Eagle Flag of Epirus

"The Eagle Flag of Epirus (

"It is true that I was not born noble. If it were not for saving His Majesty Muzfius, I am afraid that everyone here would not know me. But I don't think there is any shame in this, because the one who fought hard to become the emperor is far better than life. The generation of kings. The latter is the inheritance of the ancestors Yu Yin, the former must be strong and talented. I don’t know how the Merinosen family laughed at me. When the Macedonian emperors were reigning in the past, I was favored by the emperor, and in a flash, I was also in favor Emperor Mu Ning, as a result, the descendants of later generations are not shameful, and they are stuck here, but they only brag about it. I think the Merinoson family really has no need to survive."

After speaking, Justinian glanced at the many nobles present, and everyone was silent. When he said this, he was not so much scolding the Merinoson family as he was beating other people present. Although everyone felt that the arrogance in Justinian’s words made them a little uncomfortable, he had to admit this young man in his heart. What people say really makes sense.

Perhaps it was really because they were too obsessed with the court, which made the empire have been withered for hundreds of years, only knowing that they were fighting each other.

"you--!"

The envoy of Merinoson who was so humiliated had his eyes widened. Although he was a collateral descendant, he had never been treated like this before, but as soon as he said a word, Focas next to him kicked him again. On his stomach, the pampered noble son immediately couldn't bend over with pain.

"Push them down, there is no need to pollute the court here."

Seeing that Justinian was about to kill, the panicked nobles hurriedly stepped forward to intercede, and the Merinoson family envoy, who had been frightened by everything just now, no longer had the slightest arrogance, began to endure the pain and trembled and bowed his head. beg for mercy.

"His Royal Highness Justinian, please calm down."

After all, the Merinosson family is a very old family. It was prominent in the Macedonian dynasty. Later, it was a strong supporter of the Komunen family competing for the throne. Although the influence is not as good as before, it can finally be counted among the noble circles. exist. For public and private, the nobles all hope to resolve the conflict at this time, after all, things hurt their kind!

But Justinian snorted and directly rejected the nobles’ request: "As the Governor of Moria appointed by His Majesty Muzfius, Merinosen is also my wife’s vassal. He dared to commit the crime and even questioned my marriage contract with Irina. This not only really insults me, but also insults my wife. I will never spare him easily."

As soon as the voice fell, the heavily armored rider stepped forward, lifted the five-flower-tied private soldiers of the Merinoson family, and sent them to the execution ground.

Seeing this scene, the nobles at the bottom of the steps are also anxious. If the Merinoson family members are really executed, the other party will definitely not give up, but if there is another civil war, they can't bear it anymore, after all. The long-lasting civil war has greatly injured many princes.

At this moment, the two counts of the peacemakers, Bunonius and Taranit, were about to meet, so they finally walked out and "persuaded": "Your Highness, the Merinoson family did, but Please read the merits of guarding Thessaly before, and forgive these people!"

"How can this work?" Justinian, who pretended to be furious, said mercilessly, but instead greeted Salius: "What are you still rubbing here, hang on the top of the city, and then send the body to Larry." Sa."

This remark was full of uproar, it must be known that the nobles were executed face-to-face is really a great humiliation, if this is the case, the Merinoson family will never give up. The nobles expressed their opposition. They are now not only to protect the Merinoson family but also to preserve the dignity of the same nobles.

"Your Highness, please think twice!"

"The Merinoson family is not deadly sinful after all!"

At this time even Focas on the side stood up and said to Justinian: "His Royal Highness, when we are indeed employing people, our war with the tyrant Mikhail has not yet ended, and the soldiers, horses, money and food are in short supply. Slight punishment and spare them! Everyone present, what do you think of this?"

After all, the little nobleman who was supposed to be insignificant was suddenly regarded as a life-saving straw by the princes of Thessaly, and he quickly agreed with the Tao.

"Yes, it is true. His Royal Highness Justinian and Mikhail Dukas are still a threat to us. No matter what, the Merinoson family has always been loyal to Prince Theodor, and will continue to stand under His Royal Highness. From your wife's side. Please look at this level and take it lightly!"

Following Focas's words, the nobles said in unison.

And watching this scene, Justinian's eyes flickered with imperceptible pride. It should be known that when discussing the march to Macedonia, these people were still refusing in every way, but now they have completely changed their appearances.

Finally, Justinian also "impatiently" said: "Well, in the face of other people, I will be open, but the death penalty is unavoidable, and the living crime is inevitable. The Merinoson family must pay the price." , He pointed to a noble guard captain **** on the ground and let his hands loosen.

"You set off immediately and return to Larissa to meet the Earl of Merinoson, tell him to hand over 100 pounds of gold as a fine for his fault within three days, and provide three hundred riders and two hundred horses for me to dispatch. It was originally this. For the reward of suppressing the rebellion, there will be a town belonging to him in the territory of Agrignon, but now it will also be used as a mortgage. The princes present have already pledged you and others. If Merinoson is still obsessed with it, he will be self-defeating. In front of others, three days later, I will inevitably come to the city with a large army of soldiers."

As soon as this sentence came out, the expressions of all the nobles on the court changed slightly, and only then did someone remember it slightly. After some words, they turned out to be Justinian's bargaining chips to blackmail Merinosen. Some people who woke up had ugly faces, and the intentions in Justinian’s words were obvious. Punishing Merinoson was false, and the brazen blackmailing kidnapping was true—100 pounds of gold and three hundred cavalry were not the same. A small amount, Merinoson will inevitably be painful to hand it over, but if the other party does not pay, they as the guarantor will have to bear this unwarranted loss. Then they will definitely bite the bullet and go to Thessaly to denounce Merinoson. family.

With nothing but white teeth, he tore off a large piece of meat, and Justinian's skill made the nobles only eat the whole dumb loss.

