Eagle Byzantium

The helpless Brenus, although he didn't know what happened in the city of Bari, or that the barbarian appointed by the emperor as the commander of Aconis robbed the Red Hand Company, but whatever, this army was just a mercenary anyway. , so we can only ask for a boat to go to the city of Barry first.

A simple embankment was built on the sandbank in the bay outside the city of Bari. Wooden fences were erected horizontally and vertically on top and in the surrounding shallow water to prevent small boats from penetrating. Two towers stood on the edge of the lighthouse, which were equipped with missiles produced in Venice. stone machine, An old stern boat bought by the city of Bali with its own money was moored at a critical point entering the sea. On it stood menacing militia soldiers, holding crossbows and long sticks. There was also a small trebuchet on the bow, and the sides of the boat were also tied Carrying a hanging bag filled with stones.

Obviously, this is a "guardian tiger". When the enemy is not strong, they can serve as floating turrets and are more than enough to withstand it; but when the enemy is strong, the stern can completely sink itself and drop the stones it carries into the sea. , blocking the enemy's approach.

But the question is, who is the enemy?

Diognis on the ship tower was a hero guarding the city more than half a month ago. He hurried to the bow of the ship and was about to wave the flag and shout. A flying stone thrown from the opposite direction whizzed past the mast with a loud cracking sound. Half of the mast collapsed. The Grand Duke's entourage on the deck They staggered around in shock, and then the flying stone fell into the water on the right side of the ship, stirring up a rising water column. Brenus also held on to the railing in embarrassment, "How can this be done!"

"We are entering the harbor." Diognis, who regained his footing, waved a small flag with this content at the watchtower standing on the shore.

But no one welcomed him, and soon a small barge slowly rocked out from the side branch of the harbor. Diognis could see clearly that Gu Siyun was sitting on it holding a box. His new wife.

"This is given to you by the Grand Duke, the Governor of Bali City." Gu Siyun, who boarded the ship, handed the box to her husband.

"Don't talk nonsense, the official Grand Duke of Dyrasium is here now..." Diognis hurriedly reminded his wife, telling her to be silent, and then in front of Nikephoros Breanus , opened the box and took out the letter. The possession was handed over to the Grand Duke for review and judgment.

The rowing boat lowered its anchor. Breanus swayed slightly and sat on the seat in the tower. Looking at the letter, his face soon became a little surprised and embarrassed, "Your Excellency, I don't think we can enter this city. Archonius of the Lombard Company has been elected governor of Bari on his own initiative, and this harbor is no longer within my jurisdiction."

"Gawain..." Diognis understood instantly, his eyes began to become bloodshot and red, his fists clenched loudly, and his shoulders were shaking with anger.

"This is a gift from Grand Duke Gawain. He said that you should take care of yourself in the future. He was grateful for the teachings you gave him in front of Brachna Palace, but Gawain said that he was unwilling to learn the so-called rules of the empire. That Things are just a cage to restrain him from flying high, but he still hopes to fight side by side with you if there is a chance in the future." Gu Siyun said to her angry and embarrassed husband seriously. Then he took out the contents of the box, and Diognis saw that they were bottles of fine Italian wine and rolls of precious silk woven with six threads.

Diogenes angrily grabbed the jug with his hands and threw it into the waves of the harbor with a shout. Then he rushed to the stern of the ship, but he could only see the boundless sea water. Gawain's fleet has already headed towards the coast of Dalmatia, and is now probably approaching the city of Ragusa.

"Well, I think we should return to Durazo for the time being. While reporting this matter to His Majesty, we should also get in touch with the team commanded by Gawain as soon as possible. Understand his true whereabouts and purpose." Brenus He is actually a mild-tempered person, so he gives orders to his entourage calmly.

The setting sun spread over the sea, and a roar from Diogenes came from the stern of the ship. He raised his bow and arrow, and flew an arrow in the direction Gawain left. The arrow flew for a while, but fell in vain. After entering the sea, the guard lowered his head, leaving everyone with a lonely and discouraged figure.

When their ship returned to Durazzo, it was already very late. Soon, from the fields outside the city, Teticius brought less than 200 Cumans who had been "gifted" by Gawain and landed early. Mercenary cavalry and more than 400 Tecopo soldiers also entered the city gate one after another.

Brenus, Diogenes and Titicius then looked at each other in the Grand Duke's palace, "It would be better to send this matter to the Brachna Palace in the imperial capital as quickly as possible so that His Majesty can know it as soon as possible. "

The misty summer rain, mixed with the wind blowing from the strait, enveloped the entire palace and streets of Constantinople in a refreshing coolness.

At this time, under the part of the city wall adjacent to Salabria, Anna was sitting under the porphyry wall with eaves. She held her chin with her hands and sat on the steps. Several maids held umbrellas for the eldest princess. She was shielded from the wind and rain, but Anna watched with fascination at the nameless flower vines climbing up along the moss and cracks in the rock wall in the rain, "Your Royal Highness, the Queen is asking you to go to her palace to learn some etiquette before getting married. ”

"I won't go, tell mother, I am observing the growth of plants." Anna murmured in a low mood, "Get ready to drive immediately. I want to go to the academy of St. John's Church and spend a week alone in the study room to attend the ceremony. Life."

