Whenever the empire ended a war, the palace of Laopalsia always welcomed a variety of guests. As the home of the empire to receive foreign guests, the decoration of the palace of Laopalsia was very different from that of the royal palace, and even changed according to the situation.

After the curtain came down on the trilateral talks, countless Western guests were welcomed here. This step of the empire's expansion brought Rome once again into the eyes of the Western powers, most of the Balkan Peninsula has been completely controlled by the empire, and the rich commodity eradication and abundant mineral reserves have made Rome comfortable in foreign trade. In the future, having a paper trade agreement with the Roman Empire would definitely make the Mediterranean countries a lot of profits.

"Brother, there are guests in the palace of Laopalsia. Let's go check it out, shall we? ”

"The threshold of Laopalsia has been trampled on for the past few days, and at first I thought it was funny that the group of people were quiet, but after watching too much...... That's it. John naturally rolled over in bed, and after staying in the Slou Gardens for a while, he also found that the former residence was more comfortable, even if the Castle of Gombrine was luxurious, it did not have the peace and comfort brought by the Slou Gardens, "It is better to sleep a little longer, and the time spent in Slou is counted on your fingers, that is to stay for one day less than one day." ”

The Phoenix Legion went ahead of schedule to secure the Southern Balkans, but John and Sofia stayed in Slou for a few more days and attended some diplomatic occasions at Raopalsya.

It's just that most of the diplomatic envoys of the Western powers will always be much more humble when they come to Raopalxia, and perhaps it is the renewed vitality of Constantinople as a thousand-year-old city that makes them feel stunned. Even when some inconsequential trade agreements are signed, there will be a few more benefits.

With the weakening of the Mamluks, the Empire's renewed monopoly on Western silk exports, and the abundance of new trade agreements and the output of two large gold mines, the Empire may recover from the postwar period faster than previously thought.

"Brother, it's people from Rhode Island who are here this time."

"Rhode Island?" John thought about it for a long time, and suddenly realized that the group of knights of the Knights Hospitaller could be said to have wandered all the way after being driven out of Jerusalem, and finally settled on Rhodes Island.

It can be said that the current Knights Hospitaller has long lost the vigor of its heyday, although it controls Rhodes Island and has the key to the Near East, but in fact, the entire Knights cannot mobilize a total of 3,000 soldiers, and the poor Knights are trapped in Rhodes Island, and even need intermittent assistance from the West to continue to survive. Their presence was virtually no threat to the Empire, and the Ebius-Radiance naval guns could easily destroy their coastal ramparts, then break through all defenses and take direct control of the islands.

It's just that attacking an organization that has been fighting against infidels for a long time is not a good thing for the reputation of the Empire, and Rhodes is such a tasteless place to abandon it, I am afraid that if the Empire does not do it, sooner or later the Ottomans or Mamluks will come. When the time comes, the empire can send troops to help as it should be, and then push the boat down the river, and the water will be a matter of course......

"Brother, do you want to go over and have a look?"

"Well, I'm curious about what those knights of God are doing in Constantinople."

The so-called knights who believe in "guarding the faith and aiding the suffering" have indeed burst out with unexpected power after settling in Rhodes. The Ottomans and Mamluks had annihilated the knights more than once, but each time the knights were able to save the day, winning many victories. Even in Rome's most critical moments, the Knights Hospitaller single-handedly curbed Ottoman expansion in the Eastern Mediterranean. When it comes to defending the faith, the members of the Order have indeed done their best.

"I pay you the highest respect, Your Majesty Constantine and Your Majesty John, fellow recipients of the Gospel of God." The visitor of the Order stood up in the second seat, touched his chest with one hand, and said, "In the name of Jean de Rastique, Grand Master of the Order of Rhodes of St. John, I have come to the Roman Empire to present our appeal. ”

"You can ask for it directly, but the Empire will selectively accept it out of core interests, and in order to maintain the good relationship between us and the knights of Rhode Island, please consider your terms carefully." Agrippa stood up and saluted the knight in return. Although he had almost guessed what the group of knights would ask.

"Our Grand Master, hoping for the aid of the Roman Empire. It is well known that the Lusignan family of Cyprus has become the lackeys of the Mamluks, the scum of the Knights. Such a family that sits and waits on the island of Cyprus is not worthy to rule a knightly state. ”

"You mean that your Grand Master wants the help of the Empire to retake Cyprus?" John smiled on the side, "Now the Lusignan family is a vassal of the Mamluks, and the relationship between the empire and the Mamluks is not bad now, and if this powder keg is ignited, the empire itself will not be able to withdraw, and we have no ability to withstand the flames of war now, so ...... Normally, the Empire would absolutely refuse this request. ”

"The Knights will do everything they can to give the Empire its due...... Our Grand Master is also sincerely looking forward to working with the Empire. ”

"Then I'll just say so." Sophia blinked, then said uncontrollably, "Do you know why the Lusignan family in Cyprus has not perished so far?" ”

The knight sitting in the position was a little cramped, and he instinctively felt that this innocent-looking little girl was about to touch their bottom line.

"If you don't want to say it, I'll tell you it. That's because they were willing to become vassals of the Mamluks, and no matter how weak the Mamluks were, they were among the best in North Africa and the Near East...... It's just that there are not many remnants of the Crusaders left in Cyprus now, and more of them are immigrants from Venetian merchants. It doesn't matter much if this nation of the Knights is gone...... existence or not," Sophia blinked again, "Of course, if you want to return to Cyprus, I'm afraid you won't be able to resist the pressure of the Venetian and Mamluks, and sooner or later you will face the same fate with the Lusignan family." As it happens, the Empire has good relations with the Mamluks and the Venetians, and can save a little face, but at least the Empire should have some control before it will be happy to stand up for you. ”

"Your Royal Highness, what do you mean?"