Eagle Flag of Epirus

　　 In 1205, Epirus formally concluded an alliance with Bulgaria, which means that it completely broke with the Holy See and the Latin Empire.

　　Mikhail grandly entertained the arrival of Grand Duke Ivan and his party, and agreed that the two countries would fight the Latins together, but the only difference between the two sides was Bulgaria’s territorial claims on Macedonian Thrace. And even though they knew the identity of Muzifius, the Bolgars had always coveted the throne of the Roman Empire, and Ivan Asen did not give Mikhail more aid conditions.

Although a little unhappy, but after three days and three nights of bargaining, Mikhail had no choice but to give up his previous requirements and agreed to abandon the territorial sovereignty of Thrace. The Bolgarians agreed to start the spring next year. The promise of a general attack on Boniface.

　　 At this point, the alliance between Epirus and Bulgaria was finally successfully completed, and the two sides signed an agreement.

　　 But in fact, the two sides were not satisfied, and were full of guard against their new allies. The agreement between the two is more nothing more than a bad check in order to tie the interests of the two together to face the threats of the Latins.

　　 After all this is over, there is no need for the Bolgarians to stay here.

"Your Majesty Mikhail, thank you for your hospitality these days. I am very happy that we can finally get rid of the premonitions and fight the Latins together. I hope we can cooperate happily." Ivan Assen, who stayed for a few days, received a letter from his uncle, Tsar Kaloyan. , The battle with the Latins became passive because Henry of Flanders rushed back. He must rush back to Sofia, otherwise the Macedonian area would be very dangerous once it was closed off. He brought the guards Ivan Assen to the gate of the city. Seeing off Mikhail bid farewell.

"I also look forward to cooperating with Tsar Kaloyan, Your Excellency Ivan. I wish you a safe journey." Mikhail said with a smile. Although the agreement with Bulgaria did not satisfy him, he got Muzfi Uth's Golden Seal edict is enough, at least now his threat to the north will be greatly eased.

"Your Excellency... It is not accurate to say that it should be the future emperor. Although I am an outsider, I still want to remind you. Be wary of Majesty Muzfius and the kid next to him. Otherwise, it will be laughed out of the fire. Goodbye, Your Majesty Mikhail." Ivan Asen lowered his voice to remind the man in front of him, and after speaking, he took the Paul Garp beside him and rode out of the city gate.

And looking at Ivan Assen’s back, Mikhail also showed a thoughtful look. He did not take the other party’s youth off his mind. The Karoyan Tsar entrusted him to explain such an important matter. He must trust this Ivan Asen very much, and his words did touch his heart.

It was indeed a risk to accept Muzfius. Although he sent Muzfius into the monastery, the blind man was not enough, but he agreed to the other party's request to canonize a castle in the south to Justinian. . Ivan Assen's words couldn't help making him regret that he had accepted Muzfius' terms too hastily.

　　 "Your Majesty, what's the matter with you?" The generals who had changed their names beside them seemed to see that Mikhail seemed to be worried about this.

However, Mikhail shook his head at this moment and said: "Forget it, let's go back!" He did not easily believe Ivan Asen's words, because the Bolgars themselves are not trustworthy, and the name is called The young people of Justinian may be able to use them for themselves, not to mention that he can't make any waves without the status of aristocracy.

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On the other side, Justinian, armed with a tapered helmet and chain armor, walked into the monastery to see Muzfius for the last time. He never expected this man to agree to such a harsh condition. , But asked Mikhail to give himself a reward and became a military aristocrat of the lowest rank.

　　 At this time, the military district system had not completely disintegrated. As early as the early 11th century, the number of military districts increased to 46. At that time, the military districts were generally able to provide 2 to 3 Tolma (legion) troops, with the number between 20,000 and 30,000. Each regiment consists of 2 to 5 Dorengaros (similar to a battalion). Each battalion contains 5 bantons (similar to a company). The quota is 256 infantry and 300 cavalry. In addition to the regular army, the empire often Relying on the wealth in hand, drive the allies or mercenaries of different races to fight for themselves. But now it's not as good as before. After Romanus IV was captured in the Battle of Manchecott, the fate of the empire took a turn for the worse. The small and medium-sized peasants, the main force of the farming soldiers, can no longer afford the long-term expedition and many exorbitant taxes, and they are beginning to decline day by day. The scene of the decline of republican Rome a thousand years ago was once again staged in the East. The decline of the small and medium peasant class means the shake of the Tema system and the aristocracy of the generals, and at the same time promotes the further feudalization of the entire society~www.ltnovel.com~, which incurs increasing difficulties in the operation of the country under the imperial rule. The rise of the Niah system, the rise of military aristocracy, and the encroachment of the public land, the local army has long been vulnerable to a blow and is almost incomplete. Although Justinian received the rank of Commander Bandon, the army he could mobilize was only over a hundred men, and the fief was also a barren castle once built by the Normans.

　　 But anyway, Justinian was already very grateful for what Muzfius had done. He thought the other party would leave him in this cold monastery for a lifetime.

　　 "You are here..." Although Muzfius couldn't see anything, he heard Justinian's footsteps all at once.

　　 "It's me, His Majesty Mikhail ordered me to go tomorrow." Justinian told Muzifius after a long silence.

After hearing this, Muzfius was not surprised, but smiled and said: "I can't wait, the hidden danger will be eliminated so soon. But this is good, if you stay here, it will be dangerous. Become a victim."

"But are you really willing to do this?" Justinian hesitated for a moment and asked. He didn't understand why this man would accept such harsh conditions. In history, the Byzantine emperors walked into the monastery to say goodbye to all secularism and become power. The loser of the struggle, why would Muzfius swallow so easily, it is clear that they have enough cards to continue the negotiation.

　　 However, Muzfius asked in return: "Then are you really willing to become a mediocre little nobleman, and finally die on the battlefield to end your life?"

Muzfius’s question hit Justinian’s heart. He knew that he couldn’t make it out of his current small role, and that meant that it would be impossible for him to look for fragments of the ark. He stared at him. The man in front of him asked, "What do you mean?"