No matter how long the Knights Hospitallers can hold on, Captain Deverich will do his best to save his comrades in dire straits.

The leader of the Deverich branch, who can also be regarded as a political player, figured out in a few days that it was the Austrian side that was delaying the rescue operation. Although Ladislaus often approached him in order to maintain his friendship, and in several cases

During this meeting, Hungary was repeatedly discredited, but from the perspective of interests, it is not difficult to conclude that Hungary is actually eager to attack the Ottoman Empire.

He wanted to kneel in front of the Royal Palace in Vienna and beg Austria to send troops. Of course, His Highness Frundsberg would not let this happen. He "supported" the disabled hospital knight to rest.

But as long as he didn't do anything dishonorable, Ladislaus was still willing to see him and tell him, "Austria is wholeheartedly planning to conquer the East, and the troublemaker is......"

...'Anyway, within a few days, several of the countries involved, including France, which colluded with the Ottoman Empire, became Ladislaus's scapegoat.

Ladislaus knew very well that Deverich knew that Austria was the real obstructionist, but they could not tell this simple fact because this was not a political method.

However, things did change in the end, which confirmed why this set of lies that could not deceive the other party must be repeated. Austria is really not the force that least wants Spain's Eastern Mediterranean strategy to succeed.

The Republic of Venice also very much supported this great holy war, but the Consul of Goriti very, very regretfully refused the request to place his fleet under the unified command of the Spanish commander.

Treasurer Fugger jumped up and down between Venice and Vienna, trying to coordinate the positions of all parties. Although he was very nervous, Ladislaus reassured him that this delay was not necessarily a bad thing.

The longer it drags on, the more exhausted the Ottoman Empire's troops will be. Even if they capture the fortress of the Knights Hospitallers on Rhodes Island, once Spain and Venice reach an agreement and build a sufficiently powerful combined fleet, as long as they win the naval battle,

It does not change the outcome that the Ottoman Empire will be severely damaged.

Throughout the rest of November, diplomats from various so-called true believer countries were busy exchanging terms and bargaining with each other. By the end of the month, the Spanish envoys had at least secured the true election of the pope. Although they also did not want Spain to further expand its power, "

The name "Jihad" was suppressed

, even the cunning Pope Medici had no choice. He could only issue a harshly worded edict requiring all European countries to maintain peace during the battle to aid the Knights Hospitallers, otherwise they would be excommunicated. The vassals would be relieved of their allegiance to the monarch and the people would be relieved.

Tax obligations to the Crown.

This waiting seems to have turned out to be a good thing. More and more Spanish battleships are gathering in the Port of Naples. Even His Majesty Ferdinand personally led the ship "Holy Trinity" to Naples. The issue of Venetian command rights is gradually moving towards

An agreement is close. Spain will make certain concessions on command rights in exchange for the financial support of the Venetian Republic. One-third of the expenses this time will be borne by the Venetians, and there will be a real election of the Pope, although he is very reluctant.

Reluctantly promised one-sixth of the cost.

Ladislaus's price was also met. No matter how much territory Hungary seized from the east, he would be compensated from Croatia. Land equivalent to one-third of the newly conquered area would be transferred to his hands.

This agreement was very unfavorable to the Croatian-born negotiator Fedtaler, so he tried his best to obstruct it. After he was replaced, the agreement was officially reached, although this took another half a month.

But it doesn't matter, it's Rhodes Island that's surrounded anyway, not Vienna.

The happy news for Ladislaus did not stop there. In order to urge him to lead his army east to meet the Hungarians, Treasurer Fugger successively allocated 100,000 thalers of silver coins and more than 200,000 thalers of spices and dyes.

The reason why Treasurer Fugger is so generous is that the prospects are getting clearer and clearer. All the countries of true believers on the east coast of the Mediterranean have been united by his diplomatic skills. The military force of the Ottoman Empire is being exhausted by more than half a year of siege.

, an unprecedented victory is approaching the Kingdom of Spain.

More and more reliable intelligence shows that although the Knights Hospitallers seem to be on the verge of collapse after a long-term siege, in fact the Ottoman Empire's army is at the end of its tether and can no longer organize a strong attack.

Energetic.

The disadvantages that threatened the hospital knights in the castle were even more detrimental to them camping in the wilderness.

Although an army of 200,000 people does not need the same number of civilians because it is surrounded by an island, only 200,000 people are enough to create mountains of garbage and lakes of excrement, even though Suleiman and his generals have exhausted all their efforts.

They tried their best to provide better food and medicine for the soldiers, but the long-term siege still caused the plague to spread in the camp.

The lack of fuel, a problem that worried Deverich, made the Ottomans even more helpless. There were simply not enough plants on the island, and transportation from the mainland was impossible.

The temporarily collected merchant ships have long been returned to their owners. The economy of the Ottoman Empire is very dependent on the economic circulation of the two territories of Europe and Asia, and His Majesty Suleiman cannot bear the loss of cutting off his own bloodline.

Although the Ottoman fleet is large in scale and all are professional warships with no other commercial uses, the long-term supply of 200,000 troops has also brought the fleet to its limit. It is too difficult to add more fuel.

More and more warships need to return to port for repairs. The decline of the navy has further affected the supply of the army. The scale advantage held by the Ottomans is constantly weakening.

After several studies, the generals concluded that as long as the naval battle was victorious, even if 20,000 to 30,000 elite troops landed on Rhode Island, it would be possible to defeat an opponent ten times their size but with no spirit. Without control of the sea, there would be no escape.

The Ottoman army was likely to be completely wiped out.

At that time, not only Austria and Hungary will send troops, but other countries on the border of the Ottoman Empire, even the countries of the Church of the Star and Moon, will launch a siege without hesitation. It is said that there is a country called Persia in the east of the Ottoman Empire.

thriving.

Even such a powerful country would find it difficult to survive after losing its 200,000 main force and a large number of leaders and then being besieged. Even if it could retain its core areas, most of its border areas would definitely be lost.

Fugger envisioned that Spain would become the sole hegemon of the Mediterranean, and that countless shipping lanes would bring countless gold and silver to fill Madrid's coffers.

The nobles of Austria and Hungary are also looking forward to getting large tracts of land.

It's just that Ladislaus doesn't seem to agree with everyone. He is the least optimistic of everyone: "There are many plans and wishes in life that cannot be realized." Especially these plans and wishes and Suleiman.

When the Sultan's plans and wishes conflict with each other.

Although Ladislaus's views were supported in person, in fact, in the eyes of his ministers, their monarch just wanted to stop working after receiving the down payment.

In Liddy's history, Suleiman enjoyed the honorific title of Emperor and was considered not only one of the great monarchs in the Church of the Star and Moon but also in the history of all mankind. Ladislaus had a strong feeling that such a prestigious reputation was no fluke.
Chapter completed!