[They knew the path of righteousness, but they turned their backs on the holy command given to them. It would have been better for them not to have known it. As the saying goes, it is true that when a dog vomits, he turns around and eats it; when a pig is washed, it returns to roll in the mud.

.—2 Peter]

Winter in Constantinople has been rainy for a month, and the monsoon on the sea has stranded a large number of business travelers in the city. The merchants cursed the damn weather for causing them to suffer losses, but the Byzantine tax collector

But they were very happy, because foreign caravans would have to pay an extra tariff if they stayed here for one day.

In the neighborhoods on the north side of Bull Square, the wine shops are crowded with foreign businessmen, including Italian businessmen, Saxons, Franks, and Russians. They speak different languages ​​or complain about the difficulties in their business or...

Show off, brag about how big you are

Make a fortune. In the noisy tavern, people from all walks of life are everywhere, which makes the owner very busy. The busy bartenders are running around, and even the cook in the back has to come out to help, but

But you also have to beware of the hands of those squeezing in the dark crowd.

No one noticed the two people talking quietly in the corner of the tavern, and this was the reason why Igor chose this place as a meeting place - places frequented by foreign businessmen generally would not be disturbed by uninvited guests.

"Twenty-five silver coins, no more." Igor said coldly, with no intention of bargaining with the other party.

"Twenty-five silver coins, I still want the old Nomisma, why don't you go and grab it!" The Ross businessman opposite almost yelled angrily. He had been bargaining with the boy in front of him for several days, but the other person

It's just that the oil and salt are not included. Twenty-five silver coins are a lot of money in itself. As a result, before he could counter-offer, he was almost choked out of a mouthful of wine when the other person said "As long as the old Nomisma".

However, Igor looked like he was convinced by the Ross businessman across from him, and said unhurriedly: "This price is very fair. Even the Helenpe gold coins now have almost only a layer of gold plating on the surface. Of course,

I only accept old coins. And if I didn't have to, I would never sell this book. There is no way I would lose another copper coin.

"Thanks to the currency reform of Emperor Alexius not long ago, a large amount of newly issued Helenpei flowed into the market to replace the old Helenpei. However, the poor quality caused the currency value of Helenpei to shrink significantly, forcing Constantinople to

The residents could only barter, and the only Nomisma from the Nikephorus period that circulated in the black market became hard currency.

"But your crappy book is worth so much?" Businessman Ross almost slapped the table and shouted. It's not that he can't get the money, but it's too expensive. In other words, his business trip this time is in vain.

One trip, but this young man had to get what he had in his hands.

Seeing the anxiety of the Ross businessman, Igor became more calm and said: "This is a manuscript of "History of the Past" more than a hundred years ago. The price is cheap enough for you. If you don't want it, then we can talk

Come here!" He said this deliberately. In fact, he had always been curious about the obvious appearance of the Ross businessman in front of him.

He didn't understand the value of the book in his hand at all, but he pestered him for three days. Now he was even more convinced that the real buyer was definitely not him, but someone else. Anyway, the other party had already revealed his intention to win.

, although he was eager to get the money, Igor didn't mind continuing to spend time with the other party.

The two sides were in a stalemate. After waiting for a long time, the Ross merchant finally couldn't hold it in any longer and took the initiative to let go.

"You're a ruthless kid, it's a deal!"

Seeing the indignant Ross businessman taking off his money bag from his waist, Igor also had a proud smile on his face. Although it was a pity that he failed to force out the buyer behind the scenes in the end, the result was his own

Already very satisfied, because he really needs this money now. But it seems that this "History of Past Years" is indeed very important to them, and Igor can't help but regret that he should have raised the price a little more.

Just when the two parties were about to pay the money and deliver the goods, there was a "bang" and the door of the tavern was kicked open, ending their transaction.

I saw the wind and rain outside blowing in, which immediately triggered the dissatisfied yelling and cursing of the people inside, the pushing, and the ping-pong of dishes and wine glasses falling to the ground. The noise that filled the tavern was pushed to a climax.

"Who is this? Didn't you see it's raining so heavily outside?" The bartender, who had long been impatient, was about to go up and scold the people outside, but when he wiped the rain on his face, he was stunned by the scene in front of him.

Shocked.

"Jun...jun ye, you guys are—"

Outside the tavern, several strong soldiers stood like mountains.

"Find some empty seats for us to sit down. Let's have a few glasses of wine and a plate of fresh olives." The leading man with a big beard said in a hoarse voice.

"Master Jun, but you... you see, the shop is already full." The trembling bartender did not dare to express his anger, for fear of offending the men in front of him, but he had no choice - there were indeed too many customers today.

.

However, as soon as the bartender finished speaking, the panicked host kicked the blind clerk away and quickly apologized with a smile, "This stupid guy can't speak. Don't blame me. The shop will give you some."

Make room, I will let others squeeze in later, and I will definitely make a spacious place for you."

"That's the best thing." The man took out a dozen Numi from his arms and gave them to the shopkeeper and led the others into the tavern.

At this moment, the originally noisy wine shop was silent, and the people who were noisy before suddenly became quiet. Because these soldiers who walked in were not ordinary soldiers. They had chainmail linings and fish scale breastplates, and wore Nordic-style helmets.

Iron helmets, in people's minds, only one army has this image, and that is the Varangian Guards under the emperor.

Why did they appear here? Everyone in the tavern couldn't help but murmur. No one dared to provoke these warriors from the north, even foreign merchants. The tavern was completely empty without waiting for the owner to greet them.

A large area of ​​​​seat was left. The Varangians were accustomed to this, so they quickly found a seat and sat down.

