Chapter 375 Olympus Games
On the shores of the Black Sea, the city longed for by the world, Constantinople.
It was morning, and the early autumn sun was hanging in the sky, dyeing half of the city golden.
In the city of Constantinople, on the avenue leading from the workshop area to the imperial city area, a carriage slowly passed by, and the trees on the roadside exuded a faint fragrance.
This carriage was obviously very expensive. The four tall horses ensured a strong pulling force. The main body of the carriage was made of high-quality mahogany and was carved with the family crest. It had all the necessary rubber wheels, springs and velvet cushions. The ceiling was carved from a large piece of rosewood. The interior space was very spacious and could accommodate a small wine table.
There was a horizontal seat at the front of the roof, on which two neatly dressed coachmen sat, while their master sat inside the carriage.
After the advancement of carriage technology, this kind of four-wheeled carriage with a roof began to become popular in Constantinople. Many dignitaries and wealthy businessmen regarded it as a symbol of wealth and glory, and tried their best to show off their wealth.
In the carriage, an old man with gray hair was slowly savoring the wine in the glass. He was dressed very elegantly, with a black cane leaning against the cushion. His slightly fat cheeks made him look very kind, and his small eyes were always full of joy, just like a kind old man next door.
His name is Peter Mavro. He is from Serbia and currently lives in Birinci. He is a well-known tycoon in the imperial business world and has countless titles and honorary titles: Fifth-level elder of the Eastern Roman Senate, a lord conferred by the emperor, a member of the Birinci City Council, a trustee of Birinci University, a donor of the Christian Cathedral in Surt, and the person in charge of the "Good Peter" human resources company...
Of course, in the upper classes of Constantinople, he had only one name: the slave trader "Black Peter".
The reason for this title, on the one hand, comes from the original meaning of Peter's surname "Mavro", and on the other hand, it is because of his cruelty in treating Saracen slaves.
Decades ago, Peter was just a Slavic wandering youth from a village on the border between Albania and Cetinje. During the rise of the Ottomans, his parents and brothers were killed by the Ottomans, his sweetheart was raped to death by Ottoman soldiers and bandits, and his village was massacred by Ottoman cavalry. Peter, who escaped by chance, first followed the refugee team to the Republic of Ragusa, and then secretly climbed into the bottom cabin of a merchant ship that seemed to be bound for Venice.
The cabin was filled with unwashed blood, fermented and rotten feces, and iron shackles connected to the hull. It was dark and narrow. Although no one was inside, the pervasive smell of blood and sour odor still made Peter feel endlessly depressed.
But precisely because of this, no one is willing to come here. Peter survived a week-long difficult journey by relying on the food and fresh water he brought on board and his tenacious perseverance.
Later, when Peter began his first slave trade, he finally learned that it was a Ragusa slave ship and its destination was not Venice.
When Peter was kicked awake by a sailor patrolling the hold one morning, he had arrived in a strange country where the sky was full of sand and dust, the land was barren, cities and villages were confined to the coastal plains, and the rest of the settlements were scattered in oases in the desert.
The Ragusan sailor who threw him overboard told him disdainfully that this was Soult in North Africa, the territory of a Greek prince, and there were no valuable commodities except Saracen slaves.
A merchant ship from Ragusa was loaded with dozens of slaves and was bound for the Ottoman Empire. Peter walked alone in the streets of Surte in fear. His clothes and shoes were all taken away by the Ragusa sailors as tickets. His body was covered with feces and all kinds of unpleasant odors. No one was willing to approach him, and the patrolling soldiers would drive him away.
In despair, Peter prayed to God, but God did not answer.
When he was about to faint on the street due to physical weakness, a priest reached out to him, and after confirming that he was an Orthodox Christian, he saved him with a glass of cheap beer produced in Surt and took him back to his church.
With the help of the priest named Christian, Peter became a hired worker in the church, chopping wood, fetching water, and sweeping up garbage... During the six months of interaction, Christian became very fond of this diligent and honest Slavic boy, and advised him to take out of his spare time to participate in study and strengthen himself.
So Peter learned Greek and Greek from Christian, learned Arabic from the city life, and integrated into the life of Surt city. Because he was loyal, eloquent, and had an active mind, many people were willing to make friends with him.
One day, Christian told Peter in distress that he did not get the chance of promotion again because he failed to complete the church's mission. In his diocese, there were still too few Orthodox Christians and too many Muslims.
Then, Peter had an idea and wanted to help his friend solve this problem. He told Peter that due to the looting of the Ottomans and the incompetence of the local nobles, many Orthodox Christians in the Balkan Peninsula were displaced. He could speak Serbian and Albanian, and if there was a ship, he could go and recruit the refugees.
Coincidentally, the Surt government, under the order of Prince Isaac, launched a population replacement plan, accepting all Orthodox refugees. With a try-it attitude, Christian recommended Peter to a captain as a guide and translator to attract Slavic Orthodox Christians.
Peter has an outstanding talent in languages, possesses the ability to bewitch people, and knows how to gain the love of others. With his help, the plan to attract refugees was completed ahead of schedule. Christian received many commendations for this, and Peter also became the fleet's resident translator.
These Slavic Orthodox Christians who came to Surt because of Peter would often gather around him and became the prototype of the "North African Slavic Gang", one of the three major slave trading gangs in the Eastern Roman Empire in the future.
