1444, Byzantium Resurrects

Chapter 324: Grassland King City
Time flies, and the spring of 1473 arrived as expected. The sun's rays spread across the earth, the snow gradually melted, the glaciers thawed one after another, and the bleak earth became full of vitality.

The arrival of the Little Ice Age brought great suffering to high-latitude regions and mountainous plateaus. Glacial movement became more and more intense, farmland was destroyed, and no food could grow in the fields.

Compared with Northern Europe and Central Europe, the Eastern Roman Empire was located at a lower latitude overall and was relatively less affected by the disaster. There was still little snowfall in the coastal areas of the southern Aegean Sea, and the extreme heat in North Africa was alleviated, which in turn promoted the prosperity of transportation and commerce.

Of course, the impact of the Little Ice Age was all-encompassing. The drop in temperature also brought about a series of chain reactions, with precipitation decreasing in some areas and surging in others.

On each continent, areas dominated by summer monsoon precipitation experienced a cold and dry climate during the Little Ice Age, vegetation degraded, and desertification was greatly aggravated. As a result, arid areas dominated by winter monsoon precipitation became relatively humid, and desertification was alleviated.

The Africa region of the Eastern Roman Empire reaped some benefits from this massive cooling feast. The drop in temperature made the hot summer less unbearable, the reduction in evaporation and the increase in precipitation caused weeds to grow in the formerly arid wasteland, and the vegetation coverage area in coastal areas increased.

During these years, the population in Africa increased rapidly, with more and more new Christians converting. The first batch of Berber-Greek mixed-race descendants had given birth to new mixed-race children. They were all protected by the emperor from harassment by slave traders. They finally got rid of the twenty years of continuous population loss under the rule of the Eastern Roman Empire, and the number of newborns increased year by year.

The new livestock and new crops from Constantinople greatly increased their unit output. The cooling and humidifying effects of the Little Ice Age on the low-latitude deserts in the winter precipitation zone undoubtedly exacerbated this phenomenon. More land was utilized, more farmland was opened up, and more pastures were filled with cattle and sheep.

Most importantly, the residents here have gradually converted to Orthodoxy over the past 20 years, integrating local culture with local characteristics and retaining a large number of Arab cultural remnants. They believe that having children is a blessing and a sacred thing, and since they have no worries about food and clothing, they should try their best to have children.

Of course, the temporary humidity in North Africa is not all good news. It still brings some difficult problems that are difficult to solve. Massive breeding of locust eggs has been observed in some political regions. These large insects, which were originally trapped by scorching heat and extreme drought, have revived with the nourishment of rain, and are bringing increasingly serious survival crisis to local people.

The Eastern Roman Empire issued a special law for locust prevention and control, and taught several important methods of locust prevention to agricultural officials in Africa, asking them to lead the people in their regions to fight against locusts.

In terms of regulations, the Ministry of Agriculture of the Eastern Roman Empire divided desert locusts into two categories: solitary and gregarious. It required farmers and herders to make every effort to eliminate the locusts when they were scattered. It called on the people to alternate the sowing of locust-resistant crops such as celery, garlic, peas and peppers with staple food crops, increase the number of chickens and ducks raised, burn straw, turn over the fields, and destroy all locust eggs once they were found.

It is absolutely impossible to completely eliminate locust plagues. This type of desert locust is extremely mobile and has strong survival ability. It eats plants very quickly and has the ability to travel long distances. Its toxicity increases sharply after living in groups, and even chickens and ducks don't like to eat it.

Of course, the locust plague in Africa will not be so strong that it is difficult to cope with, let alone cross the Mediterranean to Europe. Desert locusts are resistant to high temperatures but not cold, and can adapt to drought but can only reproduce in large numbers during the rainy season. The Mediterranean climate zone has different periods of rain and heat, and it is dry and rainy when it is high, which is naturally not suitable for the large-scale growth of desert locusts. This unique attribute may have caused the Mediterranean coast to lag behind in agricultural output, but it has avoided many major disasters because of a blessing in disguise.

