Chapter 53 The Beginning of the Shield
Alexander's injuries on his feet had recovered. Although the frostbite and the piercing itch during healing made him unable to sleep well late at night, it was at least much better than at the beginning.
Alexander originally wanted to set out immediately the day after being attacked, but the two letters he sent back to deliver the letters to him, namely Caesar and Uriu, forced him to stay in the village for the time being.
In the letter, Caesar mentioned some recent events in Rome. Although the Pope's beloved son was full of strong confidence between the lines, Alexander could still see that life in Rome seemed to be difficult.
This speculation was also confirmed in the letter Uriu sent him, at least Uriu told him that the Romans were now anxious to keep warm and eat a bite of fresh vegetables.
"Some vendors have started to raise the prices of fresh vegetables very high. Because there are many things on the market, they can set prices at will. In addition to vegetables, there are eggs and some goods that are not usually needed, but now they have become popular because of their scarcity. For example, wood, no one would have prepared too much wood at home, but now people have to find things that can burn and keep warm in order to survive the long winter. Some families have begun to cut down trees in some remote places in the city, or log wood further away from the city, but because the road is difficult to walk on, there were also some accidents," Uliu's letter said, "And there are also some accidents," Uliu's letter said.
In addition to livestock that can be eaten by people, because of the lack of animal oil for making candles, many noble families had to stop banquets. The Roman lights at night became less, and robberies increased. People began to become uneasy, and they did not dare to go out casually in the middle of the night. It is said that in order to show kindness, several children of His Majesty's Majesty have taken the lead in announcing the temporary suspension of luxurious activities. Miss Lucrezia even donated a batch of her palace to help the poor, but this did not seem to be of much use. Rome is too big, and there are too many people in Rome. The only hope for everyone now is to open up the connection between Rome and the outside world as soon as possible..."
Uriu's letter was much more frank than Caesar. The unconcealed description in the letter allowed Alexander to quickly understand what happened in Rome, and also made him clearly understand Caesar's desire to restore Rome's connection with the outside world.
Although food is something that Rome urgently needed, it is not an urgent task after all. It really worried Caesar about the heating problem that needs to be solved as winter gets colder and colder.
Obviously, although wood is still used for heating or lighting, the coal mines in the Sanroni Peak area are now very important to Caesar. In other words, Caesar is worried that if Rome loses contact with these places for a long time due to rational issues, something may catch him off guard.
Compared with Caesar, Alexander actually knew better about the troubles that a city might bring if traffic remained unchanged. He could imagine the uneasiness when the Romans soon discovered that as there were fewer trees in their city and nearby, the wood they rely on for warmth became increasingly difficult to obtain, and the rest of the rest of this uneasy could be all kinds of bad things.
"We're going to build the bridge here as soon as possible," this was the decision made by Alexander after reading the letter. "At least, it's time to leave."
According to Alexander's order, Carlo immediately took a few people to some nearby places to recruit workers. He did not just go to Tampura, but also went to some places farther away to find workers. Soon the small village by the river became lively.
The people in the village were initially wary of these people who came suddenly. Although they knew some of them, they were very careful because they didn't know the purpose of their visit.
But soon they heard that these people were summoned to build the bridge, which made the villagers both curious and a little excited.
Because this not only means that you can get in touch with Rome soon, but more importantly, these people need to live in the village during the bridge construction period, which at least allows the villagers to make money in winter.
The panic caused by the village chief's execution has not disappeared. Not only the Bohemians, but even the Agris are cruel and terrifying in their eyes, which at least makes the Agris feel very proud.
But the village was too small, and Alexander's army could not fully settle down, which forced him to order the army to camp in the woods that were still sheltered from the village.
The large number of workers who suddenly appeared in the next two days suddenly filled the village. Although Tan Pula was closest to this place, it was impossible to let them live there.
"First let the workers build temporary camps in the woods, they need a place to live," Alexander made the decision, while he ordered a higher alertness. "We have to be careful of the enemy's attacks, and this matter cannot end like this."
Alexander didn't know that the enemy had actually intervened among the workers who built the bridge. In addition to being the first workers to come here, the short man also came because of his "enterprise". Although there were not many people, all the smart guys also arrived.
These people, together with the real workers, were assigned to the woods and used local materials to build several temporary houses to live in.
Not far from them, Alexander's army was also stationed in this woods.
A battle suffered a lot, but this made Agri, who was originally somewhat alienated, closer to the Bohemians.
Before, the Bohemians looked down on these Agri mud legs who had just put down their farm tools and picked up their weapons. Although they did not feel sorry for the Agris because of Nashan, they were always arrogant in front of these farmers and often appeared in a condescending manner.
The Agris obviously did not look down on the Bohemians who were similar to the barbarians in their eyes.
Although this contradiction is not obvious, it will have some impact in combat. For example, in the battle by the Bracciano River, the Bohemians only care about showing their perfect charge and their arrogance to attack the enemy quickly, which prevented them from forming a complete cooperation with the Agris. Even though they successfully attacked the enemy behind them, most of the enemies still escaped calmly, which also led to the enemy being able to quickly organize a second attack.
