Crusader Kings: Prisoners of War

"How old are you?" Tiya asked suspiciously, staring at Orville's obviously young and immature face.

Orville had already changed into a standard military uniform. Only then did he understand what Tiya meant. Orville had a mixed-race appearance, and it was hard to tell which nationality he was from. There were many such people in Rome. He changed into the same clothes. The usual strange and contemptuous looks were much lessened, and the people around him became more than a level of kindness.

"Twenty years old is already the age for military service according to Roman law."

"Does your custom allow a twenty-year-old to be the governor?" Tiya was surprised.

"I didn't deceive anyone. I am indeed a descendant of a mixed-blood noble, and I can be considered a wealthy person. People like me can't stay in the current Holy City. They didn't want to stop the Romans from outside. They just wanted to Relying on the Holy City, the strongest city on the east coast, sending me here and dividing up my property in the city is a good thing. "

Orville's tone was very calm when he spoke, as if he was talking about something that had nothing to do with him. Tiya couldn't help but look sideways and took a deep look at him.

"We will set off next and return to Caesarea first. The army needs to be repaired after a hard battle. Then you will follow me to quell the pirates in Joppa Port. The pirates there are disturbing our wheat trade line. After they interfere with We have to sort things out before food is available in big cities.”

"Joppa Port?" Orville raised his eyebrows. "I have been there. It is suitable for pirates to hide. The coastline is covered with reefs and cliffs. But for a fleet of the size of Shangdian, it is not a good port. There is no It’s not a good time to take shelter from the storm, it’s the time when the black wind blows from the north.”

The original owner had a good understanding of the surrounding environment, and he could know everything about it.

"Black North Wind?"

"A storm formed by a magical reaction, occasionally seen on summer nights. Some of us believe it is the anger of Poseidon's sea monster. It is said that the beauty of Andromeda attracted the jealousy of Poseidon's wife, So she was imprisoned in this place until Perseus freed her and..."

"I have read myths, and they are old and meaningless stories about heroes saving beauty and origins. I have been tired of hearing them since I was a child." Tia was not very interested. "There will be storms here in the summer. Is the news accurate?"

"You can ask others. I don't know the specific time, but it happens several times every year. This is absolutely true."

"Very good, I remember it. This should be of reference value." Tiya waved her hand towards Orville, and he also stepped back wisely.

After Orville was a little far away, Tiya reacted and whispered in a low voice: "Did he adapt a little too quickly?"

——

Military life was quite boring for Orville, and after getting along with her for a few days, he could feel that although Tia didn't like him, she wasn't very hostile towards him, and her attitude was still business-like.

Now that they are not on the front line, there are not many things that the commander needs to deal with. Orville follows Tiya every day and takes notes, and occasionally acts as a tour guide, which is a good treatment for a prisoner of war.

He was probably the most laid-back and least nervous person in the entire military camp, so he had a lot of time to observe things around him. After these few days of observation, he felt that the Palfi people had not lost unjustly.

Tiya is a very restrained person in her daily life. Although she has enough time to cook a decent meal every day, she has always eaten the standard military food - hard dry bread, fruit vinegar mixed with water. Drinks, boiled fat meat sprinkled with salt, and occasionally some local fruits and vegetables were provided for three meals a day.

Considering that this thing is a standard issue for every soldier, and looking at the situation in the Holy City where Orville himself spent money to purchase military rations, he is now very convinced that this war cannot be fought.

Calculating the outcome and gains and losses of the war, Mel was not far from the port city of Caesarea, and they reached their destination in a few days.

Caesarea was a newly established city after the Roman conquest. The city's architectural style and planning logic were completely different from those of the surrounding cities, and it was protected by thick walls and a naval army. During the chaotic period when the Roman garrison collapsed, the city was not captured by the Parphis, and now it has become the hub of Roman command in this area.

The originally tense soldiers immediately relaxed after entering the city. Tiya gathered these people in the square, gave them a few symbolic words to tell these rough guys to stop causing trouble in the city, and then ordered people to carry them up to ten soldiers. Several heavy boxes were filled with silver coins, which were the salaries given to the soldiers.

After shouting and shouting, these soldiers had good discipline and quickly received their wages. Apart from Tiya and Orville, there were only a dozen young people left on the field who were hesitant and did not dare to step forward.

Orville's emotional intelligence is normal and he can see what the innocence of a secret love is, but that's not necessarily the case with the real one.

Tiya glanced at them who were full of hope. She was stunned at first, and then said happily: "You guys want to take the initiative to move the boxes. Not bad! Then you go ahead. After returning the things to the warehouse, each person will receive an extra silver dinar coin. , I will tell you my idea when asked.”

Most people left dejectedly, but a few people were in a good mood. After all, a silver coin was a lot, which was enough to cover a day's salary.

Orville touched his empty pocket, looked at the bustling streets outside, and asked in a low voice: "Can I join you in the glorious labor?"

"No, this place is not safe, which means you have no chance to spend money or think about making money."

"You have the final say, sir." Orville gave up very straightforwardly, "Where are we going next?"

"The Governor's Mansion, change clothes and rest for a few days, replenish personal belongings, maybe take a bath and hold a banquet or something."

"May Rome win, may the sun god bless you, a very good arrangement, I wanted to experience your bathhouse when I was a child."

Orville betrayed his faith without hesitation, and Tia rolled her eyes directly at this. She still couldn't accept Orville's super adaptability.

——

The so-called rest did not last too long. Orville enjoyed a hot bath and a normal and sumptuous dinner. The next morning, he was dragged to the library of Caesarea to look for books about local laws and geography.

"All food that has an owner and grows on the land needs to be taxed. In other words, fruit trees without owners and mushrooms growing on trees do not need to be taxed?"

"Yes, sir." Orville nodded repeatedly.

Tia frowned and thought: "Next sentence."

"It started as food, and it ends as food, and it needs to pay taxes."

Orville translated sentence by sentence, and spent a whole morning to get a general idea of ​​the Palfi people's tax laws.