1444, Byzantium Resurrects

Chapter 246 Imperial Orphanage

The spring of 1466 was warm and comfortable. The Eastern Roman Empire ended its long wars and entered a period of peace and development.

In Italy, the Council of La Spezia proceeded in an orderly manner, with clergy from all over the Mediterranean gathering together.

An ecumenical council would often last a long time, as the clergy needed time to satisfy their desire for endless quarrels, but the outcome of the meeting had already been determined in the rulers' preliminary negotiations, and their wishes could not actually change anything.

The conflict on the Iberian Peninsula was far from over. The Catalans received assistance from the French nobles and the Kingdom of Navarre. The Kingdom of Aragon failed to end the conflict in a short period of time and fell deeper and deeper into the vortex of civil war.

The situation in Castile became even more chaotic. The second major rebellion in nearly a hundred years broke out in the Galicia region. An organization called the Great Brotherhood occupied the land in the northwest corner of Iberia and resisted the exploitation of the king and the nobles.

However, the two sides of the civil war in Castile were apparently indifferent to this and fought over the cities of Toledo and Segovia, and the war spread throughout the central region.

The marriage between the Valleoli and the Trastamara families had entered the final stage of negotiations. Isabella, who was far away in Segovia, gained a certain degree of freedom, but her communications with the outside world were still under strict surveillance.

Count Abel of the Western Frontier Region obtained the initial funds provided by Isaac and recruited a group of old subordinates from the Southern Frontier Legion. Based on this, he formed an army of 3,000 people near Carthage and was marching towards the city of Bejaia.

The East India Fleet had crossed the Strait of Gibraltar and entered the Governorate of La Palma, preparing to continue sailing south relying on the Canary Current.

Along the coast of West Africa, they would sell all their cargo, raising sufficient funds to purchase goods from the East.

It is basic trade knowledge that a ship never sails empty.

The war in Bulgaria has come to an end. The city of Sofia has been looted by the Cuman cavalry and Bulgarian nobles, leaving the Eastern Roman Empire with only an empty city with a population of less than 3,000.

After leaving some garrisons to guard the western frontier, the Bulgarian Front of the Eastern Roman Empire was disbanded, and the soldiers returned to their hometowns and their horses were released into the mountains.

On the lower Danube plain, the Royal Reclamation Corps welcomed the first round of harvest. Due to the hasty sowing, the incomplete water conservancy projects, and the large shortage of horses and other livestock, the first round of harvest could only be described as unsatisfactory.

However, large tracts of idle land still attracted many farmers from within the empire. The rapid population growth brought about a shortage of land. The advancement of agricultural technology and the increase in livestock greatly improved the farmers' production efficiency. The policy of "nobles guarding the border" further strengthened their confidence. Many farmers chose to send their children who had no inheritance rights away to seek a living in the north.

Among the three reclaimed areas of the empire, the Southern Frontier Region located in the desert is undoubtedly the least suitable for farming. The lands in the Western Frontier Region and Bulgaria each have their own advantages. Immigrants from the Eastern Empire mainly go to Bulgaria, while refugees from Western European countries regard the closer Western Frontier Region as their first destination.

In Constantinople, the newly planned financial street attracted the vast majority of curious and envious eyes. The majestic Bank of Constantinople and the magnificent Constantinople Stock Exchange both stood on this street. In addition, many companies and commercial unions also established branches here.

The financial industry has a threshold. Currently, the Constantinople Stock Exchange is not open to the lower-class citizens. Several major companies are mainly aimed at nobles and wealthy businessmen. The shares of the East India Company had been divided up by various wealthy people before it was listed. The United Fruit Company and the Royal Rose Company have been issuing shares to the outside world to attract funds and expand production.

The first three companies that issued shares to the public are engaged in businesses that are sure to make a profit. Only when the first investors make money can they attract more small and medium-sized businessmen who are still on the sidelines, and finally the middle-class citizens from top to bottom.

It was a sunny March in Carthage. In the garden of the royal palace, Isaac was holding a family picnic. In addition to his two sons, a daughter, a son-in-law and his pregnant wife, there were also Isaac's two godchildren.

