"Thank you for your assistance, Your Highness. But we still have more knights who are still resisting, and we need to build a defensive line at the Sea Gate to cover the retreat of the survivors! ”

"General Zpisiko...... We have an armistice with the Ottomans, it is impossible to participate in a direct conflict, and the main force of our fleet is still holding back the Ottoman navy, and if the main fleet of the Ottomans comes to support, it is a question of whether we can return to Constantinople. ”

"The last half hour...... Your Highness! These are the elite of the Crusaders, and they can't be sacrificed here! Hunyadi also stepped forward and said, "We will give you enough in return, as long as you are willing to wait another half hour!" ”

"Two generals, everyone's time is very limited, and the imperial fleet does not want to fall into the embarrassing situation of being surrounded." Giovanni returned to the deck after settling the wounded knight in the cabin, "We must leave as soon as possible!" The Black Sea is full of dangers, and no matter how powerful the equipment of Ebius Brilliant is, it is impossible to face the threat of the main Ottoman fleet! ”

"They are the knights of the Crusaders......"

"The crusaders have failed, General Hunyadi. The Empire has already taken a big risk to come to its aid. ”

"Your Highness! Then in this way, I will buy two transport ships from the empire at twice the price, and continue to wait in the harbor for the remaining crusaders to retreat, and the rest of His Highness's fleet can leave first, and I will stay to command the last line of defense! ”

This reason sounded like no excuse to refuse, but John knew very well that if the retreat went wrong, not only would the empire not get a penny, but the two transports would have to be buried by the Crusaders.

"An hour at most, General Hunyadi, give priority to your own safety."

"Your Highness, don't worry, I will return to Constantinople safely with my knights."

Hunyadi wiped the blood from his armor on the mast of the ship, and then, in the sight of Giovanni and John, walked towards the Sea Gate.

"Leave two transport ships behind, and the rest of the ships, hurry up and lift anchor!" John turned around and came to Zpisico, "General Zpisico, how the hell did the crusaders collapse?" ”

"Your Highness, it's a long story......"

……

When the dome of Hagia Sophia reappeared in everyone's sight, everyone's tense nerves relaxed slightly.

Because of Władysław III's impulsiveness, the crusaders were almost devastated. For the Western world, this is no less than opening the door to a catastrophe.

This means that the crusade against the Ottomans has completely failed, and the Western world can no longer gather such elite troops in the short term, and the greatest pressure to confront the Ottomans once again falls on the empire, which has just gained a little respite.

"Giovanni, you take General Zpisico to your Majesty first, and we must immediately strengthen the Greek and Thracian defenses. Admiral Francisco, with the fleet, searched the route and, if our transports were found, covered their return to the Golden Horn. ”

"Yes, Your Highness!"

When John returns to Slou Gardens in the twilight, he collides with Sophia, who has also just returned.

"Brother, looking at your expression, I've already guessed something."

"I wish I had never prophesied to Varna...... It's really hard to change history. John took off the map of Varna that had been hanging on the wall a few days ago, "Now the Empire may be facing an even more dire situation than it was a year ago." Not only the full strength of the Ottomans after they recovered, but also to take care of the Western countries that can no longer give us any help......"

"What about the knights of the Crusaders?"

"The Grand Fleet has come back with more than a thousand men, and if you're lucky, two more ships can return to Constantinople." John sighed, "But all of this is a drop in the bucket for the current Empire. Even if the Crusaders were willing to help the empire continue to resist the Ottoman attack, it would be difficult to bring about a qualitative change with only two or three thousand heavy cavalry. ”

"Although the situation has taken a turn for the worse, there will always be a way."

Sophia paced around the room, thinking about what to do, and now the Imperial Council should have been a mess.

"If the Ottomans tore up the armistice at this moment, not only Greater Greece and Thrace, but also Constantinople would be threatened with insufficient defenders...... Within a year, the gains we have made may be gone in the blink of an eye! Sophia grabbed a pen, hoping to find a chance for the empire to emerge from the intricate web of power.

But in reality, the Empire's national power to face the Ottomans who had finally been freed from the great threat of the Crusaders seemed to be a dead end.

"Yes, and the Catholic world is not having a good time. As soon as Władysław died, Poland and Hungary would surely fall into chaos, and the little king would not leave an heir to the mantle! with Lithuania and Bohemia...... The whole empire of the Germanic barbarians will be in chaos, and in the end, it will only be possible for von Habsburg in Austria to reap the benefits of the fisherman, and no one can stop the expansion of the Ottomans......"

John lay down on the bed, looked at the purple curtains hanging from the side of the bed, and sighed in confusion and heavily: "I thought that all the previous preparations were enough to change the fate of the Crusaders in Varna, and enough to rebirth the empire in the ruins...... But it was as if these efforts had been overturned by Muhammad overnight. The situation in front of the empire is back to two years ago, which really makes ......"

Smack-

John didn't finish his sentence when the sound of a crisp and loud slap suddenly resounded over the Slou Garden.

The chief maid, Eustina, turned around in tacit agreement and went to prepare supper for the two most noble ones, who were always behaving so strangely.

John covered his left cheek and looked blankly at Sophia, who was pressing on top of him.

The little girl looks slender and weak, and her hands are really dark. Sophia was at ease, still rubbing her aching palms.

"Brother, there are some things that I can say, you can't. You are the crown prince of the empire, even if the Ottomans have broken through the walls of Theodosius today, and all the guards around you have fallen, you must remember that you are the crown prince of the empire, the future Basilius, not a declining nobleman who can only sigh. ”

"Sophia......

"Brother, a year ago, I decided to return to the Slou Gardens to help you save the Empire after you finally changed from incompetence, cowardice, and indecision! If you go back to what you used to be, I'll ......."

"How?"

"I will replace you unknowingly as the Barcelissa of the Empire." Sophia's serious appearance didn't look like she was joking, but in a few seconds, she couldn't hold back the nerves on her face, and laughed first, "Okay brother, I just want to say that now is not the time to despair." There must be something that can change the situation. ”

"After dinner, let's go to the Purple Palace."

John pinched Sophia's cheek as revenge, and the latter's voice sounded strange as well.

"Do you have a solution?"

"It's impossible to turn the table, try to stop the loss."