Constantinople, Palazzo Brachna.

Anna hung up the phone and walked out of the room with some haze.

In the main hall, there was a woman wearing a purple crown and reviewing documents, and when she saw her, she casually asked, "He agreed?" ”

Her eyebrows are very thick, her skin is white and beautiful, and her eyes are bright and long, charming and majestic.

Obviously, this is Lagaia Ducasse, who is known as the first beauty of the Eastern Empire, the regent, and the de facto ruler of the Eastern Empire.

Anna said casually, "Hey, don't mention it, this guy is quite loyal to his leper king, and I almost promised you out." ”

"Loyalty is the greatest virtue of being a courtier, and I am impressed by him."

The empress's voice paused slightly, and she said, "It's just that you won't make such a big joke in the future." ”

"It's no joke."

Anna chuckled, "First of all, the Count of Lothar is a very handsome man, and all the women of Jerusalem regard him as the lover of their dreams.

And he is also a very powerful wizard, with many transcendent followers. More importantly, he was loyal, upright, and compassionate to the common people, but not corrupt. ”

The empress raised her eyebrows slightly: "You like him so much, why don't you go on it yourself?" ”

Anna snorted, "I just admired him—a kindness, you don't know what to do." ”

"Presumptuous!"

The empress glared at Anna, seeing her disapproving look, she said helplessly, "Can your sea dragon participate in this battle?" ”

"Isaac, that rebellious thief, hired the pirate regiment of Brindisi and the fleet of Pisa, if it really wants to fight, the Imperial Navy may not be able to win."

The Empress sighed lightly.

The decline of the empire is visible to the naked eye.

What was once the most powerful naval force in the entire Mediterranean is now even rivaled by the barbarian Latins.

The Magritos of Brindisi was the largest pirate gang in the Mediterranean in this era.

Pisa is also one of the strongest Apennine city-states.

Together, they are not a force to be taken lightly.

"That sea dragon is our future, it has the power of storms and seas, and once it grows, the whole Mediterranean will belong to us," Anna regrets. ”

"Therefore, I will not allow it to participate in this war, even if it loses Cyprus."

The empress looked angry: "Anna, don't you know how important Cyprus is to the Empire? Moreover, Isaac, that bastard, is holding up the banner of the Komnenos family, openly questioning my legitimacy. This kind of rebel, once he is allowed to gain a foothold, the rebels of the entire empire will be agitated. ”

Anna said solemnly: "I know, but 'Niko' is only a juvenile sea dragon, it is too fragile, even if it participates in the war, the role it can play is very limited, and the risk is not proportional to the cost, so I can only refuse." ”

"Well, you're an expert in this area, I'll listen to you."

The Empress was silent, and after a moment, whispered, "It's better to let those crusaders help." ”

"I have received news today that Isaac has signed a contract with Saladin to plunder the Crusader fleet and sell the looted slaves in Egypt in exchange for Saladin's protection."

"Isaac will be our common enemy."

Anna exclaimed, "It's not a problem to get the crusaders to strike, but the question is, what price can you give?" ”

"Don't forget, Emperor Alexios I, at the time of his First Crusade, had intended to use the Crusaders to regain lost territory, Antioch, Edessa, Jerusalem - but they were all occupied by the Crusaders now."

The Empress was silent for a moment.

"I will reward them with money."

The emperor of the European continent, the king has an exclusive self-title, which can be translated as "I", "Yu" and "I".

"But what if they take Cyprus and don't leave?"

The Empress pondered for a moment: "Baldwin IV is a man of integrity, and if he had agreed and made an alliance, he would not have gone back on his word. ”

"Anna, send me a letter to King Baldwin, and tell them that I will give Mazotos and the three nearby castles to the fiefdom who has contributed the most to this war."

"As long as the fortresses and seaports in places like Famagusta remain in our possession, it will be nothing for the Franks to be given here."

Anna sighed: "With this kind of benefit, I would have promised it to Lothar if I knew it." ”

"He can't."

