With the cessation of hostilities between Austria and Venice, the Adriatic Sea finally regained its tranquility.
The bridal fleet no longer needed to linger on the western coast of the Apennine Peninsula, allowing the Princess of Portugal to endure a long journey to Vienna.
The fleet rounded the southern tip of Italy, sailed into the Adriatic Sea, and finally docked at the port of Trieste, encountering no unexpected situations along the way.
Local officials warmly welcomed the Princess of Portugal and the bridal entourage, and prepared many carriages to transport the vast dowry.
Afterwards, Prince Fernando personally led a bridal escort of over a hundred people to accompany his niece to Graz, where it was said the Emperor would welcome his new wife.
During this time, Prince Fernando continuously described the Emperor as a devout and wise monarch to Princess Joanna, hoping to dispel her worries.
Unfortunately, Fernando's efforts did not yield any significant results.
As the procession traveled north, getting closer and closer to Graz, the hidden sorrow in Princess Joanna's usually peaceful and serene eyes deepened.
She had yearned to become "the bride of Christ" since she was five years old and had persisted in this desire for many years.
However, because she was very close to the throne, Alfonso V did not allow her to join a convent and become a nun.
Even so, this devout and charity-minded princess continued to resist.
After rejecting numerous marriage proposals from various countries, she finally faced a marriage that could not be refused.
Even Alfonso V, who had always doted on her, could only bid farewell to his newly adult daughter with tears, sending her with a fleet to far-off Austria to fulfill her innate mission as a princess: to secure a stable alliance for the Kingdom through her marriage.
Although the groom this time was the Roman Emperor, known as the 'Defender of the Faith', Joanna still couldn't bring herself to be happy.
In fact, she had often heard many legends about her renowned uncle, Laszlo, from a very young age, and greatly admired his deeds and achievements.
However, she had never imagined that one day she would become the second wife chosen by this Emperor, who was destined to go down in history.
Emperor Laszlo was said to be a devout believer; perhaps they would find some common ground, Joanna could only hope.
After all, her initial wish to serve God had fallen through, and now she could only settle for serving the Emperor, who exercised secular authority on behalf of God.
Compared to the melancholic Princess of Portugal, Laszlo's attitude towards this marriage alliance was much more casual.
He didn't care who his wife was, or what kind of person she was; the most important thing was what she could bring to Austria.
If it benefited Austria and the Habsburg Family, Laszlo wouldn't even mind marrying a French princess, though this idea didn't seem very realistic at the moment, but circumstances could change over time.
This time, Charles had disappointed him, and perhaps their alliance would slowly deteriorate in the future.
Of course, Burgundy was still the best ally for now, as he knew Charles inside and out, while the cunning Louis XI was not so easy to deal with.
At the palace in Graz, Laszlo had just completed another inspection of the latest progress on the Royal Avenue and was currently staying there.
The entire project was nearly eighty percent complete, and due to ample manpower, the cost was not as high as expected, which greatly pleased Laszlo.
In the coming year, a large amount of funds would need to be invested in the Crusader cause, and allocating a portion of funds to complete the final stages of this project would not be too difficult.
Soon after Laszlo finished his official duties, an attendant came to report the news of the Portuguese entering the city.
The large scale of the Portuguese bridal escort attracted many Graz citizens to watch.
Most people did not recognize the flag of the Kingdom of Portugal raised by the leading knights, but some with good memories recalled that a similar flag had been carried by a procession to Vienna more than a decade ago—that was Empress Leonor's bridal escort.
It was only then that people realized this procession was escorting the Emperor's soon-to-be new Empress.
Thus, the citizens showed even greater enthusiasm, surprising even the Portuguese who had traveled so far.
In the garden of the Graz palace, Laszlo met Princess Joanna of Portugal, whom he had chosen to be his second Empress, for the first time.
This girl, who had just celebrated her sixteenth birthday, looked quite different from her portrait.
She had fair skin and soft facial features, and her appearance was not as strikingly beautiful as Leonor's at first glance, but she still possessed a youthful charm and shyness.
What interested Laszlo more was her attire; this young princess was not wearing luxurious clothes or elaborate makeup.
She had only lightly powdered her face, her hair was meticulously coiled, and she wore a plain dark gown, with only subtle religious patterns adorning the edges, completely devoid of worldly extravagance.
