In the Middle Ages, people drew cards to be promoted to nobility.

The city militia of Limassol and the private soldiers of Turiados began to take up arms again and patrol the streets to maintain order.

Turiados and his Wheel family have been local snakes that have taken root in Limassol for nearly a hundred years.

The influence in all aspects of this city is extremely huge.

This is why Lothar is willing to recruit him.

With the help of Turiados, in the future, he will be able to control the new territory of the Limassol Military District without expending much energy and turn it into an important source of wealth and troops for himself.

That's right, even before the war with Isaac started, he already regarded this territory as his own.

However, Isaac had a notorious reputation, and although the people of Limassol were willing to help Lothar defend the city, they still couldn't help but panic.

If Isaac publicly stated that he would pardon everyone in the city, Lothar and his army would immediately fall into a situation of betrayal and alienation.

But obviously this is impossible.

Because that would require Isaac to pay out of his own pocket to make up for the losses of his soldiers who did not loot.

If he can do this, how can he be worthy of the name of tyrant?

The night is getting darker.

After finishing tonight's class.

Lothar simply accepted Anna's conditions, in exchange for the post of general of the Limassol Military District at the cost of quelling the rebellion in Cyprus.

This condition is actually very favorable.

If it were before the collapse of the imperial bureaucracy and peasant-soldier system, he would definitely refuse, because the empire at that time still had quite strong control over local areas.

At that time, magistrates were really just magistrates and had to be supervised by censors.

However, with the implementation of the Pronian system, Lothar only had to pay part of the taxes on time and perform military service or provide levies when the empire needed it.

In the Limassol Military District, he can be called a Turkish emperor.

…

Constantinople.

Anna hung up the communication with a smile on her face.

The Queen Regent, whose brows were full of majesty, snorted softly: If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have paid such a high price to win over a vassal from another family.

Anna comforted: Don't worry, it's worth the money.

The Queen frowned slightly, she was obviously not in a good mood.

With commercial taxes and customs now accounting for the vast majority of the empire's revenue.

A strong naval fleet is essential for escort.

But such a powerful fleet equipped with Greek Fire was so easily destroyed in the hands of the rebels.

How could this make her feel better?

The defeat in the naval battle and the news that Isaac actually controlled a black dragon caused the political situation in Constantinople to become turbulent again.

The Greek conspiracy is well-deserved, and it is unknown how many nobles have started secret room meetings, and how many conspiracies are brewing.

Although she was only a regent in name and had never raised the idea of ​​being crowned empress, the imperial crown prince, her daughter with Emperor Alexios, Ira Komnenos, was also a woman.

Many people believe that she, the regent queen, will soon remove the word regent and regain the throne from the Komnenos family.

The imperial army is really useless. The same goes for the army and the same goes for the navy.

The Queen rubbed her eyebrows with a sad look on her face.

Anna sighed softly: In the past, the strongest city walls of the empire, those peasants and soldiers who could arm themselves at their own expense, have been turned into serfs on their own fields by the nobles. Now, the empire can really only rely on a group of foreign hirelings. The soldiers have come to fight.”

A trace of deep exhaustion flashed in Lagaia's beautiful eyes: How can I not know the dangers of pronya system, but I have been ill for a long time, how should I start to treat it?

The empire has become what it is now. In addition to the mess left by the several Komnenos emperors, the Dukas family is also to blame.

Because the Ducasse family has always been the largest noble family in the empire, and the Comnenus family is both the closest ally and the biggest enemy.

Most of the emperors who came from the Dukas family were ignorant and incompetent. Among them, the two idiots Constantine X and Michael VII were the typical representatives.

This made Queen Lagaia feel like she couldn't do anything even if she wanted to revitalize the empire.

after all.

The fault of the empire lies in the system.

But the Ducasse family from which she came, as well as a large number of her supporters, are all beneficiaries of this system.

As a monarch, how can you revolutionize your own life?

As long as she dares to reveal this idea, there will immediately be a situation of betrayal and separation, and war will break out.

That's all, don't mention it.

When Lothar arrives in Constantinople and swears allegiance to me, I want to see what kind of majestic man it is that makes you think so highly of him.

Anna smiled and said: If he can capture the rebellious Isaac with 1,400 soldiers, wouldn't that prove my vision?

The Queen snorted softly.

If you are willing to take action, bring my Varangian Guards with you. Isn't it easy to wipe out Isaac?

Anna said helplessly: Your Majesty, the most noble Baselisa, you understand me. Moreover, I am not willing to use magic to kill ordinary people.

Okay, okay, okay, I understand.

Lagaia carefully looked at the witch's smooth face and sighed softly: I know that you have given enough to the empire, and I shouldn't ask you to do more.

It's just that Lothar...is it really reliable?

Lagaia frowned.

Now that the local aristocrats are in power, even if Lothar swears allegiance to her, he does not have to fulfill any obligations. Is it possible that she can still raise troops to attack him?

That's the real shame and shame.

At least they are more reliable than those mercenaries.

Anna said seriously: He is a trustworthy person, and he is far more worthy of respect than those mediocre people.

All right.

Lagaia didn't have any objection to Lothar.

The empire has long had a tradition of hiring barbarian mercenaries, and Constantinople also has many nobles from Europe and even fiefdom nobles working for it.

These rich country people were so mesmerized by the exquisite silks, utensils, and fine wines that they couldn't even open their eyes.

I wish I could stay in Constantinople forever, the Queen of the largest and most magnificent city in Christendom.

…

The news that Lothar defeated Turiados' army and occupied the city of Limassol soon reached Nicosia.

In the palace.

Isaac Komnenos' expression was as gloomy as water.

A person's name, the shadow of a tree.

Isaac, who had been the governor of Cilicia, had obviously heard of Lothar's name.

He would not look down upon him just because Lothar only led 1,400 people to land.

This idiot Turiados doesn't even know how to defend the city. He just wants to be smart and wants to attack Lothar. Now, let's give him a place for free.

If the city walls are defended everywhere.

The Crusaders, who lacked siege equipment and supplies and went deep alone, would sooner or later be trapped and die on the island of Cyprus.

Every time he conquered a fortress, he would lose at least dozens of soldiers. How many men would he have left when he reached Nicosia?

Black Shadow's tone was frivolous:

Don't worry, you have a black dragon, and if you recruit an army from your vassals, there will be more than a thousand crusaders, who will be your opponent.

Isaac's tone was extremely irritable: This Lothar has the allegiance of a witch just like Lagaia, that bitch of the Dukas family.

The black shadow said frivolously: It's just a witch. If you are worried that you can't deal with it, you might as well make another deal with me.

What deal?

Isaac's face suddenly showed a look of vigilance.

Heiying's tone was playful: Don't look so resistant. I'm not a devil. I'm all about equal exchange.

That’s it again!

Isaac felt the fear in his heart rising rapidly like a prairie fire.

No need, I will destroy him!

No matter how legendary he is, it's time to stop here when he meets me!

Isaac pretended to be calm.

The guards not far away looked at their master talking to himself in the garden and looked at each other. They all saw a trace of fear on the other's face, but they did not dare to approach at all.

Somebody come!

The guard came over tremblingly: Sir, what are your orders?

Pass my order, and all the ministers of Cyprus will immediately lead their respective armies and gather under my command. I will command the entire army to conquer the rebellion!

Isaac had no intention of looking down on Lothar.

He planned to use all his strength to bring all the vassal armies, as well as the 4,000 elite troops directly under his own command, to gather 10,000 troops to completely crush Lothar and his army.