Leonor sat in a recliner and slowly ate bread with jam. Her gentle eyes moved over her children and husband, and then lingered on her bulging belly.

Thessalonika sat under the tree, holding a thick book in her hands. Little Basil lay beside his sister, holding a fresh tangerine in his hand, breaking off a slice from time to time and putting it into his sister's mouth.

Isaac's godson and nephew, Conti's son, Taitisius, was hiding under another big tree, staring intently at the bird's nest on the tree, with the slingshot in his hand ready to go.

Isaac, his eldest son Justinian, his godson Albuquerque and his son-in-law Carlo Tocco sat around the dining table, which was filled with delicious dishes and aged wine.

"Albuquerque, this is your first time eating at our house. Are you used to the food?"

Isaac poured a dish of lemon juice into the grilled fish and looked at the young Portuguese hero with a smile.

"Very hearty, Godfather."

Albuquerque picked up a piece of grilled fish and put it into his mouth, feeling the freshness and aroma of the sea fish.

"Your banquet is not as extravagant as those in the courts of Western Europe, but the dishes are very delicious. I like them very much."

Albuquerque raised his glass of wine and took a sip.

"I sent my trusted followers to buy these ingredients from the market. During the family feast, I will eat whatever the citizens eat."

Isaac smiled and picked up a portion of rice stuffed with grape leaves.

"For example, rice stuffed with grape leaves is a traditional food in Greece. It is more common in cities, but still unaffordable in rural areas."

Albuquerque took the rice, took a bite, and asked vaguely.

"Do the Carthaginians like rice? I only knew that the Aragonese liked it."

"Rice was brought to the Mediterranean by the Arabs. In addition to Iberia, many places have a tradition of eating rice."

Isaac said as he handed Justinian another packed meal.

"This crop is actually not very suitable for cultivation along the Mediterranean coast. It is widely distributed in the East. India uses rice as its staple food."

"Father, as far as I know, not all places along the Mediterranean coast are unsuitable for growing rice. The rice yield in Egypt is extremely high, and the unit yield is even much higher than that of wheat."

Justinian shrugged and took a bite of half his rice roll.

"That's right. Egypt has excellent sunlight conditions, and the Nile River provides sufficient water. The climate there is dry, and there are fewer diseases and pests, which is suitable for growing a variety of crops."

Isaac nodded.

The Nile Delta is a fertile agricultural land. In the 21st century, Egypt's rice yield ranked first in the world.

"However, food is a culture after all. Mediterranean people do not regard rice as a staple food, so it is natural that rice will not be grown on a large scale."

As they were talking, an old eunuch came in with a tray and placed a few bowls of soup in front of them.

Justinian scooped up a spoonful of soup, tasted it, and immediately frowned.

"Seafood soup, so fishy! So salty!"

"No wine, no spices, but plenty of salt. What's wrong with the cook?"

Isaac glanced at him and tasted the soup.

"This is what the coastal residents of the empire usually eat. They put various seafood, flour and salt into the pot and cook a big stew. Sometimes they also add some simple cabbage and dates."

"A few decades ago, the salt-making industry was firmly controlled by nobles and merchants, and ordinary people didn't even dare to add more salt. I recently built many new salt-making fields in various places, which pushed down the price of sea salt."

"They didn't add any spices. You should think about why. Maybe they don't like it?"

Isaac looked at Justinian.

"We don't produce spices here, so we can only buy them from the East. The prices are high, so they naturally can't afford them."

"It's not my fault."

Justinian complained.

"They are short of spices, so we go to the East to get them. They are short of meat, so we import better livestock. They are short of food, so we have to buy food from abroad as soon as possible to stabilize the price of food. At the same time, we reclaim wasteland and fill the people's stomachs."

Isaac said slowly.

"As a monarch, you have to help the people solve their problems. If they live a good life, they will naturally support you."

"The people don't care how great your achievements are or how tough your enemies are. What they care about is food, clothing, shelter and transportation. Eating well and dressing well is enough."

"You must always remember that you represent a country and millions of people. Making sure they live well is more important than anything else."

Isaac pointed to the seafood soup in front of him and looked at his eldest son.

