At the end of the Tang Dynasty, it was a feudal town, but in Western Europe

On the gate of Badovik’s Hundred Households, a huge wooden sign is engraved with the words “Baduwei”, which is a unique naming method for foreign races in the Central Plains. However, most people in this era are illiterate. Even if it is written in Latin, they probably can’t understand it.

Riding on the back of a big black horse, Feng Sen entered Badovic. After a whole winter of construction, the former civilian village has become a small military stronghold.

Along the way, in addition to the residential houses, there are wells, arsenals, barns, and corrals. This is Feng Sen's experimental base for the military station. If there is no problem, the entire Eight Banners military station in Saxony will use this Built to spec.

However, Feng Sen came here today not to inspect Badovic’s military post. His main purpose was to meet a Jew. Villagers, but only limited to the Jewish community.

After passing through Badovik, putting down his luggage and settling his residence, Feng Sen immediately went up to a mound to the north of Badovik with his entourage after asking about the location of the Abby named Ruben.

After walking for less than a quarter of an hour, a small settlement surrounded by tents and carriages appeared in the deserted wilderness. It is hard to imagine that these Jews with a lot of cash flow actually live in the countryside instead of gorgeous houses in the city , it's really strange.

Under the guidance and notification of the guide, Feng Sen and his entourage quickly entered the village. He even saw a few Turkic guards. Feng Sen was deeply impressed by his half-Chinese face and the charming machete in his hand.

This should be a Jewish village. Normally, Jews are not allowed to own land or engage in land business. However, the law is not strictly enforced at this time, so many Jews can still grow a vegetable at their doorstep for self-sufficiency.

Along the way, Feng Sen keenly observed that the proportion of women and children in this Jewish village is very high, and young and middle-aged men are rarely seen, probably running business outside.

After getting off the horse, an old man in his 50s was waiting in front of the hut. He was wearing a white Jewish dress and was a little stooped.

Seeing Feng Sen's arrival, the old man immediately took two steps forward, clasped his palms together instead of upward, but forward, and said, "Welcome, Your Excellency the Duke."

"Hello, wise Ruben Abby." Nodding to Ruben, Feng Sen nodded to him, "About the poor Jewish problem, Ruben Abby, I've always wanted to talk to you, but I didn't take the time. Let's try to solve this problem as quickly as possible. What do you think?"

Ruben Abby coughed and pointed to the cabin behind him: "Your Excellency, please."

The furnishing in the hut is very simple, even a little poor. It is not at all obvious that this is a banker's room. In the center of the room is a heated kang, and a girl of eighteen or nineteen is lying on the ground, wiping the tiles beside the kang.

After entering the room, the two found their seats and sat down. I don't know whether it was intentional or unintentional. They basically sat opposite each other without any difference in status.

Ruben Abi coughed and put his hands on the chair: "I heard about your Tang people from the Khazar Khan. He said that the Tang people were barbaric and cruel. They deliberately provoked the Turkic tribes to fight and consumed their population. , let the Turkic people be the slaves of the Tang people forever, and he and his tribe could not bear the humiliation, so they fled to Europa and established a family business."

"If the Turkic people are willing to honestly graze sheep on the grassland, we are not willing to start a war, but they never want to do so." Feng Sen smiled softly, "And, old Abi, an ant sleeping on the giant's Lying on the couch, haven't you thought about the consequences of the giant turning over?"

Ruben Abbey also laughed: "Your Excellency the Duke speaks Latin very well, very similar to the Romans, and we Jews were also Romans once."

"But not anymore."

"Yes, many Jewish brothers have betrayed us." Old Abby shook his head helplessly, "In Iberia, quite a few Jewish brothers have become your brothers, and our brothers are already very few. "

"So what compensation do you expect?"

Putting his palms together on the table, the old Abby smiled and said to Feng Sen: "Pay back the debt of 300 solidas and the ransom of 1000 solidas."

"Yes!" Feng Sen nodded without hesitation, "I thought you would ask our people to pay for their lives."

