Eagle Byzantium

Bishop Maurice did not dare to neglect, and rushed to the city of Ancona without stopping to board the ship and set sail. When he arrived at Corfu, he found that the Lion of San Marco had been raised on the island - the huge and important island here had been ceded by John. Gave it to the Venetians.

Two days later, Bishop Maurice's ship arrived at the island of Crete, the "eternal transit point" between east and west in the Mediterranean. The place was caught in intense turmoil: Roman imperial bureaucrats and garrisons in the port and city supported the legitimacy of John's succession; but White Mountain The indigenous nobles in other places have always been loyal to the dead former emperor Alexios (the emperor liked the heavy archers from this mountain very much) and strongly demanded an investigation into the real cause of his death. Supporters of both sides broke out in bloody armed conflicts in Gandia and other cities. It is said that some people who were walking peacefully on the streets were snatched away by political opponents in broad daylight, lynched, cut into pieces, and thrown into public display in the square church. Morris was so frightened that he hurriedly asked the ship owner not to stay and go directly to Rhode Island.

Who would have thought that Morris's ship would be intercepted just after arriving in Rhode Island. Asasidus, the great naval Earl of the Roman Empire, actually joined forces with the great Emir Zahas of Nicaea to become a pirate. Maurice himself and all the entourage on the ship were brutally looted. The Greeks, Turks, and Berbers took away all the valuables from him, leaving only the documents for him.

"Damn it, after the Emperor Yan of the Greek Empire, this ocean lost its security in an instant, and there was crime and chaos everywhere. But I can't blame too much, because the Capetians (the French royal family) used to suffer from lack of money on the Ile-de-France. At that time, he also worked as a bandit to rob the king of passing tourists. Even so, what else can I expect from those Greek soldiers? But I still lament that the island where the Code of Navigation (Rhodes Island Navigation Code) was once born is now a place where thieves live in peace. "Bishop Morris is still very angry. Those who have a sense of humor often make mistakes while writing reports.

However, the situation changed drastically when they arrived in the Kingdom of Tarsus. At the ports of Atalia and Seleucia, Bishop Morris saw the bustling scene on the deck, "In order to avoid Rhodes Island and Croton, The dangerous sea route on Rite Island is where many goods from the East are landed, transported overland by packhorses and camels, and then arrived at the port of Smyrna or Trabzon It was sold everywhere, and the city of Iconium, the core transshipment place on land, also prospered greatly. It is said that the land route is accessible and smooth. His Highness Gawain has built several large-scale trade routes that are "rain or shine". Warehouses and military stations along the way were provided with supplies and protection, and it was said that a delicate girl from Cilicia, carrying a jar of gold coins on her head, could walk safely from Tarsus to Smyrna.”

With such envy, Bishop Maurice stopped and stayed in the post area of ​​​​Seleucia, but the local patriarch Anselm did not come to see him, it is said that for the sake of the fairness of the immediate investigation.

In fact, there were other reasons why Lord Anselm didn't come.

In the court of Tarsus, the female Caesar Anna gave birth for the second time. Lord Anselm was responsible for conducting the blessing ceremony in the chapel.

Anna went much more smoothly this time. She just held Gawain's hand beside her and adjusted her breathing. After sweating a lot, she gave birth safely with almost no shouting.

Because the sleeping companion Wen Ruomingna was not here, Agnes took on the role of commander-in-chief of the delivery. She seemed very busy and sweaty.

As the baby cried loudly and loudly, Anna's eyelashes flashed, she took a few long breaths, let go of Gawain's arms with relief, and lay down on the bed...

The curtain was lifted, and Hertomia, the royal ink-taker, took the clean child from Agnes, looked at it twice, wrapped it in swaddling clothes, and walked in front of Gawain and Anna, "His name and glory It’s already doomed.”

"Christopher...it's Christopher, Virgin Mary, father, thank you for your blessings." Anna's fine white teeth showed with a happy smile.

"Hertomia, tell me this good news." Gawain wiped his wife's sweat with one hand, and pointed with the other hand at the ink officer holding Christopher in front of him.

"As ordered." The imperial ink officer turned around respectfully, and Agnes straightened her dress and followed her.

The two royal officials walked through the corridors and halls, and after groups of guards knelt down and saluted, they came to the vast hall, where all the female officials and officials of the Sixth Division stood there, Hutto Mia lifted the little Christopher up, looked around, and rarely shouted loudly, "Look carefully with your eyes. His name is Christophor. He is born from the womb of Caesar. He has the greatest father and the greatest mother. His body is full of Gawain, Comnenus and Doukas." His blood will be the owner of this country in the future, no, he will definitely be the owner of the entire Roman Empire in the future!”

Deafening cannons were fired from the towers of the palace of Tarsus, row after row, all the church bells rang in unison, and people around Tarsus regardless of profession cheered and poured into the streets, drinking and dancing. They will enjoy a grander celebration than the original "Sebastian Day".

Meanwhile, Bishop Morris had arrived in the Holy City.

In the Patriarch's residence, Sam Bell stood in the secret room, facing Morris. Behind him were rows of huge gold cabinets. Then Sam Bell took out a heavy bag inside and placed it on the table. .

"I can't accept it..." Morris was very upset.

So Sambel brought up another bag.

Morris hesitated but continued waving.

When the third and fourth bags were moved to the table, Morris really became silent.

"If the Patriarch of Jerusalem had only given me a bag of money as a bribe, I would have impeached him without hesitation. But he gave me four bags of gold coins, including Byzantine coins with the head of a Greek emperor and gold dinars minted by Muslims. The gold color spread throughout the room. I had no choice but to bow to the evil power of money, not because of greed, because I knew that Patriarch Sambel could come up with so much money, and the power behind him was not something that a mere cardinal like me could shake. He was the one who could buy off Mammon and Satan, and I had to learn to protect myself before justice." This was Morris's psychological activity.

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Amid the rustling sound, Sambel pushed all the money bags forward with great effort. "Don't be afraid. I have already negotiated with the Monastery of Mount Zion. All this money has been recorded in the formal archives. It all belongs to Mount Zion. You and I spend it just like Mount Zion spends it. In addition, I have sent part of it to Italy for deposit. When we return home in the future, we will live a prosperous life in the second half of our lives."

"How should we deal with the demands of Baldwin of Adana and Bohemond of Paphos?" Morris asked cautiously.

"My friend, the Holy City, Mount Zion, Calvary, and all the surrounding towns and villages do not belong to any military nobles, but should all be our Pope's property. As for the Guardian of the Holy Sepulchre or the Archon, if they need it, that's fine - we can find someone else to inherit it, such as Tancred of Antioch, or Robert of Flanders..." Under the shining of candlelight and gold coins, the Patriarch spread his hands nonchalantly and said.