"When will this damn weather clear up? Why did you call us here? Captain Vasily, this really stinks." Looking at the sky outside, I could hear the sound of pouring rain hitting the window panels.

, as soon as he sat down, a Varangian said displeasedly.

"This rain will continue for a while, why are you anxious? No matter how stinky it is, it's not as smelly as yours." Captain Vasily said lightly. The other Varangis behind him couldn't help laughing after hearing this, because this Varangi had just

Not long ago, I fell down in the rain and was now covered in dirty mud.

The Varangian who was laughed at by his companions blushed and said angrily: "It's not that damn new cobbled road. Not only did it hurt the soles of my feet, it also caused me to fall down."

"Okay, don't laugh, we still have business to do."

At this time, the Varangians heard the serious voice of Captain Vasily, and they immediately became serious and stopped joking. There must be something important for the other party to specially call them here in such a terrible weather.

Discuss things.

Everyone looked at their leader, waiting for Vasily to speak.

"I called you here today to remind you to restrain yourself in the next period of time. News has come from the Holy Palace. It is about the assassination of Lord Vatazes, the Finance Minister."

Vasily looked serious, without any intention of joking.

But these words confused the other Varangis, "Didn't that happen a few months ago?!"

There was no concealment in the conversation between the Varangians, because what they spoke was Greek-style Old Varangian. Even the authentic Russians would only have a partial understanding of what they were saying, but the content of their words was completely ignored at this time.

Igor, who was in the corner, heard clearly. Because his father was a retired Varangian warrior, he was all too familiar with the rough Varangian dialect.

"Minister Vartazes was assassinated? Hasn't this matter been settled long ago?"

Although almost half a year has passed, Igor still remembers that incident. It happened on the night when he went to see Brother Sergius. Even the place where the Finance Minister was assassinated was different from St. Elena's Cathedral.

Far. It is said that that night, Vatazes's subordinates bribed his bodyguards to assassinate him. Although the incident caused a great uproar in the city and caused several nobles to lose their heads, it has been so long, so why do it happen again now?

Bringing up old things again?

The other Varangis thought the same way, but Captain Vasily looked at his subordinates meaningfully and said:

"Last time it was just His Majesty the Emperor who unilaterally stopped the investigation, but this time it was the Empress. As for the reason - you must have heard of the unpleasant rumors in the market!"

After hearing this, the Varangians, including Igor who was sitting not far away, had already come to their senses. There were already rumors that the current Queen Dukarina and Minister Vatazes had an ambiguous relationship.

As for the rumors, Vartazes did not die as a result of a conspiracy by his political enemies.

He was assassinated by someone sent by Emperor Alexios. The contents were so serious that they were even compiled into a drama by a troupe in the lower city. The poor people who had long been accustomed to seeing the Dionysian hymn were extremely concerned about this scale.

Of course, it is a pleasure to see the sleazy performances.

"The palace has ordered a thorough re-investigation of this matter. The days to come will definitely not be easy. You all should restrain yourself and put all the parchments of the secret passage with me first." Vasily stood up and asked from his subordinates.

One by one, they took away the drawings of the secret passage to Constantinople that were originally given to them. These were drawn by smugglers in the past.

After Vasily sorted it out by himself, his team began to make extra money by extorting smugglers from secret passages that extended in all directions. It was already an open secret that the Roman army was making money from all directions. After all, even the emperor was not interested in this.

It's just a matter of turning a blind eye, as long as the soldiers who have never been paid do not cause trouble.

But today is different from the past. With the assassination of Minister Vatazes being thoroughly investigated, Constantinople, which used to be a crime-ridden city, is bound to face a severe crackdown. Of course, Vasily must remind his subordinates to restrain themselves and not do this.

Sometimes I ran into the hands of the Royal Guards. Even the Varangian Guards were unwilling to provoke those guys too much.

"There is still one less, boss. It should be in the hands of little Igor. We don't know when he took it from us. Yesterday, we were drunk and let that kid take advantage of it.

." After all the parchments on which the secret passage was drawn were handed over to Vasily's hand, the Varangians discovered that there was one missing.

And Vasily frowned and said, "I'll get his card later. I don't know where that brat has gone at this time. Okay, you guys go back first, I have others."

If you have something to do, let’s get here first!”

"Okay, boss, let's go first." Several Varangians nodded, drank the wine in front of them, chewed a few olive fruits, and walked out of the tavern. At this time, the tavern

It was still quiet, because everyone's attention was still on Varangi, the only one who had not left. Although no one listened

I understand their conversation just now, but it is obvious that the businessmen can see some uneasiness in their tone - Constantinople is going to be uneasy again. For so many years, if anything happens in Constantinople, they will be on tenterhooks.

These merchants, after all, the scene when Manuel I hunted down Latin merchants still makes people feel frightened.

While everyone was still wondering what was going on, Igor quietly left his seat. As soon as the Varangian Guards appeared, he terminated the transaction with the Ross businessman, keeping his waist low for fear of being beaten by Vasily.

Seeing himself. Now all the Varangians except Vasily have left. Taking courage, Igor is also ready to fish in troubled waters and sneak out of here immediately.

But as he sneaked closer to the door of the tavern, a strong and strong hand pressed on his shoulder.

"It hurts, it hurts!"

Igor was not as strong as the other Varangians, and he screamed in pain.

The person standing behind him and grabbing him was Vasily, who had been waiting for him to come out. "Igor, you didn't even say hello when you saw me?"

"Hey, Uncle Vasily, it's you! I didn't expect such a coincidence."

"Stop pretending, give me the stuff." Vasily carried Igor like a little chicken to the corner of the wine shop and said angrily, looking at the young man who was still pretending to be stupid in front of him, "Just now I and the other guys
To be continued...