The empress shook her head decisively and said: "In this battle, naval battle is the key, I haven't heard that this Count of Lothar has a fleet under his command." ”

"That's right."

Anna felt a little sorry for it, she really valued Lothar's potential.

And he was not rejected because Lothar was a Frankish barbarian in the eyes of the mainstream of the Empire.

For wizards, they belong to the same kind.

…

In the evening, Anna came with news again.

"Mazotos? What is that place? ”

Lothar frowned.

"A small seaport in the southeast of Cyprus, although there are many seaports on the island of Cyprus, and you may not earn much transit fees, but it can serve as a stronghold for your Mediterranean fleet."

Lothar was silent for a moment.

"Do you think I look like someone with a fleet?"

Yes, there are.

But all in the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean.

In addition to Hogg, there was Muller's merchant fleet, and a coastal defense fleet.

Anna was a little embarrassed and said: "You always have to start from scratch, the Mediterranean trade is so profitable, you don't want to get involved?" ”

Lothar snorted: "Making money is making money, pirates are everywhere, and my teeth determine how big my appetite is." I'm already satisfied that I can control a part of the Red Sea trade as I do now. ”

"Moreover, your empress is too stingy, what is the contribution to the first to get the fiefdom, isn't this painting cake?"

Anna was also a little embarrassed, and she also felt that her empress was not open enough in this matter.

However, although the Eastern Empire had a great family, the local forces were intertwined, and there was too little land that could really be controlled by the royal family.

For example, in the city of Athens, the land tax paid in the city was only 3,000 silver coins a year.

Due to the large number of tax-exempt estates belonging to the nobility, the problem of land annexation was also very serious, and the ecclesiastical estates meant that the empire was limited in taxes from the land.

As a result, the empire's finances were heavily dependent on commerce and customs duties.

The rise of commercial city-states such as Venice and Genoa, as well as the successive loss of a large number of commercial strongholds along the coast of Asia Minor and the Black Sea coast.

As a result, the empire's status as an eastern trade hub was greatly challenged.

Anna said in a slightly flattering tone: "The great cause of the imperial country is big, and the expenses are also large, so you can be considerate." ”

"Of course I'm considerate, so I didn't plan to get involved at all."

Lothar chuckled and said, "There is a lot of gold in the territory of Mazotos, especially in the hands of the Templars, the Knights Hospitaller, and Count Raymond.

Because these three Crusader forces all have a powerful fleet, which can be used as a transit port and supply port for their fleets.

But for him, it's chicken ribs.

Anna was silent for a moment before she spoke: "I remember, your power system is not the same as that of traditional wizards, so is it difficult to understand that magic book?" ”

"Really, are you going to teach me?"

Anna pondered for a moment and said, "Well, I'll spare an hour every night to teach you." ”

Lothar said unceremoniously, "Thank you then." ”

The other side was choked enough: "Just thank you?" ”

"If you want me to be a mercenary for you, this price alone is definitely not enough."

"Hey, I'm the president of the Levantine Wizards Association, what is the price, an hour is enough for me to concoct a high-grade potion."

Lothar was unmoved.

Anna added: "If you count the favor of repaying you, I can consider making the core of the tyrannical dragon into a magic item for you." ”

Lothar teased: "It's too much to talk about anything to repay people." ”

Anna snorted lightly: "If I don't repay you for this favor, you don't know how many places you have to make up for it, so I'd rather mark the price clearly." ”

"Well, in what capacity should I fight for you? Mercenaries or allies? ”

Anna replied, "Of course, allies, your majesty will talk to you about this, and when the time comes, don't refuse." ”

"Okay, I got it."

Hang up the communication here.

The empress frowned: "How many people will this Count of Lothar bring to the war, if it is only a few hundred, don't you feel a loss?" ”

"Don't worry, it's worth it."

Anna looked calm, in his opinion, as long as Lothar led those transcendents under his command to attack, he would be able to top a whole army.

Moreover, once Lothar obtained Mazotos, he was both a vassal of the Eastern Empire and a vassal of the Kingdom of Jerusalem.