Another half a year passed, and just when Christian was about to persuade his friend to use the accumulated bounty to buy a property, get married and have children, Peter ambitiously told Christian that he was going to go it alone.
Peter gathered his Slavic fellow countrymen and decided to buy ships, recruit Orthodox refugees from the Balkan Peninsula, earn Prince Isaac's bounty, and then buy Saracen slaves from North Africa and sell them to the Ottoman Empire or the Hafsid dynasty.
Thus, Black Peter's journey officially began. The trend of population exchange blew him up. His fleet grew bigger, his business became more prosperous, and his profits increased. He bought an estate in Birinci, which was newly conquered by Prince Isaac, married the daughter of an Armenian elder, built his own slave concentration camp, slave-catching team and slave training base, and formulated strict terms and industry rules for the thriving slave guild. The slaves produced were unanimously praised by buyers.
Anything produced by Peter must be of high quality.
He vented all the humiliation of his youth and the anger of the destruction of his family on the Muslims. He used cruel means to grind down the minds of the slaves and turn them into cheap laborers who only knew how to obey but had no thoughts.
Later, Peter began to enter politics and was successfully elected as a member of the parliament of Birinci. He also helped the imperial government communicate with the "Grey Cardinal" Alexander and became one of the main sponsors of the Belgrade Peasant Crusade in 1456. Later, in the Albanian War, he assisted the Eastern Roman Empire to meet with Alexander, who was already the Bishop of Cetinje, and jointly planned the uprising in Cetinje, driving away the local Venetians and forcing the Venetian Marshal Colleoni to withdraw to Dalmatia.
After getting the support of senior officials, Peter naturally rose step by step and reached the pinnacle of his life with his shrewdness, ability and sharp vision.
However, what made Peter sad was that due to differences in ideology, Christian priest, who advocated the use of gentle means to convert Muslims, drifted further and further away from him and refused to see him for the last time until his death.
After Christian's death, Peter returned to the small church that had brought him shelter and respect. He adopted the nephew of priest Christian as his godson and sent him to study in the seminary. He also invested two thousand solidus to renovate the small church into the largest church in Soult and named it Christian Cathedral.
At that time, the Eastern Roman Empire did not have such a huge source of precious metals, and Solidus was quite valuable.
Christian's death and his aging softened Peter's mentality a little. He responded to the emperor's call in time and allowed his slaves to become free citizens through sincere conversion. In return, he obtained a charter to enter the Black Sea market.
Of course, in this age of religious supremacy, it is very difficult for Muslims who have received Islamic education since childhood to truly convert. Islamic creed has become an indispensable way of life in their lives. Even in the face of the threat of death, most people will not abandon their piety to Allah in the depths of their hearts.
Later, Peter gradually discovered the huge drawbacks of the slave trade and began to enter other industries, investing in workshops, farms and finance. Although he did not achieve the same great success as the slave trade, he finally left some ways out for his descendants.
At the same time, perhaps because he had done so many bad things, he began to pay attention to his reputation. He donated the money he earned from the slave trade to the church, helped the poor, built churches, sponsored art and science, and provided scholarships for poor students. He often immersed himself in the church, praying to Jesus Christ, trying to find spiritual comfort.
Of course, the cruel slave trade is still going on, and the competition with the "Genoa Gang" and the "Canary Gang" is becoming more and more fierce. Perhaps in Peter's heart, this is not just about money, but also involves some personal emotions.
Politically, there were many differences among the three major slave gangs. The North African Slavic Gang and the Canary Gang that split from this gang were both staunch supporters of the Carthaginian faction, while the Genoese Gang, which mainly engaged in the Black Sea trade, was a supporter of the Constantinople faction.
Some time ago, some slave traffickers who were not members of a guild, under the name of the North African Slavic Gang, sold some untrained Turkic war slaves from Anatolia to the reclamation areas in Bulgaria. The royal collateral branches and noble children in several reclamation areas paid the price for their greed, and many farmers lost their property and lives. This incident led to the first high-level debate on the abolition of slavery in the Eastern Roman Empire, which gave Peter a headache.
"Grandfather, look at this golden avenue. It's so beautiful in autumn!"
A childish voice shouted in surprise. It was his grandson, an eight-year-old boy who loved painting. Peter decided to keep him away from family affairs and let him concentrate on his favorite art.
Peter woke up from his thoughts, smiled kindly, and touched his grandson's head.
"This is a golden tree from America. This golden road was built with funds from your grandfather!"
This is a high-end road connecting the workshop area and the imperial city area of Constantinople, and has undergone many renovations since 1453.
A few years ago, Peter sought more opportunities and wanted to expand his slave business to the vast colonies. At that time, Emperor Isaac was not in the capital, and the co-ruling Emperor Justinian and Queen Isabella were in charge of regents.
Peter believed that compared to Emperor Isaac, who was unkind, only cared about interests, and "not quite like a normal person", Justinian and Isabella were much easier to talk to, and this was his chance.
At that time, technology from the East enabled Constantinople to begin using coal on a large scale as a heating and iron-smelting fuel. When there was no sea breeze, thick black smoke filled the sky above the entire city. If it rained, coal ash and rainwater mixed together and fell into the city, as if the city was soaked in coal water.
Citizens protested many times, and several medical schools also asked the government to pay attention to the serious threat posed by coal burning to people's health. Isabella and Justinian listened to their demands and got the advice of the emperor. They decided to use green belts to absorb pollutants and improve the appearance of the city.
