Eagle Byzantium

The curtain lifted and the bells rang. A happy Marlena walked out holding John's hand, ready to celebrate Alexios's great victory in the palace coup. So the emperor calmly asked the maid who delivered the message to step back and Anna took off her diary and put it into the pouch on her belt.

Before Marlena could speak, Alexios waved his hand, "Now that the rebellious Macaulinus and many members of the Ducas family are still on the run, there are many matters in the imperial capital that need to be handled by me. So. I will discuss important matters with Xiaoniao, Yu Moguan, and others in the outer court immediately. You and John should rest first."

Marlena was a little dismayed when she heard the emperor's words, but John's eyes embedded in his black skin were clearly shining, as if he was not very interested in his father's consolation at all, but held it firmly. The adoptive mother’s pink and smooth arms. Alexios did not see the subtlety of this expression, but it was caught in the eyes of the eunuch standing by. But Nicodemya just coughed twice and made no next move. He had been immersed in the palace all his life. , of course I understand what can be suspected and what cannot.

In the outer court, Meles had respectfully prepared the transcriber and pen and ink. "Do you have any definite information about Caesar's escape direction?" the emperor asked casually.

"He didn't cross the sea because he himself was afraid. After all, the western part of Asia Minor is almost entirely the territory of the Tefris Party and the Sultan of Konya, so he was running quickly towards the west of the capital."

"Will he go to Stephen Gawain's red-handed Dalian company?" the emperor asked, a little uneasy, "If so, it will make me troublesome." After all, Macaulinus Dukas still has The qualifications to claim power on the throne of the empire are to collude with Gawain, a cunning barbarian, and even the entire world of the Catholic Church. It's really hard to handle.

The little bird chuckled and shook his head, "If you are right, he should have gone to Brenus or even to the Norman leader Bohemond."

"Well, the two armies are connected end to end." Alexios couldn't help laughing when he heard the trusted eunuch's judgment, and his heart settled down. "My brother-in-law, from the bottom of his heart, he thought that Breanus was Anna's fiancé and Titicius was his domestic slave, so he would support him wholeheartedly. What's even more interesting is Bohemond's attitude. ...I can’t wait to see this interesting drama.”

"So, about Caesar's fields and workshops in Thrace, Gallipoli and the province of Macedonia. And the group of Plonian tax collectors he supported..." At this moment, the loyal emperor Melais, the Mexican official, carefully asked His Majesty for his opinion on the punishment.

The emperor raised his head, as excited as if his long-cherished wish had finally come true, "All those who have entered the Imperial Property Department, including the monasteries related to Macaulinus, and more than eight monks will be dealt with accordingly, and will be dealt with by the Chief Comptroller later. Burrill will be uniformly distributed to my newly captured and surrendered barbarians (Pechenegs, Cumans, Bulgars, Abagis, etc.). Save a lot of money for the national treasury We did rely heavily on mercenaries in the past, but that was only a matter of expediency. It was absolutely too late for the Normans to join the Eastern Expedition now that we could reorganize a national defense army composed mainly of soldiers and peasants. Got it , I will also revive the imperial army and conquer the territory of Asia Minor. As for the Plonians, I will move them back to Asia Minor from the provinces west of the imperial capital, and still contract land for them and have tax collection. right."

"His Majesty the Emperor is wise. As long as these Plonian landowners go to Asia Minor, they will naturally fight to the death against the Konya Turks in order to preserve their real estate and taxes. Your Majesty does not need to spend any military pay to feed them. It is difficult to collect money there anyway. To benefit." Xiaoniao immediately understood the emperor's meaning and agreed.

"Hmm. It would be better if these more than 300 Pulonian landowners could unite themselves and form an 'unpaid' army in Nicomedia and Bithynia to resist the Turks; even if they were defeated, at least I can also hold off that bastard dog like Giliki until When my army can raise its flag and go on an expedition, this group of people and the expeditionary force from West Francia will all serve as the king's vanguard." Alexios then smiled with satisfaction, "In addition, in the past two years, the treasury has become much richer. I can do it again."

"Then Burrill..."

"There is no need to pursue and fight fiercely. Firstly, it shows the generosity of Komnenos. Secondly, taxes and customs have to rely on their group of people. Mercenaries and military nobles do not understand these chores."

"Then His Majesty's sister..."

"Exercise leniency. After all, she is a close relative of mine. I have left her several farms for her retirement. If Theodora wants to enter a monastery, let her do it. Macaulinus's children should not be harmed, either by exile or as a monk. Can."

After lingering until midnight, Alexios, who was a little tired but high-spirited, came to Marlena's bed. Under the dim light, the indescribably beautiful chief lady, dressed in light gauze, looked at her lovingly. Lying on the couch, waiting for His Majesty's return.

"It seems that your face is a little flushed?" The emperor's somewhat cold hand caressed Marlena's somewhat hot cheek. The long and burning touch was accompanied by tiny beads of sweat, so he asked curiously .

"Nothing, I just used the Varangian bathing method in the bathroom to sweat and exercise. As I age, just like your majesty's beautiful palace, I have to spend a lot of money and energy to maintain it." Malena explained coquettishly.

Alexius didn't care much about it. The surroundings of the palace fell into black silence. The wind blew the curtains and hanging flags, making a humming sound, like the devil's laughter.

In front of the Gallipoli Fortress, the army led by Agafi and Mikhail, with the royal purple battle flag, was fiercely deployed in the fields outside the city, beating drums to provoke. In the small gate of the fortress, the local garrison Grand Duke Artabasdos, accompanied by Caesar Macolinus, rode out again with a pale face and fled to the west. Then, the emperor's troops took over this key place that controls the Strait of St. George.

On the other hand, another army of tax collectors and imperial officials, led by the returning veteran general Harold, marched into Thrace in a mighty force, destroying the pro-Caesar forces there. At the same time, Harold, following the emperor's order, posted documents in various towns:

A correct version of the book in 16-9!

"I have issued the Golden Edict, and hereby decree as follows: the remnants of Teflis have caused much trouble on the borders of the Empire, and should have been completely wiped out, and all the heretics should have been sent to the cross and the stake. However, I have mercy on you, and anyone who is willing to give up their heretical beliefs and convert to Orthodoxy and be baptized can rush to Philipsburg, Adrianople and other places as soon as possible to register and serve as a soldier guarding the borders of the Empire. The rest of the heretics cannot cross the border, and all of them will be exiled to the Danube and Wallachia, which is equivalent to exile, and they must pay annual tribute. I can temporarily spare your death penalty, but anyone who dares to cross the border will be killed without mercy!" (To be continued ~^~)