Then, as expected, when these matters were brought before Caesar, he was once again left speechless.
"Have you made enough trouble?" Manuel was so exasperated he laughed upon learning of the 'good deeds' committed by the officials and tax collectors he had dispatched for the census.
He truly hadn't expected Pontus to encounter the same issues he had faced when governing Theodosia, and even the entire Tauris Peninsula, back then: bureaucrats, eager to please their superiors, would, with the backing of the monarch's authority, arrogantly and inflexibly enforce every decree he issued.
While, strictly speaking, Manuel didn't entirely dislike this deep down, he absolutely didn't need these officials to demonstrate their rigid style to him now.
In his helplessness, Manuel had no choice but to, as he had done a few years prior in Theodosia, temporarily suspend the census work on a chosen day, summoning the high and mid-level officials directly under him and responsible for the survey that afternoon, giving them a stern verbal lecture.
Only after this did the group of officials rein in their behavior in subsequent census work, no longer severely disrupting the normal lives of the people, big and small, in the Pontus region with such inappropriate methods.
After correcting the improper conduct of his subordinate officials, Manuel once again shifted his focus to the economic sphere.
By late June, news from Tauris brought a smile to his face.
"In short, the gist of it is that Bosporus Bank's sale of debt was a great success." He joyfully informed his wife of the good news one morning while visiting her as she rested in bed, pregnant.
"That's good then," Barbara replied, though she had only a general understanding of the matter beforehand, she had seen the joy in her husband's eyes, "So that's how it is now, right? The Autocratic State's economy has no problems!"
"No," Manuel chuckled awkwardly, "Once the Black Sea trade route expansion is complete, we'll still have to pay back the principal and interest to those who bought the debt.
After all, from an economic theory perspective, this is using their money to fill the Autocratic State's financial holes.
I'm giving this economic solution a specialized name: bonds."
"Bonds? Isn't that just borrowing and repaying loans?" Barbara's expression was exceptionally vivid at this moment; she felt as if she couldn't quite grasp Manuel's intention.
"From a certain angle, yes, but unlike borrowing from abroad, this is essentially borrowing domestically.
However, I personally feel that these terms are somewhat outdated, so I want to use more relatively appropriate terminology.
For example, in all aspects concerning bonds, domestic holders should be called creditors, and the repaying party should be called the debtor…" However, Manuel was not paying much attention to his wife's expression at this moment, but rather, as if a floodgate had opened, he began speaking in modern economic terms from his previous life, uttering words that were difficult for others to understand.
"Is it possible you're too far ahead?" Barbara, completely bewildered, narrowed her eyes, her face practically screaming confusion.
"I always feel like you're doing something very new and very difficult for others to understand."
"Ah haha…" Realizing her helpless tone, he couldn't help but let out an awkward dry laugh.
"And if you only have reckless courage, you might stumble, you know." Seeing her husband's current predicament, she deliberately tightened her expression, trying to tease him.
"Don't look at me with such a doubting gaze," Manuel instantly lost his composure, "No, can't you trust me? And this isn't the first time I've guided the economy, is it?" Although he knew this would bring many risks, and he also seemed a bit overconfident, she shouldn't look at him with such an expression.
However, his wife's expression quickly softened, "I'm just kidding, if I were to listen to me about things like economic innovation, that's when big problems would arise."
"I don't find it amusing." Understanding his wife's intention, Manuel also deliberately kept a straight face, wanting to see her flustered expression.
"You're not acting like it at all," Barbara shrewdly saw through him, "If you were truly angry, you would instead smile, and you would smile very restrained and gentle."
Why does that sound strange… Manuel always felt that he was being misunderstood in some way.
Thus, he could only explain himself with a wry smile, "I also have normal feelings of anger, I just don't like to show them directly, which is why I use that smile to cover it up."
After that, he chatted casually with Barbara for a few more sentences, then properly arranged the affairs of the Pontus region.
Because he was going back to Tauris to personally verify whether the bond issuance was successful, and if it could smoothly fit into the current era after his fine-tuning.
Now that the recent war and its aftermath had gradually subsided, as Caesar, there was no need for him to take extra precautions when sailing to the northern shore of the Black Sea, nor to force the sails to full.
So, it was about three days after boarding the ship that he slowly set foot on the land of Afrita Port on the Peninsula.
Although he was not in a great hurry, he did not linger long in the port.
In fact, Manuel, after his feet touched the ground in the port, did not stay for even a quarter of an hour before rushing towards Bangkok Pu Palace.
Because according to prior communication, his Tauris finance minister and the personally appointed Bosporus Bank president, along with other financial dignitaries, would be waiting for his personal arrival at the palace today.
And Caesar did not break his word.
After changing into a light ceremonial suit, he returned to Bangkok Pu Palace that morning and met his long-unseen key subordinates.
After a brief greeting and a shared prayer, they smoothly moved on to the main topic of the day.
"Although the reports sent to Pontus indicate that this bond handling was very smooth," Manuel slowly said, "I have returned today because I still want to know the specific process of the bond sale."
Facing Caesar's personal inquiry, those present did not hide anything, explaining the process in detail.
Listening to their answers, Manuel's brows sometimes furrowed tightly, sometimes relaxed.
And after they had largely finished their narration, he also reached a corresponding conclusion.
"Indeed, those nobles who were half-forced to buy bonds all regard it as a new form of taxation, and they probably harbor considerable dissatisfaction in their hearts." Manuel thought, "This is unavoidable, but it really is as I envisioned; issuing bonds indeed quickly raised enough funds to pay off the designated portion of the outstanding loans.
"And according to my investigations in Pontus, economic contact and consensus with the Mamluks will soon be achieved.
With this, the economy will truly improve!" Thinking of this, a faint smile couldn't help but appear on Caesar's face.
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty?" Arno, who had finished his report, asked his monarch, waving his hand in confusion.
"Ah, nothing." Manuel, returning from his thoughts to reality, showed a hearty smile, "I was just thinking, this year's economic growth rate is truly exciting."