In 1207, when the civil war in Epirus was in full swing, the Latin Empire was busy dealing with the Bulgarians and the enemies in the Nesians were in a state of great storm, everyone allocated some to pay attention to the south, because a huge change was taking place in Molia. The governor of Molia, Justinian, joined forces with the Pisa, crushed the Latin nobles' attempt to launch a rebellion in the Peloponnese. With iron fist, Justinian executed several crusaders, including Alexander, King of Thessalonika, Maximilian, Duke of Athens, Marquis of Thebes, and other nobles who had made outstanding achievements in the Fourth Crusade. The shocking scope of this brought not only to the old border of the Roman Empire, but even spread to the other side of the strait, causing considerable shock to the Roman Catholic Church.

"I heard from the other side of the sea that the Pope of Rome was very dissatisfied with your actions in Molia. He believed that this was a cruel massacre of the Brothers of Christ and publicly condemned him. Now you have been known to the entire Western world, Lord Justinian."

"Ha, if the Pope's words were really so effective, they would not dare to rob Zara no matter how brave the Crusaders had, not to mention that I did nothing. Compared to His Majesty Manuel, it was already a kind thing to expel them from Molia." Justinian looked at the visitor and said calmly. In order to completely uproot the Latin forces of Molia, in addition to promising Corinth, who promised to retain the vassal state of Achaia, he confiscated all the property of the Latin nobles and expelled all the new immigrants who refused to convert, and let them die. This is probably the place that angered the Holy See the most.

"But he is the Pope of Rome after all, and his words are enough to establish many untreatable enemies for you." The man sitting opposite Justinian reminded that the Holy See is now very popular, and Pope Innocent has reached the peak of power that was beyond the reach of his predecessors. In the West, many monarchs in the West have to give in to the young Pope. If Justinian becomes a thorn in his side, then Western monarchs will most likely intervene in the current split empire, causing more variables in the situation.

"I certainly know this, but even if I don't do this, the Latin people in the west will not be indifferent to everything that happened here." Justinian stood up and stood by the wall overlooking Argos, rebuilt in the ruins, and said: "For many years, the Holy See still did not know that Saint Constantine moved the authority of the empire, the Senate and all the Roman destiny to Constantinople. And the city of Rome was left without any but a bunch of fishermen, peddlers, robbers, illegitimate children, commoners and slaves. Sooner or later, someone would practice what Emperor Nichfrus said to the charlatan John XII to see."

Justinian's words were deafening, exuding an extraordinary sense of rebellion and aspiration. If these words were said a year ago, he would only be regarded as a whimsical madman. But now it is hard to say who thinks so.

"Okay, let's come here first if you say politely. Your Excellency Hendriel, Prince Theodor asked you to come to me for this, probably because of this, right?" Justinian turned around and changed his mind at the same time.

"It's worthy of being you, it's true."

Hendriel smiled bitterly and looked at the young man in front of him with complicated eyes. He came to see Justinian at the order of Prince Theodor. When they first met, the other party in front of him was still a small lord of the Castle of Deloyvan. But now he has become a prince of Moria, and even won the favor of the original Moria autocratic Duke and became his heir. This made Hendriel sigh that the world was impermanent. Justinian's great victory in Moria also made Theodor Ducas feel uneasy. Sir Baptist, the subordinate of Justinian, who had previously won over the surrender of Justinian's subordinate in Thessalonika, has failed. Now Justinian has integrated the entire Moria Military Region. If he joins his brother Mikhail, his rear will be in great danger.

Therefore, shortly after Justinian suppressed the rebellion, Hendriel came to Molia on behalf of Theodor and expressed Ducas's kindness to Justinian.

"His Royal Highness the Prince hopes to join forces with you to deal with Mikhail, overthrow his rule in Epirus, and welcome His Majesty Muzfius back. After the matter is completed, he is willing to recommend you to become the real Moria autocratic Duke. This is undoubtedly mutually beneficial and win-win for you and His Royal Highness of Qin." Hendriel told the conditions proposed by Theodor Dukas, and this condition is indeed quite generous. As long as Justinian is willing to send troops to help him overthrow Mikhail, he can not only formally enthrone Justinian as the Moria autocratic Duke, but will also reward him with the land in the Thessali area as a fief.

This generous gift is enough to reflect Theodor Ducas' sincerity, but as Hendriel expected, Justinian reacted coldly and did not comment on this.

"It's indeed generous, but it's optional, not to mention that I have no intention of interfering in the internal disputes of the Ducas family. Moreover, the unpleasantness that happened before made it difficult for me to believe the sincerity of His Highness Theodor." Justinian said with a hint of irony.

"This... the prince just knew about it. So His Highness Romanus was punished as soon as he was recalled to Rusnina." Almost at the same time as Molia rebelled, in Macedonia, Romanus, the son of Theodor Ducas, made a fuss and tried to attack Thessalonika, but was defeated and left in a mess. All this was too coincidental, and Hendriel also knew that Justinian suspected that they were the initiators of this Molia rebellion. Such an explanation was too pale and powerless.

"For the sake of my friend, you and Miss Antonia, please believe my sincerity this time, Justinian." Hendriel said helplessly.