"The poor guy is gone. He paid the price for his stupidity. Besides, we have seen many such things." Although he was a little surprised at Feng Sen's promise so readily, Abby still replied, "At least, this money can make his family feel better, but we will get nothing from paying for his life."

"Okay, now that this matter is settled, I have a new business I want to ask you if you can do it." Feng Sen crossed his legs.

Old Abby's body was a little bent: "What business?"

"I need money for the development of the territory now, but I don't have any money now, and I still owe a lot, so I want to borrow 31300 Solidars from you." Feng Sen said with a smile, "Otherwise, I will not even pay you back." You can’t even take out your 1300 Solidar.”

The hut fell silent for a moment, Feng Sen was smiling, and Abby was also smiling. Then Ruben Abby let out a breath from his nose and stood up. He clapped his hands together and shook them up and down twice: "Your Excellency, don't make me laugh anymore. Do you want me to lend you money to pay off my debt?"

Chapter 2 money in the sack

In the hut, only a puff of cold smoke rose when the firewood in the kang was burning, dancing in the air like silk and satin. After wiping the tiles of the kang, the Jewish girl quietly stood by the door and watched quietly. A moving black bug.

That night, the black demon broke into her house and inserted arrows and long swords into the bodies of his father, brother and fiancé.

She had heard of similar deeds, mentioned more than once by Abbey everywhere in the Zion congregation, so she knew it could happen.

The girl looked down at the shoe with a hole in it. In previous years, every spring, her father would buy a new pair of shoes for every member of the family. They walked too much, and a good pair of shoes only took a year to break.

Who will buy the shoes for mother and sister this year?

Anyway, Ruben would not pay the money. He looked at the young Duke whose smile gradually faded, and was also frightened while being angry. His words just now were a little too harsh.

Facing the hot young man in front of him, he gradually realized one thing: how terrifying is the energy and future of a duke who has made friends with many top dignitaries and relied on his military exploits to rise to the top.

The most frightening thing was that he had been granted full powers by Charlie. Even the entire East Frankish Jewish community would tremble with such terrible trust.

Even if the irony in Ruben's words is not obvious, as a Jew, it is still too presumptuous. If the legal regulations are strictly enforced, the Jews will be forced by him to have no foothold in Saxony.

Sitting quietly on the chair, Feng Sen looked at the ever-changing Ruben expressionlessly, and tapped the armrest of the chair with his fingers: "What if I say yes?"

"I mean, the amount of 1300 solida is too high." Putting on a smiling face, Ruben Abi sat back on the chair and began to bargain. "I will give you a loan of [-] solida at most, and help you forgive the [-] solida owed."

"I want 31300 Solidar, not a penny less." Feng Sen said as if unreasonable, "I have the right to someone to have land. If it wasn't because I was in a hurry to develop, I should have cut off your head when you just said that."

Ruben glanced at the Turkic guards outside, and said: "If I offended you, please allow me to apologize to you. But I also want to ask you to know that the commercial tax of the entire Eastern Empire last year was only 20 solidars, and you paid one-seventh of it for every mouthful. Is this reasonable? And you also promised that the newly reclaimed land will not be taxed within five years. I really can't believe that you can return the money with interest."

"So I borrowed this money from all the Jewish communities around you. I believe that for the Jews who like to lend and collect money the most, this is not a big amount." Feng Sen finished smashing the stick and began to feed carrots, "As for your doubts, I can say this. I found a salt mine in Kalkberg. The money will be used to build salt mines. You know how much salt is lacking in this area, and you should also know how profitable it is.

For the 66 solids, I will repay you [-] solids in three years, which is equivalent to an interest rate of [-]% for three years. I know you may think it is less, but don’t forget that the Church of the Heavenly Father prohibits usury, and this interest rate is the limit I can tolerate.

