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Early spring dawned cold and clear outside the walls of Edirne, where the Ottoman army gathered in sprawling barracks and training fields. In the crisp morning light, a deceptive calm clung to the land—only the distant clang of metal and the low rumble of voices hinted at the storm of war that brewed. Despite the chill, excitement pulsed through the encampment. Thousands of Sipahis from Anatolia had arrived over the past several days, their columns winding through city gates and fanning out across the plain. Clad in layered mail and distinctive turbans, they led sleek warhorses shimmering in bronze-plated harnesses. Dozens of large tents and rough wooden structures stretched into the distance. The scents of horse sweat, leather, and hot stew mingled in the brisk air. Grooms darted between rows of steeds, offering water and handfuls of oats to calm the animals after the trek. Blacksmiths toiled by roaring forges, hammering dents from breastplates and sharpening swords. Soldiers, some stripped to the waist in the early morning chill, practiced sword drills under the watchful eyes of their officers.

Beyond the Sipahis, rows of infantry—Janissaries in disciplined formation—rehearsed maneuvers, their ranks punctuated by the flash of steel helmets and the embroidered patches on their robes. Azabs, serving as lighter infantry, set up makeshift archery ranges near the edges of camp. Anywhere one looked, men readied themselves for the rigors of the coming campaign: sharpening daggers, fletching arrows, mending leather straps.

High on the city walls, Sultan Murad II took in the spectacle with a calculating gaze. From this distance, the barracks spread out like a miniature city—tents, corrals, and cooking fires dotted the open plain. The rattle of harnesses and the clank of pikes drifted up on the breeze. Everywhere, officers barked orders that carried on the wind. Though the day was bright and clear, a sense of urgency filled the air, each soldier eager for the new campaign. In their eyes, one saw not fear but a steadfast willingness to follow their Sultan into whatever trials awaited.

Council in EdirneInside the grand chamber of the Edirne Palace, the air was fragrant with sandalwood and incense. Murad, though of unremarkable stature, commanded the room with a presence that demanded respect. Around him, his closest advisors gathered. Rich carpets absorbed their footsteps; the soft rustle of fabric and low voices gave way to solemn deliberation.

Halil Pasha, the Grand Vizier, spoke first. His voice was measured, his words carefully chosen.

"My Sultan," he began, inclining his head, "we have assembled a force worthy of your ambitions. Thousands of seasoned soldiers, the cavalry from Anatolia, and our cannons and bombards stand ready. We are prepared to take the Morea and tear down the Hexamilion Wall."

A murmur of assent rippled among the council. Near Halil Pasha stood Turahan Bey, the seasoned general who bore the shame of his recent defeat at Constantine's hands. His jaw tightened at the mention of Morea. He was eager for redemption.

"Give me command of the vanguard, my Sultan, and I will redeem myself in battle and crush that printing press of his before he can spread another word of Byzantine defiance."

Ali Beg, a lean commander renowned for his brutal efficiency, crossed his arms.

"We must crush them before his influence seeps beyond the Morea," he said. "Strike quickly and with overwhelming force."

A provincial governor in emerald-green robes shifted uncomfortably.

"I worry about the intrigues from afar," he said. "Rumors abound that the Venetian Pope is stirring trouble for us. If word of any weakness on our part reaches Europe, we may face coalitions that threaten our holdings."

Mehmet, a young advisor noted for his intelligence-gathering, spoke next, recounting how the Morea had improved its fortifications since Turahan Bey's defeat.

"Constantine invests heavily in siege defenses. If we are delayed, he will be even better prepared."

Yusuf, newly appointed to the council and head of advancements at the Enderun School, added,

"Time favors the defenders, my Sultan. Yet, the Morea remains a strategic target. We cannot let them become too strong."

All through the exchange, Sultan Murad II remained a studied listener. His fingers tapped a measured rhythm against the carved arm of his throne, though whether from tension or calculation, none could be certain. At last, he straightened, cutting short the low murmur of voices.