When it came to selecting green plants, everyone was in a dilemma. Some said to use English plane trees, while others said to use French plane trees, which are the most common in the Balkan Peninsula. Isabella had no objection, but Justinian thought these trees were too ugly and did not fit in with the temperament of Constantinople, so he was not very satisfied.
At this time, Peter decided to cater to the emperor's wishes and sent a slave ship to bring back a small tree called the "golden tree" by the locals from Portuguese Florida, and brought it to the court along with the flowerpot.
The golden tree is native to the central and eastern parts of North America. It grows quickly, is easy to survive, has lush branches and leaves, and a well-developed root system. The tree has a faint fragrance, and its trunk can be used to make high-end furniture, and its sap can be used to refine high-end essences. It turns golden in autumn and is very beautiful. It has both extremely high aesthetic value and considerable economic value.
At the court meeting, Peter publicly displayed the blooming golden tree. The golden and purple spots and stripes on the holy white flowers looked elegant and majestic.
Justinian immediately fell in love with it and believed that the golden tree symbolized the golden age of the Palaiologos dynasty of the Eastern Roman Empire, the tradition of holy war and the pure purple bloodline. He decided to use the golden tree to green Constantinople. He also specifically asked Peter to send people to Portuguese Florida to find the largest golden tree and transport it to the palace for cultivation.
Although the task was difficult, Peter still spent three years and a large amount of money to complete it. In addition to the small trees used for urban greening, he transported five eight-meter-long golden trees to the Grand Palace by speedboat. Although only one survived, he still received a reward from Justinian. The trade power of the North African Slavic Gang in the New World colonies was greatly strengthened, squeezing the Canary Gang into Africa.
In order to carry out this task, Peter also set up a horticulture cultivation course at the University of Birinchi and hired tutors from the Agricultural Research Institute to specialize in the study of plants from the New World. In the process, he discovered the cutting planting method of the golden tree and the huge economic value of the golden tree. Perfume shops and furniture shops were opened one after another around the golden tree, which allowed Peter to make a small fortune.
Later, this road from the workshop area to the imperial city area was planted with golden trees. It was so beautiful during the color changing seasons that it was also called the "Golden Avenue".
"Grandfather, I heard there is a big golden tree in the Grand Palace. It is at its most beautiful now. Can I go in and paint it?"
The grandson looked at Peter expectantly.
"There is also the Golden Avenue. When all the leaves turn golden, I can also stand on a nearby hill and draw a distant view."
"Of course, we will be staying in Constantinople for the next few months, and I will have many conversations with Emperor Isaac. If I have the chance, I will take you in."
Peter nodded gently.
"As for the Golden Avenue, we'll draw it next year. The city government is planning to build the first rail transit here, using strong horses to pull rail carriages. Construction will begin in the next few months."
"The idea of rail transit was proposed by Emperor Isaac, and the blueprints were drawn by students from the Department of Architecture at the University of Constantinople. Architecture and painting are inseparable. When you enter university in the future, you can also take architecture courses. Perhaps you can put your ideas into practice in Constantinople."
The grandson nodded obediently and continued to look at the scenery outside the window.
The carriage entered the downtown area, and the busy streets were crowded with people. The smell of fireworks and the atmosphere of the market were in the air.
"Newspapers for sale! Constantinople Weekly!"
"King Louis of France captured Dijon, and the Duchy of Burgundy had no ability to resist!"
"German Prince Maximilian recruited a 2,000-man mercenary army two weeks ago. The wedding car and wedding diamond ring are also ready. They are very fast!"
"Prince Maximilian was very grateful for Emperor Isaac's help. He thought the emperor was a truly good Christian and loved the tulips sent by the Eastern Empire!"
"On September 9, the German Empire marched into the Rhineland, crossing the Ardennes Forest, bypassing Alsace and Lorraine, and preparing to head straight into the Netherlands!"
"Please stay tuned for more details——"
Hearing this, Peter's face darkened.
"Grandfather, is there going to be another war?"
The grandson asked worriedly.
"Don't listen to their nonsense. There's no chance of a fight. I think Constantinople Weekly has hired journalism students to write articles. Only they would write something so groundless."
Peter shook his head helplessly.
"Maximilian and Mary's marriage is completely legal. They should inherit the Duchy of Burgundy and the Commonwealth of the Netherlands. King Louis of France can use the suzerainty of the Kingdom of France over the Duchy of Burgundy to barely take back Burgundy, but he can do nothing about the Commonwealth of the Netherlands. At least there is no legal basis for it."
"Mary and Maximilian probably won't be able to keep Burgundy, but the Netherlands will be fine. There may be wars in the future, but definitely not now."
"It's a pity that France will have an additional two million people. King Louis of France is truly a great enemy of the Empire."
Peter sighed and stroked his grandson's hair.
"This has nothing to do with you, and it has nothing to do with me either. Just treat it as a story."
This kind of newspaper was obviously popular among the citizens of Constantinople, who flocked to it to express their important views on international affairs.
"Hey... Look at the second edition. It seems that the Olympus Games are really going to be restarted."
Some citizens who read newspapers discovered other news.
"Really? The emperor really cares about the will of the citizens..."
"Nonsense! A devout Orthodox Christian should not indulge in ancient pagan sports!"
