With the fall of the Ottoman capital, Bursa, the expectant Crusaders poured into the city.
This city had served as the capital of the Ottoman Empire over a hundred years prior. Now, designated as the capital for the second time, the Crusaders believed it must hold vast treasures, enough for them to make a huge fortune.
To reward their bravery during the decisive battle against the main Ottoman army, Laszlo permitted the soldiers one day of plunder. Of course, wanton slaughter was forbidden, and anyone discovered engaging in it would face severe punishment.
Following the old custom, Christians would be protected, while adherents of other religions would be reduced to slaves, regaining freedom only upon payment of sufficient ransom. Afterward, they could choose to leave or continue living in Bursa.
Among the captives, Laszlo was pleasantly surprised to find a large number of various artisans who had remained in the endangered city because they were unwilling to leave their homes or had not had time to flee.
Among the remaining artisans and scholars, Laszlo found that the proportion of Greek Orthodox Christians was actually higher than that of the muslims.
It seemed his prior propaganda had worked; even the Orthodox Christians living in the Ottoman Empire viewed him as the defender of Christianity.
Although the Orthodox Church was currently trending toward being classified as a minor heresy, Laszlo still honored his promise and offered them protection.
However, this favorable treatment was not free. The vast majority of them were required to convert and relocate to Constantinople to promote the rapid recovery of that great city.
After the city fell, most residents followed different paths of destiny after a brief period of turmoil.
About half of the residents retained their freedom and meager possessions. The other half had to be relocated to Constantinople; a small portion as immigrants, and the rest to be auctioned as slaves in the Constantinople market. Some would even be transported to Hungary.
The people who remained could continue living but were clearly divided into three tiers.
Those who converted to Roman Catholicism could continue living peacefully by paying normal taxes. Orthodox Christians had to pay slightly more taxes, while muslims and Jews were required to pay heavy taxes to retain the right to live in the city, and they also had to accept numerous restrictions on their religious lives.
It was impossible to kill or expel all the muslims, as had been done in Europe.
One must remember that when Laszlo captured the Bulgaria region, the muslim population there was less than 10%, but along the coast of Asia Minor, the number of muslims already exceeded half of the total population.
If Laszlo had not adopted a flexible strategy for handling the situation, the streets of Bursa would likely now be piled high with corpses, and everything from the Sultan's palace down to the dwellings of the poor would have been looted clean.
The Crusaders centuries ago certainly did this, but after committing massacres in a fit of passion, they still had to accept the reality of coexisting with muslims.
In several Crusader states, including the Kingdom of Jerusalem, the vast majority of the population remained muslims, aside from a small ruling class that originated from Europe.
After all, many property owners joined the Crusades simply to seek religious absolution and satisfy their spiritual pursuits.
After finishing the Holy War, rather than staying in the impoverished East surrounded by infidels, it was better to simply return home and enjoy life.
Thus, after every wave of Holy War ended, most survivors chose to return home, regardless of whether they had earned money from the expedition.
In any case, upon returning, they would have the reputation of having participated in a Holy War, perhaps earn a little money, and rest assured of going to heaven after death—what a wonderful thing.
While these Holy War volunteers could simply leave, the newly established nobles who stayed behind to receive titles were troubled.
Their compatriots had all returned, leaving them in the East, which was full of infidels. Could they still maintain the irreconcilable, life-and-death struggle against all infidels as they once did?
This was not realistic.
Therefore, Laszlo directly referenced the laws previously used by the Kingdom of Jerusalem concerning muslims and Jews. The primary goal was to ensure that farmers and artisans could continue economic production. For special groups like merchants and scholars, Laszlo permitted them to operate within certain limits, but their political rights would be severely restricted.
As for the old nobles of the Ottoman Empire, most had fled eastward, naturally losing control of their property. Those who remained would quickly be stripped of their lands and positions of power.
The lands and wealth they left behind would be used as spoils of war to reward the Crusader new nobles who were about to replace them in the ecosystem.
Since the army set foot in Asia Minor, Laszlo had not stopped granting rewards to those who performed meritorious service.
Through the mediation of Laszlo's friend, Cardinal Francesco, Pope Paul II finally agreed to hand over the power to distribute the occupied lands to Laszlo—after all, it was he who had originally supported Laszlo in starting the Asia Minor expedition under the banner of "recovering lost territory."
However, the Pope still secured some benefits for The Papacy and the Knights Hospitaller. What they demanded was exactly what Laszlo intended to give them.
The Pope wanted money, and the Knights Hospitaller wanted some coastal lands and the holy site of Ephesus. These were all negotiable matters.
As for the lands conquered along the way, Laszlo kept some of the more valuable portions for himself, while the rest were mostly granted to knights willing to stay and garrison the East.
During this process, many commoner warriors rose in status due to their bravery in combat. Naturally, more numerous were the landless noble sons from the Empire and Hungary, who finally achieved their wish of owning their own territory in the East.
Although they were not in the same empire, they were indeed loyal to the same Emperor.
The Crusaders rested in Bursa for several days. Laszlo took this opportunity to distribute large tracts of vacant land within and around the city to the Crusader soldiers willing to remain, which greatly boosted morale.
The only thing that disappointed these brave warriors was that they had fully expected to seize vast wealth in Bursa, but many wealthy Ottoman magnates had already moved their property, and the Ottoman treasury had long been empty.
Since Muhammad implemented his infamous silver coin recoinage policy, although the Ottoman Empire's economy briefly improved, currency credit subsequently declined, inflation worsened, and financial problems became more severe. Crucially, even with these measures, Muhammad failed to eliminate Karaman in one fell swoop, leaving a major hidden danger.
Although the Ottoman Empire had been rapidly expanding in recent years, it was actually at the end of its tether.
Even if Laszlo had not intervened so urgently, Mehmed II would probably have had to dedicate vast amounts of energy and resources to quelling domestic unrest and assimilating newly occupied territories, while simultaneously facing the endless counterattacks from the Karaman people.
When Muhammad massacred twenty to thirty thousand people in Konya, he completely ignited the seeds of Karaman hatred, which continues to resist Ottoman rule in various forms today.
Following Muhammad's devastating defeat, his only surviving son, Mustafa, would likely have to abandon the unstable Konya Province and lead his army back to Ankara to reorganize the shattered Ottoman Empire, seeking another opportunity to expand territory and restore the Empire's former glory.
In this case, Karaman Bey Bilal Ahmed, who had been cooperating with Laszlo, could be considered to have successfully recovered his lost territories, achieving his long-cherished wish.
By then, with Laszlo in the west and Uzun Hasan, Khan of the White Sheep Dynasty in the east, both sides would be eyeing Central Anatolia covetously.
