Chapter 186
"Foreigners can also become citizens of the Alliance?!" Zantiparis exclaimed.
Agathia did not understand the specific situation, so he answered vaguely, "… Of course, there are special reasons, but our Alliance is indeed more open and tolerant than other Greek city-states. It is also more common for foreigners to become citizens of the Alliance. For example, you all know that the Persia merchant who used to follow the Devers has not only become a citizen of the Alliance, but also a Senator of the Senate and a high-ranking commercial official. "
"Wow!" While the crowd was amazed, someone said half-jokingly, "Since the Persia can become a Senator of the Senate, shouldn't we, who have gone through thick and thin with you, become Senators of the Senate?!"
"Yes! Yes! " … "some people said in agreement.
In order to attract Timason and the others to Greece, Agathia had said some unrealistic things, but now he could not say anything more. Instead, the coachman Sorikos could not stand it anymore and interrupted, "You foreigners, don't talk nonsense. It's not that easy to become a Senator of the Senate of the Alliance! According to the Civil Service Law of the Alliance of Diónia, a citizen must first work as a low-level official for at least six years and perform well before he can be promoted to a mid-level official. After another four to five years, he can enter the Senate. But first, he must pay taxes on time every year, actively join the army, and have no record of breaking the law. Tell me, is it easy to become a Senator of the Senate?! As for the current Senate Senators, they all contributed to the establishment of the Alliance. For example, the Persia Marigi, the port and market of Turií can be as prosperous as it is today because of him! Also, the Lucanian Vespa and Bagoule, who just joined the Senate, I heard that it was because of them that Neutum was pacified so quickly! Foreigners, you always say that you want to be a Senator of the Senate, but what have you done for the Alliance?! "
The mercenaries were speechless.
"So, if you want to stay in the Alliance, you should be more practical and become a citizen of the Alliance first." Sorikos was both proud and serious.
"Smelly old man, aren't you tired of talking so much nonsense!" The mercenary Torax and some of the young officers shouted angrily, but they were quickly stopped by Timason and the others. However, they had already angered the coachmen, and they immediately shouted for the mercenaries to get off the carriage. Some of the mercenaries could not stand it anymore, and the two sides began to argue. Agathia mediated in the middle, and Sorius also tried to persuade his companions. With the help of Timason, Zantiparis, and the others, the two sides finally reached an agreement. This almost attracted the interference of the patrols who maintained order outside the city.
Sorikos and the coachmen collected their fare and drove the carriage away from the mercenaries.
Looking at the strong backs of these mercenaries, Sorikos said to the others worriedly, "If these people stay in Turií for too long, I'm afraid the patrols will have a headache."
At this moment, Timasson asked Agathia in a low voice, "Is it that difficult to become a senator of the Diónia Alliance Senate?"
Agathia nodded silently.
"If we knew that you would have such a status today, we would have followed you to the Byzantine Empire!" Zantiparis sighed and said, "This is all the Goddess of Fortune's arrangement. We can't do anything about it. Let's be more optimistic! We don't have to become a senator of the Senate. Becoming a citizen and getting a piece of land is already good enough! "
"Then we would rather be free in Asia Minor. We don't have to come to this remote place and be restricted by so many things. Don't you think so, Agathia?" Creano said angrily.
Agathia felt awkward and didn't know how to respond. The group of mercenaries looked at the parade with different thoughts in their minds.
The soldiers of the Fourth Brigade didn't march in an orderly manner, but they were tall and strong, and they were quite attractive. It was the first time these Lucaria people from the mountains received cheers and praises in front of the public. They threw away their usual inferiority complex and restraint as foreigners to the back of their minds. They were all unusually excited, and some even waved at the onlookers.
After the thousand-strong Fourth Battalion passed by, a dozen or so carts followed closely behind. The carts were filled with gold and silver utensils, statues, jewels, coins, and so on seized by the troops from Neutum and Laos. The carts were filled with dazzling light.
The crowd was even more shocked. If the carts weren't guarded by powerful soldiers, some of them would have walked up and grabbed a handful of them.
Wars didn't just bring death, they also brought wealth! The Devers showed the Senate and the people of the Diónia Alliance in the most direct way.
"Do you have to give all your spoils to the Alliance?" Timasson asked curiously.
