Two mornings after Manuel had finished organizing the data from the cadastral census—
"So, you mean, because of the complaints from these threatened minor lords, my father is urgently recalling me to Mangup?" Manuel asked, puzzled, after learning of Alexius's decree.
"Yes, Your Highness," Gregory Giunio, who had come to deliver the news, replied.
"He's calling me back just for something like this?" Manuel looked utterly bewildered.
"Your Highness, in fact, it might be more than that. His Majesty seems to have heard some false rumors, saying that Your Highness might have some improper ambitions," Guney cautiously whispered this information to him.
"What bad intentions could I have? I am his son, the legitimate heir to the Principality of Theodoro. From every perspective, I have no reason to oppose him, do I?"
"Ah, well, Your Highness, there have been countless betrayals without reason in Roman history. Of course, I know you don't mean it that way." Catching sight of Manuel's gradually fading smile, Guney hastily added the latter half of the sentence.
"Alright, please take me to my father. While explaining, I'll also report to him the results of this period." Manuel sighed, finally deciding to depart immediately. After packing up important documents and relevant materials, he immediately took his attendants and boarded the carriage bound for Mangup.
As the situation was rather urgent for Manuel, he specifically instructed the coachman to hurry, arriving at Mangup in less than half a day. It was still afternoon at this time.
Upon reaching Mangup, he and Guney immediately rushed to the Mangup Palace, announcing his arrival to the guards. Soon, the ordered guards let them in, and Manuel met his supposedly easily swayed father in less than a quarter of an hour.
Alexius's expression indicated that he was not in a very good mood: his cheeks appeared flushed from drinking some wine, his eyebrows were raised, he was wearing a grayish-white casual outfit, and a Greek-style pointed hat on his head pressed down on his black hair, which seemed to contain quite a few white strands. Perhaps due to anger, some of his hair even pushed the hat up.
It seemed Alexius was quite furious now, but Manuel quickly noticed the cunning and calmness hidden in his eyes.
"Perhaps, no, Father doesn't seem to have fully believed those people's slanders, but rather holds suspicion towards both sides. His furious appearance is mostly put on intentionally to scare me," Manuel analyzed internally.
Having made this judgment, Manuel tried his best to put on an expression of clear conscience, bowing very respectfully to his father, expressing his willingness to obey orders, "Father, during my governance of Theodosia, I have never taken any overstepping actions. All I have done has been to follow your will. If my actions have caused you any dissatisfaction, I will certainly correct them."
Seeing Manuel's good attitude, Alexius's expression on his face seemed to calm down a bit. He sat down on a chair and waved his hand, dismissing any irrelevant people while also signaling Manuel to sit down and not be so reserved.
After Manuel understood and sat down honestly, Alexius began to ask questions rapidly, his tone like a machine gun:
"Manuel, I sent you to govern Theodosia to ensure the local area's obedience to the Principality's rule, to allow the city to be rebuilt after the war, for the people to live in peace and prosperity, and for local lords to willingly submit.
"But what have you done there? You built prisons and extensively implemented a system of exile. Do you know? The phrase 'exiled to the Kerch Isthmus' has almost become a new proverb in the Principality of Theodoro.
"Moreover, you groundlessly deprived several lords of their territories, causing many minor lords to be in a state of panic. Many have already found channels to report your various actions to me. They all say that you disregard feudal principles, ignore their legitimate rights, and are a tyrannical dictator, like Commodus reborn. And when you did these things, it was completely without procedure, and you didn't even report anything to Mangup, but privately handled it. What kind of decorum is that?!"
"According to their reports, you even established some new military department and self-managed the local army. Manuel, are you trying to subvert Mangup's current military system and command the army over my head?!"
Now Manuel completely understood. All his father's words, inside and out, could be summarized in one sentence:
Are you trying to rebel?!
Manuel understood Alexius's meaning and the concerns behind it, then sat up straight and replied:
"Father, Holy Father be my witness, all I have done is to protect you, my father, like the red sun, with all the stars revolving around you.
"Our Principality's administrative measures throughout history have always been to weaken the power of local feudal lords. Our Gavras Family was initially just the largest landowner in Mangup, and it was through various compromises that we were able to ascend to the rank of Prince. But for two hundred years, through suppression, co-option, and absorption of other lordly families, we have now achieved an absolute dominant position throughout the Principality. And what I have done in Theodosia is merely imitating the routine measures of successive Princes. If there is anything improper, it might be that I have accelerated things somewhat. But now, with a great enemy before us, to gain the strength to fight the enemy, these actions can be said to be necessary sacrifices.
"Suppressing those lords with improper ambitions and making them submit to our rule is my duty as the 'Dignitary of Theodosia.' But it is impossible for such measures not to face limited backlash. Father, you have ruled Theodoro for many years, and you must understand this even better than I do. To maintain their overstepping power, rebellious lords who believe themselves to be justified will certainly seek what they see as a lifeline to resist the Principality's control over their territories. Whether it be external forces or treacherous sycophants, they could all potentially interfere with our decisions.
"Father, all the measures I have implemented in Theodosia are to maintain your and the entire Principality's rule and interests in the local area: establishing a more complete prison system is to ensure the proper handling of criminals and law-breaking lords; establishing a new military department is not to bypass Mangup, but an attempt to balance local forces, because not all military forces are under my direct control. Through this new military institution, the new military department, I can gain deeper control over militia organizations, and I currently have no intention or action to expand the local army. At most, this can only be considered a reorganization. Furthermore, the operational units and organization of these armies are also determined by Mangup. Father, I can swear to the Holy Father that I have no intention of overstepping. If necessary, Father can completely bypass me to mobilize the army of Theodosia, or even strip me of my title, I have no objection to that; as for those local lords who have been deprived of their fiefs, in fact, I have only deprived two people so far. One publicly defied me in the hall and questioned the legitimacy of your rule, and the other even led the resistance against my cadastral census, indirectly hindering the Principality's tax collection affairs."
Alexius listened to his defense, thought for a while, and revealed a relieved smile. The anger he had intentionally displayed earlier also subsided considerably. Seeing this, Manuel decided to press further and said, "Father, I want to tell you about some of my administrative measures in Theodosia."
"Speak, my child."
Manuel then took a deep breath and began to explain in detail to his father the main measures he had taken during this period, including restricting the right of minor lords to build castles, implementing the system of exile and banishment, establishing a police force, and conducting a cadastral census. Alexius nodded repeatedly as he listened. Seeing this, Manuel continued to elaborate on his structural vision for Theodosia and even the entire Principality, including the tax system, commercial development, the military household system, intelligence organizations… During this time, when he spoke excitedly, he also took out pre-prepared blueprints and plans, allowing the two of them to become completely immersed in such an atmosphere, even making Manuel feel as if he was dreaming back to his childhood, boasting to his family.
Thus, they discussed directly from afternoon until dusk. The relationship between father and son did not become more distant; instead, they used this opportunity to mend it. It was at this moment that Manuel finally remembered another important matter for which he had come.
"Father, there is an important matter I feel needs to be clarified again." At this, his expression became serious.
"Speak, my child, what is so urgent?"
"Didn't I just briefly explain the relevant matters of the census and its simple conclusions to you? I apologize, I'll cut it short: on the religious issue, I found that Theodosia seems to have quite a few Bogomils heretics."