If I fail to repay the money after three years, you have two options. First, you can get [-]% of Kalkberg Salt Mine shares for every [-] solida, and you can share dividends and profits every year, but you can’t mix it with the operation.Second, I will give you a private coinage charter, but only in Saxony. "

Ruben Abby was a little silent. He looked at Feng Sen suspiciously. Such conditions are actually very good. A maximum of [-]% of the shares of a salt mine is their favorite business.As for the latter condition, the right to private coinage is handed over to Jewish bankers, and they can make a lot of money.

But generally speaking, such mortgage conditions are raised by them, and then the two parties argue hard and bargain, and finally there is such a result, but let the borrower take the initiative to raise it?Could it be that the heavenly father appeared?

"But I also have conditions." Feng Sen pointed a finger at him, which made Ruben breathe a sigh of relief. "First, I want your sales network to help me sell my goods and cultivate our caravans. Second, I need Jews who know how to measure to help me measure and calculate land. Third, I need those Jewish teachers to teach our apprentices geometry and mathematics. Fourth, I want to build a trading post in Crimea."

"I can understand the first three." Ruben Abby asked with some doubts, "but what does the last one mean? Why do you want to build a trading post in Crimea?"

"Don't worry about it, just say whether these conditions are feasible or not?"

Eyeballs kept rolling in their sockets, Ruben Abi quickly went through the whole process in his mind, and finally said: "Personally, I am willing to lend this amount, but I don't have that much money myself, so I need to discuss it with other Jewish elders, so you may have to wait for a while."

"I'm in a hurry." Feng Sen showed an impatient look on his face. "The reason why I came to you is to get the money as soon as possible. If you are slow, why should I do this? I want to warn you, don't play any tricks and make me angry. I can write to His Royal Highness Charlie... You don't want the status of the Jews to drop again, do you?"

There was a drop of cold sweat on Ruben Abi's face: "I can personally provide you with a loan of [-] Solidar, and it will be in your hands in three days."

"How much money can you give now? Right now." Feng Sen's tone was equally impatient.

Ruben thought for a while, then stretched out two fingers: "Two thousand Solidar."

"Okay, you can bring me [-] Solidars first, I need it urgently." Feng Sen glanced at the shabby hut, "You can take out [-] Solidars in cash at once, why do you want to live in In such a simple little house."

"This is a lesson left by blood." Reuben Abi smiled calmly, as if he was talking about something plain and simple. He walked out of the door of the hut and waved to a Jewish youth in the distance. Soon, the Jewish youth came over with two small boxes in his hands.

Putting the two small boxes on the ground, Ruben Abby took the bright silver keys from his neck and opened them, and the golden light instantly filled the entire cabin.

Feng Sen also went out with a smile and waved to the distance. Soon, Sun Jingxiao came in with two sacks, one large and one small, grabbed a handful of gold coins and stuffed them into the bag.

"Hey, points."

"Oh oh oh."

Sitting on a chair beside him, every time a handful of gold coins entered Feng Sen's sack, the fat on Ruben's neck would twitch like a twitch.

"What about the creditor's family?"

"Here." Wiping his nose, Ruben pointed to the girl who had been standing at the door, "That's it."

Turning around, Feng Sen looked at the girl who was cleaning the tabletop and walls just now. Her face was a little uneven due to the cold wind all year round. Her clothes were plain but clean and not patched. It was just that her shoes were a little rotten, and the uppers made of linen couldn't stand the wear and tear at all.

Feng Sen was a little hesitant, he turned around and asked Sun Jingxiao: "Have you counted everything?"

Carrying two sacks, one big and one small, Sun Jingxiao nodded and said, "It's all ordered."

Holding a small sack in his left hand and a big sack in his right, Feng Sen walked up to the girl, looked directly at the girl's lowered forehead, paused for two seconds, and handed the big sack to the Jewish girl:

"This is 1300 Solidars. Use it to buy a pair of good shoes. If you have any difficulties, come to me in Hamburg. If you want to own a piece of land, just let me know, and I will protect you."

The girl looked at the sack full of gold coins in front of her, and then looked at Ruben whose eyes were a little red, and took the sack of gold coins dumbly. She opened the sack, and the golden light fell on her face.