If not for the dozen or so carriages laden with gold, silver, and jewels parked behind her, Laszlo might have mistaken himself for truly marrying a simple commoner woman.
"Emperor, I have brought you Princess Joanna of the Kingdom of Portugal, and the Portuguese fleet, in accordance with the agreement between our two nations.
After witnessing your wedding, I will lead the fleet to Constantinople to rendezvous with the Crusader Fleet.
Allow me to congratulate you on your victory against the Venetian before this."
Prince Fernando did not forget his mission; he held his niece's hand and, on behalf of his brother Alfonso V, presented the Princess of Portugal to Laszlo.
"I will not forget the warm assistance provided by the Kingdom of Portugal, and may the friendship between our two nations last forever."
Laszlo took Joanna's hand from Fernando's and responded with a smile. In fact, he could see that the Portuguese had completely lost interest in this Crusade, but they had ultimately kept their promise, which was enough to please Laszlo.
In the future, to deal with France, and even the combined Castile-Aragon forming Spain, Portugal's help would be indispensable.
Laszlo was now actually unable to predict where the future of this world would go, as the whole of Europe was in disarray, and no one could remain aloof.
As the absolute hegemon of Europe, he didn't need to worry too much; as long as he dealt with the immediate enemies, the power of the Habsburg Family would continue to flourish as usual.
The day after Laszlo and Joanna met, they set off together to return to Vienna.
On the newly constructed Royal Avenue, Laszlo and Prince Fernando rode side by side, discussing matters of common concern.
"Castile's civil war has entered its third year, and King Enrique seems to be helpless against the rebellious nobles.
Now the rebels are backing Enrique's half-brother Prince Alfonso, who is gaining more and more support, and the war situation is not very favorable."
Fernando explained the current situation in Castile to Laszlo with some weariness.
"I heard that Portugal has already sent troops to assist the King of Castile in battle. What exactly does Alfonso V hope to gain?"
"We merely sent some troops to quell a minor, not-so-important rebellion. My brother has already reached an agreement with King Enrique to marry King Enrique's sister, Princess Isabella, and then have our Prince Joao marry King Enrique's only heir, Princess Joanna."
"In that case, wouldn't Castile become a plaything in the hands of Alfonso V?"
Laszlo nodded slightly, and couldn't help but sigh in his heart that Alfonso V's calculations were quite shrewd.
No wonder he had no interest in the Crusade, which could earn him fame; it turned out the opportunity to rule Iberia was right before his eyes.
If Laszlo had to choose between the two, he would also unhesitatingly choose the latter.
Fernando, however, shook his head and smiled bitterly, saying, "I'm afraid things won't be so smooth. Not to mention the unruly nobles of Castile, isn't the Kingdom of Aragon on the other side also eyeing it? I truly worry that my brother's ambition will drag Portugal into a bottomless quagmire."
It must be said that Fernando, who had received long-term guidance from Prince Henry the Navigator, inherited his foster father's foresight, recognizing the risks of Portugal's attempt to annex the Kingdom of Castile through marriage and warfare.
The disparity in size between the two countries was indeed considerable; one misstep could lead to a repeat of the 'snake swallowing elephant' story.
Regrettably, Alfonso V was probably already deluded, immersed in the dream of dominating Iberia and unwilling to wake up.
"It's not entirely without a chance, is it? Now, the Anjou family's intervention has caused the rebellion in the Kingdom of Aragon to enter a new phase, with direct conflict even erupting between the King of Aragon and the Duke of Anjou, completely shattering the alliance between France and Aragon.
To deal with a Kingdom of Aragon plagued by internal strife and lacking strong allies, I think a wealthy and militarily strong Portugal still has a very good chance."
Laszlo didn't know whether he was offering comfort or fanning the flames; in any case, he only wanted to see a new great power rise in the south of the Kingdom of France.
And if the monarch of this great power happened to be friendly with Austria, that would be even better.
Hearing the Emperor say so, Fernando began to wonder if he had been too deeply influenced by defeatist rhetoric.
However, as the general manager of Portugal's overseas exploration, he naturally hoped the Kingdom would invest more resources in maritime ventures rather than squandering them on the struggle for supremacy on the Iberian Peninsula.
One must know that now was a golden opportunity for Portugal's expansion in North Africa; their greatest enemy, the Marinid Dynasty of Morocco, had been overthrown by an uprising, and Morocco was still in chaos, utterly powerless to resist.
