Eagle Flag of Epirus

"Master Neusky, we counted the food delivered by the pizzas. There is clearly one less truck. But the other party refuses to admit it, so you have to be there in person. There is really no way we can ask you to come."

"Okay, I know." Niewuski waved his hand and screened the clerk beside him. A helpless smile appeared on his face, and he looked at his broken right arm with self-deprecation. Unknowingly, I was actually used to this kind of civilian work that I didn't look down on at the beginning, and remembered that if my arm was not crippled, I should fight on the journey of the empire at this moment instead of squandering it now.

Does he have a chance to go to the battlefield himself?

Thinking of this, Nevsky still shook his head. Self-forgiveness was already lucky to be able to survive the Leos Grace rebellion. Thinking of his brothers who were born to death, the yin and yang were separated, the man couldn't help clenching his fist. And this hatred did not end with the death of Leos Grace, the supporter behind it, the Venetian, will sooner or later pay the price for it.

At this moment, the oncoming people made him stop in surprise.

"Why are you here too?"

Salius, who had just dispersed in the Council Chamber, came here, and the other party looked at Nevsky blankly.

"The horses' beansweed is missing a cart, and the pizza guy asked me to pick it up personally."

Like the food supply in the city, the fodder of the heavy cavalry under Salius was also transported from Nafplio. After all, they were all great horses. If you don’t have enough food, you don’t have enough power. Forage is not a small amount. . It's just that Nevsky didn't expect the pizzas to owe things, and he was so arrogant that they personally came to ask for them. Thinking of this, Nevsky couldn't help but become annoyed.

"It turns out that you are like that too. These **** pizzas are really arrogant!" Niewuski couldn't help but lose his temper. Since Justinian and the Pizzas reached a temporary alliance, the other party has been making progress in Moria. In Neusky's view, it is basically the same as the original Venetians. But reluctantly, the current Moriah cannot do without these Italian businessmen, whether it is the preparation of the wounded soldiers from Moriah to Macedonia or the preparation of food soldiers and horse equipment, they cannot do without the assistance of the Pisa fleet.

The temperamental Varangian man and Salius walked into the restaurant where the Pisa was temporarily staying. Nevsky made up his mind anyway this time if the other party didn’t have a reasonable explanation, he would definitely not. Give these arrogant guys a good look.

The door was pushed open one by one, and as soon as the aggressive Nevsky came in, the other pizza merchants inside frightened them to avoid.

"Where are you in charge?"

Roaring in anger, Neusky asked with a bad face, even though he had lost an arm, the blood of the Varangians was enough to deter everyone from underestimating him. For a while, there was no answer in the entire Didian, and no one came forward.

"What I want to say to you! Are all of them dumb?" Neusky said angrily. This time he was completely annoyed by the arrogance of the Pizza people.

But just as he was about to attack, a hoarse voice came from behind him.

"Is it your Excellency Neusky and Salius?"

Neusky and Salius turned around subconsciously, and at some unknown time, an old man wearing a turban appeared behind them. It's just that his appearance as a servant doesn't look like the person in charge of the Pisa caravan.

Just as Neusky was puzzled, Salius stepped up, nodded and said, "We are right."

"That's good, that adult has been waiting for the two inside for a long time."

The old servant who nodded and bowed stepped forward to lead the two of Neusky and Salius, and the two also exchanged eyes with each other. It was obviously just a small matter, but the other party wanted to see why they were so mysterious. .

With doubts, the old man in front of Nevsky and the others walked into the door of an inconspicuous hut.

"The adult is inside. I'm waiting outside. Please go in." said the old man who reached out to the door.

This was absolutely abnormal in the eyes of Neusky. It was like a trap arranged by someone. When he was hesitating, he saw that Salius was about to walk in without a word. Neusky I wanted to remind him that it was too late when there might be fraud, so I could only bite the bullet and walked into the small room with him.

When they saw the person standing in the room clearly, both Nevsky and Salius were shocked and speechless. Because what awaits them in the house is not a vicious ambush, but a pale-skinned young man who is as slender as in the past, but he is much more haggard than before, the pair of blue that was once deep and unwavering. The pupils were like a pool of stagnant water under the dim candlelight.

For a while, Nevsky was agitated for a long time before he settled down to take a closer look at him. Only then did he realize that the young man standing in front of him had changed a lot.

No longer the sharp edge when he rose in Moriah, Justinian stands quietly in front of him at this moment with a smile, but the oppressive feeling of the upper person on his body has become natural and integrated.

One year in Macedonia, I think Justinian has experienced a lot and has grown a lot? In Nevsky’s view, Justinian, who was still young and naive, is really one step closer to the leader, and such a person is more worthy of their flesh and blood to win the future together. .

The Varangian man who didn’t think much about it rushed forward with joy, and Justinian also happily walked forward and hugged each other, not shying away from the distinction between upper and lower, because Nevsky was not only His subordinates are also his comrades-in-arms, and they can absolutely be trusted.

...

...

...

"Master Justinian, we finally wait until you are back!"

"I was delayed at sea for a while, and after receiving the news from Arslan, I immediately rushed over day and night. In order to prevent the snake from getting rid of the grass, I found you in this way."

Justinian's indifferent words immediately settled Neusky's mood. Obviously, Moriah's current situation was already clear to Justinian, so he must have been prepared.

But Justinian's following words suddenly made his heart tremble. Justinian said: "So I didn't bring Moriah's new army, and they couldn't come and reinforce it either."

