Chapter 513: Promotion For Julian and Helio
"Prestigious Caesar, please do bear with my behaviour, for I have absolutely no intention of being rude to you, everything that I have done and said so far is out of purely nothing but good intentions, and I am sure that this meeting between us shall be recorded down by historians as a monument in the timeline on the recovery and revival of the Roman empire. No, it is time to change to a happy occasion, and please allow me to tell you the good news that I have brought with me."
The royal ambassador took out another scroll in silk, leaned forward and passed it to Antonius.
"I bet that Constantinople can purchase their soldiers with much better gears with all these silk that are used for nothing but letters."
"Ah don’t worry honourable Caesar, these silk are nothing but those cheap Athenian silk, of course we would not want to use those precious Seres silk."
Antonius opened the letter, and found out that it is nothing but simply words of praises on him, saying that they shall set up a new festival in Constantinople for all the citizens to commemorate the victory that their Caesar has just gained, and then they shall name a newly built street in Constantinople called Antonionopolis, but other than that? Nothing else, just nothing, apparently Antonius knows that the government in Constantinople has no more title or land to use to reward him, and he can see this this letter, from the words to the signature, are definitely not the handwriting of that Constantine lying on the death bed.
Meaning that either this letter is forged, or it is being written by the others listening to Constantine’s words. Judging by the recent news that the emperor is in a coma, the chance for the previous assumption is slightly higher.
"The emperor..." The ambassador paused a bit and placed a strong emphasise on the next word. "And the regent together with all the senators of the government, has recognised the Caesar’s effort in retaking the land of Epirus for the empire. Please, honourable Caesar, have a look at this."
The ambassador then took out another scroll and passed it to the Caesar, while the latter is still confused and asked. "Wait, a regent? Since when does Constantinople has a regent? And I am not notified about this at all?"
"Ah yes, your highness, we do understand that information is transmitted across the seas in quite a slow pace in this chaotic era." The ambassador smiled and replied. "In fact, under the invitation of the majority of the citizens of Constantinople, together with the understanding and support of the entire senate and court, my master Thomas Palaiologos is welcomed into Constantinople and is now standing in as the regent of the entire empire, temporarily taking over all duties from the emperor due to... unfortunate reasons."
Apostolos’ hands holding the tweezers shivered the bit hearing about this piece of news, but quickly turned back to his normal state adding more woods and coals into the furnace giving the tent additional heat despite the temperature in the interior is already soaring up to a point that all three men are starting to sweat in their inner clothing.
Antonius’ face changed expressions for multiple times while he is browsing through this piece of letter. It is a letter of promotion, but not for him, instead it is for a person whom he would never think of – Julian. This letter is again, written in the tone of Constantine himself officially making Julian joining the rank system of the empire making him a Anthypatos, and most importantly, promoting him to become the Strategos of the entire Epirus.
The ambassador gave Antonius another piece of promotion letter followed by this one, giving Helio the honouree noble title of Prōtospatharios, and also making him a Strategos too, governing over the Theme of Opsician.
These two pieces of promotion made the fury of Antonius again starting to burn deep inside his heart as he eyed at both the letter and the man before him with his pair of cold eyes that resembles a serpent. First of all, Julian and Helio are his men, and Constantinople has no decision to decide about their rank, their position, their stay, simply nothing about them. That only person that can dictate about Julian and Helio is him, Antonius De’Ricci, and should be him. Antonius is almost sure that these two appointment letters are just here to disgust him and maybe try to make him grow suspicion on his two best commanders.
Apostolos did not make a sound, focusing on warming the jar of wine in the furnace.
"Oh yes, I almost forgot about one thing." The royal ambassador smiled again and took out another long scroll of goat paper from his chest that looks like it can hold an infinite number of things. "The emperor and the regent know that you are short of hands that have proper knowledge on how to govern an area, and so here is a list of names that are mostly nobles or affiliated with nobles in both Constantinople, Morea and the newly reclaimed city of Tzirallon. The central government has decided they are definitely the best people with intellect, experience in governance and wit that the empire can choose from, and such precious manpower should not go wasted, so Constantinople has decided to appoint them as officials of the various towns and counties in charge of tax collection and enforcing policies. Of course, they shall be entirely under your leadership and guidance."
Antonius narrowed his eyes, he knew that the purpose of this man coming here today is not to just disgust and irritate him, the real deal is over here stated on this piece of paper, it is to forcefully cramp the political power and influence of the regent in Constantinople right into his heartland in an attempt to control every bit of his government in order to soak his blood and slowly turn his land into theirs, just like how parasites grow into their host and in the end controlling the prey’s body, another common trick used by Constantinople hundreds of years ago on those feudal Crusader states in the east.
The room went back to silence as Antonius looks through the list placed on his table with the fume in his heart raising to a whole new level every time he sees a familiar name on the paper, he knows these people, they are the sons, cousins or bastards of the nobles and senators back then in Constantinople that he used to argue and bargain with in response to their notorious attitude of cutting short on supplies and monies to the frontline troops even when the forces of Mehmed is already right there under the walls. Antonius knows these men way too well, of course they cannot do anything except for telling the test of the wine they are drinking, the various tips, tricks and rules in gambling games and the geographical names of their family’s estates.
Apostolos finally moved following the silence, carrying a tray with the pot of wine. Normally the ideal temperature for this kind of warm wine is around fifty degrees plus giving it the best aroma and taste, but it is obvious that Apostolos has screwed up with this pot of wine this time round as it has almost reached a boiling temperature completely wasting the precious wine. Apostolos refilled Antonius’ cup with the failed wine he has just prepared and sat there quietly at the side with his head lowered, pretending as if that he is really just an old servant.
The Caesar finished reading through the list and glared back at the royal ambassador with a sneer. "So these are the so called suitable personnel with experience of governance and superb qualities that you have prepared for me?"
"Not me, your highness." The ambassador corrected smiling. "It is prepared by the hard working bureaucrats and senators in Constantinople who excel in discovering new talents and place them in the suitable positions to utilise them to the maximum serving the emperor and the empire."
"How about the people?"
"Ah, yes, and the people as well."
"What if." Antonius stood up waving this scroll of paper in his hands. "What if I refuse to comply to this list of names?"
"Well, there won’t be any consequences, of course your majesty, this list is nothing but just a list of recommendations. Many apologies, your highness, I must say that although you absolutely have the right to turn down this list of nominations, but it is nevertheless a list of good willing and kindness from the various lords, nobles and merchants in both Constantinople, Morea, and even Venezia, so I would advise you to consider about it carefully, because turning it down might potentially damage the friendship and feelings between you and these lords... You know, of course it is not a threat, for I am nothing but a humble ambassador, and this list is just a suggestion."
