Chapter 29 Street Tavern

In fact, in the traditional view of the Greeks, the management of rivers and springs was not the priesthood of Hades, but since he performed miracles in Turi Spring and brought it back to life, the Dionians gradually believed that Hades Sterling is the true protector of springs and drinking water, and Poseidon has become an assistant.

At this time, there were several women by the pool carrying multiple pots, chatting and drinking water. The children were chasing and playing around the pool and the surrounding stone pillars.

The two children of Asimus were eager to try and wanted to join, but were stopped by Falvia.

Although Maximus was amazed and puzzled about how the water in the pool came out, he did not ask, but kept following the servants, stepping on the stairs, up to the third floor, along the somewhat dark corridor, to the room for rent.

I met several tenants along the way, and they all greeted the servant more humbly. Obviously, the owner of the house usually asks this servant to take care of the entire rental building.

Although the room was simple, with only a bed, a table, and a few chairs, it was clean and spacious, and had good lighting. It was much better than the house he lived in in the slave camp. Maxim immediately decided to rent it.

After putting the package in the room, he followed the servant to the tax office and signed the rental agreement.

Finally, the renting thing was settled. It was already dusk, Maximus and his wife felt a little hungry, and the two children lost the energy to play, so Maximus decided to take the family to eat something. ,Fill the stomach.

There are many restaurants near the place where they rented, and the most famous one is Christoya Restaurant, which fills up early and there are people queuing outside the door.

But considering the price, Maximus finally chose to eat at a cheaper street pub.

This kind of street pub generally has only one ring-shaped counter. There are multiple circular pits in the stone counter. Opened wine cans, beer cans and clay pots are embedded in these pits, and they will be inlaid on the stone wall at the end of the counter. There is a shrine, but it is usually not Hades, but Dionysus, the Greek god of wine.

When the Maxims family walked into the street tavern, there were already some diners in the store, making the small store a bit crowded.

The cook in the center of the counter saw them, and immediately asked with a smile on her face, "What would you like to eat and drink?"

"Is there something to fill your stomach?" Maximus asked, looking at the bottles on the counter.

"Bread, cheese, vegetables, and nuts and olives...it's ready for you, and of course if you need a little hot soup, we can also cook haggis and beef soup, porridge and Bean porridge, but it will take a little time." The cook looked at the Maximus family, estimated their needs, and said fluently: "Of course, the most important thing here is that we can provide you with all kinds of products produced in the kingdom. Wine and beer, and relatively cheap.”

"Bring me four pieces of bread, four slices of cheese, two bowls of porridge, and a large bowl of haggis soup." Maximus thought for a while and said.

"Don't you want to drink some wine?" The cook tried her best to persuade: "It seems that you have come a long way. You must be tired and thirsty. Why don't you drink a beer to moisten your throat and relieve fatigue."

Maximus is not one to be easily persuaded, but he suddenly changed his mind when he saw the diners at the counter with glasses and talking loudly: "Bring me a beer."

"Which kind of beer do you want to drink?" The cook pointed to a round pit on the counter in front of him, and said enthusiastically, "I recommend Cristoia beer to you, this is the brewery owned by Princess Cristoia. Made, it was they who invented Dionia's beer,

Therefore, their beer is the most authentic, the best, and very refreshing. It is very popular with the people of the kingdom. Because of the high demand, most of the output is purchased and stored by those goddamn wealthy businessmen and officials for banquets and entertaining guests. Not many are sold on the market. Our pub only got some because of a special relationship. Although the price is a little more expensive, it is very rare. "

Although Maximus was a little moved by what she said, he still suppressed his urge to speak and said, "Just bring me an ordinary beer."

Although the cook failed to persuade, she did not show frustration, and said to him with a smile: "Okay. Then one loaf is 5 opals, four loaves are 20 opals... a total of 67 opals Er, it is converted into 9 drachmas and 3 opals, you pay the money first, and I will prepare food for you immediately."

Well, the price of this dinner is close to a month's rent! If it was in the past, Maximus would have cared about this small amount of money, but after more than three years of slavery, he knew the hardships of life. He took a breath, counted 10 drachmas from his wallet, and retrieved them 4 opals.

