kingdom of nations

Chapter 34: The Templar Geoffrey's Invitation and Gift (Part ) (Monthly Pass Plus!)
"I'll take you to the market." This was the first thing Geoffrey said when he saw Cesar.

Even though Cesar's body was not the soul of a nine-year-old child, he couldn't help but cheer a little. There was no other way. Ever since he came "here", the place he stayed in was almost fixed, either the Monastery of St. John, the Cathedral of the Holy Sepulchre, or the Castel of the Holy Cross.

He finally left the Holy City when he was looking for Count Etienne, but to be honest, no one can appreciate the scenery while trekking and praying day and night, and the scenery is not that good. The pilgrimage route in the 12th century was not as flat, beautiful and sacred as people imagined. The trees were like demons, the rivers were like nooses, and there were corpses lying everywhere, ranging from shriveled, bloated to skeletons.

He had wanted to come out and take a look for a long time. Who wouldn't be curious? This is a city that's been around for a thousand years!

This city has stood here for three thousand years. It originally belonged to the Semites and Canaanites. The Isaacs were their descendants. They established their own kingdom here. This kingdom did not exist long. Only three hundred years later, it was destroyed by the Assyrians in the division. After the Assyrians, the Babylonians, Persians, and Romans all became the masters here.

No one can deny that this city, located in the center of the crescent of the Arabian Peninsula, connecting Europe, the Arabian Peninsula and Egypt, and perched high in the Judean Mountains, is an important chess piece both politically and economically. Even if it has no religious significance, it is a place that must be fought over, like a throat or a heart.

"The market day in Alazar is every Tuesday and on festival days," said Geoffrey, who was clean-shaven today and wearing a sheepskin robe that was almost new. He noticed that César was staring at the robe.

"Thanks to you, little brother. When I brought that shabby burqa back that day and told our logistics manager about it, he was so moved that he almost cried. He asked me to return the burqa to him so that he could keep it with great care. For this, he gave me the most complete burqa. What's wrong?"

"It's not a big deal," Cesar said. "If you want to talk about danger, fighting the Saracens is a real life-threatening situation. For you, this is almost as commonplace as praying and chanting."

"I think it's because you're too young, only nine," Geoffrey said. "You don't know, but one of the soldiers accompanying us that day was married and had children. Unfortunately, his only son died at the age of six. He thought it was a punishment from God, so he joined the Order. He was very fond of you when he saw you. If it weren't for the fact that Count Étienne was so involved, he might have stopped you from taking this risk."

"You seem to forget your age sometimes," the Templar said jokingly. "Is there an old spirit hiding in this body?"

Indeed, Cesar's expression remained unchanged. There were no old monsters here, only one unlucky fellow. "I heard from His Highness that the market on Alasar Road is fixed in the Isaac district."

"Well, starting with Baldwin I, the kings of Alasar have placed the market near the Dung Gate, east of the Western Wall. It's said this was because the Isaacs often went to the Western Wall to cry, which annoyed him, so he set up the market there to see if he could drive the Isaacs away."

"Did they drive him away?"

"It's difficult," Geoffrey said maliciously. "After all, that's the only place they can prove they have such a glorious history."

In fact, the Temple of Solomon where the Knights Templar were located was the first temple of the Isaacs. However, it was completely destroyed as early as 586 BC by Nebuchadnezzar II of the Babylonian Empire after he captured Alaska. The existing temple is a pagan temple built by the Saracens on the basis of the Temple of Solomon, so the Isaacs did not recognize it as the residence of God.

What the Isaacs are mourning now is the Second Temple, which was built after the Isaacs returned to Alaska from captivity in Babylon. It was burned down by the Romans 1,100 years ago, leaving only this wall.

Although the Crusaders fought for God, they did not like the Isaacs very much. They believed that the Isaacs had long been dogs and spies of the pagans. In the battle to capture the holy city, at least tens of thousands of Isaacs became the dead souls under the Crusaders' knives.

They walked along the Via Alaska. In the 2nd century AD, after the Romans destroyed the Second Temple of the Isaiah, their emperor Hadrian rebuilt the Via Alaska. In accordance with the Romans' usual obsessive-compulsive style, they divided the square city into two perpendicular roads, like a cake divided evenly into four pieces. The market was in the piece in the lower right corner.

Now there are four neat rows of cowhide roofs. Because the market is not completely fixed, the king or local lord can change the location at will, so in addition to the original shops where the market is located, merchants will not build houses here.

Under these roofs are stalls, some of which belong to the merchants, and some are rented. Most of the rented stalls are traveling merchants or farmers who have not been able to reach long-term agreements with merchants. Some of the goods they trade are very common, such as fish, fruits and vegetables, eggs, cheese and honey, or chickens, ducks, pigs and goats, as well as some home-woven linen or cotton.

Of course, there were also some less common items, such as clothes, shoes, soap, woven baskets, pottery pots, tin plates, and furs, jewelry and spices that were loudly boasted by merchants. Although they might not even see the heels of the castle steward's shoes, they all claimed that these were "selected after being sent to the castle or the official residence."

But there are always people who stand hesitant in front of these shops, holding on to the temptation of "wearing the same coat or boots as the noble lord, only with slight flaws", "eating the same food, only a little less fresh", "wearing the same jewelry, only the gems are a little smaller, and the gold is not purer", and the merchants always find a way to convince them.

One merchant simply brewed mulled wine with spices; another merchant hung up a heraldic pattern chart so that customers could compare it with the engravings on their rings or forks at any time; the merchant who sold fur clothes hired a tailor so that if the customer was dissatisfied with anything, he could make alterations at any time.

