People in the Middle Ages, draw cards to get promoted

three days later.

Morning in Constantinople.

The crusader knights in black cross robes on a white background and the double-headed eagle emblem cloak and a group of female relatives led a group of hoplites in neat black eagle robes on a white background to the bridge.

"This is the wall of Theodosius?"

They stood under the wall of Theodosius, looking up at the giant city wall that was as tall as a mountain and showed three steps.

On the outside of the city wall, there is an extremely wide moat, at least fifty feet long, but no water has been released now. It is conceivable that during wartime, this place is absolutely an insurmountable moat.

The outermost wall was a little shorter, maybe less than twenty feet, and the second wall was about twenty-five feet. The innermost layer was even more steeply elevated, at least forty feet high.

At intervals there stood a square tower sixty feet high.

If enough archers, ballistas, and trebuchets are stationed in these towers, Lothar will feel a sense of despair just by imagining his army attacking the city wall.

"Welcome to the Eternal City, the other City of Seven Hills, Constantinople."

Anna's face was full of proud emotions.

Furingilla's expression remained the same, and she snorted softly, "The city wall of my royal family used to be much higher than this."

Lothar thought, isn't this nonsense?

When the blood king's court built the city wall, the ordinary civilians recruited were all blood slaves with certain extraordinary powers.

Celinina nodded slightly: "I have seen a city wall more magnificent than this in New York."

"Where are you talking about?"

"On another continent, the so-called Brunei, Atlantis."

"Is there really such a place?"

"Sailing west from Portugal, we should be able to arrive in a few months."

Anna said with great interest: "If I have a chance in the future, I will definitely go there to have a look, but it's a pity that I can't get away now."

"It is recommended not to go, the risk is too high."

Anna was taken aback: "That's right."

Under the long life of a wizard, one must know how to restrain one's curiosity.

The team passed the suspension bridge and came to a city gate covered with golden tiles. The heavily armed guards wanted to step forward and reprimand, but when they saw the only woman in the team, their expressions immediately became respectful.

The Eastern Empire's reverence for purple has reached the extreme, and even the royal palaces have to be dressed in purple, which is why the saying "born in the purple room" came into being.

"Which honorable highness is it?"

Anna sat on the horseback, without even taking off her veil, said lightly, "I'm Anna."

The guards said respectfully: "So it's Her Royal Highness, please come in quickly, do you need us to send someone to escort you and your followers?"

Anna glanced at Lothar and refused with a smile: "No need, they are enough for me."

"Come with me, followers."

She waved her hand and walked at the front of the line.

Jeanna laughed and said, "Ms. Anna is also a very interesting person. My lord, I suggest you think about it more."

Fulingira pinched the horse's belly lightly: "I also want to go ahead."

Go inside the walls of Theodosius.

It looks very disorganized and dilapidated here, with houses and shops densely covered next to the city wall, tinkling in the blacksmith's shop, and a disgusting smell coming from the cobbler's shop.

A woman in shabby clothes sat outside the door with a child on her back and a big belly, weaving straw baskets.

The carriage full of goods creaked over the cracked stone road.

In some places, the stone slabs have been hollowed out, and when the wheels run over, a large puddle of sewage will be splashed.

Just like any mediocre city, if you said that you were full of longing before coming, at this time, Lothar and his soldiers showed a look of "just so".

Seeming to see through Lothar's heart, Anna said with confidence: "Don't worry, this is not the real Constantinople yet."

The team moved on.

Along the way, Lothar saw caravans of foreigners dressed in different styles and speaking with various accents. They were even more "inclusive" than Jerusalem.

Lothar said with some doubts: "I have seen Saracens, Turks, Persians, Varangians, Latins, Moors, and Cumans along the way, but I rarely see Greeks."

Varangian originally only referred to the Nordic people, but as they went south and mixed with the Rus, over time, it became a general term for the northerners, including the Rus of Kievan Rus, and even the Anglo-Saxons of Albion people.

The "Varangi-Greek trade route" from the Baltic Sea to the Black Sea enabled the Nordics and Russ to sell cheap furs, slaves and other goods locally to Constantinople.

This is also an important trade route, which can bring a lot of income to Constantinople every year.