With Karaman and Ottoman facing each other, one in the south and one in the north, friction and even war would likely become the norm for relations between the two countries.
If this delicate balance could be maintained for a while longer, the Crusader lords would have the opportunity to establish a firm foothold in Asia Minor.
At that point, whether to launch another Eastern Expedition or to hold the western mountains of the peninsula, keeping the infidels outside the gates of Europe, would be entirely up to Laszlo.
After planning for the future situation, Laszlo successively received news from the rear that multiple cities, including Izmit and Nicaea, had surrendered to the Crusaders.
The frequent good news greatly cheered Laszlo, who subsequently led the Crusaders to depart from Bursa in two columns.
One detached force advanced westward, seizing cities and territories along the way, and soon reached the Dardanelles Strait.
The other main force, personally led by Laszlo, marched southwest, aiming directly for Smyrna.
This was an extremely long journey. The terrain during the initial march could be described as flat and the climate pleasant, but they soon entered an undulating landscape filled with low hills and narrow valleys, dotted with ancient fortresses, fortified villages, and a few towns.
More prosperous cities were built along the coast, parallel to the marching route but slightly distant.
Since the mountains in western Asia Minor mostly ran east-west, Laszlo had to choose a route slightly inland to bypass the difficult terrain. However, whenever they approached important coastal ports, Laszlo would dispatch troops to attack them. Sometimes they received aid from the Crusader Fleet, as the Genoese controlled nearly all the islands off the coast of Asia Minor, meaning their ships patrolled the coastal waters constantly.
Most of these siege operations succeeded easily. When most Ottomans saw their Sultan, who was caged, they quickly chose to open the city gates and surrender in exchange for the Emperor's favorable treatment.
A few stubborn muslims chose to resist the Crusader conquest by force, and their settlements were utterly destroyed by Laszlo.
When the Crusaders left, the resisting villages and towns were reduced to scorched earth.
A chaplain accompanying the army wrote in a book documenting the Eastern Expedition: "The Emperor granted clemency to most infidels, but also destroyed some settlements and turned parts of the region into wasteland."
"Based on general observation, the latter approach gave the Emperor's subjects and allies great satisfaction."
After more than a month of marching and conquest, the main Crusader force finally reached one of the primary objectives of their expedition in late July—the city of Smyrna.
This was the most prosperous and famous port on the western coast of Asia Minor, and it had also been the focus of contention for many years.
The Eastern Roman Empire seized control of the city after the First Crusade until it was captured by Aydin Bey in the early 14th century.
A Crusade jointly launched in 1344 by Venice, The Papacy, the Kingdom of Cyprus, and the Knights Hospitaller saw the city ravaged by war once again.
The Crusaders captured the port castle of Smyrna, while Aydin Bey continued to hold the military fortress atop Mount Pagos, creating a divided situation where Christians controlled the port and muslims controlled the highlands.
Although it sounds absurd, a split partition was indeed formed by both sides within a single city.
After the rise of the Ottoman Empire, they destroyed the Aydin Beylik, expelled the Christians occupying the port, and brought the area under their control.
Later, Timur's western campaign destroyed the Ottoman Empire, and important Ottoman cities like Nicaea, Bursa, and Smyrna were almost all subjected to massacres and extensive damage.
Compared to ancient cities that never recovered after one or two massacres, Smyrna quickly regained its prosperity due to its advantageous geography, and its population significantly increased after the Ottoman Empire reoccupied the area.
Ottoman control over this port lasted for about forty years, until today, when another Crusader army arrived outside the city.
Only this time, the Crusaders not only approached Smyrna from the sea, but a massive army that had crushed all the Sultan's resistance also surrounded both parts of the city from the land.
The Genoese, who had long awaited the Emperor's army, quickly transported large quantities of supplies from the Genoese outpost a few kilometers north of Smyrna for the army's consumption.
According to the agreement reached between the Emperor and the Governor of Genoa before the war, the city was to be handed over to the Republic of Genoa after its fall, making the Genoese particularly invested in this siege operation.
They not only provided logistical support for the army that had traveled a long distance but also implemented a naval blockade of the port early on.
After all, Chios Island, which the Genoese had managed for many years, was not far from Smyrna, making it easy to cut off all of Smyrna's maritime trade routes.
Seeing no hope whatsoever, the residents of Smyrna did not even offer symbolic resistance. After negotiating terms with the Emperor and receiving assurances that they would not be subjected to plunder or massacre, the people of Smyrna raised a massive ransom and surrendered to the Emperor.
The army from Genoa subsequently occupied this important port they had long desired. The Genoese gave high praise to the Emperor's honesty and trustworthiness.
Right there in Smyrna, the first batch of Crusaders, weary from the expedition, boarded ships returning to Europe. The remaining soldiers, filled with piety and joy, continued south with Laszlo to stake out territory.
More and more Crusader lords began their rule on the lands of Asia Minor.
These lords came from various nations participating in the Crusades. After swearing allegiance to the Emperor and pledging to fight for the Latin Empire, they officially gained the right to legally rule their new territories.
Besides the Republic of Genoa, Portugal, Naples, and the Knights Hospitaller also received a share of the newly conquered territories.
However, apart from the Knights Hospitaller, whose territory nearly doubled, neither Portugal nor Naples cared much for these new lands, as distant, infidel-ridden territories were not particularly appealing.
The main army pressed south until mid-August. Only when the entire western coast of Asia Minor was captured by the Crusaders did Laszlo, satisfied, lead the Crusaders back north.
On the way back, Laszlo received news from the East that Karaman Bey had retaken Konya and chosen to temporarily cease hostilities with the Ottomans.
Meanwhile, Muhammad's second son, Mustafa, had already succeeded as Sultan in Ankara, taking the name Mustafa I.
Although the months-long southern campaign had concluded, the war was far from over.
The Knights Hospitaller, led by Grand Master Giovanni, remained in the south along with several Crusaders willing to fight alongside them, marching toward the lightly defended southwestern part of the peninsula, hoping to further expand the territory of the Order.
The terrain in this area was also densely covered with hills. On the southern coast, slightly closer to the east, there was a slightly larger plain, which had been an important granary for the Eastern Roman Empire since the fall of Egypt.
During the Ottoman Empire period, this region also produced a large amount of grain for the Empire, especially the numerous river valleys along the western coast and the plains south of the Taurus Mountains, supplying more than half of the Empire's food.
The Eastern Roman Empire, having lost Anatolia, had to increasingly rely on importing grain via the Black Sea shipping routes.
At the same time, the numerous military districts of Anatolia disintegrated, causing the East Roman army size to shrink significantly, making it difficult to fight against the Slavs in the Balkans or the Turks in Asia Minor.
