Eagle Byzantium

So Alexius kept praying to the Lord, his ancestors, and St. Theodore on his way to the battle, and sent letters to Venice and Zata like snowflakes, asking Feleye and Bordin to send troops as soon as possible to intercept Gawain in Lasnia. Even if they could not destroy the Red Hand Company, they had to trap the runaway brown bear.

But the development of the situation has exceeded the emperor's foresight and control.

On May 11, in the Venetian Consul's Hall, Feleye, wearing a golden hoop hat, was standing on a podium made of Dalmatian pine wood. In front of him stood the city-state's parliamentarians and representatives of public opinion, "What if Venice loses the Adriatic Sea?"

There was a loud roar from below, indicating that everyone could not accept this result.

"Yes, we cannot tolerate sharing this beautiful blue ocean with other maritime states, so after urgent consultations with the advisory group, I decided to join forces with the Governor of Bari, Grand Duke Stephen Gawain, to dispatch 70 galleys and hire a strong land company to besiege Zata with Gawain. This will be a crucial step for the state to dominate the Adriatic Sea. We must distinguish our allies and enemies." After Feleyer finished speaking this resolution concisely, he slammed the hammer heavily on the podium.

The crowd below quickly became noisy, and most of the councilors agreed with the consul's plan. They were discussing and voting with each other to decide which company to hire to go to Zata, because most merchants hated Zata in their hearts. It was too close to the gate of Venice, and its prince Constantine Bertin was too ambitious. Competition and hostility between the two city-states in trade were also the main color.

Some members of the Senate also expressed dissatisfaction. They shouted to the consul, "Why can't Venice stay out of this? Why can't we use merchant ships to gain greater benefits?"

"Dear people, no copper coin is born out of thin air in the world. If you have one more, the other side will have one less, so enemies will always be more than friends. My move can be said to have laid the foundation for Venice's prosperity in the next 30 years. Zata must be destroyed. If you still have questions, I can tell you that I am the commander of this expeditionary force and will personally go to Zata to command the battle." Ferreille replied ambitiously and worldly.

Finally. The Senate approved the plan, and the "Razor Company" with 500 heavy infantry and 700 crossbowmen was selected. Its commander was a seasoned adventurer named Gonletto Salgemons. He and his mercenary company had been serving various employers between Pavia and Ferreille, and their contract with Henry IV had recently expired. This guy never took prisoners after victory, which was also a very advantageous feature.

"Then, hoist the Lion of St. Mark on the mast of my flagship and prepare to go to war!" Feleyer waved his hand and ordered generously.

On both sides of the Getai Mountain, the Red Hand Company and the Zata Army were still confronting each other. Gawain extorted 3,000 small silver coins minted in Venice. As the money for the redemption of the body by the Bodin Fang, Gawain then held a "small reward party" in the camp and distributed all the money to the soldiers as a prize. After the craftsman company also arrived. The solid camp on the hillside at the bottom of the Stone Valley began to be erected (not on the ground, because they were afraid that the silt at the estuary would induce plague). The military servants also began to fence the livestock that provided meat and milk in the impact open space at the estuary of the valley, and used ropes to walk the horses and release the eagles.

Gawain was completely calm, and it was only then that Bourdin made the correct judgment: the supplies of the Red Hand Company were very sufficient, and there were still goods being delivered from the sea.

But he could not retreat, because he was afraid that the elite cavalry in Gawain's hands would pursue and seize his military supplies.

Until an urgent letter came from Zata: the cunning Venetians sent troops!

"Asshole, appeal to Emperor Komnenos and deprive Feleye of his title of Dalmatian noble. Ask the emperor's troops to come over as soon as possible - no, no. Alexius also regards me as a thorn in his side." Bourdin was so anxious that he was incoherent.

If the emperor's army enters Lasnia and Zachlunia, it will be even more difficult to get them to leave. You have to know that the reason why Berdin was able to maintain independence for 20 years was entirely due to Komnenos's inability to reach him. If he were to face Komnenos now, the Roman emperor would not hesitate to defeat him, tie him up with a dog chain, and parade him in front of the Great Palace in Constantinople to humiliate him.

"First, take your army back to Pskov, our base, where Your Highness and your father were crowned. This fortress is close to the gathering place of various tribes, and it is close to the mountains and rivers, with strong walls. Wait until Gawain and the Venetians leave before making a comeback. It won't take long." Minister Radomir suggested.

But Berdin was unwilling to give up: Zata is the best port in the entire kingdom and the source of money. If we abandon it, it would be fine if we gave it to Gawain, who would at most rob it and leave; but if the Venetians also took action, it would be troublesome. They would definitely occupy Zata, humiliate and rape this "beautiful girl" of the Adriatic Sea, establish a colony there, and station troops there. It would be extremely difficult to take it back at that time.

