Eagle Byzantium

Anna felt relieved. She understood that what Gawain said was right. Entering Constantinople might just be the beginning of the journey. "Since we have received Malena's confession, we should inform the entire army and the officials and civilians in the imperial capital that the criminal has been executed. We must preserve the order of the capital and wait for our army to enter the city."

Then she ordered that the 10,000 laborers and craftsmen gathered in Prusa be divided into two groups. Six thousand people went to the position between the Juquintina Palace and the imperial capital's coastal defense wall to build a forward military station to support the team to cross the sea; the other four thousand people went to Gallipoli to renovate the fortress there and hold the Heliston Strait to prevent the Venetian and Sicilian ships that had entered the Euxin Sea from retreating.

Then, many jaeger light boats carrying Maldet sailors began to patrol and search everywhere in the inland sea, looking for the whereabouts of "False Emperor John", while the remaining several brigades crossed the sea and camped around the tombs, palaces and wilderness outside the imperial capital to settle the refugees.

Gawain and Anna remained motionless, waiting for news from the imperial capital and the battlefield in Thrace.

During this period, John's power collapsed one by one, but it was very rapid.

First, the 3,000 Hungarian soldiers in the Gallipoli Fortress surrendered, and their military flags, armor, horses and weapons were all confiscated. Then the officers of the Opskin Brigade gave each of them three tasso silver coins and sent them "back home along the way they came."

Then the small teams that John arranged to stay in various places in Constantinople also walked out of the city gate, and also laid down their weapons and surrendered in front of the wooden fence of the siege brigade, and were settled.

The most frightened at this time were the Venetian expatriates in the Pella commercial port area of ​​the city. While they were defending the walls to resist the foreign merchants and the mobs in the capital, they were secretly preparing to flee. However, there were more than tens of thousands of children and women. Where would so many ships come from? How could they be safe on the way home? The cries in Pella shook the earth. Consul General Molitor was in a state of panic. While cursing the emperor, he sent envoys to negotiate with Gawain and beg for peace.

Almost at the same time, the Hierapolis Brigade, under the command of the Sicilian Decius, began to advance towards Adrianople: once they captured this place, the last field group in Eastern Thrace, which was nominally subordinate to John, would be annihilated and destroyed.

In a manor in the Ducas Valley in Western Thrace, the blinded former Caesar Macolinus also gathered all his clansmen and close Pronian landowners and said to them in public, "Prepare to surrender and welcome the new master of the empire. Our Anna will become the empress of Rome."

So the camps and battlefields around the port of Media were desolate. The first to learn about the change in Sutri was Prince Roger, who was horrified. "The Pope fell apart like this? John is finished like this? Damn Henry, vicious Gawain, he is really a master of swordsmanship. I didn't expect that we stabbed him in the back, but he stabbed us in the vitals with his backhand..."

Whether it was Gonletto or other Sicilian Norman noble officers, they all stood beside the little prince in panic, groping for a way to escape.

"Retreat by land in Thrace? Don't joke!" The Prince of Sicily in front of the map scolded everyone for being stupid, "Across Thrace and Macedonia, there are rivers and forests everywhere. Besides, the enemy has already begun to attack Adrianople, just to cut off our retreat. If we take this road, we will be completely annihilated, and we won't even be able to reach Thessaloniki."

Roger made a prompt decision, and he was indeed bold. "It just so happens that Abh's fleet has also arrived here. Relying on the advantage at sea, the Razor Company and my guards will board the ship, and then fight back from the Bosporus, Marimara, and Heliston, and go straight to Athens from the Holy Sea. Don't even go to Thessaloniki, because the garrison there may rebel at any time."

Everyone shouted that this was too risky.

"Ten out of ten will die by land, and there is still a 30% chance of retreating by sea. You can wish yourself good luck, and we'll see you in Athens." Prince Roger replied honestly.

As a result, Golleto started to curse bitterly. He said that he and his men were doing well in Crete, but were deceived by Roger to die.

"I didn't deceive anyone. It was the Greek emperor who was too weak. My ancestors once fought to Thrisa. Emperor Alexius, who had suffered a great defeat before, was able to launch a counterattack and drive us back to Italy." Roger spread his hands and boldly lured and pacified Golleto, who was almost going berserk. "I don't think you need to go back to Crete. Once this place collapses, the Venetians will have to rely on themselves to hold on to the isolated city of Gandiya. I'm afraid they won't be able to survive for long. If we can break out, even if you only have a thousand people left, we can take over Athens, Corinth, Thebes and other places have declared themselves kings, and then become the vassal of our Kingdom of Sicily. We will continue to support you from the Strait of Otranto. "

Before Gonletto said yes or no, several guards lifted the curtain and reported to Roger, "The Greek emperor abandoned his capital and ran here. He is now in the camp of General Taitius."

Roger was obviously surprised when he heard this report. It was so interesting. It seemed that John was really at the end of his rope. He couldn't find a big ship to take him away, so he had to come here first. Everyone was gathered together. The Prince of Sicily was thoughtful, and slowly moved his finger to the tip of his nose. Then he pointed and ordered, "Leave the Greek emperor behind, we will board the ship first, and tell everyone to throw away the heavy luggage. Quick, speed up!"

Over there, in the camp of Titishius, General Nobi knelt on the ground in fear and helplessness. In front of him, Emperor John was in a state of desolation and panic, which was almost the same as his father Alexius before his death.

Titishius really saw some kind of fateful reincarnation.

"How many soldiers are left..." John sat awkwardly in a chair.

"Two thousand Hungarian soldiers, but they may escape and surrender at any time; there are also Mikhail's outer palace guards, but they may mutiny at any time; in addition, there are only 900 Komaloy, Tekopo and Vadarite cavalry under my direct command." Titishius answered truthfully.

A correct version can be found in the 16-9 book forum!

After listening to this, John stood up and walked a few steps quickly, then jumped to the map table and looked at it again and again. "There are seven or eight large warships anchored in the harbor of Media. I ordered them to come here before. Although Gawain's small boats had previously delivered additional supplies and troops, when this fleet appeared, his small boats hid. So, Taitisius, go and inform the prince of Sicily and the Venetian mercenary general, and ask them to escort me on board the ship and go by sea. In this way, there is still a great hope to break through the enemy's blockade and retreat to Crete or Thessaloniki."

At this point, the emperor still did not give up.