novelraw Chapter 710 17: You Shall Return Like Lightning
Chapter 710 17: You Shall Return Like Lightning
Returning to Semanude, Losa quickly chose to start the simulation scenario.
You have selected the high difficulty simulation scenario, the Fall of the Ottoman in 1453.
Passing requirement: Defeat the Ottoman "Conqueror" and crush the ambition of "Conqueror" Mahmud II (name sensitive, take another translation) to conquer Constantinople.
Note, this scenario belongs to the Six-star Template trial, with extremely high difficulty, and only one attempt is allowed, so please proceed with caution.
As the light flickers.
A majestic and stirring sound of cello vaguely resounded in Losa's ears.
As if the sudden sound of thunder, iron horses, and icy rivers.
After a moment, it seemed as if countless people were calling, praying, singing loudly.
"You will return like lightning.
The entire nation will feast in celebration.
The sea, land, and sky, beneath your lightning.
I will wear white clothes and touch you again.
Your light and my heart.
Constantine Dragașes Palaiologos.
With the grace of God, Emperor of the Romans.
Under the gate of Saint Romanus, riding a mare with white legs
Four B's, showing mercy.
...
As the singing gradually ceased, when Losa reopened his eyes, he found himself in a desolate city.
An emperor in a purple robe stood in front of more than ten Valkyrie guards, in front of a broken statue of Emperor Manuel, looking at the bleak and desolate streets, marked by the traces of plundering that have not yet faded.
Amid the collapsed tangible ruins, weeds grew thick.
Once prosperous commercial streets, now only a few farmers were busily fertilizing the roadside fields.
He looked at those poorly equipped militia, looked at this Constantinople like a vast countryside, and a wry smile appeared on his face.
"This is Constantinople now..."
Taking over from Constantine XI, he quickly sorted out the mess Constantine XI left for him—the understanding of the current situation in his mind.
The emperor of the Empire, now just a mayor of Constantinople.
Once home to hundreds of thousands, the most densely populated and prosperous city in the Western World, Constantinople now has a population of only several tens of thousands, many of whom are Latin immigrants.
Though the Empire still had an exclave in Moria, that place was already a barren land.
Originally, with Constantine XI's painstaking management, Moria could barely muster nearly ten thousand recruits.
Unfortunately, the six-mile walls built with years of effort could not withstand the Ottoman iron hoofs.
After the six-mile walls were breached, the Ottomans who invaded Moria took away most of its population in one go. Years of hard management turned to naught, and now Moria can no longer provide the Empire any support.
Apart from the "Crusaders" who might arrive one after another, he could only rely on this Constantinople army of less than seven thousand to resist the Ottomans' massive force, ten times the size of his own.
Due to the Emperor's decision to accept the Pope's requirement, merging the Eastern Orthodox Church with Catholicism, many Orthodox forces were displeased with the Emperor. Many of the Empire's subjects preferred Ottoman rule rather than submitting to the Latins who once plundered Constantinople and shared a sea of blood enmity.
If Losa hadn't received the True Dragon Transformation, the only way out now might be to "lay down arms and surrender with courtesy," still holding the position of Duke of Moria.
As Losa's thoughts shifted slightly.
The first choice appeared.
The system's voice was without ripple, you replaced Constantine XI, worrying about the mess handed over, feeling the odds of winning are slim, so you decided:
A: The Ottomans are strong and well-prepared; it is advisable not to confront them but to retreat by ship.
B: The enemy is strong, I am weak; quickly write dozens of letters to the Pope, Regent Hunyadi, and the King of Naples,
C: There are no reinforcements; those self-righteous Latins are just a bunch of braggers. We can only rely on ourselves, announce the abolition of "Church Unity," and purge all Latins in the city.
There really is an option to retreat!
Losa chuckled bitterly. Although he had fantasized about it before, he knew after coming here that this idea was simply not feasible.
Retreat to North Africa,
Retreat to Italy, in this world, both Sicily and Naples fall under the rule of the Western Mediterranean hegemon, Aragon Kingdom, and deeper than that, the Wolf Race
They are not to be trifled with.
Besides, there are not many people willing to go with him.
At most, taking a few hundred guards, wandering the courts of Europe's various monarchs, mooching food and shelter, just like a beggar king in A Song of Ice and Fire, Viserys.
The possibility of escaping by sea, by today, is almost zero. It would be easier to escape through Ottoman-controlled Balkans, directly through on land.
The last, and most crucial point, he has no ships.
Unless borrowing from the Venetians and Genoese.
Losa smiled wryly and chose option B.
Though he chose it this way, he felt that now the only reinforcements he could call upon are likely those huddled in Rhodes Island, the Hospital Knights Order.
As for the commission to invite them to participate...the Emperor's purple robe is patched, the gems on the crown are fakes, he really can't squeeze it out.
All he can offer is
Promise some commercial privileges, even giving them a piece of the city, letting them enjoy the same privileges as Latin merchants.
Furthermore, the most likely aid, Hungary is mired in internal political struggles.
The posthumous child Laslo's political acumen is limited; although he is King of Hungary, Bohemia, and Duke of Austria, he simply cannot hold real power, confronting Regent Hunyadi with blunder after blunder, forcing the famous anti-Ottoman general, and Hungary's most renowned war hawk, the illustrious White Knight Hunyadi Janos, to resign from the regency.
Unless the posthumous child Laslo is willing to bow for Constantinople and invite Hunyadi back to command the expedition, but that is clearly impossible.
France is mired in the quagmire of the Hundred Years' War, the Habsburg Emperor Frederick of the Holy Roman Empire lacks interest in aiding Constantinople, being more eager to wrest control of the Austrian Grand Duchy from his cousin's hands.
A simulation battle can go with the flow, only micro-manage the key points, but this time is not the same as before.
Charles VII could win in history, and it's not just one chance, there's some room for error.
Losa looked at his changed appearance in the mirror, muttering, "I've done all I could, fate is hard to resist, it's not your fault."
Without Emperor Constantine XI, the last Roman Emperor's death, Palaeologus dynasty, will...
As for option C, there's even less to say.
At present, Constantinople's garrison relies half on the "despicable Latins." If we want to
Galata!
Losa's expression hardened, if-
"Your Majesty, reinforcements have arrived!"
"How many have come?"
"He calls himself Giovanni Giustiniani, a mercenary leader from Chios Island, and the soldiers he leads are likely stationed in the former empire's 'Kherson military district' with many trading posts and colonies, through which they control amber.
Losa chuckled and didn't pay too much mind.
"God bless you, General Giovanni." he said with a smile.
Genoese and Venetians! These people!
"Should we win this battle, I shall grant you Limnos Island as your fief."
"""