Drawing Cards in the Middle Ages to Rise in Ranks

Chapter 748 53: The Tables Turn

"It's Miss Viviana!"

"The great Dragon Knight, the savior of Constantinople!"

"Lady Candle Knight!"

When the first citizen of Constantinople saw the iconic black and white armored Female Knight, the already celebrating crowd erupted into another frenzy.

People's faces were filled with genuine reverence as they waved at Viviana and the Emperor beside her, expressing their admiration for them. Compared to the majestic Emperor, the Candle Knight undoubtedly inspired more affection.

It wasn't just her physical appearance that won them over; they acknowledged the Emperor's efforts and talents shown in recent days. But as the Emperor, protecting his subjects is a responsibility he is born with.

Viviana, however, bore no such duty. She was a Foreign Female Knight from an unknown land. Yet, like the Saintess Jeanne saving France, she rescued Rome when Constantinople was a lone city.

Both Greeks and Latins share a feeling of worship and gratitude for her.

For this gratitude, Viviana felt somewhat at a loss. She responded to the people's enthusiasm with difficulty, occasionally casting a pleading glance at the Emperor beside her.

Even though Losa explained the reasons for being compelled, a righteous Knight still feels ashamed for taking honors that were never meant to be theirs alone.

Just across the strait, the Galata District was also caught up in celebration, though this did not include the upper echelons of the Genoese.

The remaining, including the Governor appointed by Genoa, felt little joy at the moment. Not long ago, under pressure from the Ottomans, they had cut off supplies to Constantinople.

Many were prepared to submit once the Ottomans decided to take tough measures.

They knew well that the Republic would not go against the Ottomans for their sake, as the Ottomans blocking the Marmara Sea could at any time cut off access to the Black Sea, turning their colonies on the opposite shore in Crimea Peninsula into isolated outposts.

They lacked the strength and courage to face the Demon Dragon ridden by Mahmud II.

However, the evolution of the situation was beyond their expectations. A terrifying red Demon Dragon was shot down by the Roman Emperor himself. The nightmare haunting all Balkans—the Mahmud II riding the Three-headed Demon Dragon—was also dealt with by the Dragon Knight under the Roman Emperor.

It was a Dragon Knight!

They could not afford to provoke a heretic riding a dragon, nor can they provoke a Roman Emperor with a Dragon Knight serving him.

With such power, how could Rome, after defeating the Ottomans, still allow them to hold numerous trade privileges?

They had no strength to resist; moreover, the Genoese in Galata were nominally subjects of the Roman Emperor.

The Governor of Galata couldn't help but smile wryly, "Let's wait and see. Perhaps by tonight, the Roman Emperor will send for us to bow before him and swear allegiance. Are you all ready to accept a new ruler?"

This time, no one dared to contemptuously call that Emperor as the Emperor of Greece again.

...

"Viviana, winning a war is difficult, but how to distribute the post-war gains is equally challenging."

Losa walked with Viviana along the streets of Constantinople. They had reached near the Great Arena, next to what should have been the residence of the Universal Shepherd, the "Bishop's Palace." However, due to years of disrepair, it had become a dangerous building unfit for Pope Mamas to reside in.

Previously, Constantine XI had a strained relationship with the Great Shepherd over the issue of the "unification of the Church." After this battle, he gained tremendous prestige, enough to force the Shepherd to bow to him.

"What do you mean?"

"Genoese contributed to the defense of Constantinople, whether it's the uncompensated efforts of General Giovanni and his mercenaries, or the volunteers from Galata."

Losa said, "These people deserve to be rewarded, but the first thing I will do now is to make the Genoese from Galata submit to me, and to abolish the trade privileges of Genoa and Venice."

"This..."

Viviana frowned, instinctively displeased with such a bridge-burning approach.

"Continuing to hold on to the Genoese's trade privileges is impossible. A ruler with empty pockets can achieve nothing, although this may seem somewhat shameless."

He paused briefly, then continued, "In fact, attributing the efforts of these Genoese to the Republic of Genoa is also unfair. The two are not equal, and I will strive to transform the Genoese in Constantinople from subjects of the Republic of Genoa to subjects of Rome, giving them their due rewards."

The same would apply to the Venetians. Regardless of anything, Losa could not allow two leeches to continue sucking on Rome.

As for whether the two nations will take drastic measures, truth be told, they don't dare to turn against the Ottomans. After defeating the Ottomans, Rome, with a Dragon Knight serving, is also not someone they wish to provoke.

Even if the Venetians and Genoese decided to use force, Losa did not care.

The military capabilities of these two Commercial Republics were indeed lackluster. Although the Genoese lost to the Venetians, they still had strength, being each other's major competitors, restraining one another. Even if they decided to wage war against Rome, they would struggle to fully muster their forces, let alone join hands.

And as naval powers, the most the two Commercial Republics could do would be to deploy their fleets to blockade the coasts of Constantinople. Yet Losa could transform into a True Dragon, using a Dragon Flame to turn their proud fleets into ashes.

Besides the Genoese, the compensation for the fallen and injured soldiers among the Venetians and Greeks is also essential, requiring a large amount of money or land.

Those who performed outstandingly in this battle also needed to be rewarded, even if it was just a hollow promise, like bestowing lands that Rome had lost to those meritorious.

Given that the Ottomans have been defeated and are destined to fall into chaos, this approach would not incite significant backlash.

As for subsequent expansion issues, the implementation of a system similar to the "Pronia," akin to feudalism, remains imperative.

Rome's military district system was already on the verge of collapse as early as the twelfth century in the Medieval World. After the Crusaders occupied Rome, they established feudal states like Epirus, the Duchy of Athens, and the Thessalonica Duchy.

A resource-poor Rome saw feudalism as indispensable for fast expansion. Losa even considered enlisting Orhan to subdue some Ottoman Lords and even forming a Turkic Mercenary group.

Indeed, Losa had accomplished the goals of this simulated battle.

Everything he did now was out of a sense of responsibility and a possible impact on the "Six-star Template" valuation.

While personally capable, Constantine XI often held mediocre rankings in some historical simulation games, as he was a ruler of a fallen nation, without a stage to showcase his talents.

The evaluation of a Monarch is clearly linked to his achievements.

Even if earning a basic Six-star Template, there are levels within those stars, evidently tied to Losa's eventual achievements in this simulation.

Just as they awaited a response from the Genoese in Galata, unexpected news arrived.

"Your Majesty, the Ottomans outside the city are fighting among themselves!"

"It seems the opportunity arrived faster than we anticipated."

Losa couldn't help but smile.

"Aren't they afraid of us?"

Viviana didn't understand. With the sword hanging so close over their heads, couldn't they see this was the time to rally together?

"This is an open plot. It's not something that changes just because it's recognized."

Losa chuckled, "And Viviana, we are not in a life-or-death struggle with the Ottomans. We don't have to eliminate each other. The history of Rome hiring Turkic mercenaries dates back to four hundred years ago."

At present, given Rome's vulnerably weak state, merely consolidating the Ottoman's so-called Rumelia territory was already a formidable task. In Losa's vision, in the short term, he would extend his reach to the western coastal areas of Anatolia.

Following the Ottoman collapse, neighboring forces will move in to fill the vacuum. Karaman and the White Sheep will head west, and the Hungarians will move south. Crushing the Ottomans completely is not beneficial for Losa.

"Perhaps it won't be long before an Ottoman envoy arrives, seeking my recognition or even proposing to become my vassals?"

Losa said with a smile.

When Constantine XI ascended the throne, he sought Mahmud II's recognition.

If Mahmud II didn't allow it, Constantine XI might indeed have struggled to ascend to the throne.