In the Middle Ages, People Drew Cards to Be Promoted to Nobility.

Chapter 651 The Secret Art of Taming Dragons (Wishing Everyone a Happy Dragon Boat Festival)

Giovanni Giustiniani is a man wearing a full set of plate armor and a red cross smock with a white background. His dress does not look like a Latin aristocrat, but he is also similar to those who behave rudely and have a philistine face. Mercenaries are different.

His stature could not be called majestic, but just standing there gave people the feeling of being insurmountable like a city wall.

"May the Lord bless you, great Basileus."

The bearded man bowed slightly. Behind him was a group of elite-looking Genoese soldiers. Most of them were crossbowmen carrying their iconic square shields, and the rest were light-armored infantry.

As for the iconic knights of the Latins, there are none.

"May the Lord bless you, General Giovanni from Chios."

Chios is an island in the Aegean Sea, once the homeland of the empire and now a colony of the Genoese.

The Genoese and the Ottomans never broke up with each other. The commercial city-states valued profits more. The Ottomans gave them commercial concessions, which made many of them inclined to abandon Constantinople.

The Venetians were probably in the same situation. Historically, until the fall of Constantinople, the three galleys they sent carrying reinforcements failed to arrive.

The commercial republic is an oligarchic government. Although the governor has a respected status, he is not as good as a serious monarch. Internal forces are involved and conflict with each other. It is impossible for those who do not have interests in Constantinople, or who have smaller interests, to Agree to the request of the main war faction.

Giovanni and the Genoese mercenaries around him were obviously the only response the war party could make.

"I am willing to give you the island of Lemnos as your fiefdom to reward your devotion to Christ. If you win this battle, I am also willing to make you the Duke of Athens, and all the soldiers you lead will receive generous rewards. ”

Lothar said.

In the eastern part of Lemnos Island, there is a large amount of volcanic ash soil, which is very fertile. It is considered to be the only fertile soil left in the hands of the empire.

In addition, there are several natural harbors on the island, Venice and Genoa have been coveting this place for a long time.

Constantine XI also tried to exchange this island for help from Aragon, Venice, Genoa and other countries, but obviously this plan failed. It would be better to give it to the Genoese as a reward in exchange for their help.

The thousand-year empire has come to an end. There have been too many traitors in the past, and the empire's legacy has been squandered. When it was Constantine XI's turn, even if he wanted to sell, he could only sigh at the empty imperial treasury.

"Thank you for your generous gift, Your Majesty. Your generosity makes the sun and moon eclipse."

Hearing this promise, Giovanni, who was just a mercenary leader on the surface, didn't show much joy on his face.

This battle was a near-death battle. If he really came here for the reward, how stupid he must be to jump aboard the Roman ship at this time. It has 10,000 holes and the cabin has sunk under the sea. Only one mast is left. The ship was broken.

Lothar also knew that this reward was nothing, just a token of appreciation.

"Please come with me."

Lothar led the Genoese people through the city and onto the Theodosian Wall in the outer city. The emaciated camels were bigger than horses. Although Constantinople, once known as the "Eternal City", had been conquered by the Crusaders, But it's still majestic.

He pointed to these majestic cities and said to Giovanni: "Although the Theodosian Wall has not been repaired for a long time, it is still strong. There are more than 50,000 residents in the city, and the food stock can last for a year. If it were not for the two fortresses, If so, I am confident that I will hold on to this city until I die.”

He then pointed to both sides of the northern strait, where part of the city was owned by the Genoese. Lothar was referring to the fortresses built by the Ottomans on both sides of the Bosporus Strait, which seemed to have grabbed the throat of the empire with their hands, blocking the north. Transport road to the Black Sea.

Giovanni frowned and said: "I heard that the Ottomans secretly forged a huge cannon that can easily penetrate the stone fortress."

"Urban Cannon?"

Urban was a Hungarian cannon-caster who originally served the empire, but Constantine XI was too poor to support his research on casting heavy cannons, so he took refuge with the Ottoman Sultan and was reused.

Lothar chuckled and shook his head: "It can't break through the Theodosian Wall. This wall under your feet has many magic circles embedded in it when it was first built. No matter how old it is, it cannot be penetrated by ordinary artillery. ”

In the world of giant ships yesterday, before rare minerals such as white crystal and magic stone were produced, firearms only had auxiliary effects and could not determine the overall situation.

