Eagle Byzantium

Facing his old friends this time, Gawain did not have too many old memories. He told Molitor seriously that he planned to pardon all the Romans in Constantinople, but to bloodbath all the Venetians.

"None of them will be returned to your country!" He emphasized these words that made Molitor frightened, and then denounced the crimes of the Venetians. "They betrayed my friendship, supported the false emperor, and hindered my success in The cause of the unification of Rhodes, Tripoli and Crete.”

Molitor hurriedly stated that his state would immediately lift the naval blockade of Tire and Sidon and withdraw the fleet to Crete. As for the entire Tripoli and Cyprus, Venice would fully recognize Gawain's power to conquer here.

"Crete is originally the sacred territory of the empire. I will abolish all the clauses ceding the empire's territory and interests signed by the false emperor John and your new consul governor. Therefore, you should withdraw all warships from Crete as soon as possible. "

Molitor said that such a request was too radical and harsh, and asked Gawain to temporarily give up his excitement and come up with a reasonable plan.

In addition, he also quietly told Gawain that the Venetians had detained John and Little Roger in Gandia. If Gawain could give them a favorable contract with the country, they could send these two to Constantinople.

After hearing this exciting news, Gawain softened his attitude. He then listed a "feasible package plan" for Molitor:

Article 1: Withdraw the commercial treaty signed by Alexios and the Venetians in 1092, but they can retain their commercial ports in Constantinople, Durazzo and Thessaloniki. All merchants must cooperate with Amalfi, The pizza and hot duck merchants who are about to enter also pay a special fee. The 'Commercial Port Resident Tax' is a direct tax borne by a merchant and his family members. The tax amount is set at 4% of his family property and must be levied every year. However, the Venetian tax is heavier, and they have to pay 100%. 6/6, and the same amount of tax is paid in the commercial ports of other cities;

Article 2: From then on, all Italian city-states were required to pay a toll tax equal to 10% of the total value of goods in the ports of the empire, and then they were required to pay varying business taxes according to the type of goods entering the port and market;

Article 3: Venice must give up its occupation of Crete, Rhodes, Corfu and other islands, but as a sign of magnanimity, it can retain their commercial port areas and trade charters;

Article 4: Venice compensates Gawain with 1.2 million Byzantine gold coins, to be paid in twelve years, and signs a treaty with the new empire to recognize Gawain's suzerainty over his city-state.

Article 5: Venice must hand over Little Roger and John in the name of war criminals and endangering the rights of the empire, and Gawain will be convicted after trial.

These terms are simply more stringent than before Gawain became emotional! It seems that after the Varyag calmed down, he became more ferocious with his sword.

Molitor was at a loss. He could only tell Gawain that he would faithfully convey these contents back to the city of San Marco, but whether the consul and the Senate could approve it, and whether a war would break out between the newly born Roman Empire and Venice, the overlord of the Adriatic Sea. , it is beyond his control.

"I want to believe that your country will be responsible for the 10,000 expatriates in Constantinople." Gawain's tone was full of threats.

At Christmas, in the stablemaster's house at the Constantinople Bull Market, Eudocia and Gu Siyun, who were a little hungry, hugged each other and sat on a chair, half-opening their eyes weakly, looking at the yard. The sunlight was shining in, and the light was mixed with a cruel fragrance. At this moment, several palace guard soldiers sent by Emperor John were talking to the people on the street outside through the gate.

After a lot of talking, these soldiers finally believed that the imperial capital had compromised with the enemies besieging the city, that the Emperor John they had originally loyal to had been deposed, and that the new emperor was about to enter the city grandly, and the two generals the new emperor relied on , the husbands of the two ladies imprisoned in the courtyard.

Therefore, the residents outside the door warned and advised this group of dim-witted alien mercenaries, "Restore their freedom as soon as possible. No one can resist the power of the new emperor."

After finishing the conversation, the soldiers hurriedly walked back to the hall, bowed and apologized to Eudocia and Gu Siyun, and then opened the door. The fresh and cold winter air suddenly rushed in, and the curtains were fluttering. Eudocia only felt that The pain in her chest was suddenly blown away, and her golden hair flickered slightly, "Inglina, I will be reunited with you soon!"

The market vendors outside the gate hurriedly walked in.

"Is there any dried fish meat from the Khazar Sea?" Eudocia asked eagerly.

And Gu Siyun asked if there was any feta cheese vegetable pie from Tuscany.

The vendor said they had them all, and of course he also said that these were very rare foods in the trapped city and were expensive.

"Right away, I will give you four jewelry boxes with the gold and silver ornaments inside, and send all your goods here, including wine, bread, salt, honey, and various vegetables and meats! Not only I To eat and entertain these kind and generous soldiers.”

Eudocia was a very shrewd and well-behaved person, so of course she would take the opportunity to win over the soldiers who were guarding her. Then she not only entertained them with food and drinks, but also made her maids dance for them to laugh at, and also gave the soldiers many precious gifts.

The soldiers quickly transformed into Eudoxia's "temporary guards". No one was willing to die for the old regime. "Follow me into the palace!" With these words, the soldiers really escorted Eudoxia to the Blachna Palace.

A correct version in the 16-9 book forum!

Now the palace here has been automatically divided into two areas, the "Queen Mother Area" and the "Queen Area", each occupying several palaces and gardens. Surrounding Irene are the private soldiers of the Ducas family, and around Piroska are the Hungarian Guard Knights. Both sides maintain mutual respect, but the latter is more worried about the possible treatment of the Hungarian Queen after Gawain enters the city, and the fate is still unknown.

Eudoxia drove straight into the Queen Mother's bedroom - Irene was also surprised to see her, "I thought you had regained your freedom and left the city to reunite with Mikhail."

"No, this city is still being held hostage by the selfishness of certain people and classes. Your Highness, if you don't take decisive action, then terrible famine and destruction will happen soon. I witnessed the heartbreaking depression on the streets when I came here."

Irene thought for a while and felt that she should really shoulder her responsibilities as the Queen Mother. She nodded and said, "I should be responsible for all my subjects and cannot let the great city of the Virgin Mary be destroyed in fighting. Since men are timid at this moment, let us women do it."

Soon, in the courtyard garden behind the Virgin Mary Monastery, the Queen Mother met with the Queen and formally told her, "Poor Piroska, although you will not be able to keep your position as Queen soon, you will be treated well, provided that you join hands with me to formally avoid the capital church and welcome Gawain and Anna's army."