A few days later, in the morning, as the Bosporus army crossed the border, Janik Bey Emir awoke to the ministrations of his wife and maidservants.
After he finished his morning prayers, the Emir dismissed his female attendants and sent for his Vizier.
Upon receiving His Highness the Bey's summons, his Vizier Mesaoglu immediately arrived.
After a brief joint prayer, the Emir calmly inquired about the front-line situation, "What are the enemy's movements?"
"Reporting to His Highness the Bey," Mesaoglu, who was older than his Bey, respectfully bowed and said, "These wicked Christians have already entered our borders."
"What is our troop deployment like?" The Emir's tone was slightly urgent as he asked this question.
"Because of the significant losses previously incurred in the Giresun area, and given that the Beylik was only recently established, Amasya is truly the only place we can rely on as our foundation.
So, I regret to inform His Highness the Bey, mobilizing 3,000 troops for defense is our absolute limit."
"How did Kandar respond?"
"His Highness Isfendiyar Bey sent 3,000 troops to aid our defense.
However, the old Bey said that, based on the previous lesson learned from Giresun, he could not hand over command to us."
It seemed his ally was planning to flee.
Although it was uncomfortable, as the Bey of Janik, he could still understand the other side's choice.
The most important point was that, apart from Amasya, the entire Janik region was predominantly forest.
While it might be an exaggeration to say there were no natural defenses, it was certainly accurate to describe it as lacking strategic strongholds.
Therefore, he would bet that if Kandar's capital, Sinop, wasn't located in a plain, the old Bey of Kandar probably wouldn't even send these 3,000 men, but would instead hunker down in his own territory and wait for Edirne to react.
It seemed that the decision he made not long ago was indeed incredibly correct.
Although he had immediately contacted the Pasha, who was stationed near Amasya and commanded the Black Sea coast army under Ottoman, after the meeting with his colleagues a few days prior, it was only at this very moment that Janik Bey Emir finally solidified his conviction.
"Go see Muhammad Ozil Pasha," Janik Bey said calmly after hearing his Vizier's report.
"His Highness the Bey, but this..."
"There's nothing left to fear."
As the Emir, accompanied by his Vizier, rushed to Amasya to meet Özil Pasha, in Edirne, the capital of the Ottoman Sultanate, the eloquent Murad II was in the Great Mosque of Edirne, debating and expounding on the deeper meanings of scriptures with several jurists under his rule.
Due to stable borders in recent years, as the Ottoman Sultan, he could finally enjoy leisure time in the capital.
During this period, in addition to accompanying his beloved son Sultan Aladdin Ali in studying scriptures and doctrines and playing with him, he often visited the mosques in Edirne to discuss the profound meanings within texts like the Quran with the jurists.
During this time, his scholarship quickly won over these proud scholars.
Whether out of admiration or a desire to flatter, some scholars in the mosque even began to praise their monarch with titles like "Murad the Great Sultan" and "Great Murad Teacher."
However, Murad did not pay much attention to this.
After concluding today's academic exchange, His Sultan, now in middle age, calmly left the mosque.
Outside the temple, his beloved son, Sultan Aladdin Ali, upon seeing his father emerge, eagerly wanted to run over but was awkwardly held back by the Sultan's attendants.
"Let him come," Murad smiled and waved his hand, signaling the guards to step aside.
Seeing no one stopping him, Sultan Aladdin Ali, who was less than ten years old, quickly rushed into the arms of his Sultan father.
Murad caught him directly, rubbing his beloved son with his not-so-long but very thick black beard.
It was only at this moment that this monarch, who was formidable and awe-inspiring in front of his subjects and enemies, rarely displayed his few moments of tenderness.
After playing with Sultan Aladdin Ali under the protection of his guards, Murad noticed his eldest son, Ahmed, standing idly by.
At this, in a good mood, he relaxed and waved his hand, signaling the child to also come and enjoy his father's affection.
Afterward, he also had his favorite Sultana, Isfendiyar's daughter, Hatice Hatun from the Kandaroglu family, come with the children, letting her nestle by his side, inadvertently showing his tender side to his family.
If there was one discordant note in this heartwarming scene, it was Murad's concubine, Hayma Hatun, and her child.
This Greek concubine was now standing idly by, holding her son, Murad's two-year-old fourth son, Muhammad, waiting blankly for the Sultan's summons.
But unfortunately, Murad said nothing to his fourth son or his mother until he returned to the palace.
After spending time intimately with his wife and children, a rehashed report made His Sultan frown slightly.
"Is Ibrahim still unwilling to withdraw from the Hamid region?" Murad narrowed his dark pupils, his tone slightly irritated.
The Ibrahim he referred to was his son-in-law, Karaman Bey Ibrahim II.
This ambitious Karaman Turkmen monarch was as active as his ancestors, or perhaps 'running around' would be a more fitting description.
In any case, even though this person was fundamentally supported by Ottoman, he still coveted Ottoman territory as always.
So, what was the point of all that effort he expended back then?
Thinking of this, Murad felt somewhat ashamed.
As he pondered this, his Grand Vizier had already bowed respectfully and replied, "Yes, Sultan."
"He's truly a troublesome fellow," Murad couldn't help but shake his head and sigh.
Just as the Ottoman Sultan returned to the palace to continue handling state affairs, in the Mangup Palace on the other side of the Black Sea, the two regents appointed by Bosphorus Caesar were holding an "imperial council" to formulate temporary policies for their monarch's conquest in Asia Minor.
As the meeting progressed into its latter half, Ano, the Autocratic State's Finance Minister, felt quite uneasy about the tax rates that were about to be implemented.
Out of loyalty and a sense of responsibility, he forced himself to raise an objection.
"His Highness the Prince, Her Highness Catherine," Ano tried his best to keep his expression appropriate, "Are the tax rates we are about to implement a bit too high?"
"Are they?" Barbara indicated there was no problem, "It's just a temporary levy for a few months; the farmers and lords should understand."
"But we have already been implementing relatively high tax rates for nearly three quarters," Ano reminded, "Your Highness, there have already been three farmer petitions reaching the capital.
Extracting 3k ducats from farmers every month, like before, is already the limit.
If we increase it to a total collection of 5k ducats per month, those unruly commoners might actually cause trouble."
Not long after the Bosphorus's Finance Minister had exhausted himself arguing the pros and cons, Janik Bey Emir finally met his old acquaintance again, who was Muhammad Ozil Pasha of the Ottoman garrison on the Black Sea coast.
"So," this strong Ottoman Turkmen man fiddled with the peacock feather on his turban, "is this your decision, Emir?"
"Yes," Janik Bey Emir smiled grimly, "As things stand, only you can change this situation.
For Allah, and for His Sultan, please strike hard against those arrogant Romans."