The Golden Gate, the grandest gate on the walls of Theodosius, is also the gate of glory that has existed since the walls were built.

The garrison led by Giovanni, when they stepped through the Golden Gate, ushered in the frenzied pursuit of the citizens. It was a real victory, annexing much of Thrace to the empire before winter.

Constantine XI greeted Giovanni at the Golden Gate with the Ecumenical Patriarch of Hagia Sophia. Originally, the patriarch was not involved in secular affairs, but he could not resist Constantine's request, and finally, at the triumphal ceremony, he personally blessed Giovanni's baptism. It was the first real victory the garrison had won in hundreds of years, and instead of cowering in the corners of the walls, they themselves crushed the pagan defenses and expanded the empire.

From the Golden Gate to Piazza Theodosius, the entire road was surrounded by admiring citizens, and this kind of madness was also seen for the first time by Giovanni. When I first arrived in Constantinople, the scene of depression was greatly diluted at this time.

"Your Majesty, why...... It's just an unstable Thrace, which could change hands at any time, so why waste so much money on a triumphal ceremony with great fanfare? ”

Giovanni rode around behind Constantine XI and gave up the field of celebration to the other soldiers: "We can't divide too many men to defend Burgasburg, and if Edirne, or the Ottomans in the Western Balkans, come to attack the city, they will soon be taken back." ”

Constantine XI looked at the celebratory crowd and said with a beaming face: "My dear General Giovanni Giustiniani, you must rejoice that my little John's report of battle has reached Constantinople one step faster than his ship."

"His Royal Highness?" Giovanni thought for a moment, "If he hadn't succeeded in ambushing Edirne's reinforcements from Thrace, then he would ...... Did you go to Greater Greece? ”

"Yes, he just went to Greater Greece. Such a long distance, seven hours, snatched my brother and General Latius from Satan's hands! Can't I celebrate? ”

The new treasurer was a tax genius sent from Trabzon by the Komnenos from Trabzon, a genius of the tax system from the far east. But at this time, he was holding the doorpost of the treasury and weeping bitterly. Such a triumphal ceremony, if it is not credited in the short term, the imperial treasury will really bottom out.

"Your Highness...... Great Greece, what kind of results have been achieved? ”

Constantine XI glanced at Giovanni with sideways eyes, and then excitedly said: "Ha! That's my son! He personally cut off the head of that pagan bastard of Murad II! Now the whole of Great Greece is in the hands of the Empire! ”

Giovanni was stunned, and even the knight's sword in his hand fell to the ground: "What...... Is it? ”

"Murad II, it's history! The head of Thessaloniki is now filled with the banner of King Valleolo and the Imperial Eagle! ”

"God Bless Rome......"

Of course, the celebration will not end immediately, and the triumph of the garrison is only the beginning.

Between the large and small passages from the Romanus Gate to the Church of the Holy Apostles, there was no interruption of the flowery wine table, and many citizens of Constantinople brought wine and food from their homes. The last time Constantinople celebrated was probably when Michael VIII, the omnipotent spider, rebuilt the Eastern Roman Empire and founded the Palaiologous dynasty.

From early morning until late at night, the whole city of Constantinople celebrates, all the main gates are completely open, and the whole city is drunk except for the sea wall of the Golden Horn.

"Your Majesty! Your Majesty! The ship is coming! Your Highness is back! ”

The guards of the sea wall rushed to Constantine.

……

"Duke Latius, you can already see the dome of Hagia Sophia." John leaned on the deck, and the brightly lit Constantinople made him probably aware that the triumphal hymn had been played, and that there were probably quite a few people who were celebrating the hymn mass in the Hagia Sophia and the Church of the Holy Apostles.

Latius opened his eyes from a half-dream, and walked to the window of the cabin, holding his handguard sword.

The joy of victory should be the only melody of the current empire.

The iron lock of the Golden Horn slowly opened, and the side of the sea wall was already full of onlookers.

"Your Highness...... Cough...... Pay attention to the image. Latius pointed to John's purple shoulders, which had been scattered by the sea breeze, "We are holy triumphant, not defeated. ”

"Hahaha, Latius, when the time comes, I'll help you down! Sometimes you don't need to pay so much attention to this thing! ”

The ship came to a halt on the dock by the sea wall, and when John poked his head out of the cabin with his arms on Latius, the whole Golden Horn was in complete boil.

At midday Mass, Constantine had already informed the city of the Crown Prince's legendary achievements in Great Greece. The patriarchs even proclaimed to the populace that John had been inspired by God and that the Roman Empire would henceforth be invincible under the leadership of Constantine XI and John IX.

"Brother!"

Sophia was at the front of the crowd, and under the protection of a few guards, she rushed straight towards John.

The impact of this girl's small body was so strong that John couldn't resist it. had to let go of Latius on the side.

"Your Royal Highness Princess, I still have ...... injuries"

"Latius! If my brother becomes what you are now, I will definitely ask Your Majesty to throw you into the Aegean Sea to feed the fish!" ”

John patted Sophia on the back helplessly, and then gave Latius an apologetic look: "The princess is joking, General Latius, you are also the hero of this great victory...... Eh! Sophia? Why are you crying? ”

The cheers in the crowd were still high, and many people regarded the reunion of the princess and the crown prince as a gift from God, after all, the royal harmony was also a good story in the empire.

After holding Sophia and symbolically greeting the people, seeing that the scene was a little out of control, John could only return to the Slou Gardens accompanied by Morey and others, and let the guards help Latius settle down.

"The empire has made a lot of money in this battle, why do you want to cry?"

In the Slou Garden, John strangely untied his tear-soaked shoulder shirt and set it aside.

"You still ask! Think to yourself about the first letter you wrote back! ”

"The first letter?"

John thought about it for a long time, and suddenly understood. It was written when he was just preparing to come to the aid of Great Greece, and the situation in Saloniki was unclear at that time, and the words he used in his letter were relatively exaggerated, such as what might have been defeated, what was dead, and so on...... However, this letter was addressed to Constantine XI, and he never expected that Sophia would also see the contents of the letter.