Eagle Flag of Epirus

"Enough, Valence, I didn't let you intervene in this matter, don't stay here and continue to be embarrassed. The update is the fastest." With a whisper, the majestic emperor spoke again, but he repelled the guards around him. Commander, then the man looked at his younger brother and walked forward slowly, and said in a low, inaudible voice:

"Well, now there are only two of us. Tell me directly what is the intention. There is no need to get into the situation like this, Theodor, you know that we can't do anything without the help of the Genoese."

"Your Majesty, what do you mean by this?"

"Everything is enough, Theodore, you let this Chincha barbarian do this for nothing more than bargaining. Tell your real terms, stop being so high-sounding, don't you be like me? Is it clear? You know, angering the Genoese is not good for you or me." Emperor Mikhail whispered coldly, in his opinion all this is the ghost of his own brother... Even though he was annoyed by the incident, he still felt that he had made some concessions. After all, he is determined to win the alliance with Genoa this time. As long as he has the help of this force to check and balance the Venetians, then the name of Constantinople and the real emperor will be at hand. So even in the face of this incompatible brother, Mikhail is willing to make unconditional concessions.

Hearing such words, Earl Theodor couldn't help but have a subtle look on his face, and then lowered his voice and asked, "Oh, conditions, then what conditions can you give me, Your Majesty?"

"Huh, are you still not satisfied that you are the commander of the attack on Thessaloniki this time?" Mikhail sneered slightly.

However, Prince Theodore replied to the emperor in front of him without changing his face: "One yard is one yard. Since it is my person who won the competition, isn't it what I deserve?"

"It’s not a good thing for people to be too greedy, Theodore, you are still the same! But I’ve already expected it to be like this. As long as you agree to my request and don’t intervene in troubles, our previous holidays will be completely wiped out. I can also issue an edict to recognize your rule of Athens in Moriah, including the restoration of the lost part of Thessaloniki in the future will also become your fief. When I am truly crowned in Constantinople, you will be The co-ruling emperor of the future empire is second only to us in power."

For such a generous offer, even Justinian, who was next to me, was surprised to hear it. I didn’t expect that he would spare no effort to win over Emperor Theodor Mikhail, and if he was really someone else. I'm afraid it's very honorable and convenient to dazzle Zhi.

However, Justinian smelled a hint of sugar-coated cannonballs. As for Prince Theodor on the side, it was naturally not that easy to be fooled.

"Morlia and Athens? I remember it seems to be the territory of Duke Anastasius!"

But Emperor Mikhail smiled meaningfully and said, "Isn't he an old man who is in his declining years? And I heard that his life is in the dying. This kind of deceased old guy can't last long. I don't think I'm here. In Agrinon, close at hand, you will have no thoughts at all. Haven't your two field companies been stationed in Argos all the time, Theodor?"

The harsh words fell into Justinian’s ears, and an unnamed anger rose from the young man’s heart. He did not expect that Mikhail Ducas’s lower limit was far beyond his expectations, but the warning in his heart was In the end, Justinian's impulse was suppressed, and he forbeared it.

And Prince Theodor, who seemed to be aware of this, took a meaningful look at Justinian, then closed his gaze back, and said to his emperor: "But there is still a Justinian there. ,His Majesty!"

"Are you talking about him? A foreign boy, except that he was once an attendant of Emperor Muzfius, I have already checked his identity, he doesn't even have a noble surname, since I can appoint him The governor of Moria can also be deprived at any time. How about this condition should not be bad for you?" In Mikhail Dukas’s opinion, no one would refuse such a temptation, even if it’s his brother. Odor has always had a heart of disobedience, and it is impossible for him to refuse an opportunity to take the opportunity to strengthen his strength. Even though there might be troubles after this, but with the support of the Genoese, he didn't have to worry at all. It was only a matter of time before he could deal with his disrespectful brother. And by doing so, it happened to take this opportunity to solve Moria's Justinian by the way. Although that kid hadn't made him sleep and eat well, he was a threat after all.

Such a vicious plan could kill two birds with one stone. Unfortunately, although Mikhail was determined to win, Justinian was right in front of him at the moment, and Theodor would not be such a short-sighted person.

"Let me refuse, my dear brother! I am not interested in your terms at all."

With a trace of joking, Prince Theodor categorically rejected the emperor's extremely generous offer, leaving only Mikhail standing there in amazement.

"What?" The surprised Mikhail Dukas watched his brother walking away in surprise, and the next second, Prince Theodor's generous statement suddenly sounded from the venue:

"All of you gathered in Rusnina, whether you are aristocrats or ordinary people, I do not want to make a lengthy speech here to comment on some of the issues that you are familiar with, because we have experienced the empire together in the past two years. The darkest period in history. Fortunately, we fought together and worked hard, and this was able to see the dawn of hope: so I don’t talk about the dangerous situation we are facing now, nor that our patriotic fighters bravely resisted us. The battle of the Latin invasion. The first thing I want to say is to discuss how to restore our great empire to its former glory. Today we really need help because being ashamed to ask for help can only make us trapped in the isolated island of the world and die. Just as Emperor Heraclius defeated the Persians with the Turks and Emperor Alexei I defeated the Seljuks with the Crusades, this was never a shame. I didn’t mean to stop this. This alliance, after all, today we desperately need the help of the Genoese, but you, when a person is about to die of thirst, will he really take a bottle of poison to quench his thirst? Of course it’s impossible. If ours The Genoese friend’s move is only to replace the Venetians’ position on the territory of the Roman Empire, so with all due respect, this kind of friendship is just like drinking poison to quench thirst. If the friendship between the two countries can last forever, I hope to suspend the alliance between the two countries. At least all matters should be discussed with the court of the upper and lower nobles, and should not be decided by His Majesty the Emperor alone."

