Chapter 8: The Tax Collector Philebus

When Gao Wen arrived in front of the small chapel, he noticed that all the villagers were gathered in the open space ahead, looking despondent. The tax collector Phibis and a cavalryman, resembling a Turk and holding a whip while seated on his saddle, stood to one side, facing everyone.

Allow me to introduce, this is a tribute to you from the city of Abydos, the Emperor Caesar!" As he spoke, Phobius and the villagers collectively removed their hats and bowed for a long time towards the boundless west. "The most esteemed Caesar, co-emperor of the Empire, deputy of the great Augustus, chief duke of Asia, and the foremost noble of the court, His Excellency Macolinos has dispatched a Pecheneg scout cavalryman, who brings your command. The scale of this war may be significant. Therefore, His Excellency Macolinos's command reached the governor, then passed from the governor to our local office, and finally to my hands, Phobius. Now, time is of the essence, so I will be brief—we must provide your great army with fifty modii of grain, and a military pay of one and a half solidi in gold, as well as a soldier equipped with armor, a banner, weapons, and a horse, along with five military attendants and two mules.

However, Phibius turned his round eyes and sternly reprimanded the group of villagers, stating that His Excellency the Chief Duke has his own demeanor. He then proposed that using the furnace is acceptable, but the rent for the fire must be paid. Furthermore, immediately—saying this, the tax collector rose abruptly, and the villagers could only continue to doff their hats in salute to the 'distant' His Excellency Caesar, not knowing whether he could be aware—His Excellency Macaulinus intends to recruit personnel from the rural towns under each military district for military service. The military service has already been compiled into a register, and soon he will take over the conscription work in this area. Furthermore, immediately—saying this, the tax collector rose abruptly, and the villagers could only continue to doff their hats in salute to the 'distant' His Excellency Caesar, not knowing whether he could be aware—His Excellency Macaulinus intends to recruit personnel from the rural towns under each military district for military service. The military service has already been compiled into a register, and soon he will take over the conscription work in this area

"Where did those two people come from, my friends?" Phibis placed the pen on the small stand, and then, with his fair fingers, stroked his beautifully groomed beard, which was covered in fine bread crumbs, and inquired softly and sweetly.

"It is those fellows who have come from the city of Rome or the countryside of Frank, the lowly ones, who have thrown the imperial order into chaos, those detestable and base bumpkins." Phybius softly uttered a string of curses in Greek from his cherry-red lips, "I have already warned you, my friends, the Caesar of the Empire—"

Carrying all the exchanged "light colors" on his back, as he retraced his steps, suddenly a cloud of dust rose behind him. A cavalryman, wearing a conical helmet and a dark cloak, shouted as he galloped past him, heading towards the village where he had taken refuge

Many villagers came to watch, and some assisted both inside and outside. The fervent devotion of people in this era, especially farmers, is astonishing. Many of them, not knowing where in their humble homes to find it, exerted themselves to produce a coin, an egg, or a small bag of salt, placing them in the cupboard of the small church, requesting Gavin and Peter to exchange them for expensive paints and reed pens.

As he spoke, Phibius suddenly stood up straight from the bench, and the other farmers skillfully widened their eyes, taking off their felt hats. They solemnly paid their respects in the direction of the west, until Phibius finally announced the title of the Emperor of the Empire, "Salutations to you—most esteemed Caesar, co-emperor of the Empire, deputy of the great Augustus, chief prince of Asia, chief noble of the court, His Excellency Macolinos, stationed in the city of Abydos, three hundred and fifty miles away. Wishing you all the best. Recently, notifications sent to various regions have instructed us to be vigilant against spies from the Zahas bandits of Nisia. It is likely that Zahas will soon unite with the Pechenegs from the north, dispatching armies and fleets to plunder Prusa, and even the capital of Rome, so all of you must be careful!" Salutations to you—most esteemed Caesar, co-emperor of the Empire, deputy of the great Augustus, chief prince of Asia, chief noble of the court, His Excellency Macolinos, stationed in the city of Abydos, three hundred and fifty miles away. Wishing you all the best. Recently, notifications sent to various regions have instructed us to be vigilant against spies from the Zahas bandits of Nisia. It is likely that Zahas will soon unite with the Pechenegs from the north, dispatching armies and fleets to plunder Prusa, and even the capital of Rome, so all of you must be careful!

