Eagle Byzantium

As soon as the ceremony of the imperial princess ended, the emperor's naval ship raised its sails, and on the cold morning after the snow melted, it laid floating planks on the gray-blue water of the Golden Horn, and then moved the huge bridge between the two towers. Iron chains were placed on it, sealing off the entire bay filled with ice floes. Then the soldiers rowing the Pamphylian light boats, armed with swords and bows and arrows, filled the seaside and the waterways in the city menacingly, looking for a Varyag barbarian with brown hair and blue eyes, and a petite black-haired man. The girl with brown eyes ordered all ships in the imperial capital not to move at will, and even the local fishing boats were under control.

Mikhail, the captain of the guard, led 500 Tekopo and Cuman cavalry, holding on to the flag given by the emperor, and rushed to the pilgrim camp like a whirlwind. "His Majesty the emperor has appointed me to negotiate with the Red Hand Dalian Company." , because Stephen Gawain is His Majesty’s servant, and no outsider can stop him!”

But when Mikhail arrived at the Dalian team's camp, he couldn't help but take a breath: this camp had formed a temporary fortress.

It turns out that while other pilgrim camps would just stupidly use the coins given by the emperor to buy the supplies provided by the emperor, Gawain secretly purchased food and supplies only through the channels of Venice and Amalfi, and sent the emperor here. The money was deposited and given to the monastery of Gallipoli, under the leadership of Abbot Desiderius With this money, craftsmen were secretly recruited, and coupled with the strength of the Dalian company's own craftsmen company, a half-moon-shaped fortress on the coast was built with wood and stones - the tents of Gottschalk's 30,000 pilgrims, surrounded by In addition, Gawain also independently transported goods from the city of Bari and Venice, established a camp, and competed with the emperor's channels.

This has caused Alexios' recent treasury inputs to be reduced by a quarter, and a large amount of Byzantine gold coins have flowed out to Gawain's pocket. However, because the emperor had previously concentrated on organizing Anna's wedding ceremony, he did not have time to resolve the matter.

On the tower of the fortress, Mikhail saw Peter, who was wearing a black robe and with a slight limp (his feet were damaged by the poisonous gas in the dungeon of Emperor Agnes after only staying in the Emperor Agnes's dungeon for a few days). Go up, with a hoarse tone, "The distinguished captain of the emperor's bodyguard. I don't know what I want to learn from this trip."

"His Majesty has issued an order to invite all pilgrims, Dukes, Marquises and Lords to go to the Grand Palace and accept the hospitality of the Empire."

"Is it because of the imperial princess's marriage?"

"That's right. In addition, the emperor also issued an order. The Normans have completely crossed the strait, and the imperial navy fleet is exhausted and overwhelmed. Therefore, within the next week, all the large and small ports in the imperial capital will be temporarily sealed. , after the feast is over, Your Majesty will continue to use all his power to send you to Asia Minor."

Peter sneered twice. He now completely distrusted the promise he made with the Greek emperor, so he openly spoke to the captain of the guard. "If we have our own ships, can we cross the sea, or will His Majesty use his 'overwhelmed' ships to intercept or even sink us?"

These words immediately stunned Mikhail. Now the hermit's question put him and the emperor in a paradox: if His Majesty sends a naval fleet to prevent the pilgrims from crossing the sea, then His Majesty's previous words will go bankrupt; but if the Pilgrims still act, then what will happen on the sea It will inevitably lead to a mess, which will also destroy His Majesty the Emperor's planned goals.

Seeing the captain of the guard looking unhappy, the hermit Peter laughed. "Please inform your Majesty that Grand Duke Gawain has complied with the canonization edict issued by the Brachna Palace and brought some soldiers of the Jinshu Brotherhood and the Dalian Team to cross the sea to rescue the believers who were besieged by the Turks. Such a small Mission. I believe there is no need to disturb His Majesty’s throne.”

Mikhail raised his face, full of complicated emotions, and Peter probably understood. After all, he had been imprisoned by the emperor for several days in the basement of his mansion, "The brave and loyal captain of the guard, now the priest. He is indeed not in the camp. He has made up his mind and is going to do something important. I I don’t know if you know it, but no matter what, Gawain and I will carry out the great pilgrimage to the end and live up to this empire. As for me, I will go to the Grand Palace to attend the banquet in Gawain’s place and do my best to serve His Majesty. Clean up the situation, and now Godfrey and Baldwin are willing to be loyal to Your Majesty."

"So, I hope Gawain can get what he hopes for in Asia Minor and the Holy City, and I also hope he can take good care of Apate Philotes. This girl sacrificed too much for him!" Mikhail reported. The Greek name puzzled the hermit, so he turned around and rode away with his soldiers.

"Could it be related to women again... What about making up your mind to make the biggest gamble in life..." Peter felt numb to this sworn brother's old habits, so he shook his head. , then he turned his body, facing the direction of the sun, and looked towards the Dalian team's camp: Amidst the noise of people and horses, military servants and soldiers were carrying various instruments and rushing toward the seaside. Birel's "Lombard Civilian Legion" carried a forest of thorn guns, wild boar guns, and Italian spears on their shoulders, one after another. Boarding the ship; Jinshu Brotherhood soldiers wearing smocks boarded the same simple ship at the other side of the harbor.

Today is a good day for the snow to dissipate. Although the cold sea water rolls in, in the tent, Vesart Melo and Giovanni still received Dolus Lambert, a young man who came from the other side of the strait to seek help. "Don't worry, the Grand Duke has planned the ships, food and weapons. You will act as a guide now, and the big company will go to rescue the pilgrims in Chivite and Nicaea."

"It's the famous protector of believers, Grand Duke Gawain! I haven't seen his face before, but I didn't expect to have the honor to fight against the brutal pagans under his command this time." Although Dolus' body has not fully recovered from weakness, his tone can't hide his excitement.

Mello smiled awkwardly, "But the Grand Duke did not lead this rescue operation personally, but entrusted it to me to command."

Now, it was Dolus' turn to be disappointed: Maybe this Grand Duke, like other dukes and marquises, went to the palace of the Greek emperor to be canonized?

In another tent, Roman fire engineer Samuel Fa was lying there sighing, Blumson and two female doctors who were on pilgrimage with the army stood beside him, while the guard officer Diogenes and his wife Gusuyun were chained to the pillars and squatted in the corner.

"I will release you today. Guard officer, you should go back to your swamp-like empire, which suits you." Blumson was both a declaration of the release order and a mockery of Diogenes.

"Sooner or later, your wanton barbarian duke will be defeated and executed by His Majesty." The guard officer did not yield, and Gusuyun, who was squatting on the ground, immediately cooperated with her husband's words and spit at Blumson's feet to express contempt and agree with her husband. (To be continued ~^~)