If a regional locust plague really breaks out, the people who will suffer the most will probably be the black Africans on the Sahel grasslands, where the temperature is high all year round and there is abundant rainfall in the wet season, which is the perfect choice for the locust army.

The spring breeze of reform that started in early 1473 gradually reached Africa, and the emperor also invested in the construction of three professional technical colleges here, located in Carthage, Tripoli and Sfax, offering technical courses such as textiles, forging, and pottery making to provide high-level talents for capitalist handicrafts.

The natural conditions in the northern foothills of the Atlas Mountains are very similar to those in the Iberian Peninsula. Merino sheep from Spain have found a new home here. Compared with Angora goat wool, Merino wool has a lower yield but higher quality, is gentler and softer, and is suitable for high-end textiles.

As for the Aegean coast, the emperor's huge investment brought about a huge shortage of productivity and a huge gap in raw materials. More and more citizens began to go to the western Anatolian plateau to occupy large pastures. The price of Angora goats soared, and the shortage of high-level technicians also provided a good initial soil for the "Regulations for the Protection of Orthodox Workers". First, take advantage of the shortage of manpower to determine the laws, and when the population explodes, the two sides can negotiate on this issue.

In early 1473, the three core territories of the Eastern Roman Empire prospered and the peaceful environment would continue, but on the northern shore of the Black Sea, a long-planned storm was about to hit.

On the gloomy and dark sea, a fleet of sailboats was gliding towards the port ahead. The sailboats were packed with people, most of whom were ragged, pale and thin, dispirited, and with dull eyes.

The fleet flew the flag of the Eastern Roman Empire, but most of the sailing ships were rather old and unequipped with cannons, and were obviously civilian merchant ships.

The leading flagship was also full of people, making the deck tightly packed. In the captain's room, Timur Tash, dressed in a gorgeous outfit, was humming a tune happily and flipping through the statistical list in his hand.

Beside him, Brahm was also wearing a gorgeous military uniform, with an ivory pipe in his mouth, emitting white smoke.

Both of them were high-ranking officials of the Cossack Kingdom. They followed the king for nearly ten years and got the best positions after the establishment of the system, serving as the Grand Hetman of the Cossack Kingdom and the Hetman of the Don Cossacks respectively.

Since most Cossacks were fugitive slaves, the Cossack Kingdom established by Justinian had no nobility in the Western European sense. Except for the king, all other Cossacks were equal and could enjoy the highest degree of freedom.

The hetman and akman of each Cossack tribe were nominally elected independently, but in reality, the king had the highest say in the appointment and removal of senior officials. The election of Timur Tash and Brahmu also followed the election process, but basically no one would vote against it.

Of course, for each small Cossack community, the electoral system and the parliamentary system are still the main political models, and the king does not interfere much in these matters. The nature of the Cossacks is freedom, and if you want to gain their loyalty, you must recognize the autonomy of each community. Excessive interference will be counterproductive.

However, this does not mean that the king really let it go completely. In order to ensure the attractiveness of the Cossack Kingdom to the Russian serfs, Justinian did not want to restrict their freedom. Instead, on the advice of his wife, he adopted a more moderate model and chose to increase the voice of priests, allowing religious personnel to obtain administrative power. While promoting the sanctity of the family, he also strengthened Constantinople's control over the Cossack Kingdom.

The Hetman was elected autonomously, but the Archbishop was sent from Constantinople.

In recent years, the Little Ice Age has reached its second peak in history. High-latitude regions have experienced severe cold years, farmlands have been abandoned, famine has spread, and nomadic tribes have accelerated their looting of the Russian countries for their livelihoods. More and more Slavic serfs have fled south and more and more Russian civilians have been captured and enslaved. The Cossack Kingdom has expanded greatly, with a population exceeding 50,000. Its range of activities has also crossed the Don River and begun to enter the Northern Donets River basin, gradually moving westward to compete with the Crimean Tatars.

