61 Reestablishing Hegemony of the Eastern Roman Empire

John and Pavlos entered Manuel II's office looking haggard with the latter came out worse than the former, while the emperor were engrossed in the paperwork that almost covered his entire desk. He then paused at what he was doing upon realizing the guests but was somewhat perplexed at their appearance.

"What is happening with you two?"

He asked them,

"Nothing."

They answered in a perfect sync which cause the emperor's brows to rose.

"Never mind... tidy yourself and sit down."

Not going to indulge further into these two adults affairs, the emperor ordered as he left his desk and moving towards the table in the middle of the room and then sat upon the couch. John and Pavlos tidied their clothes all the while giving each other resenting glare before they took their respective seats.

"The reason why I called upon you today, especially you Pavlos, was to ascertain your opinion on something."

Manuel II began without wasting any moment and the duo pay close attention as they were curious as to what it was all about.

"Yesterday, I received ominous reports from our spies in the Thessaly. The Thessalians has forged alliances with the Epirot and the Franks in Achaea; it seems likely that they are wary of us - of you. The one who singlehandedly ended the undisputed hegemony of the Turks in these parts after a century of domination over the Balkans, the infamous Tourkoktónos."

"Not only that."

"The Serbians are moving suspiciously around North Macedonia, specifically, Skoúpo and Lychnidos. Hastily built fortresses were spotted not far from Resen. No reported aggression as of yet, and I duly hope that is the case for now. The dynamic in the region is chaotic, something that we should not take lightly especially since it is not time for us to do anything for the time being."

Long story short, the entirety of Balkans are now in a situation where power struggle become the main focus following the expulsion of the Ottoman rule by the Byzantines, and especially, John who is the center of attention at the moment due to his newfound reputation as a Turk slayer.

John had expected this ever since the Thessalians boldly reject the empire reestablishing the hegemony there and entered into a unilateral agreement with the Epirot regime as defensive ally.

The Serbians however were another case entirely. Their relationship with the Empire and the Ottomans were quite complex.

Its opportunistic ruler, Stefan Lazarević had been jumping ships various times; sometimes with the Carpathian hegemon, Hungary, as its vessel, with the dying Empire itself, and even the Ottomans, especially during the Ottoman Interregnum period where they provide support for Musa Celebi against his brothers.

Manuel II and Stefan Lazarević were allies; friends even, since it was, after all, by the emperor authority that he was recognized as Despot of Serbia in 1402 prior to his struggle with the Branković, his in-laws, his opponent of the Serbian throne.

While his loyalty can somewhat be questionable at times, without any shadow of a doubt that he is a competent ruler. Unfortunately, now is not the time to admire nor admonish future foe; the moment he boldly tried to assert his authority in the region despite being in close relation with the Byzantines, these matter cannot be overlooked as mere provocation, but also treachery.

"What a bloody affairs."

Pavlos spatted while John immersed himself in his own pensive mood.

There has never been a time, not the Sack of Constantinople, even during the restoration of the Empire, the influence and dignity of the Empire were taken seriously. Many had thought that the days where Rome standard flown over the entire Mediterranean and Europe has already over.

Even after recent exploits made by John, none of it matters - the Empire remained as weak as it has ever been throughout its declining years.

"This cannot be let be. These mongrels ought to learn its place - what say you, young despot? Shouldn't we crush these honor less scum?"

A fervent patriot is old Pavlos, while what he said is not wrong, he missed the point where the Empire as of right now cannot start another conflict.

"Hold your horses old man; we are not in a position to start another war. Even if we do, we would eventually overstretch our resources when we ought to rebuilt. Expansion can wait until we stabilize our positions in these reconquered lands. Trying to take another one would only bring headache than it already is."

John reprimanded which caused the old man to scratch his balding spot embarrassedly not only that, Manuel II also supported John's view,

"I agree with John here. We haven't the capability nor the capital to start another conflict. The reason why I brought you here is to tell me what you think we should do with the administrative policies that would be enacted upon the newly acquired subjects - not to add to their burden."

Being reprimanded by both the Emperor and the Co-Emperor made the old Pavlos expression ugly. These two rascal despite being the highest of the high tried to bully this old man. He complained to himself.

"Whatever you say, Your Majesty, however."

"I don't see why I should be the one to discuss the policies that are about to be made; shouldn't that be the responsibilities of the provincial governors you appointed? Why me? I'm but a senile old man whose feet already one step upon the grave."

Pavlos articulated meaningfully - but everyone can see that he is actually upset at the moment.

With a smile, Manuel replied,

"Indeed. But compared to your wisdoms, these bunch of worthless bums have nothing except for their bloated bellies and self-interest."

Like in every history in its existence, the Empire had been, and always been politically fragmented. Factionalism has been a terminal cancer that caused the Empire in its current state. In the last council, it shows - the weakness of the Imperial Bureaucracy.

Roman politics has always been different than its surrounding neighbors. Where others remain stoic in their barbaric ways, the Romans are more... delicate.

The Emperor are not better than the nobles nor the nobles are any better than the Church nor is it any better than the patricians. The power dynamic within the imperial court has always been fragmented since the day of its Republican era.