The new army of Moriah is the elite who followed Justinian all the way. Nevsky has seen their power. That is their absolute trump card, but now they can't come back to rescue. The news suddenly made him feel heavy. Incomparable.

"Then Prince Theodor will still give generous support this time?" Salius suddenly asked.

"No, I think you should have guessed it too. The supporters behind this rebellion are probably not unrelated to him." Justinian said lightly.

At this point, Neusky and Salius nodded slightly at the same time. They were not surprised, but felt that this was more in line with the logic of the Roman Empire's nobles.

Dukas himself was involved in the name of the emperor, and he was already ready to restore the old territory, and Moria’s position was undoubtedly crucial, and how could Justinian, a commoner who was not in the noble house at all, tolerate his continued occupation A wealthy territory. Not to mention that Justinian himself and the former emperor Muzfius still have a subtle connection. Perhaps Muzfeus asked the Dukas brothers to give Justinian a fief and title just to arrange a way out for him, but now Justinian's achievements have made the situation more complicated. At this time, the relationship between them is naturally no longer an alliance, but an enemy of life and death anytime and anywhere. So stabbing a knife in the back is entirely reasonable, and there is no surprise.

It's just that the Dukas family has always implemented this rule very to the end-if it is useful, it will bend and bow to welcome it, but if it is useless, it will be kicked and relentless.

"I know your concerns, but I am not unprepared." Seeing what Neusky and the others were thinking, Justinian immediately revealed his plans and plans. He has already borrowed eight hundred people from Nafplio, but he still needs a force to ensure that the plan is foolproof.

"Pizza, are they reliable?" After hearing Justinian's arrangement, Neusky looked suspicious. Among these Italians, only ordinary people are professional soldiers, not to mention that the morale and combat power of Italians has always been moving.

And Justinian shook his head and said: "They are not the key. The success of the final plan lies with you, Salius. I need to use your power, whether you have a grudge against me or not."

Since the Grand Duke Anastasius's accident, the Grand Duke’s guard captain has not said a word to him, apparently thinking that the old Duke’s accident was Justinian’s responsibility.

"Grand Duke Anastasius... is he okay?" Justinian hesitated for a long time or asked. Because of the fragments of the ark, the old duke who was already over seventy years old was already alive. It's a miracle, and recovering from the bed is a complete idiot.

When the topic fell on Grand Duke Anastasius, Salius, who was as cold as a knife, was a little choked.

I saw this brave warrior suddenly knelt on one knee in front of Justinian, drew out his long sword and handed it to him.

"The Grand Duke is no different from dead now. I have been guarding his bed, only a few times he became sober. And the only thing he wants to order me is to show loyalty to the new Grand Duke. Moria rules his father-in-law. The captain of the guard, Salius, and his guards are at your disposal, Your Royal Highness Justinian."

And Justinian was also surprised by the testimony left by the Grand Duke Anastasius, and was silent for a long time. He walked forward and took the long sword in Salius' hand and tapped the back of the sword gently on his shoulder. Three times.

This was originally the allegiance etiquette of the Western European knights, but with the Crusades it also spread to Rome, not to mention that Salius and his cavalry themselves were the products of the Western-style military reforms of Emperor Manuel. It's just that Justinian and Saliuus do not have the so-called many virtues, but the only loyalty to this country.

"I accept your allegiance."

...

"Then what's the next plan, Your Royal Highness Justinian? The Latins are already preparing for a rebellion. If they are allowed to stand firm first, everything will be bad, or can they be preemptive?" Nevsky suggested, he had already He wanted to take the initiative to attack, but he had always been at odds with Salius, who was in charge of the army, and when Justinian arrived, all the problems could be solved.

However, his proposal was directly rejected by Justinian. “It’s not the time yet. Once the army is mobilized, I am afraid that the eyeliners placed around by the Latins will soon be noticed. The offensive will only be a surprise. Another question I have here is. It is to prevent you from acting recklessly, Uncle Neusky."

"I didn't act recklessly." The Varangi man blushed and said anxiously: "But then you can't continue to let the rebels cannibalize at every step~www.readwn.com~ This will cause big problems sooner or later."

"The following is my plan—" Justinian explained calmly.

"According to the plan, we must take down the castles in Castania. The premise is to take them down before the arrival of the Latin reinforcements." Castania is located in the Moria area under their control and Latina in the north. Between the people-controlled areas, it belonged to a group of old Byzantine nobles who were rebellious and rebellious. They used to support the Leos Grace rebellion and were punished heavily by Justinian and have always held grudges, but at this moment, the convenience of their location is very important. As long as they take this place, Justinian will face the Latin rebels. Will calm a lot.

"But even if there are Pisans in the city to respond, once one castle is lost, the nobles in the other castles will inevitably be vigilant." At this time, Salius said the loopholes in Justinian's plan. The next castle is not too difficult, but once it's done, it will inevitably make the other castles stand up, and then the success rate of capturing them will be greatly reduced, and eventually it will fall into a see-saw offensive and defensive. Salius has followed the Grand Duke Anastasius for many years, and he knows all the stories of the old prince who joined the army and conquered. The key for the spy to sneak into the inside and respond to the outside is to be surprised. Once there is no one blow to order the opponent to react, there will be no chance to speak of.

But Justinian was still indifferent, looking at the puzzled Salius and Neusky and said:

"So this must let us come together to act a scene for the Latins, and the protagonist of this scene is not me but you."

Only when the smiling Justinian pointed at the person was not Salius but Neusky, he did not expect such a Varangian man to react after a long time.

"What? Let me do a play?"