Chapter 9: Alternatives

Peter's expression was one of complete madness, yet in the end, he turned to everyone and expressed Gao Wen's thoughts in pure Greek. The villagers were in an uproar, and then with tears in their eyes, they referred to Gao Wen as "the righteous one." "But we cannot afford the money to hire you as a replacement."

Before he could finish his words, some villagers interrupted, "Bloodsucking leeches, flies!"

"If the heathens also collect taxes, then we are merely moving from one hell to another, and there is nothing to fear about it," the elder said indignantly. "I cannot gather five followers and a peasant soldier for military service. If you think it is acceptable, just let me report to the camp in Prusa on behalf of everyone."

Are there still families of young people in this village? Even if there are some young and relatively wealthy, they have long gone to seek a living in Prusa City. The elders and villagers plead desperately, "Those who are conscripted, whether as farmers or attendants, will surely wish to be torn apart by ferocious wolves, leaving no trace of their bones or flesh.

"No need, consider it a repayment for the meal," said Gao Wen as he walked in front of Fiobis. "I have armor and weapons, I am also tall and strong, and I can ride a horse, which should meet the requirements you mentioned for His Excellency Caesar."

The elder of the village knelt before the tax collector and pleaded, "How can I possibly pay for these five individuals? In recent years, how many children have been born in the village, and how many have died? Almost every household has only one son. With plagues, wars, and heavy taxes, it is well known that if these five individuals go to the army, it would be fortunate if even one of them returns alive next year"

With a crisp sound of "pa," Gao Wen swung the whip and struck the horse's head of the cavalryman. The horse let out a couple of distressed whinnies, spun around in place, and awkwardly carried its nearly toppled rider towards the fence. Then, with another crack of the whip, Gao Wen flicked the whip between Phoebus's legs, instantly rendering the latter motionless with fear

Upon hearing such harsh and exorbitant demands, many villagers fell to their knees, weeping and pleading with Phibius to show mercy, to forgive them and their village for the sake of the Holy Father and the Holy Mother. "If we are to pay such a price for military service, this village will be utterly destroyed, and the children will starve to death next year"

"I want to negotiate civilly," Phoebus said with a mournful expression to Peter

"Shut up, my friends, you all!" Phoebus said angrily, slicking back his shiny hair, with an expression of disappointment towards the villagers who looked sorrowful and numb. "You are doomed. There is still a nation and an army, but the nation and the army have been destroyed. You will all live under the hooves and curved blades of the heathens, and after death, you will all fall into hell."

In the entire snowy landscape and in front of the church, the tall and imposing Gao Wen stood majestically between the tax collector and the villagers

Boldly! Phobius's whip struck, and a cloud of dust immediately flew up from the elder's face, causing him to fall awkwardly to the ground. "Even if I am a leech or a fly, I have flown out from the imperial garden, noble and inviolable. You bunch of village bumpkins and lowly commoners, do you understand, do you understand!" As he spoke, he struck the groaning elder on the ground with one whip after another.

At that moment, the Pecheneg cavalryman rode back, loudly addressing the tax collector, "Are you out of your mind? Of course we need him; he is the most qualified and strongest recruit I have gathered in the past six months, better than ninety percent of the soldiers we have enlisted. Now that His Excellency Caesar has spoken, the wealthy land contractors must provide an equivalent amount of military service. For villages like this, if possible, it suffices to jointly provide a qualified soldier, regardless of whether he is a local Greek or a foreigner, as long as he can follow Caesar's standard, he should be recruited." After saying this, the cavalryman, who was previously unknown, also saluted Galen, indicating his high regard for him.

"Stop!" Gao Wen clearly heard the hired Pecheneg cavalryman shouting in the Turkic language he could understand, gripping the reins tightly. Amidst the villagers' exclamations, his horse's hooves rose high, seemingly about to trample Gao Wen

At this moment, Gao Wen threw down the riding whip and, under the watchful eyes of the crowd, turned and walked into the church. Seeing this, Fiobes hurriedly took a couple of steps forward, grasped the whip again, and then stood up, trying to appear imposing. However, when he saw Gao Wen walking out of the church again, he called out and wisely crouched back down.

"What are you doing, what are you doing!" Upon seeing Gao Wen approach, Fiobius called out timidly like a woman, yet still tried to maintain his authority, bouncing backward while gripping the riding crop. However, Gao Wen directly seized his hair, throwing him to the ground and snatching away his riding crop. Fiobius attempted to lift his face, but Gao Wen kicked him down again, saying, "You dare to strike the Emperor's tax collector? There is no law anymore; I will have you all hanged, hanged." He threw him to the ground again and took his riding crop, while Fiobius still tried to raise his face. Gao Wen kicked him down once more, declaring, "You dare to strike the Emperor's tax collector? There is no law anymore; I will have you all hanged, hanged."

I am the envoy sent by the Emperor to supervise you!" Phobius shouted sharply, unmoved, "This time the Emperor's decree is that His Excellency Macaulinus must ensure the preservation of the city of Prusa. He will seize the opportunity to recover regions such as Nisia as soon as possible, so the city of Prusa must not be lost; it is to serve as the base for the assembly and departure of the great army. Taxes, military service, and grain must not be lacking in any way. The five attendants are to pave the way and repair the bridges for the great army, and the mules and horses are to transport the supplies for the soldiers of the great army.

Gao Wen immediately dropped the backpack. At that moment, Peter, startled, climbed down from the scaffolding and walked to the door. Seeing Gao Wen rushing forward, he realized it was impossible to stop him and could only maintain the posture of reaching out and calling out.

"What is the minimum military service requirement in the village now? In the name of the Holy Father, you must not lie," Peter asked.

Gao Wen emerged, donned in the black armor of the Gurum cavalry. He led out the black mare from the stable, with a sword at his waist and a Turkish curved saber hanging, yet without a shield, spear, or helmet. He stood before the crowd, remained silent for a moment, and then spoke loudly to Peter, "Tell them, I come to take this military service!"

The tax collector secretly rolled his eyes a few times, and in the end, could only confess to the villagers and Peter, "The roster of the county magistrate states that at least one fully armed peasant soldier must be provided."

The tax collector could only reluctantly take out the register, which was divided into four columns. He placed the reed pen on the second column and asked, "What is your name? Country bumpkin."

"Are you joking? You hybrid creature, resembling both a Turk and a Varangian." Phibis quickly demanded Peter to translate for him in Greek, "A country bumpkin and a mason who cannot even speak Greek, neither Caesar nor the army will want you."

Phibius's face was contorted as he directly snatched the whip from the hands of the Pecheneg cavalry, raising it high and shouting, "I am the one recognized by His Majesty the Emperor, the Duke of the First Rank personally appointed by the Count, and I receive my monthly double salary of grain and cloth in the city, personally collecting it from the Count..."

Thus, Peter spoke to Galwen in his native Oyi language

Then the slender Peter approached him from behind and said to the tax collector in Greek, "Do not provoke my brother, for he is a warrior who has slain five Turkish Gurum warriors and escaped from the palace of Zahas"