Eagle Flag of Epirus

　　 The bustling port has people coming and going, and past business travelers pass by here everywhere. It is hard to imagine that there was still a depression a few months ago.

　　 "Is this Fort Ilovan? I remember that it was still a desolate place a year ago, and it is really the same as the rumors!" Phillips yelled out without surprise. After he left Constantinople before, he went to the Black Sea to do business in Crimea, and when he came back, he learned that his mother country had a new trading hub here.

　　 But he clearly remembered that he passed by here when he went to Agrinon a year ago. It could be said to be barren, but it is completely different now.

　　 Across the high mountains, Ilovan Castle by the sea appeared in the eyes of everyone. At this time, the sun is already slanting west, but the endless businessmen are busy transshipping goods. Nowadays, the relationship between the Genoese and the Venetians has deteriorated, and their transit point is only a few reliable. If you want to go to the east, you must stop here. Although you still need to pay taxes, it is much cheaper, and it is better than the Venetians. Eat and take the card.

　　 Passing through the village near Ilovin Fort, many Roman peasants were sweating like rain and were diligent, harvesting slices of barley. They have to cultivate for a while before the sky is completely dark, after all, this is their own land. Many of them have lost their property and become refugees, but they have received generous subsidies from the lord of Ilovan Fort here.

Unlike those domineering military commanders, this lord did not have any requirements for refugees to become his affiliated farmers, which made everyone fondly call him "Moses". In their opinion, the favor of that man was no less than the opening up. The Red Sea guides the elect of God to Canaan.

　　 "It's incredible!" Phillips subconsciously tweeted amazed. Maybe it's not too bustling here, but this kind of vigorous feeling is not common in villages and towns.

　　 came to the city gate, and a few Roman soldiers guarding the gate immediately made the Genoese merchants shine.

　　 It's not that they haven't seen the Roman army, but they knew that the imperial army was vulnerable to a blow a year ago. Facing the crusaders of tens of thousands, Alex III led 70,000 people and fled without a fight. According to the records of people at the time, even the Roman soldiers guarding Constantinople were already at full speed, the navy was disbanded, and even elites like the Varangian Guard owed their military pay. It is conceivable that it has become corrupted.

But the Roman guard standing in front of them at this moment is completely different. The brand-new Anatolian-style scale armor, cone-shaped helmet, and Greek-style shield and spear are definitely a fighting spirit. Looks like a good soldier.

　　 This is not surprising in itself. The strange thing is that the existence of this kind of projectile land is very magical. Since the military area's fields have been taken by the officers by cleverly, it is reasonable to say that soldiers from homesteaders cannot be equipped with such weapons and armor.

　　 And just at this moment, several persons in charge of Ilovan Castle saw a group of Genoese businessmen coming over and immediately greeted them with enthusiasm. The huge profits in the past few months have filled the treasury of Ilovan Castle for the first time. It can be said that when the Genoese came to these old men, they felt that it was sparkling gold.

　　 "Welcome to Ilovin Castle, our Genoese friends!"

Seeing such a friendly Roman Phillips had to admire the cunning of these people. In fact, since the destruction of Western Rome, the differences between the Christian world between the East and the West have become bigger and bigger. From the perspective of the Franks, the Greeks in the east are Cunning, sinister and sleek, even the Italians who are good at business think so. In the first second, the Greeks could scream and slay in order to expel the Latins, and the next second they started business with them.

　　 But these words can only be kept in my heart. Phillips also smiled and said, "Thank you so much."

Following the principal, Phillips and his party walked into Ilovan Castle. The inside was quite different. It was obviously renovated. Although the scale was still as small as before, the street was much cleaner. Some Roman vendors also Starting a business, after all, Genoese also need daily necessities, and it is easier to buy them here.

"I really didn't expect it to be like a brand new place here. It seems that the new lord in your mouth is really amazing!" Phillips couldn't help but admire again, and he was also curious about who could make such a poor country renewed. .

　　 "That's all up to Lord Justinian. Although he is a young man, if it weren't for him, the old bones of us would not have seen the present scene for a lifetime."

"Justinian? Oh, if I had the honor to meet him." Although he was slightly taken aback, Phillips didn't think of the lord here and the boy who helped him smuggle to make contact. He sighed with a few The principal is close to it.

"That's not a coincidence. Lord Justinian probably went to the countryside to inspect the country for a while and he wouldn't be able to return. Sometimes he would stay there for one night." Several old people laughed. .

　　 "Oh~www.ltnovel.com~ That's really unfortunate."

　　……

At the same time, in the village, Justinian alone drove a carriage with a guard and entourage to watch the busy villagers in the village, and greeted everyone with a smile, while the enthusiastic villagers all brought out food and drink. The group took a rest and enjoyed it, but Justinian did not refuse and accepted it generously.

　　 He can feel the love from these people for him from the heart.

It can be said that Justinian is very grateful to Mikhail for giving him this place. There are so many wheat fields, farms, and woodland in the mountains that he can support many people. In addition, he believes in himself even more with the trade with Genoese. Can rely on here to rise step by step.

　　 There is no need to pay too much tax on the fields. Taxes are already in surplus. But sooner or later Justinian will expand his army, so it will be a matter of time before he goes to the distance to open up the territory. But now, to some extent, Justinian has completed the restoration of the military region system within his own territory. There are no military nobles or monastic landlords here, and no one will be threatened by clever plundering of land.

　　 But he still has to be vigilant, one day the greed caused by wealth accumulation will cause people to annex more and more communes, and at that time the foundation he has built again is in danger of corruption.

　　 And at this moment, the sound of rushing horses' hoofs suddenly came over, and only a messenger hurried over on horseback.

　　 "Is it your Excellency Justinian, the commander of Ilovan Castle?" the soldier asked unceremoniously, not even getting off the horse.

　　 "It's me." Looking at the other person's service, Justinian recognized that it was not his own subordinate at a glance. After a slight start, he nodded and replied, not knowing what was going on.

　　 "Master Romanus is here, please meet me as soon as possible!"