As the most prestigious commander in the empire at the moment, an extract of the general situation in the Pontus region after the war broke out will of course be sent to Combrigne. At this time, Giovanni Giustiniani was still dealing with the mess left by John - the so-called second cabinet, John just gave him and Jeffrey a framework that was not even a draft, as the most important staff agency of the future monarch, Giovanni was quite puzzled by John's decentralization.

The battle reports of Pontus were piled up on Giovanni's desk like other unfinished business reports, and it was only after arranging the defense of the Phoenix Legion and Epirus late every night that the general, who had almost become a magistrate, had time to take a look.

At first, the report did not attract much attention from Giovanni. In fact, in the nearly 100 sieges launched by the Ottomans a few years ago, the empire was unable to launch any effective counterattacks, but it was not a problem to hold on. The situation facing Trabzon in Pontus is now more relaxed than that of Constantinople, and the fall of the city is not known where to start.

What's more, according to the attitude of the royal family, it is an established fact to hold the city of Trabzon, so with the Empire's control of the strait and the current elite naval force in the Mediterranean, it should not be difficult to support Trabzon on the flank.

"This battle should be a stage for young people. Since Justinian the Great, the Eastern Empire has been repeatedly defeated in wars against the infidels, but in the midst of one defeat after another, the empire has summed up some defensive experience. Giovanni threw the battle report in his hand and leisurely crossed his legs on the table, "After the death of Michael the eight-clawed spider, until His Majesty Constantine ascended the throne, there were not many emperors who did anything. ”

Jeffrey smiled awkwardly, what the Genoese said was indeed true, but it always sounded a little harsh: "Now is the period of recovery of the empire's economy, and the army needs to be repaired, so let's not talk about counterattacks." As for the defense, it was not played by the infidels, but was a summary of the wisdom and experience of the predecessors. Also, if the royal family hears this......"

"Jeffrey, we're all royals. But it would be foolish to remain silent before the ignorance of the royal family. Giovanni played with his cane, "Your Majesty is mobilizing the Fourth Legion this time, so it can be said that there is no way out." The Phoenix Legion was stationed in Gombryne for so many years, and you can see the speed of replenishment. The empire's manpower is already stretched, and His Majesty's plan to counterattack Nicaea is not known for how long it will be shelved. ”

Jeffrey, who was looking for files on the bookshelf with a cane, felt a little sleepy at this time, and casually picked up the cup dragged by the attendant and poured two sips: "General Giovanni, is it the past victory that makes you too optimistic...... We are facing an insurmountable force gap, and we are the attackers. The Ottomans had countless ways to trap our army across the strait. Their siege of Trabzon was enough to overwhelm us, and to fill our meagre main battle corps was a repetition of the Teutonic feat. You're right, we're royalty, so I'm not afraid of being spread out......"

The attendant on the side was swept by Jeffrey's eyes, and he felt a creep for no reason.

"General Giovanni...... Until His Majesty John is officially crowned Basilius of Valleologo, I do not suggest that we have anything wrong with Nicaea. ”

"You are foolish and conservative."

The taunt between the two was interrupted by a quick knock on the door, and the attendant quickly took a breath and ran over to meet the incoming.

"Lord Bishop, rare guest!"

Archbishop Sextus, apparently in no habit of getting up at night, walked into the hall sleepily, supported by two boys who were only slightly younger than him.

After the two of them greeted each other briefly, Giovanni casually asked, "Did the Bishop come to Fort Combrigné in the starry night, did something terrible happen?" ”

It was meant to be a joke that Fort Gombrigne was the safest place in Epirus. Even if there is a law and order problem, the city defense army can easily solve it, and it is not the turn of an archbishop to worry. Unless it was the Ottomans who attacked the city on a large scale with armed forces as they did with Athens, it was also the sentinels who should have gotten the intelligence first.

"We have lost contact with His Majesty John's chariot!"

"What did you say?"

"His Majesty's lady-in-waiting has a letter delivered to the Chapel of God's Wish every half day for safety. This contact will not last more than a day. It's been two days now and no news has been received. Sextus didn't seem to take the matter too seriously, as John's mission was a diplomatic act. Frederick, no matter how bold he was, could not have done anything wrong with the Roman royal envoys.

"If you count the time it takes to deliver the letter back and forth...... Your Majesty ......?"

……

The battle on the sea ended with the Ottoman ships scattering and fleeing. Of course, it was impossible for Livia to order the fleet to split up in pursuit, and the most important thing at the moment was to rush to the aid of Trabzon.

It wasn't until late afternoon that Livia and Ossini finally saw the city of Trabzon. Seeing the Imperial fleet, the sailors hurriedly lowered their anchor chains to let the ships into the harbor, and then immediately began to unload the ship's supplies together with the logistics forces of the Fourth Legion.

Even in the harbor, the sound of cannons could be heard coming from the outer city walls. Panic is spread with a slight tremor.

"How's the city wall doing?" Ossini asked as he gathered his army and grabbed a sailor.

"It's not too bad. Grand Duke Nikephoros Komnenos personally commanded the defense of the city. Eight Ottoman attacks have already been repulsed. It was difficult for their artillery to find the elevation angle to damage the city walls, and they could only destroy the city defenses in the most primitive way. But the efficiency is not fast. ”

"What about casualties?"

The sailor was silent for a moment before he slowly spoke under the gaze of Osini: "Although our soldiers can repel the Ottoman attack every time, the gap in numbers is difficult to make up...... There are already frequent defensive gaps in the walls. This is the third time that the age limit for forced peasant conscription has been relaxed. Now all citizens over the age of fourteen in the city need to ......"

"Let the young soldiers get out of the way. With all the productive reserves of the population gone, what can the empire provide by holding Trabzon? Ossini exclaimed, "The Fourth Legion has arrived, allowing the Komnenos to rest." ”

"This ......," said the sailor, grimacingly, "you will probably have to talk to Archduke Nikephoros himself." ”

"Where is he?"

"On the city walls."

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