Just recently, Fernando had led the Portuguese naval fleet to destroy the largest Moroccan pirate stronghold, the port of Anfa, between mainland Portugal and the Canary Islands, razing it to the ground.
The Portuguese then established a new transit point there; centuries later, that port would gradually develop into Casablanca, Morocco's largest seaport, but today's Moroccans were utterly powerless to reclaim the lost port from the Portuguese.
Fernando had intended to continue leading his forces to raid the Moroccan coast, even pushing deep inland to conquer cities and territories, but unfortunately, Alfonso V temporarily had no plans to commit troops to the conquest of North Africa, and Fernando also had to lead a Portuguese fleet to join the Crusaders as per agreement, which filled him with regret.
However, Fernando then thought, fighting the Moroccan Muslims is fighting, and fighting the Ottoman Muslims is also fighting; either way, it's all for the faith.
Moreover, the title of 'Conqueror of North Africa' certainly wasn't as resounding as 'Conqueror of Constantinople'.
Although the Kingdom of Portugal wouldn't gain much tangible benefit from this Crusade, Fernando now had the motivation to lead his fleet to attack the Ottomans.
"Compared to the endless infighting among brethren of the same faith, I still prefer to see everyone united to expel the infidels, and fortunately, someone is now taking on this responsibility. You are worthy of the title 'Defender of the Faith', Your Majesty."
Fernando praised him from the bottom of his heart; although the Emperor's fight against the Ottomans was mostly for his own benefit, it was still enough to earn his goodwill.
Thinking carefully, the decades-long war between the Portuguese and the infidels in North Africa was quite similar to the Habsburg Family's decades-long war against the Ottomans.
However, the scale and impact of the two were vastly different.
If the Portuguese failed in North Africa, they would simply regroup and fight again, but if the Austrians and Hungarians failed in the Balkans, the gates of Europe could open to the infidels.
It must be said that the situation back then was quite perilous, but fortunately, the Emperor and the Duke of Burgundy leveraged their respective networks to assemble a large army, successfully holding the Ottomans at the gates of Europe.
To this day, Fernando still cannot forget the great battle of Varna, and the trepidation beneath the walls of Constantinople.
Perhaps this time, they could make up for previous regrets and successfully reclaim Constantinople.
Prince Fernando's praise was very well received by Laszlo; he hoped that the other party would not just talk, but more importantly, fight with all their heart on the battlefield and completely drive the Ottomans out of Europe.
When the entourage returned to Vienna, a grand wedding had already been prepared.
Although it was called the Emperor's wedding, it was actually more like a Crusader mobilization meeting.
A large number of princes who agreed to participate in the Crusade and representatives from various countries gathered to celebrate the Emperor's new marriage, and then held a large-scale military council to formally determine the troop strength each participant needed to raise and the time for the expedition to begin.
In mid-to-late April, after spring planting, Crusader warriors from all over Europe would successively embark on their journey to Constantinople.
Shortly after the wedding in Vienna, a wave of Crusaders quickly swept across half of Europe.
As for why only half, it was because just two months after signing the treaty, Louis XI openly declared that he had signed the Second Treaty of Conflans under duress, and announced that all the conditions he had agreed to were null and void.
Subsequently, he reclaimed the Duchy of Normandy from his younger brother, the Duke of Berry, for the second time, and, taking advantage of the Duke of Burgundy Charles's efforts to quell the Liège rebellion, greatly strengthened the defenses of places like Reims, even making a show of attacking Burgundian towns in the Somme River basin such as Amiens and Péronne.
After a reckless imprisonment and shameful deception, the Second War of the League of Public Weal was destined to ignite an even fiercer conflict.
Iberia, in disarray, was too preoccupied to heed the Pope's call; only the Portuguese, out of respect for the Emperor, were willing to offer some assistance.
The Kingdom of England, isolated overseas, was undergoing a severe political struggle. King Edward IV had fallen out with his trusted minister, the Earl of Warwick, and his own brother, George, also coveted the throne, causing relations between the two brothers to deteriorate sharply, seemingly on the verge of becoming a repeat of the French royal family's internal strife.
Whenever Laszlo saw such a family drama, he couldn't help but feel a pang of emotion.
In the past, he always complained that the Habsburg-Albrecht branch had only one heir per generation, which meant he constantly faced issues with staffing, and such a birth rate was also quite dangerous for the family.
