"At that time, not long after the fall of Queen Mother Helena, there were still some nobles in the country who wanted to take the opportunity to cause trouble. At that time, the Great Khan Basil III was going around to quell the civil strife all day long, and then continued to fight with the Magyars. On the southern front, there was indeed no Enough energy.”
"That's why Osman was very confident at that time and still maintained the momentum of taking the initiative to attack." Guo Kang shook his head and said: "At that time, this place was said to be the capital, but it was not safe at all."
"Later, Grand Master Mametinikus, who was operating in northern Asia Minor to contain Ottoman's flanks, also returned to the north to coordinate Timur's war against Tokhtamysh. Osman no longer had any worries, so he planned to use the religious war as a means of In the name of this, we once again call on the Ghazis from all over the country to gather at the Hainan and Haibei camps, threatening to conquer most of the capital in one fell swoop and eliminate our God-worshipping religion."
"At that time, everyone was relatively pessimistic about the situation, so my adoptive father served as an envoy to the Ottoman court to see if they could find a way to delay the war. However, the Ottomans detained him when they arrived and did not suspend military operations."
"They are not stupid." Theodora pointed out: "If we go to negotiate at this time, it will be obvious for them to see what we mean."
"This is also one aspect." Guo Kang scratched his head: "The main reason is that I think there is a problem with the selection. The Ottomans are not without other enemies. At that time, the Turks in Minor Asia were rebelling against them on a daily basis."
"If he was an eloquent messenger, he might be able to delay it for a while, but his adoptive father's level of eloquence..." Guo Kang couldn't help but grinned and took a long breath: "I don't know what the Khan's court was thinking at the time, so that he could let him Become a lobbyist..."
"Okay..." Theodora didn't know how to answer: "What happened next?"
"Later, although diplomatic efforts completely failed, the Ottoman assembly was indeed obstructed by the Turks, and the progress was far less smooth than expected. The attitude of the Sultan's court also wavered and they wanted to talk." Guo Kang said .
"In addition, although his eloquence is not good, his adoptive father has a good character, is generous and simple, and is a good drinker. He is popular with many nobles in the Ottoman court. Even Sultan Murad I admired him, and later inherited the Ottoman palace. Yezid is also very familiar with him.”
"It was during that time that he developed a friendship with Murad's youngest daughter, Bayezid's sister, Iser."
"Are you sure it's just friendship?" Theodora asked the question keenly.
"Then I...of course I have to say this." Guo Kang was unhappy: "If I use other words, can you guarantee that it will not be leaked at all after you go back? If it spreads and my mother knows, my mother will definitely You want to train me. Are you going to take the beating for me then?"
"Okay, okay, I won't tell anyone. Then let's continue." Theodora had no choice but to give in.
"After that, even I thought it was a bloody thing." Guo Kang shook his head and said, "Then the two sides ceased fighting, and the adoptive father could come back. But the two of them... already have a friendship, you know, right?"
"I know, I know, it's friendship." Theodora nodded helplessly.
"Yes." Guo Kang said reassuringly: "And, at this time, Bayezid, who was in charge of the affairs, put forward a condition. He told his adoptive father that he recognized his bravery and thought he was a hero. And I firmly believe that he will be a powerful opponent of Osman in the future."
"So, Bayezid proposed that he could either marry Iser and stay in the Ottomans as a guarantee of long-term friendship between the two countries in the future; or he could send him back to his country as a gift in accordance with the peace treaty, but let the enemy go without killing him. In exchange for his compensation, Iser must obey orders and marry another Turkmen prince in order to gain a new ally."
"So there is such a thing." Theodora opened her eyes wide and said with some surprise: "Your adoptive father is indeed back. Then... what arrangements did he make for the Ottoman girl?"
"My father is a true Roman." Guo Kang said with a lofty expression: "He always regards the interests of Rome as the highest criterion and always puts the country in the first place when considering issues..."
"That's just because you don't care about others..." Theodora understood.
"..."
"Go on, what happened next?" Theodora urged.
"I came back later." Guo Kang spread his hands: "My adoptive father must have been quite heartbroken, but not long after he came back, I met my adoptive mother, and then..."
He thought for a while and didn't know how to describe it, so he gestured: "Just 'tied to death', that's it. You know what it means, right?"
"I know, I know." Theodora nodded, thinking of Madam's performance.
"As for that side... Aunt Isel seemed quite normal at the time. She even said that she could do anything as long as she let him go, because the marriage was originally her responsibility as the sultan's daughter." Guo Kang continued.
"She married a Turkmen prince who was active in northwest Persia, close to Asia Minor. Osman wanted to win over these people, expand and stabilize the sphere of influence in the east, and at the same time deal with the competition of the Black Sheep Dynasty."
"But it didn't take long after that, maybe just a few years." He did some calculations and said, "Uncle Timur called."
"You should also know about this battle. Emperor Timur defeated the Ottomans and captured Bayezid alive."
"Aunt Iser's marriage diplomacy was relatively successful. Her husband did not join Timur as a group like several other Turkmen tribes. Instead, he fought with the Ottomans. However, in this battle, the prince also died in the rebellion. , leaving only one daughter."
"That's her?" Theodora probably understood the situation and confirmed with Guo Kang in a statement.
"Yes." Guo Kang nodded: "After that, Aunt Isel felt like..."
He pointed to his head: "I've probably suffered too many tragedies, and I'm a little crazy."
"At that time, the Ottomans were almost disintegrated, and her husband's tribe was also beaten to pieces, so Aunt Isel lost her support."
"After Timur withdrew, some Turkmens were ready to come to us. When they heard that she knew her adoptive father, they wanted to make her their leader so that they could contact Zi Zhang easily. But she was unwilling and talked about her misery. Destiny all started when I met my adoptive father. Now I just want revenge and would rather die than take refuge with him. The others had no choice but to leave."
"But I don't think she has any intention of not surrendering." Theodora pointed at Meltem.
"Well, Meltem is not her." Guo Kang explained: "Meltem is actually a good child. You will know after you get in touch with him a few times."
"You have been in contact with me many times." Theodora looked at him.
Before Guo Kang could answer, Meltem stood up next to him.
"Brother, I've finished eating." She reported: "Can I take a shower?"
"What are you going to do?" Theodora was so shocked that she almost didn't react.
"Take a bath." Meltem tilted his head in confusion: "Don't you, sister, take a bath? Taking a bath is very comfortable. I like taking a bath very much."
"I'm not asking you this!" Theodora was almost mad at her: "How could you go to someone's house to take a shower?"
"Uncle and brother have already taken a bath." Meltem pointed out: "I just saw them coming out of the bathhouse. There should be no one there now."
"After they have washed it, you can wash it yourself?" Theodora couldn't bear it and continued to question.
"Hey -?" Meltem looked at her in surprise, then lowered his head shyly, blushing slightly: "Then...brother, do you want to come take a bath together? This sister doesn't seem to allow me to take a bath alone..."
"..."
Theodora was almost out of breath.
(End of chapter)