"Stop arguing! The emperor wants to revive sports. Besides the Olympic Games, football is the most important sport!"
"Ah, about this matter. I heard that the emperor has converted the racecourse into a football field, thinking that this would allow more citizens to participate..."
"Haha, you just found out? The first football match will start in a few hours. It will be held on the football field converted from the racecourse."
"Humph, it's all the Punicus kicking. I knew it a long time ago, but I just didn't want to watch..."
"This is something the English like. Didn't Your Majesty send people to England to learn about it not long ago?"
"I've been to England, the football there is pure..."
Football is a sport with a long history. The earliest football-like sports appeared in the East. There were similar sports in ancient Greece and Rome, but the modern football rules originated in England.
As early as the 9th century, football had already appeared in the medieval Kingdom of England. Enthusiasts in villages and towns would kick inflated animal bladders back and forth, aiming at the opposing team's "goal", which could be a home gate, flagpole, tree or church.
In the following centuries, English football continued to develop, football matches began to prevail in various parishes, the rules were gradually improved, modern football took shape, and the word "football" officially appeared at this time.
Although some high-level rulers believed that football was immoral and issued some bans and restrictions, this did not affect the common people's love for football, and the number of participants increased instead of decreased.
By the end of the 15th century, football had become the "national sport" of the Kingdom of England, and both adults and children loved to play it.
Due to the simplicity of football, the fact that early football required almost no venues or tools, and the fact that it could mobilize a large number of people to participate in it, Isaac decided to list football as a national sport of the Eastern Roman Empire, include it in the Olympic Games that were about to be resumed, and guide capitalists from all over the country to invest and organize private football clubs.
Streets or beaches, flagpoles or fishing nets, leather balls or inflatable bladders, and twenty or so brave men… For early football, this was enough. Moreover, football is undoubtedly the most commercially valuable competitive sport. Even in Europe at the end of the 15th century, it was not difficult to embroider some advertising slogans or family emblems on athletes’ clothes. The English were already doing it.
In the future, the development of sports in the Eastern Roman Empire will always take a completely commercial route, and government departments will not impose any restrictions or provide any mandatory guidance.
In Isaac's view, the primary purpose of the Olympic Games, or any form of sports competition, is to attract more people to participate, to strengthen their bodies, to unleash their vitality, and to promote economic development.
Therefore, no matter from which perspective, sports commercialization is the best route. Sports with greater commercial value will naturally attract more people and drive more people to participate. The two complement each other and move forward hand in hand.
As for those niche sports or high-threshold sports, it is difficult to attract more people and cannot create much commercial benefits. Naturally, not many people are willing to watch them. There is no way to drive public participation and they are basically not worth funding. Isaac has no reason to let all taxpayers pay for them. Let them find ways to attract investment themselves.
"Grandpa, aren't we here to watch a football game?"
The grandson looked at Peter.
"Didn't you organize a football team in Bilinchi before? The slogan of our "Good Man Peter" company was embroidered on the football team!"
“Will they play?”
"Probably not."
Peter sighed.
"Your grandfather's reputation has not been very good in Constantinople in recent days. Many of the football players I arranged are our company's... uh, employees."
"I have read the eleven-a-side football rules written by Emperor Isaac several times. I originally wanted to let my employees play well and use this opportunity to promote the game, but forget it now to avoid irritating the citizens. Let's talk about it later."
"That's a shame. Bilinch Black Castle, what a nice team name!"
The grandson said this regretfully and touched his grandfather's head.
"It's okay. When I grow up, I won't let you get bullied!"
"OK!"
Peter immediately smiled and kissed his grandson's cheek hard.
"Just pursue your art. You don't have to worry about our affairs."
"Today's game is also very exciting. The two teams are Royal Carthage and Carthaginian Athletic, because the emperor first promoted them in Carthage and brought them back to Constantinople a few months ago."
"This is an exhibition match, the opening show of the Olympic Games."
Speaking of this, Peter recalled.
"It is said that the people of Constantinople are not very interested in the team from Carthage. The Fugger Chamber of Commerce and the Notaras family have respectively united with several large chambers of commerce and nobles to start organizing football clubs in Constantinople. They seem to be called Constantine United and Constantine City."
"There is also the city of Nicaea, which has been developing rapidly recently. It seems that the local ceramic capitalists have jointly organized the Nicaea Potters."
"Nicene Potter? What an ugly name."
The grandson complained.
"It still sounds better than Lynch's Castle Black."
"Haha, this is for making money. Think about it, if this team becomes famous, will Nicaea's ceramics be known and loved by more people?"
Peter said with a smile.
"If our Bilinchi Black Castle can become famous, our company's... employees will also be more popular."
"Everyone is moving very quickly, as if they believe this is a way to make money."
The grandson spoke thoughtfully.
"It's mainly because they have nothing to do. Traditional entertainment can no longer satisfy them, so they all like to find something new."
Peter pouted.
"Besides, no matter how the nobles and capitalists compete, there is one thing they all agree on from the bottom of their hearts."
"What is it?"
The grandson asked curiously.
"Since Emperor Isaac has decided to promote it, it must be correct and there must be benefits to it."
Peter said this with deep feeling.
"My child, remember this. As long as you follow Emperor Isaac, obey his wishes, and accept his advice, you will be able to live a good life no matter what you do."
"What if Emperor Isaac is no longer around?"
