Chapter 373: Preparations in the ports of the Frank empire
Chapter 373: Preparations in the ports of the Frank empire
In one of the many ports of the Frank empire, there was a group of merchants who were proudly watching as their only ships were adapted to be military ships.
Flags were placed on them and military equipment was uploaded, not to mention that some even had ballistae as weapons to fight against other ships.
“You don’t think it’s great that we can launch an attack with the entire combined fleet and win gold or some noble title, as I heard from a nobleman I am selling wine to.
It is said that at the moment there are more than 3000 ships of different sizes, but there may be more when the thousands of trades from the south arrive. The fleet is expected to be twice as large.
We will send hundreds of thousands of troops to war against those pagans, for which I am sure we can win. It will be a sample of our mighty power against those pagans.
After our victory in that place, those who have to stay will remain and we will be able to return to help the bulk of the army against the pagans that are in the north of our continent.
We will surely win overwhelmingly against all of them. I am sure that I could buy a good place in those pagan lands to establish myself with my family; I think it would be the best.
What do you plan to do with the land you earn and the gold and silver you will get? “
The merchant just stroked his chin. “I plan to sell the lands that are very far away and buy a good vineyard to be able to sell wines to the entire empire or kingdoms that are formed when the crazy emperor Ludovico dies.”
The merchant started laughing. “For a moment I almost forgot that stupid emperor is about to die.
I hope we finish these conquests soon so I can see him dead. I’m even sure that I will take my family to see the execution they do.
It must be spectacular, but what do you think happens to her stupid daughter? From what I heard, she has her locked in her room like some kind of animal in captivity. “
The merchant looked at his companion and sighed. “Perhaps she will end up being a queen or die during the capture of the mad emperor.
What I am sure of is that all the volunteers are talking about what they are going to rape on the island as there are thousands of slaves, so it will be a festival of madness. “
The merchant was surprised “But the church does not intend to do something to prevent it.”
“Haha, you don’t know …”
The merchant was silent as he did not know what his partner was talking about, so the other merchant just patted his shoulder.
“It is the same priests who are promoting the idea of the rape of women and girls.
According to them, it will be a way of punishing those sinners who agreed to live under a pagan king and never revealed themselves.
You and I know that it is just a very nice way in which they think to have fun because under that premise they can do whatever they want.
I even once got a group of prostitutes for a nearby church because the priest wanted to celebrate the birth of Christ.
What they did I have no idea, but Sunday mass was not held until Monday when the priest appeared dirty and disheveled.
I guess as members of the church, you can do those kinds of things without taking any risks.
Luckily, we are free men or we would have to live as servants do and have to follow the rules of a nobleman or the church.
What a sadness of life it must be to live in a state of slavery where you have to work for someone else.
While one goes hungry and the nobles enjoy their meals. “
The merchant just smiled and shrugged. “They were the idiots who agreed to sell their land or who borrowed from the nobles.
They lost their freedoms by their own hand and condemned their families to the same fate as themselves.
At least if I had to choose, I would rather go to a monastery to live the rest of my life than agree to work for a nobleman.
In the monastery, there is food and shelter. I would have to work every day on the same thing, but I would enjoy a full life with God.
I think monks are better than priests, but it may just be my perception of what I see. “
“You’re a bit of a philosopher, don’t you think?”
The merchant took from his bag an archaic book with parchment paper. “I have been reading classical literature of the great Greek philosophers.
Did you know that there is a form of government called a republic, where free people who were citizens had rights.
Before the Roman empire was an empire, it was a republic. I still have to read a lot because the books I buy from the Greek merchant are a delight to read.
According to what he told me, he sold them at such a cheap price because he wanted to spread Greek culture to us barbarians. “
The merchant could not contain his laughter after listening to his partner. “Haha, the Greek calls us a barbarian. That’s funny because we are better than that empire of Greeks.
Our ancestors conquered the western Roman empire. They are only the remnants of that empire. If they are so civilized, why did they not try to recover the empire.
They live their lives in their city of Constantinople, but forget about their other regions. They even lost territories to a group of people from the desert.
I believe that there is no empire more decadent than the Greek empire, at least the Franco empire has a solid base.
Unfortunately, that damn Emperor Ludovico is crazy, so the best thing is to end the empire that Emperor Carlo Magno founded.
At least, the smaller kingdoms that are born will be better to trade and if in the future they will be reunited.
I am sure they will make an empire more powerful than the Greek one, but they are all my fantasies.
The only thing I am sure of is that Emperor Ludovico will die. “
Talks like that could be heard throughout the Frank empire. People knew that Emperor Ludovico had to die.
The nobles who supported him knew it was for the best, so they will not interfere when the emperor was dethroned from his throne.
They knew it was the best for all of them because he was crazy.