The day after Hamza and Sheikh Hassan, the two brothers, fled back to Erzurum, Alexander, having received the news of the unfavorable situation, adopted a submissive posture and sat before his two cousins.
After listening to their brief explanation of the situation, Alexander felt a sharp gaze fixed on him.
"Oh, my dear cousin, what do you think about dealing with this so-called Bosporus?" Sheikh asked with a gentle smile.
However, this tone instead gave Alexander an inexplicable sense of crisis, sending shivers down his spine.
After making sure he hadn't revealed any flaws in front of his overly affectionate cousin, Alexander, dressed in a plain white kaftan, quickly adopted a calm demeanor and gave his reply, pretending to have solid reasoning: "Gentlemen, in my humble opinion, given the current situation, it would be best to await reinforcements from Diyarbakir.
The city of Erzurum has strong walls and is sufficient for defense."
You said nothing useful, Sheikh almost scoffed on the spot.
However, what Alexander said was indeed the best solution at the moment, and considering this, they did not press him further on the matter, but instead consulted him on another issue: "Speaking of which, recently many Armenian heretics have been incited by these Romans from Bosporus and have started to oppose us."
"Is that so?" Alexander feigned great surprise, although he had heard much about this while in Erzurum.
"Those heretical commoners are rebelling.
Gentlemen, such usurpation must not be tolerated; anyone who dares to help Bosporus should be arrested and hanged!"
"Ah, this..." Aren't you a Christian? Hamza almost blurted out.
Alexander, keenly aware of their astonishment, patiently explained: "Don't the Armenians mostly believe in their Apostolic Church?
I am an Eastern Orthodox, how could I have common ground with heretics?
Besides, anyone who dares to oppose their lord, regardless of the reason, is an unforgivable rioter!"
Before the two could react, he added, "Hmm, in my humble opinion, you two could also use this opportunity to confiscate the property of the wealthy among them to fund military expenses.
After all, wasn't tolerating their existence normally for the purpose of them being useful in such a critical moment?
Furthermore, regarding those literate merchants and priests, try to keep a closer watch on them, lest these literate people be incited to cause trouble."
Good heavens, his proposals were even more ruthless than the Turkmen tribes who had always oppressed the Armenians.
Sheikh muttered in his heart.
However, they also admitted that their cousin did have some means, though not many, but enough for Pontus.
Understanding this, Sheikh and Hamza planned to convene the surviving tribal commanders later to discuss the feasibility of these measures.
But while they racked their brains to defend Erzurum, they were completely unaware that Alexander, upon returning to his residence, had dismissed the female slaves and servants given to him by the White Sheep, leaving only a few of his loyal retainers to help him pack his luggage in the room.
At the same time, in Mangup, the capital of the Bosphorus Despotate, Barbara, having just finished caring for little Justiana, was in a good mood, handling the day's official business in the palace.
Soon, after reviewing a report, she couldn't help but frown and summoned a middle-aged merchant named Leo, an officer of the covert operations unit Manuel had left in Mangup.
Incidentally, Leo's public identity was a direct merchant of the Gavras Family.
After Leo arrived and briefly paid his respects, she eagerly asked a question that greatly concerned her: "Farmers protesting tax increases? And they've sent a delegation to demonstrate in Mangup?"
"Yes, Your Highness." As soon as he spoke, Leo felt that Princess Catherine's eyes seemed to spew fire, startling him into quickly bowing to avoid her gaze.
Barbara initially wanted to send the army or the "Watchers" Force to simply crush them, but quickly realized that such an order might be making a mountain out of a molehill.
Conversely, wasn't the covert operations unit supposed to handle such tasks?
Thinking this, a moment later, she issued her regency decree: "A bunch of lawless rioters?! Arrest them all!"
"Then, Your Highness," Leo rose and inquired about the details of handling the farmer representatives, "What should be done with them after they are arrested?"
"Educate them verbally and send them back to their own lands, warning them not to do it again."
She did not consider direct severe punishment or execution, as she believed herself, like her husband, not to be a tyrant who would do such foolish things to provoke the farmers.
"Yes, Your Highness." Leo bowed repeatedly to show his obedience before departing.
This was the first organized farmer tax protest in Bosporus, but it would not be the last.
At this moment, Manuel was stationed in Bayburt, coordinating military affairs while doing his best to handle related matters in his Asia Minor territories.
"The specific land distribution instructions for west of Erzincan have also been reviewed and approved." Manuel rubbed his sore eyes and had his servant deliver this written instruction to the few officials he had left in Erzincan, allowing them to temporarily act on his behalf.
"Your Majesty, we are extensively distributing land before making peace with the White Sheep.
Might this..." His Commander of the Guard, Badars, reminded him with a hint of worry.
"This is the result I want," Manuel smiled slightly, "As long as a fait accompli is created, the relationship between these Armenians and the White Sheep Turkmens will not be so easily mended."
Badars nodded as if understanding, then asked, greatly puzzled: "But Your Majesty, why are the formerly unemployed vagrants who newly acquired land exempt from taxes?"
"How much fertility can land that has just been converted from pasture to farmland have?"
Manuel shook his head and frowned at this, explaining seriously, "In this wartime situation, it's better to have the wealthy Armenian merchants contribute more limited war taxes."
Just as Badars was about to speak further, Manuel's time was up again: "Next, I need to preside over the military meeting."
"Yes, Your Majesty, loyalty!" Subsequently, he watched his Majesty depart, then conscientiously left the scene to fulfill his duties as an officer of the covert operations unit.