The grandson asked.
“What will become of our motherland?”
"How could this be? He will always be there."
Peter said this, but his expression was not relaxed, and he sighed.
"You're right. After more than 30 years, everyone has long been accustomed to his rule. If he is gone, I don't know what will happen."
"No matter what, live in the present moment."
The carriage continued to move forward, passing through the bustling downtown area and stopped outside the Civic Stadium, which was converted from the Royal Hippodrome.
Although some people in Constantinople were not very interested in the match between the two Carthaginian teams, this new event still attracted many citizens, nobles, officials and capitalists who were bored after having enough food and clothing. They also came one after another. They sat in the boxes above the viewing platform and regarded it as a social place.
Peter led his grandson to the upper compartment and saw many banners with slogans along the way:
"The Larissa Paul Stables has provided the imperial army with military horses for twenty years. Now, they are launching civilian and racing horses and will be contracted to undertake the horse racing events in the Olympic Games..."
"Moreia Tobacco Company carefully selects the best quality tobacco leaves and will provide high-quality tobacco for Olympic athletes to help sports..."
"Notaras Gold and Silver Carving Workshop will provide athletes with carefully crafted gold and silver medals, made of materials from Silver Elysium and Gold New Thrace..."
"The Sfrangis Textile Factory selects the finest silk from Mystras and the finest cotton from Platinum Port to sew various sportswear for athletes..."
Seeing these advertising slogans, Peter was in a trance for a while, then he pulled his grandson and continued walking.
"See, this is Constantinople under the emperor's rule. Everything is so new, everything is so prosperous, and everything is moving forward at a rapid pace."
Peter whispered.
"You will have to come to Constantinople later."
"No, I still like Bilinchi, that's my hometown, everyone is very nice to me!"
The grandson shook his head stubbornly.
"The plantation owners all like me very much. They are all good, simple people who express their emotions directly, unlike those northerners who pretend to be nice!"
"It's up to you, Bilinqi... I don't know how long this abnormal prosperity of this city can last, decades? A hundred years? Anyway, I won't see it."
Thinking of this, Peter laughed again.
"Let's go watch the game!"
The game hadn't started yet, but the stands were already packed. Peter took his grandson to the high box, where the butler was already waiting.
The game of football had just begun and the rules had just been established, so everyone was basically just kicking the ball randomly. However, this new sport still made a lot of people very excited. Some people were whispering to each other, some were placing bets, and small vendors were walking around with baskets on their backs, selling fruits, snacks and beer to the audience. It was a prosperous and lively scene.
After a while, a young man in gorgeous clothes came up. Peter winked at the butler, and the butler wisely took his grandson away.
The man's name was Joseph Gattiluccio, the Genoese gang's boss in Constantinople and the current emperor's cousin.
"Why are you late?"
Peter lit a cigar for Joseph.
"Haha, I saw some excitement on the road."
Joseph laughed.
"Some so-called 'progressive' priests brought dozens of Saracen slaves from the workshop area, hoping to invite them to watch the game and experience the beauty of the empire, even though these slaves have repeatedly firmly opposed changing their beliefs."
"As a result, they happened to meet those people from the Theodosius Jihad Club on the way and were beaten back to the workshop area. The citizens cheered. A child who fled from Anatolia even cried and asked all Saracens to die to pay for his parents' lives."
Peter nodded thoughtfully without laughing.
He knew that the so-called Theodosius Crusaders Club was a military club composed of veterans and their descendants who survived the Battle of Constantinople in 1453. It was the military force of Constantinople, had always opposed the Saracens, and had tried to ban any Saracens from surviving on the territory of the Eastern Roman Empire.
"So, most Orthodox Christians don't like Saracens at all, don't care about the life and death of Saracen slaves, and don't even regard them as human beings. They are just afraid that what happened in Bulgaria will happen again and worry that they will be harmed by escaped slaves."
Peter analyzed.
“What a contradictory era.”
"Which country doesn't have conflicts? Think positively, old Peter."
Joseph smiled and exhaled a puff of smoke.
"You have seen the Emperor. What did he say?"
"Good attitude, nothing serious."
Peter shrugged.
"In the future, the supervision may be stricter and the rules may be more complicated, but your majesty will soon turn to the East, and we will still make money."
"Old Prime Minister Isurt is still ambiguous. Deputy Prime Minister Basilius suggested giving them second-class citizenship and slowly assimilating them. Minister of Education Balsamon said that gentle measures should be taken to treat the Saracens. Prince Alexios of Georgia even directly banned slave traders from entering his territory. It is no different from before."
"Well, it's pretty much what I thought. But their opinions don't matter at all. At least Emperor Justinian and Queen Isabella are on our side, and General Gonzalo also hates the Saracens."
Joseph nodded.
"Well, once we meet with the Emperor together with the Canary Gang and come up with a feasible outcome, the temporary alliance between the three gangs will be over. We still have to compete for the big market in Anatolia."
"That's fine, but please remember my words, rules, order, standards, these are very important things."
Peter said seriously.
“In the future, we may still have to jointly suppress those irregular trade practices. This is for the future of this industry!”
Joseph nodded and was about to leave when Peter stopped him.
"The child whose parents were killed by the Saracens you just mentioned...how did he live?"
Peter asked.
"I can adopt him."
"You don't have to raise the child. The child is in the Imperial Orphanage. The emperor values population the most."
