This is the area where the empire has fallen to barbarians for many years, and their uncivilized nature has created a desolate and uncivilized place. The fertile land is waist-high with weeds, and there are few people here compared to the wild beasts of the jungle.

Except for the tracks that can barely be called the road that are crushed out in the middle, these are the only footprints left for us by the Burgundians for us to chase. They were really flustered, after all, they were confronting the Western Roman Empire, which could be called a superpower, and it was their usual practice to run away if they couldn't beat it.

"Luga! It's really hard to imagine! Andrew looked bored in front and stepped back to make small talk to me, "You don't know how rushed the Burgundians were, they didn't even have the slightest barricades, traps, or anything left to stump us. ”

"Oh, Andrew, how do you know they didn't stay trapped?" I must have been ambushed, and even in the back carriage, I still had to look back and forth at the grass around me from time to time, knowing that it was half a man's height, and it was all in one piece. Why don't you ambush a whole army is a waste of such a good terrain, I only dare to imagine this idea, I definitely don't dare to say it casually, if suddenly the crow's mouth is over, I'm afraid it will be really difficult to run again this time!

"Look at the troops in front, with their heads held high, they look like they are not afraid of the sky and the earth." Andrew pointed to the troops marching in front of me and said, "When did you see when we were so arrogant?" There must be a large number of scouts in front of them, otherwise they wouldn't be like this. ”

"Oh, shut up, Andrew, I'm afraid you're talking so much." I wanted to laugh, but the wound on my chest hurt just from breathing, so I could only endure it so strongly, just as Andrew had just let out a fart. Seeing him panting like this, insisting on the idea of caring for his comrades, I reached out and lifted him up, and saw that the coachman did not complain about the overweight and falling apart. The two of us were at ease, and the three of us sat together in the carriage.

The old coachman beside me, his vicissitudes of life attracted me, although the smell of his body did make it difficult for people to approach, but I covered my mouth and nose and I thought I could still talk to him, even he looked sideways, concentrated driving, there was really no fun on the way.

"Hey, you, I haven't seen you!"

I covered my mouth and nose with a cloth and asked him in a muffled voice.

"Hah! My lord, I am from the occupied area, and my lord is from the legion, how can I see it? ”

The old coachman grinned, and the bad breath came to my face as I expected, but fortunately I was prepared. Otherwise, he really fainted, rolled over, fell out of the carriage, and became the first centurion in the history of the empire to be killed by bad breath.

"Can you Imperial subjects in the Fallen Territories be treated with kindness?"

This is the question I want to ask the most, and I want to know that this seems to be the answer given by an old man who has lived through many eras.

"Actually, it's not that different."

The old coachman laughed, and he quickly shut his mouth when he said this, presumably knowing that he had said the wrong thing. I don't know if it's because he's nervous, so he hides it with a smile, or if there's something else to worry about, although he laughs, his expression is not natural.

I saw him turn his head to look at me, but he didn't dare to look me in the eye, because he thought that this would definitely anger me, as an official. He shook his head and whispered to me, "These are just the words of a humble subordinate, and I hope your adult will not be angry!" ”

"Just say it, I'm not a sniffer." I smiled and patted him on the shoulder, trying to tell him that I was kind enough and worthy of his trust.

But this was not enough, and seeing his hesitation, I drew a cross on my chest in front of him, and said to him, "I swear to God that if I tell half a word of our conversation today, I will not enter heaven." ”

At that time, this was a poisonous oath of thunder and thunder, after all, they knew that God or the faithful believers of Christianity regarded heaven as their life's most desired, whether they were princes and nobles or lowly commoners.

But the old coachman was still a little distrustful, and he looked worriedly at Andrew, who was sitting next to me, because he was worried about this fellow.

In order to reassure him, I also forced Andrew to repeat what I had just said, this guy was quite reluctant, after all, he was a faithful believer in Christianity, he was afraid of it coming true, and I, please, I had already died once, nothing happened!

The old coachman finally believed it, and he giggled again, and said, "To hide it from the two lords, it seems to me that there is not much difference between the armies of our empire and the Burgundians! ”

"Oh? Why? "The old coachman's words surprised me, after all, we have come to liberate their army, and we are considered to be benevolent and righteous in any case, although we are doing some livestock, probably because of such problems. I asked, "Is it because the soldiers burned, killed, and plundered?" ”

"It's just a problem." The old coachman shook his head, and then stretched out his right hand, which I saw distinctly was only three fingers.

"Where's your index and middle fingers?"

Looking at his hand, I was very surprised, I never thought that the vicissitudes of life in front of me would have so many unbearable past, I decided to break the casserole and ask in the end!

"This was decades ago, because the farming land was not taken care of, it was cut off by the employer." The old coachman pointed to his right index finger with his left hand, and then he pointed to the severed middle finger and continued: "This is Hey Burgundians transporting grain, I thought they would be able to make my life a little better, but ah, because it was late, no, this one was also cut off." ”

As he spoke, he put away his right hand, just sighed incessantly, and said: "Maybe this is fate, barbarians are still barbarians, I don't have hope for anyone now, as long as I can live, they will do whatever they tell me to do." Suffering is enough, and I only hope that I can be liberated by the Lord when I die. ”

What a desperate fellow, as he spoke, his tone began to choke, and then he looked at his face, and the old tears were in his eyes. It's really something that has suffered so much that people want to cry when they think about it.

"What the hell is going on?"

I asked!

"No, no, nothing."

He tried to dodge, but he covered his face with his left hand and waved at me with his right hand.

"What the hell?"

I pressed on, maybe it was too cruel at the time, but I felt that it would give me a good idea of what the people were living in the lost frontiers of the Empire.

"No, don't say it, don't say it!"

I heard the old coachman sobbing, and he was really crying, and his eyes kept flashing. The more he did this, the angrier I became, and I always felt that I had to do something about it with righteousness in my heart, rather than just listening to his pain and being indifferent.

"Tell me!"

I lowered my voice and asked him in a deep voice, "Romans or Burgundians!" ”