Half a month after Irina arrived at the Holy Mountain Castle, Zhao Ziliang finally received the secret investigation report from Dongchang's Constantinople branch.
This investigation report was delivered to Zhao Ziliang through Wan Qingming.
After reading the report, Zhao Ziliang whispered: "It seems that Diodora is really the child of Irina and I."
Wan Qingming bowed and said: "From the time when His Majesty spent time with Irina in Constantinople, the time matches.
The investigators kidnapped Irina's personal maid, and after interrogation, it was confirmed that that period Irina was indeed pregnant at that time, and there was no oriental male around her.
There is no doubt that Diodora was the maid who delivered the baby."
Zhao Ziliang burned the note and waved his hand to Wan Qingming, who stepped back.
Zhao Ziliang thought for a while and shouted: "Come here, come on."
Half an hour later, Zhao Ziliang arrived at the house where Irina and Theodora lived.
The house was located at the foot of the mountain wall halfway up the Holy Mountain, with fresh air and pleasant scenery.
This is a small courtyard.
There are several maids standing around in the courtyard.
There is a desk in the middle of the courtyard.
Diodora is sitting behind the desk writing, and Irina is sitting next to her to guide her.
When the maids saw Zhao Ziliang arriving, they were about to bow down and salute.
Zhao Ziliang raised his hand to stop them.
He quietly walked to the desk and looked at the words written by Theodora.
The paper was written in Greek characters.
“well written” Zhao Ziliang's voice woke up Irina and her daughter, who were looking attentively.
The mother and daughter looked up and saw that it was Zhao Ziliang, and immediately stood up.
Irina asked: "Ahem, why are you here?"
Diodora seemed a little embarrassed.
She was already twelve years old and had already learned about her relationship with Zhao Ziliang from Irina.
Seeing that Zhao Ziliang didn't know how to deal with herself, she hid behind Irina and stretched out her arms timidly.
He looked at him with his little head.
Zhao Ziliang knelt down and looked at her and said with a smile: "Deodosi, look, this is the doll I made for you, do you like it?"
Theodosi looked at the doll in Zhao Ziliang's hand.
His curiosity, nervousness, and fear gradually disappeared.
A happy expression appeared on his face, and he slowly stretched out his little hand.
Diodora liked the doll very much after taking it.
Zhao Ziliang touched her little head and said with a smile: "Go and play."
"Oh" Diodora agreed and jumped away with the doll.
Irina pointed to the chair and said to Zhao Ziliang: "Sit down."
Zhao Ziliang nodded, and the two of them sat down on chairs respectively.
Zhao Ziliang asked: "The news came from Constantinople that Nicephorus did not have a clear attitude on the issue of icon worship, which also made him The nobles have temporarily accepted him.
Your closest ministers basically died or escaped, and some of them were arrested and imprisoned.
With the support of the military, judging from the current situation, his position as emperor is considered Sit tight, it’s basically impossible for you to make a comeback.”
The maid brought the tea and stepped back.
Irina was silent for a while and said: "I no longer have this intention.
The Isaurian dynasty of the Eastern Roman Empire has been destroyed in my hands.
If the Isaurian dynasty can be restored one day in the future, , Theodora is the only legitimate heir to the throne."
At this time, a eunuch came over and reported: "Your Majesty, Mr.
Li Muchen is outside asking for an audience.
He said that he has important military matters to report."
Zhao Ziliang raised his hand: "Let him come in."
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"yes" Li Muchen hurried over and bowed his hands in salute: "Your Majesty, I just received the news that three days ago, Emperor Nicephorus of the Eastern Roman Empire personally led an army of 50,000 troops to raid the port of Alexandria Taler while several fleets in the Mediterranean were changing defenses.
The entire garrison was wiped out and the whole city fell.
At present, Nicephorus has divided his forces into two groups.
An army of 5,000 men went north to attack Sunset Pass, and the remaining 40,000 men are advancing rapidly towards Damascus."
If other people had heard the news, they would have been so shocked that they could not sit still.
Zhao Ziliang had some surprise on his face, but he did not panic.
He then smiled and said: "Irina, this Nicephorus used to be your confidant.
Look, you have a very good vision.
He is quite courageous.
He actually dared to lead his troops to break through our coastal defense line and attack the port of Alexandria while our naval fleet was changing defenses.
Although this is very risky, it is true.
It’s a tough move.”
Irina said lightly: "Nicephorus is still too impatient.
If I were him, I would also know the loopholes in the defense change of the Western Qin Mediterranean Fleet.
I would never act in such a hasty way.
Six years ago, you sent troops to destroy In the entire military defense system of Asia Minor, there is only one army in Asia Minor left.
Although six years have passed, the army of the Eastern Roman Empire has not returned to its former strength."
Zhao Ziliang stood up and said: "This is one of the places where women are inferior to men.
In terms of courage to do big things, women will never be inferior to men.
I don't know if Nicephorus really figured out our country's military deployment in the Middle East. , or he was right in his bet.
There really are not enough troops in Syria to resist his attack of more than 40,000 people in time.
If he beats me to the Holy Mountain Castle, my old face will be completely lost.
It seems that this This time I have to use my special skills."