Considering the continued need to weaken the Ottomans, Laszlo provided significant assistance to Grand Master Giovanni's actions, and Pope Paul II, far away in Rome, also offered substantial help to the Order.
It was not easy to get Pope Paul II, that stingy old Venetian, to spend money; he preferred to spend it on building palaces and acquiring antiques.
Giovanni, however, happened to have the ability to make the Pope pay up.
After all, the Grand Master ultimately hailed from the Orsini Family, and the influence of this Roman noble house on the Papacy naturally went without saying.
However, the recent friendly relationship between the Grand Master and the Emperor attracted the attention of some interested parties, and some began to speculate that this was a sign that the Orsini Family wished to reconcile with the Emperor.
Of course, Laszlo was completely unaware of this, and even if he knew, he probably wouldn't care.
Objectively speaking, he recognized Giovanni's conviction and determination for the Holy War, and he would not distance himself from him because of his background.
After all, he still had a general under him, Piccinino the Younger, the Military Commander of Milan, who was also a member of a branch of the Orsini Family, and Laszlo used him without hesitation.
As for the Orsini Family consistently siding with the Anjou family and the King of France over the past decade or so, if Laszlo were truly concerned about it, he would have crushed them long ago.
The reason he didn't act was partly to maintain the balance of power in Rome, preventing any single faction from dominating, and partly to preserve his good reputation, preparing for a future march on Rome.
The problem of Rome was still too distant for Laszlo.
Now that he had just returned to Bursa and temporarily settled in the Sultan's court, people constantly came to audience, urging him to continue marching eastward, some even wanting him to push all the way to Tabriz.
Inside the Sultan's war room, Laszlo received William, Marquis, Commander of the Italian Coalition Army, and Cardinal Francesco, who had just arrived from Rome.
After the reconquest of Constantinople, the Cardinal was recalled to Rome to report. Taking this opportunity, he began seeking more support for Laszlo's Eastern Campaign in Rome, even if only nominal.
In addition, he extensively publicized the great victories achieved by the Crusaders in Rome and Northern Italy, emphasizing the Emperor's great achievements and striving to further enhance the Emperor's prestige.
During this period, he also started his semi-memoir chronicle, but it now seemed that the book would have to be longer, recording at least the Emperor's great feat of capturing the Sultan and his son alive for posterity to admire.
These actions were certainly not free. Laszlo paid Francesco a huge sum of four thousand florins for this, equivalent to the Cardinal's annual income.
It was hard to say whether this reward could be called generous.
Before becoming a Cardinal, Francesco's life was quite poor. Besides his income as a bishop, he often had to teach at the University of Milan to earn a salary.
There was no alternative; dozens of family members relied on him, the "big shot" who had succeeded through study, for support.
Later, he was highly respected for his profound knowledge and upright lifestyle, first becoming the Minister General of the Franciscan Order, and then being elected Cardinal.
When Francesco took office, Paul II, seeking to appease the College of Cardinals, chose to increase the Cardinals' annual stipend, which reached an astonishing four thousand florins per person per year.
From then on, Francesco no longer had to worry about not having enough money, and his original intentions changed dramatically after deep involvement in Church affairs.
As one of the era's top intellectuals, he was previously distinct from the Church politicians who indulged in materialism and were busy scrambling for power, thus earning the respect and trust of the Pope and many Cardinals.
However, in less than two years after becoming a Cardinal, Laszlo noticed that this man was corrupting... or perhaps evolving, at a visible speed, into an excellent Church politician.
He accepted Laszlo's money and worked diligently for him, not necessarily because he valued the reward Laszlo offered, but more likely because Francesco was accumulating connections and political resources for himself.
As for his purpose in doing this, Laszlo could figure it out easily: it was nothing more than the position all clergy members coveted.
Laszlo was happy to give him a push, not that he didn't want an Imperial clergyman to ascend to the Papal Throne, but mainly because the difficulty of doing so after Nicholas, or Pius II, was simply too great.
Let alone the French, even the Italians couldn't tolerate an Imperial clergyman serving as Pope.
In comparison, the resistance for Francesco, a famous Genoese man of humble origin, to ascend was much smaller.
Anyway, Laszlo wasn't too worried about the situation in Rome; at worst, he would just launch an armed pilgrimage...
His gaze focused on the double-headed eagle banner hanging on the wall directly opposite him, and his heart was filled with emotion.
Back then, Emperor Constantine the Great abandoned Rome's original single-headed eagle and adopted the double-headed eagle as his coat of arms, the political meaning of which was very clear.
One head represented Rome, and the other represented Constantinople, hence the double head.
Isaac I designated the East Roman national flag as the double-headed eagle to demonstrate the Empire's strength in ruling both the European and Asian parts, and also to inform people that the East Roman monarch was the sovereign of both the East and the West.
After all, how could one look after territories on both sides without growing an extra head?
Although this sovereign was eventually utterly defeated by challengers from the East and the West, the double-headed eagle emblem symbolizing Rome survived.
Since the fall of the Eastern Roman Empire, Laszlo changed the Emperor's coat of arms to a black double-headed eagle upon ascending the throne, and now he had added two crowns to it.
His two heads were also clear: one was the Roman Empire, and the other was the Latin Empire.
After more than a decade of fighting, he finally made the ambition embodied by this double-headed eagle banner a reality.
"Your Majesty, regarding the continuation of the Eastern Campaign..."
William, Marquis noticed that the Emperor's thoughts seemed to have drifted far away, and couldn't help but speak up and ask.
"Ah, the Eastern Campaign. Where were we?"
"The Genoese hope the Crusaders can launch an expedition against Jandar and Trebizond, and they are willing to provide more assistance."
William reluctantly stated the Genoese request.
He had almost become a mouthpiece between the Emperor and the Governor of Genoa. After all, the Emperor had countless daily affairs to deal with, and it was difficult for the Governor to communicate with the Emperor directly, so he had to rely on William, the Emperor's agent for Italian interests, to convey messages.
"Jandar and Trebizond are both located at the northern tip of the peninsula, on the shores of the Black Sea. The problem is that the route is characterized by high mountains and deep valleys, with steep slopes and cliffs everywhere, lacking open passages for a large army to march.
Tell me the Genoese reasons for wanting to attack these places."
Laszlo's interest in the Eastern Campaign was rapidly fading.
This wasn't because he was easily satisfied or didn't want to achieve complete success in one go, but because continuing the advance carried excessive risks with predictably low returns.
In any case, the most vital parts of the Ottoman Empire were now in his hands. All he needed to do was wait and see; the Ottomans occupying Central Anatolia would likely implode on their own first.
