Chapter 627: Education! More Education!
Patrol guards’ room, Constantinople.
Within the confines of Constantinople’s patrol office, four guards engaged in what seemed less an interrogation and more a cordial conversation with two men, seated side by side, heads bowed as though guarding their true identities. Despite being accused of trespassing on national defence grounds, it was evident to the guards that these men were distinguished guests, likely invited by the court for the upcoming coronation. Consequently, espionage charges were off the table, placing the captain in a delicate situation. Bound by law, yet aware of the men’s status, they tread a fine line, especially with a watchful commissar overseeing the proceedings.
Thus, the Grand Prince of Moskva and Ali, the second son of Zaganos, spent their first night in Constantinople in the patrol station. Their entourage lingered anxiously outside, seeking their release yet cautious not to reveal their masters’ identities. The standoff continued until dawn when a courtier from the palace arrived, displaying the royal seal and securing their release.
Ali was promptly returned to his father, Zaganos Pasha, while the Grand Prince had a different engagement awaiting him.
The Grand Prince was whisked away to the palace in a covered chariot. After a refreshing bath, a change of clothes, and a nourishing breakfast, he was ushered into a grand chamber. There, he encountered a man in his late thirties, an imposing figure with a rugged countenance adorned with battle scars and flecks of grey in his hair. It was none other than the soon-to-be emperor of the Greeks, a new luminary on the world stage.
"Greetings, my friend." The emperor went forward to give the Grand Prince a tight hug. "How have you been, my friend? I hope that those guys did not mistreat you near the metal forge."
The Grand Prince made a gulp, for he knows the purpose on why he decided to sneak into that place, that is to secretly learn some of the top notch military technologies. He kept standing there, like a teenager, fidgeting his cloths. Seeing this, the emperor made no further words, instead he pulled the chair for the Grand Prince, and invited him for a seat face to face, as the servants came in placing beverages and Karithopita cakes onto the table.
The conversation that followed was filled with pleasantries and gratitude from the emperor, expressing appreciation for the Grand Prince’s long journey from Rus to the Mediterranean for his coronation. In return, the Grand Prince offered hearty congratulations and expressed hope for fruitful relations between their realms. Though the dialogue was standard for such a high-level meeting, it carried an air of intimacy, devoid of the usual coterie of ministers or courtiers.
After an hour weighed down by formalities and internal deliberations, the Grand Prince couldn’t restrain himself any longer. Lifting his gaze to meet the emperor’s, he ventured, "Honourable Caesar..."
"Yes?" The emperor replied, his face breaking into a knowing smirk. He had anticipated this moment since their conversation began.
"I must express my deepest..."
"Say no more, Honourable Grand Prince." The emperor raised his hand and stopped the man before him. "I must say, Honourable Prince, that I am both shocked and at the same time impressed by your action last night. I see something in you, I see that strong desire in you in hoping to build your kingdom into a more powerful regional influential state and bring your people into a new height with peace and prosperity. As a ruler myself, I made shame on myself that I have lost my dream and courage to do the tasks impossible, unlike you."
The Grand Prince stood hastily, an urgency in his demeanour. "Your Highness, please, you flatter me too much. I have come, drawn by the tales of your remarkable military conquests, reclaiming the ancient Orthodox lands for the Ecumenical Patriarch. Your feats eclipse those of any living Christian ruler. Surely, you are destined for sainthood..."
"Your kind words honour me, noble Prince," the Roman emperor responded, signalling with a clap. Two attendants entered, bearing scrolls on a tray.
"I have prepared a preliminary proposal to strengthen the ties between our realms," the emperor said, passing a document to the Grand Prince. "I propose allowing Muscovite scholars and students to study and research in our empire’s schools, colleges, and universities, without financial burdens. While the Grand Duchy of Moskva in exchange must provide and promote manpower in the Varangian Troops and labour in our forges and factories. They may keep their earnings."
The Grand Prince’s eyes sparkled with a veiled joy, yet as a ruler, he tempered his response. "I am grateful, yet I must consult with my council before committing on behalf of Muscovy," he said, to which the emperor nodded understandingly.
Little did the Grand Prince know, similar agreements had been struck with Hungary, Albania, and Egypt, drawing their scholars and workers to the empire.
...
After the Grand Prince had departed, Antonius De’Ricci watched the chariot disappear through the palace gates.
"Abdullah, are you sure that this is beneficial to the state? Giving away our skills and technology?"
"Oh Yes, Your Majesty," Abdullah assured. "You might underestimate the power of education. It can be a formidable weapon, wielded in times most unexpected, creating an effect that no one can ever think of."
"Oh?" The soon to be emperor is not yet convinced.
"You might not have realised this, your Majesty, but after an entire two century of constant civil strife and blood shed, with destructions of numerous towns and villages which stopped just a couple of years ago, our core population is already at a crucial point of a little more than a million people, with most concentrated on Archia and Thessaloniki. Vast areas of our lands are left vacant with abandoned farmlands with no one to work on, the direct results of this is that we have never sufficient working population to support our rapidly growing industrialisation development in the cities. We need more workers while licking our wounds and regrow our population, your Majesty."
"And besides, those students, they are not just here to learn about tools and skills, they will be learning our values, our ideologies, our believes as well. Naturally in the years to come, some of them will be more affiliated towards us, spread our cultural influences across the lands, which might make decision makers of other states make decisions that benefits us in the future. Imagine, one day in the future, we are at war with some other state, and the enemy state had a new monarch which is a fan our country’s culture, and thus order a full retreat on his troops even though he is winning the war."
Antonius shook his head, half in disbelief. "I doubt such a foolish monarch exists, but your point stands, lets hope for the best for the future."
...
The day after, a messenger from the Grand Prince returned to the palace, bearing the news that Moskva agreed to the proposed collaboration. The Grand Prince, eager for the technology and skills to advance his realm on the fringes of known civilisation, found a willing partner in the emperor, who sought additional men for his Varangian troops. This mutual need paved the way for a promising alliance. While more Romans can be liberated from their forced national services, returned to their homes with their families, raising children for the newly established state.
As the coronation drew near, the final touches were being applied to the preparations. The Hagia Sophia had undergone a comprehensive transformation, boasting fresh paint and structural enhancements. Icons, once removed, now adorned its chambers again, creating an ambiance of deep religious sentiment. This restoration led many clerics to erroneously believe that the soon-to-be emperor was an Iconodule, a fervent venerator of religious images, although this was not the case.
The Basilica, now renamed the Basilica of Antonius, stood ready to accommodate the influx of international dignitaries. Although the Hippodrome was reconstructed on its historical foundations, it was slightly reduced in size. Despite this, it remained grand enough to host a magnificent parade, with a breadth allowing for the simultaneous entry of two chariots.
Parts of the Grand Palace, notably the Daphne and Antiochas, were still under construction, with the progress being far from complete, a reality that deviated from Leon Battista Alberti’s assurances. Yet, Antonius harboured no resentment towards Alberti, fully aware of the acute manpower shortage.
The entire empire buzzed with activity in preparation for this momentous occasion. Metal forges, which once produced weapons, now churned out iron components for construction projects and agricultural tools to produce a higher yield for the continued development of the state. Soldiers, temporarily relieved of their martial duties, contributed to the security and transportation of materials, goods, grain, and people across the empire back and forth to the various cities. A sense of jubilation permeated the land, as its people revealed in a newfound sense of security — free from the spectres of civil strife and foreign invaders, under the steadfast guardianship of their Caesar and his formidable army.