Joseph curled his lips and walked away.
After the guests left, Peter bought a lot of snacks for his grandson and asked the butler for a glass of the cheapest Surt beer, savoring the bitterness of his youth.
This is what he often does. Every time he complains that things are not as good as before, he drinks it all up every time.
The whistle blew and the game began.
(End of this chapter)
On the shores of the Black Sea, the city longed for by the world, Constantinople.
It was morning, and the early autumn sun was hanging in the sky, dyeing half of the city golden.
In the city of Constantinople, on the avenue leading from the workshop area to the imperial city area, a carriage slowly passed by, and the trees on the roadside exuded a faint fragrance.
This carriage was obviously very expensive. The four tall horses ensured a strong pulling force. The main body of the carriage was made of high-quality mahogany and was carved with the family crest. It had all the necessary rubber wheels, springs and velvet cushions. The ceiling was carved from a large piece of rosewood. The interior space was very spacious and could accommodate a small wine table.
There was a horizontal seat at the front of the roof, on which two neatly dressed coachmen sat, while their master sat inside the carriage.
After the advancement of carriage technology, this kind of four-wheeled carriage with a roof began to become popular in Constantinople. Many dignitaries and wealthy businessmen regarded it as a symbol of wealth and glory, and tried their best to show off their wealth.
In the carriage, an old man with gray hair was slowly savoring the wine in the glass. He was dressed very elegantly, with a black cane leaning against the cushion. His slightly fat cheeks made him look very kind, and his small eyes were always full of joy, just like a kind old man next door.
His name is Peter Mavro. He is from Serbia and currently lives in Birinci. He is a well-known tycoon in the imperial business world and has countless titles and honorary titles: Fifth-level elder of the Eastern Roman Senate, a lord conferred by the emperor, a member of the Birinci City Council, a trustee of Birinci University, a donor of the Christian Cathedral in Surt, and the person in charge of the "Good Peter" human resources company...
Of course, in the upper classes of Constantinople, he had only one name: the slave trader "Black Peter".
The reason for this title, on the one hand, comes from the original meaning of Peter's surname "Mavro", and on the other hand, it is because of his cruelty in treating Saracen slaves.
Decades ago, Peter was just a Slavic wandering youth from a village on the border between Albania and Cetinje. During the rise of the Ottomans, his parents and brothers were killed by the Ottomans, his sweetheart was raped to death by Ottoman soldiers and bandits, and his village was massacred by Ottoman cavalry. Peter, who escaped by chance, first followed the refugee team to the Republic of Ragusa, and then secretly climbed into the bottom cabin of a merchant ship that seemed to be bound for Venice.
The cabin was filled with unwashed blood, fermented and rotten feces, and iron shackles connected to the hull. It was dark and narrow. Although no one was inside, the pervasive smell of blood and sour odor still made Peter feel endlessly depressed.
But precisely because of this, no one is willing to come here. Peter survived a week-long difficult journey by relying on the food and fresh water he brought on board and his tenacious perseverance.
Later, when Peter began his first slave trade, he finally learned that it was a Ragusa slave ship and its destination was not Venice.
When Peter was kicked awake by a sailor patrolling the hold one morning, he had arrived in a strange country where the sky was full of sand and dust, the land was barren, cities and villages were confined to the coastal plains, and the rest of the settlements were scattered in oases in the desert.
The Ragusan sailor who threw him overboard told him disdainfully that this was Soult in North Africa, the territory of a Greek prince, and there were no valuable commodities except Saracen slaves.
A merchant ship from Ragusa was loaded with dozens of slaves and was bound for the Ottoman Empire. Peter walked alone in the streets of Surte in fear. His clothes and shoes were all taken away by the Ragusa sailors as tickets. His body was covered with feces and all kinds of unpleasant odors. No one was willing to approach him, and the patrolling soldiers would drive him away.
In despair, Peter prayed to God, but God did not answer.
When he was about to faint on the street due to physical weakness, a priest reached out to him, and after confirming that he was an Orthodox Christian, he saved him with a glass of cheap beer produced in Surt and took him back to his church.
With the help of the priest named Christian, Peter became a hired worker in the church, chopping wood, fetching water, and sweeping up garbage... During the six months of interaction, Christian became very fond of this diligent and honest Slavic boy, and advised him to take out of his spare time to participate in study and strengthen himself.
So Peter learned Greek and Greek from Christian, learned Arabic from the city life, and integrated into the life of Surt city. Because he was loyal, eloquent, and had an active mind, many people were willing to make friends with him.
One day, Christian told Peter in distress that he did not get the chance of promotion again because he failed to complete the church's mission. In his diocese, there were still too few Orthodox Christians and too many Muslims.
Then, Peter had an idea and wanted to help his friend solve this problem. He told Peter that due to the looting of the Ottomans and the incompetence of the local nobles, many Orthodox Christians in the Balkan Peninsula were displaced. He could speak Serbian and Albanian, and if there was a ship, he could go and recruit the refugees.
Coincidentally, the Surt government, under the order of Prince Isaac, launched a population replacement plan, accepting all Orthodox refugees. With a try-it attitude, Christian recommended Peter to a captain as a guide and translator to attract Slavic Orthodox Christians.
Peter has an outstanding talent in languages, possesses the ability to bewitch people, and knows how to gain the love of others. With his help, the plan to attract refugees was completed ahead of schedule. Christian received many commendations for this, and Peter also became the fleet's resident translator.
