Zhang Heng had also heard some tragic stories about Roman slaves before.
In fact, the era background of Black Sail was also when the black slave trade was booming. At that time, Zhang Heng led the Jackdaw to attack many slave ships, and saw a ship full of black slaves crowded the bilge, people side by side , Just like livestock waiting to be slaughtered, the cabin is full of urine and sweat.
With Laeli's help, Zhang Heng usually selects the most powerful fighters from these blacks after the ship robbery, and absorbs them into the pirate group, while the rest are released to some small islands for the sake of The hidden supply points established by these people played an important role in Zhang Heng's dealings and battles with the Royal Navy when he left Nassau, and Zhang Heng even won the title of Liberator of the New World. He did not expect that he would one day also become slaves.
And he was a slave in the second century AD. At this moment, it is a veritable slavery society. The social pyramid structure of Rome is basically nobles, commoners, foreigners and slaves from top to bottom.
The slaves at the bottom cannot even be called human beings in a certain sense, but can only be regarded as tools for production or entertainment. This is the case with the gladiatorial performances that are going on above them. Gladiators fight each other, using their own blood and lives In exchange for applause from the audience.
"What are you thinking?" Zhang Heng asked Valo.
"What?" The latter was stunned for a moment before realizing, "Oh, I was thinking that it would be our turn to perform on it."
"Will we do it too?" Zhang Heng was a little surprised. Judging from their current jobs, they were basically doing odd jobs in the arena, especially Varo. The beasts couldn't even feed well. If he stepped into the arena, Zhang Heng doubted that he wouldn't be able to last for three seconds.
"Of course not now. Now we don't know anything, and we just look ugly. No one wants to see our clumsy performance, but..." Valo lowered his voice, "I got a piece of news... there will be a batch of Germans tomorrow. The barbarians will be sent over, and then we will go to the gladiator school with them to train."
After Hua Luo finished speaking, he looked at Zhang Heng, but he didn't see the panic he expected from the latter's face, so he was stunned and added, "You... don't you have anything to say?"
"What do I want to say?" Zhang Heng raised his eyebrows.
"We are about to be sent to the gladiator training camp. People say that life is worse than death there. They will torture us and flog us. Many people will die during the training, and those who survive will have to die." Participate in the assessment, and those who pass the assessment will become gladiators, and then die in the performance."
"If you're so worried about your own life, don't pass the final assessment." Zhang Heng said.
"That's the problem. Slaves who don't pass are said to be sold to mines or villages to make up for their losses. Do you know how they treat slaves there? They make you work, work, like cattle Same, until the day you die, you will never be free." Varo despaired, "It shouldn't be like this, Chickpea promised me."
"Who's Chickpea?"
"A slave trader, I have a little friendship with him. After I became a slave, he told me that I would be bought by the nobles in the city. I would run a business. As long as the person who bought me invested a sum of money in me, I could Let them generate more money, so that when I start the business, I will become a free man again," Varo clenched his fists, full of unwillingness and pain, "Why is this happening, why am I being sold to Come here? I don't belong here..."
"Maybe it's because your body is in good shape?" Zhang Heng said, "Were you a businessman before, and you look more like a soldier when you wear armor."
"But I never learned to fight," Varo said. "It's ridiculous. They want me to go to a gladiator school to be tortured even though I can use my business ability to bring more wealth. A pearl covered in dust is a waste."
"Heh, if what you said is true, maybe you should talk to the owner here." Zhang Heng suggested.
"I tried. I told the overseer my situation and asked him to tell the owner here." Valo said.
"Then what?"
"Then... there is no news until now." Varo put down the rag in his hand and hesitated, "Maybe I should go directly to the master, what do you think?"
Zhang Heng was not in a hurry to answer this question, but asked, "You said you were a businessman before, why were you sold?"
"Don't mention it," Varo sighed when he heard the words, "Originally I was selling antiques. This business has been in business since my father's time. Our family made a lot of money from it, but then I became obsessed and listened to a My friend said that the flax business in Egypt is very good, so I discussed with an aristocrat over there to plant flax in partnership. He gave the land and I paid for it, and then sold it to Rome after weaving it into cloth. As a result, my friend was robbed as soon as he was on the road. People and money are gone, and what's worse is that I signed a contract with the other party. If he doesn't get the money within the stipulated time, I need to pay him a large amount of liquidated damages. I tried my best, but still Didn't get enough money together, so not only did I lose all my property, but I became a slave myself."
"Well, what a regrettable story." Zhang Heng said.
At this time, there was another deafening applause. It should be that the gladiatorial performance has reached a wonderful place, mobilizing the emotions of the audience in the stands.
And Varo also made up his mind at this time, "Tomorrow, when those Germanic barbarians are escorted over, everyone will be summoned. At that time, the master should also show up. I can find him at that time and ask him to do business." If things go well, I will be able to leave here by then."
"Really, then I wish you good luck." Zhang Heng said.
"Sorry, I can't help you." Valo said a little embarrassed. He just described the gladiator school as horrible, but he turned his feet and was about to jump out of this quagmire, but left Zhang Heng there. They didn't have much friendship at first, they just met for a long time, so they can't be called friends, not even acquaintances.
But after the previous conversation, the relationship between the two of them was indeed brought closer, but now Walo is also a mud bodhisattva crossing the river, and he can't protect himself, and he doesn't care about his companion Zhang Heng.
"It doesn't matter, just remember to tell me the day you get free." Zhang Hengdao, after hearing Varo's story, he is not optimistic that the other party's action will be successful tomorrow, but he also knows that Varo has just seen hope No matter what, it would be difficult for anyone to persuade him to give up the idea of escaping from the gladiator school.