Scandinavian leftovers

5

The next morning Miss Yu visited the palace. Verita permitted her to move into one of the rooms. The Rhaetian had send received a freestanding house as the place to house his business. He send letters to the Asian community in London. He requested some of the Asians to come in order to furnish the property in a Chinese style. He also requested to deliver 30 Auxiliary troops for the protection of the property. Within three weeks the house was furnished in a Chinese style. Furthermore, the 30 troops were stationed in small barns that were made for their housing. The people in Jehuda town became curious about the property. What the Rhaetian did afterwards was quite risky: he send letters to the confederate leaders of Scandinavia, who ruled both Norway and Scandia (Sweden, the land of the Swedes and Goths), declaring that the Chinese extended their British embassy into Scandinavia. He, Thriomphus, made the ambassadors in London to sign several copies of statements in both Chinese, Latin and Latinised Norse, that he belonged to their ''team'' and was acting as their agent in Scandinavia. This was not false, he was there to seek business deals for them. Within two months several chieftains of Scandinavia made treaties with the Rhaetian on behalf of the Asian community in Britain and Gaul. The goods would be shipped into Jehuda town where the employers of the chieftains would come to buy them. The Asian community in Britain and Gaul became pleased with this extension into Scandinavia. The people in Jehuda town were excited: this new trade meant more income. More income meant improvement of the region. The Scandinavians in general were suspicious and restrained towards the news. They were still xenophobic and hesitant to change. It was at this time, around November, that the winter weather increased in Scandinavia. At this time the new Asian immigrants also arrived in Rome, Lyon and London. They were escorted to the embassy estates. They were forbidden to walk freely through town. In Spring the first shipping of Asian goods would arrive in Jehuda. The Roman minister of finance of Roman Britain praised the cleverness of the Rhaetian. He now realised that this 'embassy' in Scandinavia would increase the taxation income of Roman Britain. The money the minister gave to the Rhaetian is returning many fold back unto Britain, just like he predicted. The Rhaetian, despite his experience, failed to think  everything through. His action led to envy from other chiefdoms in Scandinavia. Many merchants realised that they practically became dependent upon an Alpine Roman for the supply of Asian luxuries. This resentment grew into bitter hatred within only several days! Olisipo and his son agreed together to restrict access to the town, to prevent hostilities from entering their dwelling place. At this time, Yu, still lived in the palace. She enjoyed all the provisions she received. She even made many works of art while being there. 

Early December there was a snowstorm above Norway. Some of the rivers were partly frozen. No ship came in or out of the harbours at this time. Commerce was halted both on land and on sea. At this time, a war broke out in Scandia. Despite the cold weather, diverse militia attacked one another. The death toll was around 230 people, the wounded 452. The authorities of Scandia managed to calm the tensions after a week. The civilians were shocked by the instant violence that overtook them. Many civilians were demanding explanations from their leaders. One of their clairvoyants told a group of young people that the tensions were the result of a Rhaetian merchandise agent that established himself in the Fjords. The witch made plain unto them that tensions would increase and ruin their country if this man would remain in Norway. The youngsters never told anyone else about this. Clairvoyants weren't trustworthy sources. Even they knew that. Nevertheless, unconsciously they all projected their hurt unto this 'Rhaetian' without even knowing if he even exists! The seed of assassination was planted in their hearts. This was the beginning of a plot to seek out who the Rhaetian was and to kill him. This was not all, the civil unrest also led to paranoia among many Scandians. The elders in the community came together to seek ways to unload the tensions within their community. They hated the idea of another civil war. One of the ministers came with the idea to fake a Roman invasion and later to blame it on the Greek trade settlements in the Fjords. Some of the elders were hesitant to agree with the plan. They knew that once executed it might lead to war against Norway as a whole. Nevertheless, they understood that without a common enemy Scandia would fall into a war of all against all...