"Leave the prince's guards behind, I will take the other troops and quickly withdraw to Zata City to set up defenses! Don't worry, this seaport city is very solid, and this prince will not easily give it up to those lagoon robbers."

On the second day, Gawain yawned, stretched, and walked out of his tent. Sabrina and Quicksilver both ran over to flatter him. Gawain patted this one, touched that one, and put the two together. After I was calmed down, I saw across the valley, Zhata's army began to retreat along the street. The royal guards of Yishui, with eye-catching armor, stood in front of Gaofu in a strict formation.

Andodat, holding on to the pen and paper, half-knelt in front of him, asked for the Grand Duke's order.

"Our army will break camp and follow the Za'tar people. The whole army will ensure good meals. Then the archers will move forward and the cavalry will stay behind and continue to advance towards Za'tar City." Gawain laughed, nonchalantly.

On the coastal passage to Zhata City, the royal guards retreated for about eight miles every day, while Gawain's red-hand Dalian team advanced for six miles. Then sporadic and low-intensity bow and arrow battles broke out between the two sides. .

A few days later, the Red Hand Dalian team arrived in front of Zata City. The first thing that greeted them was a circle of mountains blocking the eastern part of the city. Four huge fortresses stood on it, connected by walls, and each fortress had There are city gates and trenches, as well as steep and narrow mountain roads leading down.

The Red Hand Dalian team set up a formation in the plains under the mountains. When Gawain saw this formation, he knew that it was impossible to seize the seaport city from this side, but the current military situation is: the entire Venice has sent almost all its elites, seventy A galley, ten thousand sailors, and an elite mercenary company, even the governor-general was personally in command.

"Our Dalian team must join forces with Felaye to capture this city, because by winning the city of Za'tar, the Dalian team will be prosperous, and from then on, we will face the Slavic generals in the entire Rasnia and Sava River areas. There is no big battle to fight." In the Grand Duke's tent, Gawain finished his work and waved his horse-headed scepter, saying to the brotherhood and generals, Then he saw the strange expressions on everyone's faces, and suddenly remembered, and added, "The supplies from Bali City will also be delivered by sea smoothly, and another section of the road to the pilgrimage to the Lord can be opened." Now. He was relieved when he saw the members of the brotherhood: After all, we are pilgrims, not out to catch the autumn wind.

"No, no, no, it will be difficult to capture the city of Za'tar like this. As a sailor, I am very familiar with the terrain here." At this time, Andreev Yergo stood up and said, and then he stood on the sand table He made an analogy with his fingers, "Just taking these four fortresses and climbing over the mountain won't work. The promontory where Zata is connected to the land has been cut across by a trench, and seawater has been poured into it. It is protected by a city wall. Even if we have ships, we cannot capture it because it is too narrow. Even Zata People in this city also have to cross the bridge above when they go to land."

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"Then tell me what you think. The enemy's lesson is right in front of you. Bohemond has been attacking Amalfi City for several months and has not been able to take it down." Gawain's mood became heavy at this moment. What he just said was different from It's a strategy, but it's better to say it's just to boost morale.

In this era, Gawain wished he could master several technologies in his world. If there were heavy artillery and the like, the fortress of Zatar City would be overturned with just a few shots, and then the army would swarm in with flags flying. Bourdin in the city would bow down and make peace. But he understands better that these are all delusions now.

"No Grand Duke, Amalfi and Za'tar are different." Andreev's words suddenly aroused Gawain's entry point, so the Grand Duke touched his chin and looked carefully at the tattoo in front of him. The sand table model of the tower city was made by Giovanni. It was obviously not as precise as Diogenes's, but it was still usable. I tried to recall what the city of Amalfi looked like.

"The city of Amalfi itself is surrounded by promontories and mountains. The capes there also provide it with the equivalent of a city wall. Therefore, the Pisa fleet only arrives against the capes and cannot directly attack the city. Attack, and Bohemond on land could not attack the mountain fortress, so he had been besieging it for several months and still could not win. Hand..." Gawain thought secretly, "And the city of Zatar, this long and narrow promontory, is much smaller than Amalfi. It is connected to the land more like a path than a natural In addition, there is a long U-shaped harbor branch between the island where Zatar City is located and the mainland..."

As he spoke, Gawain moved his fingers a few times, and his eyes began to ignite with fire, "Brothers, we will have something to do soon!" As he said, he couldn't help but snap his fingers and stand on the Giovanni next to him was stunned. (To be continued ~^~)