Chapter 162
At this point, Sorikos raised his voice. "Just like now, with the Archon Devers as the leader and the other Senate elders as assistants, the League will be much more efficient. Moreover, the citizens all have their own land, so they don't have to worry about being invaded by enemies. They can also freely take up office and get paid. Isn't that better than before? So, even if the Tua League really changes to a monarchy, there's nothing bad about it. As long as the future kings can be like Lord Devers, I think the people of the League will support them! "
Hearing this, Dios fell into deep thought. The Greeks were born to love politics. From the ancient times to the present, the citizens of every city had been looking for a perfect system to make the city more prosperous and its citizens more free. A few decades ago, Athens became the model that all the cities fought to emulate, but the defeat of the Peloponnesus War made many knowledgeable people see the shortcomings of Athens' democratic system. Some nobles and philosophers began to praise Sparta, which still followed the ancient Greek style of half-monarchy and half-democracy. However, the overbearing behavior of the Sparta people was especially hated by the neighboring cities of the Peloponnesus Peninsula. "The system of the Tua League seems interesting …" Dios thought to himself.
The carriage continued to gallop, and when it passed the wooden bridge, he turned back to observe for a while.
There were many pedestrians and carriages on the road, but they were all very orderly and did not interfere with each other.
As Dios looked, he found some clues. "On this road, you all seem to be walking on the right?!" he said loudly with uncertainty.
"Yes, you're very observant!" Sorikos shouted happily. "That was after the road was built. Lord Devers put up a road sign at the Amendolara, Turií, and Heraclea crossings, advising pedestrians to walk on the right. In the first few days, many people didn't listen and often crossed the road. Because this road was good, the carriages and carts moved faster, so there were several accidents and traffic jams. Only then did everyone realize that Lady Devers's suggestion was right! Even though he has great power, he doesn't use coercion to make the people obey him. Instead, he tries his best to persuade them. This is one of the reasons why we don't have to worry about him even though he is the only Life Consul! "
"The Tua Alliance does have a good consul!" Dios sighed. "I also noticed that there's a stone tablet on the side of the road at regular intervals, with the distance from Amendolara and Heraclea engraved on it. If they're so meticulous in managing a road, I'm sure they're even more considerate of the people's feelings when governing a city."
"That's right! Yes! "Sorikos raised his whip and puffed out his chest proudly.
"How much do you earn driving a carriage and pulling passengers every day?" Dios asked.
Sorikos, who was in a good mood, said frankly, "In the beginning, it was only ten opals a day, and most of them were given by the people of the Tua Alliance who wanted something fresh. Now, I work from morning to night with almost no time to rest, and the most I can earn is forty-six opals. At this rate, after deducting the cost of fodder and care for the horses, I can earn about six hundred opals a month, which is close to a hundred drachmas. In another three or four months, I'll be able to pay off the loan and the interest! "
The two chatted happily. Since there weren't many carts on the road, the road was very clear. In less than two hours, they arrived at the warehouse and hotel area under the city of Amendolara. In fact, it wasn't as quiet as the market manager said. There were still people coming and going, but it wasn't as noisy.
Sorikos waited for Dios to get out of the carriage, then said to him, "I suggest you go to Cristos' restaurant for dinner. Her haggis soup and tripe are very delicious, and they're not expensive. I go there every few days. I didn't expect them to make such delicious animal organs that people usually don't want. I spend almost half of the money I earn on them. "
"Is it really that delicious?" Dios was doubtful.
"You'll know when you try it," Sorikos said. Another customer got on the carriage, and he waved goodbye.
"May Hermes bless you and grant your wish soon!" Dios also gave his blessing.
Watching Sorikos ride away, Dios's already hungry stomach began to growl. He decided to go to the restaurant Sorikos recommended for dinner first.
… …
Compared to Amendolara, Turií far surpassed Amendolara in terms of land, population, and affairs. Therefore, the Senate's office was moved to Turií, although the Senate Hall had yet to be repaired. Since most of the senators' homes were in Amendolara, the Reconstruction Committee of Turií allocated houses to the senators in Turií for the convenience and speed of future meetings. Because Devers was busy and often had to discuss political affairs with the senators and public officials who constantly visited him, he was allocated a new house that was twice the size of his home in Amendolara. Devers wanted to refuse, but Cristos liked the house very much, so he had to accept.
