Mehmed II's reaction was not unpleasant. When Derti Skanderbeg launched an indecipherable and provocative attack in Albania and the Orthodox Church proclaimed the Holy Covenant, he was keenly aware that the Empire was likely to help Gerdi conquer Albanian territory.

On the one hand, while sending reinforcements from the surrounding fortresses back to defend Albania, Mehmed II was sure that the army stationed in the village of Bijes at this time would not be the main force, even if it still had a certain size. Without interfering with the armistice concluded with the Roman Empire, a retaliatory offensive by local warlords was secretly planned.

Although it is not known what means Mehmed II used to unite the warlords and agree on the goals of the empire, the current wave of attacks did integrate a large number of warlords who were quite powerful in Epirus.

"Your Majesty, although the situation is critical, this is also an opportunity for us. If this wave of attacks can be repulsed, the next offensive against Epirus will be extremely smooth. ”

As a secular knight, Morey's daily job was to protect the safety of the royal family from threats, but at this time, John had no other trustworthy military talents around him, and he would also refer to Morey's advice.

"This hill is the only location that the village of Biyes can rely on, and we can set up a defensive line on it."

John nodded. Time is limited, there is simply no time to organize echelon defense and evacuation of the masses. This kind of rebellion-like offensive is completely different from the civilized and polite declaration of war before acting. Warlords can rely on their familiarity with the terrain and try to bypass the Empire's checkpoints and minimize the Empire's preparation time.

"Morey, this is an opportunity, but this opportunity is extremely dangerous...... The main force of the Phoenix Legion had been transferred, leaving only Giovanni's newly recruited light and heavy infantry and a small number of light cavalry in Constantinople. We also don't have enough ammunition for our bows and arrows. If you want to resist this siege, it is not as simple as you think. ”

After gathering the soldiers as fast as they could, there were only ten minutes left for John and Morey. If the warlords march at full speed, perhaps in the next second, they will appear in the sights of the Empire.

"Warriors of the Phoenix Legion, you are the first line of defense for Biyes, and the last line of defense for Biyes!"

"Look up at the fluttering Phoenix flag, it symbolizes that you are the best warriors in the Empire!"

"Not only must we hold this place, but we must also repel the enemy's attack and buy enough time for your comrades to triumph."

"The Lord and Basilius will remember your valor, and your glorious deeds will be forged as monuments to stand forever in the land of Epirus!"

"Next, there is only one thing you have to do, live and die with the defense line!"

"Live and die with the line!"

……

Loud slogans resounded through the mountains of Epirus, and the recruits were easily encouraged by such declarations. Boosting morale is a must for every commander.

At the last moment, John hastily assigned his position. The hilly terrain doomed the battle line to be not particularly wide, and the dense forest also greatly reduced the lethality of bows and arrows, and the bloody hand-to-hand combat was likely to last for a long time. In order to ensure John's safety, Morey insisted that John sit in the rear and command the Chinese army. And he led a group of light infantry close to the Chinese army to defend the right flank. On the left flank, John was eventually handed over to the Castilian commander Sancho Alfonsois Valente, who had distinguished himself in Operation Trabzon.

There are no reserves in this defensive battle, and reinforcements are unlikely. On the Courier's journey to and from Moria, the battlefield of a few thousand men will quickly divide the winners.

A few minutes later, the footsteps of the infantry woke up countless birds.

Epirus is mountainous and hilly, and this group of warlords has been entrenched here for many years, and it is impossible for them not to be proficient in mountain warfare. The success rate of defense is also a question mark in John's mind.

This question mark was quickly erased by the warlords themselves.

It is also true that this warlord was formed improvised, and there are all kinds of heraldic flags.

After seeing the defensive line constructed by the Imperial infantry with guns and shields, the person who seemed to be the Supreme Commander at the forefront of the formation gave the order to attack. All the soldiers of the Imperial Legion cheered up and watched each other's movements.

But what is strange is that after a few seconds, no one moved. The other warlords also tacitly stopped.

"Your Majesty, what do they mean by that...... Are we going to release arrows? ”

"Native chickens and dogs, no wonder the climate is not ...... After staying in Epirus for so long, I didn't grow in the slightest! Before John came to the military formation, he sneered at the warlords who seemed to have quarreled at the bottom of the hillside, "Let's wait for them to attack, keep an eye on their movements, and don't make the first move." But...... When the battle begins, keep one thing in mind – prioritize focusing your firepower and cutting down enemies with the same coat of arms. ”

Morey wondered, "Your Majesty, what does this mean?" ”

"Isn't it obvious enough? They must have been threatened, or driven by some kind of interest to gather in front of us. Losing the geographical advantage and the protection of the city wall, forcibly twisting this kind of goods into a ball, it is also a mess of loose sand! They seem to be under the command of the same people, but in reality, they have only their own interests in their eyes. In other words, when they see that the losses of their own people are a little greater, they will immediately retreat and retreat. Through this, we only need to concentrate our firepower to break through one by one, and it will be easy to win! ”

On the high ground, after watching the warlords' argument for ten minutes, they finally united their front again and launched an assault on the weak positions of the empire.

Soon, the Phoenix Legion launched a counterattack with arrows.

To the supreme commander of the warlords, it seems that the Empire's rain of arrows does not seem to be as comprehensive as usual in pursuit of maximum damage. Their goal is always to concentrate their shots towards a single point. In this way, several hole-type gaps of different sizes soon appeared in the warlords' fronts.

"Don't stop, focus on shooting! Shift the target as soon as there is a gap! ”

The retreat of the petty warlords was beaten particularly loudly. After all, their family background is weak, and they absolutely do not want to see their troops as the one that sacrifices the most. After discovering that the Phoenix Legion was shooting at him intensively, the small warlord hiding in the crowd would immediately and secretly order his men to slow down in the military formation, or even immediately roll up and leave.

The warlords' forces had not even made contact with the Empire, and visible attrition had already taken place. Even the front is not so complete.

"The time has come! Warriors! Charge! ”