These Slavic Orthodox Christians who came to Surt because of Peter would often gather around him and became the prototype of the "North African Slavic Gang", one of the three major slave trading gangs in the Eastern Roman Empire in the future.
Another half a year passed, and just when Christian was about to persuade his friend to use the accumulated bounty to buy a property, get married and have children, Peter ambitiously told Christian that he was going to go it alone.
Peter gathered his Slavic fellow countrymen and decided to buy ships, recruit Orthodox refugees from the Balkan Peninsula, earn Prince Isaac's bounty, and then buy Saracen slaves from North Africa and sell them to the Ottoman Empire or the Hafsid dynasty.
Thus, Black Peter's journey officially began. The trend of population exchange blew him up. His fleet grew bigger, his business became more prosperous, and his profits increased. He bought an estate in Birinci, which was newly conquered by Prince Isaac, married the daughter of an Armenian elder, built his own slave concentration camp, slave-catching team and slave training base, and formulated strict terms and industry rules for the thriving slave guild. The slaves produced were unanimously praised by buyers.
Anything produced by Peter must be of high quality.
He vented all the humiliation of his youth and the anger of the destruction of his family on the Muslims. He used cruel means to grind down the minds of the slaves and turn them into cheap laborers who only knew how to obey but had no thoughts.
Later, Peter began to enter politics and was successfully elected as a member of the parliament of Birinci. He also helped the imperial government communicate with the "Grey Cardinal" Alexander and became one of the main sponsors of the Belgrade Peasant Crusade in 1456. Later, in the Albanian War, he assisted the Eastern Roman Empire to meet with Alexander, who was already the Bishop of Cetinje, and jointly planned the uprising in Cetinje, driving away the local Venetians and forcing the Venetian Marshal Colleoni to withdraw to Dalmatia.
After getting the support of senior officials, Peter naturally rose step by step and reached the pinnacle of his life with his shrewdness, ability and sharp vision.
However, what made Peter sad was that due to differences in ideology, Christian priest, who advocated the use of gentle means to convert Muslims, drifted further and further away from him and refused to see him for the last time until his death.
After Christian's death, Peter returned to the small church that had brought him shelter and respect. He adopted the nephew of priest Christian as his godson and sent him to study in the seminary. He also invested two thousand solidus to renovate the small church into the largest church in Soult and named it Christian Cathedral.
At that time, the Eastern Roman Empire did not have such a huge source of precious metals, and Solidus was quite valuable.
Christian's death and his aging softened Peter's mentality a little. He responded to the emperor's call in time and allowed his slaves to become free citizens through sincere conversion. In return, he obtained a charter to enter the Black Sea market.
Of course, in this age of religious supremacy, it is very difficult for Muslims who have received Islamic education since childhood to truly convert. Islamic creed has become an indispensable way of life in their lives. Even in the face of the threat of death, most people will not abandon their piety to Allah in the depths of their hearts.
Later, Peter gradually discovered the huge drawbacks of the slave trade and began to enter other industries, investing in workshops, farms and finance. Although he did not achieve the same great success as the slave trade, he finally left some ways out for his descendants.
At the same time, perhaps because he had done so many bad things, he began to pay attention to his reputation. He donated the money he earned from the slave trade to the church, helped the poor, built churches, sponsored art and science, and provided scholarships for poor students. He often immersed himself in the church, praying to Jesus Christ, trying to find spiritual comfort.
Of course, the cruel slave trade is still going on, and the competition with the "Genoa Gang" and the "Canary Gang" is becoming more and more fierce. Perhaps in Peter's heart, this is not just about money, but also involves some personal emotions.
Politically, there were many differences among the three major slave gangs. The North African Slavic Gang and the Canary Gang that split from this gang were both staunch supporters of the Carthaginian faction, while the Genoese Gang, which mainly engaged in the Black Sea trade, was a supporter of the Constantinople faction.
Some time ago, some slave traffickers who were not members of a guild, under the name of the North African Slavic Gang, sold some untrained Turkic war slaves from Anatolia to the reclamation areas in Bulgaria. The royal collateral branches and noble children in several reclamation areas paid the price for their greed, and many farmers lost their property and lives. This incident led to the first high-level debate on the abolition of slavery in the Eastern Roman Empire, which gave Peter a headache.
"Grandfather, look at this golden avenue. It's so beautiful in autumn!"
A childish voice shouted in surprise. It was his grandson, an eight-year-old boy who loved painting. Peter decided to keep him away from family affairs and let him concentrate on his favorite art.
Peter woke up from his thoughts, smiled kindly, and touched his grandson's head.
"This is a golden tree from America. This golden road was built with funds from your grandfather!"
This is a high-end road connecting the workshop area and the imperial city area of Constantinople, and has undergone many renovations since 1453.
A few years ago, Peter sought more opportunities and wanted to expand his slave business to the vast colonies. At that time, Emperor Isaac was not in the capital, and the co-ruling Emperor Justinian and Queen Isabella were in charge of regents.
Peter believed that compared to Emperor Isaac, who was unkind, only cared about interests, and "not quite like a normal person", Justinian and Isabella were much easier to talk to, and this was his chance.
