Eagle Byzantium

This diagnosis shocked everyone. The obese dean almost fell down while holding his rosary. Andodat, the poor little trainee priest, was just about to go over to help him when he was slapped by the domineering self-proclaimed archduke. Pulling him back and pushing him into the queue of sergeants, several Varangian warriors immediately laughed, stroking and patting Andodat's peculiar hairstyle, making the little trainee priest tremble with fear.

The other people supported the dean. At this time, Gawain nodded his forehead, as if he remembered something, "Personnel without divine grades can stay, such as various craftsmen."

"But how will you arrange us? What's the point of this?" Several deacons protested.

"Anyway, this monastery was originally owned by Orthodox monks. I returned it to the original owner. From now on, the Holy Communion can be fermented and eaten. I hate eating dead noodles." This was the domineering explanation of the self-proclaimed Grand Duke who couldn't laugh or cry. "Peel it yourself." A stick to carry back to Rome or over the Alps to the Frankish land.”

Then, Andodat, protected by axes and swords, walked down the steps of the monastery. Down below, many soldiers were erecting a platform with ropes and wood in the open area. About three or four tall soldiers The man with red and yellow hair had his hands and feet tied and was tied to a lever on the table.

All the soldiers surrounded and shouted, Gawain came down, "Prince Bohemond wrote a letter saying that he has collected most of the ransom and it is now with me. There are still about four people who cannot pay." Yes, it’s the four of you, so according to the agreement, I must execute you.”

The four Norman knights stood on the gallows, silent.

"Because of poverty, you lost your lives." Then Gawain said.

An older man, with a rope tied around his neck, shouted to Gawain, "Poverty is a knight's virtue."

"No, poverty is a sin." Gawain replied, and then the platform under the gallows was kicked over. The four unlucky prisoners immediately swayed with their legs for a while and stopped struggling. Andodat stood beside Gawain. Behind him, seeing this scene, his face turned pale with fright.

Then, Gawain turned around and said, "To convey the order of this archduke, we will sweep this area like a grate. The main targets are churches, monasteries, villages, and towns that are pro-Norman or accept the patronage of Norman. In the past, How the Normans treated the Roman Empire, we are just trying to do the same to others! At the same time, we must also accept it! Promise, as long as the Greek towns and villages fly the flag of Saint Michael or Saint Nicholas, we will not invade any Greek towns and villages. In addition, I will expel all the monks (St. Peter's Episcopal Church) sent from the city of Rome and close them. All ecclesiastical buildings with Catholic rites were taken over by Roman monks (Greek Orthodox Church)!”

Finally, in front of the gallows and the dangling corpses, Gawain waved his big hand, "Now, use Saint Michael's phosphorus fire dragon-slaying sword to burn the entire Calabria, and let the enemies suffer God's excommunication! "

The self-proclaimed arrogant Duke kept his word. Next, Titicius's light cavalry divided into small groups and ravaged all the wheat fields and farms belonging to the Normans in the entire southern region of Calabria, driving away the farmers who worked on them. people, plundered cattle, filled up wells, banished the Norman commissioned priests - The scene of the cavalry on horseback holding scimitars and bows and arrows, wearing Byzantine-style armor and scarlet battle clothes, rushing to the door of the monastery and setting fire to looting has become a new content in the words of the Lord's Prayer, " Ask the Lord to save us all from the claws of Gawain Russell."

On the pass leading to Reggio, the southernmost city, a fluttering "Red Hand Cross Sword" flag was erected on a high slope. Gawain stood on it, looking at the marching queue below and the growing number of people. The baggage train "drove all those loyal to Norman into the mountains to spend the winter."

Then, in the wilderness opposite the mountain pass, many people and horses appeared faintly, their armors reflected the light under the sky. There were also many people on horseback, holding various flags. The scouts rushed up the hillside one after another, pointing. There, "a large number of troops who knew neither the enemy nor ourselves were gathered on the other side of the river."

As a result, Gawain and Diognis looked at each other intently, and then the self-proclaimed Grand Duke burst into laughter, "All of them were flying the Labland Cross flag. These people are all Calabrian-Roman (Greek) minor nobles who are obsessed with the empire." The monks and the people, who originally suffered under the tyranny of Norman, now know that I am here, and they all gather to serve under the banner of this Grand Duke. "

"This is too transgressive!" Diognis is still resentful of Gawain's so-called "official title futures business."

"Andodate." Gawain ignored the other party's complaints and handed him a wine bag. "In it is the finest wine in the Italian countryside. I found it in the monastery cellar. I give it to you - hello, Andodat!" Then , blocked the mouth of Diognis, and the self-proclaimed Grand Duke shouted impatiently. The thin monk, who was wearing chain mail and a chain turban, and could hardly hold up his body, ran to the high slope panting. , holding stationery and pen and ink in his hands.

"Draft a letter of appointment." Then Gawain said, Andodat nodded, then fumbled around and pulled out a bottle of green ink from the sash hanging in front of him (this was only available in the Roman Empire for ministers, archduke and navy) Only commanders are qualified to use it), dipped a reed pen in it, and then started writing with ease.

Soon, including Metzios who had joined the army after the Battle of Cadmeia Castle, all the Greek nobles who came to join the army on the opposite bank of the river ran up the hill. They really thought that Gawain was the Grand Duke appointed by His Majesty the Emperor to recover this area: His Majesty appointed him to take full responsibility, and this Grand Duke could continue to appoint us.

Under the military flag, Andeodate wrote with sweat on his face, finished one copy, and then stamped it with a private seal, "Hey, why did you sign my name and General Taitsius's name?" Seeing that Andeodate actually imitated his handwriting and signed on the edge of the seal, the angry and frightened guard grabbed the little priest's robe collar and questioned him.

"Grand Duke Gawain said..." The novice priest was scared to death.

"What Grand Duke!" Diogenes whispered.

"Saying that you will all be pulled on board is called a partnership system. As for using a letter of appointment to call on these people to join the army, it is called financing." Andeodate also shouted in fear.

A correct version can be found in the 16-9 book forum!

Gulp, Diogenes' head dropped, and he smashed it directly on the propped up writing board in annoyance...

Gawain over there seemed to have not heard it. He took out the letter of appointment with purple ink from the emperor and placed it in Metzjos's hand. "From now on, the best gentleman Metzjos is the Lombardy company Acornis appointed by the empire!"

Metzjos took this, as if in a dream, but then thought again, "But isn't Acornis the title of a barbarian general?"