After two days of fearful stay in the hungry pile of Kitsby, the convoy of grain arriving in Kitsby from Sapp at noon on the third day arrived in the city, a whole day later than the agreed time. 77dus

"Felix, what's going on? Did something happen on the way? Art asked, looking at Felix, who was not good-looking.

Felix took off his heavy armor, sat down on a low stool in the room, and said angrily: "Don't mention it, since I entered Provence, I haven't stopped all the way." It was smooth from Sapph to the border with Provence, after all, now the large bandits have been exterminated, but I didn't expect ......"

As soon as the convoy led by Felix himself walked out of the mountains into the territory of Provence and went east, it was entangled by the castle lords along the way, and the Provençal court had ordered that the Burgundian merchants who transported grain south should not pay any taxes, and the various checkpoints and fortresses must also be allowed to pass. These lords will not openly disobey the strict orders of the court, but although they are not as starving as in the southern theater, the northern lords also need food to feed the lords or appease the homeless, so Sap's grain convoy has been entangled by the lords all the way, and they all want to intercept a batch of grain from Sapp's convoy.

"How did you get rid of it?"

"How else can we get rid of it, Sap's grain is always bought by the border people just out of the mountains, and we rarely take the grain so far east. It was good before, but this year, the grain in the southern continent has dropped sharply, and there is a shortage of food everywhere, and everyone wants to take a bite, if I dare to send a breath, these fifteen carts of grain will not want to reach Kitsby. So I flatly rejected them one by one. ”

"Aren't you afraid of offending the lords along the way?"

"What am I afraid of? The name of Baron Galvin may not be of much use elsewhere, but it is still of some use in the central part of northern Provence, and every year our grain trucks are constantly being delivered to all parts of northern Provence, and they do not dare to do anything to us. Besides, I promised to have Sapsburg alone carry some more grain to them after a while. ”

Art complimented Felix approvingly.

"Hehe, who made you my brother-in-law. I have to do what you've been told. By the way, now that the convoy is here, how are you going to bring such a large convoy to Aosta, I have heard that the road from Kitsby to Aosta is not smooth, and the rebels, deserters, refugees and bandits are numerous, these guys will not let the fragrant bread slip from their mouths. ”

Art had already made up his mind, and he replied, "It is indeed dangerous for us to carry so much grain on our own through the banditry-infested roads, so I intend to go to the Baron de Berrion first and ask him to help us deliver the food, and the court of Provence also needs the help of the Baron de Berion."

On the second day, Art set up two convoys of grain in the middle of Kitsby, and ran on horseback with his Sentinels and Felix towards Kalkburg near Aosta.

As expected, the situation along the way was as expected, and the bandits along the way had not gone far before they had already reached the point of unscrupulousness. These barricades weren't the savages of the wasteland, many of them were young outcasts led by deserters and rebels, who could feed themselves at any given time.

However, no matter how powerful the bandits were, they still did not dare to move against the heavily armed cavalry, so there was no danger along the way, and it took less than two days for Art to lead a dozen or so cavalry to Kalk Fort, northeast of Aosta.

When the group arrived at Fort Carrk, they narrowly missed Berrion, who was about to march to the Vilno theater with his army.

"Brother Art, I didn't expect you to be a knight now, and I should call you Sir Art now." The knights of the Inner House of Berrion led Art and his party into Kalkburg.

"It's just a fluke. How is Baron Berrion doing? Art asked.

The knight of the Inner Mansion who led the way stopped, turned around and glanced at Art, and said: "Brother Art, I forgot to tell you just now that Lord Berion has been promoted to the title of viscount for his military exploits and served as the commander of the First Legion in the East, leading six hundred troops, including three hundred standing soldiers and three hundred conscripts). And you're lucky, this afternoon Lord Berrion will be going to the Vilno theater with his army, and now our army is fighting with the Lombard army for Vilno, we only withdrew from the north of Vilno at the end of June to repair, a week ago the Lombards gathered a mercenary regiment into the hilly area north of Vilno, we must put in more troops to maintain the front. ”

After saying that, the knight of the inner palace began to lead the way again, and turned sideways to Yate and asked, "I heard that the soldiers guarding the city said that you transported grain to the south to sell, what about your grain?" Didn't you come along? ”

Art replied: "That's why I came to ask for help from Berion ~ Viscount Berion's ......"

"Let me send troops to escort the convoy of grain for you?"

Berion handed a silver goblet full of wine to Art, and said with a wry smile: "Brother Arte, I admire you for being able to personally bring food south, it's not that I don't want to help you, as you can see, my army is about to go to the war zone to fight the Lombards, and I really don't have the energy and strength to protect the food for you." I beg your pardon, I'm afraid I'll have to disappoint you, if I can return from the war zone alive this time, you come to me again and I will definitely help you. ”

Art did not have an "Eagle Eye" in Provence, and there was limited information gathered through the northbound exiles, so he had no idea that Berrion had been promoted to viscount and had become the commander of a regular legion, and the so-called "legion" under Arte's name was just self-proclaimed).

