1444, Byzantium Resurrects

Chapter 222 Great Depth

Bulgaria, Rhodope Mountains, Rila Mountains.

Rila Mountain is the highest mountain in the Balkans, towering majestically in the northwest of the Rhodope Mountains. It covers a vast area and darkly covers a large area of ​​land south of the Sofia Basin.

The Rila Mountains have a rugged terrain with numerous gullies, showing a distinct mountain plateau climate. From the foot of the mountain to the top, the vegetation gradually becomes sparse, the traces of wild animals become increasingly rare, and there is snow all year round at high altitudes.

This mountainous plateau area is not suitable for human survival. The areas with suitable climate are too steep and covered with forests. After finally reaching the flat interior of the plateau, we looked around and saw only desolation.

Because the Rila Mountains are located at the junction of several major climatic zones, the precipitation is very abundant, the climate is relatively cold, and it is often shrouded in thick clouds and fog. There are many wild animals at low altitudes and few people. Only experienced hunters will form hunting teams and go up the mountain together for survival.

This is a valley on the east side of the Struma River in the southern part of the Rila Mountains. A remote small monastery used to stand on the open space beside the valley. But now it is occupied by Torosi, the commander-in-chief of the Border Guards of the North Macedonian Military District, and his troops, who have built a transit camp.

The monastery was once a prison used by successive emperors of the Eastern Roman Empire to imprison high-ranking officials who had lost in political struggles. Since it had imprisoned members of the royal family, the original supporting facilities were very luxurious, with everything for food, drink, and entertainment.

Later, when the Eastern Roman Empire was defeated, this monastery located in the mountains was looted by soldiers and bandits. All the valuables were stolen, and the monks and servants who lived here also fled. The monastery was abandoned.

Commander Avilon of the North Macedonian Military District discovered the existence of this monastery by chance while consulting historical documents. He believed that since it was surrounded by mountains and forests, it was not only well concealed but also not too far from the Eastern Roman-controlled area, making it an ideal forward command post.

Therefore, as early as the beginning of the establishment of the Mountain Chasseurs, Avilon sent a small number of people to sneak into the Rila Mountains in advance, mapped the monastery and the surrounding terrain, dragged some military supplies with donkey carts, and began to systematically convert the old monastery into a military camp.

At the end of 1463, three mountain chariot regiments totaling people from the two northern military districts of the Eastern Roman Empire began to infiltrate the Rhodope Mountains.

As the commander-in-chief of the Jagers of the North Macedonian Military District, Torosi Notaras led more than 700 mountain Jagers to enter the old monastery in the valley in batches, and then split into small groups and continued northward, going deeper into the vast mountains.

The valley is surrounded by steep mountains. There is a small waterfall on the cliff on the north side. Clear mountain spring water flows into the pool below the waterfall. The pool extends into a small stream, gurgling out of the valley until it merges into the Struma River in the west.

The Struma River originates from the Rila Mountains. There are many steep fjords in the upper and middle reaches, with hard stone walls on both sides and fast-flowing water. After entering the Greek region, the river water gradually becomes calm, washing out a large river valley plain. The people of the Eastern Roman Empire opened up fertile fields on the fertile land on both sides of the river, and villages and towns were built along the river until the river flows into the Strymon Gulf in the Aegean Sea.

In the woods outside the valley, a small group of hunters marched slowly. A mountain spring was gurgling not far away, and the fallen leaves were rustling under their feet.

"Uncle Six, tell me, our harvest this time is so huge, how much is it worth?"

The middle-aged hunter held a hunting knife and cleared the way ahead, chopping at the branches and vines that grew across the forest, looking around for possible wild animals and poisonous snakes in the woods.

His movements were obviously very skilled, and he did things efficiently. The hunting knife in his hand flew up and down, and he was chatting with the team members behind him.

"Alan has made a great contribution this time, and our numbers have increased significantly. Commander Torosi is clear about rewards and punishments, and he will probably promote him to squad leader and let him lead a squad himself."

