"This is our first meeting. I am Deculin, the leader of the caravan." At night, bypassing the Latin checkpoint, the caravan had already left the Thrace region and arrived at the border of Macedonia and Bulgaria. It can be said that at this time

It has basically ensured safety and there is no chance of being overtaken by the Latins again.

Everyone was relieved and set up camp outside the wilderness to make a fire and cook. As the leader of the caravan, Deculin took the initiative to say hello to Justinian.

Although Vasily who entrusted him did not tell him the true identities of the young man and the middle-aged man, Dekulin, who had been his friend for more than ten years, decided to help unconditionally, but he knew the identity of the other party from Vasily's instructions.

It's by no means simple.

De Kulin walked over in a friendly manner and handed everyone a glass of malt wine, "It's a long night and we can't go on the road any longer. Let's drink some wine to warm up."

Justinian, Muzphius and Little John all took the wine glasses. Although John was still a child, a little sweet wine was not a problem. After all, it was cold at night, and Justinian did not stop him.

"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, and thanks to the other party's care, he avoided many obstacles along the way.

Danger.

"Vasili and I have been good friends for more than ten years, so it doesn't matter." Dekulin laughed, but suddenly sighed, "But I'm afraid I won't be able to go back after this deal."

"Aren't you going to go back to Constantinople?"

"Yes, business was difficult before the damn Latins came. Emperor Manuel originally deprived the Venetians of their privileges, but now they have completely monopolized Eastern trade after taking Constantinople. I

The smugglers are also affected. If I stay there, I won't be able to earn even half a sou. What's more, the Bulgars are coming again, so I'm going to go back to my hometown."

Justinian nodded. Indeed, Constantinople today is no longer the prosperous city it once was. Prices have soared. Its decline began at this time. "What is your hometown?"

"Sofia, but when I left that year, it was already the capital of the Bulgars. Although it was not friendly to the Romans, it was better than Constantinople." The man shrugged and helplessly poured the wine in the cup.

After drinking all the wine, he left his hometown when he was only a teenager. It was because of Bulgaria's independence that he settled in Constantinople, but now he had to return there to make a living.

After hearing that the hometown of the man in front of him was Sofia, Justinian remembered something and asked: "In that case, do you know who the current Tsar Kaloyan of Bulgaria is?" He was eager to understand this person, known as

Kaloyan, the Roman Slayer, eliminated Baldwin, one of the three giants of the Fourth Crusade, and later even the Marquis Boniface was killed by him. Undoubtedly, he was the next Byzantine figure.

A fatal threat, he wanted to use Epirus to regain Constantinople, which 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 about it. I have been doing business in Constantinople these years. I only know that he is the younger brother of Assen and Peter who rebelled against the empire. But he can be found in Adria.

An Bao must be a very scary guy to kill so many Latins."

"More than that, it is said that that guy looks like a demon from hell. I heard people who escaped from the battlefield say that the Kaloyan Tsar learned the pagan witchcraft from Transylvania and could turn the plains into instantly

A sea of ​​fire." At this time, a man who looked like a mercenary sat down and said seriously, and poured himself a glass of wine.

"Here you go again, Bihar, talking nonsense even before you drink. You believe what those frightened people say." Looking at the rude mercenary captain he hired, Dekulin couldn't help but frown. These words

There were only those who played tricks and boasted and deceived people on the streets, but in the end, Bihar still talked about it.

"It's a joke to you. They just say such nonsense."

"It's okay, it's just hearsay anyway!" Of course Justinian laughed it off. Who among the survivors on the battlefield would not describe his opponent as having three heads and six arms, but at least it is certain that the Tsar is by no means an easy guy to deal with.

.

But Bihar blushed and said in dissatisfaction: "What is it called Four Six? Those Bulgars were originally pagans. It is said that when they took the opportunity to become independent, they got a pagan crown in Sofia. Relying on the witches in it,

It was only through magic that the suppression of the imperial army was defeated." Country legends like to revolve around pagans and witchcraft, and it is true that illiterate people would believe it, but of course Justinian could only laugh it off.

"That's just a crown, Bihar. You can never tell the difference between reality and stories, so you can only always be a mercenary and daydream about the treasure you dug up that day." Familiar with Bihar.

De Kulin, who was no longer familiar with him, laughed, and the other people in the caravan burst into laughter. Some of them believed it and some didn't, but they all liked to make fun of their mercenary captain.

However, Justinian asked with some concern: "Crown, is there really that crown?" He couldn't help but be a little interested in this. After all, he didn't know the history of Bulgaria very well, and next they would pass through Bulgaria.

The territory of the Gars goes to Epirus.

Seeing that some people believed that he was half-drunk, Bihar couldn't help but get excited and couldn't help but continue to talk, but was interrupted.

"That was just the crown of ancient Bulgaria more than two hundred years ago. The so-called witchcraft was just because the empire was fighting the Cumans and had no time to take care of it. If the empires hadn't killed each other, how could they have resurrected, causing Brazil to

The efforts of Emperor Erns II were in vain." Muzphius, who had been silent all this time, suddenly said coldly beside 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 reputation of Emperor Bashirs II. Known as the Butcher of the Bulgars, he completely eliminated the threat from the north of the empire. But thinking about the current situation, everyone can't help but sigh. But Bihar is still heartbroken.

Some people were dissatisfied and wanted to say something, but they were stopped by De Kulin on the side, and the group of people had no choice but to disperse without interest.

"Then have a good rest, Mr. Justinian." Dekulin nodded and took Behar away first. It was already midnight and they had to rest. They had to get up early tomorrow.

"Okay, little John, you can follow them to rest. I'll wait for a while." Justinian asked John beside him to follow Deculin away, but he was still very concerned about what Muziphius said just now.

From what the other party said, it seemed that this man should have participated in suppressing the Bulgar rebellion, and perhaps he should know something about Kaloyan.

"It seems that you really want to know." Although he couldn't see it, Muzphius still felt Justinian's eyes. He did participate in that war. Although the two sides reconciled, there were still huge conflicts. The only thing

What maintained it was just that the Romans brought civilization to the Bulgars. For a long time, Bulgaria was very dissatisfied with the dictates of the Orthodox Church in Constantinople. In the year of the fall of Constantinople, the Bulgars

Luoyang did not show much enthusiasm for the Byzantine people's request for help. Moreover, he was still bargaining with the Roman Pope at this time, proposing that as long as Rome was willing to recognize him, he would convert to Catholicism. These barbarians did not have deep feelings for the Orthodox Church.

"It can only be said that Kaloyan is a dangerous guy, more shrewd than his two brothers. He was originally prepared to defect to the Latins. However, the Latins did not seize this opportunity. The Pope in Rome may be busy with other matters

, did not realize the importance of these barbarians, so they ignored them, causing Kaloyan's enthusiasm for the Latins to disappear. Now we need his strength to resist the Latins. Maybe in a few years he will be called

Maybe he is a saint who defends the orthodox church. How ironic!" Muzfius couldn't help but shook his head slightly and said.

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

While the two were talking, Muzphius suddenly lifted up his cloak and revealed a horrified face, "Someone is approaching here!"

"How many people?" Justinian was also surprised. He knew that the blind Muzphius had very good ears now. But who would appear here in the wilderness and come towards them?

"Many, many!" As soon as Muzfius finished speaking, the warning sound of the sentry not far away came over.

"It's the Bulgars, it's the Bulgars, everyone is ready to fight!"
Chapter completed!