However, in the recent defeat, Tenek Emir, due to his carelessness and underestimation of the enemy, buried a large number of Tatar soldiers under Sayid Khan's command there.
Now, Sarai is practically within reach for Prince Muhammad.
"Hahahaha, Sayid, what will you use to stop me now!
Sarai city, here I come!" Prince Muhammad couldn't help but laugh wildly, looking at the piles of enemy corpses and the fleeing remnants of the defeated army.
It seems the Golden Horde is about to undergo a big change.
However, it will still take some time before he officially takes residence in Sarai and forces Sayid Khan out, and naturally, this won't affect the still relatively distant Theodoro Principality for now.
Ever since that day's one-sided argument with Barbara, Manuel's mind, which had been clouded by his ideals, or rather, his delusions, calmed down and confronted the problems he had previously recognized but deliberately or inadvertently avoided.
After sending the Dark Division to carefully investigate the Tatars' secret activities under his rule for a few days, Manuel looked at the reports submitted by the Dark Division before going to bed at night and sighed wearily.
Although he had anticipated it, he felt a deep sense of powerlessness after truly confirming the real attitudes of these Tatar nobles.
According to the Dark Division's investigation, most Tatar nobles were raising troops; the better ones were seeking high autonomy, while the worse ones were directly planning armed independence or a return to the Golden Horde.
His religious tolerance measures enacted some time ago were completely treated as a joke by these guys.
"Although I expected it, I really didn't want it to come to this." He shook his head self-mockingly, "But I already gave a public speech in Bakhchysarai, so it's not good to directly revoke it.
Now I've shot myself in the foot."
If that's the case, why not try to use it?
Manuel's mind quickly turned.
The next day, upon waking, after considering the worst-case scenarios, he began to prepare countermeasures against rebellion to deal with these situations.
Even so, he was still somewhat unwilling.
"No matter what, I still hope things don't escalate to this extent." After roughly arranging the countermeasures against the separatist rebels, he rubbed his hands uneasily, sincerely praying that things wouldn't get out of hand.
After dealing with these matters, Manuel thought of other daily affairs to lighten his mood, such as his father's return in a few days.
"In a few days, Father will be back.
Thinking about it, if my cheap old man knew what I've been up to, I'd probably get another lecture.
Oh well, I brought it on myself." He thought with a bitter smile.
Just as he had expected, a few days later in the morning, Prince Alexius and his wife returned to the Principality with an escort.
That afternoon, the father and son privately discussed Manuel's various measures during and after the Crimean War in the Mangup Palace.
And when Alexius heard Manuel personally speak about the measures implemented during this period, he praised and encouraged him.
Only when he heard that Manuel had implemented lenient religious tolerance in the newly conquered territories did he frown.
"Manuel," Alexius sighed, "I should have thought of it earlier.
How should I put it?
'Philosopher King' sounds impressive, but being a Philosopher King isn't that easy.
"But I trust you; to prevent possible rebellion, you must have prepared something, right?" Alexius asked with some uncertainty.
If he were to give a negative reply here, then he could forget about the position of "Co-Prince," and besides, he had indeed started to keep contingencies.
Therefore, after Alexius asked him this, Manuel reflexively replied, "Yes," and informed his father of several measures that were not considered secret.
Alexius smiled with satisfaction upon hearing this, and then casually asked, "Speaking of which, Isaac is not young anymore; it's time to arrange a position for him in Mangup.
The core members of the Gavras Family cannot be idle."
"Isaac?
I sent him to Phanagoria earlier; he just returned recently to report on his duties," Manuel Said casually.
"You sent Isaac to Phanagoria?" Alexius became vigilant.
"Yes.
To cope with the war, I temporarily sent him to Phanagoria to help me manage the local situation.
Don't worry, Father, I have a sense of proportion."
Alexius wanted to say something, but thinking of his eldest son's achievement in successfully leading the Principality to victory in the war, he ultimately chose to trust his son, swallowing the words he wanted to say, only casually mentioning, "This time, don't let him go to Phanagoria again after he returns.
He is still young, and letting him manage a region like that might be exploited by those with ulterior motives."
Manuel nodded in agreement and then consulted his father about something he cared about greatly: "Father, according to investigations, some old officials of the Principality have done things that should be considered overstepping.
What do you think?"
Alexius pondered for a while, and after some time, he carefully gave his advice, "Let them experience it for themselves.
After all, they have done so much for the Principality; if not for their achievements, then for their hard work.
Be decent to them."
"Hmm, that's true." Manuel shook his head regretfully in his heart; it seemed it was still too early to deal with these people.
Meanwhile, in Theodosia, several of Manuel's confidants were secretly discussing Manuel's actions during this period, especially his implementation of religious tolerance.
"I've never understood why His Highness tolerates those pagan Tatars.
This is simply condoning them!
These pagan dogs will definitely seize the opportunity to oppose us." Posadas complained discontentedly.
Born a farmer, he had not understood since that day why their respected Highness would choose to implement a religious tolerance policy in the newly conquered lands.
"If it were an ordinary person, it would indeed be hard to fathom.
But Posadas, think about it, that is His Highness, the Highness who brought the Principality from a mere small coastal state to a Black Sea power.
His Highness must have a profound meaning in doing this," Tukharovsky Said with a serious expression.
"Lord Tukharovsky, please tell me quickly.
I am a simple man and truly cannot comprehend the reason for His Highness's actions," Posadas pleaded.
"Then I will share my humble opinion," Tukharovsky smiled, "Think about it, if we can see through the hidden dangers, can His Highness not see through them?"
"So?"
Badars, who was nearby, looked around, confirming that there were no other outsiders besides them, and then cautiously whispered, "It's obvious, this is His Highness playing hard to get."
"Wow, Holy Mother above, Lord Badars, is that true?" Posadas asked, surprised and delighted.
"Although His Highness himself hasn't admitted it, think about it, how could His Highness do something without any certainty.
Although His Highness is young, when it comes to governing military and political affairs, he is quite a genius," Badars affirmed with a nod.
Upon hearing this, Posadas suddenly realized, and couldn't help but exclaim with joyous surprise, "You're right!
As expected of His Highness, such astonishing wisdom is truly difficult for subordinates like us to comprehend!"