The house was located on a higher hillside beside the river in the city of Turií. Standing at the gate of the house, one could have a panoramic view of the Krati River and the Cossegni River. Not far to the north, on another hillside was the original Temple of Apollo (now the Temple of Hades was being built on the site) and the acropolis. The location was very good.
It was already the end of September and early autumn, but the weather in the southern part of the Apennine Peninsula was still hot. Fortunately, the river breeze blew from time to time, cooling Cristos who was resting at home.
The atrium of the new house was large and rectangular. Some time ago, Cristos hired a mason to build a wall in the middle, leaving a door, so that the atrium was divided into a front and a back yard. The front yard had a side room for the slaves and a living room, while the back yard was the bedroom of the Devers' wife and children, as well as the living quarters of the personal servants.
During this time, Cristos had been staying in the back yard, where the environment was quiet and privacy was guaranteed. At this time, she was wearing light linen clothes, and with the female slave, Asuna, she was planting flowers and plants that she liked in the backyard. As she moved, her clothes fluttered, and her snow-white chest was faintly discernible, causing people to have wild thoughts.
Andrea got the permission of the female slave guarding the door and entered the backyard. She saw Cristos put down the pickaxe, took the sweat towel from Asuna, and wiped her sweat.
Andrea hurried over and reminded her, "Madam, didn't the doctor say that you should rest quietly during this period of pregnancy to ensure the smooth growth of the fetus? You shouldn't do strenuous exercise!"
"I don't vomit much now. Devers said, 'Proper exercise is good for the health of me and the child.' "Cristos said, stroking her belly, her face full of tenderness.
"Lord Devers is so busy, but he still cares about you and the child! Madam, Hera has found you a good husband! " Andrea's timely compliment caused Kristoya to smile even more blissfully. "Andrea, don't just envy me. In another year, you'll be able to be with Bagula! You didn't expect it to be so soon, did you? "
"It's all thanks to the consul's full help. Bagoule and his people are very grateful to you!" Andrea said sincerely.
"When Bagoule and the others finish their labor, are they willing to stay and become citizens of the Tua Alliance?" Cristos handed the sweat towel to Asuna and asked in a seemingly unintentional manner.
"Bagoule told me, 'Most of his young people are willing to stay. Although it's tiring here, they're happy and safe. They don't want to go back to the mountains and live in fear. Only a few of the elders are hesitant, including his father … "Andrea was a little worried at this point. Of course, she wanted the Lucanians to stay. That way, her marriage would be much smoother.
"Don't worry, Devers will find a way to make them all stay!" Cristos comforted her. She picked up a clay jar from the table next to her, poured a cup of water, and handed it to Andrea. "You must be thirsty after rushing over from the market. Drink some of this."
Andrea took the cup and glanced at it. She saw a golden liquid with some debris floating in it. With a little shake, white foam appeared. She didn't dare to ask immediately. She took a small sip first. There was a hint of sweetness in the bitterness, and it was also a little cold.
She couldn't help but take another big gulp. The large amount of foam mixed with the liquid flowed smoothly into her stomach, forcing her to burp a few times. She immediately felt her hot body become much more refreshed.
"What kind of liquid is this?" she asked in surprise.
"It tastes good, doesn't it? I soaked it in the well for a long time." Cristos smiled and said, "As for what it is, I'll let Asuna tell you."
The slightly tanned, pretty Asuna hurriedly said, "It's called beer. It's a kind of liquid that we Egyptians like to drink. A few months ago, Lord Devers was chatting with his wife and said, 'He's considering making the game of rugby an official competition for the people to watch. It will definitely be very popular. But there's still a lack of a good liquid to let people sit in the arena and watch the game under the hot sun. It can not only quench their thirst, but it can also liven things up … ' I heard it from the side and couldn't help but say, 'You can try the beer that the Egyptians drink.' "
Hearing this, Cristos giggled and said, "You didn't see the expression on Devers's face at that time. He looked at Asuna in shock and asked her several times, 'What is the liquid she's talking about?' Then he went to ask about the color, taste, and production process of the liquid. Later, he even cursed something like 'I've been cheated by the Germans. It turns out that beer was invented by the Egyptians.' Then he urged me to find someone to make beer. I had to send someone to the slave market in Tarantum and buy Egyptian slaves who could make beer at a high price to try to make it. "
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