Compared to the depression north, the historic Frankfurt and Mainz areas are much more prosperous and have a denser population.

Simon and his party clearly felt that the surrounding woods had become sparse, and the stumps left after being cut down can be seen in many places.

Some stumps also present fresh white cuts and clearly visible annual rings, while others are covered with dark green moss and mushrooms.

In this area, the distance between the village is closer than that in the north and is generally larger.

Many villages have built basic pointed wood exterior walls, but most of them have traces of decay, and some places are covered with ivy, which looks very old.

Even though the territory in the north is colder than Mainz, the clothes worn by the farmers seem to be in reverse.

In the villages to the north, many villagers don’t even have to wear a pair of beggar shoes. The clothes on their bodies are torn and thin. A gust of cold wind blows through them is enough to make them shudder. And in Mainz, not only is it warmer and more comfortable than in the north, but the farmers’ clothes are basically complete. Those who are so poor that they have no shoes are simply a standout among the crowd.

This is the most intuitive feeling of Simon's trip to Mainz in the past two days.

"Even now, the areas covered by the empire's territory were obviously richer than those of the previous barbarian areas." Simon thought so.

In the evening, Simon and his group arrived at a small wooden fort named Epstein.

After instructing the Fatty and Aubrey and the others to make the order to be trimmed tonight, Simon looked at the wooden fort close to know what the difference was between these lords under the jurisdiction of the fief's bishop and the lords in secular areas elsewhere.

First, the baron of this land, who met Simon, did not say hello like the nobles in other regions when he first met. Instead, he praised God, Christ, and then introduced himself. Then he asked the servants to move the meals out of the kitchen and put them on the large long oak table full of scratches and stains.

Epstein's Baron was obviously a very devout Christian.

According to him, his priest told him that the Holy Day was coming, and in order to remember the great saints who had been martyred, he decided to fast from last week without eating any meat, even fish that some priests believed could be eaten during the fasting period.

This made Simon so bitter. Although Epstein's baron was very enthusiastic and prepared appetizer pies, herbs, cheese and soup, and a piece of precious fresh honeycomb honey, Simon still felt no appetite.

"Sir Simon, at the invitation of the Bishop of Mainz, Frankfurt, he went to the church in Wiesbaden town to discuss matters with him. When the Bishop of Frankfurt passed by this place, he stayed in my wooden fort for a night, which really made the place shine brightly," said the baron's rosy face filled with a bright smile under the firelight next to him. "But as far as I know, the bishops had discussed everything a week ago, and it should be said that they had already set out on their way back..."

"If it ended a week ago, it's logical that I could meet the bishop when I arrived in Windon Village," Simon put down the wooden spoon and frowned and thought carefully. "Has the bishop gone somewhere else? My God, can you not make such a joke with me? It's a hell!"

"Ahem," the baron caught a cold. He turned his head slightly and spitted a mouthful of disgusting yellow-green phlegm under the table, clearing his throat. "I guess, the Bishop of Frankfurt should have gone to Weinsberg not far east of Mainz. I heard that the lord of Weinsberg, Earl Amysch, died unexpectedly in a hunting trip. His heir, Ruthbert, sent people to Mainz to seek the bishop to preside over the funeral for his father and save his soul. However, after the parliament, Bishop Mainz went directly to the court of the Duke of Franknia, and made the poor Ruthbert's retainers lose their lives."

"So, in the end they invited the Bishop of Frankfurt to hold a funeral for the Earl of Weinsberg?" Simon rolled his eyes in his heart. He felt that the Bishop of Frankfurt, whom he had never met, kept slipping away from his hands like a slippery loach.

"That's right, after hearing about the deeds of Count Amysch during his lifetime, the Bishop of Frankfurt thought he was a complacent and responsible believer, so he happily accepted Rutbert's request. So, if nothing unexpected happens, the Bishop should now be in Rotenberg of Weinsberg." The Baron said, and twisted a small pinch of salt from the silver salt pot in front of him, sprinkled it in his soup, and then picked up a slightly old wooden bowl and tasted it with relish.

At this time, Simon had completely lost interest in the food on the table and was even a little nauseous. He felt that the piece of bread he had just eaten with cheese and soup was not as good as a piece of rotten rotten wood.

After dinner, the Baron sent someone to bring the clown in his territory and a bard who happened to pass here.

The clown's hard-working performance and the beautiful and rhythmic lyrics of the bard did not touch Simon, who seemed absent-minded. All Simon thought about finding the bishop as soon as possible and finalizing the matter of making wine grapes.

