"If this little nobleman named Jerdi is willing to become a vassal of the Empire, perhaps the Empire will be more willing to lend a hand."

Constantine XI also did not seem to be happy with diplomatic ties with Albania. Although the empire is surrounded by powerful enemies, the help that Jerj alone brings to the empire can be said to be a drop in the bucket. And most importantly, the empire may have to pay more to ensure that Albania is not swallowed up by the Ottoman or Serbian oceans.

In any case, it's not a good deal.

"Father!"

John was tempted to convince his father. But he couldn't find the right reason.

Gyrdi Skanderbe, a national hero of the Albanians, withstood numerous Ottoman attacks with only a small number of soldiers and horses. It can be said that he was an unborn military, political, diplomatic all-round man and genius. He was absolutely loyal to his country, to his faith, to his people, and it was almost impossible to betray.

"If this Gyerdi really has the ability to build a state surrounded by Ottomans, we may be able to try to make a bet on him."

"Sophia! Any decision made by the Council is closely related to the future of the Empire, which is completely different from the gambler's game. Constantine said coldly, "At least for now, we don't see any value in an alliance with him. ”

"There are some values that can't be revealed in a moment...... I think if it was an empire a year ago, no one would have taken us seriously. But now, the situation has changed dramatically. Sophia put away her smile as well.

If she really believed that this man named Jerdi would survive the Ottomans, it was not necessarily. It's just that she trusts her and John's instincts more than the Imperial Council.

"The Empire's previous situation was the same as this Derj, an isolated island surrounded by the Ottomans...... "Now that Sophia has stepped forward, John is not going to be silent. Even if he could not conclude an alliance with Albania today, he would have to change the Empire's perception of Derj as a person, "Although the Eastern Roman Empire was reborn from the dead, the situation was still not optimistic. Not only the Ottomans, but we also need to guard against pressure from other regions. If we can have Albania as a buffer, at least on paper, we will not fall into absolute passivity. The gates of the Epirus region will also be relatively safe. Greater Greece, the center of our current economy, will be better protected. ”

"Your Royal Highness, there are no permanent allies in the world. If Albania is attacked by the Ottomans or other forces, should we come to our aid? If Gyr-di is really a genius and can lead Albania to stand tall in the Balkans, then our interests will be harmed, and when the time comes, will we turn against each other? Old Agrippa clearly disagreed with John, "The city of Epirus is indeed weak, but with just these men and a mountain fortress, it is expected that he will help the empire guard the entrance to Epirus...... It's too idealistic. ”

"John, in my eyes, this man named Jerj is not worthy of being an ally." Giovanni Giustiniani, who had been silent for a long time, also gave his opinion, "At the moment, this Albania is undoubtedly fragile, even if he wants to ensure independence, the better way is to temporarily become a vassal of the surrounding countries and observe the changes in the situation in the Balkans." But Gyerj's ambitions are clearly not just about the independence of the country. His alliance with the Empire revealed a message. In the future, he will definitely go to the West to obtain more benefits, and even carve up the Balkans with the empire...... This is a situation that the Empire will never allow to see. Suffice it to say, the benefits of an alliance with Albania are definitely lower than the risks we will take. ”

"But we can use Albania to build a barrier against the Western Catholic world to the southwest of Epirus. It is true that the empire is now relying on Western assistance to ensure that it will not perish, but the Westerners will definitely not sit idly by and watch the empire re-enlarge in the Balkans! Sofia walked over to the council table and opened the folded map, "The Venetians now occupy the islands of the Aegean Sea. And near Constantinople, there were Genoese watching. The Greater Greek region was constantly absorbed by these Western moths of economic benefits. If the empire continues to develop, they will not give up the opportunity to squeeze the flesh and blood of the empire! ”

"We can expel these merchants through war and diplomacy......," Agrippa Sr. responded.

"At least until we guarantee sea power, this is unrealistic!" John shook his head, "We can maintain an unconventional alliance with Albania. ”

"Unconventional?" Constantine XI said with some strange feeling, "No other than military or trade alliances, other forms of alliances, will not help the empire." After all, the diplomatic documents sent by Jerdi made it clear that they would never become vassals of any country in any form. ”

"I mean, we can temporarily let Gyrdi develop in the Balkans. But at the same time, the empire must have a state that is several times more powerful than Albania. Even if he was independent, he had to be independent in the shadow of the empire. John smiled, "Jerj is very ambitious and ambitious. But in the face of absolute power, he is only a pawn of the empire to attract the attention of the Western world. ”

"Your Highness, you mean ......"

"On the one hand, to open Albania to the sea to help the empire obtain trade resources in the Adriatic Sea, and on the other hand, to control the size of Albania as a country, so that he can survive the Ottoman attack without over-inflating and interfering with the future development plans of the empire."

What follows is still some small and inconsequential debate. Generally speaking, no one was optimistic that Albania would bring benefits to the Empire's development, but John was adamant that the Empire should support a puppet, if not so obedient.

"So be it. Since the empire and the Ottomans signed a five-year armistice, after a year, the empire could sign an alliance with this Derti. Even if he was besieged by the Ottomans, we have good reasons not to participate in the war. Constantine finally made a decision from the Holy See, "In this way, the empire will not lose anything, and even if Jerdi is defeated and killed, the situation of the empire will not change in any way...... But if he can survive such an offensive...... At least it turned out that he was capable enough to defend the Southwestern Balkans for the Empire. ”

"Your Majesty......"

"Father!"