Uncle Six chewed some grass roots in his mouth and walked at the end of the team, making sure that every team member was within his sight.

"Everyone knows this, don't try to steal the credit!"

"What are you talking about, Sixth Uncle? I am his biological uncle. I don't have any children. He is my only nephew. If he succeeds, I will also benefit from it."

The middle-aged hunter said with a smile.

"Alan! When you get to the camp, you must tell everyone how you found out about the secret hidden in the nunnery and how you persuaded a few Bulgarian hunters to help you."

"The last time we came back, those squad leaders of the Second Chasseur Regiment were so proud of themselves. This time our squad has done a great job. Let's see if they dare to laugh at us and look down on Pushgoti Village!"

"Okay, stop talking, walk around the woods again, try to remove as many traces as possible, and then go straight back to the camp!"

Uncle Six interrupted the middle-aged hunter's chatter and gave instructions.

"You are so cautious."

In front of Uncle Six, a hunter muttered in Bulgarian.

"Let me tell you, although we have temporarily agreed to let you join the team, Commander Torosi of the Jaegers may not necessarily accept you."

"Although you are also poor people, you are still Bulgars after all. We don't discriminate against you. The masters from Constantinople are different!"

Uncle Six kicked the Bulgarian hunter's butt and warned him.

"Don't worry, sir."

The Bulgarian hunter said quickly, pointing to the hunter from his village next to him.

"We can't survive anymore, so we can have something to eat if we follow you."

"We are not noble lords, we do not know who we are, if you like, we can be Pushgotis or Romans."

The ragged Bulgarian hunters around nodded repeatedly when they heard this.

"I can't make the decision about your affairs, but don't worry too much."

Uncle Six lowered his voice.

"Lord Torosi is different from other lords in Constantinople. There were Bulgarians who were desperate and volunteered to join our team. After a simple screening, he basically accepted them all. The strong hunters were incorporated into the jockeys, and the farmers, herdsmen, women, children and the elderly were sent back to the south to open up the land in North Macedonia."

"However, you should also be aware that after being incorporated into the hunting team, you must be disbanded. We don't know where you will be assigned to."

The hunting team circled the woods again, deliberately crossing several streams to erase all traces of their way here.

The woods gradually thinned out and the campsite came into view.

A few ferocious hunting dogs ran over silently, and a few falcons were soaring in the sky.

When the team's hunting dogs saw their companions, they ran towards the team happily, wagging their tails.

"Uncle Six, Alan, you are back?"

"Why is there a new face?"

There was a commotion overhead, and several hunters jumped down lightly from the trees, their faces covered with mud, branches stuck in their fur hats. They looked vigilantly at several Bulgarian hunters in the team, with the crossbows in their hands secretly pointed at them.

"These are the new soldiers we recruited this time. They are very familiar with the situation in the north and can provide us with a lot of help."

Uncle Six replied.

"Go ahead, it seems like you have gained a lot this time."

The leading hunter kicked the bag that Alan was dragging.

"Master Torosi has been in a good mood recently. If you get a reward, don't forget to treat the brothers to a few drinks."

"Oh why?"

Uncle Six asked.

"His Majesty has declared war on Mahmoud. Their troops are moving eastwards. There are fewer and fewer patrols in the southwestern mountains. The success rate of our operations has increased a lot."

"Go quickly, don't keep Master Torosi waiting anxiously."

The hunter didn't want to say more and waved at the few people.

"It's the same as always. We've marked the traps on the road. You should be able to see them. Don't step on them by mistake. We won't be responsible."

Uncle Six nodded and led the team to the valley entrance.

A long wooden wall was built at the entrance of the valley, and a trench two people high was dug. Many short wooden spears soaked in poison were inserted diagonally in the trench. Several hunters armed with bows and crossbows guarded the trench day and night.

Uncle Six showed his badge to the guard, the wooden door slowly opened, and the team entered the valley.

In the center of the valley is a monastery that was renovated into a military fortress.