"The Genoese previously had a colony in Jandar and important trade ports in Trebizond. Eight years ago, Mehmed II conquered both Jandar and Trebizond in one fell swoop, and the Genoese lost all their trade ports on the southeastern shore of the Black Sea."
In previous battles, the Governor of Genoa and the merchants had tasted success by taking Smyrna, which they had long desired. This time, they hope to advance the Republic's Black Sea and Eastern trade further."
William's explanation did not surprise Laszlo at all.
Merchants always rise early only for profit. Whether they were Venetians or Genoese, they were essentially the same.
Before Laszlo could respond, Francesco, who was nearby, added: "Your Majesty, as far as I know, over ninety percent of the population in Trebizond still believes in God. Isn't His Excellency Bessarion, the Patriarch of Constantinople whom you trust, a Trebizond native?
If you could dispatch an army to help Trebizond restore its nation and establish a Crusader state there predominantly based on the Catholic faith, it would certainly weaken the Ottomans and add new merits to your name."
Laszlo raised an eyebrow, somewhat suspicious about whose standpoint Francesco was speaking from.
Was it as a Genoese? As an envoy of the Papacy? Or as his friend?
He was probably still speaking from the Papacy's standpoint.
"Hmm, that's a good reason. Liberating Christians under infidel rule is the most important mission of the Crusaders.
Moreover, once Trebizond is captured, we can join forces with the Georgians in the East to jointly counter the threat of the muslims."
Speaking of Georgia, Laszlo recalled a piece of news from a long time ago.
As the sole remaining Christian state on the Eastern Continent, the Kingdom of Georgia, although adhering to Orthodox Christianity, could be considered a clear stream surrounded by numerous Islamic nations.
Originally, Laszlo had entertained the idea of uniting with the Kingdom of Georgia before launching the Eastern Campaign, but the news his envoy brought back from thousands of miles away was that the Kingdom of Georgia had fallen into civil strife, severe warlordism, and had completely fragmented before the envoy began his return journey.
Laszlo's original plan was thus thwarted.
A few years passed, and the situation in Georgia calmed down. Division was a foregone conclusion, and reunification was highly unlikely.
If nothing unexpected happened, after returning from the East, Uzun Hasan, Khan of the White Sheep Dynasty, would certainly not mind taking a few appetizers before dealing with the Ottomans.
Georgia, weak in national power and now fragmented, was undoubtedly the best target.
If he got involved with them now, confrontation with Uzun Hasan would likely be unavoidable.
However, Uzun Hasan had coveted Trebizond for a long time. His favorite wife was the last princess of the Empire of Trebizond, the sole survivor of the entire Komnenos Imperial Family, which gave him ample reason to attack Trebizond, and even the entire Ottoman Empire.
Once Laszlo laid hands on this area, conflict would be unavoidable.
Facing the flourishing White Sheep Dynasty, Laszlo had to consider carefully.
"If the Genoese can transport the Crusader forces to Jandar and Trebizond by sea and guarantee logistical supplies, I agree in principle to launch this expedition.
However, it is unclear how many warriors are willing to risk participating. I will convene my generals for a more in-depth discussion.
William, relay the conditions I have set to the Governor of Genoa. I need his guarantee."
Laszlo had no intention of going personally. If they were capable of conquering Trebizond and other regions, he wouldn't mind sending a fierce general to lead the army there.
As for the White Sheep Dynasty? It was just a newly established Persian dynasty with unstable foundations. If he didn't even dare to touch that, what kind of Roman Emperor was he?
"What? Is there anything else you need to say?"
Laszlo noticed William hesitating to speak, so he asked.
"There is one more matter, concerning the Kingdom of Cyprus.
A high-ranking official of the Venetian Government has arranged a marriage alliance with the usurper King of Cyprus. The Genoese believe Venice is threatening their rule over Famagusta."
Famagusta, located on a corner of the Island of Cyprus, was Genoa's most important transit port in the Eastern Mediterranean.
As for the usurper King William mentioned, he was a bastard son of the Cypriot Royal Family supported by the Mamluk Sultanate.
He overthrew the rule of Charlotte, the legitimate Queen of Cyprus and daughter-in-law of the Duke of Savoy, through a coup d'état. He later regained independence during the Mamluk civil strife and is now allied with the Republic of Venice.
The Queen he overthrew, after the Duke of Savoy suffered Laszlo's ruthless punishment and lost all his territories and wealth, went to Rome with her husband, Louis, Count of Geneva, living under the Pope's protection while seeking an opportunity to restore her throne.
She had also sought help from Laszlo, but Laszlo was not inclined to deal with her at the time, and since she was a relative of the Duke of Savoy, the matter became even more complicated.
A tiny Island of Cyprus, involving a bastard son and a Queen, with infidels interfering behind the scenes, and now commercial rivalry between Genoa and Venice—just looking at it gave Laszlo a headache.
"I will solemnly warn the Venetians to respect the territorial integrity and commercial rights of the Genoese. Regarding the sovereignty of the Kingdom of Cyprus, I do not wish to interfere excessively."
"In that case, I will convey your decision to the Governor of Genoa."
"He will understand."
Laszlo waved his hand, and William immediately departed.
Following this, the Emperor and the Cardinal began a more in-depth discussion focusing on the Papacy and the Eastern Campaign.
Although the Crusade had not been officially declared over, Laszlo's journey had come to an end.
There were still some warriors who had just arrived in Asia Minor, or veterans whose fighting spirit had not yet been extinguished, who wished to continue fighting the Ottomans.
Laszlo did not douse their enthusiasm with cold water; after all, the Ottomans' resistance was visibly weakening, so extending their reach a little further would do no harm.
Some were sent by him to conquer cities and territories east of Bursa, to seize several important passes east of Bursa, thereby protecting the security of the former Ottoman capital and holding the strategic initiative in the hands of the Latin Empire.
Another group, mainly volunteers from Italy and the Empire, were willing to participate in the naval expedition organized by the Genoese, aimed at liberating Trebizond and seizing the Jandari coast.
Laszlo's core elite forces, including the armies of Austria, Hungary, and Bohemia, did not participate in these expeditions.
The Emperor had issued Orders not long ago, and many soldiers had already begun packing their bags, preparing to return home with the main army.
Before the main army officially returned, the Emperor's 'scribes' and 'heralds' had already begun to spread the good news of the great victory of the Crusade in various countries, emphasizing the Emperor's outstanding achievements in recapturing Constantinople, breaking through the Ottoman capital, and capturing the Sultan alive.
Laszlo hoped to use this to silence public opinion; he no longer wanted to hear anyone persuade him to continue eastward.