But Justinian, who was still unmoved, said coldly: "But I do not believe in the sincerity of His Highness Theodor. I don't care whether Romanus is punished. All I can do is neutrality. I am loyal to the Empire, not the Ducas family. If nothing else, please come back, His Excellency Hendriel."

"Even if His Highness Prince Theodor's daughter is in her early years, do you still insist on this attitude?" Suddenly, Hendriel looked at Justinian with a meaningful look, which made Justinian feel a little overwhelmed. He looked at the other person in front of him without saying a word.

"You mean Irina Ducas?" Justinian looked at the other person's subtle eyes and hesitated for a moment. He had a vague impression of the sixteen-year-old girl.

"That's right."

"I don't think Prince Theodor would use her marriage as a condition for dealing with me." Justinian's face returned to calm.

Hendriel shrugged and said, "That's true. This is just a little advice from me to you. You must know that Mr. Justinian, it is far from enough to rely on his abilities in this empire. Even if someone appreciates it, he does not have a truly noble identity and background. Everything he has now may be lost at any time. But if you can choose a noble girl and hire him, then the door of the noble will naturally open to you. I hope you can consider this truth carefully, Your Highness Justinian." His face became colder and colder. After listening to Neusky's report, Justinian did not react any time after hearing the report.

Looking at Justinianneuski, they didn't say anything else. After all, they did want to be the Pisa navy at this time. If they did not have the support from the other side at sea, they would not be able to gain a foothold. In that case, they would have to turn to the Dukas family in the end. Without the warships, they could only be trapped in Moria and unable to show their skills. In the current situation, they really needed to rely on the Pisa help.

He said meaningfully, Hendriel looked at Justinian silent and said nothing, but chose to say goodbye to express his willingness to respect the good news.

Looking at the other party's back as he left, Justinian, who had not spoken for a long time, turned his gaze to the new city wall that was rising in front of him and the soldiers who were practicing. For some reason, a strange feeling arose in his heart, as if something was expanding and trying to make him do something he was unwilling to do...

At this time, a voice suddenly came behind Justinian.

"You won't really believe their nonsense, right!"

Justinian turned around and looked behind him. It turned out that Neuski was looking at him. His conversation with Hendriel was obviously listened to by all the Valangi people.

"Why do you think so?" Justinian asked back.

"Because your eyes were terrible just now, I have seen them in the eyes of many people, and in the end they all lost themselves. You know, no word of the Dukas family is credible. They just want to use you. In the eyes of those nobles, people like you are more uncomfortable with them than being ruled by Latins." Neuski said confidently, once a member of the Valangi Guard, he had seen it

How outrageous the corruption of the imperial nobles is. The representative of it is Dukas, whose bloodline can be said to be the essence of betrayers and conspirators. However, over the past two hundred years, Dukas is still in glory, and the means he relies on is cunning conspiracy and despicable clinging. The legacy of the Macedonian dynasty was defeated by them, and Komuning's glory was forgotten by them. Neusky would never want Justinian to embark on a path of no return.

"So you are worried about this..." Justinian smiled faintly and spread his hands, saying, "Don't worry, I'm not that stupid enough to be fooled by them. But there is one thing Hendriel said just now. It is absolutely not enough to rely on his ability alone in this empire. But it is not the so-called noble identity and background."

"What is that?" Neuski asked subconsciously at Justinian, looking at the young man's back, looking forward to his answer.

At this moment, the bleak cold wind on the city tower blew by, and Justinian's calm and open words were also scattered in the wind.

"Rome has had too many ambitious and conspirators, and now she only needs sincere saviors and defenders. This is precisely why you stand shoulder to shoulder with me, otherwise what is the difference between following me and following others. May our Word be kept, and that day the crown of justice will remain for us."

The last sentence is used to the content of Timothy, but in Justinian's sighing voice, it is even more exciting. This is exactly the reply Neusky hoped to get.

"You must have something important to tell me when you come to me at this time?"

"Yes, it's about the Pisa people." Justinian's words reminded Neuski at once. He almost forgot about the important things, his expression was slightly solemn, and he only heard him say:

"The city of Athens is still in their hands, but this Baron Pierre does not seem to have any intention of leaving. Even the people who sent us to take over Nafplion were scattered by him using various excuses. Justinian, do you think?" The Valangi man was actually very dissatisfied. In his opinion, the cunning Pizza people, the Venetians, and the Genoese people, all like to take advantage of the situation. However, because Justinian's relationship is now allies, he endured it. But if this continues, Neuski believes that the Pizza people will be alienated from them sooner or later.

Justinian was not surprised by this. He had long guessed that this would happen. If he was unwilling to give up Nafplion now, it could be considered to be some concerns about the previous agreement, then the refusal to leave the Pisa people was already clear. As a harbor, Athens' position was far stronger than Thessalonika, which surrounded the enemy on all sides, and its resources were sufficient than Nafplion. Therefore, Pierre, who had taken advantage of the previous emptiness of Latin, naturally broke his promise and was unwilling to hand over it. Undoubtedly, the huge results intensified the expansion of the Pisa people's ambitions, but they did not know that they were touching Justinian's reverse scales step by step at this moment.

His face became colder and colder. Justinian did not react after listening to Neuski's report.
Chapter completed!