"Those spices are just the dregs left at the bottom of pockets, or dyed with sand," Geoffrey said, twisting Cesar's curious head. "Most of the jewelry is fake, and the clothes might have been plucked from the dead. Let's go over there." He was much taller than Cesar, and riding a full-grown horse, so he could see farther. "There's something exciting to see there."

Cesar thought it was a sideshow, but when he got there, he found that the market inspector was punishing several merchants, farmers, and two fools who dared to sell corrupt goods for not paying taxes.

Of course, you have to pay taxes when doing business in the market, including market tax, transaction tax, and tax on the use of weights and measures (some goods require both the buyer and the seller to weigh them together), but there are always some people who want to take the opportunity to use their cleverness, thinking that they can escape the sharp eyes of the inspectors.

When caught, they inevitably cried and begged for mercy, but the king's tax collectors had long since hardened their hearts. Those who paid their taxes and fines were beaten on the spot with a waxed wooden board, one stroke enough to leave a large swelling on their buttocks and thighs. Those who couldn't pay were sent to forced labor. While finding those who hadn't paid their taxes was entertaining, it pales in comparison to the punishment meted out to the two men who were foolish enough to be caught selling corrupt goods.

People of this era are actually very imaginative.

These two unscrupulous merchants, one sold stinky beer and the other sour wine. After receiving the report, the inspector tasted it and thought that such things should only be poured into the cesspool, so they rudely stuffed the wine merchant into the wine barrel, and he was not allowed to get out of the small barrel until he drank all the remaining wine.

Another one sold some dead quails and pigeons to customers. When the customers asked why the birds were motionless, he said they were just sleeping... Needless to say, people ripped the birds' feathers off, stuck them on his face with gum, and then forced him to eat the bloody meat.

Geoffrey burst into laughter, then noticed the child next to him didn't seem very interested and even a little bored: "Don't you like this? How about I take you to see a circus?"

Cesar shook his head and said, "I'm a little hungry. Let's go eat something." Ever since he saw the dwarf bump into the deer's antlers, he thought he would not be interested in watching juggling for several years.

"Then let us go to the 'bush,'" said Geoffrey.

The "bushes" here were not those near the dense forest. It was just because taverns in the 12th century usually allowed vines to climb all over the front and sides of the building to indicate that there was wine for sale here, so sometimes people also used "bushes" to refer to taverns. There were also some ready-made foods in the market, such as roast meats and pies, but Geoffrey did not dare to try his luck with his little servant.

They came to a tavern at the back of the market, not far from the dung factory gate. There was a wooden sign with a human leg carved on it. Don't get me wrong, this is not a human flesh inn. It represents the two saints, Saint Cosmas and Saint Damien, because they once reattached a broken leg to someone when they were practicing medicine and preaching in Syria. At that time, even knights and lords were illiterate, not to mention the common people, so most of the places that needed to be remembered used pictures instead of words.

As soon as the innkeeper saw the conspicuous red cross on a white background, he immediately came forward to greet them. The food in the inn was usually simple, but what can't be bought with money? He quickly prepared a sumptuous meal. However, the Templars were always required to be simple and abstemious, so although these things were fresh and delicious, they had no added spices or dyes, and only newly brewed beer was served, not wine.

But for César, this was just what he wanted, and Geoffrey was not one to care about such things. They sat opposite each other and ate and drank heartily. When they had eaten their fill, they asked the host not to disturb them. They were sitting in a corner on one side of the fireplace when Geoffrey said to César: "Has Étienne seen you?"

The fact that Étienne offered César the first option meant he had already agreed with Geoffrey. Geoffrey asked this, and César could only nod. Seeing this, the Templar asked, "You're rejecting him, and you're rejecting me too?"

Cesar took a deep breath and nodded again.

Geoffrey wiped his face with the edge of his tunic, not betraying any displeasure. "I suppose that's probably the case. When they brought you to me, they said you were coming on behalf of Prince Baldwin. At first I thought you were being coerced, but then... I realized you were sincere. You were willing to die for him. It would be futile for me to say anything more."

He touched his side, untied a calfskin purse from his belt and tossed it on the table. "This is for you."

Cesar didn't need to see it, he could tell it was another bag of gold coins: "I don't need it..."

"No, you do," Geoffrey said firmly. "I've heard of your good deeds, but if you want to stay with the prince and be his squire, squire, and knight, money is absolutely necessary."

He raised his thick fingers and pointed to each item one by one for Cesar to see. "When you are still a squire, you can wear his clothes, use his weapons, and wear his jewelry. People will only envy you. But when he becomes a knight, you will become his squire, and the money will come. First, you must buy yourself a set of clothes: leather armor, chain mail, helmet, longsword, short sword, dagger, bow and arrow... a horse... harness... greaves, cloak... shield..."

He went on, "When you become a squire, or an apprentice knight, you will have a squire, a squire, but you will have to provide him with everything he needs.

Finally, you become a knight, and your squires will increase to three. You should have a personal monk and perhaps two servants. Of course, you are also responsible for the configuration, annuity, and daily food and drink expenses of these people.

I admit that Prince Baldwin has a fondness for you, but I won't say his feelings have changed. Even if they haven't, when you need these things, can you reach out and ask him for money?"

He pushed the purse and said, "And you don't have to feel too bad. There are a hundred gold coins here, but I only filled in thirty. Do you know where the other seventy came from?" The Templar smiled mischievously, and the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes danced with laughter.

"This belonged to the guide. During the fight with the wolves, the beast's claws tore open his money pouch, and most of the one hundred gold coins he had bought with his life were scattered. Later, the count and my squire picked up some of it. They didn't dare to keep it for themselves, so they handed it over to my sergeant. He gave it to me, and now I give it to you."

He fell back, spread his arms, and sighed contentedly: "Fate is really funny sometimes, isn't it."

(End of this chapter)