Eagle Byzantium

They stayed in the market town of Rum for about a day, and when the sun was no longer formidable the next day, they headed towards the Arahant Monastery at the northernmost end of the Mut Valley, at the junction of the Isaurian Mountains.

As the altitude rises, the wind flowing down from the clouds also cools down. The hot southerly wind blowing from the island of Cyprus disappears and is replaced by the east-west wind, but most of it is blocked by the mountains on both sides of the valley. It is the pleasant mountain mist that drives the large cotton-like cumulus clouds, preventing the arrow-like sunlight from leaking through and scorching the people and horses.

Anna took a nap sideways in the carriage, with the curtains fluttering, looking at Gawain who continued to ride the horse in front of her, and she was quite satisfied with the "performance" of him and Cabea Amiya yesterday.

"If you stretch out your hand, you can reach the clouds above..." Agnes was also intoxicated by the beautiful scenery among the mountains and rivers, and stretched out her pink arms.

On the mountain roads around their caravans, there were also some frightened farmers. Most of them were unwilling to stop in the village communes or be exploited by the Jinate landlords, so they fled to the edge of the mountains and relied on Streams carve out cultivated land among mountains, forests and rocks. They are self-sufficient and free from the state and power. Now it happened to be the day when the Arahant Monastery market was open, so this group of people drove donkeys and mules from all corners, loaded with extra food and handicrafts, and came to sell them. So when they saw Gawain's formation with flags, banners and scepters, they instinctively felt danger, so they hid in the bushes and woods, walking around.

The monastery itself is located on a high mountain full of reddish-yellow gravel and rocks. Except for some rough shrubs and dwarf pine trees, the rest of the ground is unobstructed. There is a road with colonnades that winds directly to the top, so it doesn't take much effort to climb directly to the top. The entire church is a typical Byzantine style, except for most of the collapse. Only the east church is well preserved, with its triple stone-carved door and triple drum-style windows. Because the surrounding area is dry, the walls are not moldy. However, Anna and Agnes are not in the mood to enter. They follow Gawain very excitedly. footsteps. Arriving between the arches and open walls of the monastery, looking at the increasingly thick cumulus clouds, the magnificent river below, and the towering Isaurian mountains opposite, I jumped up with joy, just like the playful people of all ages. Same for girls.

They soon saw it. On the slope facing the northwest, there is a large settlement with various tents. Many farmers who were on the same road with them just now led their animals and crossed the roads under the monastery to get there.

"This is a large trading post station. The mountain people of Isauria, the caravans of the Sultan of Konya, and the merchants of Pamphyria will all come here to trade. It can be seen as the decline of Seleucia sea trade on land. A kind of compensation." Gawain crossed his arms. said the introduction.

"So how is this land trade different from sea trade?" Anna raised her head and asked.

"The land route has low risks and low profits, and is suitable for short-distance small-scale trade; the sea route has high risks and high profits, and is suitable for long-distance bulk trade. In fact, there is no precious trade supply between the Anatolian Plateau, that is, iron ingots , linen, honey, grains, livestock, etc. are more popular.”

"Are you going to revive Seleucia's maritime trade?"

"Of course. Without the wealth from the ocean, how can we quickly accumulate wealth and reform agriculture and commerce?" Gawain said, holding on to the collapsed stones stacked in front of him. "In addition, the land trade route in the Mut Valley cannot be abandoned. The livestock and iron ingots on the plateau are also very precious things. But Anna - the monastery has been abandoned long ago. The actual revenue collected from this trade road station... "

"It's the Kallegos family." Anna answered first. Gawain's brown hair was dancing in the cool breeze and he nodded.

"Sooner or later, we have to resolve this matter." Anna then said with ambition in her eyes again, leaning on the bricks.

And Gawain also became silent.

"Ah!" Agnes suddenly pointed to the mountain pass in the distance in surprise. Gawain and Anna followed her pointer and saw that they were actually pilgrims' flags and crosses, guiding thousands of people. Stretching towards this river valley road, "It's Andodat coming." Gawain couldn't hold back his excitement. , Sure enough, the sworn brother Peter sent all the believers who admired him, there were tens of thousands of them, plus the two thousand people he had eliminated from the division army (most of them could not adapt to the military), now the whole The "sacred estates" of Seleucia and Cilicia are not short of manpower for farming and workshops!

"Oh, Walter, you are here too!" In the cave where the monastery and the mountain merged into one, Gawain enthusiastically held up the arms of the old knight who had survived the disaster. Walter Sansaval expressed his gratitude and said again Bow to Princess Anna and thank her for caring about my injury.

Later, the confidential officer Andodat also knelt down in front of Gawain, "Andodat, you have returned in good health. I will immediately conduct an inventory of the land and residents in the entire area. I have full authority to entrust you and the entire brochure." Brotherhood." Gawain was also very enthusiastic, and immediately gave him an important task.

Now the confidential officer was also surprised. The Grand Duke called him back this time, but it was for such a crucial matter! "Your Excellency General Strategos, two years ago I was just a novice monk in the mountains of Calabria, with little knowledge of writing. Now you are asking me to lead an inventory of the land and people in the entire Seleucia region. I'm afraid I'll let you and the princess down." Andodat declined hastily.

Anna and Gawain, who were sitting on the chair, laughed at the same time, and Gawain comforted him and said, "Everything in the world is unpredictable. You said that I was just a Varangian who spoke the Oy language and went on a pilgrimage to Asia Minor. Why did I go to Italy first? What about the one who came to Seleucia to become the Grand Duke, and now he has come to Seleucia to become the General Strategos? But the Princess in Purple Clothes said that she had already decided, and I had no choice but to refuse, so I could only sing out the rhyme. The sonnet comes——

When forty fierce flames besiege my beloved country,

Digging deep trenches in its beautiful garden,

If it could make its cold blood feel warm again,

How could I care about my own happiness?

So Andodat must not refuse. I appoint you and Wright Bogia, who is about to arrive in Seleucia City, to serve as the chief and deputy heraldry officers for the Princess in Purple and me. This is a brand-new position, and the mission is What I just said. "

Check out the 16-9 book bar to see the correct version!

"I just...ask your Excellency, General, to indicate that we should use unified weights and measures. Otherwise, the mixing of various units of measurement will not only be detrimental to the army's regulations, but also detrimental to the future measurement of acres." Andodat then said No more shirk, but there are new problems before Gawain.

Gawain nodded, "Indeed, it is true. The manufacturing of weapons and ships, the calculation of the range of trebuchets, and the reporting of marching mileage. In the past, our army's internal standards were confusing, causing a lot of trouble. It is time to unify them." Then he sat next to him. Anna felt that her little hand was pinched by Gawain's big hand, "So I decided to use the most perfect woman in the world as the standard for new weights and measures." (To be continued~^~)

PS: The situation map in the post bar will be updated today, please pay attention.