If the Ottoman Sultanate, currently ambitious and full of martial prowess, were likened to a proud rooster, then the small and medium-sized states surrounding the Ottoman would all be like chicken feed for this "Turk." From the perspective of his previous life's timeline, they were all in a desperate situation.
Although this was more hindsight brought on by future vision, a certain Roman, who had just suffered a crushing defeat at the hands of the Ottoman, fell into an unshakeable state of gloom upon realizing this.
Yes, the young Bosporus Caesar Manuel at this moment felt that he, and even the Bosporus, were like a trapped beast, cornered by the invincible Ottoman on the south bank of the Black Sea, unable to escape no matter what he did.
He had tried to find a solution, but every time his deductions ended with his side losing everything.
Thinking back to that afternoon of crushing defeat, he slumped onto his seat, utterly exhausted, his mind filled with defeatist thoughts.
Fortunately, during this period, the Ankara Legion led by Naftru Iskandar from the Ottoman side did not make any other moves, such as launching a counterattack, except for defending and clearing residual enemy forces in the Kandar Beylik's territory.
Otherwise, given the current state of the Bosporus Army, it would be difficult to guarantee their survival against the Ottoman's relentless pursuit.
In this rather chaotic state, Manuel and his entire army remained holed up in Guerze for over three days.
Of course, he wasn't idle during this time; at least, under his command, the various fortifications constructed by the Bosporus in the occupied territories were consolidated to some extent, ensuring that the Ottoman would not be gnawing at a fortress while his own people remained oblivious and unprepared.
However, that was the extent of it; Manuel, who believed he had lost all hope of breaking the deadlock, mostly stayed in his tent, engrossed in his own deductions, only summoning his generals daily for brief military meetings.
It wasn't until the morning of the fourth day after the battle on the outskirts of Sinop that an unexpected person arrived in Guerze.
In early autumn on the south bank of the Black Sea, although some summer heat still lingered, it was already slightly chilly.
Manuel, at this moment, felt no sentiment about this.
Instead, he routinely dismissed his attendants and stayed alone in the central army tent.
Hours later, looking at the results of his deductions on the sand table, he shook his head in frustration once again.
Finally, feeling cornered, Manuel took out the pistol he always kept on his desk, loaded it with gunpowder and lead shot, gently pressed the barrel with his right hand, then opened his mouth and put the muzzle inside.
At the same time, outside the camp, his Commander of the Guard was confirming the identity of a young woman with a white veil covering her face, with an expression of disbelief.
After confirming, he immediately greeted her respectfully and inquired about her request.
After a brief report, Badars, after much hesitation, decided to allow her into the central army tent.
At this very moment, Manuel in the central army tent was hesitantly staring at the pistol's trigger.
Just as he was about to take it out and put it down, a fair hand suddenly appeared before him, knocking away the pistol whose barrel was already in his mouth.
"Who?! Didn't I give orders that no one was allowed into the tent without permission!" Manuel was startled at first, then immediately stood up and grabbed the small hand with his backhand, pressing the other party beneath him in a grappling-like manner.
After subduing the intruder, he couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief; not only did the pistol not misfire, but the unknown person was also under his control.
"Why is this hand so soft, and there's a familiar feeling that makes me want to caress it more..."
With this thought, he was a little distracted and lifted the other party's veil, then was so shocked that he immediately released his hold on her, "Ba, Barbara?!"
"Yes." The fair and lovely young woman beneath him was none other than his wife.
At this moment, she looked at her husband, who had finally reacted, her eyes full of resentment.
Looking at his wife who had burst into the room, Manuel was completely stunned; he had never expected their reunion to be like this.
After a long moment, he realized their current posture was quite awkward and quickly stood up, creating some distance.
After turning his back to compose himself, he quickly turned back around and questioned her, half-perplexed and half-admonishing, "So, Barbara, how did you get to the military camp?"
"I came by boat, and I informed Lord Badars before entering," Barbara replied very calmly, sitting obediently opposite him.
"This Badars," he mumbled to himself, finding it hard to contain his emotions upon hearing this reply, "So that's the kind of person he is? But in a way, I really do want to right now... Damn it, whether it's my subordinates or my wife, don't be so perceptive in places where you shouldn't be so perceptive..."
Just as he was immersed in his own thoughts, his wife's question pulled him back, "What's wrong?"