Even in its original history, Urban's cannon failed to play a decisive role.

What's more, now that Constantine XI has been replaced by him, if he wants to destroy the enemy's artillery position, he can just breathe.

Seeing that Lothar was confident, Giovanni did not argue, but just calculated and said: "Although there are two inner and outer walls, our number is too small, so we can only garrison the outer wall, and we have to leave another reserve team. In the direction of the sea, there are also People need to be stationed.”

A rough calculation shows that there are more than 7,000 people, which is really stretched.

Lothar asked honestly: "Can General Giovanni still write a letter to invite other reinforcements?"

Giovanni shook his head. His arrival was actually an act of compromise by the warring factions of the Republic of Genoa. They were neither willing to completely break up with the Ottomans, which would lead to the cancellation of the commercial privileges they originally signed, nor were they willing to just watch and bear their burdens. Constantinople, which had many interests, fell into the hands of the Ottomans.

Even though the Ottomans and the Genoese are getting along quite harmoniously now, everyone knows that the Ottomans have a strong national power, which is far from comparable to the half-dead Roman Empire. The benefits that can be extracted from such a behemoth are certainly far less than the former.

"I understand."

Lothar smiled: "General Giovanni does not need to worry about the military strength. His Majesty the Pope has promised that as long as we hold on for a period of time, European reinforcements will inevitably arrive in Constantinople."

Giovanni smiled bitterly in his heart. If he hadn't known the inside story, he might have been fooled by Lothar's confidence.

"General Giovanni has come all the way. He must have worked hard after traveling and traveling. I will ask the palace people to prepare barracks, dinner, and fine wine for you to welcome you in this time of crisis, just like sending firewood in the heavy snow. support."

Giovanni nodded and withdrew.

Watching Giovanni leave, Lothar sighed softly.

He had just vaguely explored Giovanni's identity. There was a wild force in his body that he was familiar with. He should be a hybrid wolf.

Lothar has no prejudice against dark creatures, but this kind of support means that the reinforcements cannot be on the stage. It is definitely not due to the approval of the church forces, but most likely the internal forces of Genoa.

If they were serious crusaders sent by the church, they would definitely be able to use the Holy Glory.

Back in the palace, Lothar picked up a pen and prepared to write a letter to the Grand Master of the Knights Hospitaller.

The relationship between the Knights Hospitaller and the Empire was not harmonious. Rhodes Island was also part of the Empire and was captured by the Knights Hospitaller. The Knights then relied on this place to rob passing caravans and "orthodox heretics" including those from the Empire.

But it has been more than a hundred years since the Knights Hospitallers took over Rhode Island, and people should always look forward.

In the face of survival, there is no enemy that cannot be reconciled.

“Your Excellency, Grand Master of the Knights Hospitaller, devout patron of Christ, patron of the Holy Crown of Thorns and other holy objects, Your Excellency Jean Bumpard de Lastique, please allow me to transfer the territory of Rhodes to , officially presented to your group as a token of my respect to His Majesty the Pope and your group for their efforts in fighting against the heretics after the church was unified."

First of all, Lothar, in the name of the Emperor, recognized that the Knights Hospitaller's occupation of Rhode Island was legal. Previously, this occupation had only been recognized by the Pope.

Secondly, after reaffirming the unity of the church (in 1439, at the Ecumenical Council of Florence, his brother, Emperor Ioannis, agreed to the unity of the Eastern and Western churches and recognized the supreme status of His Majesty the Pope), Pope Enren IV called for the Cross The army supported Constantinople.

The Knights Hospitallers were not Latin merchants, capable of colluding with pagans.

The meaning of their existence is to fight against the infidels. This is their bounden duty.

Once they abandon this duty, they will be torn apart within themselves before the enemy arrives.

"Please think deeply, Grand Master, if Constantinople falls, who else in the Eastern Mediterranean can you rely on to help your regiment resist the pagans? Could it be that they are begging for mercy from the Saracens in Egypt who were defeated by your regiment? Cyprus? Or a commercial city-state that is in league with the pagans?”

Lothar began to state the pros and cons, and any intelligent life would understand the meaning of death.

What's more, Lothar also sent a personal letter written by His Majesty the Pope to him, urging the Knights Hospitaller to send troops for rescue.

