novelSusiti Chapter 189 Land Route or Sea Route?
Chapter 189 Land Route or Sea Route?
Chapter 189 Land Route or Sea Route? (Part 1)
After several rounds of drinks...
Isaac Angelos raised his glass, looked at Lyon and Henry, and said with a lisp, "Look at me, rambling on and on. Let's get down to business, Your Highness. It's about your journey back to Constantinople."
Lyon sat up straight, adopting a listening posture: "I would like to hear the details, Your Excellency. Our army urgently needs to return to the capital to report, and the wounded also require more proper care."
Isaac nodded: "Lord Simeon has already given instructions, and it is also stated in the edict. We will prepare ships for His Highness in the port of Kizicus in accordance with the Governor's orders."
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The port of Cizicus was a small port located on the southern shore of the Sea of Propontis (now the Sea of Marmara), facing Nicaea across Lake Ascanius. Lyon did not have high expectations for how many troop transport ships this port could provide.
Isaac continued, "To express His Highness's sincerity and respect for his army, the Governor specially ordered General Stephen, the garrison commander of Nicaea, to personally lead a guard to escort His Highness to Constantinople and coordinate the departure of the ships. Although General Stephen is not of illustrious birth, he is exceptionally capable, acts prudently, and enjoys the Governor's deep trust."
Upon hearing this, Lyon expressed his gratitude, saying, "Thank you for the thoughtful arrangements made by the Governor and the Steward, and thank you for General Stephen's trouble."
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He then changed the subject: "The port of Kizicus is about fifty Roman miles from here. Although it is not extremely far, this land route is still a test for an army that urgently needs rest and has wounded soldiers."
"More importantly," Leon paused, looking frankly at Isaac, "if I may be so bold, the ships your side can muster at the port of Kizikus, in terms of size, number, and seafaring capabilities, are probably no match for our warships that sailed from Jerusalem. Our army of over a thousand men, if transported by your ships, would inevitably need to be divided into several batches. This would not only consume a significant amount of port resources for coordination, prolonging the overall journey, but also—"
He hesitated for a moment, carefully choosing his words, but finally decided to be frank: "Given the current uncertain situation in Anatolia and the fact that the seas may not be entirely calm, dispersing the army across the Sea of Propontine in batches on several ships of unknown capabilities is, frankly, not the safest and most reliable option."
Isaac showed no displeasure, but rather an expression of understanding.
He gently set down his wine glass: "Your Highness's considerations are very thorough. Of course, we will not, and cannot, force our allies to accept arrangements that may be risky or inconvenient. The Empire's way of hospitality lies in providing assistance to the best of our ability, not imposing choices."
He looked north towards Bithynia: "If Your Highness has concerns about the sea route, you can naturally choose to return by land. Heading north from here, through Nicomedia, and then west along the Bithynia coast, you will eventually reach Constantinople. Although this route is longer, there are imperial towns and inns along the way, making resupply convenient."
Isaac then said in a low voice, "However—and if I may be so bold, Your Highness, the Nicomedia commander Bartolomaios—well, he is capable, but lately he seems to be in frequent contact with the Eastern Front's Grand Commander Branas—and their relationship is quite close."
He frowned slightly, as if recalling some unpleasant rumors: "Your Highness came from that direction before, and must have had some contact with them. If we choose this land route and traverse the Nicomedia region again, at this delicate moment—"
Whether we will encounter any unnecessary trouble or delays is truly unpredictable. After all, Your Highness has personally experienced the style of Commander-in-Chief Branas.
Lyon fell silent; a difficult choice was clearly laid out before him.
Taking the sea route involves risking the division of forces, unknown ship capabilities, and potential maritime risks.
If they travel by land, they will face Bartoloméos, who may be colluding with the forces of Branax, and their future is uncertain.
"Your Excellency," Lyon raised his eyes, deciding to first clarify the specific details of the sea route plan, "what kind of ships are mainly prepared at the port of Kizicus? Approximately how many people can they accommodate at a time?"
Isaac, seemingly prepared, answered smoothly, "Currently, the port mainly has small merchant ships and fishing boats that travel between various ports on the Propontes Sea, so its transport capacity is limited. However, we have specifically requisitioned five Pamphilon ships from the military inventory and neighboring ports." Seeing Lyon's slight doubt, he explained, "This is a type of coastal and inland waterway transport ship commonly used by the Empire. Originating in the Pamphilia region, it has a relatively wide hull and a shallow draft, and each ship can comfortably carry about a hundred fully armed soldiers and their personal equipment. Although its speed is not as fast as your warships, it is quite stable for crossing the Propontes Sea."
He continued his calculations: "Five panphilons can transport five hundred men. The remaining six hundred men, if all the available small boats in the harbor, including some larger merchant ships and fortified cargo boats, are fully utilized and divided into two fleets, can be transported to the Golden Horn of Constantinople in at most two round trips. Of course, Your Highness, Lord Henry, and the necessary entourage and important supplies can be arranged on the first batch of the best ships."
This plan seems to solve the capacity problem well, but the "two-stage" and "full utilization of all small boats" approach...
These statements still made Lyon somewhat worried.
This means that half of the army will have to wait, that the command structure will be fragmented, and that the risks will increase exponentially.
Lyon did not immediately express his opinion; he needed time to weigh the options and, more importantly, to discuss them with his subordinates.
He raised his glass to Isaac: "I am deeply grateful for Your Excellency's thoughtful consideration and meticulous arrangements. Such an important itinerary concerns the safety of the entire army, so please forgive me for not being able to reply immediately. I need some time to consider it and must also consult with my generals and soldiers."
Isaac immediately expressed his understanding, smiling, "Of course, Your Highness. Such an important decision should be made with caution. The final assembly and inspection of the ships will also take some time, and your troops need to rest and recover their strength here. You have ample time to consider; there is no need to rush. Whichever path Your Highness ultimately chooses, Nicaea will provide the necessary assistance."
The banquet continued, and the conversation shifted to a more relaxed tone. They talked about local customs of Nicaea, recent weather rumors from the Sea of Proponentia, and recent trivial matters in Constantinople.
Ultimately, the banquet ended in a fairly harmonious atmosphere.
Isaac personally escorted Lyon and Henry to the entrance of the side wing of the mansion, bidding them farewell once again with impeccable manners.