Seeing the nobles looking at him, Justinian said calmly: "Does this person think it is feasible?" The little fox who was talking about Moria motioned to Salius again, and saw the heavy cavalry dragging on again. The private soldiers of the Merinoson family went out.

Now the nobles of Thessaly disagree and have to agree. They are more or less in-laws with the Merinoson family, and it is impossible for them to die.

So several prominent princes stepped forward to pledge: "We have no objections to your Highness's decision. If Earl Merinoson does not accept the punishment as promised after three days, we are willing to go to Larissa with your Highness in person."

Seeing that his goal had been achieved, Justinian stopped being muddled and ordered Salius and the others to detain the envoy of Merinosen first.

"Retreat!" His face was not red and his heart beat, Justinian screened back the many nobles and only left Hendry, Bunonius, and Talanit. Focas and Salius also left the hall of the nobility, escorting the members of the Merinoson family.

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"How is the effect?" When everyone left, Justinian looked at the people behind him and asked. From start to finish, all of this was estimated by them, and what they wanted was to force the stingy Thessaly out.

"Normally, but it should be enough to deal with people like Merinosen. It's just that this time I will offend a large number of people." Count Bunonius replied. He and Merinosen's father are old acquaintances, and their ability The geometry couldn't be clearer. Although Merinoson was reckless and stupid, his forward-looking character destined him to dare not raise the flag. It's just that Justinian is very risky in doing so, just a little carelessness may cause Thessaly who has just returned to be separated from Germany.

Justinian nodded, he understood what the old count meant, but now he had no choice. After entering Agrinon, he learned that the treasury of Theodor was almost squandered by the family murderer Romanus-the Genoese who had stayed here sold a large number of Kuman slaves to him. Therefore, at this time, he had to do whatever he could to raise military expenses.

In order to help Justinian, the Counts of Bunonius and Taranite deliberately sent the wrong message to Merinosen in Larissa, making the reckless and stupid opponent think Justinian was putting down the rebellion. It consumes a lot of his own power and can't bounce the nobles of Thessaly, so today he ran into it on his own initiative. Justinian took this as an excuse again and took the opportunity to blackmail the dishonest nobles of Thessaly. He hadn't expressed much hope for Prince Theodor's subordinates, but the golden ones were really useful to him. Helenpe also has food to fill his stomach and the necessary weapons and horses on the battlefield.

"However, looking at the reactions of the nobles present today confirms my guess. If the battle between Rusny and I are to come back again, I am afraid that not many people are willing to support me." He could see that the old ones he had just returned. The aristocracy is still worried that the newly risen self cannot defeat the nominal co-ruling emperor Mikhail Dukas. At the critical moment, most of them are unreliable.

"There is no other way. Prince Theodore is dead. Even though His Royal Highness Irina has been recognized by most people, the determination of allegiance has been greatly reduced by this change." Hendryer shook aside. After shaking his head, today's aristocracy has split, and there is only a small part of them willing to support Justinian, and most of them are still vacillating.

"Then what do you want to do next, Your Highness?" Earl Tan Bei Talanite asked Justinian's future direction of decision-making.

Justinian was silent for a moment, and told the elders in front of him what he thought:

"As promised, I will bestow the feudal lands after the victory to the old nobles with military merits, but they must pay tribute, and these lands cannot be hereditary. I have the right to take back any unauthorized sale."

"This has been said before, I think there should be no problem." Hendryer replied.

"Also, all debt slaves in Agrinon must be liberated, and the cultivated land occupied by soldiers who have been released from production for a long time must also be returned." Because of the war, Justinian knew that many nobles were in this period. The front is tight and the rear is tight. Many of the Pebble Fort's defenders have suffered greatly. Since he has established his rule, he will not let it go.

Hendry also knew this. In fact, Prince Theodor heard about it when he was alive, but he was still undecided. Now that the rebellion has subsided, many nobles have been liquidated, and it is understandable to free up their hands to deal with this matter. Both of these are issues of internal affairs, and Secretary Hendry, who is the secretary-general, noted that he can carry out internal affairs reforms at any time.

And Justinian said his last thought, "I am going to go to Larissa in three days, and subdue the Merinoson family to use it to build power~www.ltnovel.com~ and then send troops directly. Thessaloniki met Mikhail Dukas and his allies."

Speaking of this bold plan, Hendryer and others were noncommittal, "Today's Epirus defense is empty, why don't we take the opportunity to send troops to Rusny?" In their view, tactics are evasive. Is the wisest choice.

But Justinian shook his head and said: "The terrain of Epirus is too dangerous, but the land is very barren. Those who support Mikhail call it Noah. It will never be taken down so easily. If I attack there, I will be in a quagmire. If Mikhail comes back to rescue me, I will be in a passive position. Only by destroying it in one fell swoop on the Macedonian plains will I have the hope of victory." There is another point, Chas. Denny would not say it, that is, the Odothea, they are all in the city of Thessaloniki, and it is impossible for them to risk themselves. Although the current Thessaloniki does not know what the situation is, Justinian Believe that the situation is definitely not optimistic-he can't drag on.

"So you think so." Bunonius and the others pondered for a moment, and found that Justinian's remarks did have some truth, and then said: "Then what do you need us to do?"

"Help me raise food, grass, and everything. Even if they don’t want to send troops, they have to let these nobles pay for food. After I leave, I will settle the Albanians in the city where Merinosen was deprived, and they will obey you. Several people, Agrinon and Thessaly will be entrusted to you by then."

Justinian said in a deep voice, even though he did not get along with the elders in front of him for a long time, he also realized that he was a trustworthy person in his party. Moglia had Neusky in charge, and this Only they can rest assured that they will go to Macedonia and Mikhail to teach.