Mike Andrew is a slave in a small manor in Fort Komoy. At the age of fourteen, he is strong and physically stronger than his peers. He usually helps his parents to work for the manor.
two days ago.
The fact that knights from the Wessas Territory came to Fort Comoy to preach and recruit people was well known in the city, causing countless heated discussions.
Some people are excited, some people can't believe it.
Mike Andrew listened to the whole thing when he went out to buy things. After he came back, he never calmed down, and he tossed and turned in bed at night.
He was moved.
He wanted to go to Wessas to see if it was true or not.
Mike Andrew told his father about his thoughts, but was rejected by his father.
"Mike, my child, don't be stupid, how can a slave become a soldier."
"We are not free people, we are under the control of the manor, and we can't leave the manor without permission... Yes, I know that you can go out to Wessas by paying a poll tax... "
"But that notice must be fake. You'll be fooled. You have to understand that poll taxes are not cheap."
Old Andrew wanted to dispel Mike Andrew's unrealistic thoughts.
He didn't believe that Weissus could have such a great benefit at all.
Just like the God of Creation suddenly and kindly sprinkled a lot of gold coins on the world, it can't be true at all.
He looked at his son's lost expression, and comforted dryly: "Maybe the commoners will go to the Wessas territory to try, and then they will know that they have been deceived... It's a waste of time..."
The biggest difference between slaves and commoners is that slaves belong to their masters.
Slaves were not allowed to leave privately, let alone escape. If they wanted to go out to do their own affairs, they had to pay a poll tax to their masters, otherwise, there would be no freedom at all.
If absconded, after being captured, the master has the right to dispose of the slave at will, including cutting off his hands and feet, giving him death, etc.
In addition, slaves were not free to marry, they had to pay marriage taxes to their masters, and children born after marriage were also slaves.
When the slave dies, the uninherited property belongs to the master.
Slaves have no right to redeem themselves, but can only be sold from one master to another by buying and selling with each other.
Compared with the common people who are hired to work for the manor owner and get paid, it is natural for slaves to work for the manor owner.
Civilian personal freedom is not restricted, of course, they can go to Visas at any time.
But it's not easy for Mike Andrew to go.
The content of the Vesas notification was very clear.
The lord's regulations - any slave in Weissus who intends to run for election, the master may not restrict his freedom, but must let it go.
If the slave passes the preliminary examination, he can become a reserve soldier, and the lord will give the slave's master silver coins as compensation.
But slaves outside of Wessas had to go on their own.
If they pass the preliminary examination and are determined to be reserve soldiers, the lord will send knights to buy qualified slaves and their families from the master.
In Xia Zoe's view, this is a disguised buying population.
Although he is still a slave, he is a slave who becomes a reserve soldier. After accumulating a certain amount of merit, he can become a free citizen and break away from his status as a slave.
Not to mention that Wessas drastically reduced taxes, which was a good thing for commoners and slaves alike.
Because it is so good, most people can't believe it and dare not try it lightly.
Old Andrew's persuasion and comfort did not dissuade Mike Andrew.
He thought that life is probably just this one chance, and if you miss it, there will be no more.
The knights of Vessus personally came to Fort Comoy to announce the recruitment, which should not be false news.
Ultimately, Mike Andrew made up his mind.
the next day.
While his parents were out to work, he secretly took part of the money that Old Andrew had saved, quickly paid the poll tax to the steward of the manor, and left Fort Comoy.
He apologized to his parents in his heart.
If it turns out that the news is true or false, he will definitely work harder to return the money to his father when he comes back.
Mike Andrew brought only a little water and dry food.
He was walking on the mountain road in Parshan, with the sun on his head, sweating on his forehead, and his heart became more and more hopeless.
But they have already come here, and they can only bite the bullet and move on.
About an hourglass passed, and Mike Andrew finally entered the city of Wessas.
He looked around, a little at a loss, not knowing where to go to sign up for service.
At this moment, a knight guarding the city gate suddenly shouted: "Civilians or slaves participating in the conscription go to the registration point in the direction of the arrow to sign up and accept the preliminary review."
Mike Andrew immediately looked at the signposts standing on both sides of the street.
More than ten meters away, a wooden sign was inserted on the ground, and the arrow pointed in one direction.
Someone suddenly said beside him, "Brother, are you here to participate in the conscription?"
Mike Andrew turned around: "Yes, yes, you too..."
The man nodded and said, "Yes, my name is Rad, I'm a slave, and I live in Wessas."
Mike Andrew suddenly felt relieved.
He said: "I am also a slave, living in Fort Comoy, why don't we go together."
"Okay, no problem," Rad agreed.
Before leaving, Mike Andrew heard the knight guarding the city gate shout again.
When the two arrived at the registration point, they took a closer look and found that there were already two long queues, one for civilians and one for slaves.
They spontaneously lined up behind the slave ranks.
Finally it was Mike Andrew's turn.
He came to the table, and the person listening to the record asked skillfully, "What's your name? How old are you? How tall are you? Weight... Where does it come from?"
Someone next to him made him move his arms and legs at will.
He then told the person who recorded: "Good health, no physical disability, and mental health does not appear to be any problem."
The person in charge of recording nodded.
Mike Andrew answered the questions just now.
