Eagle Byzantium

So Gawain hurriedly asked the military servant Muzafi Adin to give suitable horses to the two brotherhood members, and asked them to quickly go to the palace area to find the Venetian consul. The latter was staying in a wing there, preparing for trade and immigration matters. .

On the road leading to the city of Atta, many Byzantine Roman soldiers were carrying luggage and escorting the baggage trains in a queue. Titicius and Apsomatus were in front of them to direct and supervise, and the guard Dio Genis rode his horse and followed the team, turning his head from time to time to look at the abandoned camp behind him, its remaining silhouette in the night, the curved river and the clumps of woods, and his heart was filled with complicated feelings.

Is this really the will of His Majesty the Emperor, regardless of the reputation of the empire? Of course, this system does not allow him to think and question too much. Even when facing the emperor's throne, he can only kiss His Majesty's boots. He will answer whatever His Majesty asks, and he will answer whatever His Majesty instructs. What to do.

What's more, Diognis still doesn't know where this army is going even though it has left the city of Antioch. It should have been him who was good at geography to lead the army forward, but now he has to He came to the rear, Diognis really couldn't figure out the reason for this.

Suddenly, there was a sound of horses neighing, and several Plonian cavalry turned around hurriedly, watching the direction of the sound, and made a gesture of preparation for battle. The guard also looked back in surprise and excitement, and sure enough, they were high up. Under the illumination of the torch, Wen turned around from behind the hill. Looking at him and all the rear soldiers of the empire from the range of the bow and arrow, the Grand Duke looked a little tired, with a look of sadness and anger on his face, and then he stood guard. The captor shouted:

"I'm not here to hope that you can change your mind, I'm just very, very sad that at this critical moment when all believers in Christ are facing such a critical moment, and at this moment when the pagans are pressing closer and closer to this city of the Lord, you actually have to sit back and watch this city. The countless churches, monasteries and crosses in the city are once again popping up Because of the danger of being attacked by the enemy, I separated my role. In this way, the cooperation between the entire empire, the emperor, and the pilgrims will be completely destroyed by one hand - Diognis, I need you to tell Taiti Hughes raised my inquiry and asked him to come to see me. I just wanted to get the answer."

Gawain was sincere, and Diognis was very uncomfortable and embarrassed. He could only pull the reins and let his mount turn back and forth. Soon a cavalryman holding a military flag ran over from the middle of the marching queue, and then faced the captor. Everyone around them shouted, "General Taticius already knew about the Grand Duke's arrival, but he replied that the Empire's army has nothing to do with His Excellency the Grand Duke's arms from now on, and the Imperial Expedition Privy Council was dissolved."

"But what is the reason for your departure, the emperor's will, or Taticius's own opinion?" Gawain was in great pain, raised his hands and continued to shout.

The guard lowered his head, and the cavalryman had obviously received a recorded answer. He raised his flag and said to Gawain, "Now it is General Titicius's own judgment on the battle situation. He thinks that with the pilgrims' current reserves and With the strength of the army, it is basically impossible to defeat Kobuha’s army, and there is no reason for him to let the emperor’s army suffer unnecessary losses.”

"Then where are you going to retreat to?" Gawain held the riding whip bitterly and made a gesture on the horse as if he was about to turn around and leave. "Anyway, I have to go back and fight. A real empire will lose its prestige if it gives up the battle. This is the biggest loss. I have no other intention in asking this question. I just want to know where the future news will be sent. "

But the cavalryman didn't give an answer at all, and turned around and rode away with a "click-click" sound. The guard was also silent and helpless, making a "good luck to you" gesture to Gawain, and then lowered his head. The head felt disgruntled and left.

Looking at the imperial army that was lined up on the road from beginning to end and slowly leaving, Gawain also drove his horse back towards the camp. Then, after leaving about 200 feet, he faced Andodat, who was also riding a horse in a cloak next to him, said, "Someone from the Brotherhood just reported that the Venetian consul is still there. In the city of Tique, no one was aware of the withdrawal of Titicius, so the retreat route of Titicius's army can be confirmed. There are nothing more than two roads, one is from St. Simon's Port, and the other is along the Li River. Go south along the Fante coast and take the port of Latakia. No matter which way you go, the final gathering place is the island of Cyprus.”

"Then even if there are two roads, why are the Grand Duke so concerned about his retreat route?" Andodat was confused.

"They don't go through the Syria Gate, because if they go there, they will march in a hostile and humiliating environment. Adana, Sicily and the Armenian territories, no one looks up to them and is willing to help them. So they went to the island of Cyprus. It is the most reliable, and according to the scout reports from the front line, Cobuha's army will arrive at the city of Antioch within three or four days at most. And those who are as cautious as Titicius must be afraid that if they are in Port Saint Simon, which is also a pilgrimage site, or vessel Retreating from the crowded port will be delayed due to lack of ships, and if the army is stranded, it will either be noticed and criticized by the pilgrims, or it will be attacked indiscriminately by Cobuha." Gawain became very imposing. And good-looking eyebrows head, and then judged with certainty, "Tatisius must go to the port of Latakia by land first, which is the southern part of the battle line. He can leisurely use Lapsomates' fleet to transport his army Go to Cyprus.”

"So, why are you so concerned about the retreat route of Xiubi?" The herald officer still had this question.

With the sound of horse hooves and footsteps, the remains of the old camp of Titishius on both sides have passed. The flocks of birds in the morning have begun to fly among the trees, making a loud noise, almost covering up Gawain's answer to the herald officer, "Of course it is useful. The judgment of this route is like the two sides of a sword, illuminating my next path - let's talk about the first side. The Count of Blois stationed in the Little Alexander Castle is going to run away completely! Moreover, since Titishius is not on the same road with this person, he is destined to have no influence on them. Moreover, I have already glimpsed the situation inside from Ingrina's reply. Now I can send the urgent letter to Seleucia City, inform Anna, and prepare relevant measures - Andeodate, prepare to draft the document!"

After the herald officer drafted everything according to the Grand Duke's oral instructions, he took out the seal and stamped it, and handed it to a cavalryman who was in charge of the communication. Then the cavalryman put the sealed leather tube on his back, shouted at his mount, and galloped towards the Syrian Gate with towering peaks... (To be continued ~^~)