For the pursuit of 'democracy', the history of the Empire was wrought with endless civil unrest, civil wars, war of succession and usurpers of the purple throne. As a martial nation, an army generals has more power than even the Emperor and the nobles. External threat is the least of the problem when living in Rome.

Nobility in Rome despite shared similarities with its surroundings, their power structure are much more different than the feudalistic West. Roman Nobles are appointed nobles either for life or hereditary.

Those with merits can be nobles even if they are born peasants unlike the West, and are more unlikely to incite peasant rebellions since there are no such thing as lower or higher class in Rome society.

Each citizens are treated equally under the Juris Corpus of Rome codified by Justinian I.

Nevertheless, there still remain superiority complex from the nobility against the lesser people but not as aggressive or barbaric as the West. The people are property of the Empire regardless of their status, and only the Emperor can have any power over the common people, not the nobility.

Democracy of the people are well protected in Rome even if politically, they are not eligible to discuss. The only way people can be bought into politic is by meritocracy. But even that has eroded over the course of centuries.

As the Empire declined, so do its civilized ways. The West may be barbarians but Rome, they are savages. Check and balances are a mess since every factions have equal power to one another.

Even now its bureaucracy are failing due to corruption. While they stuffed their pockets with solidus, there are starving people everywhere before John impressively rebuilt the capital to its former glory.

The councilmen only concerned themselves with which patch of lands they would rule without even discussing what they should do with the people living in their chosen territory afterwards. They are quick to salivate when benefits came about which led them to become conscienceless humans.

"Being the most senior amongst John's advisory board, I believe your credibility being more sound than these rotten pests."

"..."

Of course, being praised after being reprimanded, what other expression can Pavlos make.

"If that is what you think of me; then why not?"

He finally relented which elicited positive response from the emperor. But as if remembering something, Manuel II turned to John.

"Ah yes, before I almost forgot. Your granduncle, Theodore who at the moment act as our ambassador to Venice reported that the new Venetian Doge beginning to take interest in you, and not to mention, the damn rat you told me earlier---um, what was his name again?"

"Ah yes, Vernon---Mikail Vernon, is now a cabinet member of the Venetian government... That 'rat' had found another hole to get into, which posed us another problem since we now cannot touch him."

Hearing the name of that hated vermin, John expression sank. How could he forget the 'rat' that caused Constantinople to fall further into ruin? Not only his face that day spoiled his mood, but also his attitude and the manner in which he irresponsibly handled the affairs at the Golden Gate's ports.

And now that 'rat', has become a pet for the treacherous Venetians; it seems like the task to apprehend this traitor has become even more challenging. A traitor becomes a pet for another traitor, one can only imagine what comes to John mind when he thought of that scene.

John tried to shake off his hatred for a while before refocusing on the Venetian Doge's interest in him.

"The Doge, you said that he was interested in me, what does that mean?"

What has he done to elicit such interest? While he did understand the interest towards him by the previous Doge, who shamelessly wanted to own the port that he built in Morea, the new Doge's interest in him sounded ominous.

"While I don't know what it means since Theodore didn't mention to much of it other than that the Doge seem to mention your name often during their conversation... If my guess is correct, it is probably has to do with recent event..."

Manuel II were also not sure why such interest towards the co-emperor.

"I understand."

If the Doge shows interest in him because of the war, that would seem more plausible but John don't think that was all. If the Venetians now beginning to take notice of him, rather than that being a good thing, it is more of a poisonous venom.

When a snake target its prey, it will never let go and always watch its prey's every move. Not to mention the entirety or Balkans, the Venetians as of right now are almost untouchable being. He couldn't find any other way to begin a conflict with them in the near future so it is best to maintain good relations for now.

Then, afterwards, the discussion evolved into administrative matters. The trio talked all day discussing the best course of actions for the near future and avoiding further conflicts before everything has been normalize. Until finally, Manuel II began to ask about Adrianople.

"I heard rumours that Adrianople is currently in riots."

"I know that you are to depart in two days, however, as I see it, you have to go as soon as possible. If protracted for long, it will damage your reputation as well questions arose of your inability as future emperor."

What he said is true. An Emperor is a symbol of the people as well as the Empire. The duty of an emperor is to protect his citizens, and now that such problem arise, John had to make choices that he had never made before in his life.

"I will see what I can do...I planned to depart tomorrow..."

For the first time, John is being tested for what he is capable of. The first hurdle is to stop the current situation that is ongoing. It was a good test, especially when riots are considered to be one of the things that a ruler should pay attention to.

He had learnt that by failing to do so would lead to him being put down by the pitchfork, or worse like how tyrants were in history, 'being put to the guillotine'.

Not that John is a tyrant to begin with since he hadn't done anything that caused him to be called as such, but the fact that a city that he was about to be its master had fallen into a dissent is something he could not be complacent towards.

"I hope you can do well."

"I too sure hope you can do well."

Both Pavlos and Manuel II tried to encouraged John which somehow warmed him. It is a burden yes, but encouragement such as these were what kept him forward all these times. He shouldn't be faltering when major things such as this happened, as a monarch, he should be composed at all times.

"...thank you..."

He replied with a smile.