The rest of the Christian monarchs may be able to obey His Majesty the Pope, whose prestige has been greatly reduced after the imprisonment of Avignon, but the Knights Hospitallers cannot.

The source of power of this military order is the Pope. Historically, after Constantinople was captured by the Ottomans, there was a lot of criticism of the Knights Hospitallers.

If the Knights Hospitallers had not fought a beautiful counterattack against the invasion of the Ottomans, the Knights Hospitallers would have gradually died out even if there had been no invasion by foreign enemies.

In the end, they agreed to a series of unequal treaties to reward the Knights Hospitallers for their support.

After writing this letter, Lothar solemnly took off the ring and stamped it with his own fire-paint coat of arms.

If nothing else, when the Ottomans arrive at the city, the only significant reinforcements that are likely to arrive are the Knights Hospitallers entrenched in the Aegean Sea.

The rest are just hundreds or even dozens of people like General Giovanni.

He wasn't sure whether a letter would bring in reinforcements.

I hope the Knights Hospitallers won't make things too ugly, and at least send out a thousand-man squad led by a branch leader like the Genoese did.

As soon as he finished writing the letter and waited for the ink to dry, but before he could send someone to deliver it, the eunuch entered the palace and said, "Your Majesty, Orhan hopes to be summoned by you."

Lothar put down the pen and said solemnly: "Let him come in."

Orhan was an Ottoman prince and the uncle of Mahamu II. He received a full Greek education in Constantinople, but unfortunately, this was not enough to make him a threat to the throne of Mahamu II. By.

Constantine XI once used his identity to make a big fuss and tried to blackmail the Ottomans into paying tribute annuities in exchange for not sending Orhan back to compete with Mahamu for the throne. Mahamu II also agreed to this request. .

But soon regretted it.

In fact, Orhan was not qualified to compete with Mahamu at all. Mahamu's promise to Constantine XI was just a pretext for war, and he used it as an excuse for war to persuade ministers to use troops against Constantinople.

"Orhan, why are you looking for me?"

Orhan did not wear a turban. Apart from his different beliefs, he could hardly be seen as a Turk. He was respectful and asked tentatively: "Your Majesty, Mahamu used me as an excuse to attack New Rome. If you hand me over, maybe the war can be stopped?"

"Are you worried that I will give you to your nephew?"

Losa ignored Orhan's temptation and said bluntly: "Over the years, how many people have secretly sent people to Constantinople to swear allegiance to you? The guards around you have only a few hundred people so far, right? Do you think you really have that weight?"

Orhan breathed a sigh of relief: "Your Majesty is wise."

"Back off."

Losa paused and added: "This For a while, you send your people to receive training from General Giovanni. Although he is not well-known, he has rich experience in defending the city and will teach them some new things. "

"As for you, you are also from the Osmanoglu family and have the talent of a dragon tamer. You should tame the sharp-clawed dragon in the royal garden as soon as possible. If you fail again, don't blame me for killing it to reward the soldiers with meat. "

Orhan smiled bitterly and nodded: "Yes, Your Majesty, I will try my best, but when my family was exiled, many important secret books were missing. "

Although this person is a Turk, compared with some Greeks who openly declared that even the Turkish turban is better than the Latin crown, Orhan is undoubtedly the grasshopper tied to him.

With the bloody succession tradition of the Osmans, even the younger brother who is still in the cradle can be killed, let alone an uncle who is not so close in blood relationship.

As long as Constantinople is broken, Orhan will definitely die!

Losa frowned: "Forget it, tonight, I will go to the Imperial Garden to help you."

Capturing this clawed dragon was also an attempt by Constantine XI. He did not intend to use it as a fighting force, but to show the enemy that Orhan was also the orthodox descendant of the Osmanoglu family, and to put pressure on Mahamu.

But since it has been caught, helping Orhan tame it is also a help.

Orhan was stunned and puzzled.

"Your Majesty, that beast is ferocious and difficult to tame, what are you doing?"

Dragon taming is the secret of the Osmanoglu family. The ancestor Osman I was able to stand out from a group of small tribes and build such a huge country, relying on this dragon taming technique. Can you, the emperor of the Palaeologus family, know dragon taming better than me?

"Don't worry about it."

Sorry, I went home for the holidays and took a car back overnight, so the update is late.

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In the Middle Ages, People Drew Cards to Be Promoted to Nobility.Ch.654/827 [79.08%]