"This morning I went to the Carthage Shipyard and met a few fishermen on the way. The seafood was given to me by them. The flour was grown by your brother himself. I specifically ordered the cook to cook this dish according to the standards of ordinary people, just to make you understand this truth."

"If you want to understand the current state of society, you must not listen to the one-sided words of officials, and you must not completely believe their reports. It is enough to go to the market and see what the people are eating and wearing."

"Moreover, food culture is very important to a country. Just think about it, when a foreigner eats and drinks like us and lives like us, he has completely integrated into our community and we can no longer tell the difference between them."

"When the economy develops and people live a stable and prosperous life, various cultures, including food culture, will naturally flourish, which will have a good assimilation effect, which is more powerful than horses and swords."

Having said this, Isaac paused.

"As for those nations that we have harmed, as long as our culture is prosperous enough, as long as our technology is advanced enough, as long as our people have a higher standard of living, as long as we can completely make them unable to resist, they will naturally come closer to us and will naturally scramble to become Romans."

"do you understand?"

"I understand all these principles."

Justinian nodded slightly.

"As for developing production and supporting culture, I don't know much, and I don't like to be in charge of these things. I can leave them to trusted ministers. I have always been confident in my vision."

"In my opinion, as you just said, as long as we can lead the people to live a good life, they will naturally support us, and culture and technology will naturally flourish."

"So, the most important thing is wealth. As long as we are rich enough and our people are rich enough, there will be no crisis in our rule."

Justinian shook his head and drank the seafood soup in one gulp.

“Your Majesty, you have been very good to the people. When I was a child, I went to England with my elders. There, many nobles still maintain the autocratic rule of hundreds of years ago. Forests, fish ponds, seafood, bees... all belong to the nobles. If the people want to use them, they have to pay heavy taxes.” Albuquerque put down the plate and took out a handkerchief to wipe his mouth.

"In many places, people are guarding the beaches but can't even afford seafood."

"You have opened up the right to use all these resources, allowing the people to develop freely. It seems that you don't care about anything, but in fact it contains great wisdom."

"I went to the horse farm to buy horses a few days ago, and all I saw along the way was a lively scene. In Portugal, many farmers cannot afford to raise more than four children, but your people never seem to worry about these things."

Albuquerque took a sip of his wine and looked at Isaac.

"I heard that when they have too many children and the burden is too great, they can hand over the extra newborns to you instead of abandoning them in the wilderness or watching them starve to death like before, right?"

"Yes, this is my latest decree. When a couple has a fifth child, if they cannot afford it, they can give the child to the Imperial Orphanage and we will raise him/her until he/she reaches the age of fourteen, regardless of nationality or language."

"In addition to these children, orphans whose parents have both passed away can also join the orphanage. Children whose fathers died on the battlefield will join the military orphanage, which is not the same system as the Imperial Orphanage."

Isaac saw his interest and smiled and nodded.

"Right now, there are only three orphanages in the entire empire, located in Constantinople, Carthage, and Thessalonica, with a total of more than 2,300 children, ranging from newborns to twelve years old."

"Women who lost their husbands in the battlefield will work as nurses in these orphanages, taking care of the children and also receiving a salary to supplement their family income."

"That's a great plan, Your Majesty."

Albuquerque exclaimed.

"In this way, there will be fewer thieves and robbers, and the children growing up in the orphanage will become loyal supporters of the Valleolius family."

"But it's probably going to cost a lot, isn't it?"

"It's true that some businessmen make regular donations to orphanages, but the bulk of the money is still from us."

Isaac said.

"Recently, there are a lot of livelihood projects like orphanages. If I hadn't made a fortune in India, I really couldn't afford it."

"Now I'm running out of money again, so I have no choice but to ask the Indians for money again."

Isaac laughed, and Justinian laughed too.

Albuquerque looked at the father and son and curled his lips helplessly.

As expected of father and son, their methods of making money are surprisingly similar.

If you can steal other people’s things, never use your own.

If you can exploit others, you will never mistreat your own people.

"Well said, Your Majesty. Indians are weak and vulnerable, yet they have taken so much wealth. This is a blasphemy against God. India's wealth should belong to the greatest monarch."

