Eagle’s Glory

Under Aigron's deliberate arrangement, he and his fiancee Teresa toured the cemetery he built on the outskirts of Methorongi.

The cemetery will be used to bury all his men who died in battle, and to commemorate all those who sacrificed for the cause of the Greek War of Independence - including Lord Byron.

Of course, the core of the entire cemetery is remembering (or boasting) of his personal achievements.

He is not a person who likes to brag, but right now, his greatest asset is his own fame, so of course he will not miss any opportunity to show off himself.

Besides, in terms of his achievements, it is not a bragging.

After seeing all his arrangements, Teresa was very happy, she could hardly wish to open her heart to her sweetheart, and they were so close, which meant that the previous small disturbances disappeared.

However, Aigron also knew that now was not the time to lie down and celebrate, he still had too many important things to do.

Just in the afternoon after returning from a tour of the cemetery site, he called his confidant, the Count of Monte Cristo, to him.

"Your Majesty, what are your orders?" As soon as he saw Aiglon, the Count of Monte Cristo greeted him respectfully.

"Edmund, what do you think of the current situation of the entire army?" Aigron went straight to the point.

"As far as I can see, the morale is high up and down, and the physical strength and energy have been fully rested and recovered." Edmund Dantes replied immediately.

He vaguely understood that when His Majesty asked himself this question, it meant that the short period of peace was coming to an end.

"Very well, it seems that we have enough rest." Aegron nodded with satisfaction. "Then, let's start a new foray."

Then, he squeezed his fist and waved it heavily, as if to demonstrate, "We have hit our enemies hard, but they still control a large area now. So we should take advantage of their chaos. , continue to strike hard!"

"Like the rest of my colleagues, I'm always ready to do everything for you. Wherever you point, we'll march!" Edmund Dantes complimented in a timely manner.

Seeing that the Count of Monte Cristo was so obedient, Aigron couldn't help laughing.

Then, he said what was in his heart.

"I am going to march north, sweeping away the remaining enemies along the way, as far as I can, until Ioannina."

"I understand." Edmund Dantes nodded. In essence, he didn't care where His Majesty wanted to march, and he would follow to the end anyway.

However, a flash of light quickly flashed in his mind—

Ioannina?

There seemed to be an impression of this place in his mind.

He soon understood that the bandit leader Isaac Valleolo he recruited before was from Ioannina - and was the former Pasha of that place.

So, Isaac Valleolo and his former bandit men would be the best guides for the march towards Ioannina.

Even better, in order to attract people's hearts, when His Majesty first came to Greece, he rewarded Isaac Balleo as a member of the Knights of Fontainebleau, which meant that the other party would never fail to work hard.

Edmund Dantès understood in an instant.

"Okay, Your Majesty! I'll go and have a good talk with Isaac Valleoli, I think he'll be more than happy to lead us into his former homeland."

"I believe so too." Aegron nodded slightly.

In fact, in addition to having a guide who is familiar with the local situation, his decision has a deeper plan.

Now after sweeping western Greece and taking control of Methorongion, if he wants to continue to advance, there are only two paths in front of him - either to enter the Albania region all the way north, or continue to liberate Greece all the way east, until Bulgaria.

It is true that the latter is better in terms of propaganda and practicality, but there is another unexpected factor that has to be taken into account - the Russian Empire is about to enter.

The Russian Empire is now gathering along the banks of the Danube. If it advances, this seemingly indestructible steam roller will be rolled all the way to the southwest along Romania and Bulgaria. If it advances all the way east, it is very likely that it will join forces with the Russian Empire. run into...

Although both sides are at war with the Ottoman Empire, this is certainly not a meeting of allies.

Although according to the information he has obtained so far, it seems that the tsar has not issued an order such as "Duke Reichstedt must be destroyed", but the heart of defense is indispensable, and the Bonaparte family and the Romanov family have a deep hatred. Like the sea, if the two armies meet rashly, there may be a "missing fire", and the huge Russian imperial army may be able to easily destroy his weak army.

Therefore, he can only choose to march north, while continuing to win to increase his reputation and consolidate the expansion of the occupied area; while carefully keeping a distance from the Russian imperial army, and then finding ways to use checks and balances between the great powers, relying on them to control the Russian Empire Fear of expansion pulled Russian troops back from the Balkans and Istanbul.

Aigron knew that it seemed that he was winning continuously and his future was bright, but in fact he was still walking a tightrope.

Fortunately, this young man has remained calm all the time, he was not dazzled by the victory, and he could still make rational judgments.

Of course, it was not necessary for Aigron to explain to Edmund Dantes that the other party was just an executor, and he made all decisions on strategic issues alone.

"Your Majesty..." While Aegron was thinking, Edmund Dantes seemed to have thought of something.

"What's wrong?" Agron asked.

"Excuse me, does the executed Ioannina Ali Pasha have any living relatives?" Edmund Dantes asked cautiously, "I mean, if there is one, we can let This kin will work with us and use his banner to make our task a little easier."

Edmund Dantès thought his thinking was very logical - after all, although Pasha was defeated and died, it was only five years after his defeat in 1822. In the Ioannina area, there must still be many old ministries left, and they will also have a certain appeal among the people.

The Ioannina region is already considered Albania. There is a big difference between the locals and the Greeks. It is difficult to touch them simply by playing the banner of "liberating Greece".

Therefore, if you can find a Pasha's relative as a puppet, and then use his banner, you will be able to gain further support from the locals, which will also help them advance.

However, Edmund's surprise was that, when he thought it was logical, His Majesty showed a strange expression, as if he had heard something absurd.