"No, nothing." He smiled somewhat awkwardly, "Just felt a bit, abrupt?"
"I know what you mean." Barbara sighed, staring at her husband with nimble yet unhappy eyes, "But I didn't come to Asia Minor just for those trivial reasons.
This time, I mostly felt it was necessary to let you know some things as soon as possible." Saying this, she immediately informed her husband of the domestic and international intelligence she had, including but not limited to the domestic financial situation, the peasant uprising in Tauris, the control of the Black Sea from Tauris's perspective, the known progress of the Karaman civil war, the historically unquelled internal politics of the Ottoman, and the possibility of Mamluk intervention in Anatolia.
The more he listened, the clearer Manuel's eyes became.
Although he had more or less understood the intelligence she had just mentioned through his secret agents, he was indeed not entirely clear on the true situation due to his shallow roots in Asia Minor and being too close to the situation.
"Is the intelligence reliable?" For intelligence not provided by his secret agents, he felt its credibility needed to be questioned.
Barbara somewhat grumbled internally at her husband's question.
She couldn't possibly say that it was because of a hint from a suspected angel's dream, which led her to specifically use her authority to gather all the relevant intelligence, could she?
Just as she was racking her brain to come up with an answer, Manuel had already clenched his right fist and slapped his left palm, "I understand, it must be my team left in Tauris who collected the relevant intelligence and then asked you to make a special trip."
Well, that was about sixty to seventy percent correct.
Looking at her Little husband's confident expression, Barbara felt it was better to go along with him.
At this moment, Manuel's thoughts were already spinning rapidly.
Given the current situation, if Barbara's information was eighty to ninety percent true, and combined with the intelligence Anaftru had revealed to him at the time, perhaps many variables that could be beneficial to the Bosporus had appeared on the war's sand table?
Thinking of this, he immediately became invigorated, rushing to the sand table to conduct a new deduction.
After several hours, he finally excitedly concluded this deduction, "I've found it, the path to breaking the deadlock!"
When he had finished, a pair of slender hands very appropriately and gently presented him with a hot drink, "You've worked hard, take a good rest."
"It's already evening, no, Ba..." Just as he was about to respond in his usual manner to a subordinate, he suddenly realized it was Barbara who had given it to him.
Considering this, he slowly turned his head and met the young woman's smiling expression directly.
Oh no, I was so focused just now that I forgot my wife was still here...
Thinking this, Manuel, somewhat flustered, tried to change the subject that hadn't even begun, in a feigned calm tone, "Speaking of which, Barbara, how did you come to Asia Minor? Logically, as regent, you shouldn't leave Tauris so casually, right?"
No, what am I saying? I didn't mean to say these words.
However, Barbara's expression didn't seem to mind much, "That would be true under normal circumstances, but this time I had a bad feeling, so I hoped to bring them here and see if I could help you.
By the way, before coming to Asia Minor, I had already discussed these issues and the aftermath with your father and the other cabinet members remaining in Tauris, and you can rest assured about Little Justiana; she is also very safe with dedicated protection.
In short, even if I am temporarily not in Eastern Europe, things in Tauris should be fine.
After all, a rebellion was just suppressed."
How thorough, Manuel mused internally.
Recalling her help, he couldn't help but feel nostalgic for his days in Tauris.
However, he did not show it on his face, but merely nodded slightly as if nothing had happened, stood up, and continued, "Then go back today or tomorrow.
It's alright, mere Turks, a small matter.
Although there have been recent failures, everything that has happened is within my expectations, and I can handle these troublesome enemies by myself.
As regent, the home front in Tauris needs you more than I do."
This was a lie.
The events of this period were actually completely unexpected, especially when it involved the Ottoman; he felt like he was going crazy.
Even now, if he hadn't just received some previously unnoticed intelligence, he wouldn't know how long he would have remained immersed in that terrible defeatist mood.
If he could, out of his own selfish desires, he would completely wish for her to stay by his side from now on as well.
The above were Manuel's true thoughts at this moment.
Having spoken, he firmly suppressed his true emotions and turned his back.
After a moment, hearing no movement from the person behind him, he couldn't help but ask in confusion, "Why aren't you leaving yet?"
"Manuel, everything you just said was a lie, wasn't it?" Facing her husband, who was desperately hiding his true emotions, Barbara sighed softly and embraced him, "Because your eyes kept avoiding me."