1444, Byzantium Resurrects

Chapter 26 Royal Knight Academy
Mystras, the capital of the Principality of Morea.

It is early summer, the water vapor is gradually decreasing and the temperature has not yet risen completely. This is the most pleasant time of the year.

In the fields, farmers began to harvest wheat in a hurry, trying to plant other crops before the next autumn sowing.

Many families grow grapes or olives, which are the most important cash crops on the Morea Peninsula. Wine and olive oil are exported overseas.

Small textile factories began to increase near cities, where workers used the most primitive textile tools to weave wool or silk into cloth.

Of course, silk with exquisite appearance and fine texture and woolen cloth for warmth and cold protection were not prepared for ordinary farmers or citizens. Most of the time, they could only grow crops such as flax and weave their own clothes.

After harvesting their wheat, farmers would bring the fruits of their labor over the past few months to the city to sell.

Mystras is the largest city in Morea, and on the hill next to the city stands the castle of the Palaiologos family.

The walls of Mystras are strong and located on a hill. Successive Morea Dukes have repeatedly repaired the walls and used it as the last war fortress.

After Constantine was named the Grand Duke of Morea, he worked hard to govern the country, encouraged agriculture and sericulture, and migrated a large number of refugees from the war-torn Albania region to reclaim abandoned land.

As refugees from Attica moved south, the area around Mystras became increasingly prosperous.

Inside the city, next to a newly renovated building, Andronikos Palaiologos looked at the Greek words carved on the door with a sense of accomplishment.

Royal Knights Academy.

"Your Highness, the academy building, the attached war orphanage and the sanatorium have all been built. We are also planning to build a supporting hospital in the future."

"The first batch of war orphans and wounded soldiers have already moved in. The first batch of students are mainly children of our army. Some young men who volunteered can also join after my assessment."

Isaac nodded.

"Is there any difficulty?"

"The main difficulty is the lack of instructors. The empire originally had a training system, but over the past few decades the empire has been declining, and the military has relied too much on mercenaries and conscripted peasants, so..."

Isaac was also troubled by this problem.

Now the main instructors of the royal family are all show-offs. They are deeply influenced by Western European aristocrats, love tricks and techniques, and cannot go to the battlefield at all.

There are very few instructors like Mikhail who have been on the battlefield and have sufficient experience.

"Your Highness, when we were young, the royal family had many excellent instructors, some of whom were former instructors of the Armored Paladins and the Varyag Guards."

"But later, the empire gradually declined, and they either grew old, became disappointed with the empire, or looked for other ways."

"At this point in your life, there is nothing left."

Isaac sighed.

The current situation of the Eastern Roman Empire is really bad. The strategic situation is precarious, and there has been no progress in diplomacy. The educational and administrative institutions are still relatively complete, but they are of little use.

As for the secondary military training?
Sorry, the emperor can hardly afford to pay the military salaries.

After a moment's consideration, Isaac spoke.

"Well, I'll provide three solutions, and you can decide for yourself."

"First, hire Western instructors to come and teach and train knights and commanders."

"Don't hold your hopes too high. They won't give you their best knowledge for free."

"Second, the emperor allowed me to print his collection of books, including Leo VI's Tactics, Vesertius' On Military Affairs, Emperor Maurice's Strategy, and other military works. You can use them as reading materials for students."

"But don't be blindly obsessed with books. Try your best to develop a military theory that suits our needs."

"Third, find former royal instructors and veterans of the elite military and hire them as teachers."

The empire once had elite troops.

The most famous are the world-renowned armored cavalry and the loyal and brave Varyag Guard.

The Armored Paladins were something that only powerful dynasties could afford. After the end of the Komnenos dynasty, the organized Armored Paladins no longer existed.

Later, Michael VIII gathered the old soldiers together. Although he was unable to equip them with expensive heavy armor and war horses, he still hired them as instructors to prevent the loss of heritage and wait for the empire to become strong again.

Later, the empire was plunged into civil war and these people disappeared.

The emperor still has a small Varyag Guard, but it has long been reduced to a ceremonial guard.

"Also, we captured dozens of soldiers from the Golden Throne in the naval battle, and I forced them to convert to the Orthodox Church."

"Those war orphans can be trained first, but the cultural teachers must be trustworthy Greek Orthodox Christians."

"Yes!"

……

"Garwen! Have you heard? The Royal Knight Academy founded by His Highness Isaac is about to start recruiting students from all over Mystras. Anyone who is physically strong can join. Do you want to give it a try?"

Galvin Nejad was walking back to the city, carrying a large basket of firewood on his back.

The person who spoke was Bitley, one of his few friends, who was a year older than him.

Although younger, Galwin was much taller than the thin Bittley and was a strong and sturdy man.

Just like his father.

Galwen shook his head.

Due to family reasons, he is a bit introverted.

My father was a small blacksmith with mediocre skills. He could only make a living. He also loved drinking. Every time he got drunk, he would mutter to himself.