"There's little point in further delay," he said quietly, a hint of steel beneath the measured words. "We march at once. I've not forgotten Constantine's affront to Turahan Bey—and neither should you. This is our chance to set the record straight. Our artillery shall grind the Hexamilion to dust, and in doing so we shall remind the Morea—and the entire Christian world—that the Ottoman Empire is not to be trifled with."

The Departure from EdirneThey began moving at first light, slipping out through Edirne's great gates without flourish or fanfare. It was a practiced maneuver—thousands upon thousands of soldiers advancing in disciplined silence, each contingent slotting into place like a piece of clockwork. Six thousand Janissaries formed the spine of this living apparatus, their footfalls striking the cobblestones in eerie unison. No cheers accompanied them, just the hushed scrape of boots on stone and the chafe of leather harnesses.

Trailing close behind, the Sipahis rode with the controlled arrogance of men who'd known the art of war since birth. Their horses snorted in the cool morning air, hooves resounding like thunder against the paved road, each rider scanning the horizon as if already seeking his next target. Twenty-four thousand cavalrymen in total—a formidable tide of muscle and steel.

Farther back marched the Azabs, those lighter infantry who specialized in looser formations and swift, harassing tactics. Twenty two thousand men who could move with uncanny fluidity in the chaos of battle. Beneath the surface of each rank ran the current of grim readiness, for they knew the true tests lay ahead.

Guarding the rear, a creaking line of artillery wagons claimed the last of Edirne's dust. These lumbering behemoths carried the cannons and bombards, cherished instruments of the Sultan's might. Their iron snouts protruded like silent threats, promising to batter down the vaunted Hexamilion Wall. Drivers spoke little, focusing on the steady clip of mules and oxen straining under heavy loads.

For days, the vast convoy stretched across rolling countryside, winding roads, and the occasional hamlet. At each bend, officers consulted charts and took note of local terrain. No obstacles had yet presented themselves—no more than the punishing miles that had to be covered. Supply trains rolled diligently behind, stocked with sacks of grain, dried meats, and casks of water. In hushed exchanges over campfires, quartermasters compared lists of provisions, always alert to the risk of shortages in foreign lands.

Among the ranks, there was an undercurrent of shared anticipation. Soldiers murmured about past glories—battles fought, foes overcome. Over small cookfires at dusk, an unspoken camaraderie emerged, binding this mass of men from every reach of the empire. Yet officers, sharp-eyed and ever aware of their duty, had no intention of letting discipline falter. They knew, as if by instinct, that the real test would begin once they neared the Morea. The troops must remain focused, each cog meshing smoothly with the next in the great machinery of the Sultan's campaign.

Thus, under a sky that shaded from dawn to dusk and back again, the Ottoman host pressed onward, an implacable force inching closer to its distant objective. The roads behind them lay quiet once their tread had passed, but ahead—at the Hexamilion—the thunder had yet to begin.

The Stop in ThessalonikiBy the time the Ottoman columns snaked their way into Thessaloniki, the city bore its old wounds like a soldier too long on the front line. The walls, partially dismantled by the previous siege, now echoed with the ceaseless clang of mason's hammers. Rising columns of smoke from the foundries merged with the morning haze, as blacksmiths worked with grim efficiency to re-shoe horses and repair dented armor.

Sultan Murad II chose to establish his command post just beyond the main gates, a vast pavilion surrounded by smaller tents forming something of an impromptu city of canvas. It was there, amid the bustle of messengers and quartermasters, that unsettling reports reached him. A small Ottoman detachment had been bested by an Albanian chieftain named Andrea Thopia, operating out of the rugged central highlands. The triumph had roused other leaders—particularly Gjergj Arianiti—to similar defiance.

The news filtered through the encampment with alarming speed. At every campfire, men spoke of the "Albanian revolt," voices hushed as though even the mention of rebellion might summon fresh enemies from the hills. And why not worry? Marching on the Morea with an open mutiny at their backs was a daunting proposition, and everyone—privates and officers alike—wondered if Murad would risk it. The Sultan, tight-lipped and contemplative, let no one see which way the scales of his mind would tip.

