Chapter 14: Recovery part 3
Triestan was now working on rebuilding his military for his next campaign, trying his hardest to forget the pains of the past, that had all came rushing back. Several times during the retraining period Triestan would let a few tears past, to say the least his life had been hell, and all he was doing was for a loved one… He would never forget that.
"Ok you lot, you think your worthy of being troops of the Byzantine Empire! All I see are worthless rotten husks of dead men, who wont survive the training program for more than a day! Anyone care to prove me wrong!" Triestan was training his troops with no mercy. Even now he was still recovering from the pain at a defeat many years ago.
Five years past by as Triestan trained his troops for the most important part of the Byzantine reconquest the capture of Rome from the Southern Italians and the Papal states. "We are ready for the march on Rome." Triestan said vigorously and emotionalessly. "Veneziano! I want you to lead the march on the Papal states, DO NOT FAIL ME!" Triestan would give no quarter in this war he would have Rome even if it would cause the fall of his Empire. Veneziano nodded his head and gathered a troop together, he may have been a cowarded, but he was more afraid of his uncles wrath than his brother.
Triestan took a large force of at least 30k troops and landed in Sicily and began the war working his way up, while Veneziano would work the way down to Rome.
"So we meet again nephue, tell me how has it been fearing for your life ever since I set my sights on Rome?" Triestan shouted as he marched forward on the sicialian island after conquering the first major town now heading for the largest city on the island. Romano was in this city hoping that the Papal states could hold of his brothers forces long enough for Romano to at least attempt beating his uncle. He had no where to run this time, so he had to stand and fight. "You smug bastard you wont win this war!" this was a complete and utter bluf in order to try and raise moral on Romano's side. Triestan spat on the ground, "Ha you are a mockery of the man you are desenadent from… No where the grand person he was!" Romano had, had enough of him insulting him and order a premature fire at them.
The Byzantines were still out of range from the southern Italian forces, but the Italians could be fired upon by the Byzantines. Triestan laughed and ordered his troops to fire, "Men aim for their heads make it quick." The much more advanced Byzantines fired upon the Italians defeating and killing many of them. Triestan just kept moving forward not giving a damn about strategy he had the advantage and he kept pushing it.
Romano was terrified he couldn't do anything to stop the two front push the Byzantines were putting him threw… "Shit I need some one to help me!" Romano sent a letter asking for help from the only person he could think of… Spain.
Antonio was minding his own business when a messanger came running in. "Sir a message for you from Romano!" Antonio immediately sat up and read the letter, "madre de dios, Romano needs us!" Antonio got his troops together and moved for Southern Italy to help defend it from Triestan.
Romano was pushed out of Sicily before the months end and was defending Napoli by the Next month, Spain had still not made it as he had to take a land route to avoid the superior Byzantine navy. "Shit where the fuck is that bastard Antonio at?" Romano screamed in his head as he was fending off the hellish onslaught the Byzantines were putting him through. He had managed to hold of his brother in the north, but he could move the troops down to aid with the Byzantines in the south less he be over run in the north as well.
Antonio has made his way to North and had his army ready to attack, "Ok mi compadres, prepare for the conquista for today we defend our friends and beat the barboros that are the Byzantines!" Antonio made his way and flanked Veneziano, completely taking him by surprise.
Triestan had made his final move on Romano, Napoli had fallen all that was left was Roma, but he had captured Romano for a few seconds at the end of the battle for Napoli. He had him by the neck, "So did you enjoy your independence? Well at least you will be unified under me ha!" Romano kicked him in the gut, but that only made Triestan tighten his grip. "If only you weren't family, then I would feel better about doing this, but I feel terrible for doing it." Triestan threw Romano down to the ground and gathered his troops for the march on Rome.
Will Antonio beat Veneziano, Will Triestan conquer Rome, and will Triestan finally have the key to everything he's been working for? You'll just have to read more.