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Pov of Hardworking Greek
Anno Domini, 832-January-14
''Well, I think that's everything'' I said as I looked at the great pile of crates we had carried from the ship to the docks.
''I don't know what that merchant was hauling, but those crates weighed as if they were full of iron or something like that'' my brother Anastasius said, scratching his hair and wiping the sweat from his forehead after moving so many boxes.
''Well, that's our lot. We never learned a trade, so now we're in trouble if we want to earn enough silver to pay the rent'' I said, watching another ship approach the harbor.
We would have to see whether they needed more hands to unload it.
We had come to the city because we no longer wanted to keep working the land for the miserable bastard who controlled it. He had raised the rent on the plots far too much, especially since wheat had begun selling for better prices because of the army's needs. That had hit many of us hard, because the aristocrat who owned those lands kept raising what he charged us.
It reached the point where it didn't matter how much we broke our backs working. We barely ended up with a few coins, because that man took almost everything while doing nothing more than setting the price and waiting for everyone else to sweat for him.
So we simply left the land and never looked back. Our father was still there with the rest of our brothers. They were probably better off this season, getting ready for the sowing. The city, on the other hand, had not turned out much better.
All we knew was how to work the land. The only things we had were strong arms and sturdy backs. That didn't count for much in the city, where nearly every decent job required knowing a trade. Every craftsman expected you to know at least the basics of his work, and we knew none of it. So we ended up taking the hardest work we could find: dock laborers at the harbor.
The pay was decent enough, but it wasn't what we had imagined when we came here. We weren't foolish enough to think we'd become rich, but we had hoped to earn enough to live without struggling so much. So far, none of that had come true.
Things didn't seem to be getting any better with the new governor either. Tax collectors had flooded the streets and begun inspecting shops, workshops and warehouses. They handed ledgers to merchants and stood around like hawks waiting to collect every coin the law said was owed.
At first, we didn't care much, but it did affect the merchants who gave us work. More than a few liked to play clever with their taxes, always looking for some way to pay less or nothing at all. Now it seemed they couldn't do that anymore, and because of it there were fewer merchants moving through Nikomedia.
After making a deal with a merchant who was short of workers, we unloaded his cargo and earned a handful of small coins. That was when we started noticing something strange in the city.
Normally, the streets would be packed with merchants selling spices from the east, craftsmen trying to sell their wares and men like us looking to earn enough to eat and pay the rent on the room where we slept.
Instead, the streets began filling with scribes and the governor's men carrying documents in their hands. They knocked on every door they came across and, after speaking for a while, we saw some families handing over their sons. The young men were escorted away somewhere under the watch of armed guards.
''I don't like this one bit'' Anastasius said, watching the guards who accompanied the scribes as they entered the building where we lived.
''What do we do?'' I asked, staring toward the entrance without having the faintest idea what those men were doing.
''Let's hope they aren't here to collect taxes. We barely have enough to pay this month's rent. If they take part of the copper and silver we've saved, we might end up going hungry'' Anastasius replied, clearly worried by the guards' presence.
We walked toward the place where we slept, but before we could step inside, one of the guards blocked the doorway with his hand.
''Do you live here?'' the guard asked.
I could hear the metallic sound of his armor as he shifted to get a better look at us.
''Yes…'' I answered shortly, looking him straight in the eyes.
''You both look young, so I assume you meet the requirement. Every young man and young adult in Nikomedia, between the ages of sixteen and twenty-five, is required to report for the conscription lottery that will be held in the city'' the guard said in a stern voice without taking his eyes off us.
''We're the right age, aren't we?'' I asked, looking at Anastasius, who seemed to be thinking.
''Yeah… you're nineteen summers old and I'm twenty'' Anastasius said after licking his lips, as if he had just finished counting it up in his head.
''Good. You have to go. The city will hold a lottery to determine who will be selected for the new military conscription system that the province of Optimaton is required to fulfill'' the guard said.
''But weren't the themata supposed to handle that?'' Anastasius asked, still sounding deeply confused.
''Not anymore. The system has been changed in this province. The governorships are now responsible for recruiting and equipping men to serve the State for a period of five years. So go and see whether you're chosen or whether you're released from service'' the guard said, pointing down the street.
The road was full of more guards as more people came out of their homes and workplaces. Every young man was being led in the same direction.
''Come on… I don't think refusing to go is a good idea'' Anastasius said, pointing ahead as he started walking.
''It isn't. If you don't go, you'll spend a long time in prison'' the guard said with a faint chuckle before turning his attention back to his work.
We started making our way through the streets of the city, joining the small but steadily growing crowd of those who met the government's requirements.
''Wasn't strategos Basil supposed to have won in Aegyptus? Why do they need more soldiers?'' I asked nervously.
I didn't like any of this. As far as I knew, there had always been the themata. If they were looking for more men now, then maybe something big was coming.
''Maybe they are preparing for another war. Maybe the themata soldiers are no longer enough'' Anastasius said, thinking a little as we walked.
After moving through the forum and reaching the center of the city, we saw a great crowd of people. There were also many fathers, clearly angry at the presence of the guards, who were emptying buckets into a large box full of small pieces of wood.
