Viking: Master of the Icy Sea

Chapter 147: Merchants from Foreign Lands

Ragnar shook his head wearily, rejecting his wife's suggestion.

"I have lived for many decades, and the number of my surviving old brothers dwindles by the day. Let him go. Now that he has converted to Roman Catholicism, his soul will not enter Valhalla after he dies. Alas, perhaps after this meeting, the two of us will never see each other again."

With those words, he pushed away the attendants supporting him on either side. Leaning against the wall, he walked toward his bedroom alone. His posture was hunched and his steps dragged, making him look like nothing more than an ordinary old Viking.

The next day, Viggo went out for a leisurely stroll, escorted by a retinue of shield-bearers.

With the influx of nobles from all over and their massive retinues, the population of Londinium surged past ten thousand in a very short time, rendering the city exceptionally crowded and noisy.

The autumn sun lazily climbed high into the sky. Viggo treaded over the slippery cobblestones toward the South Market. His dark red velvet cloak made him stand out starkly amidst the plainly dressed crowd, resembling a brilliantly vibrant maple leaf.

"Fine Yorkshire apples!"

"Mead! Authentic Nordic mead!"

"Come take a look! Honey-roasted chestnuts, sweet and delicious!"

After wandering around for a while, Viggo noticed a large gathering of foreign merchants in the southeastern section of the market. He beckoned a market administrator over and learned that this was a new initiative proposed by Prime Minister Pascal.To increase tax revenues and promote the prosperity of Londinium, the Prime Minister had advised the King to permit foreign merchants to establish trade in the city.

These merchants held varying statuses, and their respective rights differed accordingly.

Norse Viking Merchants were permitted to reside in the city long-term, and their taxes fell into the lowest bracket.

Rus Merchants were allowed a stay of three months, with their taxes placed in the second bracket.

Flemish Merchants had a permitted stay of one month and shared the same second-tier tax bracket. Given the shorter distance they had to travel, a single month was more than sufficient.

Finally, the newly arrived Berber Merchants bore the highest tax rates and were subjected to the most stringent supervision.

Two years ago, when the Royal Shipyard constructed its very first Knarr ship, Ragnar generously rewarded the Berber shipwrights who had been taken captive by Bjorn. Two of them chose to forfeit their lucrative compensation and return to North Africa.

Thanks to their introductions, Berber merchant ships had begun arriving to trade throughout the year, bringing with them Eastern luxuries such as spices, cane sugar, and silk.

Strolling further down the street, Viggo noticed that the spices offered by the Berber Merchants were of exceptionally high quality, prompting him to subconsciously pause before a particular stall.

Driven by the sharp instincts of a veteran trader, the turban-wearing Berber shopkeeper eagerly invited his customer inside, having an interpreter relay his words.

"My lord, these are goods I procured from Alexandria in Egypt. They are absolutely top-tier merchandise, perfectly suited for the enjoyment of a nobleman such as yourself."

The Berber merchant peeled back a thick layer of linen to reveal a row of wooden boxes underneath, presenting the samples within one by one.

The rightmost wooden box contained dark brown black pepper. This spice was widely known as "Black Gold" and remained the most popular seasoning among the nobles.

Next was cinnamon. It appeared as curled tubes of reddish-brown bark, exuding a rich, sweet aroma that was excellent for warding off the cold.

Just yesterday at the banquet, Ulf had enthusiastically recommended a new warming beverage to everyone: mulled wine.

Its preparation was as simple as it was luxurious. One merely had to add cinnamon, cloves, and rosemary to red wine, toss in apples or unpeeled lemons according to preference, and simmer it slowly over a gentle fire.

According to Ulf, this concoction was best consumed right before bed during the winter months. After downing a steaming cup of the spiced wine, one could feel their entire body radiate with warmth. The third spice on display was clove. Once dried, the brittle flower buds resembled tiny nails, boasting a robust fragrance tinged with a faint hint of bitterness.

