After Carlo Merlo issued the military order, the Genoese army began to march towards Kaffa, while also leaving some troops stationed in Olstyn to prevent a counterattack from Theodoro.
This was to ensure that Mangup City, which had temporarily lost most of its counterattacking power due to the great defeat in the Battle of Olstyn, would not experience a sudden resurgence and directly launch an attack to retake the city.
On their way to Kaffa, the Genoese, as they had done in Corsica, extensively plundered the local populace and minor lords, leaving many villages and towns completely barren.
However, fewer people died at their hands during this march than before, not because the Genoese army had suddenly become merciful, but because Theodoro, upon learning of their extremely cruel "scorched earth" tactics, had preemptively evacuated the ordinary people scattered in the countryside and outskirts into the towns for refuge.
This was not the outcome Melo wanted; he had originally intended to use the opportunity to have several of his astute scouts infiltrate among the refugees, hoping they would penetrate the cities still controlled by Theodoro to serve as hidden agents, waiting for the opportune moment.
However, because Theodoro had previously evacuated many local residents, the number of enemy spies expected to infiltrate the city was significantly reduced.
Nevertheless, this consideration did not hinder his siege and conquest.
Starting in mid-May, Carlo Merlo led the Genoese army, charging directly from Olstyn towards Kaffa, and in less than two months, he had conquered all the towns along the way except Sugdaea, making Theodoro exclaim that they were invincible.
These victories reached Genoa, causing the senators and the new Doge to celebrate joyfully.
To demonstrate his respect for noble traditions and his appreciation for talent, Doge Capra specifically dispatched an additional 1,000 Calabrian mercenaries and outwardly supported the former Doge's proposal in the council to win their backing.
While Genoa was conquering cities and territories, the two Tatar princes in Northern Crimea had finally decided their victor: Haji Giray spent several months finally breaking through the "Tatar Isthmus" and entering the Crimean Peninsula.
By the time Carlo Merlo was besieging Kaffa, he had already advanced into Akmechet (historically, modern Simferopol).
Feeling threatened by Genoa's successive victories, he maintained his previous secret agreement with Theodoro, allowing them to continue occupying the narrow strip of land from Kaffa to Kerch.
He also tolerated their recruitment of Tatar cavalry in the area and, under the guise of an order from the Golden Horde, expelled Genoese merchants from his territory.
Meanwhile, Pietro Lando, the Venetian Consul-designate for the Black Sea, who was currently resting with his troops on Candia, Crete, began to worry about his yet-to-be-actualized title and duties upon learning of Theodoro's repeated defeats.
"What is Theodoro doing? Ask me for help quickly!"
In the Gavras Palace in Mangup, Alexius frowned deeply, pacing the room with a thoughtful expression as the situation grew increasingly grim, causing his summoned family members considerable anxiety.
Finally, he slumped onto a chair and said to his wife, "Zoe, if Kaffa falls, you must take the children and leave Mangup.
At that time, I will also try to bring Manuel back.
For now, I will prepare several ships, bound for Trabzon, Constantinople, and Moldavia respectively."
Zoe looked at her husband, wanting to speak, but not knowing how to comfort him, she could only sigh bitterly.
In the Kaffa Palace, Manuel listened to Michael Arno's report, his fingers pale.
"Your Highness, the new refugees have been settled, and most of the residents from the western villages and towns belonging to Kaffa have been evacuated into the city."
"How is Sugdaea currently?"
"Your Highness, Genoa has not yet targeted Sugdaea."
"Approximately how many refugees have died or been injured due to the war, including those from Genoese burning and looting of villages and towns, and during the evacuation process?"
"Your Highness, at least 20,000, and many more are currently being forced into slavery by the Genoese."
"After this war, do you think the Principality's livelihood can recover within a few months?"
"If the population loss does not exceed 50,000, it should recover within six months to a year... Ah, Your Highness, but aren't we going to lose?"
"Can we afford to lose?" Manuel asked back, his expression grim.
"If we lose, as a legitimate noble, I might still have a glimmer of hope, but for the new nobles appointed by us, with you at their head, do you think the Genoese will recognize you?"
Michael Arno broke out in a cold sweat.
He had considered surrendering or packing up and leaving, but based on the banditry of the Genoese in recent days and his own prominent "new noble" status, he had vaguely guessed the fate of himself and his family if they were defeated.
Yet, he still saw no possibility of the Principality of Theodoro winning, which left him almost despairing.
But according to what the Crown Prince had just said, there seemed to be a glimmer of hope?
Michael Arno suppressed the surprise in his voice and asked, "Your Highness, but we have already lost almost all of our western villages and towns."
Manuel sighed, "How effective do you think the defenses of those villages and towns are?"
"Far inferior to Kaffa, not even comparable to Sugdaea, but the fortresses we've built during this time should be enough to inflict some losses on them."
"So, before the real fighting begins, we must first make them suffer some losses." A hint of cunning flickered in Manuel's eyes, and he quickly added, "In my opinion, if you save the land but lose the people, both people and land are lost; if you save the people but lose the land, both people and land are saved.
Even if we temporarily defeat the Genoese army on the defensive lines of those villages and towns, we are the ones who truly suffer, and due to the fundamental disparity in strength between the two sides, we cannot launch a counterattack in those villages and towns.
"Moreover, to strengthen our power, even if only temporarily, we need the vast majority of peasants, filled with hatred for Genoa, to stand with us.
And for most peasants, having their land stolen and their relatives abducted, killed, or sold into slavery is the greatest source of hatred.
"Only with God's favor, advantageous terrain, and the unity of everyone can we defeat the Genoese army.
And the only place where we can defeat them," Manuel looked out the window, "is this city."
Michael Arno gasped, exclaiming, "Your Highness, you are gambling with this city, no, with the entire Principality!"
"Yes," Manuel's fingers trembled, "I am gambling, and now we will see if we can win in the end."
Michael Arno carefully considered the Crown Prince's words, and finally steeled himself: from the moment he sought a title and pledged allegiance to Theodoro, he had been inextricably linked to the Principality, and now there was no turning back.
He immediately bowed deeply to Manuel, indicating that he would use all his power to fully cooperate with His Highness's strategy.
After Michael Arno left, Manuel dismissed his attendants, leaving himself alone in the room in silence.
After confirming that he was alone in the room and no one could hear his words, Manuel sighed deeply, slumping wearily into the chair.
This was the second time in his life, from his previous existence to now, that he wished for the existence of a deity—the first time was when he fell from the overpass in his past life.
He offered his first truly heartfelt prayer in this life to a God who might not even exist.