Eagle Byzantium

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Of course, Tancred didn't know that Gawain's fleet was following the Holy Sea and saw the city of Athens with white buildings, but this only showed that it would take some effort to reach Corinth where Ingrina was.

In ancient times, Corinth was a city-state sandwiched between the Ionian Sea and the Holy Sea, guarding the passage from the Peloponnese to the Thessaly region. There has never been such a narrow area with such important geographical strategic significance. The two ports on the east and west sides of the city-state transferred countless wealth from the two oceans, a large amount of raw silk from the distant east, and sales to Italy and Sicily. The Mesadini family, to which Eudoxia's sister Ingrina married when she was a girl, can be regarded as the oldest family in the entire Roman Empire. Their ancestors were one of the first "honorary members of the Senate" who followed Constantine the Great to the new imperial capital. Although they gradually gave way to the new military nobles who rose in Asia Minor and Thrace in the political arena, and their glory faded a lot, the Mesadini family eventually mastered and monopolized the ancient silk weaving and sericulture technology in the long history, which became the secret of their family's unshakable wealth.

Emperor Alexius gave his family the privilege of operating, even if the silk weaving workshops in Moria and Corinth were named "Royal", but that was just a name. The first-class nobles in the Byzantine imperial capital did not express their enthusiasm for silk fabrics produced in Greece. They were still proud to wear imported goods directly from the Tang Dynasty. However, for the numerous middle-class bureaucrats in the capital, or various merchants from Italy, the inexpensive and high-quality "Messadini silk" became the first choice. Not only that, even the emperor himself used this silk when paying officials and palace guards.

More wealth is a good thing in this chaotic world, but it will undoubtedly bring disaster. After the Battle of Durazzo, Bohemond's detachment swept through the Thessaly region like a huge black comet, brushing against Corinth. Fortunately, it and the emperor Alexius were defeated under the city of Larissa, and they did not have time to take care of the silk weaving workshops in Corinth when they fled. But thirteen years later, another small detachment belonging to Bohemond came.

In the ancient city-state, in the church transformed from the ancient pagan Corinthian temple, the bells rang for many days, and messengers kept flying to bring bad news: the Normans captured the Lepanto and Patras fortresses on both sides of the western bay; the Normans' vanguard cavalry had appeared in the suburbs of Larissa; the Normans' flying leopard flag began to flutter in the mountain pass twelve miles outside Athens.

The smoke of war rose everywhere, the sunset fell in the bay over there, and soon rose from the Corinthian Bay over here. What was falling rapidly was the hearts of the workers and peasants in the city-state. No matter what era, the hearts of the people here are easily shaken. St. Paul had previously written a special article to denounce the depravity of this land: the Temple of Love in Corinth was full of "prostitutes" waiting for sale, and patrons who came with a lot of money. Money and lust were like the two wings of the devil, soaring freely in the sky of this land.

Now Ingrina also wants to have two wings to move the whole city away like a magic trick. This beautiful lady with blonde hair similar to her sister is also a widow for two years. She wakes up every day in a gorgeous mansion with ancient Corinthian columns and sculptures, enjoying the service of sixteen hairdressing technicians and servants. She combs her hair like a pagan god of love, then puts on a black silk veil sadly to cover her pretty eyebrows and eyes, and then puts on a black dress to cover her snow-white skin, which can not only indicate her widowhood, but also exudes a strong smell of courtship like a black rose - the former can help her reject people, and the latter can help her attract people. In short, the choice is hers, and it is the best.

The hired farmers and female workers in her manor and workshop privately call her "Rose of Ripe Silk". "Rose of Ripe Silk" points out her fair appearance, and "Rose" points out her current identity and the feeling she gives people.

So now, what Ingridna was worried about was whether the group of Norman bandits with yellow or red beards were looking for her fame and wealth. Every day, after she finished washing up, she would sit on a sedan chair surrounded by servants and go to the Corinthian church to pray.

The prayer finally worked. In the old city of Seri called Cadmea, which was guarding the pass outside the wasp waist of Corinth, a declining Greek nobleman named Mezichos gathered hundreds of militias and held on to it, preparing to fight Tancred.

Then, Ingridna quickly sent a letter to her servant, expressing her willingness to provide grain and money to this brave young nobleman. But then, Mezichos wrote back, saying that he hoped to marry this widow whose beauty and wealth could rival a country.

Ingridna coldly refused to be marched faster by the Norman knights, but she still had to rely on Mezichos - by this day, the two sides were still very unhappy and deadlocked.

So when Gawain's fleet arrived at the Corinthian Bay, she suddenly felt that she had another card to play. At least she thought she could hold on until the arrival of the emperor's army. At this time, Gawain stood on the bow deck with a dignified manner, constantly issuing loud instructions in the basic Greek language. The Saracens and Greek sailors lined up pitifully, carrying baggage ashore on their backs. The Italian company was mainly infantry, with strict flags, and they camped and rested in an open space at the dock in an orderly manner. The Turkic team of Taitishius was much more embarrassed. Their horses were damaged a lot during the voyage. They were all arguing around the military judge in the army, demanding that the earl commander use money to make up for it.

"What a dirty barbarian!" This was the judgment of Ingrina, who stood in front of the Corinthian Church and overlooked the entire harbor. She had now completely forgotten that her hair was also golden and she was also a female barbarian in the eyes of the orthodox faction of the empire.

But out of courtesy and respect for her sister, Ingrina still wore a black rose-like mourning dress that night, sat in her own house, and entertained the officers.

The first person to come in was the impetuous guard officer Diogenes. Ingrina glanced at him through her veiled eyes: Crescent Church turban, tattered boots, disgusting waisted Saracen robe, dark face, and then the widow invited him to the table indifferently. Diogenes looked at the luxurious and exquisite furnishings around him in surprise, rubbed his hands, shrank a little, and sat down in the corner.

The next person to come in was Titishius, who covered his face with an embroidered cloak, and then untied it to greet Ingrina, almost frightening this delicate flower to death, and she didn't even dare to say hello - but Titishius was very tactful and sat down next to Diogenes.

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