Chapter 556 The Battle of Black Lettuce Village (Part 1)
On the outskirts of Feiliubao, the imperial company camp was established.
Behind the towering wooden walls are a bunch of crowded sheds and wooden houses.
In the crowded wooden shed, flames licked the medicine jars, and the blacksmiths' furnaces spewed billowing black smoke, turning their faces black and white.
On the narrow dirt road, the "slaves" with yellow faces and skinny muscles marched numbly along the eaves.
Before winter, they were still public farmers or even armed farmers working in the fields.
In an instant, a group of knights rushed into villages and towns, robbed them of all their belongings, and then branded them as slaves.
Farmers with slave marks on the backs of their necks were carrying sacks, and their slender calves were exposed under their torn linen trousers.
With every step they took, their knees shook like butterflies.
Although there were fewer slaves in the empire, slavery was never abolished legally.
Brand City even started out as a slave trade before engaging in the ceramic trade.
Otherwise, why is it called Brand City and not Inscription City?
The sound of rapid horse hooves came from the gate of the camp, and seven or eight knights with feathers on their rounded felt hats rushed through the narrow road and rushed towards the central monastery.
Many craftsmen and slaves secretly looked toward the castle. About an hour later, more than a dozen teams of hundreds of leather-armored sergeants appeared.
They picked and inquired among the crowd, and under the command of the old townspeople, they selected hunters and guides who were familiar with the nearby terrain.
They selected again from these people, leaving about three or five people, and the sergeants led them into the castle.
A blacksmith pretended to wipe his sweat, but his eyes under his hairy arms were fixed on the sergeant entering the monastery.
He winked at the apprentice, and one of the apprentices, under the supervisor's scolding, rushed towards the toilet, clutching his stomach.
The establishment of latrines is not because the knights have become better or their conscience has discovered, but because the plague has come.
The apprentice did not stay long in the toilet and hurried back to the anvil, because if he stayed too long, the supervisor would kick the door down.
But during lunch, someone picked up a stone from the toilet.
About ten minutes later, one of the guides who had just been released from the castle was guided by a craftsman to a thatched house on the outskirts of the camp.
In the thatched house, Warren Taylor, dressed as a refugee, was chewing black bread soaked in cold water.
"Is the time confirmed? My brothers." Putting down the black bread, Warren Taylor stepped forward to hug the two of them.
"It's OK." Before the guide could speak, the person who brought him here answered, "Call back the knights who were having fun in the city's tavern in the afternoon, and then set off tomorrow morning.
Because we have to wait for the infantry, we will arrive at Suomi Town around noon tomorrow. ”
"Has the marching route been determined?"
"Three guides, with Mr. Bobcat Tucker as the main guide."
At this time, Warren Taylor learned the identity and name of the haggard man: "So, Mr. Tucker, right? Can you control the marching route of the knights?"
"I can't guarantee that. I only have the power to make suggestions, not to make decisions." Tucker, nicknamed Bobcat, said in a numb voice without a trace of emotion.
He was thin and wore a tattered, thin linen jacket, but judging from his teeth alone, he was at least an armed farmer or a small landowner.
"Which route do you think these knights will probably take?" Warren Taylor took out a crumpled sheepskin map from under the floor.
Bobcat Tucker glanced at him, dipped his finger into the ashes on his face, and drew a curved line on the map.
Warren Taylor frowned: "They'd better not go through Pefos Manor. The terrain is too open. Can they go through Black Lettuce Village?"
"I don't have a suitable reason." Bobcat Tucker shook his head with a sullen face, "This manor has more people and more supplies."
Warren Taylor thought for a moment: "What if the march route is leaked and the people from Pefoss Manor escape with the supplies?" "Then all three of our guides will be whipped or even hanged." Bobcat Tucker stretched out his hand Another route was drawn on the map, "But they will take Black Lettuce Village."
"Okay, then I'll think of another way." Warren Taylor nodded, and was about to pick up the map and continue studying, but heard Bobcat Tucker speak again.
"No, let's do it like this." Bobcat Tucker grabbed Warren Taylor's hand, "If the time card is accurate so that they don't have time to go back to find a new guide, then I have at least a one-third chance of surviving. ”
Warren Taylor opened his mouth, and his countless words of dissuasion finally turned into: "Well, I wish you luck. We will send people to observe you from a distance. We have to agree on a few gestures and signals."
"You can see so far..." Halfway through, Bobcat Tucker laughed self-deprecatingly, "Of course, you are the witch's subordinates, it's strange that you don't have this method."
Warren Taylor pursed her lips in displeasure: "Don't be deceived by those priests. Your Excellencies Jeanne and Catherine are both saints, not witches."
"Ha!"
The guide was a stubborn man. He lowered his head without saying a word, but the sarcasm in his eyes was clear.
Warren Taylor looked at the craftsman who led him over. The man shrugged and looked helpless.
Not everyone in Hotam County is as convinced as Sun Yijun.
Even within the Saint Sun Rebel Army or the Salvation Army, there are many people who pretend to be trustworthy, and Warren Taylor cannot force everyone.
"We will win this battle. Just be patient and wait until the Salvation Army defeats the Command Company."
After agreeing on the gestures and confirming the process, Warren Taylor saw that it was almost past noon, then he apologized and prepared to leave.
He has to hide in the manure truck before he can leave. If he misses the time, he won't be able to get out.
"Valen Taylor, we all know your reputation." The thin man in a thin shirt raised his head, revealing deep-set eye sockets and dark circles, "Tell me, will it be different?"
"What would be different?" Putting down the hand wearing the hat, Warren Taylor looked at the man blankly.
Bobcat Tucker lowered his head numbly: "Will it be different when the Salvation Army comes? We signed a deed of betrayal and owed a huge debt. Needless to say, you know how valuable our skills are.
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We craftsmen and slaves are like golden roosters, fed with a little water and millet, we can give birth to precious gold. Is your holy grandson really not moved? ”
Will you be excited?
Warren Taylor was stunned when he was asked. Although he had known the holy grandson for a long time, he had never met him in person.
Although he has a good reputation for mercy, there are too many bishops who pretend to be benevolent.
It is not easy to bring together so many skilled master craftsmen. From the perspective of the Pope, Warren Taylor can't help but feel excited.
But he immediately calmed down: "Compared to the nobles, the Pope is also a farmer."
"I estimate that I have to risk my life to help you, but you are not even willing to tell the truth? For example, how much can your service period be reduced? Can you allow us to see our relatives?"
Warren Taylor quickly promised: "You will no longer serve. Your life will be completely different. You can walk freely on the land and will not be bullied by knights at will..."
Bobcat Tucker sneered.
"You don't believe it?"
"I believe you, but I don't believe them. These masters and masters are all the same. They are using the sacred banner to make profits for themselves." The skinny Shanmao patted the dust on his body, "Those who knock down masters are just themselves. I want to be a master, so I just changed my sign.”
"Your Majesty the Holy Sun is different."
Warren Taylor finished speaking, but he didn't feel very convincing and wanted to add a few more words, but Bobcat Tucker didn't let him finish and stood up.
"I've been absent from work for so long. I'm going to be whipped. I'm going back."
Dragging his tired body to the door, Bobcat Tucker finally turned back and said: "The Holy Lord bless me, I hope you can defeat the Imperial Company, you will probably not be worse than them."
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(End of chapter)