"Guys, I think we have to go to Weinsberg." After the meal program ended, the fat man followed Simon's instructions and walked out of the lively wooden fort tower. Under the lonely cold evening breeze, he knocked on the wooden door beside the fort wall for soldiers and slaves to live, and told Miller and Gabriel the frustrating news.

"In addition, Mr. Aubrey, this place is very close to Wiesbaden, the capital of Mainz. I think you have arrived at your destination safely." The fat man said, looking at Aubrey, a businessman holding parchment paper in the faint candlelight in the corner of the wall.

"Of course, please rest assured. I will guarantee my head. I will not lose any of the harp gold that should be paid to Sir Simon at that time." Aubrey put down the parchment account, smiled at the fat man, and then came to the fire to squint his eyes and looked at the characters as big as an ant on the account, muttering words.

…………………………………

The grain in Mainz County was harvested a few weeks ago. The golden harvest color that made people feel at ease at first glance has disappeared without a trace. There are only large fields that are bare under the sun, which makes people feel depressed.

The caravan's guards and the guys showed joy. Some drank wine, some hummed an unknown hometown tune, and some excitedly talked about what they were going to do after arriving in Wiesbaden in Mainz.

For them, it is already a very fortunate thing to walk from the distant Lubeck to resist the attacks of robbers again and again, and their companions around them changed one after another. In the end, they did not turn into a pile of dead bones on the side of the nameless road and arrived at their final destination alive. This is already a very fortunate thing.

Fortunately, the road from Epsteinburg to Wiesbaden is very safe, and these relaxed men at least don't have to worry about losing their lives before the end of the journey.

The bandits here were suppressed by the lords who lived in long-term stability and were idle all day long by their private soldiers. Even the most fierce bandits in this area could only lower their heads and pretend to be an honest farmer when they were marching on this road.

Simon and his party even encountered a patrol team in Wiesbaden on the road.

Judging from the dozen soldiers wearing leather scales and sleeveless mail, Norman helmets and segmented dome helmets, and their normal faces, Wiesbaden should be a very wealthy town.

"The equipment worn by these patrol soldiers is much better than that of the elite private soldiers of the lords of the Principal of Flanders in the north." The fat man took a sip of honey wine, turned his head and looked at the backs of the patrol soldiers who were gradually moving away.

"This is because the Bishop of Mainz is willing to work hard on the equipment of these soldiers. The Lords of Flanders, who are as stingy as iron roosters, are more willing to put on exquisite dyed velvet on themselves and enjoy precious spices from the far east than to spend more money to protect the lives of their soldiers." The caravan guard Pedi yawned and said lazily.

"By the way, Pedi, my good friend, is coming to Wiesbaden soon. If I guess well, your contract with Mr. Aubrey will come to an end," Mr. Hu, who looks like he has a good relationship with Pedi, patted him on the shoulder with reluctance on his face. "What are your plans in the future? Do you want to renew your contract with Mr. Aubrey and return to Lubeck with us?"

"No, I have other plans. I don't want to take the repetitive path and live the boring life that you can see the end at a glance." Caravan escort Pedi shook his head and looked at the end of the road ahead with some confusion.

"Oh?" Mr. Hu scratched the back of his head in confusion, and looked at Pedi with a little puzzled look.

"For example, the village I grew up in is located on the charming coast of Aquitaine, but even the scenery is beautiful, I will have a day of tiredness. After I embarked on the escape journey, I once passed by a valley that seemed to have been kissed by an angel. I swear I will never forget the beautiful scene in my life." Speaking of this, the caravan guard Pedi's eyes lit up and his face was full of intoxication. The scene seemed to be the same again.

Before his eyes, "However, when I talked to the villagers in the tavern in the valley village, when I was excited to praise the beautiful scenery there, the villagers were accustomed to it and disliked it. But when I talked about the beautiful coast of Aquitaine, they looked yearning and looking forward to it. It turned out that it was a place they had heard only in the poems of the minstrels, and they wanted to go but never had the chance to go in their lifetime."

"I understand what you mean, you want to say..." Mr. Hu raised his hand thoughtfully, trying to say something, but hesitated for a long time without saying a word. He seemed to have no idea how to express his opinion in words for a while.

"I mean, since that moment, I know what I really want. I am not satisfied with the status quo. I want to travel through this world and travel many places I have never set foot in. Maybe I am still living in a caravan today and joining a mercenary tomorrow. Even if I live a displaced life, I am willing." Pedi's face was extremely firm.
Chapter completed!