While he cursed, it was only cursing.
At least for Manuel, the purpose of his personal visit this time was achieved.
As long as he could avoid being hindered or even sabotaged by Venice itself, then his trip today would have been worthwhile.
However, this did not mean that his Black Sea trade route expansion plan was over.
On the contrary, the trade route expansion plan Caesar had envisioned was, for him, only the beginning.
Upon returning to Tauris, filled with anticipation, he did not rush back to Pontus as planned.
Instead, after consulting with Serenus, Arno, and other cabinet members, he decided on his next destination.
Three days later, in the morning, he entrusted Serenus with a rather important task, sending him as his envoy to the countries of Eastern Europe.
...That is why you will lead the special envoy mission, and on my behalf, contact Poland and Lithuania to inquire if the kings of these two countries or their important ministers have time.
I have a good idea and hope to reach a consensus with them.
If possible, also make a detour to Moscow and contact Grand Duke Vasily II of Moscow, as the monarch of the Rus' people is also our kin and brother.
Receiving Caesar's direct order, his Chief Secretary, also the Foreign Minister, bowed humbly, "By the Holy Father, I will not fail His Majesty's expectations."
The reason Manuel had the idea of contacting Eastern European countries was inspired by his knowledge of history and his own experience.
Historically, the Rus' and East Rome had a very long trade route, starting at Memel (Klaipėda), the mouth of the Neman River in the Baltic Sea, or Neva (also known as Ingria, the historical Saint Petersburg), the mouth of the Neva River.
Its endpoint was Ingilas (the historical Chersonese), the mouth of the Dnieper River in the Black Sea, passing through the Dnieper River, Neman River, and Neva River, among other medium to large river basins.
This was the famous "Varangian-Greek Trade Route," meaning "from the Varangians to the Greeks."
Although in the 15th century, the former Varangian-Greek Trade Route had long declined due to war and the dual decline of Rus' and Rome, and the once prosperous trade route was now occupied and fragmented by various countries such as Novgorod, Lithuania, Moscow, Golden Horde, and Bosporus.
But after returning to Bangkok Pu that day, Manuel, who was very interested in this, unexpectedly discovered through his historical experience and discussions with his trusted officials that this trade route seemed to have the potential for "resurrection."
The most crucial point lay in the rather loose vassal-tributary relationship between Bosporus and Lithuania.
As is well known, since the Crimean War and Theodoro Civil War a few years ago, the Bosphorus Despotate, which evolved from Theodoro, is now nominally a tenuous vassal of Lithuania.
Furthermore, due to Manuel's prudence and foresight, Bosporus has not yet severed its tributary relationship with the Golden Horde.
Adding to that Manuel's personal acquaintance with the current King Sigismund Kęstutaitis of Lithuania, this gave him considerable room for maneuver.
Let's assume that if he could persuade Lithuania to increase trade with Bosporus and actively encourage it through proactive measures.
Then, if both sides mutually benefited commercially, wouldn't it also deepen the ties between Bosporus and Lithuania, making the latter willing to step forward when the Ottoman Empire or nomadic tribes intended to attack its Eastern European territories?
Wouldn't that be good?
Moreover, using inland waterways could avoid being throttled by the unscrupulous merchants of Venice and would not overly provoke them, so why not?
As for why he also had Serenus try to contact the Grand Duchy of Moscow, he had his own considerations.
Currently, within the Grand Duchy of Moscow, although Yuri Dmitrievich and his descendants are still trying to contend for Vasily II's position as Grand Duke, Vasily II himself is the son of his father, the former Vasily I, and also the grandson of the former King Vytautas of Lithuania, and the grandnephew of the current King of Lithuania.
Therefore, with the support of Lithuania, Vasily's position as Grand Duke is currently quite stable.
Since political stability was achieved, there would naturally be room for detailed discussions on economic trade.
In addition, a few years ago, when Manuel was still the Crown Prince of Theodoro, his positive impression of Moscow's closeness to the Romans was quite profound, and the Grand Duchy of Moscow also controlled a large number of medium-sized river basins.
Therefore, he thought of bringing Moscow into his envisioned Eastern European trade network.
So why not contact the commercially prosperous Grand Duchy of Novgorod (the Republic of Novgorod, although by the 15th century, the supreme power of Novgorod was completely controlled by the oligarchic noble groups in the city council, also known as the Veche, but since the monarchy was not abolished, its nominal supreme leader was still a Rus' prince)?
Because Novgorod already had its close partners, namely the "Hanseatic League" on the Baltic Sea coast.
In the face of the massive profits brought by the Hanseatic League, how could the short-sighted Veche possibly care for Bosporus in the Black Sea region and the inland waterway trade it offered?
Furthermore, the distance from Bangkok Pu to Novgorod and even Neva was simply too far, so Manuel decisively excluded Novgorod from his commercial plan from the outset.
Only the effort to contact the Poles had little to do with trade.
Because the current Kingdom of Poland has neither a coastline nor medium to large river basins connected to the Black Sea, Manuel's dispatch of Serenus and others to Poland this time was merely to ascertain the Polish perception of Bosporus.
After all, it was a country that historically produced the young and capable, yet rash monarch, Władysław III, and had powerful noble factions fighting among themselves.
Caesar was concerned that Poland, like a dog, might instead damage his relationship with Lithuania.
Finally, Manuel summarized the main members of his envisioned new Eastern European trade network: the Bosphorus Despotate itself, the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, and the Grand Duchy of Moscow.
"If we can truly unite, even if only commercially, it will be a mutual aid, right?"
To prepare for the year 1444, which might largely remain unchanged, I must work this hard."
Manuel thought this after Serenus departed.