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

Three days later.

Early morning in Constantinople.

The Crusader knights and their female relatives, wearing white-based black cross robes and double-headed eagle emblem capes, led a group of hoplites neatly dressed in white-based black eagle robes towards the bridge.

Is this the Theodosian Wall?

They stood under the wall of Theodosius, looking up at this huge wall that was as towering as a mountain and showed a three-step ladder.

On the outside of the city wall, there is an extremely wide moat, at least fifty feet long. However, the water is not released now. It is conceivable that during wartime, this place will definitely be an insurmountable chasm.

The outermost wall is slightly shorter, maybe less than twenty feet, the second wall is about twenty-five feet, and the innermost wall suddenly rises a lot, at least forty feet high.

At intervals, a square tower sixty feet high stood.

If enough archers, ballistae, and trebuchets were stationed in these towers, Lothar would feel a sense of despair just by imagining his army attacking the city wall.

Welcome to the Eternal City, the other City of Seven Hills, Constantinople.

Anna's face was full of pride.

Fringilla's expression remained normal and she hummed, The walls of my royal family used to be much higher than this.

Lothar thought to himself, isn't this nonsense?

When the Blood Palace built the city wall, the ordinary civilians recruited were blood slaves with certain extraordinary powers.

Cellinina nodded slightly: I have seen even more magnificent city walls than this in New York.

Where are you talking about?

In another continent, also known as Brunei, Atlantis.

Is there really such a place?

Sail west from Portugal and we should be able to arrive in a few months.

Anna said with great interest: If I have a chance in the future, I will definitely go there to see it, but it's a pity that I can't leave now.

It is recommended not to go. The risk is too high.

Anna was startled: Yes.

During the long life of a wizard, he must know how to restrain his curiosity.

The team passed the suspension bridge and came to a city gate covered with golden tiles. The heavily armed guards wanted to step forward and scold them, but when they saw the only woman in the team wearing purple, their expressions immediately became respectful.

The Eastern Empire's respect for purple has reached such an extreme level that even the royal palaces are decorated in purple, hence the saying born in a purple room.

Which noble highness is it?

Anna sat on the horse, not even intending to take off her veil, and said lightly: I am Anna.

The guards looked respectful and said: It turns out to be Her Royal Highness the eldest princess. Please come in quickly. Do you need us to send someone to escort you and your followers?

Anna glanced at Lothar, smiled and refused: No need, it's enough for me to have them.

Follow me, followers.

She waved and walked to the front of the team.

Jeanne laughed and said: Ms. Anna is also a very interesting person. Sir, I suggest you think about it more.

Fringilla gently pinched the horse's belly: I also want to walk in front.

Enter the Theodosian Walls.

The place looked very messy and dilapidated, with houses and shops densely packed close to the city wall. There was a clanging sound in the blacksmith shop, and a disgusting smell came from the cobbler's shop.

A woman in shabby clothing sat outside the door with a child on her back and a big belly, weaving a straw basket.

The carriage loaded with goods creaked over the cracked stone road.

In some places, the stone slabs have been hollowed out, and when the wheels run over them, a large pool of sewage will splash up.

Just like any ordinary city, if they were full of longing before coming, Lothar and his soldiers now showed a no more than that look.

Seemingly reading Lothar's thoughts, Anna confidently said: Don't worry, this is not the real Constantinople yet.

The team moved on.

Along the way, Lothar saw caravans of foreigners dressed in different styles and speaking with various accents. They actually seemed more tolerant of all rivers than Jerusalem.

Lothar said with some confusion: Along the way, I saw Saracens, Turks, Persians, Varangians, Latins, Moors, and Cumans, but I rarely saw Greeks.

Varangian originally only referred to the Nordic people, but as time went south and mixed with the Rus' people, over time it became a general term for the northern people, including the Rus' people of Kievan Rus, and even the Anglo-Saxons of Albion. people.

The Varangian-Greek trade route from the Baltic Sea to the Black Sea enabled the Nordics and Russians to sell cheap local furs, slaves and other goods to Constantinople.

This is also an important trade route, which can bring a lot of income to Constantinople every year.