There are dozens of tents around the bunker, and there is a row of wooden houses on the right side of the bunker. From time to time, the sounds of grinding and cutting wood can be heard from some of the wooden houses, and smoked meat is hung outside some of the wooden houses.

"This is the workshop and smokehouse of our camp. We are responsible for making bows and crossbows, arrows, and smoking the prey meat that cannot be eaten for the time being."

"We are not yet self-sufficient, so a team of horses will be transporting supplies for us from the south."

Alan whispered to several Bulgarian hunters.

"There are quite a few people in the camp today. Usually everyone fights in small teams, and they just run away when they encounter an enemy they can't defeat. It's rare for them to gather together like they are now."

"Mahmoud had to withdraw a lot of troops to the east recently. Perhaps their actions were relatively successful."

In the open space in front of the bunker, Torosi was sitting on a leather chair with a happy face, his left foot on an oak barrel, a porcelain bowl in his right hand, and his sword resting on the side.

The captains of the hunting troops lined up in a long queue and came forward one by one to submit their tasks. Some of them held a stack of intelligence, some held a few heads, and some presented drawn maps.

"Sir, this time our Second Hunter Regiment's Third Squadron not only drew a map of the area around Lesmo Village as you requested, but also kidnapped the daughter of a local Turkish nobleman, lured dozens of Turkish soldiers in the village into the woods, and killed them all."

A captain said excitedly, handing Torosi a bloody map, a head and a document.

"Oh? I heard that Lesmo's Turkish noble was once a Kapikulu cavalryman, and many of his subordinates were former Ottoman regular soldiers. Are you so powerful?"

Torosi took the head and the document, confirmed that it was undoubtedly a Turkic nobleman, and looked at the captain with a smile.

"He is actually just a warrior who relies on his brute force. His followers are indeed well-equipped. They thought we were ordinary bandits and would kneel down and beg for mercy when they saw the fully armed cavalry."

The captain curled his lips.

"As a result, they were all wearing full body armor to counter the bows and arrows commonly used by the mountain people, and their movements were slow."

"However, he has served in the Kapikulu Legion and has some experience. We dug thirteen traps of different sizes on the road, and he avoided nine of them and was caught in the tenth one."

"After they fell into the pit, we immediately used up all three bottles of Constantine cocktails you gave us, as the pit was not deep, to prevent them from jumping out on horseback."

"After the fire started, the sharpshooters who were hiding in the trees started to kill them. They first shot and killed a few cavalrymen who didn't fall into the pit, and then shot arrows at the fire pit until they were all dead."

"Our arrows are all coated with a deadly poison. Anyone who touches them will die."

"It's cruel. How many brothers died?"

Torossi praised.

"Both were killed by guards during the kidnapping. But their sacrifice was worth it."

The captain sighed, and the light in his eyes dimmed a little.

"That old Turk was almost 60 years old. His three sons had all died fighting for the Ottoman family. He doted on his only remaining daughter. When he heard that his daughter had been kidnapped, he didn't even want to live anymore."

"Okay! I'll give you credit!"

Torossi waved his hand and the clerk immediately recorded it in the book.

"And this, the Imperial Camp Vodka brewed in the Galata Brewing District, the highest grade, good stuff, one bowl per person, don't drink too much!"

Torosi handed the ceramic bowl to the captain, and the team members ran to drink happily.

Next, many team captains came forward to report the results of the battle. Some teams reaped a lot of rewards, while some teams were unlucky. Some returned empty-handed, while others were all injured and suffered heavy casualties.

When it was Uncle Six's turn, he gently pushed Alan and asked him to report the battle situation.

Alan nodded, unequivocally.

"Hunter Allen, from the first squad of the first hunter regiment of the North Macedonian Border Guard, reports to you!"

"Say!"

Alan picked up the leather bag and dumped the contents onto the ground.

There are more than a dozen heads still covered in blood.

Judging from their appearance, the owners of these heads obviously lived a life of luxury, with well-maintained skin and no signs of physical labor.

Then, Allen took out a dozen rings from his leather bag and threw them to Torosi in front of everyone's shocked eyes. "This..."