However, it now seemed that even blood brothers had a significant chance of turning into enemies.
In fact, Laszlo knew he once had an older brother, but unfortunately, that child died young shortly after birth, and his name was never remembered.
As the sole and undisputed leader of the main branch of the Habsburg Family, this status brought Laszlo extremely high legitimacy and saved him countless troubles.
Of course, this did not prevent Laszlo from longing for a perfect 'brother' like Anthony.
Even his nickname was 'the Great Bastard'; Anthony's most prominent label was known to all.
He possessed a dashing appearance that made Laszlo envious, excellent diplomatic skills, martial prowess praised by many monarchs, and an unwavering heart of loyalty.
The most important point was that, as a bastard, he had no right of inheritance.
Undoubtedly, Anthony was a nearly perfect pawn left by Philip the Good for Charles the Bold.
His existence could, to some extent, compensate for Charles's shortcomings in diplomacy and politics; at least, theoretically, it should have been so.
However, because Anthony was so likable, Philip ultimately couldn't resist showering him with excessive affection, even securing him the title of a Crusader lord.
Anthony thus came under the Emperor's command, beginning to serve Laszlo.
Considering his unique bloodline, Laszlo had previously kept him by Charles's side, both as a link to maintain relations between the two nations and to enable him to assist Charles against the King of France.
Unfortunately, in handling the problem of Louis XI, Anthony seemed to have chosen the wrong stance, siding with the Duke of Burgundy and neglecting that his true allegiance should have been to the Emperor.
Therefore, Laszlo chose to recall Anthony. He wouldn't go so far as to blame Anthony for Charles letting Louis XI escape, but it seemed the two brothers of the House of Valois-Burgundy would likely be separated from now on.
This move was tantamount to disarming Charles of his capable right-hand man and quickly drew the displeasure of the Duke of Burgundy.
Laszlo therefore received a letter from Charles, in which Charles vehemently urged Laszlo not to recall his brother to Vienna. However, Laszlo quickly replied, using Anthony's necessary participation in the next Crusade as a Crusader lord as an excuse to reject Charles's request.
"Anthony, you should be very clear about your mission. While in Burgundy, you should represent the interests of Austria and the Empire. Are you clear about this?"
Inside Hofburg Palace, Laszlo gazed meaningfully at Anthony of Burgundy, who had just been recalled to Vienna.
The usually composed Anthony seemed somewhat flustered at this moment. After a moment of silence, he replied, "Your Majesty, I have always maintained my loyalty to you."
This was not a lie; even from Laszlo's superhuman perspective, Anthony was indeed loyal to him.
However, his attitude towards the House of Valois-Burgundy, towards Charles, should have been even stronger than that; this was the meaning of the blood tie.
"If that's the case, then how did Louis XI escape from Charles alive? You should be very clear about how much harm he could cause to Burgundy and the Empire, shouldn't you?"
Laszlo's inquiry was not entirely a reprimand; it also carried a hint of curiosity.
After all, he was perfectly aware of Charles's hatred for Louis XI. In previous meetings, Charles had complained to him about Louis's shamelessness and cunning, yet this time Charles had again fallen into a trap set by Louis.
Laszlo found it hard to imagine why Charles could stumble twice in the same place.
"Your Majesty, that was a negotiation. At least, before the conspiracy was exposed, Louis XI should have been treated fairly.
As for why he was released afterward, that was because my brother... the Duke of Burgundy adhered to the rules of war and did not rashly execute a monarch.
Duke Charles harbored a vision of peace, but unfortunately, Louis XI, that treacherous and cunning scoundrel, will never understand our earnest intentions."
When Louis XI was mentioned, Anthony also began to grit his teeth and seethe with hatred, just like Charles.
After all, he was also a firsthand participant in both Conflans negotiations; it could be said that he, like Charles, had been deceived by Louis XI twice.
Laszlo could somewhat understand his explanation.
After all, given the complex network of relationships among European royalty, even if everyone was fighting to the death on the battlefield one moment, it was not impossible for them to sit down and drink together the next.
Especially since the House of Valois-Burgundy was a branch of the House of Valois; strictly speaking, Charles and Louis were cousins within four generations, and they had some interactions in their youth.
This led to many issues that could not be viewed one-sidedly. Rather than saying Charles didn't want to kill Louis XI, it was more accurate to say he couldn't kill Louis XI.