We had to wait. Then we noticed that a group of bureaucrats brought a table and began preparing papers. One of them saw me and gestured with his finger for me to come closer.
''Yes?'' I asked, somewhat nervous as I looked at the bureaucrat.
''Do you intend to join the imperial army?'' asked the bureaucrat, looking at me with a smile.
''I had not thought about it… but… do they pay?'' I asked, opening my eyes a little, still nervous.
''Yes, of course. The conscripted soldiers will receive a payment of ten miliaresia for each month served. They will have food paid for by the State and armor also provided by the State'' said the bureaucrat.
''Hey, that is a little more than twice what we earn, is it not?'' I whispered into my brother's ear.
''Yes…'' Anastasius replied, looking at the bureaucrat with distrust. ''And for how long is it?''
''It depends. If you are chosen there'' he said, pointing at the box, ''it will be five years. But if you want to enter the army as volunteers, I can offer you something different''
''Like what?'' I asked, tilting my head.
''Two more silver coins, to make a nice sum each month. But the contract would be for twenty years. You will become full-time soldiers, and the State, through the governor, will make sure that, if you do not die, you have a good retirement. Everything you earn will be free of taxes. You will receive discounts to buy State land once your service is finished, and you will be more considered for military promotions. You will also receive help to learn how to read, if you do not know how'' said the bureaucrat, moving a sheet in front of us.
''Sounds too good to be true'' said Anastasius, crossing his arms.
''True'' I said, nodding at my brother's words.
''And what would I know beyond that? I was ordered to get volunteers. No one likes it when his son, who is a craftsman or a smith, is taken into the army by lottery. So, if we can fill the two hundred and twenty places that Nikomedia must give to the army this year with volunteers, much better. It is preferable to fill those posts with men who accept rather than with soldiers forced to serve. The magister ton Scholon gave the order and we simply obey'' said the bureaucrat, raising his shoulders.
I looked at my brother for a moment. I thought about the port, the heavy crates, the rent, the few coins we had saved and how easy it was to go without food in a bad week.
''I think it is better than… you know'' I said, looking at Anastasius.
''Yes…'' he muttered, pressing his lips together. Then he looked back at the bureaucrat. ''What do we have to do?''
''Sign here… if you do not know how, just put a letter or make some mark. It will still be considered that you signed by your own will'' said the scribe, bringing the paper closer to us.
Without thinking too much, I took the quill and wrote my name where they pointed, the same as my brother. After signing, the scribe left us waiting. Other volunteers also came closer to place their mark after they were told the same thing as us.
Slowly, our group grew, but I think we did not reach the number that was needed, because the scribe gave an order and the guards added another kind of wooden piece into the boxes. They were a different color. Then they moved them well to mix them.
One by one, the others began pulling out the pieces of wood. Depending on the color, one was chosen or left free. If the wood had the normal color, you were out. If it was green, you were in.
It did not take long before we saw the first ones who did not want to comply. Some complained loudly, but the guards took them by the arm and led them toward where they would send us.
Little by little, the groups broke apart and ours kept growing.
Finally, someone pulled out a green piece of wood and tried to move away. From his clothes, he seemed to be the son of some aristocrat, since there was a group of rich men who would not stop complaining to the guards.
As soon as that last one was chosen, they let everyone else go, since they already had all the men required.
Among some complaints and shoves from the guards, we followed those guiding us toward the outskirts of the city.
We passed through the gate and walked along the road east for a while. Then we turned and saw a military camp outside the city. There they gave us clothes. A lot of it seemed to be made from a mix of cotton and wool. They also gave us a body covering, footwear and socks. Then they divided us into tents.
For the moment, everything was going better than I expected. The last time we had changed clothes had been a long time ago, and only to cover holes. Besides, they were going to feed us, and from what I heard, there would be plenty of meat.
''Hey, this is not so bad'' I said, smiling as I put on the new clothes.
''Aside from the risk of dying, brother. But that is not so strange either. Sometimes a crate can also fall on your head at the port'' Anastasius said while putting on the clothes they had given us.
''YOU MOOOOOORON!'' we heard a shout that seemed to echo through the whole camp.
We immediately came out of the tents to see what was happening. We saw a man in armor standing in front of someone who was lying in the dirt.
''I DO NOT CARE WHO YOUR FATHER IS! I DO NOT CARE WHO YOU ARE! I AM YOUR KENTARCHOS AND YOU WILL OBEY ME! I WILL TRAIN YOU! I WILL TURN YOU INTO A SOLDIER AND I WILL MAKE YOU LOVE THE ARMY, BECAUSE I WILL NOT REST UNTIL I MAKE YOU THE BEST SOLDIER IN THIS GROUP OF USELESS MEN! EVEN IF IT IS THE LAST THING I DO! NOW GET ON THE GROUND AND PUSH WITH YOUR ARMS UNTIL I TELL YOU TO STOP!''
We kept hearing the huge shouts coming from the man who seemed to be the officer in charge.
''Oof'' I said, looking at the aristocrat who obeyed the officer while tears fell from his eyes.
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If there are spelling mistakes, please let me know.
Leave a comment; support is always appreciated.
I remind you to leave your ideas or what you would like to see.
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