In addition to those three, the Berber merchants also showcased nutmeg, ginger, and the most precious and rare spice of all: saffron.

Confirming that these spices were indeed rare treasures, Viggo instructed the shield-bearer carrying a hefty sack of silver to settle the bill. "I will take these, these, and these—one pound of each. Oh, and this saffron as well..."

As the Duke of Tainburg, Viggo's daily life inevitably involved hosting feasts and entertaining guests. If a banquet lacked at least one or two lavish dishes seasoned with exotic spices, it would be considered a slight against his guests and a mark of poor hospitality.

Under the watchful eye of a notary, this massive transaction was smoothly finalized.

Afterward, Viggo purchased a substantial amount of cane sugar and a small pouch of black truffles originating from northern Italy.

Upon paying the Flemish Merchants for the truffles, the silver he had brought with him was completely depleted. Such a flashy display of wealth naturally drew its fair share of greedy stares, but absolutely no one dared to make a move against him.

Glancing at the deflated coin purse slung over his shield-bearer's shoulder, Viggo yawned and sighed. "Making money is a struggle, yet spending it is far too easy. Life truly is difficult."

He began making his way back down the street. As he passed the largest Berber spice stall, he spotted the Berber shopkeeper and a Rus Merchant rolling on the ground, locked in a violent brawl.

"Competitors fighting over business?"

Viggo summoned a market administrator and inquired about the ongoing conflicts between the foreign merchants.

First were the Norse Viking Merchants, who imported furs, butter, and salted fish to Britain, while exporting grain, alcohol, and ironware back to Northern Europe.

The Flemish Merchants sold locally produced textiles alongside glass, books, and truffles procured from across the European continent. In return, they imported British furs, wool, and grain.

Due to the vast differences in their wares, the first two merchant groups rarely clashed. The primary conflicts arose exclusively between the latter two groups.

The Rus Merchants controlled the trade routes leading to Constantinople. They favored selling Eastern luxuries in Londinium, alongside furs, amber, and beeswax sourced from Eastern Europe.

In stark contrast, the Berber Merchants—or rather, Arab traders—operated along far more distant routes. Their supply chain stretched from the Far East across the Indian Ocean, up the Red Sea to Egypt, through the Mediterranean Sea, and finally to Londinium. The luxury goods they sold also originated from the East.

Since they were peddling the exact same categories of merchandise, the Rus and Berber merchants were locked in fierce, fundamental competition.

Before long, fellow countrymen of both brawlers rushed into the fray to lend a hand. Sensing the brewing signs of a full-scale riot, Viggo wisely chose to slip away early, returning to his residence near the Royal Palace.

Over the next few days, the high-ranking nobles spent their time lingering at a myriad of banquets—building relationships, negotiating partnerships, and gathering intelligence. Meanwhile, lower-tier knights roamed in small packs, hitting up various taverns for a good time. Consequently, the public order in Londinium took a steep nosedive.

To give his vassals an outlet for their restless energy, Ragnar allocated funds to host a grand tournament. He planned to single out warriors of exceptional martial prowess while simultaneously flaunting his own royal majesty.

The tournament grounds were established just outside the East Gate. Soldiers of the Royal Guard worked through their fatigue to clear the area, driving thick oak stakes into the damp earth and stringing up heavy bundles of hemp rope to form a sturdy perimeter.

On the northern and southern edges of the arena, carpenters constructed towering horseshoe-shaped grandstands. The southern grandstand, designated exclusively for the royal family, was draped in heavy black curtains adorned with a striking blue lightning crest.

By noon on the fifth day of grueling labor, the tournament grounds were largely complete. As the midday bell tolled, the local baker's daughter strolled by with a wicker basket to deliver rye bread to the craftsmen, drawing a chorus of appreciative whistles from the soldiers.

After lunch, a carriage arrived bearing a massive bundle of crimson-dyed wool felt. The soldiers carefully laid these expensive, luxurious carpets over the grandstand steps. According to schedule, the entire project had to be flawlessly finished before sunset.