Murad's DilemmaThe corridor outside the makeshift council chamber in Thessaloniki was lit by a single guttering torch. Its sputtering flame danced across the weary faces of the Sultan's advisors as they filed in, each weighed down by secrets and private fears. The Ottoman banners, hanging limp from the rafters, bore silent witness to the tension filling the room like a smoldering fuse.

Sultan Murad II, though hardly the tallest figure in the gathering, commanded the space by force of presence alone. He stood at the head of a plain wooden table, a map of the Balkans splayed across it, its corners pinned by daggers and spare coins. From the shadows beyond, one could sense the sharpened attention of guardsmen—keen eyes, silent tongues, ready to pounce on any hint of treachery.

At Murad's left elbow stood Halil Pasha, Grand Vizier, a man whose mild exterior had long concealed a razor-sharp mind. He tapped the hilt of a dagger against the table, an idle gesture betraying unease.

"My Sultan," he began in carefully modulated tones, "the situation in Albania grows more precarious. Reports indicate that Andrea Thopia has gathered support from several chieftains, among them Arianiti." Halil paused, choosing his words with the practiced caution of one who knew his master's temper. "If this rebellion continues unchecked, it could spiral beyond our reach."

Murad nodded, his gaze fixed somewhere beyond the worn parchment. Turahan Bey, still nursing the sting of his previous defeat in the Morea, edged forward. In the wavering torchlight, the lines of fatigue etched into his face told of night-long brooding.

"We all know Constantine is no idle threat," he said. "Grant him time, and the Hexamilion Wall will become unassailable. He's forging new cannons—so the rumors go—and printing words of defiance to galvanize the Christians." Turahan's voice dropped as if confiding a personal secret: "We've already suffered embarrassment at his hands. Another failure could imperil everything."

From a corner of the chamber, Ali Beg observed with a cool detachment that hinted at a lethal efficiency. He stepped forward, boots clicking on the stone floor, and offered a curt bow.

"My Sultan, give me ten thousand men. Let me handle Albania—swiftly, quietly. Snuff out Thopia before he can muster fresh allies." He allowed the words to hover like a challenge. "You continue as planned toward Morea. Show Constantine you will not be distracted."

One might have mistaken the hush that followed for a mere lull in conversation. But in truth, it was an unspoken negotiation, a space in which each man measured the cost of the proposal: the risk of sending a large contingent north, the danger of forging ahead while a rebellion simmered behind their lines, and the nagging possibility that every hour lost benefited Constantine's resolute defense.

A single torch crackled in the silence, dripping hot wax onto the flagstones. Finally, Murad exhaled slowly, as if releasing a burden from deep within.

"Very well, Ali Beg," he said in clipped tones. "You'll have your force and no more. Crush Thopia and whoever stands with him. Make it so severe that no one else dares rise against us." The Sultan's voice was deliberately calm, but his eyes betrayed a flicker of something else—was it anger or perhaps a tinge of apprehension?

Halil Pasha inclined his head in subtle agreement. Turahan Bey stiffened, relieved that the more significant target—the Morea—would not be postponed. The watchers, hidden along the periphery, took note of every exchange, recording in their minds how decisions were made in subtle moments of tension and resigned acceptance.

That night, long after the council was dismissed, the fortress corridors thrummed with hushed activity. Commanders hustled about, issuing instructions for the dual undertakings: one army bound for the stony ridges of Albania, the other destined for the formidable walls of the Morea. And in a dimly lit corner, Sultan Murad II paused by the half-shuttered window, gazing over Thessaloniki's rooftops as a cold wind whispered through the gaps. He wondered how many uncharted perils might lie between him and the conquest of the Morea—and how many he had just unleashed by splitting his forces in two.