Having come all the way from Vienna, his Crusader army had suffered immense losses, especially in Constantinople, where they had almost been stopped at the gates of that dilapidated imperial metropolis.
Now, the established strategic objectives had been achieved; some Crusader warriors had died in battle, some had received rewards and settled down to manage land there, and others had already returned to Europe.
For those who wanted to continue fighting, Laszlo had found them targets, so their passion would not be extinguished by time.
After dealing with all the issues of the Crusaders, Laszlo held a week-long feast in the military camp outside Bursa, which could also be called a farewell dinner, and then led his army back to Constantinople.
In Constantinople, at the Blachernae Palace, Regent Frederick and his many collaborators were holding a routine meeting.
After the coronation ceremony, the Empress returned to Vienna, as Austria and the Empire still needed someone to oversee affairs, while the Emperor continued his eastern campaign. Thus, the heavy responsibility of stabilizing the rear and governing the nascent Latin Empire naturally fell on Frederick's shoulders.
If he had faced the chaotic and complex political landscape of the Empire as in history, or been surrounded by powerful enemies, Frederick's rule might have seemed very weak and ineffective.
However, after the military threat was completely eliminated, Frederick's political abilities gradually came into play.
His years of experience governing Austria and Bulgaria, coupled with his gentle, even somewhat weak character, made him adept at handling the affairs of the Latin Empire.
With the pacification of the religious unrest in Bulgaria, and the weakening of many Crusader military nobles' power during the Austro-Venetian War and the Crusades, Frederick found that his governance of the country also became easier.
All he had to do was maintain basic judicial fairness, then engage in construction and promote the spread of the Roman Catholic faith.
Beyond that, it was about collecting grain and taxes throughout Bulgaria and Greece under the guise of resisting the Ottomans, and then transporting them to the East to meet the demands of his brave and powerful nephew.
He never would have imagined that Laszlo would actually defeat Mehmed II and even capture him alive.
Now, he had almost completely abandoned his ridiculous little ambitions and contentedly served as the Regent of the Latin Empire.
However, some rumors from the Emperor's side recently made him worried, so Frederick's expression did not look very good.
His gaze swept over those present.
Andreas, Duke of Morea and Royal Advisor, represented the old guard of the East Roman Empire, but he himself had become completely Austrianized, and was now an exotic lord in the eyes of the Morean people.
In the same faction as him were his teacher and guardian, Bessarion, Patriarch of Constantinople and Imperial Grand Chancellor, an old man deeply trusted by the Emperor.
Anthony of Burgundy, Duke of Macedonia and Foreign Minister, represented the Crusader lords of the Burgundian and French factions. He was formerly a favorite of the Emperor, but recently seemed to have lost the Emperor's trust.
Leonardo III, Duke of Epirus and Minister of Finance, represented the Italian faction. This family's roots were in Sicily and the Ionian Islands, and thus they had close ties with Genoa and Venice, though their own strength was the weakest among those present.
In addition, Martin, the Imperial Military Commander who campaigned with the Emperor and Grand Master of the Order of Saint George, was absent.
The remaining two important ministers, the Grand Steward and the Lord Privy Seal, were both Austrian officials jointly selected by the Emperor and Frederick. Together with Frederick himself, they represented the Crusader Knight faction from the Western Empire, holding an absolute advantage over other factions.
As for the local forces in Bulgaria and Greece, they were widely distributed in the regions and played a key role in grassroots governance, but their presence was rarely seen at the highest levels of government.
After all, after the Ottomans were expelled, the local Bulgarian forces also inevitably suffered heavy blows.
The surviving nobles could at most be called local tyrants, with no military possibility of confronting other Crusader lords.
As for the Orthodox Church, which served as a tool of rule under the Ottoman millet system, it was now almost classified as an illegal organization, and its influence naturally plummeted.
Those urban elites and elders of free communes, they had not changed much; from the East Roman Empire, to the Ottomans, and now, they had always served as assistants in grassroots governance.
Under these circumstances, the rule of outsiders was gradually accepted by the Bulgarian people—those who did not accept it had already been purged in the previous Orthodox rebellion.
At first glance, this Latin Empire could almost be described as
However, things were far from that simple.
"Gentlemen, news from the East tells us that the Emperor is about to lead his grand army back to Constantinople; his expedition has concluded with victory."
Frederick announced this 'good news' to everyone, but the ministers' expressions varied.
"His Majesty the Emperor ended the eastern campaign so quickly. When I first heard the news that His Majesty had defeated the Ottoman Sultan, I thought he would fight all the way to the Salef River."
Leonardo said with a forced smile.
Except for Bessarion, the others did not react to this sudden dark joke from the Duke of Epirus.
The Salef River, located not far south of the Karaman capital, was where Frederick I, the Red Beard, defeated the Turkish resistance in Konya, and then died while crossing this river during his southward journey—possibly by drowning, or by falling ill after bathing in the river.
In any case, this place name could hardly be called friendly to an Emperor participating in a Crusade.
And this was precisely the attitude of Leonardo and the Tocco family he led towards the Emperor.
No matter who it was, being forced to kneel by others would not be a good experience, yet Leonardo could not resist, otherwise, he was destined for destruction.
After a series of events, including being forced into vassalage and then incorporated into the Latin Empire, Leonardo could vaguely foresee what the Emperor would likely do next.
With the establishment of the new defense line in Asia Minor, the Emperor now had free hands, and it was time to reform the system of the Latin Empire's European territories; the former system of free and unrestrained border military defense would certainly not work.
Also, Macedonia, Epirus, and Morea, these three despotic principalities forcibly incorporated into the Empire, were probably thorns in the side of that iron-fisted Emperor, and would eventually be removed.
As for whether they could resist the Emperor's gradual suppression, one only needed to look at the more than twenty thousand Austro-Hungarian troops and the Order of Saint George, which was extremely loyal to the Emperor, that the Emperor now firmly held.
Therefore, Leonardo spoke his mind in a joking tone—if the Emperor had indeed drowned in a river during the eastern campaign, their good days could have continued.
Unfortunately, such a thing was not realistic.
"Alright, His Majesty the Emperor's decisions have his own considerations. What we should focus on now is whether everyone has faithfully fulfilled their duties and completed the important tasks entrusted by the Emperor during this past period."
Bessarion cleared his throat, bringing the discussion back on track.
As important members of the Regency Council, besides handling the affairs of the Latin Empire, they primarily managed their own territories, with the latter being even more crucial.
Because in terms of the Empire's administrative divisions, excluding Frederick's Tarnovo and the remaining three principalities of Macedonia, as well as the Order's territories and the Asian part, the territory controlled by the Imperial government accounted for almost only one-third of the entire Empire, making governance quite easy.