Agathia answered, "Only a small portion will be given to the soldiers, and most of it will be given to the national treasury. No one is allowed to keep it for themselves."
"Without the spoils, there's no excitement in the battle. Who would want to fight to the death?!" Creano said unhappily.
Agathia thought for a moment and said seriously, "They are the citizens of the Diónia Alliance. It's their responsibility to join the army and protect their territory. Besides, after the spoils are given to the Diónia Alliance, they will eventually be used on them. They will be compensated for the dead soldiers, taken care of the disabled soldiers, and the maintenance and replacement of weapons and equipment. Did we get the same benefits when we were mercenaries? Think about our brothers who died on the battlefield, and their corpses can't even return home! " Agathia sounded a little angry. He was obviously dissatisfied with the people who were once his comrades constantly picking on him.
Creano snorted and stopped talking.
Timasson, Zantiparis, and the others were greatly touched.
At this time, Tormid exclaimed again, "Look, who's that?!"
After the wagon, five carriages appeared. The first one was pulled by two pure white horses (the original plan was to have four horses pull the carriage, but because there were so many things waiting to be done in Tuliyi, it was changed to two horses). A man stood tall on the exquisitely carved carriage. He was wearing bright armor, but he did not wear a helmet. This was so that the people could see his face clearly. However, his expression was a little serious, and it was obvious that he was not used to such a lively occasion.
"Felicius! That's Felicius! "the mercenaries exclaimed.
The people were shouting his name, too, and cheered, "Felicius! The hero of the Diónia Alliance! You defeated the Lucanians! … "
Felicius, who was surrounded by three layers of people, couldn't see his former comrade. Facing the sincere gratitude of the people, he finally squeezed out a smile and waved his arms.
The mercenaries didn't know the man on the second carriage. After Agathia introduced him, they learned that he was Dracos, the Commander of the Second Brigade of the Alliance's First Legion. He used to be a mercenary, and he participated in all the battles after the Devers arrived in Greece. That was how he got his current position.
The person on the third carriage made the mercenaries exclaim again, "Hieronymus!"
Many people had laughed at Hieronymus, who had been replaced as the leader by Xenophon. Some people even looked down on him for following the Devers in the Byzantine Empire. They thought that he gave up his dignity to follow a young man who was less experienced and qualified than him. Now, this man who they looked down on was standing on the carriage. Although his expression was as serious as a wooden statue, the cheers of the people didn't decrease at all. It was obvious that he was an important figure in the Alliance. The mercenaries had mixed feelings …
They did not recognize the person in the carriage following closely behind, but judging from his appearance, he should be a Lucanian. He was Bagoule, the Commander of the Fourth Brigade. As the only Lucanian who rode in a carriage, he was both proud and afraid. He was afraid that the people of the Alliance would give him the cold shoulder because he was a foreigner. However, the cheering scene made him feel relieved. If it was like this outside the city, he didn't have to worry about the people inside. His father, Vesba, Hemont, Csima, Uraza, and many other Lucanian citizens of Neutum came to Turií to watch the ceremony. He thought that at this moment, his image on the carriage would definitely motivate the Lucanians of the Alliance to work harder for the Alliance!
The person on the last carriage made the mercenaries exclaim again, "That's Epitenis!"
Since Epitenis was an understanding person, he had a good relationship with the leaders of the other camps during the expedition to Persia, and everyone was familiar with him. At this moment, his face was full of smiles as he waved his hands in all directions. His movements were natural and unrestrained, causing some of the free women to shout his name in an attempt to attract his attention. However, what they didn't know was that this 7th Brigade's leader was more interested in men than women.
Looking at these former comrades who were in high spirits, Timason and the rest could imagine the disappointment in their hearts. When they were in Persia, Felicius was just an adjutant, Epitenis was just a captain, and Hieronymus was a frustrated general, unlike Timason, Zantiparis, and Creano who commanded thousands of soldiers and discussed the fate of the entire mercenary army. Now, the former soldiers were prominent in the Alliance, while the former rulers of the Alliance fought in Asia Minor for a year, but in the end, they were mercenaries despised by all city-states. This sharp contrast made Timason, Creano, and the rest feel very uncomfortable.
When the army's flag entered the north gate, colorful flower petals were scattered from the sky. The flower petals landed on the soldiers, adding a touch of romance to their heroic appearance …
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