Anna explained: The area between the Theodosius City Wall and the Constantinople City Wall is called Ethanianian by us. Most of the people living here are military families of mercenaries or businessmen.

Lothar suddenly understood: No wonder people say that the empire can only rely on foreigners to fight the war. Just looking at so many military relatives, there are probably tens of thousands of mercenaries in Constantinople, right?

Maintaining a standing mercenary army requires a lot of money. No one except the Eastern Empire has such financial resources.

Coupled with the cavalry composed of Pronian landowners recruited during the war, and the peasants and soldiers under their command, Constantinople's current military strength will definitely not be weaker than Germania Magna, Gaul, or Albi Be grateful to any country.

They are not all mercenaries, such as the Vadaritai Guards Archers (early Hungarian and Turkic mercenaries, and later gradually Hellenized), and the Thracian Guards Brigade I formed. Well, there are indeed many. some.

Anna originally wanted to argue.

But if you think about it carefully, except for Vadaritai, several Greek companies, such as the Agontoplai Legion (heavy cavalry composed of the general's sons), all play the role of guard of honor.

I had shown my cowardice on the battlefield before, wearing the best equipment, but was defeated by the enemy. It would be even more embarrassing if I said it.

But it's better to have more mercenaries than to have your head chopped off by the Guards.

Lothar thought again of the so-called Junior Guards Succession System on the Internet in his previous life, and couldn't help but smile.

The Eastern Empire relied heavily on mercenaries, just like the Saracens heavily used Mamluks and Gulam slaves. Only an army that was entirely dependent on the emperor's salary could prevent the occurrence of rebellion to the greatest extent.

Anna rolled her eyes: Sometimes I don't know whether you admire the empire or are biased against it.

The regiment of retained veterans with neat military appearance did not attract much attention.

There are many Latin mercenaries in the empire. A group of blond and blue-eyed barbarian soldiers, even if their military appearance is neater, in people's eyes, they are just a mercenary similar to the Varangian Guard.

Few knowledgeable people can identify the retained veteran brigade, which looks like the iconic square shield of the Imperial Legion after the reform of the Marius Army.

At most, they would think that the flag officer holding the golden eagle emblem at the front of the team looked familiar.

Look, this is the Wall of Constantine. Entering here is the real Constantinople.

Anna said.

They entered the city gate.

It feels like the world has suddenly changed color.

The darkness outside the wall and the colorful, solemn and solemn city inside the wall are as if they are in two different cities.

Huge elevated aqueducts rise on the edge of the city wall, transporting sweet spring water from the mountains to the world inside the wall.

Houses painted with various graffiti are lined up row upon row.

The outermost layer is where the common people live. They are called common people, but they can be regarded as the wealthy middle class in any other city. The further in, the more luxurious the mansion becomes.

The mansions, or estates, where dignitaries lived were located along the walls of the imperial palace, where the emperor lived.

The white-walled sea-view villas near the sea stand high in the gardens. These are private territories and are guarded by private guards. Outsiders are absolutely not allowed to offend.

The three levels, from the inside out, form a structure that not only looks like a pyramid, but also has a core that is no different from a pyramid.

Lothar's expression was incomprehensible.

He has special feelings for Constantinople, because in the future, he will play the role of the city's last emperor, Constantine XI of the Palaiologos family, to resist the oncoming Turkic army.

This place is so prosperous that owning Constantinople is equivalent to owning half of the empire.

Unfortunately, by the time it was time for me to take over, the place was dilapidated and ruined. People even opened up farms in the city, and the population shrank to only a few tens of thousands.

How about it, do you want to stay here?

Anna's tone was as seductive as the devil: As long as you can impress my sister who wants to revive the empire, you may be appointed as the empire's Caesar or even co-emperor. This Queen of Ten Thousand Cities will Clinging at your feet.

I'll help you, Lothar.

Lothar was slightly startled and subconsciously looked at his followers.

Prajna frowned slightly and did not express any opinion.

Jeanne was smiling brightly, and there seemed to be encouragement in her eyes, as if she was urging Lothar to agree to cooperate with Anna.

Fringilla glared.

Chelinina looked solemn. She did not think she was qualified to influence Lothar's decision.