From Sofia to Constantinople, under this dual-core governance system, a small Bulgaria naturally wouldn't have any major problems.
"His Majesty the Emperor is probably most concerned about the reconstruction of Constantinople, and I see that these works are progressing very smoothly."
Frederick was quite confident about this.
Although it didn't seem obvious, Frederick was actually quite skilled at infrastructure development.
In the past, unable to tolerate the rejection of Vienna's citizens, he developed Vienna Neustadt from a small town into a large city with a population of over ten thousand, and also established a palace and military barracks.
Previously, it was just a small satellite town of Vienna, but now it gradually evolved into Vienna's second center.
In addition, he had also put effort into construction in Graz and Linz, and Laszlo continued his policies, further developing these two cities into core cities of Austria.
After taking over the dilapidated Constantinople, Frederick first mobilized manpower to rebuild the damaged palaces, roads, and houses. The reconstruction of the already unrecognizable Theodosian Walls was indefinitely postponed, as Frederick's engineers estimated it would take about a hundred years to fully repair the wall.
Now, if the Emperor were to return to Constantinople, he could at least comfortably reside in the Blachernae Palace, no longer having to worry about lodging.
"The Hagia Sophia has also been restored to its original appearance... becoming a Western-style church. The minarets have been demolished, and the church has now moved into the cathedral.
As for the other churches in the city, they are currently undergoing renovation one by one."
Bessarion paused mid-sentence, a strange sorrow welling up in his heart.
He had spent time in Constantinople when he was young and had served the Palaiologos imperial family. At that time, the Hagia Sophia still had an Orthodox architectural style.
However, with this reconstruction, and accompanying the Emperor's conquests, came the particularly striking Gothic architectural style, especially the impressive spired towers.
This style had previously infiltrated Hungary with the rule of the Habsburg Family, and such church buildings were ubiquitous in eastern Hungary.
As the front lines continuously moved, this architectural style was finally brought to the distant East, and now it was also to take root in Constantinople.
Perhaps, in the future, people would find that the churches they saw in Cologne were very similar to those in Constantinople.
However, these staunch Catholic believers present could hardly understand the state of mind of Bessarion, this notorious 'apostate,' at this moment.
Since the Grand Duke Conference of Florence, he had abandoned the Orthodox Church and the East Roman Emperor, resolutely choosing to remain in Rome. He subsequently rose through the ranks to become the head of the College of Cardinals, second only to the Pope, and now returned to Constantinople to serve as the Eastern Patriarch. Such a fantastical experience was rare.
"The reconstruction and restoration of the markets and port are also progressing smoothly. It's just that there aren't enough tax officials, and additionally, the Genoese have a bit too many trade privileges."
The trouble Leonardo encountered wasn't a major issue; he was mainly displeased with the Genoese who occupied Galata.
"The Republic of Genoa is, after all, an important ally of ours; they deserve it," Frederick consoled, although he himself also believed that the privileges enjoyed by the Genoese largely affected Constantinople's commercial tax revenue. However, compared to the help the Genoese provided to the Crusaders, these were less important.
"An ally? Or an uncontrollable vassal?"
Leonardo narrowed his eyes, asking this sharp question.
Since the Emperor had completely defeated Venice and supported the Republic of Ragusa, should the Genoese still enjoy such favor?
"Ahem, this is not what we are here to discuss," Frederick interrupted the troublemaker, turning to look at the preoccupied Anthony, "How are the affairs of absorbing and settling immigrants progressing?"
"Hmm, people are continuously pouring into Constantinople from the Balkans and various Western countries. The Emperor has also sent back many artisans and other talents from Asia Minor. According to their faith, abilities, and property, they have been settled in corresponding areas. The policies of land distribution and tax exemptions for immigrants currently seem to have no major issues."
Anthony was still thinking about his brother Charles, far away in Burgundy, and thus wasn't very focused on the meeting.
During this time, he had actually been immersed in regret because he had persuaded Charles to release Louis XI, which led to Charles returning empty-handed again in the Second League of Public Weal War, and he himself lost the Emperor's trust, being forced to return to his fiefdom to accept the position of a Latin Empire minister.
Handling immigration issues was not a difficult task for Anthony; after all, Constantinople currently had plenty of abandoned land and houses, while manpower was the most scarce.
For this purpose, the Emperor even established ties with the Genoese to bring in some Slavic slaves to replenish the population.
In just a few months, Constantinople's population was almost back to its level before the Crusader siege, and it continued to grow.
"Excellent, it seems we can face His Majesty the Emperor with confidence.
3
As long as the superficial work is done well, the problem won't be big, Frederick was well aware of this.
Moreover, concentrating resources on developing Constantinople could not be entirely called superficial work, as it could even be considered one of the Latin Empire's fundamental national policies.
Frederick still remembered that his nephew, before setting off on his campaign, had spoken of hoping to restore Constantinople's glory, even to its peak size.
To achieve this goal, Constantinople would need at least half a million people.
Frederick didn't know if Laszlo's words were truly a pipe dream, but he had fallen in love with the city as soon as he arrived.
Even the dilapidated Constantinople looked much grander than Vienna.
After the meeting, Frederick quickly ordered officials at all levels and city residents to prepare for the Emperor's triumphal entry.
In the autumn of 1469, the people of Constantinople were immersed in the joy of an impending harvest.
The wheat seeds sown by farmers in spring had now grown into golden stalks and full, ripe ears, waiting to be reaped.
It was in such a season that the Emperor, with his grand army, crossed the strait and once again arrived at his loyal Constantinople.
The streets were packed with people, now erupting in cheers.
Only a very small number of them were native residents of Constantinople; most were volunteers from Hungary and various European countries who had poured into this great city with the Crusaders.
These people had taken root in the city and become the Emperor's most loyal subjects.
Warriors from the Emperor's various nations marched with heads held high, enjoying the cheers and praises of the people.
When the Emperor, riding a magnificent horse, and the prisoner cart holding the Sultan and his son appeared before the people, the atmosphere instantly reached a climax.
Petals fluttered down from the sky, and people either shouted "Long live the Emperor!" or exclaimed "God has shown a miracle!", as the entire city was immersed in jubilation.
Who could have imagined that Muhammad, the conqueror who had been so formidable a decade ago, would return to Constantinople, the city he had once ravaged, in such a pathetic state?
Some citizens even wanted to throw rotten vegetables or other objects into the prisoner cart, but they were quickly dissuaded.
When the numerous Ottoman captives following behind marched through, they could finally vent their anger and thoroughly humiliate these infidels who had invaded Europe.
Considering that most of these captives were Balkan people who had converted to Islam, calling them invaders might not be entirely appropriate.
