Looking at the large contingent of stern and solemn soldiers before him, the landlord's heart trembled. He couldn't help but want to slap himself a few times: Why had he so directly turned them away yesterday?
But when he heard Meassenor say that this was the Crown Prince's will, he relaxed instead. It must be a joke; how could the Crown Prince, such a gentle person, possibly condone using such nearly violent measures for an investigation? It must be this exaktor trying to curry favor, pulling strings and mobilizing troops to threaten him.
The landlord puffed out his fat chest, and with his flabby face, he faced Meassenor with a fearless expression, smiling, "Officer, don't try to scare me. His Highness is known throughout Theodosia as a gentle person. How could he use such violent methods? However, for the sake of claiming credit, you've gone so far as to privately mobilize troops. This is a serious crime. I suggest you go back now, and I can pretend none of this happened. Otherwise, once I report this to the Crown Prince, you might not even know how you died."
"Huh? Is this fellow drunk on wine? What nonsense is he spouting?" Meassenor was shocked on the spot. Not only did the other party not back down, but he also tried to intimidate him. Had his brain been filled with Black Sea water?
"I'll reiterate, I'm not joking." To avoid any misunderstanding, Meassenor seriously reminded the other party once more.
"Alright, show me proof then," the landlord arrogantly demanded.
"Sir, the investigation warrant presented to you yesterday was proof; it bore His Highness's personal signature. Today's investigation of household registration and land is also based on that document. As for the reason for mobilizing troops, it is to ensure my safety and the order of the investigation work. All of these were personally instructed by His Highness," he patiently explained again.
"Officer, I made my stance clear yesterday, didn't I? This is my private property, and I haven't violated any relevant laws or regulations of the Principality. All my property is protected. Even if His Highness the Prince were to come and investigate personally, he couldn't just barge in so casually," the landlord wagged his fat hand, challenging the exaktor.
It seemed there was no room for negotiation. He had originally wanted to resolve this dispute peacefully. Meassenor took a deep breath, then ordered the soldier in charge beside him, "Officer, please take action."
"Don't worry, officer."
The officer immediately issued a military order to the large contingent of soldiers, preparing to forcibly enter to assist Meassenor's investigation. Upon realizing the other party's firm stance, the landlord finally frantically tried to call his private guards to stop them, but he was directly restrained by the leading officer, and his few servants who tried to resist were quickly brought under control by the well-trained soldiers.
"I am the legitimate lord of this area; you cannot do this!" Even while being restrained, the landlord continued to roar.
Meassenor ignored him and went straight into his territory to conduct surveying and statistical work. After a long time, having completed his investigation, he emerged from the territory, looked at the landlord with disdain, and ordered, "As per His Highness's instructions, arrest this troublemaker."
"You can't arrest me, I'm the local lord here!" the other party exclaimed in terror.
Meassenor scoffed, "You're still so stubborn, aren't you, sir? But you've been breaking the law since you refused our investigation, do you know that? What is your purpose in doing this? Who instigated you? What is your motive? Did you get permission from His Highness or His Majesty to do this? Who is behind you? What do you intend to do? Overthrow what? Destroy what? Allude to what?"
The landlord was stunned by the questions and couldn't answer for a moment. Meassenor seized the opportunity to quickly continue his interrogation: "Can't answer, right? Then come with us, and bring relevant supporting documents for evidence! Don't say we're arresting you blindly; it's all based on facts and evidence! Take him away!"
"Yes, officer."
And so, the landlord was apprehended by the guards in terror and taken to the prison in Theodosia. At the same time, several other stubborn local lords encountered similar situations, but after seeing the large contingent of soldiers, they wisely allowed the exaktors to come in and investigate. Meassenor's case was the only one that escalated to such an extent.
Finally, about a week later, Manuel finally obtained the raw data from this census. The next step was to organize it properly. He first generously rewarded the exaktors of the cadastral and population survey team who had rendered great service in this endeavor, and selected the most outstanding among them to help him with the next stage of data organization. Before organizing the data, he learned about the detained landlord from Badars and Meassenor.
"You're saying that not only did that man not agree, but he also tried to use his private guards to obstruct the investigation?" Manuel, who had roughly understood the full scope of the matter, was somewhat skeptical. Was there really anyone so obstinate?
"Yes, Your Highness, it is absolutely true," replied Meassenor, who had detained the man.
"Such a troublemaker should be exiled to the Kerch Isthmus, and his territory confiscated as well." Manuel waved his hand, making his decision. "Badars, the specific charges are up to you."
"Yes, Your Highness, rest assured. As long as Your Highness requires it, I can frame this ungrateful fellow with a hundred different charges," Badars immediately accepted the order and left.
Manuel nodded in agreement.
This cadastral and population survey seemed to have concluded relatively smoothly, but it wasn't entirely so. A few silent lords secretly expressed their anger about it, but being outnumbered and outmatched, they had no choice but to swallow their resentment.
Soon after this investigation concluded, several formally dressed officials, seemingly from Mangup, approached them and asked, "Gentlemen, during these past days, the Crown Prince must have done some extraordinary things, right? Don't worry about the aftermath; the people behind us cannot be shaken, not even by the Crown Prince himself."