After resting and eating dinner, Manuel lay in bed, contemplating his next steps.
"Indeed, economic development is key. Thinking about it, the reforms of the past few days haven't really touched the core issues. To address the core, we need to improve the current tax system, and also consider trade goods, commerce, tariffs... It's going to be busy again..." At this thought, Manuel slumped down, like a salted fish, "Ah, ah, ah, I'm not doing it, I'm exhausted!"
However, the next day, Manuel intended to invite Barbara to breakfast, but upon receiving a message from Barbara's personal maid, Layla, that "Her Highness is not currently in the palace," he grumbled a few words about his fiancée before diligently heading to the temporary palace to discuss economic issues with officials from the economic and trade sector and merchant-officials.
"Hmm, Your Highness, should our tariffs be consistent with Mangup?" Isaac Arno, who was assisting with finances, asked cautiously.
"Yes, I know it's common for tariffs to differ between cities, but as the Principality's Crown Prince, the Prince's Heir, it's perfectly reasonable for me to make moderate concessions to my father in this regard. Besides, consistent tariffs also facilitate the circulation of trade goods among merchants, don't they?" Manuel said with a smile. However, his reasons for doing so were not just as he had stated. In his view, the differing tariffs between cities within the country were inherently due to the conflicting interests of feudal lords and subjects. When he ascended to power, he intended to drastically reform this feudal system. Abolishing tariff barriers between cities now, even if only unilaterally, would facilitate future adaptations.
"Speaking of which, Theodosia's economy is far too deformity, isn't it? Agricultural products are only enough for self-sufficiency, and income seems too reliant on commerce, especially the slave trade?" After reviewing the financial reports, Manuel couldn't help but frown.
"Your Highness, the development of this city originated from Genoa exploiting the chaos in Crimea at the time, and then relying on its powerful navy to suppress various forces on the northern Black Sea coast, controlling the coastline to develop the slave trade. For Theodosia, the slave trade can be said to be the foundation of the city's establishment," explained Nikephoros Meaessenus, a young tax official who was knowledgeable about local history and had attended a church school.
Manuel recalled what he knew from his previous life: Theodosia had a history of slave trade even under the Mongol Empire. After Genoa acquired the city from the Golden Horde, they renamed it Kaffa and vigorously developed the slave trade, primarily selling Eastern Orthodox and pagan slaves. During Manuel's era, the most popular slave commodities were Slavic white slaves, Tatar nomads, and Circassian mountaineers. After the Ottoman Empire took over in 1475, they focused on selling Eastern Orthodox slaves, but the slave trade actually increased, turning Kaffa into a haven for slave traders. When Muscovite Russians visited at that time, they were not only astonished by its prosperity but also denounced it as "a city that grew by drinking the blood and flesh of Slavs." This prosperous yet highly sinful slave market was finally captured by Zaporozhian Cossacks in 1615 in official history. The Cossacks liberated the Eastern Orthodox slaves in the city, and this city, which had long prospered through slave trading, consequently declined. However, the official end of the slave trade here had to wait until 1783 when Tsarist Russia occupied the city. Incidentally, under Russian rule, it was renamed Feodosia, a Russianized version of the greek name Theodosia.
Manuel did not want the city under his rule to rely solely on the slave trade for prosperity. Furthermore, based on his moral values formed in his previous life and what he had seen and heard during his time in the city, he was not entirely comfortable with the slave trade. In his opinion, legalizing such a blood-sucking business challenged his core beliefs.
However, given Theodosia's current economic level, if the slave trade were abolished, the city's economy would become very fragile. Previously, due to war, many slave traders had rerouted to the Golden Horde, but due to the Tatars' terrible business acumen, their business was not good, even affecting many buyers. Now Venice had obtained Tana, and Theodoro had acquired Theodosia, and these people were eagerly watching their attitudes. Venice had already enthusiastically relaxed controls on the slave trade, but due to Tana's poor geographical location, buying and selling slaves there was often affected by frequently appearing Tatar bandits. Therefore, there were not a few slave traders eagerly awaiting Theodosia's official recognition of the legal status of the slave trade.
To extract money from these slave traders, Manuel had kept the slave trade in a grey area where laws could be flexibly enforced, but according to this month's report, this approach was far from sufficient. Earlier, Manuel had specifically obtained his father's permission at the end of March, while still in Mangup, to acquire various proofs from Patriarch Orophin of the Cherson Diocese that Theodosia's slave trade was consistent with the principles of the Bible. Previously, due to his numerous official duties, he had thought he could continue to turn a blind eye, and thus did not proceed with the legalization of the slave trade. But according to feedback from below, the legalization of the slave trade had quickly become an urgent matter.
But he still intentionally dragged the matter out, waiting until other commercial affairs were handled. He remained in his room, pondering how to deal with the slave trade.
"The war with Genoa cost at least 50,000 ducats. Although with Venice's wartime aid and loans, and their eventual decision to cancel commercial privileges and debts, we basically have no deficit, if another war were to occur, even with three cities, the treasury would likely quickly run dry if we relied solely on current legitimate economic activities.
"However, the revenue from opening up the slave trade, even at the lowest commercial tax rates, could generate at least 10,000 ducats within half a year. This doesn't even account for the Gavras Family directly participating, most trade routes being seized by Venice, and an outdated tax system.
"Given our current cooperation with Venice and the Genoese being squeezed out of the northern Black Sea, Theodosia can fully utilize Venice's trade routes to re-establish contact with old customers. And based on the several front-men agents I've already secured, a good amount of gold will flow into my pockets then.
"But it's just one step away, damn conscience." As Manuel pondered these things, it was already night, and Barbara had unknowingly entered his room. He sat at his desk in his room, with a decree for the legalization of the slave trade in front of him. However, since he had not yet signed it, the decree had not been officially implemented. Beside him was Barbara, who had just entered, and behind them was a fireplace, its warm firelight illuminating their figures, each lost in their own thoughts.
After a long pause, Manuel hesitantly turned to his fiancée and asked, "Barbara, what do you think about the slave trade?"
"You have to ask yourself, I'm just your fiancée, and you should do what you think is best in such matters. But no matter what you choose, I will only support you, won't I?" Barbara kicked the ball back to Manuel, letting him decide for himself.
"Yes, what's best," Manuel muttered to himself. After a moment, he finally signed his name on the decree.
After signing, he leaned back in his chair, asking his fiancée somewhat wearily, "Barbara, what kind of person do you think I am?"
She thought for a moment, then answered carefully, "A scoundrel."
"Huh?"
"Do you want me to tell you what I really think?" Barbara said with a serious expression.
"Go ahead, there's nothing you can't say."
"I know this sounds harsh, but in my opinion, if the profit is sufficient, you would, with hesitation and pain, but quite decisively, do things that go against your own bottom line."
Manuel first froze, then gave a bitter smile, followed by a hearty laugh, even shedding tears from laughing, "Indeed, it seems to be just like that. So what is my true nature? The original wish of a scoundrel?"
"No, although this might sound abrupt, I don't think this is a problem. Having a bottom line prevents you from actively causing trouble, and having a decisive will prevents you from being stopped. I believe that a person like you, even in despair, will find a way to turn danger into safety." As she spoke, Manuel felt her black eyes shining brightly, and a warmth grew in his heart.
"Barbara, you can say such rational things?" After a long while, Manuel sighed, half-jokingly.
"I finally got serious, and you treat me like that, you scoundrel!" Barbara, hearing this, pointed at Manuel, puffed out her cheeks, and scolded him.
"What?" This serious attitude really couldn't last too long, Manuel thought.