Thinking of this, Albuquerque took a few sips of wine and a faint blush appeared on his face.

"In a few years, please allow me to go to India in your name, conquer those who refuse to obey, and lay endless wealth at your feet."

"I looked at the Arabian Sea map that the Malindi people gave us. To the east of India, there is a rich country, also ruled by Saracens. It seems to be called the Malacca Sultanate. It takes advantage of the navigable strait and makes a lot of money."

"If I can gain a foothold in India, I will definitely take this strategic location for you."

"it is good!"

Isaac picked up the glass.

"For wealth and for lofty ideals."

Everyone drank the wine and sat down again.

Isaac looked around at the group, his eyes resting on his son-in-law, Carlo Toko.

"Carlo, what are you thinking about? I haven't seen you recently. What have you been doing?"

"Your Majesty, I have been investigating in the south recently and bought several nitrate fields. I have been very busy."

Carlo came to his senses and replied quickly.

"In recent years, you have equipped your army with mushkot muskets on a large scale, and many European countries have also begun to gradually increase the number of musketeers, but the output of saltpeter fields has not kept up, which has caused the price of saltpeter to rise all the way."

"I plan to take advantage of this opportunity to start a company and consolidate the saltpeter industry. Maybe I can make a lot of money."

Carlo said calmly.

"I sent people to investigate. There are not many places in Europe that are suitable for developing saltpeter fields. Many countries are still using saltpeter soil near toilets. The efficiency is very low and the output is extremely unstable."

"However, there are many saline-alkali lands in North Africa, which can be used to develop large areas of high-yield saltpeter fields. Some areas also have many saltpeter mines, which can form an industry that can not only meet domestic demand but can even export to Europe."

"Well, you did a good job. It's amazing that you can spot the business opportunities."

Isaac praised.

Saltpeter is the raw material for making black powder. With the development of the times, the saltpeter market will become larger and larger, and it is indeed a profitable business.

"Did you encounter any difficulties?"

Isaac asked.

“There’s not enough money.”

Carlo said awkwardly.

“There are some remnant Berber tribes around some saltpeter mines, so we have to hire guards, which leads to financial constraints.”

"Go ask Salonika for it. She is the only girl in the family. I don't give her much, but her mother and two brothers give her a lot. Little Basil's pocket money is also with her."

Isaac turned his head and nodded at his eldest daughter who was holding Basil and telling him a story.

"She is your fiancée. Whether you can get her depends on your ability."

"Also, you will go to my steward later to get some money. It will be put in Salonika's name as part of my dowry for her."

Isaac thought about it.

"If you want to expand this business, you might as well go to the Constantinople Stock Exchange to list and attract investment. You are my son-in-law, and they will not make things difficult for you."

"Thank you, Father. I'll go right away!"

Carlo stood up happily and was about to run to Thessaloniki, but after thinking for a moment, he turned to the flowers on the roadside and picked a rose.

Salonika accepted the rose unhappily, and waved her hand unhappily, driving Carlo away.

Carlo was not in a hurry. He just smiled and stood aside.

Isaac did not care about his children's private affairs and turned back.

After chatting for a while, a eunuch came to Isaac with a young official.

The visitor was none other than Basilius, the Carthaginian minister who stayed behind. He looked very tired at this moment, but his eyes were full of joy and excitement.

Seeing him coming, Justinian and Albuquerque, who had been chatting animatedly, stopped immediately and looked at Basilius with distrust in their eyes.

The top officials of the empire all knew that this talented minister was a staunch nationalist who disliked Latins and advocated the establishment of a complete education system and government agencies, limiting the imperial power and placing it under the supervision of the law, so as to avoid the emergence of tyrants in the future.

Everyone knows that this is beneficial to the country and the nation, but it is extremely difficult to get the rulers to accept it voluntarily.

"Basilius, have you eaten?"

Isaac asked gently.

"No, sire, but I am not hungry."

Basilius bowed and spoke quickly.

"Carthage's new round of cultural projects has been mostly completed. Please come and inspect them!"

"Well, I really want to see whether the three thousand solidus allocated to you are put to good use."

Isaac stood up, told the eunuchs to clear the table, and took Basilius out of the palace.

(End of this chapter)