After the siege of Thessaloniki, the Ottoman side immediately reviewed the battle in a military council.
During the discussion of Janissaries casualties, Sinan Pasha mentioned a matter of some significance, which made Murad II frown in confusion.
"Sinan Pasha, are you saying the Janissaries attacking the East Wall suffered greater losses than expected?"
"Yes, Sultan, according to the recollections of the soldiers who besieged the East Wall after the battle, it seems the Latins deployed a new type of firearm with a slender barrel, propelled by a matchlock and flintlock, similar to a hand cannon.
Although our archers forced them to fire blindly, many fully armed Janissaries were still severely wounded by those few enemy units using the new firearms."
"Has Western Europe developed any new firearms? Were any captured?" Murad II became vigilant, as the Ottomans' ability to conquer for many years was largely due to their emphasis on the use of firearms.
For example, not long after news of the Hussite war wagon reached the Ottomans, the then Sultan Bayezid sent people to recruit Bohemian artisans to have his own artisans replicate them.
"Unfortunately, Sultan, due to the small number of enemy troops using this new firearm, and the chaos during the siege, we did not capture any new firearms," Sinan Pasha apologized with a bow.
"Is that so?" Murad was somewhat disappointed.
"Alright.
However, we have plenty of time and opportunities, so a little bit won't make a difference.
Let our spies in Western Europe work harder; after all, it will eventually be ours." As he spoke, he tapped his bowed head with satisfaction, "Just like this Thessaloniki."
At the same time Thessaloniki fell, the Principality of Theodoro on the northern shore of the Black Sea was in a joyful atmosphere, because the Crown Prince of the Principality, Manuel Gavras, was going to hold his grand wedding ceremony with Barbara Palaiologina on the tenth of this month.
However, Alexius was not as happy as most people.
This was not about Manuel's wedding, but about the code.
Having deeply recognized the theodosian code promulgated by Manuel, he repeatedly tried to promote it directly or indirectly in Mangup, but he was unanimously rejected by his subordinates, the nobles.
If it were normal, he could have forcibly tried to implement it based on the Gavras Family's dominant position in the Principality, but due to the imminent war, he had to appease them with kind words and promised not to consider allowing the theodosian code to circulate in Mangup for the time being.
The thought of these nobles, who even made fools of themselves to protect their own interests, filled Alexius with considerable anger, making him curse inwardly, "These incompetent insects, if we win this time, I will definitely learn from my good son and throw all of you into the Black Sea to feed the fish!"
As for why the promulgation of the theodosian code in Theodosia did not cause too much of a stir, it was largely because last year, Manuel and his people had already reformed most of the systems that needed changing, and those local forces capable and willing to resist had been largely purged in the process, leaving only loyalists and those actively cooperating with him.
And while the Principality of Theodoro was making elaborate preparations for the wedding, they were secretly expanding their army and military expenditure, ensuring that they could catch others by surprise and not attract attention.
Let's continue to talk about the wedding of the two parties.
According to the previously set time, the wedding of Manuel Gavras and Barbara Palaiologina will be held on March 10th.
Regarding this, Barbara once curiously asked Manuel: "March, there doesn't seem to be any special day, nor is it a special saint's day, why choose this day?"
Manuel merely responded with a smile: "March is the month we first met, isn't it? How could you forget?"
"Hmm…" Recalling the scene of their first meeting, Barbara understood his unspoken meaning, and her face unconsciously flushed.
After a long while, she playfully chided: "My Little husband, you are really… mischievous…"
"Thank you for the compliment, my Little Barbara," Manuel bowed and joked.
The two of them bantered like this until finally, feeling tired and expectant, Barbara murmured: "I really wish I could fast-forward to the wedding day," and then she said something quite shocking: "Then, we will be able to feel the collision of our skin." As she spoke, her face immediately turned red, and she covered her cheeks, fantasizing.
Hearing her terrible whisper, Manuel's heart skipped a beat, and he began to consider whether to prepare some tonics and medicines in advance.
Soon, the wedding day arrived.
For this grand wedding, the Principality had been preparing in Mangup for several months, and had even specially invited all the surrounding countries that could be invited.
And in response to Theodoro's invitation and to improve relations, most of them did indeed send their own dignitaries to attend Manuel's wedding.
"Let me see which distinguished guests have arrived," more than an hour before the wedding began, Manuel, already dressed in splendid wedding attire, picked up the VIP section of the guest list in his room and began to read silently, "Two Darhkans from the Crimean Khanate, Duke Algirdas Razviy of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, Pietro Lando, the Venetian Black Sea Consul, my Brother-in-law, Crown Prince David Komnenos of the Empire of Trebizond, Stefan Musat of Moldavia, Ioannina and her husband, who are my sister and Brother-in-law, Emir Tenek of the Golden Horde, and also," seeing the last one, he was somewhat surprised, "Constantine Dragases Palaiologos, Moria Despotate of the Roman Empire.
He should be my Brother-in-law now, or should I call him my elder Brother-in-law?
"But I thought Thomas, Theodore, or Dimitrios would be coming this time? But the one who came this time is actually him? The Constantine XI from the previous worldline…" Manuel felt a little dazed.
As an ardent Roman Empire enthusiast in his previous life, he held that tragic yet romantic last Roman Emperor in extreme reverence.
But today's protagonist was Manuel himself, and thinking of this, he had to suppress the stirrings in his heart.
After preparing himself, he left his room and stepped outside, ready to greet his bride.
It was still almost an hour before the wedding began.
Although, as this was a grand wedding ceremony, all participants should have arrived by this time, since it hadn't officially started yet, according to custom, the bride and groom should first actively rise to welcome the arriving guests.
And Manuel and Barbara did indeed follow this custom, welcoming the distinguished guests, with Manuel responsible for the male guests and Barbara for the female guests.
When it was time to welcome Constantine Palaiologos, Manuel deliberately scrutinized this monarch, the future one, who had left a deep impression on him in his previous life.
From his appearance alone, Constantine was slightly older than Manuel.
His face was upright, and the gaze reflected in his dark pupils was firm and calm.
He had black Roman-style fade short hair, his beard was trimmed short and not dense, he wore a fashionable cyan pointed hat, and even a blue-gray silk pallium embroidered with crosses.
"From this demeanor and first impression, he is a born Basileus," Manuel thought to himself.
Noticing Manuel's gaze, and recalling what he had learned about the other party's deeds before coming, Constantine also developed some curiosity about his Brother-in-law.
Driven by this, as he stood up to embrace Manuel, he secretly asked: "Manuel, I would like to ask you something, do you have time?"