After returning from Irina's residence, Zhao Ziliang immediately summoned ministers to report the situation and solicit opinions.
Wan Qingming first stood up to plead guilty: "Your Majesty, this time Nicephorus led an army to raid the Alexander Tower.
Dongchang has an unshirkable responsibility.
At least this level of news, our Dongchang did not receive any information.
The news, I failed to manage it well, please forgive me, Your Majesty."
Zhao Ziliang said: "You really failed to manage well.
You will be demoted one level and fined for half a year.
You will hand in the apology letter in three days."
"I obey the decree" At this time, Du Zongwen stood up and cupped his hands and said: "Your Majesty, Nicephorus has more than 40,000 people, but our total troops in Syria are less than 20,000, and the standing army has less than 5,000 people.
The rest are second-line armies with little combat effectiveness.
They cannot be compared with the standing army, and most of them are infantry.
If they bypass the city and attack directly towards the Holy Mountain Castle, the situation will be very critical for me."
Du Zongwen is the son of Du Fu.
Veteran ministers such as Dugu Jun, Dugu Wensu, and Liu Dan have died one after another in the past few years, and the next generation has gradually taken their place.
Du Zongwen is one of them.
He had previously served as Zhao Ziliang's The secretary is quite satisfactory to Zhao Ziliang in terms of ability and has accumulated a lot of experience, but he is a bit pedantic.
Zhao Ziliang was very dissatisfied with Du Zongwen's words.
He slapped the table and said, "I didn't ask you to come here to analyze the difficulty of the situation.
I asked you to think of ways to resolve the current unfavorable situation."
Everyone knows that Zhao Ziliang is in a bad mood now, and everyone is careful not to say anything casually, for fear of getting into trouble and becoming the target of Zhao Ziliang's anger.
Several naval admirals hesitated for a moment and then stood up to plead guilty: "Your Majesty, the Eastern Roman Empire took advantage of the defense change loophole.
It was me who did not think carefully about the defense change issue and made such a huge mistake.
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It is not a pity for me to die." , but please give me a chance to immediately block the sea, cut off all logistics and support from the other side, and make more detailed adjustments on the issue of defense changes."
Zhao Ziliang looked at the admirals with a cold face and said coldly: "The punishment will be discussed after this war is over, but now I want you to seal all the escape routes for Nicephorus to withdraw from the sea.
If there is another problem, you can bring it up and see me.”
The admirals broke out in cold sweat and bowed down one after another: "Your Majesty, please rest assured, I will ensure that nothing goes wrong this time."
Zhao Ziliang waved his hand to these admirals to retreat, and continued: "The garrison at Sunset Pass is only 300 people, and the number of troops sent by Nicephorus to attack Sunset Pass is 5,000.
If they attack regardless of casualties, Sunset Pass will be You can't defend it no matter what.
Once the Eastern Roman Empire opened up the passage to the Syrian Mountain Pass area, they could advance, attack, and retreat to defend Gu's will.
They immediately used the naval fleet to transport a group of infantry and sufficient food and ammunition from Beirut to Sunset Pass.
They must give "Guarding the Sunset Pass" "Yes, Your Majesty" Wei Gao stood up and clasped his fists and said: "Your Majesty, currently we must find a way to slow down the advancement of the Eastern Roman Army.
Although they have cavalry, at least half of them are infantry.
If we want to delay their advancement, I think we can order Syria The cavalry from various places carried out harassment tactics against the Eastern Roman Army.
In addition, they ordered some troops from Jerusalem and Baghdad to rush to the Holy Mountain Castle to gather for a decisive battle with the Eastern Roman Army."
Wei Gao's suggestion is the only way under the current circumstances.
It is already too late for Zhao Ziliang to order the garrison troops from various parts of Syria to block the advancement of the Eastern Roman Army.
After all, it takes time to convey the order, and the garrison troops from various parts of Syria are scattered and it is very difficult.
Easily hit by everyone Breaking, instead of letting them die, it is better to order them to retreat, as long as they stick to the city.
If Nicephorus can be defeated under the Holy Mountain Castle, it will be impossible for the Eastern Roman Army to withdraw even if they want to.
There are many people behind them.
The intact city is the obstacle blocking their way back.
Zhao Ziliang thought for a moment and immediately gave the order: "Pass a decree, order the cavalry from all over Syria to attack the Eastern Roman army in Nicephorus, order the infantry from all over Syria to defend the city tightly, and have to go out of the city to fight the Eastern Roman army; order from Palestine , all the standing army cavalry from the area west of Persia was rushed to the Holy Mountain Castle without any mistakes."
"Yes, Your Majesty" The powerful military machine of the Western Qin Dynasty quickly started to move, and orders were sent out from the Holy Mountain Castle at a speed of 800 miles.
After receiving the news, the cavalry from all over Syria immediately began to send troops to continuously harass the Eastern Roman Army.
This indeed caused a lot of trouble for Nicephorus.
Guerrilla warfare is one of the special skills of the Western Qin cavalry.
It is rarely used.
Moreover, this is the homeland of the Western Qin Kingdom.
Nicephorus was troubled as soon as he started using it.
Ruth was distraught
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