Eagle Byzantium

George did not force the inner palace guards at all, because the emperor's imperial officials (the emperor's acting envoys sent to the military camps and various government offices to convey decrees and distribute salaries outside) were already standing next to the stable chief, with two bags beside him. , one contains brand new coins, and the other contains layers of silk materials, which are specially used to pay for the Varangian Guards. Even if the mountains are high and the rivers are far away, Alexios has never forgotten this.

When Gawain's name was called, he climbed up the stairs and shouted "Long live your Majesty" in front of the smiling officials. Then he received the full amount of gold coins and a roll of silk material.

Then on the school grounds, under the envious eyes of other soldiers, the guard warriors unfolded the gorgeous silk material and proudly hung it on their bodies like cloaks, commenting on each other's quality. Therefore, this move happened to guide the behavior of the stable chief. Immediately, many soldiers enthusiastically pressed their fingerprints on the paperwork for the land grant, thinking that since they had not died on the battlefield in the past three or two years, they were lucky enough to survive. , I have to leave some gifts to future generations, and I can't be inferior to these blond and red-haired barbarians.

Soon, new smoke slowly rose from the village where Gawain used to live. Not only that, but also in the entire territory of Asia Minor that George had recovered, farmers came out of their hiding places one after another and began emergency planting and farming. The food, vegetables and fruits used, the land is also After the rapid division and granting, the military land and the farmers' self-cultivated land were intertwined, which was very harmonious and natural. The vitality was once again scattered, like a prairie fire. Most of the land was leased to local surviving or wandering farmers. This was also a certain an emergency method.

The military morale quickly stabilized, and Gawain could continue to sit on the felled trees during his free time during training, looking at the fields where the snow had begun to fall slightly, and the busy figures of the farmers on it. Sometimes the children even laughed. He came and touched his brown beard, fiddled with his strange sword and quiver, and brought him delicious but warm vegetable soup.

"The Varyag Barbarian with the Unsheathed Sword" was the nickname given to him by ordinary people in the nearby countryside. It was exactly the same as when he came to the village.

"Charming tall brown bear", this seems to be a private rumor among the girls in the village.

In the military camp, many fellow guards simply called him "Gawain Russell", referring to him as a mercenary hero and butcher, almost forgetting his original name.

In the fields and fields in front of the gate of the First Army of Constantinople, braving the falling snow, a cavalryman holding a dragon flag, with a long windbag trailed behind the dragon's head, rushed to the gate of the army with a whirring sound. In front of them, the garrison soldiers on the tower raised their flags and lowered their heads. Their shouts echoed in the silent winter,

"Does the emperor come in through the military gate or through the golden gate?"

The cavalryman raised his head, and under the helmet with a nose protection, the snow melted and was mixed with hot sweat. He could not suppress his excited tone, "Your Majesty, Your Majesty won the most glorious and great victory at the foot of Rila Mountain, Pechene All the barbarians who invaded Georgia were wiped out. God bless Rome, we won - Your Majesty will be here Kinmen escorted countless prisoners, and held a prisoner sacrifice ceremony in the Grand Palace!" After saying this in one breath, the cavalryman lowered his body, mixed with excitement and typhoid fever, and kept coughing loudly, one after another, heartbreaking. lungs, but was soon suppressed by the gradually rising sound of trumpets and drums.

The heat wave of cheers surpassed the Theodosian wall, and one wave after another reached the Constantine wall after nightfall, "Your Majesty has achieved a great victory!"

The imperial official who reported the news almost stumbled on the snow-covered Metz Avenue, and arrived in front of the Cathedral of Holy Wisdom. In the splendid hall, there were palace ladies in gorgeous clothes, and the Archbishop. Many of the patriarchs were waiting there anxiously.

Anna leaned in front of her mother, Queen Irene, and kept moving her eyes, watching where the hoofs of the blindfolded horse with a golden bridle were wandering - according to the requirements of the Chaldean fortune teller, every time They will all use this set. If these horses can step on a piece of ground on the floor, This mosaic stone, which was the stepping stone of the original cathedral, represented the inevitable triumph of the frontline war, otherwise it represented hardship and disadvantage. There was no way, this kind of grand superstition appeared in the hall serving the Lord, which shows that Byzantium and Rome were obsessed with the Lord. The depth of dependence on ancient customs.

In fact, Anna had seen it a long time ago, because she was the first visitor to sneak in through the side door of the cathedral, so she was able to see several church servants, who had stuffed themselves under the movable stepping stone beforehand. Entering Ma's favorite alfalfa and oats, "Oh, it's really foolish to write before you see it with your own eyes. This is really Anna's wise words."

But the strange thing is that today's horse doesn't know what's going on. It keeps spinning in circles, sneezing and neighing, not cooperating at all, not interested in the things under the rocks, and making people around it anxious. Even Anna has a trace of it. Worried, she grabbed her mother's cold hand and looked at the Vice Empress Dowager Marlena, her younger brother, and Constantine Augustus who was already engaged to her, and she couldn't help but feel worried. Worry: Will my father’s northern expedition really be disadvantageous?

Superstition is such a thing. When the authorities are obsessed with it, they believe in everything. Psychological suggestions are at work.

Just when Anna looked at the horse's hooves and then at the foundation stone, the herald with snowflakes all over his body ran in and stood in front of everyone. He was almost speechless because of excitement and fatigue, and everyone The man also held his neck high, extremely nervous, and froze in place. Anna even covered her mouth.

Finally, the man said, "Just one day, the Pechenegs have missed the chance to see December forever."

Patriarch Masdas was the first to kneel before the altar, looking up at the brilliant murals on the dome, and loudly thanked the Lord for His Majesty's protection. Then Queen Irene and others also bowed devoutly with the Patriarch, and the young servants could not hold back. They looked at each other, constantly unsheathed and sheathed their swords, and made excited noises to express their ecstasy.

"Father, today the entire barbaric nation was wiped out on the same day." Anna closed her eyes and raised her small and beautiful chin. The golden light of the dome was still projected into her heart. "The glory of Rome will be revived in the hands of father. I will always support you, my dearest father."

Then, the whole Constantinople was boiling. Bells rang in every corner. Priests, citizens, merchants, and women automatically formed a huge team, holding high the portraits of the Virgin Mary and the Child, and the holy apostles. They held candles in their hands, braved the wind and snow, and sang hymns. Like a huge fire dragon, they celebrated and paraded along the entire Constantine wall to prepare for the triumphal return of Emperor Alexius from the Golden Gate.