…
"Hey, I'll go. After all, it's a big country with some heritage. Look at it, it's much more comfortable than the previous principality."
Zhuge Zhi and his party got off the boat and looked at this ancient city that had stood for six hundred years. Wei Ji couldn't help but sigh in admiration.
At the port, there is an endless stream of ships coming for trade, and there are people of all colors, but there are no familiar oriental faces.
Looking at the city wall of Constantinople again, Zhuge Zhi stood in the distance and walked around with interest. He found that the city wall was surrounded by the sea on three sides. Except for the east side, the shoals were close to the ocean. This geographical location was obviously easy to defend. Difficult to attack.
The city wall is quite long. It is roughly estimated that it stretches for more than ten miles, with a thickness of between four and six meters and a height of 12 meters. The city walls are spaced more than 70 meters apart, and there are one or two towers about 15 meters high. Looking at it, it is densely packed. It makes people's scalp numb. If the inside of the city wall is solid, its defense power will be very terrifying.
Zhuge Zhi had already begun to think about how to break through this city wall if he led an army to attack it.
Wei Ji on the side was also very shocked and said in his heart: "Your Majesty is right, the world is so big that it cannot be underestimated. If a city wall like this was placed in the Zhou Dynasty, it would not be comparable to it.
If it weren't for Your Majesty, we would probably sit there and watch the sky, and foolishly think that we are the center of the world. Alas, this trip is worth it, at least we will gain more knowledge. "
Just as Zhuge Zhi and his party were observing this spiritual home of the Western world, suddenly a group of tall soldiers wearing fine iron armor, carrying a kite-shaped shield on their backs, and carrying a two-handed ax on their shoulders strode in front of them. .
A red-haired soldier at the head walked directly in front of Zhuge Zhi, his eyes were solemn, and he extended his palm to him.
"Sir, don't panic or resist. These people are the Varangian Guards under the royal family of the Baisei Empire. This captain wants you to show your pass documents."
Wei Ji nodded, then took out the pass certificate written by Raymond himself and handed it to the Nordic giant who was over 1.9 meters tall.
The Varangian captain read the letter in his hand and looked at these strange faces from the East in surprise. Then he knelt down on one knee and shouted: "It turns out he is a king from the East. Please forgive me for being rude just now, Varangian." Guards General Oleg, here to receive the distinguished guest."
Just when the translator was about to convey Oleg's words to Wei Ji, Wei Ji unexpectedly took the initiative to reply: "No need to be polite, General Oleg, I have come all the way from the far east to this land on the orders of His Majesty the Han Dynasty. land,
It is to admire the culture of the Roman Empire and to allow our two major civilizations of the East and the West to communicate with each other, so please get up. "
This scene not only shocked Wang Xuance and his subordinate Dingyuan, but also Zhuge Zhi was shocked. He never expected that this cynical, greedy and lustful prince could actually be proficient in Western languages, and there was no exposure along the way?
After hearing this, Oleg stood up and placed one hand on his chest: "Thank you for your courtesy, His Majesty the King. However, if you want to enter the city, you still need to wait for our Majesty's permission, so please wait here for a while."
Wei Ji nodded understandingly: "General Oleg, this is your responsibility. We deeply understand it. Go ahead. We are here waiting for your response."
"Thank you for your understanding, Your Highness, Oleg resigns!"
After Oleg left with his bodyguard, Zhuge Zhi couldn't help but ask: "My lord, when did you learn the Xiyi language?"
Wei Ji immediately turned on the show-off mode: "Young Master Zhuge is laughing at me. I have learned some Xiyi dialect since I was a child. I don't want to have another chance to use it, but it's just a little trick..."
Zhuge Zhi narrowed his eyes: "Then in the Principality of Antioch, why don't you just go with that..."
"In this place, I don't care about dealing with those guys who smell like shit. I see that the people here are relatively clean and hygienic, so I show it off, so you don't have to get to the bottom of it."
After saying that, Wei Ji walked leisurely to a shop selling dried fish and started talking to them with a smile...
In the palace of Constantinople, there was still a heated debate about the possible arrival of the Crusaders.
Most people believed that Ennico was just a governor of a principality and did not have the guts to launch an offensive against Constantinople.
In addition, the walls of Constantinople are strong, and there are powerful Varangian guards and Genoese mercenaries. Even if the Crusaders invade, they will definitely not be able to break through the city.
The entire palace was filled with an optimistic atmosphere. Only Dioshures knew that no matter whether the Crusaders would launch an offensive against Constantinople or not, they must be fully prepared.
However, Constantinople's troops are now at a disadvantage, and the group of Genoa mercenaries seem to have felt the uneasy atmosphere. They have asked for higher commissions several times and are likely to withdraw if they are not given.
Once the Genoese mercenaries left, the standing army with only one thousand Varangian guards and ten thousand equipment and training was seriously insufficient, and it was impossible to take care of the long city defense line.
While everyone was talking about it, Oleg entered the palace as if there was no one around, walked to the young Alexios VI, knelt down on one knee, and presented a document.
"Your Majesty, the envoy from the Eastern Kingdom requests an audience. Please give me your permission."
When Alexius VI saw Oleg's face, a smile finally appeared on his face. After taking the letter and reading it, he turned his questioning eyes to his mother, the Queen Mother Serdina.
Serdina said: "How many people did they come?"
Oleg stood up after hearing this, stood beside Alexios VI, and replied: "A total of 2,328 people are waiting to be received at the East Gate Port."
Serdina stood up and said, "With so many people, can we carry weapons?"
Oleg: "Of course, those two thousand people are well-armed and are powerful warriors!"
Dioshures said angrily: "Then we can't let them enter the city! What if they are with Eniko? The situation is critical now. If something happens, who can afford it? Oleg , I order you to drive them away immediately!"
Oleg replied: "The Varangian Guard only obeys the orders of His Majesty the Emperor. Prince Theosures, you have no right to order me!"
"you……"
Theosures was speechless for a moment.
This royal guard, composed of Nordic barbarians, has always only taken orders from the emperor on the throne of the Baisei Empire. No one else can command them.
Their loyalty is unquestionable. Even when the Beisai Empire was in dire straits, they loyally guarded the emperor and helped them tide over difficulties time and time again.
Serdina said to Alexios VI: "Your Majesty, this matter is still decided by you. Whether this envoy from the far eastern country will be seen or not is entirely up to you."
Alexios VI thought for a long time and said to Oleg: "General Oleg, please bring them to the embassy to entertain them, and invite the envoy to have dinner with them in the evening."
"Your Majesty, you have to think clearly. Haven't you seen the barbarism of the Easterners? They are a group of pagans who refuse to believe in the Lord. You can no longer have any interaction with them. It is time to focus on the people from the Crusaders. threats."
Theosures was very dissatisfied with his nephew's decision.
But Serdina said: "Calm down, Your Highness, if that Eastern delegation really has intentions, Raymond will not hand-write the pass to let them go.
At times like this, the more we need to stay calm. We can tell whether we are friends or foes at the first sight. "
After saying that, Serdina stood up and left, preparing to take a shower and change clothes to attend the dinner party with her son.