The increasing number of Russian Cossacks brought great changes to this small kingdom on the northern coast of the Black Sea. The proportion of nomadic people decreased and the proportion of settled people increased. The Cossacks often built some simple wooden fortresses, planted wheat, rye and potatoes, and raised chickens, ducks, cattle and sheep.

Although they are mainly settled, they still learned a lot of nomadic culture. The martial spirit prevails. They are extremely united internally and barbaric and bloody externally. Once they receive the call, they will pick up their sabers, lead out their horses, fight for their monarchs, fight for God, and fight for freedom.

In those days, the Poles and Lithuanians had not yet brought the Cossacks under their control and regarded them as livestock and escaped slaves. The Tatar nobles regarded them as commodities. The only one willing to accept and respect them was His Majesty the King from the Palaiologos family.

"Big Gatman, the statistics are out? How many people came this time?"

Brahmu asked with a smile.

"More than 700 people, that's pretty good. This is the second batch this year."

Timur Tash said with a smile, obviously quite satisfied with his achievements.

"What are their qualities? Where do they come from? How many of them can serve in the army?"

Brahmu exhaled a puff of smoke, took a bottle of wine from the shelf, and drank it in one gulp.

"Five hundred and twenty-five Siberians from the Ukraine, and two hundred and thirty-three Ruthenians from the Carpathians."

Timur Tash said.

"There have been more and more runaway slaves in recent days. I plan to expand the kingdom's navy. When the river thaws, we will transport people to the Dnieper River."

"It didn't seem like there were so many before. Could it be because of the weather?"

Brahmu asked.

"I heard that the Russians are cold-resistant, but it seems they are not that good."

"The weather is only one factor. The biggest harm to ordinary people is political changes."

Timur Tash sighed.

"Some people were once free citizens of the Grand Duchy of Kiev, but now they have become serfs, and the serf owners are using even more cruel methods."

"why?"

Brahmu was stunned.

"Because there is no Grand Duchy of Kiev anymore."

Timur Tash shrugged.

"Not long ago, the Lithuanians completely annexed the Grand Duchy of Kiev, leaving behind even the last bit of fig leaf, and directly incorporated it into the Kiev Province."

"Poles and Lithuanians began to enter the Kiev Province and set up serfdom estates. Their methods were even more extreme than those of the former Russian nobles. They did not regard the Orthodox Christians as their brothers at all."

"Those Orthodox nobles who stayed behind had long since become accomplices of the Lithuanians and were the same as them."

"But this is a good thing for us. The more serfs flee, the more Cossacks we will have."

Timur Tash smiled, pulled out a box of cigarettes from the drawer and took out a cigarette.

"Then how to divide it?"

Brahmu asked.

"It's the same as before. We will select them once. Those who are more honest, weaker, and less likely to cause trouble will go to the southern empire. The stronger, unruly, undisciplined, and those who are free-spirited will stay with us."

Timur Tash said.

"I'm not asking about that. How do we divide it internally?"

Brahma picked up the candlestick in a flattering manner and lit a cigarette for Timur Tash.

"The war is about to begin. We Don Cossacks will definitely be the main force. I need 500 men."

"Five hundred people, you really dare to think so!"

Timur Tash glared at him.

"How to divide it is up to your majesty, but you'd better not go too far. The Don Cossacks mainly accept escaped slaves from Moscow and Ryazan, the Zaporizhia Cossacks mainly accept escaped slaves from Ukraine, and the Kuban Cossacks mainly convert Tatars. Have you forgotten the rules set by your majesty?"

"But now Zaporizhia has not been taken yet, and they are still staying in the Don River area!"

Brahmu protested.

"It's all right. Besides, a war is about to start. When we destroy the Tatar Khanate, His Majesty will divide the border between your two tribes. Then everything will be clear."

Timur Tash said, brushing the ashes off his clothes and carefully wiping the flame pattern on his chest.

Perhaps inspired by his father, Justinian also designed military uniforms for his Cossack officials and placed the order with the royal textile factory, requiring the use of the best materials.

