In the end, this battle is who wins and who loses. Because of this, there is an endless debate. The side that supported the victory of the Celtic army said that although the Celts retreated. But they killed and wounded more enemies, and after that, forced the Roman army to retreat to Constantinople. The Norman Empire gained a strategic advantage in the face of the Eastern Roman Empire.

Nevertheless, but in the end they retreated. So said the side that supported the Roman victory.

Anyway, though. The battle is over. No result is a result. After this, Artoria led his army back to the camp, and then ordered the baggage and engineers to strengthen the defenses and hold out. At the same time, he asked the spies accompanying the army to pass on a message to inform Egil of what had happened. To be on the safe side, the empress also sent hussars as messengers. A two-pronged approach to ensure that the message reaches Egil's hands.

"Hopefully he'll be faster. Otherwise, the opponent will probably flee. "Artoria is also a seasoned commander. Naturally, he knew what was going on - after seeing how powerful the Norman Empire was, and having lost a large number of troops. The Empress of Rome may no longer be stupid enough to lead her troops against the Norman Empire in a field way. They would retreat into Constantinople.

Although he is very confident in his own army. But Artoria, too, knew what Constantinople represented. It's better to be able to crush the enemy with a little easier. If it is possible to block the main forces of the Romans outside Constantinople, and then crush them. That couldn't be better.

It's just that Artoria's plan is doomed to fail. By the time Egil received her letter and hurried towards Adrianople, Lilianu had already retreated back to Constantinople with her army. It's a huge city that makes people feel a little desperate.

In this way, neither Egil nor Artoria knew what to do. Because he was in a hurry, Egil did not bring the artillery equipped with his troops. In fact, none of Egil's main infantry units arrived. He just took his hussars on the way. Not even the necessary baggage.

And with the Artorian army alone, that pitiful baggage. It seemed too difficult to build a group of construction machinery troops that would be enough to crush the defenses of Constantine.

In this way, the two of them summed it up and decided to take Adrianople first. As long as you control this fortress, then you have a bridgehead for the attack on Constantinople.

So, with a little time, the Norman army easily crushed Adrianople's city defenses. Because of Lilianu's retreat before, the morale of this fortress has been lowered a lot. But in the end, in the mindset of honor, they still made some resistance. But it's clear that these resistances are just useless.

On the afternoon of April 12, after only half a day of siege, by the afternoon Egil and Artoria had gone to Adrianople to discuss. Egil's army, plus Altoria's. The total number is more than 40,000. Adrianople is also considered strong. So there's no need to worry about defense at all.

"So, what are we supposed to do next? Why wait?" asked Artoria, a little annoyed.

"In fact, it is, until the follow-up of the main forces, as well as the baggage and engineering troops. This is the safest way. In addition to that, I believe that we must also wait for the arrival of the Black Sea Fleet. I need my fleet to blockade the Golden Horn, the Bosphorus, the Dardanelles, and the entire Sea of Marmara, break Constantinople, and get a possible surname from the sea. In this way, we can ensure the strength of our attack on Constantinople.

So, be patient, not now. With our forces, we can more than defend ourselves. But if you want to storm Constantinople, it is really unlikely. Egil said to Artoria: "In about another month." My main force will be able to come. It's not a long time, is it?"

"But......" Artoria was slightly upset. A rare opportunity to go to war. It didn't turn out to be fun. It was quite unpleasant to lose to that woman.

"If you want, then I do have something to do to kill your time. Egil seems to have thought of Artoria's reaction a long time ago. So the emperor smiled gently. Point to Artoria on the map - Sathronica - Athens - Corinth.

"Greece. It was once considered the seat of the most civilized and advanced race in Europa...... Hani, do you want to see there?" said Egil with a hint of seduction. In fact, even if you don't say so, Artoria is already intrigued. Indeed, Lilianu reduced most of her army to Constantinople. In other words, the defenses of other cities are extremely weak. With a little effort, you can break through. It's like Adrianople.

"I give you two legions of hussars. Knock down the whole of Greece. Isn't that difficult?" asked Egil.

"Of course. Artoria replied confidently. Although it is said that Constantinople is a high city with a thick base, Her Royal Highness the Queen does not have much confidence to break through it. But if the target is to the under-armed regions of Greece, then the situation is different: "Do you want to take advantage of the fact that the other side is shrinking their forces to Constantinople and take all of Greece?" ”

"Yes, that's it. Hearing Artoria's compliment, Egil happily said, "Although people have always only valued Constantinople. But you have to know that the Greek region, the Aegean coast. That was the most important part of the Eastern Roman Empire. After all, no matter how important Constantinople is, it is just a city. It was still a city that was so large that it had to be transfused with blood from the entire Eastern Roman Empire to exist.

So, if we take Greece, the whole of the Balkans, and even the Thrace outside of Constantinople. Then with a single Constantinople, the Eastern Roman Empire cannot be called an empire. ”

"And what about the part of the peninsula of Asia Minor occupied by the Greeks?" Artoria then asked.

"That's what my fleet is all about. Egil said.

"That's true. Because of naval superiority, resources, territories and armies in Asia Minor were all gone. Artoria nodded, "In this way, even if we can't defeat the Eastern Roman Empire in this battle." In the long run, they will gradually decline. A city alone – not even a city as great as Constantinople – can be called a great power. ”

"That's right. Egil nodded: "Then Hani, are you willing to complete this conquest, which represents the source of European civilization and the birthplace of the Greek nation." Will you conquer it as a commander?"

"Needless to say, of course I do!" replied Artoria at once.

"Good. Take a few days off. Then let's go. Egil nodded, then said.

"Wouldn't it be faster?" Artoria was a little impatient.

"The hussars under my command need to rest for a while. Egil replied, "Besides...... I'm missing you a little. ...... Hani"

As he said this, Egil slowly reached out and put his arm around Artoria's waist. Then, with a lot of force, he took Artoria into his arms...... In this way, after about a week, the Norman emperor remained in Adrianople, waiting for the arrival of the follow-up troops. The Norman Empress led her newfound army towards her first target, Thessaloniki on the Aegean Sea, an important trading port city. According to the information obtained earlier, the Greeks stationed only about a thousand old and weak soldiers here.

Before that, Egil told her again. Tell her that you hope she can maintain the Greek peninsula as far as possible. Robbery is fine, but try not to kill more. So much so that there was too much resistance in that place. After all, those territories will soon become the domain of the Norman Empire. So if you destroy too much, the last headache is ...... It's Aurora. The de facto prime minister of the empire is dedicated to managing this kind of thing...... Well, nevertheless, but it is Egil who will pay for it.

"I believe that soon Hani will be able to take over that city. Then there was Athens, and then Corinth...... The entire Greek peninsula...... Oh, what is the birthplace of European civilization. In fact, it is just a gathering place for lost dogs after the failure of the struggle between the two river basins.

These fools consider themselves superior and look down on all peoples except them. But they are always defeated and ruled by the barbarians in their eyes. And then he shamelessly took the credit of those alien rulers as his own. Or they may be complacent because they can assimilate them with a 'civilized' life.

This was true for the Macedonians as well as for the Romans...... In the history of another world, the same was true of Ottoman Turkey...... Then, after the inevitable decline of the Turks, he very decisively dissociated himself from them and announced his reading. Disguise yourself as innocents, attach all sins to what they have served, and sing praises of virtue. 'Assimilated' Turks...... Hehehehe......"

(To be continued)