Inside was a lot of money shining like gold. She had never seen so much money. It could buy a lot of shoes, enough to buy New Year's gifts for her mother and sister for the rest of their lives.

"As for the fate of that dental soldier, he will be whipped and placed under house arrest for the rest of his life, and he will continue breeding until he dies." He patted the girl on the shoulder lightly, "I can't kill him, sorry."

Constance's head was blurred by the salty water. The girl tightly grasped the edge of the sack and pursed her lips. There was a depressing buzzing sound in her nose, matched with the continuous ticking sound of the gold coins, as if A hummingbird drenched in a rainstorm chirps.

Although she had honey in her mouth, she lost her most precious stamen forever.

Chapter 2 gives him a little Roman shock

Byzantium, New Rome, Queen of Cities, City of World Desire, no matter which one is the most beautiful name of this city, it is the most beautiful pearl in the Mediterranean Sea, the founder and terminator of countless histories - the ancient city of thousands of years, Jun Constantinople.

But now he is not like later generations, occupied by Turkic people waving green flags. At this time, she is still firmly in the hands of Greeks and Latins.

In many people's minds, Constantinople is located on the Bosporus Strait, but in fact, Constantinople is further south of the Strait, surrounded by the Golden Horn and the Sea of ​​Marmara. The entire city is triangular in shape and is protected behind by the Theodosian Wall surrounded by colored rocks and bricks.

At this time, Empress Wancheng was still so young, without the rusty moss and black-gray traces of gunfire in later generations.

The clear and warm sunlight shone on the cold and gorgeous golden gate, and the tall arches were covered with bright golden light, as if they were wearing a suit of golden armor.

In front of the gate of the Theodosian city wall, Bolenus looked up at the towering towers on the city wall, his eyes narrowed slightly, and a few goshawks sang sharply in the blue sky. The banners of the Lord clothed the proud towers with many colors.

Even though Bolenus has looked up more than once, every time he sees this great golden gate, he still feels trembling and intoxicated from the bottom of his heart. However, whether it is the war in Anatolia or the queen who holds the banner of restoring the icon, it has cast a layer of haze on this glorious city gate.

This golden gate can only be opened when the emperor triumphs.

Passing by the Golden Gate, Bolenus and his convoy walked slowly to the bridge gate in the northwest with the flow of people and teams. As the capital of the Eastern Empire, Constantinople had a total population of more than 30, even It is comparable to Saxony under Feng Sen's jurisdiction.

Of course, the 30 here also includes the population on the outskirts of the city. In the outskirts of the city, Bolenus saw Cappadocians, Armenians, Greeks, Turks, Jews, and Arabs. They spoke various accents and wore costumes of various ethnic groups, like a pot of boiling water, constantly muttering.

Some of these people came to do business, some were refugees from Anatolia, and some were the poorest poor looking for food.

"when--"

"when--"

Countless pigeons passed over the head of Bolenus, the golden cross on the top of Sophia Cathedral shone brightly, and the white dove carrying the voice of heaven passed low over the heads of the crowd, and some pilgrims knelt down Falling to the ground, they were wearing the most ragged clothes, but they cried loudly and praised the heavenly Father with the most beautiful words.

Bolenus held the cross on his chest, and the neat chants of countless Churches of the Heavenly Father on the mountains echoed in his ears, echoing in the neatly divided streets and blocks, and on the marble statues of emperors on both sides of the city square , Alexander, Caesar, Augustus and the bronze statues of Justinian.

After handing over two Solidas as a bribe, Bolenus's caravan finally got the approval of the petty official, allowing him and his caravan to return to the long-lost imperial city.

Passing through the bridge gate and walking on the wide Byzantine Avenue, Bolenus looked at the familiar scenery in front of him, with a smile on his face. No matter how strong the wind and rain outside, he could not fall into Constantinople.