Many people, led by the elder, petitioned in front of the tax collector's stone courtyard—only he could reside in such "luxurious" accommodations in the entire village. However, this man named Phibius was still complaining about the damned and harsh conditions, claiming that he was willing to stay in this godforsaken place wholeheartedly to serve the Emperor, organizing land and accounts, and collecting taxes. He hoped to accumulate his salary soon, and then cross the sea to study law in the city of Thessaloniki, after which he could make a name for himself in the capital and rise to prominence. He was currently favored by the imperial Caesar Macaulinus—"The two preachers are doing such honorable and arduous work; we hope to prepare them a hot meal every three days using the stove." The village elder, dressed in a wrinkled ceremonial robe, stood humbly before Phibius, who was seated at the accounting table. He was currently favored by the imperial Caesar Macaulinus—"The two preachers are doing such honorable and arduous work; we hope to prepare them a hot meal every three days using the stove." The village elder, dressed in a wrinkled ceremonial robe, stood humbly before Phibius, who was seated at the accounting table.

Gao Wen readily agreed, believing that he must repay kindness with kindness and virtue with virtue towards these villagers. As Gao Wen walked out of the village along the dirt road with a huge backpack on his back, several children followed him like the wind, making their way along the desolate path overgrown with wintergreen and firecracker willows, heading towards the town pointed out by Peter

Gao Wen removed his armor, donned a padded jacket, and, wielding an axe, vigorously split a log into various wooden strips in the muddy courtyard outside the small chapel. He then glued them together to form a framed wooden board, and had to use a heavy planer to smooth it out, as Peter was about to paint an icon on it using "light colors".

However, the border defense troops of the military district have not patrolled the border of our village for several months. The elder's statement implies a suspicion that the army of Zahas has indeed come, and with what armament can the most esteemed Lord Macaulinus repel them

The next day, as Gao Wen sat in front of an endless expanse of black farmland, eating a mixture of acorns and berries, Peter approached him. "Glue, alum, egg white, egg yolk, lime, honey..." he recited the list in one breath, then handed Gao Wen a wooden board on which various required items were vividly illustrated in black ink, knowing that Gao Wen was "illiterate." "These are all base colors for mixing. You need to go to the town fifteen miles away and gather these items."

The small chapel in this village is less of a church and more of a makeshift worship room constructed from bricks and wood, resembling a hut. For the next two days, Peter, like the most professional painter and mason, sat on the makeshift scaffolding, covered in mud and chalk inside the dim space, squinting his eyes and busying himself. He first had to outline the "area" with willow branches, then draw the lines of figures and scenes with a plain brush, and finally apply color with paint. "It will take at least two weeks to complete." Sitting on the makeshift scaffolding, covered in mud and chalk inside the dim space, squinting his eyes and busying himself, he first had to outline the "area" with willow branches, then draw the lines of figures and scenes with a plain brush, and finally apply color with paint. "It will take at least two weeks to complete."

Our village has already paid the full amount of taxes last year, so this time the military service should not be imposed on us, right? The elder asked cautiously, while the tax collector hesitated and mumbled a few words, roughly acknowledging the elder's question. Only then did the villagers feel at ease, one by one bidding farewell and exiting in an orderly manner.

"It is the perished pilgrim, Your Excellency"

In the backpack, there were all kinds of small copper coins, as well as salt and cloth—items that could be exchanged. The tax collector, Phobias, stood at the entrance of his yard, watching Gavin with a wary and disdainful gaze. Gavin met his gaze for a moment but said nothing and continued on his way.