The military uniforms of high-ranking Cossack officers are dark red with eagle emblems and flame patterns wrapped around them. The military caps and riding boots are also specially designed to match the uniforms, making them look strong, tall and handsome when put on.

Of course, this set of military uniforms could not be promoted among ordinary Cossacks for the time being because the number of new recruits was too large. Justinian wanted to spend the money and could afford it, but was persuaded by Timur Tash to buy more muskets and artillery and establish Cossack dragoons.

Justinian adopted Timur Tash's suggestion and invested the money in more useful places. At the same time, he ordered the Royal Textile Factory to continue designing, striving to minimize the cost while ensuring beauty and warmth. "Grand Hetman, I thought you didn't like this military uniform. When His Majesty said he would give us clothes, everyone was very happy, but you were the one who objected the most."

Brahmu looked at Timur Tash and curled his lips.

"Hehe, wearing the same uniform is the best way to enhance collective honor, but military uniforms should be put into service after the war."

Timur Tash said.

"One more musket means one more chance of victory, and this is what we urgently need."

"How can you understand if you don't work in finance and government affairs?"

Timur Tash shook his head.

"Attracting refugees, upgrading weapons, replacing horses, building naval forces, which one of these doesn't cost money?"

"The funds we earned from the Great Turkish War have almost been spent in this round of expansion. The money His Majesty gave us must be shared with Circassia. When the Crimean War is over, I will see if I can make more money by selling slaves."

Brahmu threw his pipe aside, looked out the window, and stood up.

"It's almost time. The weather is getting warmer. I guess we'll have to fight."

“I don’t know if General Gonzalo will help us fight this time.”

Brahmu said to himself.

"No, Gonzalo is not one of us. I know him, and he doesn't like us here."

Timur Tash also stood up and prepared to organize the fleet to dock.

"He only helped us fight a few battles for the sake of your majesty. He is probably soaking in the hot springs in Pamukkale now."

"Okay, we can do it on our own. The Tatars have already declined, and the East European steppes will still be ruled by the Cossacks."

Brahmu stretched himself, straightened his clothes, opened the wooden door and walked towards the deck.

As the port got closer, the poor escaped slaves on the deck cheered and their eyes lit up.

It is located on the northeastern shore of the Sea of ​​Azov, south of the mouth of the Don River. It was once home to the Genoese city of Azov, an important port for the white slave trade on the Black Sea. It was occupied by the Crimean Khanate during the Hajigrad period, and the former port was almost destroyed.

Five years ago, Justinian and Gonzalo led their troops to drive out the Crimean Tatars, occupied this strategic pass, and formally established Constantine on the Don as the capital of the Cossack Kingdom.

Over the past five years, Constantine on the Don River has prospered rapidly due to the revival of Black Sea trade and Don River commerce. The Cossacks who moved here have developed farmland and pastures around the castle and port, selling horses, grain, furs and meat products to Eastern Roman merchants, and exchanging them for clothes, tools and other high-end handicrafts.

Today, Constantine-on-Don has a castle, a large monastery and a port town, but the town's population is still small, some people are engaged in business, others provide services for passing merchant ships, and handicraft output is almost zero.

This city was originally a trading port with limited production capacity and no special products of particularly high value.

Of course, the geographical location here is so good that being a middleman is enough to make the city prosperous.

Constantine on the Don River was the royal capital of the grassland and the only decent city in the Cossack Kingdom. Whenever war came, the king's envoys would rush to the Cossack gathering places with letters, asking them to take up their weapons, mount their horses, and assemble in the royal city.

The king was famous for his openness and fairness. The Cossacks could retain the greatest autonomy, and after the war the spoils could be equally distributed according to their contributions. The brave and skilled in fighting would receive extra rewards from the king. For these brave men who yearned for freedom, respect and glory, this was already a gift from God.

The early Cossacks had a strong collective atmosphere with some primitive tribal democracy. All serfs who came here could gain freedom and cast their votes in collective meetings. Regardless of their nationality, language, or skin color, as long as they agreed with the Cossacks' ideas and lifestyle, they would be accepted as one of them.