Torossi spread the bloody ring on his hand and was speechless for a moment.

"Our team discovered a convent in the northwest. It looks bright and beautiful on the surface, but in fact it has long been a den of filth and corruption."

"Since the Turks came, the local Bulgarian nobles, together with the Turkish nobles, have forcibly occupied this convent in their name, tricking young women from the surrounding area to come here, under the pretext of practicing Buddhism, but in fact providing them with pleasure."

Alan said quickly, a hint of disgust flashing across his face.

"This place is heavily guarded. I didn't pay much attention to it until I met a poor hunter. Then I learned the truth about the convent from him."

Alan pointed at the Bulgarian hunter in the crowd, who also had a look of hatred on his face.

"His daughter was young and beautiful, but because of this, she was tricked by the local nobles into going to a convent, where she was beaten and molested."

"He hadn't heard from his daughter, and the letters he sent to her had gone unanswered, so he went to look for her himself. He happened to find the nunnery's corpse dumping site in the back hills, and saw his daughter's body."

"Later, his wife died of worry, and he was targeted by the local tax officials. He abandoned his family and business, fled to the mountains, and secretly prepared for revenge until he met us."

"We promised to help him get revenge, and we've been planning for a long time, but we never got the chance."

"Finally, I entered the town disguised as a hunter and got the information from an old cook in a nunnery."

"Her family has worked for the convent for generations before the Turks came, and they know some secret passages that even the nobles don't know about."

"We found the secret passage that leads from a cave to the cellar of the convent. It was originally dug by the nuns to steal wine to drink."

Alan licked his cracked lips and continued.

"My sixth uncle and I had been waiting outside the convent until one day, many people came to the convent, including Bulgarians and Turks."

"So, we broke into the cellar at dawn and put drugs everywhere we could. The drug has no visible effect after taking it, and even if they had someone do a poison test, they wouldn't be able to tell."

"Then we called the other hunters, waited in the passage, calculated the time, and rushed from the cellar to the restaurant."

A sarcastic smile appeared on Allen's face.

"These masters will not let their soldiers disturb their fun. The accompanying soldiers are all stationed far away. There are only a few guards with strong martial arts skills in the restaurant, and they have all taken our drugs."

"So, we cut off more than a dozen heads without any effort, and then immediately ran out of the passage, running all the way back to the south."

"I also brought back their rings for you to verify their identities!"

Alan said forcefully.

"You are brave and resourceful, very good."

Torosi looked at the ring on his hand and nodded heavily.

"I recognize most of these rings. The highest-ranking one belongs to the son of a town lord. According to our system, he might be a baron."

"The Baron..."

Alan was a little disappointed.

"Be content, child."

Torossi smiled.

"There aren't many great nobles in the border areas, and they all value their reputation and won't do such a thing so blatantly."

"However, the collective killing of so many minor nobles is enough to cause chaos for them for a while."

"It seems that you have a talent for being an assassin!"

Torosi laughed.

"I don't want to be an assassin. My biggest dream is to become a general like you!"

Alan made a shocking statement.

"Good! If you have ambition, I will make you the team leader now!"

Torossi clapped.

"Why, are you unhappy?"

Seeing that Alan's expression was not as excited as expected, Torosi frowned.

"That's not it, sir."

Alan shook his head.

"Before I become the captain, I want to go to the priest to confess my sins."

"Confess? Why?"

"Not all of these people are sinful, and not all of them are equally sinful. Most of them are Christians. I am not qualified to make judgments on behalf of the Holy Father and take their lives."

"Kid, I know you are the most unique person in this camp. Every time you return to the camp, the first thing you do is to find the priest to confess your sins."

Torosi sighed.

"In war, killing the enemy with all your might is the greatest virtue. Whatever you do is right. There is no mercy and no forgiveness."

"It is God's business to forgive them, and as for us, our business is to send them to see God!"

Alan thought about it, felt that what Torosi said made sense, and nodded.

"Sir, there is one more thing."

"Go ahead."

