Chapter 696: Village Of The Brave
The emperor and Leo did not linger in the plains, despite Leo’s fervent wishes to stay longer. Antonius bluntly rejected his son’s request, emphasising once again that a king should not remain under one roof for too long. He explained that staying in one place would cause a ruler to lose touch with the outside world, relying solely on what his subjects told him to make decisions, which could lead to foolish choices. Moreover, they had more pressing matters to attend to.
The young boy nodded reluctantly as they departed from the plains of Plovdiv, heading southwards. They crossed the mountain trails of central Bulgaria, bypassing major towns and instead residing in village homes, taverns, and tents.
The Bulgarian population in these parts had borne the brunt of the war’s devastation. They had lived through constant conflict between Abbas Pasha’s forces and the Romans just a few years prior. This region was one of the last strongholds for local Ottoman warlords, who used the rugged terrain as their final fortifications against the Roman threat. These warlords outlasted their Ottoman counterparts by a year until Julian’s forces finally eradicated them. However, remnants of these forces scattered into the mountains, continuing to operate as bandits and rogues. These bandits frequently descended from the hills to ransack villages and towns, rob merchants, and even abduct women.
As a result, local towns and villages had adopted a far more militaristic lifestyle than the rest of Bulgaria. Farmers and hunters travelled in armed groups with various types of different old gears, constantly watching out for one another. Their eyes were full of caution and alertness as they observed the passing Roman Varangian army.
In this area, the emperor felt no signs of friendliness. Instead, everyone watched him with wary eyes. Villagers gathered, ready to defend themselves against any potential threat. The atmosphere was tense, a stark contrast to the relative peace of other regions.
The young Leo had never before experienced such intense scrutiny from all directions as the prince of the nation. Everywhere he went, he clung closely to his father, seeking the comfort and protection his presence provided.
Antonius frowned as they moved through the region, keeping close to his Varangian guards while the army traversed the hilltops and mountain trails.
"Leo," the emperor called out to his son, "if you were in charge of governing this region and faced such hostility from the people, potentially escalating into civil unrest, what would you do to curb it?"
The young prince lowered his head, deep in thought.
"You don’t need to think of a solution right now, my child," Antonius reassured him. "We all know there is no single correct answer. Of course, there are numerous methods you might consider: reducing taxes, initiating projects to rebuild local infrastructure, or even providing development funds. These measures would take years to make the inhabitants here feel like true Romans."
"Thank you, Father, but if it were you, what would you do?"
"If it were me..." Antonius paused, contemplating. "I would create recruitment campaigns to bring fresh soldiers into my army. While in service, I would give them opportunities to earn loot to take back to their households and, at the same time, educate them about the Roman language, culture, and pride. These young men in the army are the able-bodied backbone of their families and communities. Their opinions on the country are crucial, and their attitudes will directly influence their offspring in the future."
"But Father," Leo blinked his eyes, "where would you get the plunder you mentioned?"
Antonius chuckled softly. "I only suggested this method because I am confident in my ability to lead my followers to victory, which would bring plunder. Do you see? If a leader cannot achieve that, they must resort to more traditional methods of investing heavily in the region, which can have dangerously negative effects."
"Yes, Father," Leo replied, absorbing the lesson.
The group continued through the mountains, constantly feeling watched, a sensation that finally dissipated only after they left the mountain trails. As they emerged from the woods, Antonius and Leo glanced back, spotting numerous figures still hidden among the trees, watching them. It was only here that the emperor was finally greeted by familiar faces from the local Roman government.
"Your Majesty... Your Majesty!" The governor approached, wringing his hands. "I deeply regret my inability to meet you sooner. The roads have been blocked by these cursed villagers."
Antonius raised his hand. "It is not your fault. No matter what, they are all my subjects, loved by the empire regardless. These men are new to the empire; they need time to adjust to the new era and shall have time to feel my love."
"Yes, your Majesty." The governor bowed graciously.
"I understand you are having a hard time fulfilling your duties," the emperor continued from his mount. "Do not worry. Mark my words, waive the taxation of the people in this region for three years."
"Thank you, your Majesty, on behalf of the people." The governor smiled widely as he received an official document from the scribe. He passed it to the emperor for his seal, then stepped aside, leaving the trail open for the emperor’s convoy.
After a while, the emperor asked his son, "Leo, do you know why the governor only decided to meet us now, giving such a flimsy excuse for his delay?"
The young Leo shook his head.
"Remember, Leo," Antonius said, "a great concern that all civil servants have is responsibility. They fear bearing responsibility. Does he know there is a need to waive the taxes here, since the cost of collecting taxes is higher than the revenue collected? Yes, of course he knows. But he cannot be the one to make that decision. Only I can issue such an order, so he would not need to bear that responsibility..."
This was still too much for the young Leo to fully comprehend, and he blinked his eyes in confusion.
"Remember, my child," Antonius extended his old arms, "with greater power comes greater responsibility. Each one of your actions might potentially affect tens of thousands of people at once."
Their stay here was brief, and Antonius and his entourage moved further south until they reached the plains of Drama. This region had seen a series of upheavals in recent years, typical of the failures that occurred when military officers were appointed as civil servants. Antonius had visited the province frequently just a few years ago, and the image it had then was stark—ashen trees, polluted waters, blackened lands, and bodies lying all over. Now, the scenery was much more pleasing to the emperor, with everything seemingly restored to normal.
Little did people know how many lay beneath the dirt.
The young prince cheered as he rode across the plains under the summer sun. Everything seemed so new to him—the beautifully carved irrigation canals, farmers working in the fields cultivating grains and olive trees, tending to their soon-to-be harvests, and children running alongside their parents, helping with chores. The young prince was delighted by this scene of labor and community. He leapt down from his mount and ran alongside the tracks with the other country boys.
Cerberus moved to stop him, but the emperor held him back and shook his head slightly. "Let him be," Antonius said softly. "He needs to see and feel the life of our people."
I It did not take long before the countrymen, most of them veterans who had spent years fighting alongside the emperor, learned of their sovereign’s arrival. They started gathering in front of the village gate in lines, eager to see their leader once again. The farmers residing and working on these fertile plains were all soldiers who had proven themselves on the battlefields. They had earned medals and, as a reward, were granted this fertile land.
"Come, my boy," Antonius laughed, gesturing for young Leo to return. "Let us visit this village, which is solely comprised of the benefactors of our empire. I named it the Village of the Brave!"
The young child followed obediently, waving farewell to the group of youngsters he had just been playing with.
Father and son cheered and laughed as they rode towards their destination. The old emperor began telling tales to his son, explaining that all the inhabitants of the village were men who had shown great bravery on the battlefields, fighting by his side. "These men are pioneers of the nation," Antonius said. "Without their courage and sacrifices, our empire would not have come into existence. They have received the best I could offer, and they must live in the best quality of life in this country."
Leo listened intently, his eyes wide with admiration and curiosity. As they approached the village, the sight of the gathered veterans, standing proudly in their simple yet well-maintained homes, filled the boy with awe. These were the heroes of his father’s stories, living embodiments of the empire’s strength and resilience.
But soon they begun to realise something.
