Chapter 167: The Grand Loan

"Nulle terre sans seigneur"

"No Land Without a lord"

"You mean… Granting it to Antonius? But you know that is not possible right?" Constantine rejected George Sphrantzes' advice instantly by instinct.

The Prince Islands, is a group of nine islands in around six kilometres south from the city of Constantinople in the Sea of Marmara just off the coast of Anatolia. With the nine islands adding up to a total of around six Roman square miles it is undoubtedly one of the smallest islands in the known world, though its geographical location presented the islands a significant military and economical importance. With such a short straight line distance between Constantinople and the Prince Islands, it is said that at a sunny weather with a clear sky it is possible to observe the city and ships sailing in and out standing on the island of Prote, one of the nine islands.

Which means that if Antonius is to raise his fleet here and surprise Constantinople they would be here within half an hour if the winds are smooth.

"You worry too much, your majesty." George Sphrantzes magically took out a scroll of map of the Marmara Sea out of his sleeve and spread it on the floor in front of Constantine. "We do not grant him these lands, we are not like those Franks and Alermanians in the west who adopts this system of feudalism."

"You mean…." Constantine realised something observing the map.

"Yes, we reuse the centuries old system of themata, and you can appoint Antonius as both the stratēgos of Archipelago (Administrative division of the Aegean isles) and Karabisianoi (Naval division of the Carabisians), then you can try to strip him of the title of mégas droungarios putting the navy back under your command…. If they still follow your orders."

"So you mean, Antonius' control on the Prince Islands is not… permanent?"

"Yes." George Sphrantzes bowed pointing towards the Aegean region. "We will not grant Lord De'Ricci the Islands, instead we 'lease' him the islands, and he will return the empire the islands once he acquired some territory in the Aegean Archipelago."

Constantine nodded staring at the map.

"By this, we can successfully push him out of the city taking over his legitimate command of the navy, meaning that it would be deemed de facto treason that if he brings out the fleet next time. And we can leave him to struggle for survival with the Ottomans, Genoese and Venetians without having to do it ourselves, which will dwindle his ambitions on the city, if he has any of course."

A star seems to appear in Constantine's eyes, he stood up and gave George Sphrantzes a hug on the shoulders behind the table exclaiming excitedly. "George, you are my representative of intellect! I thank you together with the people of Constantinople for a brilliant idea like this!"

George Sphrantzes laughed dolefully behind Constantine's back with his wrinkles squeezed together from the stress and worries, sighed silently and asked. "Now, emperor, is it the time now to summon the legate of the Ottomans?"

"Ah, yes, the Ottomans." Constantine continued studying at the map. "Call them in after ten minutes."

George Sphrantzes sighed bringing the door behind with him.

…

Ten minutes later.

Three Ottoman ambassadors came into the meeting room, bowing before the emperor, with their leader coming up kissing the emerald ring on Constantine's finger ass a form of greeting before opening a scroll from his chest and reading it out to the emperor.

"The Sultan Beyezid Han, Sultan es Selatin, Kha-khan, Sovereign and master of the serene house of Osman greets the emperor and autocrat of all Rumelian, may the emperor be blessed with eternal health and fortune by the most mighty Allah."

The emperor smiled signalling the three ambassadors to take a seat and asked grinning. "May the honourable legate express my appreciations to the most prestigious Sultan. Greetings, honourable legates, sorry for keeping you waiting, did you have breakfast?"

The three ambassadors looked at each other with a growling stomach and answered. "No, your majesty."

"Huh?" The emperor frowned crossing his fingers. "What has my servants been doing? Why did they not offer our valued guest's beverages and replenishments?"

"It is alright, your majesty." The head ambassador hurriedly went forward and stopped the emperor before he wastes more of their time. "We have ate a bit this morning before we came, and I suggest that we deal the important issues first before anything else so we will not have the guilt of wasting the precious time of your majesty."

"Good advice." The emperor patted the shoulder of the ambassador beneath hm with his staff as a form of praising.

The ambassador cleared his throat and continued reading the scroll.

"…. After much considerations, I, Bayezid II, has decided to offer my uncle Constantine with the final version of the peace treaty between two prominent nations that are like two pillars in this barbaric world… The Ottomans and the Rumelian shall return to the boundaries before the year of eight hundred and thirty three in the year of the Hijra, returning the city of Thessaloniki, Mesembria and surrounding lands of Constantinople…."

"… The Ottomans and the Rumelian shall no longer in a tributary relationship, instead we shall form a bilateral equal relationship forming a bond of brotherhood of states, with the Sultanate of the Ottoman being the elder and the empire of Rumelia being the junior, thus the junior, being the Empire of Rumelia, shall not continue to sponsor the rebellious Orhan whose name is a disgrace to the Serene House of Osman…"

"Oh?" The emperor responded in an astounded tone. "Your Grand Vizier has indeed came out with a much better treaty than last time… But what about the ducats the Ottomans robbed us of throughout the years? Did the Grand Vizier oblige?"

The ambassadors pretended that they did not hear the emperor mentioning the Grand Vizier, they bowed, and their leader explained. "Your majesty, your request for gifts by the Sultan shall be delayed, because the taxation and trade revenue this year has already been spent onto internal developments."

"More like on waging wars with the Crusaders and Prince Orhan." The emperor gave an irritated humph and asked back sarcastically. "What if, let's say, just if, I reject this…"