When the carriage and carriage were ready, Anna stood up unhappily, looked back at the looming city wall in the rain, then sighed twice and left.

In Marlena's bedroom, Alexios, who was wearing light silk clothing, angrily slapped the watch stamp reported from the front on the table, "The Lord really favors this barbarian who came out of nowhere, that guy like Very good Serge's guy allowed him to separatize the city of Bari, and he actually betrayed my love and usurped his official title. Like a bear that refused to accept discipline and shackles, he began to run rampant in the wilderness. It is absolutely unforgivable, and it will never be tolerated. !”

Marlena, the chief noblewoman of the palace who was wearing tulle and hanging exquisite jewelry, took the opportunity to come over and read the contents of the watch a few times, "If Gawain is allowed to do whatever he wants, his barbaric army will break through the defense The wasteland of Garr is likely to be close to Adrianople, which is the key to the imperial capital. "

The emperor naturally knew this, and there was no need for the woman to remind him, "Zahas was defeated and fled far away, so I should ask Isaac to come back with the army. Recently, the remnants of Teflis have been coming from Sinop in a steady stream. We crossed the sea, penetrated into Bulgar and Thrace, and began to prepare for a rebellion in Philipsburg, the heart of the empire. It is said that the remnants of the previous dynasty and the remnants of the Pecheneg army were involved, and I immediately led the army with Isaac. Guard Yard Fort Lyon not only defends the imperial capital from suppressing new rebellions, but also 'welcomes' the Frankish pilgrim troops who are coming one after another. It also has to be wary of this group of people. They must not be allowed to cause trouble on the imperial soil and must be sent away as soon as possible. These plague gods went to Xiaoya." Then, the emperor turned around and stroked his adoptive mother's cheek, "Since I caused the flood, I have to shoulder the responsibility of channeling it, and the same goes for Gawain."

In the sound of rain, Marlena's face was both flattering and murderous. "If Gawain can be used best by your majesty, if he shows any slightest disobedience, he should be executed decisively."

Alexios groaned, and then he drafted an order, "Immediately send an encyclical to Lord Bodin of Zatha, asking him to cooperate with Breanus to stop Gawain's large company of red hands after landing on land. ——In addition, let Isaac send a detachment of five thousand men to Brenus to frighten Gawain's troops. If the opponent dares to resist, he will be regarded as an enemy and annihilated. "

In the deep palace corridor, two maids carrying wine vessels and dinner plates clung to the wall quietly and nervously. After eavesdropping on the conversation between the emperor and the deputy empress dowager, one of them continued to walk in to serve. , one took the opportunity to sneak away quietly from the garden path.

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About two minutes later, the wet maid knelt in front of Queen Irene, "Stephen Gawain is coming to the imperial capital soon in the name of pilgrimage, and he is bringing thousands of troops with him?" The queen's eyes were bright, and she stood up suddenly, "The horn of the decisive battle is finally blowing..." At the same time, her words became lower and lower, and she understood that now it was a life-or-death moment:

Immediately the emperor and his brother Sebastocrat will leave Adrianople. According to the rules, the emperor will arrange a regent before leaving to be responsible for staying in the imperial capital and taking charge of the palace and the imperial guards. Now There are only two candidates for this regent - one is herself. If Alexius chooses her, then she will take the opportunity to join her brother Caesar Macaulinus and the imperial minister in the palace. Bury Er, he decided to elect Anna as the queen, creating a fait accompli and establishing a dynasty belonging to the Doukas family. In addition, Anna was engaged to Brenus of Dythura and was Gawain's patron. There was no need for foreign aid. There is no one to worry about; the other one is Marlena. If Alexius chooses her, the result will be self-evident. The future heir will be John, and the Dukas family and his daughter Anna will forever lose their coveted throne. Chance.

Irene, who was pacing anxiously, planned countless plans in her mind. The best one was to let her brother, who was "holding" the strait in Gallipoli, lead the guards into the imperial capital, and then gather the Ducasse family. The huge parties in the government and the opposition forced Alexios to choose himself as regent and Anna as the heir to the crown prince.

But if this happens, will a bloody conflict break out? Will it... Irene's heart, which was already like a Thracian cave, recalled that when she was twelve years old, she ignorantly wore brand-new clothes, I walked past the big tree in front of the family manor and hit it by mistake. When I hit the ground close to the fence of the hunting garden, I saw Alexios there, riding horses and shooting deer with his father. The sun was so bright and dazzling at that time. At that time, Irene raised her head and could smell it. The faint fragrance that makes people's hearts beat in the wind.

"Get ready, I'm going to meet with His Majesty tomorrow to discuss some matters." Finally, Irene told the maid.

(End of this volume) (To be continued ~^~)