After thinking for a while, Art stood up with his glass in his hand and said, "Lord Berion, you must also send someone to escort this grain convoy, after all, the food escorted by the convoy is the guarantee for your next battle."

"Is it my guarantee of fighting? I misheard. "Berion doesn't believe his ears.

"You heard it right, this shipment of food I shipped is for your army." Art replied.

Barrion lowered his glass, "Sir Art, I don't understand what you mean. ”

"Lord Berion, your legion is about to continue its war south, right? As far as I know, there is a great shortage of food in the whole of Provence today, let alone in the war-torn areas of the south. There are 600 legions under your command, plus you have more than 200 private soldiers, these 800 mouths need a lot of food to feed, I guess the court of Provence is also worried about the food in the war zone, otherwise how could you unite with the Count of Burgundy to issue a call and exempt the southbound grain sellers from various taxes. ”

Barrion listened to Art's words and did not answer, but looked at Art and motioned for him to continue.

Art also put the wine glass on the table and said solemnly: "This time I brought thirty-four wagons of grain, which is expected to provide your army with 35,000 pounds of military rations, and now the price of grain in the southern theater of Provence has risen to three or two copper coins per pound, and in some places it is even as high as one copper coin per pound of grain, but the batch of grain I brought this time is only bought for you at the price of half a copper coin per pound, whether you use it as military rations for your own army or sell it to others, you can make a lot of money."

"And I've stockpiled 100,000 pounds of grain at the border, and this stockpile can continue to increase, as long as I can ensure the safety of the southbound grain convoy, I can continue to provide food supplies for you or the eastern theater."

Art's words are enough to make anyone's heart flutter.

Berion was secretly taken aback when he heard this, "It seems that you have become more than just a knight. ”

"Thirty-five thousand pounds of low-priced grain! Your bait is big enough. Say it, your conditions. "Berion doesn't want to beat around the bush with Art.

"I only have two things I need to ask for your help with. First, it was impossible for my army to enter the borders of Provence without authorization, and the caravans were limited in number and strength. Since it's food for you, how about you send someone to protect the convoy from bandits along the way? ”

"How, as you say, I could have sent my lord's private troops stationed at Calkerburg to Kitsby to escort the grain convoy. But you have to make sure that there will be a steady stream of food coming from Burgundy and selling it to me. ”

"Yes! I will buy you the grain at 20% less than the market price in the war zone, and the quantity is guaranteed. Art replied.

"Let's talk about your second condition, I think the second condition is the purpose of your trip south." Barrion took a long sip from the wine glass on the table.

"Yes, sir. My second request is that you will introduce me to the Chancellor of the Exchequer of the Court and help me obtain a charter to operate in Provence. Art told her true purpose.

Berrion asked, "Now that Provence has been affected by the war and many trade routes have been cut off, do you still plan to come to Provence to do business?" Besides, now that there is chaos everywhere, as long as you have enough guts, is there anyone who will not let you do business? Why do you need a charter. ”

What Berion said is the truth, a country that is constantly in war will inevitably wither commerce, and those guilds that usually monopolize all kinds of markets have long disappeared, and at this time, as long as you have the courage to take a caravan to do business and trade in the war, no one will pay attention to it.

"Your Excellency, you are right, if I just want to take advantage of the war and make a handful of coins, I don't need a license from the court of Provence at all. But I believe that the war will eventually subside, because Provence has such an outstanding general as you. When the war ceases, my unauthorized entry into Provence to do business will become unreasonable. ”

After listening to this, Berion quietly analyzed for a while, and then he realized that the little knight in front of him had a big plan in his heart.

"Then what kind of conditions do you have to make the palace >>

Granted you a license to operate Southern Goods? ”

"Grain, iron, leather, woollen wool, and all the goods needed by the South. Grain, in particular, if the court of Provence authorizes me to grant me a concession for ten wagons of grain, I will provide twenty wagons of food; If the court grants me a charter for fifty wagons, I will provide a supply of grain for a hundred wagons, and the price will definitely be less than the market price for the purchase in the war zone. Now that the food production of Provence has plummeted, and the continuation of the war requires a large supply of food, I think there is no reason why the court should refuse to exchange a charter for a stable and substantial supply of food. ”

"You said yes?" Art touched his glass lightly with Berion.

Barrion came back to his senses and replied, "I have to think about the second thing, but I can promise you the first thing."

"Someone!" Barrion shouted out the door.

An attendant pushed the door open and walked in.

"Order the commander of the defenders of Fort Carrk to select fifty elite guards to follow Sir Art to Kitsby in my name to guard a batch of rations." Berion ordered, then turned to Art and said, "Brother Art, I must set off to Aosta City today to assemble. I'll send my lord's private soldiers to the north with you to carry grain, and I'll negotiate the second condition with you after you get the grain to Aosta City. ”

Art bowed slightly, "Thank you for your help, as you wished." ”

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Chapter 169: Viscount Berion