Morning broke over Thessaloniki under a low, grey sky, painting the fortified city in austere shades. A chill wind snaked among the tents and battlements, seeping into every corner of the Ottoman camp. The soldiers, accustomed to hardship, moved with calm, measured precision—setting about their tasks with an air of quiet determination.

At dawn, Ali Beg's contingent mustered by the north gate. Ten thousand men in neat lines, their banners drooping in the damp breeze before snapping suddenly at its gusts. There was no fanfare, no braying trumpets—just the stark shuffle of boots and the occasional jangle of harnesses. Ali Beg himself spoke but briefly, issuing final directives to his officers in clipped tones. Then, with a single, deliberate signal, the detachment set off into the mist-shrouded hills, bound for the rebellious pockets of Albania. Soldiers and officers alike wondered who was more at risk: Ali Beg's lean forces in hostile, mountainous terrain, or the main army pressing south.

Atop the crumbling walls that encircled Thessaloniki, Sultan Murad II surveyed his departing men. To an outsider, the Sultan might have appeared aloof, even cold. But behind his dark gaze dwelt the unspoken weight of empire. Ten thousand souls gone north—on his word, to quell a revolt that had flared overnight. There was no time for second-guessing, no room for doubt.

Below, in the city's courtyard, siege engineers fussed over cannons and bombards, their gestures precise and their voices muffled by the metallic clang of final calibrations. Janissary captains inspected serried ranks of infantry; Sipahis led their horses through careful formations. Over it all, the morning's hush felt tense—each man knew they were part of something dangerously ambitious.

At last, Murad gave the signal to move. The signal itself was unremarkable—a short, curt gesture, easily missed if one's eyes were elsewhere. But the response was instantaneous. Drums began to thunder atop the city's battlements, the rhythmic call rolling across rooftops and cobblestones. The Ottoman columns—cavalry, infantry, artillery—shifted like a great beast, one limb at a time, until the entire mass lurched forward. Hooves struck sparks against the paving stones; the heavy wagons groaned beneath the weight of iron and ammunition.

There, at the head of this rumbling tide, Sultan Murad rode in quiet concentration. To those watching from the walls, he seemed every inch the steady commander. Yet inside, he harbored a private obsession. The Morea: he could not, would not, allow its Despot to slip through his grasp again. Already, the sting of Turahan Bey's setback gnawed at him. No matter the cost, Murad intended to avenge that indignity.

Behind the Sultan's stern figure trailed endless rows of banners—red fields emblazoned with the gleaming crescent—creating a ribbon of color against the dull landscape. The columns snaked through Thessaloniki's gates and beyond, boots and hooves grinding against stone roads slick with morning dew. The reverberations seemed to echo across the hills, a grim declaration of the empire's resolve.

Soon, the city fell behind, and with it went the lingering doubts. To the south lay the Hexamilion Wall, bristling with defenders who had tasted Ottoman force before and now braced for more. Even now, Murad knew Constantine would be digging in, rallying men, strengthening fortifications—and very possibly laying traps for the advancing army.

Yet onward they marched, bearing the weight of the Sultan's ambitions. Each soldier understood that this was more than mere conquest—it was a measure of imperial will, a statement to the world that a recalcitrant minor principality would not turn back the Ottoman tide. Glimpsed through the shifting clouds, the Morea loomed like a half-hidden promise, beckoning them onward to either triumph or bloodshed—or both.

All the while, in the mountainous north, Ali Beg's column would soon be testing the mettle of those who chose rebellion over obedience. In the interlaced webs of Murad's empire, each decision tugged at another thread. The outcome in Albania might decide whether the Sultan's campaign south would come undone before it truly began. Such thoughts were the Sultan's constant companions, needling the corners of his mind, forcing him to weigh each possibility.

But the time for hesitation had long passed. With the steady beat of drums driving them on, the Ottoman host moved like a living thing across the plains and hills, determined to impose Murad's will upon all who resisted. And as the grey dawn lightened—revealing the path to the Morea—a quiet certainty settled over the ranks: they were the relentless instrument of an empire that would not be denied.