Hearing Manuel's serious tone, the cabinet members present all became solemn and began to discuss diplomatic measures with neighboring countries with him.
"It is known that our stationing of troops in Adyghe has not provoked a backlash from neighboring countries after nearly half a month. This should indicate that they have, in fact, implicitly accepted our special status in the area.
"However, this is still an unconfirmed and ambiguous matter, though their recognition is not important to us. But for the security of the Autocratic State's future strategic direction, and the security of Bosporus's rear, a good diplomatic environment must be guaranteed. Therefore, before fully incorporating Adyghe into our sphere of influence, we must try our best to obtain their promise, even if only in name.
"Given this, our future diplomatic work will mainly proceed in two major directions: first, to continue strengthening relations with the Kingdom of Lithuania, and if necessary, consider becoming its nominal vassal, though it is best to maintain the current alliance and confirm it with written documents.
"Second, to re-establish contact with the Golden Horde. Although the newly enthroned Muhammad Khan recently attempted to send troops to intervene in the civil war out of personal ambition and short-sighted incompetence. Although the Golden Horde still faces potential disintegration and will collapse in due time, the Khanate's current strength is still not something we can provoke. For the stability of Bosporus on the northern shore of the Black Sea, resuming relations with the Golden Horde must also be put on the agenda."
At the end of his speech, Manuel seriously surveyed his cabinet members, then tapped the table again. "This concerns whether we can safely devote our energy elsewhere," he added in his mind, "and even more, it concerns the future of Bosporus and the Romans along the Black Sea coast."
Having finished speaking, he looked around at his cabinet members, signaling them to offer their insights.
"So, Your Majesty, how soon do we need to accomplish these important matters?" Serenus asked cautiously.
"Preferably by the end of this year," Manuel gave his projected timeline.
"In that case, if I understand Your Majesty's implication, sending two large delegations simultaneously to the Golden Horde and Lithuania might best achieve the goal. In my humble opinion, it would be best to complete preparations by the end of this month, that is, by the end of September, and dispatch the respective delegations," Serenus mused, stroking his chin with his right hand.
What he said was exactly what Manuel had in mind, so Manuel nodded slightly in approval upon hearing it.
Seeing Manuel's reaction, and recalling the matters Manuel had just raised, most of the cabinet members, with the exception of Archbishop Orophin, generally understood Manuel's diplomatic direction for the Autocratic State. Some even conceived of ideas that seemed unbelievable by conventional standards. However, out of caution, they merely kept these conjectures to themselves.
After a careful discussion within the cabinet, Manuel, as Caesar, listened to their effective suggestions and finally made the decision as the policymaker, "Then, regarding Eastern Europe diplomacy, I will, by the will of the Holy Father, send two sizable delegations to Vilnius and Sarai respectively. Their purpose is not only to improve relations with the Kingdom of Lithuania and the Golden Horde, but also to strive to stabilize the northern frontier through this. Serenus, I apologize, but you, who are in charge of foreign affairs, may be quite busy."
"It is my honor to serve Your Majesty, who is blessed by the Holy Trinity," Serenus humbly bowed in compliance with the arrangement.
"Very good, the matters of Eastern Europe are settled. Next is the matter of Asia." Saying this, Manuel smiled amiably and then instructed Badars to retrieve a map from the table that detailed the distribution of various polities and the local terrain of Asia Minor.
Just as he smiled amiably, Orophin, who was relatively familiar with the Gavras Family, inexplicably felt a chill. "Why do I feel like I smell a conspiracy, Mother of God, is this an illusion?" The old man unconsciously stroked his white beard, trying to reassure himself.
Unfortunately, as he suspected, the young Caesar before him was indeed planning something unexpected.
"Currently, Bosporus's expansion in Eastern Europe has reached its limit. At least until the Golden Horde shows a complete decline, we have no opportunities in Eastern Europe. So I have a bold idea: to advance into Asia Minor. This map was only printed in the middle of this year, so its timeliness is still good," Manuel said with a normal tone, as if he were talking about what he would have for lunch today.
But his cabinet members became nervous; they sensed an unquestionable attitude in his calm tone. Affected by this, they all held their breath, pricked up their ears, and listened carefully to every word he said next.
"As everyone knows, my mother, Manuel Gavras's mother, comes from the legitimate imperial family of Megas Komnenos of Trabzon. To be precise, she is the sister of the current Emperor of Trabzon, Alexios IV Megas Komnenos. In other words, as her nephew, I also have a legitimate claim to the Empire of Trebizond." As he said this, Manuel took out a pen and tapped forcefully on Trabzon on the map.
"Your Majesty, this is not appropriate. We are brotherly states of the same lineage and cultural sphere, and natural allies in the fight against the Muslims," Orophin could not help but exclaim upon hearing this.
"Ah? Your Grace, the Archbishop, you seem to have misunderstood something," Manuel explained with feigned sorrow, "I am doing this precisely to protect my kinsmen. The thought of the Eastern Orthodox Romans on the southern shore of the Black Sea suffering under the threat of despicable infidels keeps me awake at night and deprives me of my appetite."
"That's not true at all. I saw Your Majesty enjoying roast suckling deer with fish sauce and lemon juice last night, and you were still sleeping in your palace chambers at seven this morning, it seems," Serenus retorted in his mind, though his expression remained unchanged.
"As for uniting with Trabzon to fight the Muslims? Are you joking? How many Christians are among the Komnenos family's current allies? The White Sheep Turkmens, the Kandar Beylik, the Janik Beyliks… They clearly occupy such excellent trade routes, yet they only know how to accumulate wealth and do not fight for the Holy Father. What a waste!"
"That's going too far, Your Majesty. It's not that they haven't tried; it's just that every time they tried, they were beaten down by the Turks," Badars thought to himself.
"So, to protect the local Eastern Orthodox, I specifically traveled across the seas to bring them warmth from north of the Black Sea. Doesn't this align with what the Bible says? Wouldn't they be moved to tears by this?" Finally, Manuel ended his explanation with exaggerated words and looked with sharp eyes at Archbishop Orophin, who had raised an objection.