While the young, unmarried couple joked, in the Khan's palace in Bakhchysarai—
Dawlat Berdi looked at George, the Theodoro envoy, who was respectfully prostrate on the ground, and the request he presented, falling into hesitation.
Logically speaking, as a Muslim who considered himself extremely pious, he should have directly refused such a request from a Kafir, which supposedly harmed the nomads under his rule, for military transit.
But they offered too much!
Faced with a wooden chest full of gold coins, Berdi fell into extreme hesitation.
These were glittering gold coins! He had been fighting Haji Giray for some time, and military expenses were like money thrown into the Black Sea, only going out and never coming in.
"Haji Giray, that bastard!" he thought bitterly.
Although this sum of money was not actually large, it was enough to alleviate much of the discontent among the outer tribes. Berdi was no fool; otherwise, he wouldn't have occupied Crimea for so many years. Faced with tangible benefits and a vague faith, he ultimately chose to repent to Allah.
"Allah above, it's not that I'm unwilling to abandon your teachings, but these wicked Kafirs offered too much." After repenting in his heart, Berdi spoke, agreeing to Theodoro's request, "According to religious law, I should not grant your unreasonable requests as Kafirs, but according to the Prophet's teachings, giving you some benefits will allow you to understand Allah's true will. So," he said, as he made an approving mark on the official diplomatic document presented by Theodoro, "Praise be to Allah, there is no god but Allah." As he spoke, the muslims in the Khan's court followed him in prayer.
However, George, as Theodoro's envoy, seemed to be deliberately provoking him, making an orthodox cross on his chest and quietly praying, "Holy Father above."
Dawlat Berdi naturally saw this small gesture, but due to the agreement they had reached, he simply turned a blind eye.
After they exchanged pleasantries for a while, George excused himself to return home and report the good news. Soon, less than half a day later, Manuel also learned of the matter.
Upon learning that Theodoro had already secured military transit, coupled with Alexius's permission for the Philaka Legion to relocate to Kaffa, Manuel, overjoyed by the double blessing, excitedly clasped his hands, raised them high, and shouted, "Hooray!"
Meanwhile, in Cheleki city, Kaffa Consul Paolo Grimaldi and his men were unaware of the advantage Theodoro had already gained. At this moment, he rose from the main seat in the city hall and warmly received Leonardo Spinola, the Vice Consul stationed in Matrega.
"Your Excellency, Matrega currently has over 2,500 troops that can be flexibly deployed," Spinola reported.
"Your Excellency, Tana has 1,000 troops," Gattuso, who was seated to the side, rose and reported.
"Your Excellency, there are over 500 troops available in Cheleki city," Melo, who had come with Grimaldi, reported.
"Good! When will preparations be complete?" Grimaldi asked excitedly, eager to return to his consulate.
"Your Excellency, we will have to wait two to three more days for the forces to assemble," Melo, who was in charge of military affairs, replied.
"Gentlemen, we must launch an attack as soon as possible. The longer we delay, the more disadvantageous it will be for us," Grimaldi reminded everyone with concern.
"That is natural, but Consul, will we advance by water or through Tatar lands?" Melo asked.
Grimaldi pondered for a moment, then asked in return, "Melo, I'd like to hear your opinion."
"Your Excellency, in my humble opinion, a land attack is most advantageous for us. From Cheleki to Kaffa, there are only small hills and plains along the way; they have no defensible terrain."
"Your Excellency, do not listen to his nonsense! Melo does not know that this entire route is Tatar nomadic territory. If we go by land, we will inevitably be harassed by them, and we simply cannot afford such losses!" Alessandro Acereto, the Cheleki city official who had been silent until now, protested.
Melo remained silent on this; as a military General, he was not very skilled in diplomatic matters. Grimaldi considered it for a moment and ultimately abandoned the plan for a land advance. "Those Kafirs are greedy and cruel. If we want to pass safely, we will certainly have to pay a large sum of money and spend time negotiating. We don't have time to waste on such useless things; we will go by sea! After all, the Black Sea has always been our Genoa's territory."
His subordinates highly approved of his statement. "The General is right! As long as we wish, the entire Black Sea will be our bathtub. In these waters, our Genoa fleet is invincible," Gattuso said approvingly, shaking his golden hair.
"Yes, although our ships in Kaffa were confiscated, we still have 8 oared warships and sailors skilled in naval warfare in the remaining three major cities. How can a weak little city-state Principality contend with us?" Spinola encouraged everyone present.
"Yes, we will definitely win." Grimaldi, surrounded by his subordinates, felt a little carried away. "For our official positions—ah, no, for the honor of the most esteemed Republic of Genoa, attack!" After saying this, the Consul, remembering an old friend, couldn't help but shed tears. "Guney, thank you for your self-sacrifice. Although, judging by the current situation, you must have been harmed by those rioters, your efforts will not be in vain. Endure a little longer in heaven; in a few days, I will set out to avenge you."
Just as both sides were enthusiastically preparing for war, the "Golden Knight" dispatched by Genoa itself was besieging rebellious Corsican mountain people.
"General, Ajaccio has been captured," a messenger rushed to the General's army and reported.
"Very good, continue, advance south." The knight on horseback showed no expression.
"What about the captured mountain people? More were captured this time than before."
"The leaders were burned on the spot, in the name of blaspheming the Lord. The rest, as before, the men were sold as heretics, and the women were first enjoyed by the soldiers before being sold."
"General, the number of people this time is simply too many. If all are dealt with as before, it is estimated…"
"Peasants are like grass in the field; they will grow endlessly." The General didn't even lift his eyelids. Soon, his orders were carried out, and painful wails came from all around.
Facing the tragedy caused by the orders he personally issued, the "Golden Knight" Carlo Dominus Merlo merely looked on with his dark green pupils, as if at mere weeds.