Eagle Byzantium

"Stop chasing. Most of them have set up ambushes in the mountains leading to Fernburg. We are not familiar with the geography here. Since we have dealt a heavy blow to the enemy, we can just clear the ownership of this passage." Following the guards, Gawain came to a messy and miserable battlefield, and gave orders to the generals holding riding whips and scepters.

The road between the reeds, streams and valleys was about two and a half kilometers long. It was now covered with corpses and wounded people, as well as arrows stuck in the ground so densely that there was nowhere to set foot. So the cavalry company After seizing the hillside, the soldiers jumped off their horses, held up their shields, carefully avoided the scattered cold arrows, and began to move closer to Sven's direction.

Because the flag of the Danish royal family is still erected there, although it has been riddled with holes by the arrows of the Roma Turks.

The 1,500 elite soldiers who were the prince's proudest soldiers were carelessly and accidentally taught what "Anatolian danger" is by the thunder blow of "Sureman" - half of them were plotted to death. Corpses were lying in the wilderness, and many had their heads cut off. There were no more than three hundred able-bodied people who could still walk and fight with swords beside Sven.

"Florina!" Prince Sven wiped the blood from his face and shouted in shock and anxiety. He wanted to ride a horse, but all the horses were shot to death. The retinues around him formed columns on the left and right, sandwiching him in the middle. , walking towards the direction from which the reinforcements came.

Finally, the two groups of soldiers met in an area full of mules, horses and human corpses. After informing each other of their identities, Sven continued to run up the hillside, eager to find but afraid of seeing Florina's body.

Until a general riding a silver-white war horse and taller than the Danes came from the opposite side and said in Oy language, "The Florina you mentioned is safe. She is under the protection of my guards behind me." rest."

Grunting sound. Sven then knelt down on the ground in exhaustion, looking at the ferocious and bloody battlefield, and then continued to hold the hilt of the sword and thanked the Almighty God.

Dozens of general horsemen, after crossing this road of death, continued their search in the direction of the Hot Water Lake, as Sven told Gawain. There are also more than 30,000 civilians led by Count Reinstein stationed there. Then the cavalry discovered the most terrifying and tragic sight: the entire huge hot water lake appeared in front of them, and the reeds everywhere were soaked with blood. The lake water had turned red, blending with the bloody sunset in the sky.

previously. Eight hundred Danishmend cavalry swept through this place and then retreated, slaughtering the unarmed civilians who were bathing here due to fever, filth, and weakness. They were hacked with arrows, knives, and horses. Trampled, the broken bodies of men and women and The heads were scattered in the wilderness until they were drowned and floated in the heat of the lake. (They saw the Turkic cavalry attacking. They were so frightened that they hid under the water and drowned.) Following the surging waves, they were washed to the fork of the river. , stacked layer by layer. shocking.

On several dilapidated vehicles, there were still the bodies of children who had been thrown through by darts, and their luggage had been burned or taken away. These children were originally in the car, pushed by their parents and family members, and sat on piles of luggage, confused. Dozing off in a daze. When they wake up and look around, they will ask "Have they arrived at the Holy City?" Now they no longer have to ask such doubts.

"Are they all dead?" A brigade cavalryman asked. asked with a trembling voice.

"How is that possible?" Another veteran who was from the Magyar people replied, "There are more than 30,000 people. Although there are many corpses lying here, they are only a small part of them. Most of them must have fled and hid. "

The veteran was right. The cavalry continued to move forward, and more and more survivors slowly came closer with their hands raised. Count Reinstein, who was so frightened that he was only half alive, was also found among the crowd. : About six thousand people were massacred, and more than two thousand were missing, probably kidnapped or drowned. The rest came one after another before nightfall, like a flock of sheep that had just been attacked by a wolf.

Gawain's army, together with the remnants of Sven and Reinstein's troops, gathered together and camped for the night outside the reeds on a safe high ground by the stream. As for the more than 20,000 remaining civilians, they could only be placed on the flat area nearby, hoping that the Turks and Isaurian bandits would not launch a sneak attack after dark.

In fact, this expectation was fulfilled. After arriving at night, Gawain's patrol cavalry met Hajib on horseback in the valley half a mile away. He asked to see the "Grand Duke" alone.

"This time the Sultan kept his promise. When he saw the Grand Duke's battle flag, the Sultan retreated." In the Fei tent, Hajib knelt down in front of Gawain respectfully and said this.

But Gawain was silent.

Hajib groaned twice. He now also knew that it was better to deal with the person in front of him directly, so he continued, "The Sultan hopes to negotiate peace with the Grand Duke and extend the verbal promise. A pact for brothers to help each other.”

"Brothers, there is no need to help each other. I think it is more acceptable to benefit each other instead." Gawain also spoke frankly, and the nature of the businessman came to the surface again, "In the mountainous areas of Isauria and Phrygia, Suleman You can move freely and I won’t interfere.”

Anyway, this mountainous area is the most suitable for Turkic people to move around. Moreover, it also creates an isolation zone between Gawain, Alexios and Prince John.

"Yes." Before Hajib came, he felt that this statement might be unbelievable to others, but for Gawain, it was still very promising.

"Sign a secret agreement and recognize my control over the Cappadocia mountainous area, and I also recognize your control over the Isaurian mountainous area." Gawain then reported the first condition.

He didn't feel at ease just by controlling the Cilicia Gate. Who would really take their oath with the emperor seriously? He needs to occupy the entire central area of ​​Cappadocia. He can protect Cilicia and Seleucia in the south, Paphlagonia or Danishmund in the north, and take Ruben's retreat in the east. West can advance into Nicaea.

"Okay." Hajib did not hesitate, because Giliki asked him before he came, and now we only have a few thousand people, holding some unstable Greek bandits and mountain people, and the negotiations with Gawain are all over. It's air versus air, as long as they don't interfere with each other for the time being, they can expand freely.

Check out the 16-9 book bar to see the correct version!

But Gawain also knew that this promise was completely meaningless "division of power", and then he entered the real link, "After I have taken care of the Danish pilgrims, I will withdraw to Seleucia. Your master, the Sultan, can continue We are active here, but the market of Arahant Monastery will be open regularly. I need you to import a large amount of iron ingots and iron sand collected from mountains and rivers. Correspondingly, I can also return the materials and coins you need. ”

This request is based on the strategic resources that Gawain currently lacks the most. The Ordnance Department cannot always import expensive iron from other areas to make weapons, horse gear, and agricultural tools.

The two hit it off, of course in a secret state, "Give me my best wishes for the health and beauty of Mrs. Shahnameh." After signing his name, Gawain said to Hajib, "Of course, this matter cannot be allowed to happen at all. Any third-party force knows about it, but I’m not afraid of it. It’s just a reason to kill Suleilman.” (To be continued~^~)