Publius watched Karacha's every move closely through the billowing smoke from the burning wood. At this moment, the supreme military commander of the Ottoman Empire seemed even more calm and light.

"Why did the Ottoman army come to attack Athens?!" Publius was sword in his hand, parrying a tentative attack from Caracha. He then immediately shifted his footsteps and tried to reach Karacha's side.

However, an experienced general will never expose his weaknesses. Karacha always turned to expose himself to the blade of Publius.

"Attack Athens? General Publius, I'm afraid you're mistaken. Karacha stepped forward, swinging his weapon and making several more spurs, but was intercepted by Publius, "We are just chasing down a group of vicious but desperate pirates. They entered the port area of Piraeus, Athens, and we naturally chased after them. ”

"You'd better not take the soldiers of the Empire for a bunch of fools!"

Publius had apparently realized that Karacha was a tough bone to gnaw. As the commander of this battle, he must get out of Karacha's entanglement as soon as possible and command and control the situation of the battle.

At this time, the battlefield in the port of Piraeus has been shattered into countless blocks, and there is no so-called main battlefield at all. At this point, a wise decision can easily turn the tide of battle. It's just that Publius finds it strange that Karacha doesn't seem to care about the command of the army. Unless he had some other hand left, the only plausible explanation now was that he only hoped that the slowest consumption of grappling fights and grappling could continue until ...... Until the arrival of the follow-up troops of the Ottomans!

Otherwise, Karacha would not have been able to storm Athens with only such a small number of men.

"Being beaten by the Empire in the Balkans, you really don't have the slightest intention of introspection?" Publius' offensive grew more and more rapid. His steps were getting faster and faster. Conservative thrusts are replaced by high-frequency slashes and slashes to end pointless grappling as quickly as possible.

Now not only Piraeus is in danger, but Duke Latius and Admiral Francisco, who originally went out to hijack the Ottoman fleet, may also fall into the shipwreck if they make a radical mistake in decision-making. The main Ottoman fleet, in the war with the Mamluks, received almost no fatal wounds. After several months of renovation, it was still able to maintain a strong fighting force, which was unmatched by several Athenian galleys responsible for coastal defense.

At this time, if the Ottoman fleet saw the port of Piraeus in flames, a thick fog filled the sky. I'm afraid that there will be even more urgency to support friendly forces in Minato.

Carachar only focused on defense, and the physical exertion was much less than that of Publius. His rich battlefield experience makes him more and more comfortable. He glanced at the panting Publius and chuckled, "General Publius, I think you should be ready to evacuate." I don't know why you're in Athens and not Constantinople, but we're not just three thousand men and a rabble of pirates. ”

……

"If it weren't for the fact that Publius had discovered something extremely serious, he would never have ordered such an extreme method as igniting the port district to expel these guys in the port area......" John stood on the windowsill of the monastery tower, staring at every move on the battlefield. The shouts and smoke of the harbor have brought some unrest to the inner city of Athens. Even the intervention of the curfew system will never stop the "adventurous" people from coming out to seek death.

Sophia wrapped her shawl tightly, her expression equally solemn.

A dramatic plunder turned into a premeditated siege.

To put it mildly, Athens is in danger at the moment.

"Your Majesty! Your Majesty! Duke Latius made an urgent report. One of the guards broke through the layers of protection of the secular knights and rushed behind John with a puff.

Until I met Latius and Francisco in person, things were probably going to be bad. John was also a little mentally prepared.

"Say."

"Admiral Francisco observed that the Ottoman flotilla docked in the port of Piraeus deliberately made an undefended gesture to lure the imperial fleet into the bay. But the Admiral judged that the Ottomans feared that there were more fleets hiding behind the fog at sea not far away. At any moment it is possible to launch an attack on our fleet, or even on the entire city of Athens. For the safety of His Majesty, Lord Admiral advises you and Her Royal Highness the Princess to withdraw from Athens as soon as possible! If General Francisco had not regained control of the port before the Ottomans attacked the port, the city of Athens would have been in jeopardy. ”

This long report was written in one go, but it hid a strong smell of blood. John subconsciously looked up. The sea level in the east has become a little white.

As long as the sun dispelled the fog on the sea, the vulnerability of the Athenian fleet would be exposed!

"Sophia, I'll have you retreat. Cross the Isthmus of Corinth first to take refuge in the Morea. Prince Thomas should arrange for a boat to take you back to Combrigne. John gave Evelet and Eustina a look, and they immediately grabbed Sophia's hands, one left and one right.

"I'm not going! The walls of Athens and my brother can protect me! ”

"Sophia, do you know what the situation is now?"

John suddenly hugged Sophia, kissed her gently on the forehead, and then whispered: "The Ottoman fleet can carry a steady stream of troops, and the Athenian defenders, including the unexpectedly mobilized Holy See Guard, are only a few thousand men. I can't guarantee your safety, so I can't take any chances. It's not the same as the previous ones. Sophia, you have to leave. If something really happened in Athens, Morey and they would be able to protect me well. ”

Sophia hung her head and didn't say much.

She could certainly understand what John meant, just wanted to better protect herself. But she felt a little unwilling. If the Phoenix Legion nominally belonged to her and John, then at this moment Sophia would prefer to have a corps that only obeys her orders, so that John will not have a good reason to drive herself out of the battlefield next time.

"As soon as the morning dawned, when the Ottoman navy attacked in a big way, there was no longer a chance to retreat...... When you're safe enough to reach Moreah, don't forget to tell Prince Thomas...... If Athens is still under our control by then, ...... as soon as possible Send reinforcements. ”

Sophia nodded with tears in her eyes.

The situation was still deteriorating, and Athens could be said to be isolated at this time.

"Brother...... Don't push your ...... Return to Gombrigne in its entirety ......"

"I know."

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Lewen