With Hughie's death, the strange outbreak of food poisoning finally ended.
To prevent similar incidents, Whig issued two edicts. First, farmers were strictly forbidden to sell grain adulterated with "poisonous ergot." Violators were fined, and in serious cases, hanged.
Second, city bakeries were required to forge an iron seal. After baking bread, the seal would bear the owner's unique mark. This made it easier to identify the source of the bread in the event of a dispute, such as food poisoning.
After finishing his work, as the sun was setting, the knight invited the duke to spend the night at his estate.
According to custom, a visit to the home of a vassal by a lord was a sign of trust. A refusal meant that the lord had begun to doubt the candidate and considered him an unsuitable candidate.
After a moment's thought, Vig accepted the invitation and, walking a short distance along a country road through a low fence, headed to the center of the estate.
Here stood the manor house, surrounded by a wooden wall. Nearby stood more than thirty low houses, inhabited mainly by Vikings and local tenants.
The knights granted the estate 500 acres of arable land, 200 acres of flat pasture for grazing cattle, 150 acres of forest, and fishing rights in a nearby stream.
The estate housed thirty farms, the first of which consisted of eight free Vikings who worked the land in peacetime and were called up for war.
Next came the thirteen tenants, who worked for the lord two days a week, paying a tax of one-fifth of the crops on their holdings, but were not obliged to fight in the war. In their spare time they sometimes hired themselves out as freemen to do farm work.
The remaining nine families consisted of stewards, indentured servants, grooms, carpenters, servants, hunters, fishermen, and two shepherds.
In addition to the more than 150 permanent residents mentioned above, there were also temporary indentured workers from the surrounding villages.
Whig stood on top of the ramparts, looking out over the moonlit estate. "What are the income and expenses of the estate?"
"We get about 400 bushels of grain a year. In addition, the wool from our more than 300 sheep sells for a good sum.
In total, we receive about 6 pounds of silver. After deducting expenses, the estate estimates that we can save from 1 to 3 pounds of silver a year.
And that's it?
Wig frowned. It was no wonder that so many knights chose to serve in the regular army, while others served as officials in the four northern counties or at Tyne Castle.
Moreover, judging by the income ratio, wool was almost 50% profitable, making grazing more profitable than farming. Could this explain the enclosure movement in later times?
Wig took his time returning to Glasgow the next day, patiently observing the daily life of the estate.
On the whole, the freemen lived relatively comfortably, even enjoying a glass of home-made ale with their evening meal. The tenants had it worse, barely making ends meet, especially since some voluntarily paid tithes, preferring to see their families eat less.
Taking pen and paper, Wygh made a detailed calculation. Barring wars and natural disasters, this manorial economy could sustain itself in the long run. Providing well-trained cavalry in times of war significantly reduced the lord's military expenses.
Moreover, the fief system had another advantage: it strengthened control over newly conquered territories.
Having received a fief, the knights, along with their families and a few free Vikings, arrived in unfamiliar lands, unfamiliar and facing suspicion and hostility from the locals. Their only refuge was their liege lord and the officials around them.
If they noticed signs of rebellion, they could immediately report it to the district garrison, which would then call on the militia to help suppress the rebellion. After all, it was their own interests and those of their descendants that were at stake, and they could not afford to be less committed to the cause.
Suddenly, Vig remembered the garrison system of the Ming Dynasty, whose original purpose was similar to the fief system: to maintain regional stability and provide manpower in times of war.
Even until the end of the Ming Dynasty, some garrison soldiers who had not served for many years remained willing to serve the emperor. Despite their military achievements, their loyalty was at least commendable.
With this in mind, Vig decided to knight another group of knights.
With the advent of papermaking, paper supplies increased, and the ducal palace began to register the resumes of low-ranking officers and officials to use as a basis for rewards and punishments.
Determined, Vig wrote to Tyneburg asking for a list of those with military merit, from which seven lucky ones were selected.
The new estate was north of Glasgow, where the plains and mountains met. Each received a pound of silver as a reward, as well as the standard knightly equipment of ten shields, short axes, spears, and purple bows to help the new knights and free Vikings control the territory, and a hundred bushels of wheat as an emergency surplus.
After the ceremony, Wig asked the seven knights, "Do you wish to buy the warhorses yourselves, or do you wish me to buy them for you?"
According to feudal obligations, each knightly estate was required to provide two cavalrymen, two footmen, and a groom, at least two warhorses, and two additional riding horses for daily use.
When Wig learned that they had decided to buy the horses on their behalf, he yawned and explained casually,
"At last year's prices, each warhorse was worth three pounds of silver. Unfortunately, King Ragnar has decided to impose a tax of 60 pence (£0.25) plus shipping costs from Normandy to the north, which brings the price to £3.50, or £7 for two horses. "Gentlemen, the warhorses are due to arrive next spring, so be sure to pay for them then."
So expensive?
The seven knights exchanged glances, their joy instantly fading. They retreated to a corner to whisper, discussing how to raise such a huge sum of money.
"Rob! Find some reliable brothers and see that we raise the necessary funds
" .
A knight named Utgard immediately objected: "Where are you going? Pillage Britain and incur the wrath of King Ragnar, or go to Normandy and ruin the Duke's relationship with Gunnar?
The others fell silent at Utgard's words.
Indeed, the modern world is no longer conducive to plundering. The risks of raiding rich regions are too great, and the poor regions bring little profit, not even enough to cover the cost of purchasing equipment and supplies.
Someone muttered quietly: "Alas, being a knight is not as pleasant as it once was."
Utgard smiled humorously: "Don't worry, you can give up your place. There are many who wish to take it. Besides, you served the Duke for four years, fighting in the Mercian-Wessex and Frankish wars. You have accumulated at least four pounds of silver, which makes you the richest among us."
Another answered sadly: "All is lost. The first thing we do after dividing up the spoils is to approach the merchants and knights in the neighboring towns. They offer a wide range of services and are very flattering. It is easy to spend all the rewards without even noticing."
After a long pause, someone else suggested:
"Borrow money from the merchants. Harry, a merchant in County Tyne, is said to be a master at this. He sometimes lends money to needy knights, and he does quite a good business. It seems he even founded a wool merchants' guild in Tyne."