Sophia's agitated mood was finally calmed by John, but according to the lively momentum outside the city, it should be a fool's dream to sleep tonight.

John simply took some treasures from the cellar in the garden and had a good chat with Sophia.

The Slou Garden, the most precious possession left by Manuel, has no extravagance, but the streams, stone seas and dense forests in it remind John of the Suzhou Gardens he had visited in his previous life.

"By the way, Constantinople hasn't had anything big lately, right?"

"There was no big event, and a few of the patriarchs and priests in the church were busy trying to persuade the infidels, and it really worked. Constantinople's population and military resources recovered somewhat. Mainly Trabzon. Sophia straightened her chest as if showing off her feats, "Nikephoros was carried up by me with one hand!" Not only did he send a lot of well-trained soldiers to the Empire, but he also sent a big gift to the Empire. ”

"Oh?"

"It's a ...... from the East Well...... Smuggler. ”

"Oriental...... What do you mean by the East...... Could it be ......?"

"Ming Empire."

John's head buzzed. Yes, it is not safe to write manuscripts in Chinese in the future.

"That's not right, a smuggler, why is it a big gift?"

"Do you remember the treasurer who was cut down by His Majesty before?" Sophia drank the wine from her glass, "Now, it's that Oriental man, who is the treasurer. His family...... Let's just say that it's a business in the same vein, very flexible and smart. Comparatively speaking, this kind of person has a greedy personality and is difficult to control...... At present, the empire needs talent, so His Majesty let him stay, and promised a lot of benefits. ”

John nodded slightly: "Well, just to be on the safe side, be careful." The empire could not withstand any internal destruction. ”

"It's not that exaggerated. Anyway, brother, you can rest assured to carry out your violent plan, and you don't need to do anything like cleaning up the mess. ”

"You didn't say I almost forgot...... Sophia, do you have something to hide from me? John suddenly stared at Sophia and asked, "Trabzon has been turned upside down by you, and you can still catch the smuggler and send him back to Kingcastle as a chancellor of the exchequer......"

"Huh?"

Sophia's hand holding the wine glass suddenly stopped in the air, glanced at John slyly, and thought about it for a long time, estimating that she couldn't fool it today, but she couldn't be sure that what she had in her hand would cause any harm to John, and she couldn't spit it all out in one go.

"Actually, I also have a group of subordinates who have the same power as the Phoenix Legion."

"What did you say?"

"Oops, not the combat effectiveness of a frontal battlefield...... But in some ways, they can achieve more brilliant results than the Phoenix Legion, but now, it is inconvenient to tell their brother. Sophia said vaguely, "Anyway, I'll tell my brother when I have the opportunity to tell it later, but not now." ”

Some things will never be on the table, and when they are placed in the sun, they will lose their original function.

"By the way, brother, what are we going to do next?"

"Let's see how angry that kid Muhammad is, and then think about how to sign an armistice with them." John replied indifferently.

"Isn't it too impulsive...... It would have been nice to have slashed Murad, but it would have made the Ottomans furious, and retaliation was almost inevitable. Ah...... How can anyone be captured, and he still has to hack people to death. Sophia shook her head, "How much benefit can the empire squeeze out of a Murad...... If you think about it, maybe without spending a single soldier, the whole of Thrace will be ours, and you can even get a part of the sea dominance, but now it's good, there is nothing. ”

"Sophia, do you know how much the empire has lost in this battle?"

"How much?"

"Maybe the garrison has a good record...... However, throughout Greater Greece, the empire lost nearly 10,000 soldiers. The Morians suffered casualties, the city of Thebes was completely destroyed, and the Athenian defenders suffered more than 40 percent of the battle losses to cover the evacuation...... Suffice it to say, within five years, if Murad were alive, he would be able to take what he wanted in Greater Greece! John drank his wine dry, and said in a daze, "You have seen the situation of Latius, too." If I had arrived five minutes late, I would have changed the title of Duke of Athens. ”

"Brother...... What do you mean......"

"No matter how much wealth Murad can get, no matter how many cities he can get, as long as he lives, the empire will not be at peace for a day, and the whole of Great Greece is like a piece of meat on his lips. You can enjoy it anytime! But Murad is dead, and against a twelve-year-old Muhammad, there are many ways for the empire to do it before he grows up! John explained, "Once peace has been won, the Ottomans can concentrate on the threat of the Crusaders, and we can re-operate the Greek region and absorb the benefits of these victories." ”

"Have you decided to prepare for peace talks?"

"Hmm."

"Well, in order to celebrate my brother's safe return, I have to send a gift to Muhammad of Edirne. After all, Muhammad was so angry that if he didn't find something to do, sooner or later he would come to take revenge on us. Sophia drank the last bit of wine in the cup, then stood up and patted her long skirt, "Brother, you rest first, I'll be back in a while." ”

John smiled slightly, drank dry, and turned back to his room.

Some things were handed over to Sophia, and he was still very relieved. Since she doesn't let herself ask more, there is always her reason.

Also for the sake of this empire.

……

"Your Highness the Princess. It's late. ”

Pedro respectfully opened the door, but didn't welcome Sofia into the room.

The two are very familiar with this kind of process, and they don't need to be polite. Around this room, I'm afraid it's the safest place in Constantinople.

"So there must be something going on to make me from Slou so late." Sophia smiled, "My brother has already told me that my father hasn't returned from Mass yet, but it will be clear soon." Now Greater Greece is almost an empty city, and we will soon negotiate peace with the Ottomans. ”

"If the princess has any tasks, just say it, and I will arrange it tomorrow."

"Time may be tight, and we need to stir up contradictions between Mehmed II and other Ottoman Sultan claimants...... Of course, this is just an idea, and in general, it is to make Mehmed II have no time to take care of the Eastern Empire. ”

"With the strength of our Ottoman spies...... It is very difficult to affect them internally. ”

"Problems are always solved by people."

"Yes, Your Highness."