Double-layered elevated canals, marble sculptures, luxurious aristocratic mansions, ruddy-faced crowds flowing on the streets, hawkers, deliverers, patrollers, walkers and debaters, all voices are so civilized and holy in the chanting.

Greek soldiers in armor walked by slowly, and a group of youths in cloth robes debated grammar and logic loudly. Beside them, white turbans representing the crescent moon and Bactrian camels passed by them. A scholar in long robes and holding books hurried past glanced at the Arab businessman in disgust.

On the streets along the way, goods from all over the world gather here, fur and amber from the North Sea, nuts and leather from Iberia, wine from Italy, beeswax from Frank, gems from Arabia, spices from India, and ceris. silk and porcelain.

A street in Constantinople is enough to shock the whole of Western Europe!

Bolenus couldn't help sighing: "Our Rome is really amazing."

Saying goodbye to his companions, Bolenus went to his little home in the city.

In a middle-class community from the central city square to the city wall, Bolenus has a small house. As the son of a judge, this house is not a very good place to live. However, considering that Bolenus’ father died young and supported the destruction of icons, it is not bad to have such a small house.

However, this background also made Bolenus basically out of official career, which is why he followed Zinovac to take the dangerous Volga trade route. Without official career, he could only take the money route.

After handing over the luggage, Bolenus took a nap, took a shower, put on clean clothes, and went to the inner city further east without stopping, crossed the oval-shaped horse racing city, and bypassed the brilliant On the side of the grand palace of the Eastern Empire, there is a palace called the Magnola Palace.

This used to be the place where Bolenus' father worked. Standing under a tree not far from the gate, Bolenus began a long wait regardless of everyone's strange eyes.

In the Magnola Palace, there is a college classmate of Bolenus’ father who is working in it at the moment, that is, His Excellency Tarasios, the imperial secretary of the Eastern Empire’s court. They parted ways because of the differences in the iconoclasm movement.

Under the hot sun, Bolenus was sweating profusely after waiting for a short time. He took off his coat and kept fanning his hot face with his hands. The cool shade of the tree only provided him with a little simple sunshade effect.

"Bolenus!" A young man in the shape of a servant trotted out of the Magnola Palace and stood in front of Bolenus. What is Si's attitude?

And Bolenus greeted warmly like a normal person: "Long time no see, Kalihta, I brought a souvenir from Saxony as a gift for Your Excellency Tarasios."

"His Excellency Tarassios has already introduced Zinovac to you, allowing you to join the trade route of Volga. Are you still dissatisfied? Do you have to consume all this precious favor?" The young servant stared at him viciously and said.

Bolenus stared at him suspiciously: "Did Lord Tarassios say the same?"

"Of course not." The young servant said unceremoniously, "How could the benevolent and kind Lord Tarassios say such a thing? I just don't want to see you take advantage of your father's friendship to benefit yourself."

"Then what did Lord Tarassios say?"

The young servant's face darkened instantly, and he pursed his lips, as if the words came out through his teeth: "Your Excellency Tarassios asked me to take you to his study, through the back door."

Chapter 2 Tarassios

Walking in the promenade of Magnola, Bolenus touched the marble columns with acanthus leaves with emotion. Under the red roof tiles, countless students from all over the country, or with books Hurrying past, or standing by the flower bed to argue loudly, even in the middle of the garden, there are two college students each holding a sword in a duel.

A young servant named Kaliheta led the way silently, while Bolenus followed closely behind him carrying a small box. The two walked towards Talasios' office in such an awkward and silent manner.

If you look down on the Magnola Palace from mid-air, it is a palace similar to "〇口口". It is located to the east of Augusta Square, close to the Hagia Sophia and next to the Calque Gate.

In the basilica-style palace of the main building, the straight corridors on both sides form a square shape, and a three-story building made of marble appears in front of Bolenus, and the third floor is erected. A huge hemispherical dome surrounded by floor-to-ceiling windows.

Follow Kalihta into the Magnola Palace through the side door, follow the circular stairs to the second floor, walk through the ground covered with red Persian carpets, and the two finally come to a gate.