After joking with his subordinates, the Emperor and his Chief Minister continued to handle the Autocratic State's official business.
During this time, Manuel instructed his Chief Minister to draft a decree regarding the sale of grain to foreign countries.
A few days later, this draft decree was sent to the Megaslogothetēs / Grand Secretary Anagnostes and his secretariat, instructing them to finalize preparations for its official implementation.
During this period, when the Hydraulic Secretary, Michael Gavras, a relative of Caesar, who was closely related to agricultural production, submitted a letter asking why Bosporus was selling so much grain abroad, Caesar merely explained with a short reply:
"Cheap grain hurts farmers."
Manuel's words were not unfounded.
Provided it would not cause famine, selling grain abroad could slightly raise domestic grain prices.
If grain was expensive, farmland would naturally be profitable, and farmers would naturally earn money.
Conversely, if grain was cheap, commoners might live more easily, but the farmers, who were the foundation, might fall into poverty, and if such a situation arose, it would certainly be a burden on the national treasury.
What's more, last year the Autocratic State had a bumper harvest due to the absence of war and plague prevention, and this year, with most conditions similar to last year, plus favorable weather, another bumper harvest was to be expected.
If grain prices plummeted, it would undoubtedly be a significant shock to Bosporus's domestic economy.
Therefore, Caesar's measure was to raise domestic grain prices through foreign trade, within the affordable range of ordinary commoners, so that self-sufficient farmers could profit from it.
This would allow the domestic economy to transition smoothly and, incidentally, enrich the national treasury.
He did not consider the situation where urban poor would continue to starve; the Autocratic State's relief funds were precisely for helping them, hoping they would escape death by starvation thanks to the relief funds he had established.
Let the citizens suffer a bit, and the farmers bear the blame.
In addition to the main reasons above, selling grain also facilitated the unfolding of a secret plan Manuel was devising.
Although he would not risk activating it unless absolutely necessary, Caesar still made preparations in advance to prevent any unforeseen circumstances.
In mid-autumn, the Bosphorus Despotate indeed experienced an even greater harvest than last year, just as Caesar Manuel had expected: on the terraced fields of the Pontus hillsides, golden, plump wheat ears hung heavily towards the ground, and as far as the eye could see, there was a golden expanse; countless people moved within, naturally the farmers of Bosporus.
"Do you see, children, this is the foundation of the country."
On a hillside in New Caesarea, Manuel, under the protection of his guards, was lightly dressed with his children, gazing at the terraced fields and farmlands on the distant hills, extending his right hand towards the farmers harvesting wheat in the fields, and said.
Among them, Halil Aydinoglu, who had been adopted by Caesar at someone's request that year, curiously asked his adoptive father, "Father, I see that the wheat in these fields doesn't seem to be exactly the same.
Are there different kinds of wheat grown by farmers?"
"That is natural," even for his adopted son, who openly practiced a different faith, Manuel showed no disdain or contempt, but rather patiently instructed him as he would his own children,
"Do you see those tall, golden, and bright wheat plants grown on the plains? They should be wheat.
It is one of the most widespread crops in the world; from the British Isles to distant Khorasan, wheat can be found everywhere, truly a gift from the angels.
"And those crops that are clearly sturdier than wheat but resemble it are probably barley, one of the sources of bread for poor tenants.
The reason was mentioned a thousand years ago in Columella's 'On Agriculture' (De Re Rustica): barley is more resistant to moisture than wheat, and although its taste is ordinary, it is suitable for the poor farmers at the bottom.
"And those with thick-looking ears and strong, tough stalks might be oats; generally, they are fed to livestock.
But for the starving, a bowl of oat soup is a rare and precious find.
"Furthermore, those dark-colored grains planted so densely on the mountain terraces, if I'm not mistaken, are rye.
Although Old Pliny in his 'Natural History' dismissively said, 'This is a very bad food, only used to ward off hunger.
It is only eaten when there is a severe famine.' But this ancient philosopher also admitted in the same book, 'Rye can grow in any soil, yields abundantly, and can also be used as fertilizer to make the soil more fertile.' If wheat is a gift from angels, then rye is definitely a blessing from God; without them, it's hard to imagine how the common people would survive in this 'Bright Middle Ages.'"
Bey Halil immediately took out paper and pen to record his adoptive father's teachings, while Manuel's biological children, Crown Prince Theodore and Princess Justiana, also carefully pondered their father's words, hoping to gain knowledge and instruction from them.
After they all showed signs of understanding, their father continued gently, "Alas, observing from afar has the disadvantage of not seeing things clearly.
Children, let's go down the mountain and see for ourselves; it's also a good opportunity to see how small farmers spend their usual autumn harvest."
While Manuel was observing the wheat harvest with his children, in the court of Konya, the capital of the Karaman Beylik, Bey Suleiman had just received new information from Bosporus from his subordinates.
"Is my scoundrel close friend out of his mind?
He's actually selling grain to foreign countries, and even actively trading with the Ottoman!?
"Upon learning that Bosporus had committed such an act, almost akin to aiding the enemy, Suleiman was instantly enraged.
His handsome face, which had barely changed since his youth, became slightly distorted with anger, frightening his Viziers beside him into silence.
After cursing Manuel's shortsightedness, his Grand Vizier timidly reminded him, "But Bey, didn't the Roman Caesar of Bosporus just send dozens of ounces of wheat to our country for free a few days ago, and also promised to regularly transport several batches after this year..."
"What's the use of giving us more aid if he doesn't ban sales to the Ottoman?"
Suleiman sighed, pressing his forehead in annoyance, "He's not unaware of the disparity between us and the Ottoman.
Allah, please tell me, what on earth is my close friend thinking?"
After a while, the Bey recovered from this state, regaining his usual valor and astuteness, "Summon the envoy from Cairo and tell him Karaman has important matters to discuss with them.
"The Ottoman's main forces are currently concentrated on the European continent; Murad II won't have time to return.
This will be the best and last opportunity for us, descendants of Arslan."