However, the populace, filled with hatred for the Ottomans, didn't care much for such distinctions. Since these people chose to serve the Sultan, they should have anticipated today's outcome.
The treasures and spoils of war Laszlo had collected along the way were piled in the empty imperial treasury. He planned to transport half of them back to Austria, leaving the rest in Constantinople as funds for developing the Latin Empire.
This sum might not be considered large, probably less than a hundred thousand florins, as most of the spoils were distributed by Laszlo among his soldiers.
Some Crusader warriors who received land stayed in the East, while those who received land but were unwilling to stay could receive an equivalent monetary reward for the land they won, and then relinquish their right to the land.
Laszlo tried every possible method to reduce his direct military expenditure, barely managing to withstand the financial pressure.
This was also thanks to a papal bull issued centuries ago, which allowed Crusader monarchs to levy special taxes on all subjects—including nobles and clergy—to raise funds. No one who believed in God could refuse to assist the monarch, otherwise, they would be deemed impious.
Laszlo thus squeezed all his subordinate states, except for Austria which had signed the
This was even with most auxiliary troops receiving only a small amount of pay, or even no pay at all.
There was no other way; standing armies were like that. Maintaining them during peacetime was manageable, but once war broke out, expenditures would rapidly inflate.
However, during the expedition, the potential displayed by the Latin Empire pleasantly surprised Laszlo.
During the conquest of Asia Minor, more than half of the Crusader logistics were supported by the Latin Empire and Genoese merchants.
Under the banner of God and the Emperor, Frederick not only maintained the general stability of the European part of the Latin Empire but also provided Laszlo with large amounts of money and provisions.
Therefore, when Laszlo met his uncle privately in the Blachernae Palace, he uncharacteristically put on a friendly face.
"Frederick, you've done quite well managing Balkan affairs in Constantinople during this time."
Laszlo's praise brought a look of joy to Frederick, who had been somewhat uneasy, and his mood relaxed accordingly.
They say absence makes the heart grow fonder, or perhaps in this case, creates distance. When Frederick, the Emperor's uncle and former guardian, stayed in Austria, Laszlo often worried that he would harbor ill intentions, as in history, even attempting to control the Emperor to command the nobles.
Later developments proved that while Frederick had some ambition, what he valued more was self-preservation.
After arriving in Bulgaria, although Frederick didn't achieve anything particularly outstanding, he also didn't stir up any trouble on his own.
The previous Orthodox rebellion was merely the culmination of contradictions accumulated over a decade that could no longer be suppressed. While Frederick bore some responsibility, it wasn't entirely his fault.
Overall, having his two uncles stationed in the East saved Laszlo a good deal of trouble.
"That is what I should do, Your Majesty."
Frederick also expressed his loyalty at the opportune moment; his power and position remained very stable so far.
As long as his dear nephew returned to the family's western territories, then the East would essentially be under his command.
Frederick himself was well aware of why Laszlo could trust him so much.
The Order of Saint George was a powerful force the Emperor used to assist and check him. The Hungarian Border Guard, stationed at the junction of Wallachia, Serbia, Hungary, and Bulgaria during the previous Great Bulgarian Rebellion, was another even more astonishing military force.
With these two powerful armed forces, one internal and one external, suppressing unrest, it could first ensure that any Balkan rebellion would be swiftly quelled, and second, prevent him, the Regent of Bulgaria, and his cousin Sigismund, the Regent of Serbia, from having any ulterior motives.
However, given Laszlo's current prestige, even if they wanted to cause trouble, the various forces across the Balkans probably wouldn't offer any support.
Sometimes, being too useless was an advantage, which made Frederick feel a faint sadness.
"After the fall of Constantinople, I was too hasty and incorporated several Balkan vassal states into the Empire all at once, without having time to properly manage them.
This time, I intend to stay in the East for a while longer to thoroughly reform the military, political, and economic affairs of the Eastern Empire. In this regard, I hope Uncle Frederick can provide more assistance."
Laszlo's attitude towards Frederick grew increasingly gentle, even somewhat polite, but Frederick's expression was no longer as pleasant as before.
The news that had circulated from the Emperor's side was indeed true: Laszlo truly intended to change the governmental system of the Latin Empire.
Moreover, seeing his peculiar attitude, Frederick guessed that his Principality of Tarnovo was likely the first target to be cut.
At this, his expression was only slightly better than if he had cried.
"Well... of course, Your Majesty, I will do my best."
"Hmm, first I plan to address the military issues, mainly the composition of the Imperial army and the defense against the Ottomans."
Laszlo pretended not to notice Frederick's change in mood and began to discuss the specific problems on his own.
"Do you have any thoughts on this?"
"Previously, the army of the Kingdom of Bulgaria consisted mainly of three parts: the feudal levy armies composed of Crusader lords, a small elite standing army stationed in Sofia, and the Order's army.
Such a structure could generally be considered reasonable, but now some small changes need to be made.
The Order will be dispatched to Asia Minor, and Bursa will become their new headquarters. Grand Master Martin will primarily be responsible for the defense of the eastern front.
As for the standing army, I believe it should be appropriately expanded with the enlargement of territory. The specific number can be determined based on financial conditions, but it should preferably not be too small."
Frederick accurately caught the hint in Laszlo's words, and quickly realized that the Emperor wished to implement a widespread reform.
"I understand. And regarding the Crusader lords...?"
"I plan to deal with them in two batches," Laszlo hesitated for a moment, then revealed his thoughts entirely, "The lords in Asia Minor will continue to fulfill the contracts they made when they received their fiefs, being exempt from all taxes on their fiefs. At the same time, they must strictly adhere to their military obligations. Should anyone violate their oath, you can directly reclaim the fief."
Frederick nodded gently; this point was not problematic. Past Crusader states generally implemented such policies in newly occupied territories.
"For the Crusader lords in the Balkans, since the military pressure they face has been greatly reduced, their feudal obligations should also change.
Specifically, I offer them two choices: either be exempt from military obligations but bear the Empire's taxes like the local Balkan nobles, or exchange their territories for ones in Asia Minor, where I can give them an opportunity to continue fighting for God."
"Your Majesty, this might cause some unrest, and could even draw intervention from the Papacy."
Frederick frowned and advised, though no matter what consequences this step might bring, it was unlikely to change the Emperor's resolve. Yet, Frederick's conservative nature made him unwilling to disrupt the stable status quo.
"I will handle the Papacy myself. As for unrest..."
Laszlo walked to the window, looking at the military camp below the Brechenai Plateau. The vast camp stretched for more than ten miles along the damaged Theodosian Walls.