Although Burgundy had achieved almost complete autonomy in the Treaty of Arras signed in 1435, it was still widely considered a vassal state of France.
Unlike the great French magnates who needed to interact with the royal court to gain more rights, the Duke of Burgundy had transformed his territory into an independent state.
Yet, even so, the two Wars of the League of Public Weal that broke out between Burgundy and France were still labeled as 'rebellions'.
Charles attempted to overthrow Louis XI's rule and support Louis's younger brother to inherit the throne; this was his only feasible way to control the Kingdom of France.
If Louis XI had died suddenly on the battlefield, then everyone would naturally have nothing to say. But if Louis XI were imprisoned and executed during peace talks, then Charles, who already lacked legitimate authority, would likely find it even harder to gain a foothold in the Kingdom of France.
The worst-case scenario was that an irreconcilable blood feud would be forged between the Kingdom of France and the Duchy of Burgundy, and Burgundy would henceforth face endless retaliation from European powers.
This was unacceptable to the ambitious Charles; in comparison, the grand promises Louis XI offered him were clearly more appealing.
"Charles was already deceived once before, wasn't he? Even if he didn't take precautions this time, you should at least have warned him."
Hearing Laszlo say this, Anthony sighed helplessly and said, "I did give a warning. Not only me, but the Duke of Armagnac, whom you sent to operate in secret, also personally offered advice to my brother. Unfortunately, he was convinced that Louis XI was already intimidated by Burgundy's powerful military and would certainly not dare to violate his oath."
"Alright, it seems I misjudged the situation."
Laszlo shook his head and sighed softly. As the saying goes, good advice is lost on a doomed man; it seems Charles's head really should have cracked open.
Even if Laszlo had already dealt with the Swiss, Charles would likely find another suitable opportunity in the future to bury himself and Burgundy's future.
"The marriage and alliance between Charles and the King of England, I hear you handled that. Tell me the specifics."
"This marriage was born out of mutual desire from both parties. Although the King of England originally intended for his brother to marry my dear niece Marie, Prince Christopher has already been designated as Marie's future husband. Therefore, Edward IV could only offer his sister to my arrogant brother, Charles.
As for the alliance, I don't have too many expectations for it, simply because in the King of England's court, all I could sense was an atmosphere of tension, as if the civil war that had recently ended could break out again at any moment."
Anthony recalled his experiences in London and made this prediction with some regret.
"What did you experience in the King of England's court?"
"Marriage negotiations, banquets, oh, and a knightly tournament," Anthony reminisced about that unforgettable trip, "I saw Edward IV, who had previously sought help in Burgundy, his brother George, and the famous Warwick the Kingmaker.
Of course, the most impressive was Queen Elizabeth, hailed as 'the most beautiful woman in Britain'; her eyes indeed possessed a captivating magic..."
"Alright, Anthony, get to the point."
Laszlo, with a forehead full of black lines, stopped Anthony from continuing his discourse on the Queen of England.
Anthony was good in every way, except he couldn't change his philandering nature. He almost couldn't walk past a beautiful woman without trying to flirt with other people's wives. And he was blessed with good looks, so his success rate was quite high, but he also suffered a lot because of it.
"Ahem, besides these people, Edward IV also introduced me to the Queen's brother, Anthony Woodville. He is an outstanding knight and holds an important position in the King of England's court. Besides him, several other members of the Woodville family are also highly valued by the King of England.
Clearly, Edward IV was trying to use the power of the Queen's faction to counterbalance the powerful and overbearing Earl of Warwick, and he had already achieved some success.
However, as a strong and influential minister, the Earl of Warwick would certainly not sit idly by. I once saw the two factions fall into arguments in front of the King, causing chaos in what was originally a solemn and dignified court."
Anthony vividly described the predicament the King on the distant island of Britain was facing.
Seeing that the monarchs of Western Europe all had their own troubles, Laszlo felt relieved.
Over the years, he had also experienced countless obstacles, but fortunately, he had gradually overcome them through unremitting persistence and arduous struggle, which was why he now had the leisure to pursue even greater goals.
"It seems Charles is destined to bear the pressure from Louis XI alone for now. I hope he can withstand it.
Anthony, the main reason I recalled you this time is for the Crusade. Crusaders from various regions have already begun preparations. I want you to take my decree and hasten to Sofia, tell Frederick to immediately begin assembling his army, and keep an eye on the Ottomans in Constantinople.