Garwin used to think his father was just an ordinary old drunkard until he encountered a robber who blocked the road and robbed people when he followed his father to chop wood for the first time.

The five robbers armed with swords couldn't last more than ten minutes under my father's hatchet.

He still remembers his father's furious eyes, his bulging muscles and the hatchet flying up and down.

To him, killing seems like a craft rather than a job that has to be done.

Galvin on the side was completely terrified.

After returning home, little Galwin pestered his father to learn martial arts, but his father sternly refused and beat him up.

Not only that, his father also intensified his blacksmith education and forbade him to play his favorite knight games with other children.

From then on, Galwin thought he would be a blacksmith for the rest of his life.

Until one day, when Calvin was returning home from buying charcoal, he met some Latin children from Constantinople.

They spoke loudly in Greek about the emperor's incompetence, and imitated over and over again the emperor's humility when he asked their father for a loan.

"How dare you, Greek scum, call yourself a Roman!"

They laughed.

With blood boiling, Galwin dropped his carrying pole and rushed forward.

As a result, the untrained Galwin was beaten by the Latin boy who had received knight training and was forced into a corner, twitching all over.

In the evening, his father found him, took him home and applied medicine on him.

A week later, Galwin, who was able to get out of bed and walk, was taken by his father to the lake outside the city.

He held a long sword.

"From today on, you will learn swordsmanship from me."

"My swordsmanship is average, and of little use on the battlefield, but it's enough for you to learn to defend yourself."

My father drew out his sword. The dark red blade seemed to have gone through countless years. The patterns on the sword had long been worn out, half of the hilt was missing, and the hilt was black, as if it had been stained with blood.

Galwen was immediately fascinated by the sword.

He nodded quickly.

"There are a few conditions."

"I promise everything, I swear in the name of God!"

Galvin said immediately.

First, be a blacksmith and live a peaceful life.

Second, I will never take the initiative to attack and will never fight back unless my life is in danger.

Third, if my mother and sister are hurt, I must protect them at all costs.

These are the three conditions for being a father.

From then on, Galwin ran to the lake with his father every dawn and began to practice swordplay.

It takes five years to practice.

Until this year, my father said enough is enough and stopped teaching.

Later he realized that what his father taught him was not the technically intensive Western swordsmanship, but real military swordsmanship.

His father was a mystery to him. Galwin didn't know why a blacksmith knew so many martial arts, and why he had such a long sword.

I secretly played with the sword several times, but each time my father beat me so hard that I couldn't get out of bed.

My father would not allow me to attend the Knight Academy.

Galwen shook his head, trying to get the thoughts out of his mind.

"Alas, it's a pity that you have such a body. If I were so strong, I would definitely give it a try."

Beatley smiled ruefully.

On the way home, many children threw stones at him, knowing that this big fool would not fight back.

"The drunkard's son is a big fool! The drunkard's son is a big fool!"

They were jumping and shouting with snotty noses.

Bitley was so angry that he was held back by Galwin.

"Let's go to the church!"

Galvin suggested.

"Are you going to listen to that old monk's stories again? I don't know why you like it so much..."

The two walked into a small church, where an old priest had just finished his day's work and was sitting on a bench, telling stories to the children around him.

"Emperor Alexius rebuilt the Armored Knights, and his son John the City Breaker led them to destroy the pagan fortresses one by one and restore the territory of Rome..." "When the heavy cavalry arrives, even the toughest enemy will kneel down and surrender..."

"When groups of heavy cavalry charge, the earth will be moved, the strong wind will blow the flags of the holy cavalry, and the purple double-headed eagle flag will flutter above them."

"Later, Emperor Manuel improved the Holy Cavalry's combat methods, using lance charging as their main attack method, making their combat effectiveness even stronger."

"With such a powerful army, why do the Latins dare to bully us?"

"That's right, let the heavy cavalry capture the Ottoman Sultan and make him perform Turkish dance for us!"

The ignorant children shouted one after another.

The old priest was silent for a moment, then waved his hand.

"Children, go back and don't keep your parents waiting anxiously."

Galwin patted Bittley, and the two said goodbye and went back to their homes.

When he reached the door, Galwin dumped the dry wood into the woodpile.

Two men's voices came from inside the door.

"Di Lin, they came to me and hoped that I could go to the Royal Knight Academy to be an instructor and contribute to the empire again."

This is Uncle Skevin, my father’s only old friend. He works as a hunter outside the city and often brings some fresh game to Galwin and the others.

Just as he was about to push the door open, Galwin heard the words "Knight Academy". He thought for a moment, then leaned against the door and eavesdropped.

"Go ahead, congratulations."

Dilin Ahmadinejad said sternly.

"They will find you soon. You were number one on the roster that year..."

The father stood up suddenly, bumping into the stool and startling Skevin.

"Captain, what are you doing..."

Di Lin walked to the door, pushed it open, and pulled his eavesdropping son into the house.

"Go back to your room."

"Yes……"

Galwen walked slowly, expecting to hear more news.

In the living room, Di Lin was already chasing away the guests.

"You go!"