The armies of other allies had already begun to leave Constantinople one after another, but his battle-hardened elite troops would remain here until all disturbances subsided.
Seeing this, Frederick could only say with a bitter smile, "I understand, Your Majesty. I will handle this matter well."
"Hmm, next is the administrative system. In fact, this issue is highly related to economic problems, so I'll discuss them together," Laszlo retracted his gaze and turned to Frederick. "You've been in the East for over ten years. How much do you know about the people here? I mean, their views on taxation."
So-called administration essentially has two key points: judicial Order and tax collection. The former can operate smoothly by appointing local powers and dispatching trusted officials for supervision, while the latter is crucial for a nation's strength.
"From years of experience, the common people at the bottom do not have much resistance to taxation. What they resent is irregular taxation, or multiple additional tax levies in a single year."
"Exactly. From the Eastern Roman Empire to the Ottoman Empire, the subjects here have never stopped paying taxes to their monarchs.
We live in a conservative society where any arbitrary innovation will be seen as an offense to Order.
So I plan to learn from those who ruled this land before and become what people call an 'Eastern monarch' for once."
Laszlo felt a sense of relief when he thought of the grievances he had suffered in Austria and Hungary in previous years.
"Eastern monarch?"
Frederick was a bit confused, as this term, in his impression, seemed no different from an evil dictator.
"In the past, Western monarchs lived solely off their own domains. Only when certain changes, such as excessive court expenses or sudden wars, threw their finances into disarray, did they have to levy taxes on all their subjects.
This process would face a lot of resistance and constraints until a sufficiently large representative body agreed to the tax resolution.
In France, this thing is called the Estates-General; in England, it's Parliament; in Austria and Bohemia, it's the Estates Assembly; in Hungary, it's the Diet. There are always such groups of people who jump out to prevent the monarch from acquiring more funds.
These taxes, I used to call them 'negotiated taxes,' meaning taxes that could only be collected by making agreements and ceding benefits to various social strata."
Laszlo felt his emotions getting more and more agitated as he spoke, so he took a deep breath to calm himself.
Frederick was already bewildered by this point, but he could generally understand the Emperor's main idea.
"Decades ago, Charles VII of France did a great deed: he used the turbulent situation to force the Estates-General to surrender their right to levy taxes. From then on, he could levy taxes according to his own will.
I call these 'compulsory taxes.' Collecting these taxes doesn't require a special reason; it's simply because the monarch needs them, and the law allows him to do so.
Afterward, I engaged in a long struggle with the Estates Assembly of Austria, making them agree to sign the 'Recess Agreement.' They handed over the right to levy taxes for the next ten years to me, and I promised not to raise taxes on the Austrians—of course, I don't intend to return this power later.
In Hungary, as you know, I quelled countless rebellions and argued with them exhaustively in the Diet. Now the Hungarians have also been tamed by me.
A writer once wrote this passage.
Without an army, a nation has no peace. Without military pay, there is no army. And without tribute, military pay is out of the question.
To be invincible, one needs an army specifically for warfare, and to support an army, there must be stable and ample tax revenue!
However, Eastern monarchs do not need to make such difficult leaps as I or the King of France. They have skillfully used a complete civil service and taxation system to manage the country and support armies for hundreds of years, including the Ottomans, which has provided me with much convenience."
At this point, Laszlo let out a long breath, as if all the pent-up frustration in his heart had been released.
Frederick, who had been listening silently behind him, was completely dumbfounded. With his rigid thinking and weak character, he probably had never considered such issues.
As Laszlo said, the old society was conservative, and Frederick was its representative.
Historically, during his reign, most subjects of the Empire already realized that imperial reform was imperative. However, Frederick single-handedly delayed the reform process by decades, because he was extremely afraid that new institutions would threaten the ruling position of the Habsburg Family.
It must be said that his worries were correct. After all, this incompetent emperor later even lost Vienna. If he had foolishly invested in imperial reform, he might have been played to death by those princes.
But Laszlo would not have such worries. Although those princes were among the more difficult opponents he faced, they were not insurmountable.
Returning to the main topic, Laszlo took a breath and then described his vision to his trusted uncle: "There are still many talented people among the East Roman remnants. If we can make good use of them, building our own administrative system will not be a problem.
Of course, the primary criteria for employing people must be trustworthiness, followed by talent. In this regard, you can cooperate with Bessarion. It would be best to quickly rebuild the University of Constantinople and also open more church schools... these are all long-term plans.
As for local governance, the eastern regions should still establish border districts with military control as the primary method. In the western regions, a system similar to Austria can be introduced, dividing the land into two levels: state and local. Each state will have a governor leading the state government, and local areas will have justices of the peace and tax collectors. Land will be taxed according to its size and fertility, and urban residents will be taxed according to their property class, with no exemptions except in special circumstances."
"What about the Estates Assembly...?" Frederick lowered his eyes somewhat guiltily.
"Tsk, I almost forgot you brought this thing over too," Laszlo sighed, rubbing his forehead. "Let the Estates Assembly of each state be an auxiliary body to the state government, assisting in the implementation of decrees. You can try selecting councilors from one state to serve as officials in other states; the term doesn't need to be too long, just rotation will do.
"Okay, what about taxation for the church?"
"The church... monasteries can be tax-exempt, but legislation must clearly limit the church's arbitrary expansion of tax-exempt land."
Frederick noted down the Emperor's decisions one by one. In this process, he gradually realized that the reforms the Emperor spoke of were not as shocking as they had imagined, and could even be said to have strong Eastern characteristics.
"The last question concerns the four grand duchies of the Empire."
Laszlo's gaze towards Frederick was quite meaningful.
Upon hearing this topic, Frederick's heart immediately leaped into his throat.
The Duchy of Tarnovo under his rule was the largest of the four duchies, and its capital, Veliko Tarnovo, was the former capital of the Bulgarian Empire. If the Emperor were to make an example, he probably wouldn't consider their uncle-nephew relationship.
"The four grand duchies are also part of the Empire, and the people living within their borders also need to bear the Empire's taxes. However, the dukes will still enjoy the economic and judicial privileges I promised them in the past, but they will need to govern local affairs under the supervision of royal commissioners.
Uncle Frederick, you should be able to accept these terms, right?"
Facing the Emperor's inquiry, Frederick could only show a constipated expression.
"Of course, Your Majesty, your will is above all else."
"Since there are no objections, then go ahead and do it," Laszlo waved his hand, his words carrying a hint of dominance. "If you encounter any obstacles, report them directly. My army and I will be your strongest backing."
Frederick sighed softly, then accepted the Order and left the palace, immediately preparing to convene an emergency Regency Council—which was also called the Cabinet when the Emperor was present.