"During our investigation, we found that many Bulgarian villages in the border areas had refugees to varying degrees, and they simply could not survive in their original villages."

Alan said in a deep voice.

"Due to the war, Mahmoud levied a large amount of war taxes. If these taxes could be distributed evenly to every village, the villagers would still be able to survive."

"However, Mahmud obviously underestimated the greed of the lower nobles. When he issued the order, the original tax may have been only one solidus, but when it was passed to the lower villages, it became ten."

"Not only that, the Bulgarian tax farmers colluded with the Turkish nobles and collected a large amount of miscellaneous taxes in the name of their superiors, with the purpose of filling their own pockets."

"They used the name of fundraising, and the landlords and gentry took the lead in donating money, forcing the people to follow suit."

"Anyone who doesn't donate is a traitor and will go to the gallows."

"After the incident, the landlords' money was returned in full, and the common people's money was divided into 30% and 70%. In this way, the common people became more and more miserable and were forced to flee to the mountains."

"The gentry took the opportunity to annex the land and recruited a group of people who did not want to escape to become their tenants and farm for them."

"In order to keep the people on the land, they also took over the surrounding forests, lakes and hunting rights, and prohibited hunters and fishermen from hunting privately."

Alan turned around and pointed at the dozen or so Bulgarian hunters following his uncle.

"These Bulgarian hunters who followed were forced to flee. I brought them here according to your order."

"Sir, the common people have no good feelings towards the Bulgarian nobles. If you wish, if Your Majesty wishes, they can also be Romans and be loyal to the Empire!"

Alan said eagerly.

"They are all Orthodox Christians. For the Holy Father's sake, please help them!"

After listening to this, Torosi was silent for a long time.

Looking around, everyone was looking at him, waiting for his answer.

A large number of these chasseurs from border villages were not originally Greek-speaking people. Most of them were Bulgarians and Serbs. Although they learned some Greek, they still used their original language in their daily lives.

Perhaps in their hearts, these refugees share the same religion, language, and race as them, and are real compatriots and fellow villagers.

If this matter is not handled properly, even though the hunters won't say anything on the surface, they will still feel resentful.

How come we, the original Serbs and Bulgarians, are so lowly and untouchable in the eyes of you masters in Constantinople?

Trouble.

Torosi sighed and spoke slowly.

"If you mean these dozen hunters who lost everything, I can say with certainty that I can allow them to join our team and become hunters to fight for the Empire."

"I arranged it this way before."

The hunters nodded immediately and waited for his next words.

Torosi frowned and stood up.

"If it's a large number of Bulgarian refugees, I—"

Alan's mood slowly sank, as if he had anticipated the outcome of the matter.

Torosi looked at the hunters' eyes and gritted his teeth.

Never mind, never mind. After all, I am the direct descendant of the fourth generation family of the empire. It’s not the first or second time that our family has been ignorant. Let me just take a risk!
Torosi thought so and spoke slowly.

"If they are Bulgarian refugees, I can also accept them and grant them asylum."

"I will set up resettlement camps in the border areas and have priests teach them Greek."

Torosi thought for a moment and continued.

"Three months. If they learn it, they will head south immediately. The North Macedonian Military District welcomes them!"

"Your Majesty is the emperor of the Romans and the Christians. He shouldn't blame me!"

"If you want to blame someone, I'll take the blame!"

Torosi bit his lips until they were about to burst as he squeezed out these words from between his teeth.

"That's it, disband and drink!"

Torosi ignored the cheers of the hunters, walked into the bunker alone, sat at his desk, and drank a glass of wine on the table.

"Oh, I'm afraid I'll be criticized again."

Torosi muttered, and when he calmed down, he pulled out a piece of paper and began to write a letter.

"Your Majesty, Emperor of Rome and the Romans, Protector of all Christians, Master of the Five Patriarchates, Guardian of Jerusalem, I wish you good health..."

In the letter, Torossi wrote in detail about his recent experiences and attached his opinions and apology.

"Personal soldiers, help me send him to Burgas!"

(End of this chapter)