As soon as this remark came out, there was a rush of sentiment, and many nobles joined in one after another. Most of them were local nobles who had just attached to Epirus. In fact, they had a deep interest in the emperor of Mikhail Dukas. The authority was still dubious and had a little knowledge of the agreement reached between the Genoese and Emperor Mikhail. At this moment, he was awakened by this sentence, so he expressed his dissatisfaction loudly at the meeting. And this made the Emperor Mikhail who had witnessed all this suddenly increased the pressure. He just wanted to take this opportunity to consolidate his rule, but he did not expect to be generalized instead. If I don't handle this matter well, I'm afraid that my orthodox position will also be shaken. Thinking of this, looking at his younger brother, the emperor's eyes were even more resentful.

...

The people who watched this scene from the Genoese delegation also looked ugly. They came here this time hoping to make this lucrative deal, but now they are optimistic about the Greek king but even this thing is settled. No, they couldn't help being disappointed. If this alliance were to be abandoned halfway, it would be a big embarrassment. But in the crowd, only Andrea Doria appeared very calm. He was neither surprised by Alfred’s previous death, nor distressed by the current tension, but on the contrary, his sharpness. His eyes stared at Justinian, who was half-kneeling in the middle of the arena, as if seeing through that rigorous inspector armor.

"It's really annoying, isn't it?" Baron Fernand's voice came from the side. Compared to the others, this man is also relaxed and relaxed, but the bigger reason is probably that he strictly means. Not a Genoese, but a simple collaborator, so this farce doesn't have much to do with him.

But Andrea was somewhat noncommittal, still looking at no other expressions on the court, as if he was thinking about something in his heart.

"You still think something is wrong, don't you?" Fernan asked, looking at the young man's face with interest. In fact, he was very interested in Andrea Doria, he was almost like Andrea Doria's age, and went out alone and finally made a career, even if it was a future outbreak that Genoese aristocrats looked down upon. Hu, but he cannot deny his ability. But now he had to admit that when he was the same age, he was far inferior to the young boy beside him. Both his thoughts and methods were very sophisticated, no wonder he became a seed in the Doria family. He was curious as to what was wrong with this young man.

However, Andrea turned back his gaze and looked at Fernan, and said: "In fact, you are not the same, why ask knowingly, from the beginning I inconvenience that things are only as simple as they seem. One was suppressed by my brother for ten years. It’s unbelievable that the Greek aristocrats in a corner gave the brother who is the co-ruling emperor and us such a series, and the inflammatory words just now do not want people like that to say it."

At this moment, Andrea Doria has already noticed something wrong. It is obvious that the other party has come prepared. It seems that they have known the content of their negotiations with Mikhail Dukas before, otherwise this series of things happened. It is impossible to interlock each other. But if this is the case, the people behind it would be too terrifying. Not only is it a means, but also that he can make an empire prince willing to be driven by him to face the anger of Emperor Mikhail, which is really incredible.

"Then who do you think it will be, Andrea?" Fernan asked.

"Naturally, the person who made your Excellency lose the money!"

Fernan was taken aback for a moment, and then he remembered, and said with a stunned expression: "You mean that Qincha person? No, it should be Edsa Frontier..."

But Andrea shook his head intently, "I'm afraid that even the so-called Edsa Frontier is probably just a fake identity. Since one can be fabricated, it is not difficult to fabricate another one."

"Then what should we do now, just give up like this?"

"How about it? That's a Greek business, and I don't bother to intervene in it. The current situation is difficult to overcome. In the final analysis, the identity of this majesty Mikhail is nothing more than a co-ruling emperor. And there are many nobles present who still haven't completely surrendered to him, so that person dared to adopt this strategy in public to force us into a dilemma. The next thing is to see my uncle decides what to do. Anyway, the worst result is nothing but a dilemma. We had to change to another partner ~www.readwn.com~ and when the pale-faced emperor didn't know how to deal with the problem he was facing, the hoarse and low voice of an old man at the venue slowly sounded at this moment. I don't know when, as the representative of the Genoa Mission, Constance Doria also stepped down from the stage and entered people's field of vision.

In the face of countless questioning gazes, Constance neither frustrated nor flinched to give up. On the contrary, he calmly accepted boos from everywhere, and waited until the dissatisfaction gradually subsided before speaking slowly:

"I understand your doubts very well. After all, the empire today is already riddled with holes. The more it is, the more vigilant it is for outsiders. However, have you ever thought that we Genoese are not an almshouse and cannot really do it? Help your country freely and unselfishly. Everyone hopes that the best choice is naturally to achieve a mutually beneficial relationship with the empire, but things are often so difficult to achieve fairness. Perhaps some conditions are a little harsh, which makes some people worry about us Become the second Venice. To be fair, in our opinion, it is in our view to maintain the friendship between the two countries is the most in line with Genoa's interests. After all, it is not us that ravages your country’s oceans, nor is it us that cannibalize your country’s land. If it is just for the sake of simplicity The risk is to give up a potential ally, so unfortunately it will be the loss of the empire. Please weigh up, how many years is Constantinople prepared to suffer the humiliation of foreign invaders, ten years or twenty years? Or longer? And if the empire can now be helped by our country, why should it refuse?"