The cook looked at the crowd, and then shouted: "Hey! There are children who want to eat, please take the initiative to give up a seat!"

She shouted with a shrill voice, and someone actually stood up from the bench against the wall. Falvia quickly squeezed over with the children, thanked the diners, and sat down.

Maximus stood by the counter.

After a while, the cook put the bread and cheese he ordered into a small wooden blueberry and handed it over.

Maximus felt that the bread was still hot, and couldn't help but nodded secretly for the tavern's thoughtfulness.

The cook lifted a wooden lid, stuck a long wooden spoon into the clay pot in the stone pit, scooped up beer, poured a full glass, and handed it to Maximus, as for the porridge and sheep soup. It takes time to cook.

Maximus took the beer and took a sip first, feeling his dry throat moisturised. In fact, there was no beer in Rome before, and Maximus began to like drinking this cheap and worry-relieving drink in the slave camp.

The family sat in the corner and began to eat, while Massimos chewed bread while listening carefully to the conversation of the diners.

"Hey, have you heard? It is said that the 'Kingdom is preparing to send troops to build fortress defenses on the borders of southern Iberia and northern Etruscans' may be cancelled!"

"You are mistaken, it is impossible to cancel, if the kingdom does not send troops to the border for defense, then the looting of the barbarians in the mountains will not be stopped, it will only make them grow stronger and stronger. It is getting more and more rampant, and maybe it will launch an attack on the border territory of the kingdom."

"That's not the right time for the kingdom to start a war and destroy these barbarians. Maybe we can also gain some military exploits and become citizens as soon as possible."

"I heard that the kingdom is not going to start a big war in the past few years, because the last war was only a few years ago, and the consumption was too great, and it has not recovered yet."

"You're right. But it's not just for this reason. It is said that whether it is northern Etruscan or southern Iberia, there are continuous mountains everywhere, and the terrain is dangerous, and most of those indigenous tribes live in the mountains. , once they can't beat the kingdom's army, they are likely to hide in the mountains. It will be very difficult for the kingdom to completely destroy and conquer them, so it is necessary to send troops to defend the frontier and crack down on the barbarians who come to invade. , but I heard that because the people's opposition is too loud, they may cancel the decision to send the legion to defense, and instead hire free people to form a border defense army."

The diners exclaimed: "Is this true?!"

Maximus moved in his heart and looked at it: most of the diners were wearing simple linen shorts, their appearance was shabby, and their status was obviously low. Only a few were dressed more elegantly. This person who seemed to know a lot of inside information was one of them. one.

He took a sip of beer and said proudly: Of course this is true, when did I, Gorgeon, lie to you! Let me tell you, this matter has been discussed above, and the reason why it has never been settled is because the mercenary army needs to spend a lot of money, and the kingdom can't get more money to support a team specially responsible for guarding the border. mercenary army.

But I heard from a friend who is a palace guard that His Majesty King Davos once resolutely said in the meeting that the border troops of the kingdom must be established as soon as possible! Because the kingdom's territory is constantly expanding, it will take ten days or half a month to lead the army from Turii to the border now, and maybe it will take two, three months or even half a year in the future. Once the foreign enemy invades, and then mobilize the army to meet the enemy, I am afraid that the enemy has already captured the border area and killed the people of countless kingdoms. Therefore, it is necessary to form a border defense army to guard the security of the border of the kingdom. If there is no money to form a mercenary army , then he will send troops to guard the border for a long time regardless of the opposition of the people! "

"His Majesty the great King Davos is really thinking of the kingdom, but those Dionian citizens are too selfish!" Another diner exclaimed: "If I had become a full citizen, I would definitely do my best. Support His Majesty's decision and guard the frontier without hesitation as a legionnaire!"

"Cut!" Another diner said disdainfully: "As a registered freedman, if the kingdom decides to establish a mercenary army composed of freedmen, I will definitely join without hesitation, and I don't want an Oppo Salary, as long as I become a full Dionysian citizen immediately."

Several diners followed suit.

"If you become official citizens and have land allocations, you will definitely go back on your regrets." Someone suddenly said something, which immediately caused a burst of laughter.

"The kingdom of Dionia has a vast territory and a large population. Why does it have no money to support a small mercenary army?" Another diner asked suspiciously.