1453: Revival of Byzantium

It is almost dusk when Antonius was led out of the palace, just as he left the palace gate, he caught sight of two men, one elderly and one younger, being pushed out by palace guards. Their big bag of belongings thrown out of a window, scattering what it seems to be scrolls of paper drawings on the ground.

"Get out of the city with your bunch of croaked witchcraft!" A palace guard yelled as he tossed another bag of paper scrolls towards the elderly man.

The man, weeping and crying on the ground. He watches helplessly as his papers are tossed into the muddy ground stained in dirt and mud like some garbage being disposed into a bin. The younger boy cast his eyes to the fresh mud and the papers. Seems like hate and enmity welled up in their heart, devouring their mind and burning their heart. Antonius, noticed this, walked towards them.

"Guard, what happened over here, treating a literal person like this is not a value recognised by Romans."

The guard immediately recognised that it is their new renowned mercenary mégas droungarios, saluted and replied. "Sir, these two wicked creeps over here tried to lure our majesty previously that they have some sort of a weapon that is so powerful that is capable of blowing a hole in all Roman's beloved totem the Theodosian walls."

Antonius nodded in acknowledgement and signaled the guard he is dismissed. But just as he is about to step away, something came into his mind.

"Wait, you said that they have a weapon that can blow through the Theodosian walls?"

"Yes sir, but please don't believe in their hoax, it is the pride of Roman engineering the walls…"

"Nah I don't think breaking through those walls against something unachievable." Antonius shrugged his shoulders and interrupted the fantasies of the guard.

The guard stepped back, face white as chalk, eyes and mouth were frozen wide open, facial expression full of a sudden surprise, it seems like as-if Antonius has said something so appalling that they have never imagined anything like that before. Antonius, noticing this, sighed, feeling hopeless for this man and said calmly.

"Remember, soldier, wars are not won by retreating and fortified defence. All walls can be broken through either from the inside and outside. Even in sieges, defenders need to eagerly think about how to push back the offenders or cut their supply lines, not crouching behind the walls shaking and trembling like a coward? Get it?"

The guard gulped and nodded.

"Good, now get back to your post…. Now, gentlemen over here, you said that you have a weapon that can blast through those walls?"

The elder man, finally stopped weeping, stared at Antonius with his eyes full of hatred, stood up and said firmly. "We shall not discrete any of our work to you bloody Romans."

"Oh really?" Antonius asked back, with his hands folded in front of his chest. "Look at me, do I look like them to you?"

The man examined Antonius, strong, rugged nautical face resembling that of a sailor. Lightly bearded with a curly semi blonde hair and cobalt eyes, with one scar on his right eye and another on his left cheek, which makes him quite startling to look at.

"Apologies, you don't look a Roman, but rather a pirate."

"Aye, that is me, but I am no pirate." Antonius moved forward, pulled the two men out of the muddy dirt, and then squatted down, wiped the dirt off the papers and placed them inside the bag, then continued. "I am not like that foolish boy over there… I know the power of knowledge and respect any literal person; I hereby officially invite you over for a seat in my place in the name of the admiral of the navy."

The man looked at Antonius a while, as Antonius hands him his bag of papers and scrolls. The man took it over and nodded his head in approval.

…

Later that day, in a quiet room of a tavern owned by Antonius in the dock.

"Thanks for your kind help just now, admiral." The elder man shook the hands of Antonius and introduced himself. "I am Orban, this is my son Jacob, we are iron founders, engineers and alchemists from Dacia, Kingdom of Hungary."

Antonius, although knows neither what Alchemist is nor engineer, still smiled and greeted back. "Nice to meet you, Orban, Jacob. I am Antonius De'Ricci, admiral of the Roman navy."

Antonius ordered three jars of rum and then told his guards to stand by the doors and stop anyone who approaches this place as they will be having a private meeting.

"Cheers Orban, Jacob." Antonius raised his cup and gave the two men a toast and questioned curiously. "Forgive me for having no knowledge in Alchemy and engineering architecture, but may I know how you are going to blast open those huge, thick walls?"

Orban and Jacob looked at each other and answered. "Admiral, I can say that I am the expert in designing large scale siege war machines, I came to Constantinople offering the Roman Emperor what I have learnt and researched in my life, pieces of artillery and explosives that have already proved themselves useful against those castles in Germania. I have even designed a large-calibre artillery that is enough to clear out those walls."

While talking, Orban opened his scrolls of paperwork and spread them on the wooden table, giving Antonius a clearer view of what this 'deadly piece of weapon' is. It looks like a huge metal rod with a clumsy head, slim body and a narrow tail that resembles one of those artistic drawing and design by those Italian artists.

"My friend Orban, it is not that I don't trust you, but are you sure that this… 'canon' can blast through those three layers of city walls?"

"Yes, admiral, I just need abundant funding and materials and I can build a couple of these war machines which will prove itself useful in combat… My son Jacob nicknames it 'The Weapon That Ends the Era of Castles and Walled Defence'." Jacob nodded quickly in agreement, his eyes filled with stars of excitement and anticipation.

"I see, Orban, Jacob, I can supply you with materials necessary and a more than abundant amount of Ducats, I will need these war machines that can be used to be stationed on walls, on land and on ships that can be used to fire upon the enemies in the imminent battle." Antonius stood up, leaned forward, lowered his head and bowed, reaching his hand forward, and pleaded. "I hereby, as the admiral and Kouropalates, invite you to join my force and serve me as my head engineer and alchemist."

Orban had a hesitating look on his face, bite his teeth, stood up and bowed. "I am sorry, admiral, after what happened this morning my son and I have decided to offer our service to the Ottoman Sultan. You know, Admiral, almost every monarch of Christendom, and… I don't think as an admiral you will have the money and resources we need; thus, we will try our luck with the Ottoman court…." Orban's voice became tinier and tinier to almost whispering in the end. "I am sorry but still… thanks for your help Admiral…"

The atmosphere in the room grew tense that makes it quite terrifying, even the sound of a pin drop can be heard. Antonius stopped bowing, stood back up, worn his gloves and replied.

"I see."

Orban and Jacob heaved a sigh of relieve, wiped their cold sweat off their forehead. However, Antonius is not done yet, he continued in an unabashed face. "I forgot to tell you, Orban, Jacob. I was a pirate, or I would like to call myself a privateer of Genoa, so I don't like the feeling of getting rejected you see…"

The two men looked at Antonius, shocked and awed, as he continues. "What I am trying to say is, you will remain here in this room until you agree to serve me, I am a very patient person you know. As for the gold and materials for your war machines, need not to worry about them. I am a privateer in command of the strongest fleet in the Aegean Sea and Black sea…"

"You need money? Sure! I will plunder the Ottoman treasure fleet from Izmir for you."

"You need materials? Sure! I will ransack the Genoese transport fleet from Cherson for you."

"Or… you need manpower? Sure! I will loot the Venetian trade fleet from Alexandria for you."

Antonius leaned forward with his fists on the table. "Now, are you satisfied?"

The two men, still haven't recovered from their shock, nodded like ducklings.

"Splendid! I hope that we will have a great time cooperating together. I am anticipating seeing the 'Weapon That Ends an Era'. If you need anything, just tell the guards." Antonius patted the two men's shoulders and smiled warmly.

A guard is waiting for him at the doors since just now. Seeing that Antonius has finished the meeting, he approached and conveyed a message. "Sir, a messenger from the palace came just now, the emperor of the Greeks is expecting you."

Antonius nodded and left the room, leaving some guards 'looking after' Jacob and Orban.

…