A Bulgar farmer raised his head, revealing a weather-beaten, typical farmer's face.
This farmer had tilled this land for thirty years, witnessing countless events and visitors, so nothing could surprise him anymore.
Now, he leaned on his hoe once again, standing in the field, indifferently watching history unfold.
These matters had nothing to do with him; the lords had taken too much from him.
His father had left him because of it when he was a child, and not long after he grew up and started a family, his son also responded to a conscription and never returned.
He only cared about his own life now, just wanting his loved ones to live in peace.
As for the squabbling, endlessly feuding lords, their affairs were none of his concern; they could do as they pleased.
Moreover, the farmer was carrying the hoe not for tilling, but primarily for self-defense, for even with the fertile land of Bulgar, there was little to cultivate in winter.
Although it would not change the command of his death if the passing army decided to act, at least it would allow him to die with some semblance of dignity; he did not want to be slaughtered like an animal.
Passing along the road in the farmland were Adam's troops, with the banners of the Bulgar Fire Dragon fluttering above their heads.
Adam was surrounded by many warriors clad in Persian and Arab-style armor; apart from his personal guards, most others had joined him after he arrived here.
Bulgar never lacked supporters for the legitimate heir of the Dulu Family; it was just that when Akad and his lackeys ran rampant, they all chose to hide, preparing for Adam's future return, and as soon as Adam appeared, they immediately emerged.
Walking on the land his father once ruled, Adam was filled with emotion; he had been away for so many years and was finally back on this land.
The Prince wore a sturdy chainmail, with steppe-style lamellar armor over his chest, tight-fitting riding breeches beneath, with chainmail plates over them, and leather boots. His pointed helmet was inlaid with inscriptions, and he wore an expensive white bear cloak on his back.
The inscriptions on the pointed helmet were in the same style as most Bulgar noble helmets, but these were in Greek and also featured crosses representing the Christ faith.
However, from a distance, there was no difference from helmets inlaid with prophetic proverbs, which Adam had intentionally done. Although he had converted to Christian, it was best to keep many things in their original form, making them more acceptable to people.
A recurve bow and a horse bow were naturally hung on both sides of his saddle, essential items for every Northern warrior. Adam looked like a complete Bulgar noble.
Although Adam was somewhat frail, his armor filled out his body, giving him the majesty of a ruler, and even his overly handsome face appeared incredibly dignified against the backdrop of the metal.
Bulgar people on both sides of the road, seeing such a contingent approach, either humbly knelt before this great army or watched them from afar.
Although they felt little for their rulers, this army still evoked a certain sense of familiarity, especially after the Rostislav had passed through.
Those barbarians from the west swept through every village like a wind, confiscating various supplies from them; these fellows even committed massacres.
Although the Rostislav later punished those who committed the massacres, hanging their leaders' heads before everyone, the seeds of hostility and alienation had already been sown.
And the local Bulgar lords and towns either submitted to the Rostislav invaders or were slaughtered by this Western army.
However, the local people were not very resistant to the demand for supplies and such; under the disputes of Bulgar over the years, this was basic procedure. Every army that reached enemy territory would conduct such requisitions, and those who resisted had long since died.
Of course, things developed this way mainly because everyone had unwritten rules, but once someone became insatiably greedy and broke the rules, the common people would also break that rule…
But now everything was still peaceful, and these Rostislav had come to enthrone the legitimate heir of the Dulu Family, so it could not be considered a foreign invasion.
It was just that their initial village massacres upon entering Bulgar had initially disgusted everyone, causing many to initially take up arms and stand with the resisting lords.
However, these lords were quickly defeated, and the Rostislav did not carry out any further massacres, which also significantly reduced the Bulgar people's resistance.
Now the Rostislav—or more precisely, Prince Adam—'s governance of the west bank of the Kama River was relatively peaceful; most people had accepted Adam's rule, and at most, there were some small-scale guerrilla groups locally, but their disappearance was only a matter of time.
After all, Akad Khan in Bulgar City had too obvious a মনোভাব of abandoning the west, and resistance now was simply hopeless, and the Rostislav were still so powerful.
After the Winter Army crossed the Volga River, this land on the west bank was swept by the Rostislav almost instantly.
The local lords failed to put up any effective resistance, and Akad's army was not seen at all.
Thus, all Bulgar territory west of the Kama River came under Adam's rule; the fortified strongholds on the western border, seeing their retreat cut off, simply surrendered directly.
Some people therefore saw this as a sign of Akad's weakness; of course, Adam and Rostislav publicly said so to create an atmosphere and boost morale, but privately, both understood that Akad was definitely planning something.
Now Adam was touring this land, letting the people see their true Khan, proclaiming his authority over this land.
Adam's retinue quickly passed through the farmland in the sight of the people. Adam himself was very moved looking at the land under his rule; he had not expected the western region of the Kama River to fall into his hands so easily.
The Kama River is a tributary of the Volga River, a very important one. Its width is no less than that of the Volga River, and this great river nourished the Bulgar civilization.
And on the opposite bank of the Kama River were Bulgar City and the essence of this nation's territory, the most beautiful and fertile part of the entire country, and also the part the Rostislav most coveted.
To acquire this wealth, a correct strategy was needed, so Rostislav restrained those who intended to go on a killing spree.
Moreover, Rostislav did not treat Adam as a puppet; he did not let his people control this land but handed it all over to Adam to manage, allowing him to appoint officials or grant fiefs.
Of course, the task of collecting supplies was naturally also entrusted to him.
It was also because of this action that these Bulgar people did not resist much, because they saw that it was Prince Adam's subordinates who were ruling, not the Rostislav; they had not come to destroy the Bulgar nation, and those rumors were pure nonsense.
Adam's forces also expanded; local lords and towns led their troops to join his army one after another. Currently, even after dispatching many soldiers to garrison various places, his army still reached a size of three thousand.
Just as he reached a crossroads and Adam was about to head to the next village, a rider suddenly galloped from another road, and that person happened to be someone he knew.
It was Arel's attendant, Hussein.
Seeing Hussein's arrival, Adam realized that something might have happened, as Hussein's job was to report various news.
"Lord Adam, Lord Adam."
Hussein stopped his horse in front of Adam, panting heavily, showing how hard he had ridden.
"Hussein, take your time, has something happened?"
Adam looked at his breathless state and could not help but say.
"Lord Rostislav wants you to come immediately! He has something he needs to ask you."
Hussein's words startled Adam, then he nodded slightly and ordered the troops to turn around. Since the situation was such that Rostislav wanted to see him, it meant the matter must be very serious.
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