Eagle Flag of Epirus

　　 "This is the first time we have met. I am Dekulin, the leader of the caravan." At night, bypassing the checkpoints of the Latins, the caravan had already left the Thracian region to the border between Macedonia and Bulgaria. It can be said that at this time, it is basically possible to ensure safety and not be caught up by the Latins again.

　　 Everyone breathed a sigh of relief and set up a camp in the wilderness to make a fire and cook. As the leader of the caravan, Dekulin took the initiative to say hello to Justinian.

Although Vasily who asked him did not tell him that this young man still has the true identity of the middle-aged man, Dekulin, a friend of more than ten years, decided to help unconditionally, but from Vasily’s entrustment, he knew the identity of the other person. It's not simple.

　　 Dekulin walked over friendly and handed everyone a glass of malt, "It’s a long night and I can’t hurry anymore. Let’s warm up with a drink of wine."

　　 Justinian, Muzfius and Little John all took the glass. Although John is still a child, a little sweet wine is not a problem. After all, the night is cold, and Justinian did not stop it.

"Thank you, my name is Justinian, and this is my uncle. Thank you for helping us go to Epirus this time." Justinian readily accepted the other party's kindness, thanks to the other side's care and avoidance along the way. Danger.

　　 "Vasily and I were good friends more than ten years ago. What's this." Draculin laughed, but suddenly sighed, "But after this deal, I'm afraid I won't be able to go back."

　　 "Are you not going to return to Constantinople?"

"Yeah, business was not good before the **** Latins came. Originally, Emperor Manuel deprived the Venetians of the privileges, but now they have completely monopolized Eastern trade after they took Constantinople. I am. The smugglers are also affected. I can’t even make half a sou if I stay there. What's more, the Bolgars have fought over again, and I am going to go back to my hometown."

　　 Justinian nodded. Indeed, Constantinople today is no longer the prosperous capital of the year. Prices are rising, and its decline began at this time. "Then where is your hometown?"

"Sophia, but when I left that year it was already the capital of the Bolgarians. Although it was not friendly to the Romans, it was better than Constantinople." The man shrugged helplessly. After drinking out of alcohol, he left his hometown when he was only a teenager and settled in Constantinople because of Bulgaria's independence, but now he has to go back there to make a living.

When he heard that the hometown of the man in front of him was Sofia, Justinian remembered something and asked, "If this is the case, then do you know who the Bulgarian Tsar Kaloyan is?" He was eager to know this person and was called. Caroyan, the butcher of the Romans, wiped out Baldwin, one of the Big Three of the Fourth Crusade, and even the Marquis of Boniface was killed in the future. Undoubtedly, he will be a deadly death in Byzantium in the future. He wanted to use Epirus to regain Constantinople and would inevitably conflict with Bulgaria’s expansion.

　　 Only by understanding this man can he know how to deal with this potential enemy.

But Dekulin shook his head and said, "I don't know much. I have been doing business in Constantinople for these years. I only know that he is the younger brother of Assen and Peter who rebelled against the empire. But I can live in Adria. Anbao must be a terrible guy to wipe out so many Latins."

"Finally, it is said that that guy looks like a demon in hell. I heard people who escaped from the battlefield say that Tsar Kaloyan learned pagan witchcraft from Transylvania and can instantly turn the plains into A sea of ​​flames.” At this moment, a man with a mercenary appearance sat down and said in a serious manner, and poured himself a glass of wine.

　　 "You're here again, Bihar, talk nonsense before drinking. You can believe those who are scared." Looking at the rude mercenary captain he hired, Dekulin couldn't help frowning. These words are only the tricks and bragging words in the streets and alleys, and Bihar still talks about it.

　　 "Let you see a joke, they say these things that are not four or six."

"It's okay, it's just hearsay anyway!" Of course Justinian smiled at this. The surviving person on the battlefield didn't want to describe his opponent as three-headed and six-armed, but at least it is certain that the czar is by no means easy to deal with. .