"Your Majesty... did I say something wrong?" Edmund Dantes asked boldly.

Is this fate?

A peculiar sense of pleasure made Aegron couldn't help laughing.

"No, no, you didn't say anything wrong, I think it makes sense, Edmund—your question inspired me." Aigron shook his head gently, "but the reality for us will be A little bit of difficulty, because as far as I know, Pasha himself and his three sons have been executed by the sultan, and their relatives have been captured as slaves in Istanbul - which is the sultan's custom for traitors Practice. Now, his only surviving immediate family member has only one granddaughter..."

"And was left in Istanbul!" Edmund Dantes understood instantly.

Then he was a little disappointed, because if it was just a granddaughter, the appeal would definitely be much smaller - and she was in Istanbul, if she used her banner, I was afraid that she would be beheaded immediately by the Sultan...

"Well, Your Majesty, it seems that my idea is difficult to realize." He smiled embarrassedly.

However, the young man seemed to add another sentence if he had a deep meaning.

"Her name is Heide, and if I remember correctly, she should be about ten by now."

Edmund Dantès was stunned. He didn't understand why His Majesty knew so much, nor why His Majesty specifically mentioned this.

Since his own idea can no longer be realized, what's the point of paying attention to that little girl?

"You... what do you mean?" he asked boldly again.

"Edmund, I think you've come up with a very good idea, very valuable." Aigron suddenly laughed again, and then said softly, "Although we want to achieve it, there will be some obstacles, but it is not impossible. accomplish--"

After a moment's pause, he stopped talking, "We have friends in Istanbul now, and through these friends, we can buy this Miss Heide as soon as possible, and then ship her to us—"

"When she is transported to us, we can use her banner to recover Ioannina!" Edmund Dantes exclaimed excitedly.

"And you are the best person to carry out this task--" Aigron looked at Edmund Dantes with piercing eyes as if he had made up his mind.

Then he deliberately lowered his voice, "In that case, Edmund, I won't hide it from you. My so-called 'friend of Istanbul' is actually the Austrian ambassador. I think if he goes out and spends money to buy an unremarkable If you are a young slave girl... no one should pay attention, right? The Sultan will also be happy to be a favor."

Aigron is not guessing randomly, because in the original book "The Count of Monte Cristo", Edmund Dantes, who has become a sea merchant, paid a sum of money to buy Haide.

Now, he intends to realize the reincarnation of this history again on this historical line that has already diverged.

This is not only his real needs, but also a kind of evil taste that only belongs to him.

Then, Aegron clenched his fists, and the relaxed atmosphere suddenly became tense.

"Since we're determined to act, let's hurry! The sooner the better! Edmund, just as I'm going to have a private contact with the Austrian ambassador, you go to Istanbul yourself and bring back that Miss Heide-- "

Although Edmund Dantes was a little surprised, he quickly reacted.

His Majesty approved his plan and asked him to carry out this plan - this is trusting himself as always, and he must not betray his trust.

"Yes, Your Majesty!" he agreed loudly, "I will bring her safely!"

"Then, it's up to you." Aigron stretched out his hand, then reached out and patted the other's shoulder, "Once she comes to me, I will make her Grand Duchess Ioannina, and you will be Her guardian. Then we march on Ioannina in her name!"

"I see!" Edmund Dantes was also excited.

There is no doubt that if this little girl is brought to his side, whether His Majesty appoints her as Grand Duchess of Ioannina, or for something else, she is just a puppet and does not have any independent decision. Ability - His Majesty will not allow her to make an assertion.

However, this also means that His Majesty will blatantly confer a great nobleman with "real soil".

Since His Majesty came to the island of Monte Cristo, he has created many noble titles. Edmund Dantès himself was favored to become Count of Monte Cristo, and his friend Andre Davout also became Leo. Marquis of Bando.

However, these titles are currently only used within Bonaparte's supporters. In other European countries, "Count of Monte Cristo" or other titles are currently not recognized at all, and there is no actual jurisdiction.

This is like issuing a currency that is only used internally. Although it is not unjustifiable, it is always a little short-sighted.

But if a Grand Duchess of Ioannina is conferred and finally established... the situation will be very different, which means that Your Majesty will become a true benefactor, a lord above a lord.

If he was canonized indiscriminately, it would be difficult to be recognized by everyone, but if it is the granddaughter of the late Ioannina Ali Pasha - his only remaining bloodline in the world - it seems that it is not infeasible according to the principle of inheritance. .

Of course, things will not be so easy. If you want to make it a reality, you will inevitably face huge resistance, but since there is hope to do it - after all, for the disputes between the great powers, a mere Ioannina is fundamentally There is no balance, and now they are most worried about the Tsar.

Yep, that's how it should be!

For a moment, Edmund Dantes was ecstatic.

He was more excited and full of expectations than His Majesty.

He was very happy that His Majesty made inferences about his suggestion, and he came up with such a plan on a whim.

This means that he has made a contribution again.

But now is not the time to be arrogant, he must fulfill His Majesty's wish and get things done.

"Haide..." He repeated his name.

I don't know why, although he had never seen the face of this child before, nor had he ever had the slightest intersection with her, but at this moment he had a strange sense of familiarity in his heart.

"When can you leave?" Aegron's question interrupted his thoughts.

"If you want, I'll do it right away." Edmund Dantes replied quickly.

"No, don't be in such a hurry..." Agron smiled and waved his hand, "Get ready, leave tomorrow, I will write a letter to Mr. Ambassador with Teresa, and you will go there as a messenger. ."

After speaking, he reached out and patted the other person's shoulder again.

It is self-evident that the heavy responsibility rests on our shoulders.