The price of blood taught the Bohemia and the Agris a lesson, making them pay for their pride and frivolity when they first entered Rome, but the cruel experience of fighting side by side also changed their relationship a lot.
Of course Alexander was willing to see such a result.
Compared with others, the Agris, who were his original territory, had a different meaning to Alexander. After several battles, he had discovered that although it could not be compared with those mercenaries or troops who had experienced many years of war, perhaps because of poverty and the wealthy northerners, the southern Italians represented by the Agris were more able to endure hardships and be willing to obey orders. This made Alexander secretly decide that if possible, his army would be dominated by the southern Italians in the future, at least for the time being.
"In addition, Carlo, I need you to recommend some soldiers you think are reliable," Alexander told me. "The number of people does not need a lot. A dozen is enough. I need them not only to be skillful in using muskets but also to be good at melee combat. These people will be my personal guards, so be sure to be loyal and reliable."
"If so, I recommend myself." After hearing Alexander's request, Carlo immediately answered.
"I just need some guards who can protect me in times of danger, but if you are asked to do this, it would be a waste," Alexander smiled softly. "You should command all the Agris. When you return to Rome, you will continue to study around Nashan. I need you to become an excellent cavalry officer, not a guard. You must know that I have great hope for you."
Finally, Carlo recommended an Agri to Alexander named Paul Busako.
According to Carlo, Paul Busacco is an "authentic Agri" and a hunter with rich experience, which means that this person not only has extraordinary skills, but also should be good at using firearms.
In fact, when a man who seemed to have some of his body was filed in front of him, Alexander was somewhat hesitant.
The person's limbs seemed to have been filed, and they looked hard and were completely different from Carlo. What really made Alexander doubt was that he had almost no impression of this person.
He had some impression of all the people who followed him from Agri, and Alexander doubted that he had anything else that could make an impression on him except for his special appearance.
"Paul's family has always been the best in Agri, but he has not been a hunter since his father's generation," Carlo explained to Paul Busako. "This is because his father was bitten off a hand by a beast while hunting, but Paul learned all the skills of their family, and you can trust him."
Alexander nodded slightly. Of course, he would not have completely trusted this person named Paul Busacco because of Carlo's words. However, looking at his strong arms and finger joints that had been drawn all year round, Alexander decided to use this person.
Paul Busacco was a taciturn man. After being appointed by Alexander, he immediately began to select personnel among the Agris.
And this is also the most important thing, it must be Agris!
Although it is important to have skillful skills in using weapons, or to be able to reload muskets quickly, and even more shooting times than others, the premise of all this must be followed by the Agris first.
Paul Bussac was asked so, and indeed did so.
As Alexander said, what he needed was a team of guards who could protect him, and loyalty was the most important condition for these guards.
And the Agris undoubtedly have more such qualities.
"I want to know how you will protect me."
Alexander asked this when he looked at Paul Busacco, who was picking out of more than a dozen Agris who were picked out in the distance.
The new captain of the guard thought seriously and said, "If it is far away, I can shoot, if it is close, my swordsmanship is not bad, and I can assure you that if they want to hurt you, they must step on my body first."
Alexander looked at the captain of the guard in front of him. He didn't believe what this person said, but he shook his head: "You are wrong. Your duty is not to sacrifice your life for me, but to ensure that I can live, so what you have to consider is how to protect me."
Paul Busacco looked at Alexander in a daze, and nodded without saying a word.
While Alexander was considering his personal safety, a group of workers stood busy working beside the wreckage of the wooden bridge by the river.
Although the weather was very cold, when the workers immediately became active when they heard that if they could work to repair the bridge as soon as possible, they would get more rewards than before.
If you could get one more Florin one day earlier, you could get one more Florin. Such a promise made many people even light a torch and hurry up to work despite the darkness. However, Alexander hoped that it would be possible to use the wooden bridge within three days.
"Then we need to find more people," said a carpenter in the town who was temporarily assigned as supervisors to the town, helplessly, to Alexander. "Now, this number of people cannot be completed at all, at least dozens of people are needed, but sir, we don't have so many people now, unless we go to a further place to recruit people."
“A little further away?”
Alexander frowned slightly. It was difficult to let some men from far-off villages and towns go out to work in such weather, and it was not so easy to recruit dozens of people at once.
"Maybe someone can have a way," Carlo suddenly remembered the short man he had seen before. The man was the first person willing to build a bridge. More importantly, Carlo remembered that he had said some companions. "A homeless man who attracted to work said that he still had some friends, and maybe those people could help."
"Then let that man go and ask his people for help," Alexander ordered anxiously, "We cannot be delayed here. Once we have arranged for us, we will leave here tomorrow for the coal mine in Sanroni."
When he heard Carlo say he wanted him to find more people, a strange smile flashed quickly on the short man's face, but he quickly agreed with a low eyebrows and pleasingly. He even tried to discuss with Cairo whether he could give him a Florin first and let his hungry homeless friends have a full meal first, because this way they could come with the obedient ones as soon as possible.
Carlo generously gave the shorter two Florin, and at the same time told him to bring everyone over as soon as possible.
Chapter completed!