Building an empire requires iron blood. Maintaining an empire requires iron blood. Maintaining the empire's authority requires iron blood. Conquering the empire's enemies requires iron blood. It takes even more iron blood.

Of course, although iron blood is really important, you can rest assured if you want to maintain an empire.

Basil II has been an emperor for decades and naturally understands this truth. Sometimes, compared to iron-blooded skills, the monarchs need more wisdom, or in other words, a little cunning, such as fighting a very powerful barbarian, which should be like this.

One is definitely not saying that the empire is afraid of them, nor that the empire cannot defeat them.

Instead, the cost of defeating them was too high. What the empire could obtain was not enough to make up for what the empire had lost. The gain was not worth the loss. Therefore, other non-military means were needed...

For example, diplomatic negotiations or something.

At the same time, Basil II exchanged prisoners this month and had a quittal. He had a little experience of what kind of person the other party's commander was. He was young, handsome, talented and resourceful. Although his attainments in war have not been shown yet. With the rumors alone, Basil II did not believe it. However, in a little bit of detail, such as when the two sides met, Egil was just a command and a gesture, and could command thousands of cavalry with his fingers. And seeing his relaxed and natural appearance, he could know that this was not a temporary intention or a deliberate rehearsal. It was the same as a habit.

"In other words, this guy's command ability is also very good." Basil II finally made such a judgment.

A guy who performed very well in all aspects, the most important thing is that he was more than thirty years younger than himself. He also looked very healthy. He could live at least thirty years, Basil II recalled. Before this, he seemed to have never heard of it... Wen can be compared to Solomon and martial can be compared to Alexander. If such a heavenly being can be killed, it would be best if he could be killed.

But Egil was very careful. He was not like an ordinary young handsome man. Because he had the ability, he was arrogant and arrogant. He seemed to be the only one in the world.

Although Egil also showed extreme arrogance in his words and words, he was more reserved and cautious than them.

The guard knights beside him, and the figures that were looming farther away, seemed to be able to rush out to block the arrows at any time.

"This young man is very difficult to deal with." After Basil II first met Egil, he gave him this definition.

Of course, this was also the decision that Basil II made up his mind to kill Egil at least to defeat him to the point of being in a slump. Because he didn't know. After he died, who else could stop this guy in the entire Eastern Roman Empire.

With his daughter? Che. There has never been an empress in the history of the Eastern Roman Empire. If you get married, you can still save your life. Otherwise...

So Basil II was not optimistic about his daughter. In fact, he didn't know much about his daughter. In fact, after Basil II's beloved woman died of dysfunction, he no longer liked his daughter. And his long-term career in fighting outside also left him without much time to spend with his daughter.

He didn't know yet that his daughter had grown up to be a fearful and qualified one, and should be said to be the heir to the extremely excellent Eastern Rome.

Of course, it was also fortunate that he didn't know. Otherwise, he would have been the one who was restless in bed and food. After all, assassination, bride killing, poisoning, especially the emperor's open and secret arrows, can also be regarded as specialties of Rome. The sword light and sword shadows within the royal family are very powerful. At this moment, Basil II looked down on his daughter, so he didn't care. Sooner or later he would suffer a big loss...

On that day, August 1, 1003 AD, the Liao battle last month had passed. The smell of blood in the air had dissipated a lot. The exchange of prisoners between the two sides was also very successful. The Norman Light Cavalry would also wander around the Hungarian ravine for several days, and the Governor of Venetian and the Cardinal of the Pope, who almost died, went back. The 50,000 French troops also rushed over and merged with the Norman army. The coalition and the Eastern Roman Empire submitted a letter of war to each other. It was agreed that fifteen days later, that is, in the middle of this month, both sides would see life and death.

Before this, Basil II made a proposal to Egil that the two sides met before the war.

At that time, Egil was very reluctant. What a joke?! Do you think this is a novel?! Let me do such a dangerous thing. Who knows if you, the cunning old turtle, booked a trap for the Shenma mechanism, and waited for me to get in... Even if it wasn't like this, there was nothing to talk about. Can you solve the current problem by talking? Don't be naive, okay? If the world is so gentle, the earth would have been unified hundreds of years ago!

But Egil went in the end.

Forced by people.

Although Basil II only said he wanted to see him, the others were very excited. Cardinal Hilde, who had temporarily lame a tui, Governor Wright, who had temporarily broken his arm, and other subordinates of Egil, were all thinking about seeing it.

"This is a historical moment! Two of the most powerful and hostile kings in Europe face to face conversations. Even if you just think about it, you will make people feel excited. Isn't it right? Your Majesty?" Although he is a clergyman, but in fact he is more like a warrior, Archbishop Peter Norman said to Egil.

"Well, you know, although it's the king. But in fact, I'm a very reserved person... It's not very suitable for me if I'm on the verge of the crowd..."

"How could it be?! Your Majesty is the best person I have ever seen, no one! Even those eloquent speakers in ancient Greece will definitely not be as good as your eloquence!" This is what Sister Joan of Arc said, well, in a sense, Egil's eloquence is indeed quite good once, but even if you compliment Egil so much, Egil will never take you with you.

"This is the best time to show the strength of the Norman army." said Alpha, captain of the Death Knights: "If they don't go, they will be considered timid, which will affect the morale of the army, and even the victory or defeat of the decisive battle fifteen days later."

"...Okay OK OK OK OK OK OK Can you convince me to join all the cavalry?" "If you bring too many people, the other party will also think it is timid." Alpha continued.

"In fact, I suddenly remembered a Jigo. When we were in the alliance, we were looking for an opportunity to kill the Greek emperor. What do you think?" Egil said excitedly.

There was a cold incident afterwards.

"Okay, I'm kidding." So Egil murmured: If Artoria is there, she will definitely understand me, if Artoria is there, she will definitely understand me, if Artoria is there, she will definitely understand me, and if Artoria is there, she will definitely understand me, and prepare for the meeting after today.

First of all, the location is only twenty kilometers apart in the camps of both sides. Most of the centers are flat grasslands and open land. There is no special terrain. Just walk to the middle of the camps of both sides at an equal speed.

Next is the candidate. Although there are too many troops that they lead will be ridiculed as timid. However, if they lead fewer troops, they cannot reflect the majesty of their own troops. So everyone finally got a compromise. One thousand iron cavalry, a total of two hundred royal knights, two hundred land, two hundred Norman heavy cavalry, two hundred Finnish light cavalry, two hundred professional cavalry...

In short, Egil's five major cavalry forces each selected 200, fully armed.

After that, Egil had to wash and dress up himself. However, it was said before that during the military, Egil's maids in Gothicoli maid outfits were not brought here.

Egil himself just makes do with it on weekdays, but it’s okay to make do with it on weekdays. At this time, Wanzi couldn’t make do with it. In the end, Egil thought about it and suddenly remembered it.

It seems that the fool nun Ma Zhiya, who sent him to take care of Joan of Arc, seemed to be his maid at the beginning. Although he was a fool, he should be able to serve people, right? It must be, sure...

"Are you really a fool?! Can't you even comb your hair?! Don't pull it down so hard after it gets stuck. It hurts so much. Do you know?!" So Egil knocked the little nun's head very hard.

"Woo sorry" 1 young nun said with a crying voice holding his head. It's hard to say that it's a child. He didn't have long been a maid. He barely learned some of the skills that a maid should have, and then he was forced to change his job to a nun by Egil. After more than half a year of nun life, the little girl who was not very smart almost forgot about the skills that she had learned before. At this time, she drove the duck on the shelves and had to be scolded by Egil.
Chapter completed!