In recent days, the Genoa army noticed a significant increase in the number of taxi drivers breaking out of Kaffa city, though they were scattered and unorganized, and showed no hostile actions towards the Genoa soldiers, so they simply turned a blind eye, as this kind of work was not included in a mercenary's duties.
A few days later, Carlo Merlo began to be troubled by something: the epidemic in the army was getting more and more severe.
Although there had been sporadic cases of disease in the army since landing on the Crimean Peninsula due to acclimatization issues, this time, during the siege of Kaffa, as time passed, a large-scale epidemic affecting hundreds of people actually broke out in the army.
They were the besieging force; by rights, shouldn't such a large-scale epidemic be affecting the defenders?
After asking the accompanying professional physician, the physician's explanation was that it was late summer and early autumn, a time when epidemics are common; furthermore, the entire southern part of the peninsula was still quite hot and underdeveloped; and many of the mercenaries were Italians, unaccustomed to the local environment, which would certainly lead to imbalances in bodily fluids.
Besides, if the Genoa army was already so severely affected, then the city must also be in chaos due to related epidemics, and the defenders might just be putting on a brave front.
At the end, the physician stated very cautiously, "This situation is not unsolvable; as long as the sick taxi drivers are bled, everything will be fine."
It sounded very reasonable, so Carlo had the physician begin overseeing the bleeding of the sick soldiers.
But he was still not entirely at ease, so he sent people to investigate the water sources.
However, due to their unfamiliarity with the local geography, the few people he sent actually got lost.
Later, only after using both soft and hard tactics, they found several suspected water sources, streams and small lakes, with the guidance of locals.
And according to their rough investigation, these areas also looked very normal, except that the soil was more fertile than in other areas.
After Carlo Merlo read their report, he had no choice but to put aside his doubts and continue to command the entire army, fulfilling his duty as General.
Another month passed in a blink of an eye.
By the end of the month, the number of epidemic patients in the Genoa army had increased rather than decreased, and some of those taxi drivers who had been bled were even weaker than ordinary patients.
When asked, the physician only said it was an imbalance of bodily fluids, "It must be that not enough bad blood has been let out." the physician said with certainty.
Just at this time, a heavy rain also fell, and together with the still humid and hot environment, it made the Genoa people suffer immensely, and the rain also made the land muddy, making it difficult for the Genoa heavy cavalry and heavy infantry to exert their full strength.
This situation did not only occur in the Genoa army; the outbreak of epidemics in Kaffa city was also more frequent, but with the isolation plan provided by Manuel and the cooperation of the city's church hospitals, these epidemics were very successfully suppressed, and the defenders were basically unaffected.
It was at this time that Carlo Merlo received a declaration of war personally written by Manuel, a dignitary of Kaffa.
The declaration specified the scheduled time and place, and also requested the use of Western European war etiquette.
In addition, it was full of words that made one's blood pressure soar, with various provocative statements emerging endlessly, such as "Our doomsday has arrived, Lucifer's dogs are running rampant—oh, it turns out they're just Genoa people," "All you know is to plunder women and children along the way, don't you have a woman?" and "I'd rather go to the latrine than have dinner with you."
The most impactful was at the end of the declaration of war: "Your infamy is known to all, from Ireland to Cathay."
Could this be tolerated? This could not be tolerated!
Carlo Merlo angrily agreed to this decisive battle.
Out of war etiquette, he released the messenger unharmed, but also asked the person to relay a message to Manuel: "Tell your ignorant little brat Crown Prince, if I catch him, I will definitely sell him to the Crescent Sect Sultan!"
Upon learning that the enemy General had agreed to his decisive battle and his threat, Manuel almost couldn't stop smiling; it seemed his taunting strategy had been very effective, as he was even threatened with being sold to a pagan Sultan.
"Oh, right," Manuel remembered someone, he thought, "I'll go find someone first; these next few days will probably be very busy, so while I still have a little time, I'll go see her."
Half an hour later, in Barbara's room—
Manuel was sitting directly opposite his fiancée, looking at her pouting face with a bit of awkwardness, with several attendants behind him.
Barbara's two personal maids were behind her, glaring fiercely at him.
The two sides stared at each other awkwardly for a while, and finally Barbara spoke first, explaining softly, "I admit I was a little, um, inconsiderate… well, it was… ah, anyway, it was terrible.
But I really didn't know how to defend this city."
"That's what I should be worried about, but Barbara, if you really succeeded, that would be troublesome." Manuel replied helplessly.
"That, I know, then, Manuel,… I'm sorry." Barbara said this very quietly.
"Sigh, for now, you'll have to stay in this room for a few days.
When the Kaffa campaign ends in early September, regardless of the outcome, you will be safe, I swear to the Holy Father." Manuel felt a slight heat in his body, so he quickly finished arranging things and got up, preparing to leave.
Just then, Manuel noticed his left sleeve being gently tugged.
He looked back and saw Barbara gently pulling his sleeve with her small hand, looking as if she wanted to say something.
Seeing this, Manuel leaned closer, indicating he was willing to listen.
Her face became somewhat flushed at this moment, and after a moment, she murmured, "Promise me, don't die."
Faced with her genuine feelings, Manuel was convinced that some defense in his heart had been broken.
He gently stroked her hand, trying his best to put on a reassuring smile: "By the Holy Mother, I promise you."
After he responded to her, Barbara was overjoyed in her heart and continued to muster courage, blurting out what she wanted to say next all at once: "Then, my Little husband, let's get married after this war is over."
Then she was surprised to find Manuel's smile instantly frozen on his face.