Your knights must also gather and participate in the Crusade."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Anthony took the decree handed to him by the attendant, sighing inwardly that what was meant to come could not be avoided.
Although Burgundy's situation was clearly more critical at the moment, and Charles needed him by his side to assist, since Anthony had accepted the title of Crusader lord, he naturally had to bear the corresponding responsibilities.
After Anthony left, Laszlo continued to ponder the issue of bastards.
Although his father, Albrecht II, had been forced to curb his philandering nature after marrying Emperor Sigismund's daughter and had not left him many 'illegitimate' brothers, he might be able to arrange for Christopher and Maximilian to have some useful 'brothers' like Anthony.
However, this was only at the thinking stage. To actually put it into practice would be too cruel for Joanna, who had just married him.
Moreover, in his vision, Maximilian should assist Christopher just as Anthony assisted Charles. Only with brothers united in heart could the vast empire of the Habsburg Family have a chance of survival.
With this thought, Laszlo realized that Anthony seemed like a good candidate to be Maximilian's next mentor.
The great poet Pannoniuus, whom he had specifically chosen for Maximilian earlier, had not been able to teach the Prince very well; or rather, Maximilian, that little troublemaker, had given most teachers a headache.
At a young age, he had already developed a strong interest in gambling, hunting, and jousting. Laszlo could even see Leonor's shadow in him.
It was uncertain whether such similar hobbies and personalities were inherited, but Maximilian had certainly inherited his mother's beauty and had now grown into a handsome young man, with the palace maidens all fond of gathering around him.
Since the two previously chosen learned churchmen could not undertake the task of teaching Maximilian, Laszlo finally decided to let Anthony, a Knight of the Golden Fleece, try.
Off the coast of western Asia Minor, Lesbos Island, a Genoese possession.
This small island, occupied by the Genoese for over a hundred years, had always been a crucial hub for Genoese trade routes, connecting both the Black Sea and Eastern Mediterranean routes.
The Genoese monopolized all trade passing through Lesbos, bringing them significant profits.
However, in recent years, trade competition in the Aegean Sea had intensified, and the Ottomans suppression of Genoese merchants had somewhat affected Lesbos' prosperity.
In the years following the last Crusade, the Ottomans had even attempted to seize this island and several nearby islands controlled by Genoa.
But they ultimately left behind tens of thousands of corpses and fled back to the mainland from the island in disgrace.
During this time, as the Crusader Fleet bypassed the southern tip of Greece and entered the Aegean Sea to carry out the critical mission of blocking the straits, this island became the Crusaders' most important forward base.
Numerous ships docked here; even the island's two developed trade ports could not accommodate so many vessels.
Every day, ships entered and exited the port in small formations, with diverse objectives.
Some ships were assigned to control the Dardanelles Strait, not far north of Lesbos, while others were stationed in ports further north, undertaking the crucial task of blockading the Bosphorus Strait.
Currently, the remaining Ottoman fleet was trapped within the Sea of Marmara, with no way out.
Now, neither the Ottoman Sultan nor the Ottoman Admiral could do anything but watch the Crusader Fleet swagger back and forth before their eyes, completely sealing off the sea route to Constantinople.
This was not the most desperate situation for them, as blocking the two straits did not require the entire Crusader Fleet.
Most of the ships not assigned to patrol duties remained on Lesbos. They quickly accepted an invitation from the Knights Hospitaller, stationed on nearby Rhodes, to participate in privateering activities against Muslim ships and along the coast of Asia Minor.
After all, the Emperor had not placed any restrictions on such actions. They only needed to blockade the straits effectively, preventing the Ottomans from contacting Constantinople; the rest was up to them.
Soon, large numbers of Crusader ships, laden with eager Crusader warriors, set sail for the lands of Asia.
Because western Asia Minor has an extremely long and winding coastline and had rarely faced direct threats in the past, the Ottomans defenses in this area were relatively weak.
The fastest journey from Lesbos, where the Crusader Fleet was stationed, to the Asia Minor coast took less than half a day. This led to numerous Ottomans villages and towns near the coast being attacked and plundered due to their inability to defend against Crusader sea raids.
Among these actions, the Knights Hospitaller, who were well-versed in such operations, undoubtedly achieved the most fruitful results.
They had begun using such methods to deal with infidels and defend their "holy" faith more than a century ago.
