Crusader Kings: Prisoners of War

He asked bluntly: "How is the city defense of Byzantium?"

Constantine showed a somewhat mocking smile: "It is impregnable and has well-equipped soldiers. If it were those successors hundreds of years ago, they might be able to break through the city in a short time, but those guys who are like monkeys, surrounded by Don’t even think about breaking down our walls for a year.”

It's a bit like raising a flag, but Constantine is really confident in the city's defense. Byzantium is a huge city-state. There are tens of thousands of soldiers who can be mobilized in the city when necessary. It is impossible for so many people to defend the city easily. .

"Very good, that's good news. I have something to ask you next. If you do it well, I guarantee that your city will get the status it deserves in the future."

Constantine suddenly became energetic: "Please just say it."

"I have contacted the navy of Cyprus. This island is still under our control, and they can provide us with some help. If I secretly send you to a place like Athens, do you think you can reach Byzantium smoothly? "

"There will definitely be no problem," Constantine assured Orville, "I have some reliable friends in the country who can provide me with the necessary help."

"Then please go to Byzantium and help the people there resist Mithridates' offensive. It only takes a few months without breaking the city. It might not even take a few months. Reinforcements are already on the way." The Danube Army is not allowed to take back the Greek mainland before me. I am not asking you to do anything, just do what you can, as long as you protect your own city, this is very important to me. "

Constantine quickly understood what Orville meant, and immediately assured him: "No problem, I will complete your order."

"The ship will be ready in the next city. I have contacted the relevant personnel for you. Just follow them to arrange the actions."

Orville gave the other party a few more instructions, and after the other party listened patiently, he withdrew respectfully.

Galen, who was somewhat inconspicuous even on horseback, came forward at this time. He volunteered to accompany the army as a military doctor to the destination to suppress the rebellion. Only then did Orville remember that he was a pure man born in Asia Minor.

"You seem to have something to say?"

"That's it," Galen looked a little nervous, but he still managed to continue, "I know you are a very kind person, so I am not worried that you will do something cruel. I am not worried about the Empire either. Will win in the end, because the empire is taking all the advantages. But I hope you can give your advice to the emperor. I think the changes you implemented in Egypt are good. Can you do the same in my hometown?"

There was another half of the sentence that Galen didn't dare to say out loud - he felt that the locals had reasons to resist.

The tax farming system is said to be a system that the Romans learned from the Greek city-states and they carried it forward. However, few systems have been so widely criticized. To put it bluntly, the state contracts the tax rights of a certain area to someone at a certain price. , someone must hand over so much money, and if it is less, he must make it up from his own pocket, and if there is more, he must keep it in his pocket.

As soon as I heard it, I knew that this system could easily make the tax collectors exploit the local people. If we must say that the Greek natives were full of resentment because of the economic recession, then the people in some places in Asia Minor were really unbearable to be exploited and followed the rebellion.

As a doctor, Galen was quite sympathetic. He felt that the problem was not with the locals but with the evil tax system. If possible, it would be best to change this thing.

"If I have the opportunity, I will do it, but there is great resistance because it touches the interests of many people. My father is a person who pursues stability. I am afraid he will not allow me to do this, but my wife does Not necessarily, so I suggest you put your hope in the future. If she becomes emperor, this is not a fantasy. "

Orville patiently explained to the other party that he had also considered this issue and concluded that it was not possible to do it now, but he might have a chance in the future.

——

Just like during the Gallic War in the past, the Gauls' base was near the Brittany Peninsula, Mithridates' core base was on the Black Sea coast, which is now the land in northern Turkey. After Orville and the military staff discussed , decided not to use troops there first, but to advance along the Mediterranean first. They believed that such a method could force Mithridates to give up fighting with the Romans on the Greek mainland. If the other side set the final battlefield on the Greek mainland and lost the battle, If you resist, it will cause great economic losses and cultural losses. However, if you force the opponent back to the vicinity of the capital, it will not be a serious problem. The public and the Senate generally do not have a deep impression of that place, and subconsciously believe that it is there. The border is the borderland, and wars fought there will not cause much panic or controversy.

The top priority is to solve the problem of the Greek mainland being captured. The senators have a lot of private property there, so capturing it will make the Senate anxious. After a long time, Vespa and Tia will not be able to do it in the city of Rome.

After determining the strategic goal, Orville began to think about how to achieve the goal. To operate around the Mediterranean, a powerful navy was definitely indispensable.

Rhodes was instigated by Mithridates, and a coup broke out internally. The rebels now control the navy. Together with the navies of various Greek city-states, this is a very powerful force. At least it is not a Viking or a half-disabled state. The Egyptian navy is very capable, and the navies of Cyprus and Syria are also struggling. Unfortunately, the Greeks now had to face not one or two provinces, but the entire Roman Empire.

The emperor will definitely react to this. The fleets from the mainland and Marseille are being mobilized. By then, the battle power comparison will be reversed, and the Romans will once again have control of the sea. This time will not be long. The Senate is anxious and will not dawdle on key issues. It is estimated that the navy is on the way now.

Orville subconsciously glanced at the map of the coast of Asia Minor - it was so numbing, all plateaus and mountains. Only after crossing mountains and ridges in the true sense could you reach the Greek mainland. The Pontic people had countless opportunities to attack them in the middle. This was an excellent place to win with fewer people and fight guerrilla warfare. To be honest, Orville did not want to waste time with the Pontic people in such a place. It was too procrastinating, and the losses also made Orville very heartbroken.

So a plan gradually took shape in his mind. Although it was a bit risky and easy to guess, Orville felt that the other party should not be able to react now, and it seemed that he could take a risk.

He ordered Agricola: "Call Ivar when you go to the next city for supplies. I have something to discuss with him."