Looking at the bustling crowd in the court and their increasingly deep reverence for him, Manuel knew that his goal of personally stepping in had been achieved.
To be honest, even with the involvement of the Altzamtao community, the Barbaro case wasn't significant enough to warrant him, the Caesar of an Autocratic State, personally acting as a judge.
However, he still intervened, to deify his rule and further strengthen his authority. Manuel even used the atmosphere of that moment to try and create an aura of personal worship.
So far, he seemed to be doing quite well.
Most of the observers in court at this time did not yet know that the outcome of this trial, besides allowing more previously marginalized people to enter politics, would also be a prelude to the Bosporus achieving the divine right of kings. For now, they mostly regarded this trial and amnesty as Caesar's benevolent rule, a topic of conversation after meals, circulating in various circles.
After the court adjourned, Manuel, having concluded this incident, sought out Barbaro, the person involved, again for the sake of comfort and closure. This young Altzamtao man—now to be called a prospective Philaka Soldiers—was currently discussing his future whereabouts and other necessary matters with his cross-generational friend and other acquaintances he had made during the incident.
Seeing Caesar personally come down to offer comfort, everyone wisely quieted down, waiting for their monarch to speak.
He skillfully did not disrupt the atmosphere, but after conversing with the others for a while, he inquired about Barbaro's future plans and intentions with concerned words.
At this moment, Caesar Manuel's young and slightly tall figure appeared incredibly imposing in Barbaro's eyes. Accompanied by an inexplicable stirring in his heart, he knelt down directly, hot tears flowing uncontrollably from his eyes.
Looking at this descendant of Taronites, who was slightly younger than him, Manuel silently accepted his prostration. After a long pause, Caesar softly ordered him to rise, "Get up."
"Yes, Caesar, loyalty!"
"Not so fast, you haven't officially enlisted yet..."
After seeing the others off and returning to the Imperial Palace, he somewhat distractedly asked Badars, who had always stood by his side, "Badars, what do you think will happen if things continue like this?"
"Caesar, that is not a question for a subject like me to consider."
"You're right," Manuel came back to his senses, looked up at the nearly twilight sky, and laughed heartily with open arms, "Then let's continue like this, and make me a great man!"
A month and a half later—
When Justinian Seresnus finally returned to Tauris with his special envoy mission, he learned that so many historically significant events had occurred during his absence, causing the Chief Minister, who had just been promoted, to be utterly bewildered. "No way, how did I miss so many historical moments again?"
"Don't look so down, at least in the future, under normal circumstances, you, as Chief Minister, won't have to go to other countries, right?" The result was that when he returned to Trabzon and arrived at the Imperial Palace to report his achievements, he was still inadvertently showing regret, and even Caesar had to comfort him, who seemed quite unhappy about it.
"Alas, why did things turn out this way?" In the end, this important official of the Autocratic State could only sigh and regretfully accept reality.
"Let's talk seriously," Caesar finally steered the conversation back to business after the small talk. "After such a long mission to the Eastern European countries, what have you gained?"
Seresnus, having regained his efficient demeanor, immediately stopped his sighing. "Overall, Caesar, the results of this mission have been quite successful. The princes and nobles of Lithuania, Moscow, and even along the old 'Vasy Trade Route' have basically expressed their willingness to engage in trade cooperation with us, and Vasily II of Moscow even intends to upgrade commercial cooperation; but others were not as enthusiastic. For example, King Jogaila of Poland didn't even wish to meet our delegation, though fortunately, he didn't prevent the princes and nobles under his rule from engaging in trade cooperation with us.
"By the way, Caesar, I also went to Moldavia as per your instructions. Your brother-in-law is quite interested in participating in the Black Sea trade led by you."
Manuel nodded in understanding. The stances of these three great nations were within his expectations, but he still found the Polish King's response hard to bear. "Can't Poland stop acting like a stubborn donkey every time?"
"I understand," Manuel said after clarifying the situation. "Next, I estimate I will adapt to the situation and develop inland trade along the rivers. At that time, I plan to have you cooperate with the Megaslogothetēs / Grand Secretary and the Treasurer, among other key officials. Is that acceptable?"
"No, Caesar."
Over the next three months, while other regions of Anatolia were embroiled in conflict, Pontus, under the Bosporus, prospered under the planning of Manuel and his officials. Facilities such as post stations, roads, and ports, which had been neglected or even abandoned under the Komnenos family, were properly expanded, restored, and maintained.
At the same time, the rapidly developing commodity economy quickly made the Greeks under its rule rich, and the Turkmen tribesmen in the inland areas, lured by the colorful world, abandoned their original 'Halal' life in small but organized groups, flocking to various trade centers to make a living. Since infidels were discriminated against in all areas except those permitted by Caesar to retain their original faith, many of these former tribesmen simply converted to orthodox Christianity and learned greek to escape the Autocratic State's discriminatory policies. The southern coast of the Black Sea began to show signs of a revival of Greek culture.
As the economy developed and recovered, the first batch of bonds was also repaid. When those who had, either actively or passively, become "the first to eat crabs" earned back their principal and interest, many wealthy Bosporus households and nobles became excited. Soon, when the second batch of bonds was sold in April of the same year, they were completely sold out in less than a week. Among these buyers were even many surnames that Manuel found very familiar.
Caesar simply expanded the functions of the bank and opened it throughout the Bosporus. At the same time, he also allowed currencies such as the Stavraton and Hyperpyron issued in Constantinople, and the florin and Genovino circulating in other parts of Italy, to be used within the Bosporus. However, even so, when financial officials like Arno asked him when the Autocratic State would issue its own currency, he evasively skipped that part of the conversation.
Due to his active involvement in Eastern Mediterranean trade, Manuel also solidified his already good relationships with the Venetians and the Mamluks, and even deepened his relationship with Emir Jaqmaq, the general of the Mamluk Sultanate in Alexandria. As the frequency of their correspondence increased, the latter, in one of his replies, unexpectedly proposed a seemingly strange suggestion to his infidel friend.
"A pilgrimage to Alexandria?"