Of course, their actions were not without criticism. Not only did infidels hate the Knights Hospitaller, but even Christians who adhered to Catholicism believed their actions were no different from pirates.
However, regardless of public opinion, at least the members of the Order always believed they were fighting enemies of the faith, and the Pope was more than happy to endorse them.
Currently, among the three major Orders, the Knights Templar no longer existed. The Teutonic Order showed some signs of revival, but their attitude towards the holy See remained one of non-compliance. Only the Knights Hospitaller maintained good relations with the holy See.
As one of the main forces of the Nicopolis Crusade, the Knights Hospitaller once possessed considerable military strength. Unfortunately, after years of attrition, they had lost their capacity for expansion, leaving only a few thousand members barely surviving on Rhodes.
During the last Crusade, the Knights Hospitaller, limited by the Ottoman navy, could not provide much help, only offering some ineffective assistance on a secondary front.
However, this time, Giovanni da Orsini, the newly appointed Grand Master of the Knights Hospitaller, saw an opportunity for the Order to revive.
"Pierre, it seems your fleet's expedition this time has also been quite fruitful."
Outside the fortress of Rhodes, a massive tower, named Nicholas Tower, stood at the end of a narrow sea inlet.
Grand Master Giovanni and Pierre d'Aubusson, the military commander of the Knights Hospitaller, stood side by side on the tower, gazing at the scene in the distant harbor.
Sailors joyfully unloaded their plundered treasures from the Order's warships. Several knights gathered the slaves from each ship into an open space on the dock. They would then be branded with a uniform mark and serve the Order until their death or liberation.
However, given the Emperor's relentless and successive attacks on infidels, it would likely be very difficult for these Muslims captured by the Order to regain their freedom.
"This is largely thanks to our fellow believers who came from afar; they provided considerable help and cover for our operations.
Those infidels are now in a state of disarray from the endless attacks. They have no idea when or from what direction we will strike."
Pierre's tone carried an indescribable sense of exhilaration. Previously, when he led the Order's fleet, they barely dared to approach the coast, and even their raiding activities at sea had to be carried out with extreme caution.
This was unavoidable, as the Knights Hospitaller had lost almost all their mainland allies in the past few decades. The overwhelming pressure from the Ottomans had forced the Knights Hospitaller to live under their thumb, surviving only by paying an annual tribute.
However, the situation had now fundamentally changed. The Crusader movement, which had almost been forgotten, was rising again. The Habsburg Family, a sworn enemy of the Ottoman Empire, had risen powerfully, directly leading to the decline of Ottomans power.
Currently, an even more powerful Crusader force was approaching Constantinople, intending to reclaim the ancient capital of the Roman Empire, a city of a thousand years.
The Crusader Fleet, which had arrived in the Aegean Sea ahead of schedule, gave immense confidence to the originally weak Order.
The knights not only refused to continue paying tribute to the Ottoman Empire but also began to collaborate with the Crusaders to launch fierce attacks on the Ottoman Empire's territories in Asia.
"Hmm, it seems the Ottomans have indeed begun to decline. So, can we start implementing our next plan?"
Giovanni asked with some anticipation.
He came from the prominent Roman Orsini Family and, through his family's connections in the holy See, had risen to the position of Grand Master of the Knights Hospitaller. He was also the Order's only Italian Grand Master in the last two centuries.
Because he had mostly stayed in Rome previously and lacked direct combat experience against infidels, he often needed to consult Pierre, who had long fought the Ottomans, on many issues.
Undeniably, he harbored an ambition to make the Order great again.
However, Pierre's reaction poured cold water on his enthusiasm.
The military commander calmly shook his head and said, "I know you wish to expand the Order's lands and thereby strengthen its power.
But our strength is too weak. If we advance rashly, we are likely to be targeted by the Ottomans and invite disaster.
The truly suitable time for our expansion should be after the Emperor's army arrives. As long as the Emperor can take Constantinople, we should persuade him to continue marching into Asia Minor.
By then, the Ottomans will have no choice but to devote all their energy to resisting the Crusader war, and we can then occupy more land along the nearby coast, build strongholds, and recruit more new members from European countries to fight for the faith."
"The Emperor…"
Giovanni's expression was somewhat complex, and then he let out a helpless sigh.
Everyone in Italy knew that the Orsini Family was at odds with the Emperor, precisely because his family was close to the French royal family, and thus was targeted by the Emperor at every turn.
