Chapter 10: Butcher Of Marmara

The Greek Fire, one of the deadliest weapons Europe has ever seen. The most powerful and battle-proven weapon until the Mongols arrived with their gun powder. The Greek Fire has never even once, failed the Romans throughout its history of usage. It forms the backbone of Roman maritime defence, it successfully saved Constantinople twice from the Saracens, once against the Slavs and once against the Bulgarians.

And now, Antonius is expecting to use it against the Ottoman fleet, hoping that this ancient masterpiece weapon shall protect them from another wave of foes coming to take the city. He asked for the formulae also, as a form of testing the emperor's trusting words are or not, as the Romans have kept the formulae as a secret since its invention. If he hesitated or even refused to give him the formulae, Antonius would walk away immediately and reject the offer of Constantine, as he and his crew would not want to give their backs to a man who don't trust him when he is battling in front.

The emperor Constantine, without a second of hesitation or reluctance, approved the request of Antonius without even blinking his eyes.

Since the emperor passed the loyalty test, then Antonius must do every bit of his effort to fulfil the contract by the emperor. Immediately after the ceremony, he dived into work as the commander in chief of navy.

Although Constantine did put a lot of strength in building up a regular "Green Water Navy" defending the shoreline of Morea and Constantinople, but the situation is still nevertheless, pretty much in despair.

As Antonius reaches the harbour, what he found is disappointing. The 'Empire Navy' only has eleven Galleys and subsequent smaller boats. Together with the three pirates Galleys of Antonius from Genoa, and the reinforcement convoy consisting of three Galleys brought by Stephanos from Venetian Candia, that total adds up to a mere seventeen battleships, which is of course no match for the Sultan's massive navy consisting of battle ships counting in hundreds and tens of thousands of sea-faring sailors.

Talking about sailors, it is just another thing that makes matter worse. The emperor's naval force, the last of the Roman fleet, instead of training and preparing for potential battle, they used the warships out at seas for fishing.

Yes, fishing, with nets.

The emperor is so poor that he cant even supply his sailors with their basic necessities and daily needs, so they have to depend on themselves. Self-reliance, as the Emperor says.

It is absurd, this is something that Antonius has never heard before in any Mediterranean countries. The priority of a Mediterranean city-state ought to be the naval force used to protect its commerce, market, colonies and trade competitiveness.

"Assemble all the sailors, no matter where they are, the name of the admiral blessed by Basileus's purple royal banners." Antonius looked at the blind faces of the Greek sailor, and only after a while did he realise that they don't understand Latin."

"Look, Abdullah, the 'Romans' don't understand Latin nowadays. What a shame... Would you be kind enough to translate for me."

Abdullah laughed and then joked that it is precisely they are called the Empire of the Greeks instead of Roman Empire in European countries, and then he translated Antonius's demand into Greek.

The sailor, finally understood the order, bolted into action and rang the bell to assemble all sailors on shore, then gathered a few men out to sea to call these "fishing soldiers" back.

Antonius raised the royal purple banners given to him by Constantine, sat on a chair on a wooden platform and waited, while the sailors hastily came from all corners and gathered below him. They lack the basic discipline and order as a navy. Antonius frowned as the men continued to chit-chatter after being gathered, some even sat down on the floor completely gave no regard to the new admiral.

Soon, the men came back and reported. "Sir! The sailors said that they are in the mid of catching fish and refused to come back!"

Antonius is filled with fury; he took a deep breathe and ordered. "I shall place my sand clock here, if they don't come back by then." He stood up, drew his cutlass and sliced the hand grip of the chair, then commanded under his breathe biting his lips. "Remember…boy, if they don't come back by then, their head will have the same face as this chair."

The sailor gulped and grabbed his ship to go out to sea once more, while Antonius continued waiting on the grip less chair. It didn't take long before the man came back with two ships, but he reported that there is still a ship out in sea with two dozen sailors who disregarded his orders.

Antonius narrowed his eyes, the sailors below dared not utter a word, atmosphere becoming denser and colder.

Antonius broke the silence, with a monotonous sound. "You, boy, what is your name?"

"Ju..Julian, sir."

"Good, Julian, you helped me today, I will prove that I am a generous admiral. I shall grant you the role of commander of that ship and a reward of one hundred Ducats. Although I am generous but my words in this fleet, is law and order. Now lead my chief officer Abraham, and my ship the Formidata, fly the Emperor's imperial purple, go arrest those deserters."

The boy, or captain Julian now, quickly saluted Antonius and set sail the third time, with fully armed pirates to arrest the 'deserters.

They soon came back. The deserters, two dozen of them, were tied together and pushed onto the platform. Abraham made them kneel down one by one facing the crowd. Familiar with his own captain, Abraham and the pirates drawn out their blades and stood behind the deserters with their blades facing their necks.

"Remember, soldiers. From today onward, what I say, is the law in this army. When I command your to do something, your better do it fast within my time limit, if you oblige do as what I say, I reward you generously, but if your disobey me, this is the consequence."

Antonius sat down on the grip less chair once more, folding his legs, after Abdullah translated his orders. Then he ordered Abraham. "Now, chop off their heads."

Immediately after his command, the Cutlasses ran through the necks of their victims, sent their heads rolling and blood splattered all over the face of the pirates.

This sent a shock wave across the sailors below, their stomach tumble in fear, their legs tremble in horror, some of them wanted to run but they soon recalled the consequences of desertion, which made him dreadful.

"Now… soldiers! Don't worry, I, Antonius, your admiral now, is a man of reasons." Antonius spook to the distressed sailors. I shall train you into true, Roman, soldiers! I will train you to be battle ready! I will train you to be like wolverines!"

Antonius glanced through the facial expressions of the men below, waited for Abdullah to finish translating, and continued. "From now onward! You shall be the wolves of the seven seas! No longer like a fisherman! I will wash away the scent of cowardice off you! AND… we shall plunder Ottoman ships in anywhere, anytime. What prize your get, shall be yours, I won't take a single copper!"

"Do you understand? Aye?" Antonius raised his fist and yelled, while the pirates rose their pirate flag right beside the Emperor's royal purple, and the Roman navy flag.

"Ay…Aye…" Some sailors responded softly.

"Not loud enough lads! Do you understand?"

"Aye!" Now, together with the battle cries of Antonius' pirates, the rest of men all shouted in agreement.

"Great! Now start your training."

****

Two days later, in the tavern. Giovanni is having a drink to relax after analysing about a possible way to defend the walls and training his troops.

He waved as he sees Antonius walked in, stressed out with a face which feels like vomiting.

"How have you been, my friend."

"Oh, you can't believe it, they don't even know the basics of combat, most of them can't even pull open a bow and wave a cutlass, can you believe that?" Antonius complained with his head sank into the beaker of ale.

"That's a shame, cheers pal." Giovanni gave Antonius a toast to motivate his friend. "They even have a fearsome nickname for you now."

"Interesting, I haven't even heard of that myself." Antonius paused for a while. "So… what is my nickname?"

"Butcher of Marmara."