglaf and the others. Except for a small group of guards who were on duty at the dock as usual, there were more than a hundred soldiers.

No locals even bothered to tag along.

Old Eric took a deep breath and pointed to all the long ships: "Our things have been packed, and the brothers are really busy vomiting blood. But Robert is so loyal that he gave our brothers two roast lambs."

"Okay." Reglaf waved his hand: "No one will see us off today. Robert is not coming, and the church is not coming. Is this considered a sign of loyalty? Don't forget that we are still Normans in their eyes."

"Oh? Did that sheep mean to send us away?" Old Eric became a little angry when he thought of this.

"Maybe this is really the case, who knows? I don't want to ask Robert anyway." Reglaf would rather believe that he is being sensitive.

However, Robert did secretly do something, but it was such a disgusting way to satisfy his personal vanity.

Edelaide was furious when she learned that her husband had sent him roasted goat, and now she could only pray that the Normans didn't understand anything.

Indeed, Reglaf's subordinates were completely different. He himself had actually read some gospels. He read the things described in those scriptures as interesting stories, and he also learned Latin by the way.

It is said that at the final judgment, God will divide people into good and bad, like sheep from goats.

Sheep symbolizes good people and goats symbolize bad people.

The roasted goat was given to the Normans as an insinuation - bad things were paired with bad things.

The goats that are grilled also imply that the wicked will be burned in hell.

Therefore, this is a gift to Reglaf's subordinates, not for Reglaf in name.

The people who were about to leave were not particular about this. If they learned of such a secret, Robert would be throwing a torch into the dry wood.

For the sake of his own greater ambition, even if Reglaf realizes this situation, he will never make it public.

There is no need to stay in Tour anymore. There are now thirty large longships and small local barges. They are all the property accumulated by Reglaf in the past two years.

Among them, the most important ones are the seven leading warships. Except for the three ships that focus on manned oars, the rest have been transformed into cargo ships.

Even small barges served as transport ships. They mainly carried food, and the miscellaneous war seizures no longer took up space in comparison.

It was precisely because of these grains that Reglaf did not have to continue asking for food in Shannon. There are three advantages to holding grain in your hand. First, you won’t panic when the grain is in your hand. Second, you can use part of it to win people’s hearts. Third, when the locals see that the Normans are not robbing, their fearful mood may be greatly improved.

Especially the latter!

Reglaf cares about the feeling when they first meet;

That was why I had to show so much respect to the priests of Tours, and why I had too much respect for the deceased little Hugo.

How beneficial is a good first impression at a first meeting? The Shannon fiefdom was an unexpected bonus.

He also hoped to replicate this move in the Shannon area so that the locals would feel that the foreign Normans were friends.

"Everyone, get on the boat! Take off all the heavy objects on your body, and take off all the things that can easily absorb water..." Regraf gave instructions, and the soldiers began to board the boat one after another.

A few warriors stood on the long boats dedicated to transporting cargo. In addition to monitoring the ships and cargo under their feet, they also stared at the string of small barges behind them.

The big boats and small boats were connected by ropes, and the three boats were responsible for rowing, so the team was divided into three parts.

The Loire River is still wide during the dry season, but the conditions of the Cher and Vieira rivers are much worse.

Regraf learned that the hydrological conditions of the Vieira River at the target were not bad, and he would wait until the fleet reached there before choosing the right conditions to enter.

"Let's go!" he ordered, raising his right fist high.

A soldier stood up holding the strange beast at the bow of the ship, puffed up his chest and blew the horn angrily.

The whispers from the north were so penetrating that Robert, standing on the city wall in the distance, seemed to hear a low roar from hell.

"They finally left."

"Are you satisfied with this? It seems they didn't see your goat trick." Adelaide was still unhappy and harsh.

"Come on. The Normans are not welcome in Tours. We needed them before, forget it now. Let them go to Shannon so I can take full control of the situation."

"What's next? A group of powerful warriors left, along with their ships."

"It doesn't matter. I won't fight if I lose them? If the world knows that I need Norman mercenaries to fight, I won't be able to lose face. Besides, I can call them again for next year's battle. That kid Reglaf should still be there Will lead troops to help me."

"Who knows? Shannon is a good place. At that time...it's hard to say whether Reglaf will still listen to you unconditionally." In fact, Adelaide saw deeply. After all, it was the King of Mercia, a How can a king live under others for a long time?

When he has his own rear fiefdom, he will make use of local manpower and material resources.

After he had his own finances, taxes and manpower, he took care of everything on his own, so Shannon only belonged to Tour in name only.

Robert turned around, still annoyed that his wife had scolded the goat. He glanced sideways at his wife, hummed, then turned and left.

Adelaide was left alone to watch with a frown, and saw the longship flying the flag of the Kingdom of Mercia drifting away under the sliding motion of the big oar...

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