Moreover, the Emperor was on good terms with the Orsini Family's arch-rival, the Colonna family. The two had jointly manipulated the election to bring about the rise of Paul II.
From his family's perspective, Giovanni did not want to humble himself before the Emperor for help, no matter what.
Pierre, standing nearby, saw through his thoughts and interjected, "You and I have both sworn an oath to dedicate ourselves to the holy mission of guarding the faith.
Now, the Emperor is our close comrade-in-arms; past conflicts should not become obstacles on our path forward."
Hearing him say this, Giovanni remembered that Pierre was a knight from southern France.
Given the relationship between the Emperor and King Louis XI, there would likely not be many French participants in this Crusade, much like the last Crusade.
However, last time, the Duke of Burgundy came to show support, but this time even the Duke of Burgundy couldn't come, which also had a lot to do with King Louis XI.
From every perspective, King Louis XI seemed like someone who had betrayed the faith; his actions undoubtedly hindered the progress of the Crusaders.
In that case, Pierre should have been the more despondent one, but now Pierre's eyes only held a thirst for battle. He could not wait to drive those infidels further away.
"You are right. This time, in the siege of Constantinople, we must also provide maximum assistance so that we can make our request to the Emperor."
Pierre deeply agreed with Giovanni's realization. After all, the Knights Hospitaller was no longer the powerful military Order that once dominated the holy lands. When it was time to cling to a powerful ally, there should be no hesitation.
After finalizing their future plans, Pierre turned and left. He now had to prepare for the next raid on the Ottoman coast. Before the Emperor's army arrived, they could create more panic on the Ottoman Empire's borders.
Inside the imperial palace of Bursa, the new capital of the Ottoman Empire, Mehmed II was raging over the unfavorable reports coming from all directions.
The sea route to Constantinople was cut off, and many troops and supplies he had prepared for Constantinople could not be sent into the city.
Now, his eldest son, Bayezid, led a garrison of less than twenty thousand men, plus about fifty thousand civilians in the city. Although there was a good chance of holding Constantinople against a Crusader assault, once subjected to a long-term blockade and siege, even the strongest city would eventually fall.
He had thought this situation was bad enough, but he never expected the Crusaders' actions to be even bolder than he imagined.
Reports from various coastal areas indicated that many Crusader ships had turned into pirate vessels, not only blockading the entire western coast of the Ottoman but also landing in some areas and plundering numerous villages and towns.
Even the Marmara coast near Bursa had been attacked by Crusader pirates. What was the difference between this and them defecating on his head?
However, circumstances were stronger than will. The Ottoman fleet lacked the strength to contend with the formidable Crusader Fleet, and Mehmed II could only swallow his pride for now.
According to the Grand Vizier's recent report, a large number of displaced people had begun migrating from the coast to the interior. If not properly settled, the already unstable Ottoman Empire might experience a new wave of rebellions.
And precisely at this critical moment, news from the Konya front stated that the army led by Karaman Bey was extensively invading the empire's southeastern border.
In the empire's northeast, the defunct Trebizond Empire also seemed to show signs of resurgence, with the White Sheep Dynasty clearly behind it.
After all, Uzun Hasan, the Khan of the White Sheep Dynasty, was married to Theodora Megale Komnene, renowned for her beauty. Her brother and other descendants of the Trebizond Komnenos dynasty had been killed by Mehmed II, so she often urged her husband, Uzun Hasan, to go to war with the Ottomans.
Now was a critical moment for the Ottoman Empire to resist the invasion of Western infidels. Mehmed II never expected that these individuals, who had always hindered him, would still be so unreasonable at such a crucial time, wanting to stab him in the back.
A difficult arithmetic problem now lay before Mehmed II.
He had only about ten thousand mobile troops at his disposal. Constantinople clearly could not receive more reinforcements. The coastal defense line was too long, and this small army was simply not enough. The Karaman front would not pose a problem in the short term; Konya City was heavily guarded, and the Karaman would have to pay a heavy price to reclaim their old capital.
Looking around, Mehmed II realized he could not act rashly.
New rebellions could erupt at any time within the anxious Ottoman Empire. He had to constantly guard against internal threats; otherwise, the empire could collapse again.
As for Constantinople across the strait, although he wished to make more adequate preparations, for now, he could only sigh in despair and await the arrival of the Western Emperor.