After a quick read-through, Manuel, feeling a great shock, quickly grabbed the report and read it carefully, his face almost touching the paper.
After a long while, he grimly pressed the report onto the table, his expression serious.
"What… what's wrong?" Barbara, who was beside him, asked with some concern, seeing his reaction.
"Haji Giray has already reached the Kuba area," Manuel said, pressing his forehead, trying to answer in a normal tone.
According to this military report, Haji Giray had swept across the entire southern region of the Eastern European Great Plains in just a month and a half, not only destroying Ulugh Muhammad's remnants and forcing him to flee towards Volga Bulgaria but also pushing all the way to the Kuba area, forcing the young Prince Muhammad to the south bank of the Don River; it could be said that this remaining fellow wouldn't last much longer.
According to the border officer's bold estimate, Haji Giray would clear out the separatist forces in the southern Eastern European Great Plains by the latest, and if he could integrate them smoothly, he would become one of the most powerful princes of the Golden Horde.
"This is terrible!" Thinking of this, Manuel involuntarily slammed the report onto the table, shaking his head and complaining.
If Haji Giray spent two or three years integrating these territories, then his and the Theodoro Principality's ambition to seize Northern Crimea would directly become a pipe dream.
"Call all the members of the New Military Department for me, right now, immediately!"
When the officers of the New Military Department arrived and learned of the military situation, seeing their Crown Prince's worried expression, most of them were at a loss, not knowing how to comfort him.
"Isn't that just a matter between the Tatars? What does it have to do with us?" Most people thought so.
But not everyone was confused; General Tukharovsky, a Rus, looked at Manuel's reaction and probably guessed something.
In view of this, he bravely asked, "Is His Highness planning to act against these Tatars entrenched in Northern Crimea?"
Manuel gave him an approving look, and at this moment, while everyone suddenly understood, they also became a little apprehensive: those were Tatars, the shackles of all Christians in Eastern Europe; what was His Highness thinking?
Manuel saw the somewhat flustered expressions of most people and felt a little disappointed, but it was also within expectations.
He just waved his hand, dismissing irrelevant personnel and officers of insufficient rank, leaving only a few high-ranking generals to discuss countermeasures and their feasibility with him.
After the irrelevant people left, Manuel had these men relax and sit down, and began discussing with them how to deal with Haji Giray and his Tatar tribes.
"Your Highness, must you take Northern Crimea? Our current territory is already very large, and further north is the land of the Tatars," Badars advised with concern.
"My mind is made up; this is not a hot-headed decision I'm making now.
You see, although the Principality's current territory is quite a bit larger than before, it actually cannot withstand the impact of the infidels at all.
Besides, although the north is the land of the Tatars, it is also excellent pasture for horses.
And only by taking the northern part of the peninsula, with that Isthmus and ocean barrier that can be called a natural stronghold, can our core territory have a relatively safe buffer zone.
Everything I do is for Theodoro, and even for the living space of all people," Manuel patiently explained to everyone, but the more he explained, the more agitated he became, and in the end, he even blurted out some astonishing words, "For our living space, we must fight, fight, an endless, ceaseless fight; only by defending ourselves by any means necessary can we avoid perishing like the Western Roman Empire once did.
What we take for granted as everyday life are all continuous miracles!"
Seeing that Manuel's intention was firm and his words were reasonable, the generals gave up on hindering him and instead resolved to discuss countermeasures with him.
"Then, Your Highness, forgive my frankness, but even if all of Theodoro were united now, we absolutely could not defeat Haji Giray's forces.
Moreover, it's hard to say whether His Majesty in Mangup will be as resolute as Your Highness.
From beginning to end, the only resources we can fully call upon are those of the Theodosia region," Tukharovsky spread his hands, laying the current situation plainly before everyone.
"Therefore, I have never considered directly clashing with the fierce Tatar cavalry.
War is the continuation of diplomacy, and diplomacy is part of politics," Manuel said with a helpless smile, "In other words, we need to find allies again."
"But Your Highness, I must inform you, although you may have known this before.
Haji Giray is backed by the Grand Duchy of Lithuania; he himself was born on the border of Lithuania and the Golden Horde," Tukharovsky said with a serious expression.
"So Giray must be at odds with the Golden Horde of Sarai.
"And although Giray is backed by the Lithuanians, to be more precise, it should primarily be Grand Duke Vytautas himself, right?
Just as he supported Tokhtamysh back then, his current support for Giray is, in the end, just a rehash of old tricks.
However, in my personal opinion, I'm afraid the Grand Duke might not gain anything this time." Manuel made this crucial judgment.
"Your Highness, how do you know?" Tukharovsky was somewhat incredulous; he didn't believe that nearly 20 years of living in Lithuania had been in vain.
"It's simple; when I previously represented the Principality on missions to various countries, I personally saw Haji Giray and had some communication with him.
The result of that encounter was a complete failure, apart from some diplomatic platitudes.
At that time, he tried to win over the Principality and even spoke arrogantly on the spot, saying he wanted to rebuild a brand new 'Jochi Ulus,' and during that time, he even used the term 'Kafir' towards me.
It would be a miracle if such an ambitious young man was willing to honestly become a puppet for Lithuania to stir up trouble among the Tatars," Manuel explained to everyone with a stern expression.
After he finished speaking, all the generals present took a deep breath: it seemed this Haji Giray wanted to revive the past glory of the Tatars.
Some dissatisfied generals directly said with indignation, "Why doesn't this fellow go and become the Emperor of Tartary?"
"So, can we perhaps create some rifts between Giray and other forces? Even if we use some unsavory methods," Ioannis Seler, a civilian general who had been promoted for his good performance in previous wars, pondered for a moment and offered his suggestion.
"Hmm," Manuel nodded in approval, "From this perspective, we should find a way to make Haji Giray and his forces break with Sarai, the sooner the better; at the same time, we should do our utmost to damage their relationship with Lithuania, making them isolated and helpless.
Only then can we launch a surprise attack while these Tatars are in the midst of a fierce civil war, like snatching chestnuts from the fire, and carve out a share for ourselves from the chaotic situation.
Besides, none of you would object to your fiefdoms being too large, would you?" Manuel put forward his strategic direction.
Everyone nodded in agreement, but some still asked with concern, "But if we can't convince Mangup, then no matter what we plan, it will be useless."
"Yes, so, at that time, we will have to use some unconventional methods.
I know many ways to make my father unable to sit still." At this, a mischievous and cunning smile appeared on Manuel's face.