Plan

Returning to Constantinople after two years, the city remained largely unchanged, still shrouded in the suffocating despair of an empire on the brink of collapse.

Vitus had no interest in sightseeing and headed straight for the Blachernae Palace in the northwestern district to introduce his family to Agnes one by one.

First were the Emperor Manuel II and Empress Helena Dragaš, followed by his eldest brother John, his third brother Andronikos, and his younger brothers Constantine, Demetrius, and Thomas.

"What a lovely, fair-faced beauty; it seems Vitus has good fortune," the Empress said with a gentle smile, appraising the young girl dressed in light blue.

Agnes possessed a quiet, refined temperament that reminded the Empress of a dear friend from her youth and the leisurely days they had spent together in the castle.

In retrospect, Agnes shared that same delicate facial structure as her friend, with a pearl-white complexion—the kind popular among the aristocracy, untouched by the sun—and light hair carefully braided and tucked into a pearl-studded net. Perhaps due to the bumpy carriage ride, a stray lock of hair had escaped, clinging damply to her temple and neck, trembling slightly with every breath.

Noticing Agnes's nervousness, which made her seem like a fawn lost in the woods, the Empress took her by the arm and led her away from the solemn, imposing hall.

Once Agnes's silhouette vanished into the corridor, Vitus introduced the physician Gennaro standing behind him. After a brief conversation, the Emperor hired him as a court physician and granted him permission to consult the library at the Blachernae Palace.

Finally, the conversation turned to Vitus himself. The Emperor did not rush to question him, instead staring directly into his face. During this time, Vitus remained expressionless, standing perfectly still like a silent marble statue.

After a long while, John waved his hand to dismiss the others, leaving only Emperor Manuel, John, and Vitus in the hall.

To break the deadlock, John spoke first, "Actually, I bear some responsibility. It was I who kept you in Pistoia to recover, which led to the subsequent events. Vitus, you should not have hidden this from your family; tell Father everything that has happened over these two years."

Vitus: "At first, it was for self-preservation, assisting in the defense of Pistoia..."

He recounted the battles he had experienced truthfully, without exaggerating his merits, focusing instead on his decision-making during the combat and summarizing the tactical gains and losses of both commanders.

The conversation lasted until four in the afternoon. The Emperor was shocked by this series of harrowing wars; setting aside any reprimand for Vitus's recklessness, he shifted the topic to the Principality of Achaea.

In 1204, the Fourth Crusaders destroyed the Eastern Roman Empire. The French knight William Champlitte traveled to the Peloponnese to mop up the remnants and established the Principality of Achaea, adopting a Western European feudal system.

Currently, the Peloponnese was divided in two: the eastern region of Morea was controlled by the Eastern Roman Empire, while the western region belonged to the Principality of Achaea. Manuel had long harbored a desire to recover his lost lands, and since Vitus was so capable in battle, he considered letting him try.

John suddenly interjected: "The treasury is empty. According to the last agreement, we must pay the Ottoman 100,000 Ducat in gold every year; we cannot afford a large-scale military operation.

It would be better to delay for a few years. The Latins in Achaea are currently infighting; let them kill each other, and once we have sufficient funds, we can wipe them out in one stroke."

Vitus had gathered relevant information and opposed his brother's cautious strategy, stating immediately:

"Achaea is too weak to be worth our time. Father, as long as you agree, I will assemble the troops and launch the campaign immediately. I guarantee the fall of the Principality of Achaea within six months.

Venice and the Ottoman are currently locked in a fierce conflict, and neither side has the energy to start a new war. As long as we recognize the two transit ports Venice holds in the southwest of the Peloponnese, they will surely accept the reality."

In Vitus's estimation, due to the ravages of war, the population growth of the Peloponnese was slow. The eastern Morea region had over 200,000 residents, while the western Principality of Achaea had even fewer, estimated at less than 100,000.

The flaw of the Western European feudal system was its low revenue; a prince could not maintain a standing army, nor did he have much money to recruit mercenaries, making the only viable strategy to hold onto individual castles.

Vitus observed the map on the wall and drafted a preliminary operational route:

The army would land in the southeast of the peninsula, then attack Kyparissia on the west coast, following the coastline counter-clockwise to capture Andravida and Patras. As long as the coastline was blockaded, the remaining inland castles would be unable to stir up trouble and would surrender within a month.

The Emperor stroked his graying beard and finally agreed to Vitus's plan: "If you capture the Achaea region, I will, by tradition, appoint you as the Despot of Achaea. However, this operation requires you to coordinate with Theodore (the second prince); you must act with caution. We can no longer afford a single failure."

Vitus gave a perfunctory response, as he truly looked down upon the Principality of Achaea.

Over the past two years, he had experienced defensive sieges, offensive sieges, open-field decisive battles, mountain ambushes, and urban warfare. He had participated in almost every form of land combat, including large-scale battles involving tens of thousands, accumulating a wealth of practical experience. The only people he truly feared were the likes of Jan Zizka, the future Joan of Arc, the "White Knight" Hunyadi, and Skanderbeg.

As for the Prince of Achaea, Centurione Zaccaria?

History rarely mentioned him, and Vitus did not believe this man could cause much trouble. "I will set sail for Florence as soon as possible to recruit mercenaries. Wait for my good news!"

John reminded his eager brother, "Hey, have you forgotten something? Even if you leave early, what about your wedding with Agnes?"

Vitus, his mind entirely occupied with the conquest of Achaea, replied righteously: "State affairs come first. Keep everything simple; have the chamberlain prepare it immediately. I am worried that if news leaks, Centurione will have ample time to reinforce his defenses and recruit mercenaries from Italy."

"Cough, cough, what nonsense are you spouting?"

The Emperor loudly scolded his reckless son: "If the wedding does not follow proper form, it will diminish our prestige in the eyes of the people. The Di Maggio family will also take offense, believing you have not shown them sufficient respect!

Remember, at times, you must abandon the mindset of a mercenary and view problems from a political perspective. Your primary identity is always Vitus Palaiologos, not a mercenary captain. And that name you chose—'Tuna Mercenary Group'—it sounds like a bunch of fishmongers. Can't you choose something with more substance that fits your status?"