There is no doubt that the mansion of Amvrosi Bezekin was built according to the standards of a fortress.
Whether it is the three-meter-high courtyard wall, the main building with a high tower, as well as the roadblocks and archers that can be seen everywhere along the way, it all shows that this Georgian dignitary has invested a lot in his own protection.
Here, Anton bid farewell to his guide. Before leaving, he gave him a bag of silver coins. Then he started walking on the road to the mansion under the escort of Amfrosi.
As they walked toward the main building, Anton recalled what he knew about the Georgian dignitary's identity.
Amvrosi Bezekin, he was just a thief in the slums of Tbilisi at first. This is very common in this city, and many children in the slums have embarked on such a path.
Originally, if nothing unexpected happened, he would have been caught for stealing sooner or later, and then his hands would be cut off and his wounds would become infected and he would die. However, he discovered another industry, which was to steal information.
At first, he rummaged into the merchant's house and took away all the letters he found. Then he learned to read the letters, and they were in multiple languages, so he just memorized them.
In the city of Tbilisi, business information is always the most valuable, so Amvrosi used the information to earn gold and silver while reselling it, and generally used the information in his hands to plan his own interests.
Soon, he became a giant businessman in the city, and his success earned him huge profits, which made his peers jealous.
So his competitors also exposed his details, hoping to damage his reputation. Amfrosi's response was direct and effective. He took the initiative to expose his entrepreneurial history and let the poets
They were composed into poems and sung in the streets and alleys.
This has earned Amfrosi a huge reputation among middle- and lower-class businessmen and ordinary people. Everyone wants to attack those wealthy businessmen in this way, and likes stories about the bottom class becoming rich through their own efforts.
Amfrosi's actions caused him to lose his reputation in the upper class, but he won the cheers of the middle and lower classes, which brought him a lot of business opportunities - in those places where the big shots don't care, he can actually integrate
There are still a lot of resources, and now Amfrosi has seized these resources.
As time went by, this businessman gradually became an unshakable part of Tbilisi. Those who opposed him were either hit to bankruptcy or died mysteriously due to his business practices. Gradually, everyone
His position was also recognized, and he became the leader of most of the Georgians in the city.
However, Amfrosi then began to consciously reduce his influence. He began to live in seclusion and basically did nothing except adjusting the conflicts and interests within the Georgian community.
And because he lives in seclusion, he has become the most mysterious and puzzling dignitary in the entire city.
As for the rulers, whether they were emirs, princes or kings, he was very obedient, cooperated as much as possible, never stood up, and never looked for trouble.
But he won't cater to anyone, and he won't eat the bait given by the ruler. For example, when Monomach wholesaled city privileges, he was one of the few who didn't want it directly.
This indeed made the rulers no longer notice him, but it also weakened his control over the Georgian community. Some Tbilisi families were originally dissatisfied with Amvrosi, but were forced to surrender due to the situation. Now that naturally
There's going to be a fuss.
For example, in the current melee in Tbilisi, these Tbilisi families are at the forefront. They are also the main instigators of these vendettas. Under their influence, some people who were originally loyal to Amfro
The Georgians in the west were also ready to take action.
It was precisely because of this background that Vladimir Vsevolodovich, the Russian prince known as Monomakh, made a decision. He wanted to win over this Georgian powerful man, and what a coincidence...
, Amfrosi also sent a letter, asking Monomach to send an envoy.
So there was Anton's trip, and after Anton came to Tbilisi, he found that the chaos in the city was even worse than what they reported. In other words, it meant, "This city has a lot to do."
"
Finally, Anton was led by the guards to the main building. As the guards knocked on the iron door, it took a while before the door opened, and he entered the home of the mysterious Amfrosi.
At first glance, the home of this Georgian dignitary was very ordinary, without any gorgeous decorations, but walking in the elegantly decorated corridor, Anton noticed that Amvrosi's home was extraordinary.
Those things that looked ordinary were actually expensive handicrafts, such as the chair he just passed by. Although it looked inconspicuous, it was made of precious mahogany and carpet. Anton noticed that it was serious business.
The Persian rug, this man actually put it on the ground for people to step on.
After wandering around inside the main building, Anton finally met the owner of the mansion, Amvrosi Bezegin, the leader of the Georgian community in Tbilisi. He was now wearing a gray robe.
Waiting for the messenger from afar.
The first time he saw this mysterious Georgian dignitary, Anton felt on pins and needles, because the look reminded him of the librarian he had met when he was still studying at the University of Constantinople.
The administrator remembers the location of all the books in the entire library, so when students need to read books, they often need him to find them.
And like the librarian Anton had seen at that time, there was a large bookshelf behind this person, but what was densely packed on it was not books, but things similar to documents. They were all labeled, and then
Put them there by category.
"Welcome, welcome, Lord Monomach's envoy, it has been a hard journey. I think you have already understood the enthusiasm of our city."
Amfrosi's voice was calm and strong, and it seemed that the fifty-six-year-old man was still in good health.
Anton thought of the street vendetta he saw on the road and nodded subconsciously, "It's indeed very passionate."
Amfrosi noticed the unnatural expressions of the Russians in front of him. He shook his head continuously, "Ah, it seems that you have seen the chaos in the city. It is a pity that you have seen this, but unfortunately, this is
The tragic state of our cities.”
Anton remained calm and did not pick up the topic, but continued at his own pace, "Then Mr. Amfrosi, why do you want to meet me?"
"This is a bit of asking questions knowingly, my Lord Anton." A smile appeared on Amfrosi's face. Anton was sure that he saw the ridicule in it. The meaning was too obvious, "Meeting at this time, and
What could be the reason? Everyone can see that the city is too chaotic now. In fact, everyone is dissatisfied because it really ruins business. But watching the neighbors reinforce fortifications or find some nobles or
When officials come to give him a platform, how can he convince himself not to follow up and take measures?"
"So they need a powerful person, and now the Bagration family is obviously not one." The connection between Anton's words and the previous paragraph is so natural that there is no fault in it.
"We once had peace and stability. The Emir and we both found a way to get along with each other. We lived together like this for hundreds of years, making this city more and more prosperous. But a military adventurer broke this
Stability, or that person did it deliberately, and the king of Georgia obviously cannot give the city stability, so we can only seek other methods, just like what that person expected back then."
"So, what we have to do next is negotiate terms?"
Of course Anton could understand the meaning, but he was really surprised that this person was so straightforward. It was rare to see such a straight-to-the-point person.
"Yes, let's negotiate terms."
Amfrosi put his hands in front of his body and said to Anton in a serious voice.