By the time Isaac received the envoys, Gawain had put on the red cloak given by Eudohia, and was wrapped in the pure gold cord given by the eunuch to represent his status, and even Sabina had been put on a silver saddle and colored silk man, and he had indeed been promoted to the rank of chief of the emperor's guard, and commander of the count, commanding an infantry department of about a thousand men.

At sunset, he continued to stand by the lake, brushing Sabina's hair.

Then, the captor Theognes came up behind him.

"How, is there anything to say?"

"I'm not here to compete with you for merit or theory, you've seized the opportunity to gain your glory and rank, but I'm just confused"

"You're confused, why did you hesitate while I killed the warden's lieutenant without delay, didn't you?" Gawain tossed the brush into the jug and began to arrange the saddle on the ground, "That's because you don't have your own judgment, Diognis. ”

"However, before everyone does something, they will have a judgment based on the most simple feelings, and my judgment is this!"

"You are wrong, Diognes, the reason for your hesitation is simply that you did not receive an order from Emperor Komnenos himself!" Gawain snapped, then he pointed into the distance, "But I am different, I lived in a village before I came to Constantinople, and then that village was trampled and destroyed by your emperor like locust tax collectors and trampled by the Turks; Then I followed the warden back and saw the displaced people re-establishing themselves in its ruins, and I said to them, "Sow the seeds of the next year, and we will guard you, your family and your crops, on the borders of Anatolia." But what's the use now. The army is going back again? What the warden covets is nothing more than the emperor's throne, and your lord emperor is just hoping to reuse his relatives to occupy more military and financial power, and he is more worried about the walls than foreign enemies, everyone is fighting for power and profit, and they are fighting each other, the army's promise to the people has come to naught, and your return to your hometown is just a whisper in a dream, this old empire can no longer see the morning star in the night sky, no one really cares about here, come if you want, abandon if you want, and people's hearts are not as good as grass mustard. Every selfish man frantically dismantled the decks, husks, and masts of the ship to make his own sampan, and watched the ship fall to ruin, but he himself tried to slip away—so I had enough, and now I decided to let my will change it, and that adapting to the situation was only the first step. ”

These rebellious words made the whole guard tremble with fear, and in the end he could only ask, "What are you going to do?" No wonder the whole camp calls you Lusail, I used to be in Xiaoya and didn't know what this person's name meant, but I understand it now. ”

"I don't want to be anyone, I didn't say anything just now, but I've been brushing the horse and washing the horse, unless Sabina speaks to you, and you are stunned by the guard." After saying this, Gawain changed his innocent expression, suddenly closed his mouth, and then stopped paying attention to the catcher, who walked around the lakeside angrily, "You must swear to God, you have just said something that is so appalling that it cannot be denied. ”

"I swear to the Lord that I didn't say anything." Gawain turned his back to the catcher, raised his fingers, and said lightly. Then he turned around, holding the brush in his hand, so frightened that the guard thought he was going to splash himself, and covered his face and quickly took two or three steps back.

Seeing that Gawain only put the brush back into the bucket, and the captor was still there with righteous indignation, in order to avoid the whole scene being entangled, Gawain put the saddle on Sabina's back, and without saying a word, led her away, and then turned back, "The Greeks are indeed a people without determination and courage, and I have observed this truth in this year. ”

"We are not Greeks, we are Romans!" The catcher angrily corrected again.

"Oh, Romans? Whether the Romans are not confirmed by some bells and whistles and legal systems, nor by self-contained arrogance and selfish and ridiculous infighting strategies, but by supreme courage and whether they can create a career equal to that of Rome, otherwise what will end up on their heads will only be ridicule and humiliation. Gawain waved his hand, choking the guards until he could barely support himself, and then led his horse away.

Then after nightfall, in the city of Nicaea, Isaac. Komnenos gave the order:

"We have reached an agreement with the Sultan of Rûm and the Typhris, who have understood our punishment of George and have expressed their willingness to remain loyal to the Emperor. Therefore, we must retreat to the Nicommidian region as soon as possible, and wait for His Majesty's next order. ”

Then, as Isaac was about to issue the marching order, Gawain stood in front of the last pillar and raised his hand to the venerable Sebastoprat, "As far as I can see, neither the Teflis heretics nor the Turks can be trusted, and the agreement you have reached with them just now is only a verbal agreement, so it is not too late for the army to wait until they are really far away from Nicaea before retreating, not to mention that this is also conducive to strengthening the hearts of the people, and leaving hastily will make the sergeants feel uneasy." ”

As a result, the newly promoted Earl Commander was immediately besieged by the other five, and this group of men was eager to gain the favor of His Excellency Sebastoclatt as soon as possible, and of course they had to deal with those who dared to question their authority.

Seeing that the military heart is so neat, Isaac. Komnenos couldn't help but feel excited, so he directly ignored Gawain's proposal and told him to retreat, "This group of barbarians and heretics is still afraid of the prestige of the Great Majesty, because the empire has just defeated the Pechenegs in the Rila Mountains, do they want to follow in the footsteps of the miserable Pechenegs?" ”

Seeing that there was no answer, Isaac began to promulgate the order of the army's march.

But at this time, Gawain raised his hand again, "There are lakes and dense forests in front of Nicaea, and narrow mountains in the back, and if a team of more than 6,000 people wants to go out, they must have careful reconnaissance, so the contemptible people suggest that the guard officer be called to act as a scout and guide the army forward, and then your Excellency will determine the marching lineup is more appropriate." ”

At this moment, the royal brother was angry, "Stephen. Gawain, you're a troublemaker! ”

"I'm just for your own good, Your Excellency, if this army is destroyed, I believe your reputation in the imperial capital will deteriorate." Gawain did not give up.

At this time, the eunuch raised his hand and stopped the enraged Isaac. Komunen, and then the entire boiling council chamber also fell silent, "Gawain, the unit under your command is at the back of the marching sequence, and in two days you and the captor Diognes will go to reconnoiter the terrain west of Nicaea. ”

"I refuse!" At this time, Gawain and Diognes shouted these words almost at the same time.