Eagle Byzantium

"What, the Normans have docked in Durazzo, and Brenus has given them permission, and they will leave for Thessaly in the near future." After receiving this letter reported by the captor, Alexios thought in his heart With throbbing, although Diognis said next that the Norman army was indeed acting in obedience this time, The banner of the expedition to Asia Minor from the Holy See of Rome did not plunder the cities and villages, and the letter sent by Bohemond was also very flattering to himself, but the Norman prince was treacherous and incompetent. The letter still left Alexios feeling empty in his heart, and he didn't know when the stone would fall to the ground.

"Tell Brenus to temporarily take control of the army and stay in Durazzo to wait for orders. Sebastocrat's 10,000 troops will rapidly advance from the valley north of Thessalonica towards Adrianople, preparing to join me." He made the cut in a brief and forceful manner, followed by another cavalryman holding a fish-dragon flag. They were coming against the advancing brigade, "My lord, the Tevris bastard rebels have risen in droves. They have united some Pechenegs and Cumans, and also instigated many rebellions in Thrace and Bulgaria. Impious soldiers have captured Fort Philip."

The emperor in front of the military gate suppressed his anger and asked, "How are the defenders in the fortress?"

"All three hundred people were martyred." The messenger cavalry replied.

"It's too late. Gawain will leave it to Bertin for the time being. Let's quickly advance to the Thracian River (the ancient name for the Maritsa River, its origin is where Alexios previously achieved great victory over the Pechenegs). Rila Mountain) area, defeat this group of bastards, and then decide on countermeasures based on the speed of Gawain and the Normans' advance." The emperor said to several guards, and they all nodded and began to ride towards the army in front of them. The commanders of various departments assigned tasks.

"And my lord, this time the Tefris rebels supported a false emperor, claiming to be the son of Romanus the Fourth. They made extremely rebellious demands on the throne of the imperial capital." The messenger cavalry added another A new and difficult situation.

"This is no longer a simple doctrinal dispute, you are looking for death, you Tefris bastards." A sharp murderous look appeared on Alexios's face, and at this time, a sentence suddenly rang in his ears.

These words were spoken by his daughter, Anna, who came to him specifically before he went on the expedition and told him, "Father, you will soon win a great victory over the heretics and rebels in the Thracian River." Commander Gawain also came from Italy. After entering Lasnia, you two can completely cooperate—— Ask Brenus's troops to monitor Bohemond on the back road, and then Gawain wiped out Bertin's forces. His uncle Macaulinus took the troops and fleet directly under him to guard the strait, and fought with Cornea of ​​Nicaea. Just hold on to the Sultan, and father, you will soon be able to pacify La Snia, Thrace, and Bulgaria. Increase the power and wealth of the empire, and then join forces with Gawain to annihilate the Norman bandits who have penetrated deeply. is sinister and untrustworthy, as long as it can be eliminated After destroying Bohemond, the Frankish princes who came behind will be frightened by your power. Father, you can also control them and make them the king's vanguard, and then successfully regain Rome in Asia Minor. The empire will be restored to its former glory."

"Why, why! In Anna's heart, Bohemond cannot be trusted, but she can just trust that Varyag barbarian with an unsheathed sword." Thinking of this, Alexios should have been concerned The focus also changed, and the unknown fire in my heart rose. All in all, all the benchmarks of his daughter's plan were based on "cooperating with Gawain", which he really couldn't accept.

I now also have 25,000 troops and horses. Why can't he influence the situation of this empire and let a barbarian with a bad name and a bad reputation act as a helper? Do you want to share the honor and benefits with him? Could it be that the situation I am facing now is more dangerous than when I faced the Normans? I didn't fall down back then, and I won't even do it today.

So, Stephen Gawain Russell, just disappear into the wilderness of Lasnia.

With this thought in mind, the emperor began to use his spurs to spur the horse under him and embarked on the journey to the west.

In Philip's Castle, the Orthodox monastery and church were ignited with flames. The Tevlis believers covered in black robes in front of the church were wielding butcher knives, beheading the captured priests, smashing the icons and sculptures in the temple, and the scene was full of blood. and rude sacrifices Above the main hall of the altar, the golden-handed consul Cabeamiya sat on the seat with a sneer. Her elders and colleagues stood around, and a young man with curly hair and a dark complexion sat on a small chair under the steps. on top, holding a little lamb in his hands.

This was originally a shepherd boy from the mountainous area of ​​​​Little Acapadocia, but now he was coerced and lured by the female consul, claiming to be the posthumous son of Romanus IV (Romanus was betrayed after the disastrous defeat at Manzikert) He was blindly exiled and died of his injuries soon after. This unlucky emperor was born in Cappadocia's military aristocracy), and Cabeamia also gave him a resounding name, "Romanus" (of course, it was the same as what he claimed 's father has the same name).

In the captured castle, the three hundred defenders did not "all die for their country" as the messenger said to Alexios. Most of them surrendered without particularly strong resistance. At this time, their The officers were being tied up and led to the feet of the consul and Romanus the "Emperor", begging for mercy.

"If you pledge allegiance to the new emperor, your death penalty will be pardoned. This is not difficult and is beneficial to you, because the empire of the current emperor Alexius will soon perish." On the throne, Cabeamia supported her chin with her golden hand, and her charming eyes were full of pride.

So the officers knelt before the shepherd Leo, kowtowed and swore, and Leo knelt down in fear and kowtowed even louder.

Seeing this funny scene, Cabeamia laughed even more unbridled. After the Battle of the Nicaea Gorge, she led her followers to seize Paphlagonia and Brasilon, but in Trebizond, she was firmly resisted by the former Byzantine general Theodorus Gabias who stayed there (he was originally the Grand Duke of the Military Region. After the imperial forces were completely defeated in Asia Minor, he took the opportunity to establish an independent country in Trebizond). After the Tevris army suffered setbacks in successive battles, Capaemia also faded the idea of ​​continuing to expand eastward, and focused on the idea of ​​transporting the backbone members of the believers across the sea to Thrace, inciting riots under the emperor's nose.

The Thracian River flowing through here is still the main route for various refugees to sneak into Europe. The propagandists of the Paulicians sat on small boats and mules and spread heretical ideas from village to village. Now the capture of Philippou is just a manifestation of the fruition.

And Philippou is located on the main road between Adrianople and the imperial capital. It must be said that Capaemia's move embarrassed Emperor Komnenos. (To be continued ~^~)