When it was said that he was from Fort Comoy, the recorder raised his head and smiled at him very kindly: "Mike? Fourteen years old, not bad, very strong."
"There aren't many slaves from Fort Komoy who came here to sign up. Go back and help with publicity. We Weissus are a real conscription. After being selected, you can not only... but also..."
He told Mike Andrew and the people behind him again about the benefits of the draft conditions.
Mike Andrew couldn't help but said excitedly: "You, don't worry, I will."
The recorder smiled and said, "Very good, your age meets the standard, and your physical fitness is very good. If you are qualified, go there and wait."
When you're done, write a note on the parchment.
Mike Andrew was a little confused, but still walked in the direction pointed by the recorder.
There were about a dozen people gathered there, with knights standing beside them.
Mike Andrew was about to ask someone to ask, when he heard a teenager speak to him in a voice of obvious excitement and joy.
"You must be a slave to Fort Komoy, too, and so am I, oh my God, I can't even imagine this is real!"
"We will wait here until today's registration is over, and the Lord Knight will lead us back to Fort Komoy. As written in the draft conditions, the Lord of Weissus will buy us back with our family..."
The young man obviously couldn't restrain his elated emotions, and was always talking ramble.
Mike Andrew couldn't calm down either.
But he is rather dull and does not know how to express.
The teenager said: "My parents are also slaves. My mother doesn't believe that such a good thing will happen. She won't let me come. My father secretly paid the poll tax for me to get out."
"How about you, how did you get here?"
Mike Andrew: "… just like you, from Wessas to pay the poll tax."
However, his parents disagreed.
Soon.
He saw Rad walk into the crowd of slaves belonging to Weissus and waved to him.
Registration closes before the sun goes down.
The people in the two teams did not spread out.
Seeing that they didn't leave, the recorder had to shout: "Fifteen days after the registration deadline, those who haven't registered will come back tomorrow after the sun rises, and the same will be true, they all hurry back!"
The people in the team slowly dispersed.
Mike Andrew breathed a sigh of relief, thankfully he came early.
…
A total of four knights led them back to Fort Comoy.
Before entering the city, he heard the knight say: "I don't have much time left for you, go back and pack your things, tell me how much your family has, and you need to pay for it... Finally, we have to rush back to Wessas overnight. ,do you understand?"
Mike Andrew and some slaves were led by a knight.
The knights paid money from house to house, and if they were unwilling to let them go, they threatened and lured them in the name of the lord of Desinia.
After arriving at the manor where Mike Andrew is located, he said as usual: "Just you and your parents? Three people... Well, it's not too much, go back and pack up, don't dawdle, or I won't wait for you... "
Mike Andrew ran away without hesitation.
As soon as he entered the house, old Andrew wanted to hit him with a stick.
Mike quickly explained everything.
"The knight is paying to buy us, father and mother, pack up, we can leave for Wessas, I will be a reserve soldier in the future, I will work hard to accumulate merits and get rid of the status of slaves..."
Seeing that old Andrew was still standing there blankly.
Mike Andrew called out again uneasily: "Father..."
Old Andrew regained his senses: "Hurry up! Hurry up! Hurry up, don't let Lord Knight wait."
There was not much private property a slave could own.
Because no matter it is the house or farm tools, it belongs to the owner of the manor, and they only need to leave with a few scattered things on their backs.
Before leaving, Mike Andrew remembered the words of the recorder, and publicized a few words to the other slaves who were watching the probe - it is true, those who meet the conditions can sign up, and go as soon as possible!
The four knights finally gathered outside the city gate. After counting the number of people, they led them back.
When the moon was high and the stars dotted the night, they were taken to a temporary and humble residence in Wessas City. According to the knight, they would temporarily live here until the registration was completely closed.
During this period, the lord will provide them with a silver coin for free.
Knight: "If you are not used to it, you can build a house yourself."
"Except for the slaves who are about to become reserve soldiers who can't leave at will, the rest are going to work in the salt drying field by the sea. There will be special people coming tomorrow, and they will rest tonight."
After the knight left, the slaves did not move for a while.
They have a huge amount of work every day, and their physical strength is very good. They don't seem too tired until now, but everyone's expressions are a little dazed, and they don't know what to do when they stand there.
quite a while.
Someone murmured: "It's like a dream..."
As if the chatterbox was opened, one person and one word began to continue.
"Have we ever lived in Wessas?"
"This thing turned out to be true?! Thank you God of Creation! Thank you Lord Lord!"
"My son is so good! He has a future..."
Mike Andrew pinched himself, not a dream.
He wanted to find a place to rest. At this time, old Andrew came over and patted him on the back, looking very relieved.
"You boy... you did a good job this time!"
…
The same thing happens every day.
Civilians and slaves from Fort Comoy began to slowly increase, and their families were sent to work in the saltworks or organized to build temporary shelters.
Thanks to the God of Creation, and thanks to the Lord.
Xia Zoe could see the reputation value at the top right of the system interface rising steadily every day.
Extremely happy.
The author has something to say:
[One more, two more at night~]
Little Count: You must move quickly! Before the big fool Count of Fort Comoy could react, pry everyone away, pry away!
[Little knowledge: The manor owner is a title, and the identity of the manor owner is large or small, including but not limited to kings, nobles, bishops, knights... ]