Anna explained: "The area between the walls of Theodosius and the walls of Constantinople is called Isan Kianian, and most of the people living here are military members of mercenaries or businessmen."

Lothar was stunned: "No wonder people say that the empire can only rely on foreigners to fight. Just looking at so many military families, there may be tens of thousands of mercenaries in Constantinople, right?"

Maintaining a standing mercenary army requires a lot of money, and no one except the Eastern Empire has such financial resources.

Coupled with the cavalry formed by Pronian landowners recruited during the war, and the peasants and soldiers under them, the current military strength of Constantinople will definitely not be weaker than that of Great Germania, Gaul, or Albi. Well any country.

"Not all of them are mercenaries, such as the Vadarutai Imperial Guard cavalry archers (in the early days, they were Hungarian and Turkic mercenaries, and then gradually Hellenized), and the Thracian guard brigade I formed. Well, there are indeed many. some."

Anna originally wanted to make a distinction.

But if you think about it carefully, several Greek companies other than Vadarutai, such as the Agon Toplai Legion (heavy cavalry composed of the general's descendants), are all guard-of-honor roles.

He showed his timidity on the battlefield before, wearing the best equipment, but was crushed by the enemy, it would be even more embarrassing if he said it.

"But there are more mercenaries, it's better than being cut off by the guards."

Lothar recalled the so-called "Princess Guards Inheritance System" on the Internet in his previous life, and couldn't help smiling.

The Eastern Empire reused mercenaries, just as the Saracens used Mamluks and Gulam slaves. Only an army that relied entirely on the emperor's salary could prevent the occurrence of rebellion to the greatest extent.

Anna rolled her eyes: "Sometimes I don't know whether you admire the empire or hold a prejudice against it."

The neat military appearance remained in the veteran brigade, which did not attract much attention.

There are not many Latin mercenaries in the empire. A group of blond and blue-eyed "barbarian" soldiers, even if their military appearance is neater, in people's eyes, they are just mercenaries similar to the Varangian guards.

Few well-educated people were able to identify the brigade of remaining veterans, which looked like the iconic square shield of the Imperial Legion after the Marian military reform.

At most, they would feel familiar with the banner officer holding the golden eagle emblem at the front of the team.

"Look, this is the city wall of Constantine. Entering here is the real Constantinople."

Anna said.

They entered the city gate.

It feels like the world has suddenly changed a color.

The darkness outside the wall, and the colorful, solemn and solemn city inside the wall seem to be located in two different cities.

A huge elevated aqueduct rises on the edge of the city wall, transporting sweet spring water from the mountain to the world inside the wall.

Row upon row of houses painted with various graffiti.

The outermost layer is the place where commoners live. They are said to be commoners, but they can be regarded as wealthy middle class in any other city. The further you go in, the more luxurious the mansion looks.

The mansions, or estates, where the dignitaries lived, were distributed along the walls of the imperial palace, where the emperor lived.

The sea view villas with white walls stand high in the garden. These are private territories, guarded by private guards, and outsiders are absolutely not allowed to offend.

The three classes, from the inside out, form a structure that not only looks like a pyramid, but also has a core that is no different from a pyramid.

Lothar's expression was inexplicable.

He has a special affection for Constantinople, because in the future, he will play the role of the last emperor of the city, Constantine XI of the Paleolio family, to resist the raging Turkic army.

This place is so prosperous that owning Constantinople is equivalent to owning half an empire.

It's a pity that when it was time for me to take over, the place was already dilapidated. Among the ruins, people even opened up farms in the urban area, and the population shrank to only a few tens of thousands of people.

"Well, do you want to stay here?"

Anna's tone was as seductive as a devil: "As long as you can impress my sister who wants to revive the empire, you may be appointed as the Caesar of the empire, or even co-emperor, the queen of ten thousand cities, will prostrate at your feet."

"I'll help you, Lothar."

Lothar was slightly startled, subconsciously looking at his followers.

Prajna frowned slightly, but did not express any opinion.

Jeanna was full of smiles, and there seemed to be encouragement in her eyes, as if she was urging Lothar to agree to cooperate with Anna.

Fringira glared.

Celinina looked solemn, and she didn't think she was qualified to influence Lothar's choice.