War demands immense focus and vigilance.
From the moment it begins until long after it ends, only relentless attention can ensure that one has truly overcome it. The war against the Ottomans was no exception.
On the third day since entering Thebes, after barely finding time to recover, he had spent an entire day contemplating what needed to be done first. After much deliberation, he reached a conclusion: the scattered soldiers must be gathered.
It would have been ideal to discuss the matter with a trusted advisor, but both Justinian and Ivania were currently leading their respective forces.
In the end, he had no choice but to decide alone.
And his decision was one of acceptance.
“I declare a general pardon for those who deserted during the last war. If blame is to be placed, it is my own for failing to inspire faith in them. I will not hold them accountable. Return to your homes.”
It was better for the soldiers to return rather than turn into bandits while wandering aimlessly. Of course, he had no intention of letting discipline deteriorate so easily. Order required both rewards and punishments, and now was the time to use rewards.
The pardon served not only to maintain order but also to stabilize the shaken public sentiment. Though they had barely achieved victory, the losses had been immense.
To make up for those losses, they needed every capable hand. Punishing all deserters for the sake of military discipline would have meant sacrificing too many. Furthermore, since this had been a intentional strategy, it was unreasonable to single out the deserters alone for blame.
His decree soon became an official proclamation, spreading from Thebes across central Greece. It was uncertain when those hiding in remote areas would hear of it, but a significant number of soldiers would surely return.
Next, his focus turned to Thomas, who would soon be joining the Sultan’s forces.
He had not seen Thomas for some time due to the ongoing transportation of relief supplies from Thebes, but as soon as the summons reached him, Thomas arrived with his usual bright expression.
“I heard you called for me, brother.”
“Yes… The Sultan will likely summon you soon.”
“I wish he would grant me more time… But I suppose that’s impossible?”
Thomas’s weary gaze left him with no choice but to nod in silence.
Anatolia had always been a nightmare to defend. If the enemy’s army was composed mainly of cavalry, the battles would be even more grueling. Just thinking about the struggles ahead, particularly in the Iconium region, was exhausting.
Murad would undoubtedly want to pacify the region as swiftly and decisively as possible, with a fully prepared force at his command.
“Do not recklessly pursue merit in battle. Instead, observe how the Sultan commands his army. Learn how sharp the blade in his hands truly is. Because one day, that blade will inevitably be turned against us.”
“I will keep that in mind, brother. You already have your hands full as Prince of Morea, but I hope you can also manage your duties as regent of Epirus.”
“…It won’t be too much of a burden.”
“Then I shall take my leave to prepare. Please take care of yourself.”
With a quiet smile, Thomas withdrew.
It was painful to see such heavy burdens placed upon one so young.
But Thomas understood what it meant to be of imperial blood.
He also understood what the Ottomans feared most.
The Ottomans never forgot those who had once defeated them. No matter what, they would devise a plan to bring about his downfall. Given time, the capital itself might have moved to remove him from power.
But if Epirus was brought under his influence, the situation would change.
With control extending from southern Greece to central Greece, would the capital dare to cast him aside so easily?
At last, the landscape was shifting according to his original intent.
The empire had fallen into ruin largely due to its failing administration and political instability. These two factors could not be treated separately.
To consolidate his strength, he needed to lessen the Ottoman pressure.
And to achieve that, he had to draw another foreign power into the geopolitical struggle, forcing the Ottomans to divide their attention.
Left alone in his chamber, he gazed down at the map spread across the table, lost in thought.
By relinquishing Thessalonica to Venice, a potential point of conflict had been established between the Ottomans and the Venetians.
But that alone was not enough.
There was no guarantee that Venice would be fully committed to the upcoming [decisive battle].
For that battle, countless forces would be needed—not only the support of the Western Christian powers to lead a Crusade but also smaller factions capable of striking at the Ottomans’ rear.
The negotiations to enlist Genoese mercenaries had been a step toward that goal. These Genoese mercenaries would not serve under Thomas but would instead fight as Ottoman supports. Their true objective was to monopolize or at least secure a foothold in trade along the Anatolian coast. While relinquishing entire cities might be excessive, they would surely later insist on establishing agreements.
For the Ottomans, who sought to build their own fleet and secure naval dominance, this would be a bitter expense. But if they refused, they would only be adding another troublesome enemy to their list.
There was only one possible conclusion.
“Murad will have no choice but to give in again.”
The Sultan’s pride was formidable.
He had felt that acutely during their private meeting.
At the same time, Murad was neither one to easily forget grudges nor one to lack patience. If he could not act immediately, he would prepare relentlessly until the moment he could strike with precision.
No doubt he would do everything in his power to reclaim Thessalonica and regain control over the Anatolian coast. He might even attempt to exploit the infamous discord between Genoa and Venice to win them over.
That was why the Crusade had to be considered—not just as an alliance but as a counterweight to any potential Ottoman-Genoese pact.
When considering which nations could form the Crusade, three came to mind: Wallachia, Serbia, and Hungary.
Wallachia was one of the few states bordering the Ottomans that had managed to maintain its sovereignty. Founded to resist Ottoman expansion, it had even contributed forces during Mustafa’s rebellion. With the Danube as a natural boundary, it could always threaten Ottoman-controlled Bulgaria. Its participation would be a great aid to the Crusade.
Serbia was in a similar position. It had been a long-time adversary of the Ottomans, suffering devastating defeats before becoming a Hungarian colony. Unless fully subdued by military force, Serbia would never lay down its arms. Moreover, there was a marriage tie between them. While Serbia had not yet joined in battle against the Ottomans, necessity might bring them together.
But the most crucial nation was Hungary.
Historically regarded as the protector of Christendom, Hungary had stood at the forefront of the struggle against the Ottomans. More than any other Western Christian power, it understood the gravity of the Ottoman threat.
Although Hungary was currently weakened by the Hussite Wars, its potential remained immense.
The key question was: how could they be persuaded to join the Crusade?
I categorized the motivations for their involvement into two major factors: strategic reasons and ideological reasons.
Without both, the Crusade would not take shape.
Staring at the map, I traced two possible routes in my mind.
Then, I spoke aloud the most critical objective that needed to be secured early on.
“A land route for the Crusaders to join the fight.”
A gathering point was needed where the Crusaders could unite without suffering heavy losses from Ottoman attacks.
There were two main options: advancing south through Bulgaria or marching east through Macedonia. Each had its pros and cons.
Bulgaria offered vast territory, allowing for greater maneuverability. But that advantage applied to the enemy as well.
Macedonia, on the other hand, was mountainous, making it difficult for the Crusaders’ knights to operate effectively. However, if the borders were well-guarded, the risk of the Ottomans launching a preemptive strike would be lower.
I found myself leaning toward the latter.
Not just because of the terrain.
While mapping out the eastward march through Macedonia, I had identified the most suitable location for the Crusaders to rally—one that offered both defensive advantages and a harbour for easy resupply.
“Albania will be the next stronghold.”
Albania would serve as the staging ground for the [decisive battle].
As I resolved myself to that course, I couldn’t help but anticipate an unexpected encounter.
Though I had been unable to meet Jan Žižka, the one-eyed warlord, due to circumstances beyond my control, he was another commander—one who had fought the mighty Ottomans for decades.
Preparations would begin to reclaim this land, where the Ottoman banner still flew.
Leave a Reply