"Captain, I know you are heartbroken about Borch, but..."

"go!"

Skevin ran out of the door in despair.

"And you!"

Galwen had no choice but to quickly go into his room.

He knew that Borch was his eldest brother, who died when he was very young, and his father strictly forbade anyone in the family to talk about this matter.

With doubts, Galwin fell asleep.

The next day, Galvin did the same thing as usual, working as a blacksmith, chopping wood, and listening to the old priest's stories.

It was not until the third day when Galwin returned home and had just put down the firewood when his sister came running towards him, jumping and skipping.

"Brother! Several people came to see Dad, and one of them was wearing purple clothes, so beautiful."

Galvin hurried to the living room.

"Hello, Captain Dilin. My name is Isaac Palaiologos, the dean of the Royal Knights Academy. I would like to ask you to come out of retirement and help us teach the children of Rome, teach them how to use swords and lances, and protect the people of Rome."

"Aren't Skevin and the others already there? They don't need me."

Di Lin said gruffly.

"You were the only one who received complete training and had experience as an instructor. The others only learned the basics."

"I am old and can no longer hold the lance."

"You don't need to do it yourself. You just need to practice the complete education process again."

The door opened suddenly.

"Are all of what you said...real?"

Galwen rushed into the living room.

"Of course it's true. Your family has been in the army for generations. It can be said that your father is the last armored paladin."

"Holy Cavalry are very expensive, how can you afford them?"

Di Lin turned his back.

"Of course I know, but if we start cultivating from today, when we get back on our feet, we'll have more confidence and more hope."

"This is inheritance, it has nothing to do with nobility or inferiority."

Stubborn old man, I don't really need you to produce some armored paladins for me. Just some heavy cavalry that can make the final decision on the battlefield. Why are you so stubborn?

Isaac knew clearly that the Armored Paladins were by no means simple heavy-armored knights. The knights had been trained by instructors since childhood and were proficient in swordsmanship, knife skills, mounted archery, lance, and command of combat.

Most importantly, they are absolutely loyal.

The training method of the armored cavalry is a major subject covering the entire tactical thinking and military theory of the Eastern Roman Empire.

From Basil II to Alexios I, countless military strategists added to its achievements.

"What a great guy, what's your name and how old are you?"

Isaac took Galwen's hand.

Full of calluses.

"My name is Galwen and I'm twelve years old."

Galwen blushed.

"Just enough to join the Knight Academy. Are you interested in becoming a soldier?"

Isaac took off his sword and handed it to Galwin, but he hesitated and didn't dare to take it.

"Let him go!"

Di Lin suddenly became furious.

"Why become a soldier? To die for another Palaeologus!"

Beside them, Andronicas and the guards had their eyes wide open and stroked their swords.

Isaac motioned for them to put it down.

The atmosphere in the room was a little stagnant for a moment.

"I apologize, Your Highness."

Isaac waved his hand.

"If you have any difficulties, please tell us and we will help you."

Di Lin suddenly smiled sadly.

He entered the room and pulled out a sword.

"My family has been in the military for generations. My ancestor once followed in the footsteps of Emperor Alexius and was the first to climb the city walls of Smyrna."

"At that time, Emperor Alexios took off his sword and gave it to my ancestor, and it has been passed down to me."

Di Lin drew out his sword, and Isaac saw that there was a faint double-headed eagle mark on the sword.

"and after?"

"died."

"After a long siege on the inner city, our ancestor climbed up the city wall, brandishing Alexios' sword and carrying kerosene."

"When he passed the sword to his son, his bones were burnt to ashes, but he still praised Alexios."

"Later, our sons and daughters, generation after generation, sacrificed their lives on the battlefield for Rome. We were not afraid, because protecting the great Rome was the duty of every soldier."

"But we are afraid of being killed unjustly by our own people."

"My great-grandfather fought in the Battle of Andronicus and was beheaded by his comrades who had been chatting and laughing with him the day before."

"My grandfather fought in the Battle of the Two Johns, was on the wrong side, and was killed in his sleep."

"My father died very early, and I joined the last Holy Knights of the Empire. The old instructors taught us that we had nothing, but we were also ambitious."

"The emperor can't afford to support us. We wear the thinnest leather armor, carry the heaviest branches, ride on lame horses, and still charge for Rome like the knights of centuries ago!"

"In the end, the emperor stopped caring about us and we all went our separate ways. I was the only one left, holding Alexios's sword, and following the old instructor to complete the final course."

"Before he died, he asked me to pass on this hope."

"I did so, and my son, Borch, became an Imperial soldier."

"I'm proud of him."

"Until one day, I heard the news that he had joined the rebellion."

"Your youngest uncle, Demetrius, bewitched him, and he fell before the walls of Constantinople."

"Tell me, should I send my last son to fight another battle for the throne with you?"

"Who is the target this time? Your uncle? Or your father?"

At the end of the story, Di Lin's old face was covered with tears.

"Go away. The Palaiologos family is not welcome here."

Isaac sighed and walked out the door.

(End of this chapter)