One of Vlad the Impeller's soldier

During the harassment battles carried by Vlad the Impeller against the Turks who were led by Sultan Muhammad himself, a Romanian soldier fell prisoner. 

The sultan, commanding to be brought to him, asked roughly:

“ Say, you soldier, where does your Lord hide?”

“ Everywhere and nowhere, and if you want to find him, go and seek him! replied the soldier.”

Amazed at  the soldier’s boldness, he asked again:

“How many soldiers has he got?”

“He’s got all of them but one ... And if you want to know how many they’ve left, go and count them!”

Trembling with anger, the sultan shouted: “Unless you tell, you’ll be hanged.” “This is the punishment every captured soldier

deserves”, serenely replied the Romanian.

Seeing that speaking harshly gives no result, the sultan sweetened his voice:

“Listen, you, I spare your life, make you rich  and give you the title of Pasha in my country, just answer me!”

“No gallows, no treasures and not even

your  throne will make me sell my land and lord, said

the soldier looking straight in the sultan’s eyes.”

“Do all the soldiers of Vlad the Impeller have the

same courage, wit and  dignity as you?”

“ I am the worst of them, cause otherwise I would be like the others: dead or free.”

Seeing so much courage and faith,

Muhammad remained thoughtful. Then, 

he commanded to let the soldier loose, giving him a

bag of golden coins and set him free.