Drawing Cards in the Middle Ages to Rise in Ranks

Chapter 883 - 107: Fierce Battle

"Anyone seen by the Heavenly Lord capable of action, kill them all!"

"No need to show mercy to these cunning Greeks! God has granted us the power to sweep away all heretics!"

The Crusader Soldiers roared repeatedly, stepping on wooden pedals, crossing the sea, and under the cover of the Venetian fleet, they charged into the port for a bloody battle with the well-prepared Greek garrison inside.

Their shields, emblazoned with crosses, collided with the Greek shield wall on the opposite side, as if two torrents erupting into a splash of bloody waves.

"For the Empress, forward, forward!"

"Defeat all invaders, drive them into the sea."

"Don’t give them a chance to get a foothold on the beach!"

The Empire’s generals encouraged their troops, following the layout in "Military Strategy," using heavy infantry at the front to halt the enemy’s advance, while from the towers inside the city and the walls above, crossbow arrows and arrows were shot in support.

Many Crusaders were shot until they resembled hedgehogs, and a Venetian warship was hit by a crossbow cannon, piercing through the deck.

After an intense battle, the first wave of the offensive ended in retreat for the Crusaders.

Most of the Varangian Guard, tall and burly, clad in heavy armor, came from the Rus States, Scandinavian Peninsula, and even Albion. They were undoubtedly adept in close combat.

Walking Crusader Knights and Armored Soldiers could not gain the slightest advantage in a fight with them.

Standing on the opposite shore of Golden Horn Bay observing the battle situation, Bella III smirked contemptuously: "The Greeks have truly declined; the Empire’s army is full of Slav and Latin mercenaries. If we were fighting in the open, our cavalry would only need one charge to smash their formation."

Next to him, Captain Dandolo remained indifferent: "We don’t have much time, Your Majesty, and if you are unwilling to exert full force, once we lose the chance to seize Constantinople, you will bear huge debts."

Bella III replied with a relaxed expression: "Captain, impatience leads to mistakes. This is just a first probing attack, like playing a Gwent Card game—who would reveal their hand initially?"

Dandolo sneered: "Don’t misunderstand, we are not impatient. After all, you have provided adequate collateral for this battle. Although Dalmatia is impoverished, it can barely make up for some of our losses."

A messenger galloped in and ran up the city wall: "Your Majesty, there are large enemy forces gathering on the opposite shore of the strait!"

Facing Captain Dandolo’s gaze of "I told you so," Bella III chuckled: "Who are they?"

"They bear the flags of the Ducas Family, seemingly a coalition army from the Opsikian theme and Ephesus theme."

Bella III couldn’t help but laugh aloud: "I thought it was those who betrayed the glory of God, siding with the heretical church, who had come from Egypt, but the Greek Queen still has several loyal subjects."

Is the Emperor of the Empire powerful? Comparing to the Imperial power not extending beyond Gaul Island, improved only by Cunning Fox Philip in Gaul; or with the Germania Emperor, openly challenged by Lombardy vassals’ alliance.

Having a Divine Aura and able to autonomously appoint or dismiss Archbishops and other advanced officials, the Emperor of the Empire is naturally much stronger.

But in reality, the central authority of the Eastern Empire had long declined since the attack on Constantinople, most governors remained observant, unwilling to act promptly to protect the throne.

Dandolo also sighed lightly: "Haha, probably another foolish person thinking of marrying the widow to become Emperor."

"Such people are always in abundance."

Bella III shrugged his shoulders; he desires the Empress but has no intention to become Emperor.

In his view, everyone seeking both are fools.

Because of the Empire’s situation, currently under joint rule and mutual restraint by the Ducas and Komnenos, unless a power equivalent to the Komnenos Family wants to ally with the Ducas to completely suppress them—such a power does not exist in the Empire.

Thus, the Empress is destined not to secure allies through marriage, which is the baseline of the Komnenos Family.

Moreover, the Empress is not a true Emperor but a Regent Empress, and marriage would cause her to lose legal authority to continue ruling.

Of course, there are exceptions.

For instance, with Crusaders’ support, the Anglos Family’s Alexios, despite his cunning, cannot match Blades and Guns.

The strength of the Komnenos Family in the Empire, controlling districts and offices, will still yield to the Crusaders’ might.

That Alexios might not retain the Emperor’s throne stably, and once the Crusaders leave, he likely will be ousted soon after depleting his resources.

But that no longer concerns the Crusaders.

"Mr. Dandolo, please wait for a while, I will quickly resolve that reinforcements then continue to oversee the battle with you."

Standing on the opposite shore of Golden Horn Bay observing the battle situation, Bella III smirked contemptuously: "The Greeks have truly declined; the Empire’s army is full of Slav and Latin mercenaries. If we were fighting in the open, our cavalry would only need one charge to smash their formation."

Next to him, Captain Dandolo remained indifferent: "We don’t have much time, Your Majesty, and if you are unwilling to exert full force, once we lose the chance to seize Constantinople, you will bear huge debts."

Bella III replied with a relaxed expression: "Captain, impatience leads to mistakes. This is just a first probing attack, like playing a Gwent Card game—who would reveal their hand initially?"

Dandolo sneered: "Don’t misunderstand, we are not impatient. After all, you have provided adequate collateral for this battle. Although Dalmatia is impoverished, it can barely make up for some of our losses."

A messenger galloped in and ran up the city wall: "Your Majesty, there are large enemy forces gathering on the opposite shore of the strait!"

Facing Captain Dandolo’s gaze of "I told you so," Bella III chuckled: "Who are they?"

"They bear the flags of the Ducas Family, seemingly a coalition army from the Opsikian theme and Ephesus theme."

Bella III couldn’t help but laugh aloud: "I thought it was those who betrayed the glory of God, siding with the heretical church, who had come from Egypt, but the Greek Queen still has several loyal subjects."

Is the Emperor of the Empire powerful? Comparing to the Imperial power not extending beyond Gaul Island, improved only by Cunning Fox Philip in Gaul; or with the Germania Emperor, openly challenged by Lombardy vassals’ alliance.

Having a Divine Aura and able to autonomously appoint or dismiss Archbishops and other advanced officials, the Emperor of the Empire is naturally much stronger.

But in reality, the central authority of the Eastern Empire had long declined since the attack on Constantinople, most governors remained observant, unwilling to act promptly to protect the throne.

Dandolo also sighed lightly: "Haha, probably another foolish person thinking of marrying the widow to become Emperor."

"Such people are always in abundance."

Bella III shrugged his shoulders; he desires the Empress but has no intention to become Emperor.

In his view, everyone seeking both are fools.

Because of the Empire’s situation, currently under joint rule and mutual restraint by the Ducas and Komnenos, unless a power equivalent to the Komnenos Family wants to ally with the Ducas to completely suppress them—such a power does not exist in the Empire.

Thus, the Empress is destined not to secure allies through marriage, which is the baseline of the Komnenos Family.

Moreover, the Empress is not a true Emperor but a Regent Empress, and marriage would cause her to lose legal authority to continue ruling.

Of course, there are exceptions.

For instance, with Crusaders’ support, the Anglos Family’s Alexios, despite his cunning, cannot match Blades and Guns.

The strength of the Komnenos Family in the Empire, controlling districts and offices, will still yield to the Crusaders’ might.

That Alexios might not retain the Emperor’s throne stably, and once the Crusaders leave, he likely will be ousted soon after depleting his resources.

But that no longer concerns the Crusaders.

"Mr. Dandolo, please wait for a while, I will quickly resolve that reinforcements then continue to oversee the battle with you."