Everyone calls each other brothers and is very protective of each other. Even if you have just joined, as long as you are bullied, a bunch of Cossack men will immediately come with sabers to kill you and uphold the most simple and primitive justice for their own people.

In this atmosphere, every Cossack was extremely proud of his identity. The newly arrived fugitives were able to quickly integrate into the collective, be loyal to the collective, and regard themselves as members of the collective.

Among the many vassal territories of the Eastern Roman Empire, only the Cossacks were unwilling to go to Constantinople to live a good life.

In the original time and space, the simplicity and freedom of the Cossacks did not last long. Both the Grand Duke of Lithuania in Vilnius and the Russian Tsar in Moscow looked down on them in their bones and regarded them as savages. They did not regard them as their own kind at all. They only saw their bravery and fearlessness, and forced them to be loyal to themselves through various means. In the end, they changed the Cossacks to a certain extent, making them generally poor border riders with sharp scimitars stained with blood.

On the deck of the flagship, Timur Tash gazed at the magnificent Palaiologos Fortress and the double-headed eagle flag of blood and fire flying above the fortress, and a smile appeared on his cold face.

"The Circassians are here too, and they are faster than us."

Brahmu pointed to the Circassian flag flying not far away.

Several years had passed since the signing of the Twelve Concordats. Justinian had gained a lot of loyalty through wars and post-war distributions. He not only officially put on the Circassian brass crown in the spotlight, but also added the Palaiologos Cross to the Circassian flag to symbolize royal power.

“I knew they would come running.”

Brahmu complained.

"One more person to share the spoils."

"We are not safe on our own. We have to leave some people to guard against Jochi Ulus."

Timur Tash returned to the royal city in a much better mood.

"Last time it was the Kuban Cossacks who gained the most, so this time they should stay behind."

"Okay, get ready to dock!"

Timur Tash waved his hand, and the sailing fleet came to the shore one after another, and the dock manager arranged berths for them.

Jumping off the deck, Timur Tash breathed in the slightly chilly air of Constantine on the Don River and laughed.

"What is so joyful, my great Gatman."

The crowd parted, and a column of cavalry came over. On the tall horse at the head, Justinian wore a crown and a blood-red coat, and looked at Timur Tash with a smile.

"Is there anything good?"

"Welcome back, Your Majesty."

Timur Tash bowed deeply and looked towards Justinian.

"Meeting you is the best thing."

"Stop giving me that crap. Tell me the number of people, their quality, and where they came from."

Justinian looked at the Russian refugees who were disembarking one after another.

"More than 700 people, of average quality, from Ukraine and the Carpathians, all forced to flee because of oppression by the Poles and Lithuanians."

Timur Tash said quickly.

"They have no home. Your land will be their new home, and your word will be their new law."

"Very good, the war is about to begin, and the kingdom's navy must be liberated. This is our greatest advantage in facing the Tatars."

Justinian looked at the bewildered Russian refugees and assessed their physical fitness.

"Pramu!"

"exist!"

Brahmu came over in response, his face serious.

"Go and tell them that those who want to go south can go, and those who desire freedom and fame can stay here. I have clear rewards and punishments, and I never treat my own people unfairly."

Justinian commanded.

"As for the allocation indicators, I will inform you tonight."

"Yes!"

Brahmu nodded and walked towards the refugees.

"Timurtash, come with me. Representatives from the Circassian Kingdom, the Crimean Governorate, and the Azov Governorate are here. We need to discuss sending troops."

"This time, we will destroy the ugly regime established by Haji Gelai in one fell swoop and make the entire grassland our farm and pasture!"

Justinian waved his hand, and a guard brought a warhorse to Timur Tash.

"Let's go to my castle!"

……

On March 1473, 3, the co-ruling emperor of the Eastern Roman Empire, the Cossack King and the Circassian King Justinian assembled an army in Constantine on the Don River, with a total of 2 troops, and began to march westward, targeting Crimea.

(End of this chapter)