Drawing Cards in the Middle Ages to Rise in Ranks

Chapter 891: Chapter 115: Putting on a Show

The army from Aegyptus led by the Basileus is marching on the avenues of Constantinople.

The winged cavalry, with feathered adornments on their backs, are leading the procession, followed by armored archers and Iron Butcher Cavalry, fully armed and covered from head to toe, making the Greek citizens watch in awe.

"Heavenly Father above, I feel like I’m seeing the armored cavalry under Emperor Romanus once again. Since the disaster at Manzikert, who would have thought they’d be rebuilt by a group of Franks?"

When knights of the Saint Lazarus Order, wrapped in various-colored coveralls from the camps of the three Knight Orders, approached, they collectively held their breath: "Ah, such a sacred and orderly army, nothing like the Frankish Barbarians who are so disorganized and chaotic. The Holy Land truly possesses the power of God to transform such barbarians to this extent."

"Brothers, stop using the word ’barbarian.’ They are monastic knights, devoted celibates pledging to God. They are true believers; otherwise, they wouldn’t be helping us against those Latin brutes."

Though many understand, there are still many schemers among the citizens who stirred the crowd.

"Didn’t they say the Latin brutes have already been defeated? How did they enter the city?"

"Fools, didn’t you see they are under the Empire’s banner? These are the troops of the King of Aegyptus; he has been invested as Vice Emperor of the Empire by Her Majesty the Empress, governing the Eastern Region and Aegyptus Region."

"Vice Emperor of the Empire? An Alamanni Barbarian? Isn’t he in league with those Latin brutes?"

"Ignorant fellow, did you forget that General Losa once fought for the Empire during the last tournament?"

"How did he become Basileus?"

"Who knows? Maybe they were already up to something back then? Hey, our Empress, after all, has been single for a long time. The Frankish barbarian is strong and vigorous; when the two meet, sparks fly, naturally catching fire. If a wild offspring appears... tsk tsk."

Others are worried: "If there’s a wild offspring, who knows if Her Imperial Highness still has a chance to ascend the throne."

Though there have been emperors of barbarian descent in the Empire’s history, the citizens of Constantinople undoubtedly preferred supporting the Greek Emperor who believes in Eastern Orthodox Church.

"Who cares if he’s a barbarian? The new Basileus defeated Saladin and restored Egypt within a year. He can command the Demon Dragon and has dozens of powerful witches serving him. I think him being Basileus allows us to recover Aegyptus without any soldiers lost and eventually restore the territories of the Great Emperor Justinian. What more could you be dissatisfied with?"

Many citizens showed hesitant expressions, worrying that a barbarian emperor might bring Latin habits to Constantinople. Relations between Greeks and Latins have worsened since the Latin massacre, often prompting Greeks to spit when passing through the Pella District where many Latin immigrants reside.

In the eyes of many Constantinople residents, these Western Christian brothers are even more detestable than the Saracens and the Turkic barbarians occupying Asia Minor, as the latter haven’t threatened the citizens’ safety.

Losa rode on Eclipse, surrounded by the winged cavalry. He didn’t care about how the citizens of Constantinople perceived him, as he had no intentions of staying to rule this grand city.

The grand entrance ceremony was purely at the behest of Empress Ragaya.

During this period, the blockade of the sea routes left the people of Constantinople uneasy.

The lands of the Empire each have titles like Empire Grain Storehouse, because cities like Constantinople are like the head that needs to draw nourishment from the body.

The Golden Horn Bay’s blockade led to trade disruption, rising grain prices, and shortages of supplies. These were just the tip of the iceberg.

Most concerning were the successive rebellions and Crusaders at the city gates, heavily undermining the Empress’s authority, prompting major political families led by the Komnenos to become restless.

Especially the Komnenos Family, originally rooted in the Asia Minor’s military aristocracy, monopolizing most of the Empire’s military positions, as even Crown Princess Ira, the nominal co-emperor, was a member of the Komnenos Family.

In the eyes of many Komnenos members, Ragaya is merely a temporary custodian of the Komnenos’ power. With Princess Ira coming of age, they believed she should return the governance.

Yet all these schemes were halted with the arrival of reinforcements from Aegyptus.

Previously, their near obvious networking and semi-public denouncement of the Empress’s rule suddenly became cautious, though dissatisfaction simmered inside.

In their view, Ragaya’s intentions were clear—to find an external ally in the Empire’s new King of Aegyptus through union, leading the Komnenos family’s imperial authority to fall into foreign hands.

Not only the Komnenos family, but the Ducas Family was disgruntled as well.

According to the Ducas-Komnenos alliance, after Princess Ira’s ascension, they should find a Ducas male for the position of co-emperor. Ragaya’s actions completely surprised them, damaging their interests.

"Master, I felt a lot of hostility. I don’t understand; didn’t we just save them?"

Cherina followed closely by Losa’s side, her eyes like razor blades scanning the crowd, memorizing those hostile glances for distinction upon meeting again.

"They’re afraid I won’t leave."

Losa chuckled: "Her Majesty the Empress’s rule clearly isn’t popular. She faces many constraints, has ambitious visions, but to enact internal reforms requires cutting out the rot, choosing between offending internal supporters and external merchants; she chose the latter, yet it didn’t gain much support."

This is why he initially refused to be a son-in-law.

Inheriting a decaying old empire presents too many constraints and sometimes even obstructs wielding a butcher knife—because Ragaya’s supporters, the Ducas and Komnenos families, are the biggest hindrances to her administrative reforms.

Ragaya sought to dispatch troops to Sicily to earn prestige in order to promote her new policy.

However, she didn’t foresee the war dragging into its current prolonged state.

Cherina nodded with a hint of comprehension: "So now we’re giving the Empress a boost?"