But Bihar blushed in disbelief: "What can't be called four or six. Those Bolgars are originally pagans. It is said that when they took the opportunity to become independent, they got a pagan crown in Sofia and leaned against the witches in it. Only then did the magic defeat the suppression of the imperial army." Country legends like to revolve around pagans and witchcraft, and it is true that illiterate people will believe it, but of course Justinian can only laugh.

"That's just a crown, Bihar, you can never distinguish between reality and the story, so you can only be a mercenary and daydream about what treasure you dug that day." Dekulin, who could no longer be familiar with it, sneered, and the others in the caravan also burst into laughter, some of them believed and some did not, but they all liked to make fun of their mercenary captain.

　　 But Justinian asked with some care: "The crown, is there really that crown?" He couldn't help but be interested in it. After all, they don’t know much about Bulgaria’s history, and they will travel to Epirus through the territory of the Bolgar.

　　 And seeing someone believe that he was half-drunk, Bihar couldn't help but get excited. He couldn't help opening the chatterbox, but was interrupted.

"That was only the crown of ancient Bulgaria more than two hundred years ago. The so-called witchcraft was just because the empire was fighting against the Kumans and there was no time to take care of it. If it weren't for the empire's cannibalism, how could it be possible for them to resurrect and cause Brazil. The emperor's efforts were in vain." Muzifius, who had been silent, suddenly said coldly by the bonfire, but he was still wrapped in his robe and did not show his face.

　　 Everyone was silent and speechless. For some reason, there was a unique majesty in this man's voice.

　　Everyone knows the prestige of Emperor Bashirs II. Known as the butcher of the Bolgar, he completely eliminated the threat from the north of the empire, but everyone can't help but sigh when he thinks of the current situation. But Bihar was still dissatisfied with what he wanted to say, but was stopped by Dekulin on the side, and the group of people had no choice but to disperse.

　　 "So take a good rest, Justinian." Deculin nodded and took Bihar to go first. It was midnight that they had to rest, and they had to get up early tomorrow.

　　 "Okay, little John, follow them to rest. I'll wait a while." Justinian asked John beside him to follow Draculin to leave, but he still cared about what Muzfius said just now. Judging from the other party's words, this man should have participated in the suppression of the Bolgar's rebellion, and perhaps he should have some understanding of Kaloyan.

　　 "It seems that you really want to know." Although he couldn't see it, Muzfius still felt Justinian's gaze. He did participate in that war, and despite the reconciliation between the two sides, there were still huge contradictions. The only thing that sustains it is that the Romans brought civilization to the Bolgars~www.ltnovel.com~ For a long time, Bulgaria has been very dissatisfied with the gesticulation of the Orthodox Church in Constantinople, Constantinople. In the year of the fall, Kaloyan did not show much enthusiasm to the Byzantines for help, and he was still bargaining with the Pope at this time, proposing that as long as the Romans would recognize him, he would convert to Catholicism. The feelings of these barbarians towards the Orthodox Church Not very deep.

"It can only be said that Carloyan is a dangerous guy, more savvy than his two brothers. He was going to go to the Latins. However, the Latins did not seize this opportunity. The Pope in Rome may be busy with other matters. , I didn’t realize the importance of these savages, so I left them out, making Kaloyan’s enthusiasm for the Latins disappear. Now we need his strength to resist the Latins. Maybe he will be called after a few years. It might be a saint who defends the Orthodox Church. It's ironic!" Muzfius couldn't help but shook his head slightly.

　　 And Justinian couldn't help but spit out his tongue, and said in his heart: In fact, this is really the case!

　　 Just as the two were talking, Muzfius suddenly lifted his cloak and showed a horrified face, "Someone is approaching here!"

　　 "How many people?" Justinian was also taken aback. He knew that the blind Muzfius had very good ears now. But who will appear here in this wilderness and ridge and come toward them?

　　 "A lot, a lot!" As soon as Muzfius's voice fell, the sentry's warning sound not far away came over.

　　 "It's a Bolgar, it's a Bolgar, everyone is ready to fight!"

　　 The caravan, which was just about to rest, rushed out of the tent. They did not expect to meet the Bolgar here. In the Greek vocabulary, Bolgarians are no different from robbers.