At that time, technology from the East enabled Constantinople to begin using coal on a large scale as a heating and iron-smelting fuel. When there was no sea breeze, thick black smoke filled the sky above the entire city. If it rained, coal ash and rainwater mixed together and fell into the city, as if the city was soaked in coal water.
Citizens protested many times, and several medical schools also asked the government to pay attention to the serious threat posed by coal burning to people's health. Isabella and Justinian listened to their demands and got the advice of the emperor. They decided to use green belts to absorb pollutants and improve the appearance of the city.
When it came to selecting green plants, everyone was in a dilemma. Some said to use English plane trees, while others said to use French plane trees, which are the most common in the Balkan Peninsula. Isabella had no objection, but Justinian thought these trees were too ugly and did not fit in with the temperament of Constantinople, so he was not very satisfied.
At this time, Peter decided to cater to the emperor's wishes and sent a slave ship to bring back a small tree called the "golden tree" by the locals from Portuguese Florida, and brought it to the court along with the flowerpot.
The golden tree is native to the central and eastern parts of North America. It grows quickly, is easy to survive, has lush branches and leaves, and a well-developed root system. The tree has a faint fragrance, and its trunk can be used to make high-end furniture, and its sap can be used to refine high-end essences. It turns golden in autumn and is very beautiful. It has both extremely high aesthetic value and considerable economic value.
At the court meeting, Peter publicly displayed the blooming golden tree. The golden and purple spots and stripes on the holy white flowers looked elegant and majestic.
Justinian immediately fell in love with it and believed that the golden tree symbolized the golden age of the Palaiologos dynasty of the Eastern Roman Empire, the tradition of holy war and the pure purple bloodline. He decided to use the golden tree to green Constantinople. He also specifically asked Peter to send people to Portuguese Florida to find the largest golden tree and transport it to the palace for cultivation.
Although the task was difficult, Peter still spent three years and a large amount of money to complete it. In addition to the small trees used for urban greening, he transported five eight-meter-long golden trees to the Grand Palace by speedboat. Although only one survived, he still received a reward from Justinian. The trade power of the North African Slavic Gang in the New World colonies was greatly strengthened, squeezing the Canary Gang into Africa.
In order to carry out this task, Peter also set up a horticulture cultivation course at the University of Birinchi and hired tutors from the Agricultural Research Institute to specialize in the study of plants from the New World. In the process, he discovered the cutting planting method of the golden tree and the huge economic value of the golden tree. Perfume shops and furniture shops were opened one after another around the golden tree, which allowed Peter to make a small fortune.
Later, this road from the workshop area to the imperial city area was planted with golden trees. It was so beautiful during the color changing seasons that it was also called the "Golden Avenue".
"Grandfather, I heard there is a big golden tree in the Grand Palace. It is at its most beautiful now. Can I go in and paint it?"
The grandson looked at Peter expectantly.
"There is also the Golden Avenue. When all the leaves turn golden, I can also stand on a nearby hill and draw a distant view."
"Of course, we will be staying in Constantinople for the next few months, and I will have many conversations with Emperor Isaac. If I have the chance, I will take you in."
Peter nodded gently.
"As for the Golden Avenue, we'll draw it next year. The city government is planning to build the first rail transit here, using strong horses to pull rail carriages. Construction will begin in the next few months."
"The idea of rail transit was proposed by Emperor Isaac, and the blueprints were drawn by students from the Department of Architecture at the University of Constantinople. Architecture and painting are inseparable. When you enter university in the future, you can also take architecture courses. Perhaps you can put your ideas into practice in Constantinople."
The grandson nodded obediently and continued to look at the scenery outside the window.
The carriage entered the downtown area, and the busy streets were crowded with people. The smell of fireworks and the atmosphere of the market were in the air.
"Newspapers for sale! Constantinople Weekly!"
"King Louis of France captured Dijon, and the Duchy of Burgundy had no ability to resist!"
"German Prince Maximilian recruited a 2,000-man mercenary army two weeks ago. The wedding car and wedding diamond ring are also ready. They are very fast!"
"Prince Maximilian was very grateful for Emperor Isaac's help. He thought the emperor was a truly good Christian and loved the tulips sent by the Eastern Empire!"
"On September 9, the German Empire marched into the Rhineland, crossing the Ardennes Forest, bypassing Alsace and Lorraine, and preparing to head straight into the Netherlands!"
"Please stay tuned for more details——"
Hearing this, Peter's face darkened.
"Grandfather, is there going to be another war?"
The grandson asked worriedly.
"Don't listen to their nonsense. There's no chance of a fight. I think Constantinople Weekly has hired journalism students to write articles. Only they would write something so groundless."
Peter shook his head helplessly.
"Maximilian and Mary's marriage is completely legal. They should inherit the Duchy of Burgundy and the Commonwealth of the Netherlands. King Louis of France can use the suzerainty of the Kingdom of France over the Duchy of Burgundy to barely take back Burgundy, but he can do nothing about the Commonwealth of the Netherlands. At least there is no legal basis for it."
"Mary and Maximilian probably won't be able to keep Burgundy, but the Netherlands will be fine. There may be wars in the future, but definitely not now."
"It's a pity that France will have an additional two million people. King Louis of France is truly a great enemy of the Empire."
Peter sighed and stroked his grandson's hair.
"This has nothing to do with you, and it has nothing to do with me either. Just treat it as a story."
This kind of newspaper was obviously popular among the citizens of Constantinople, who flocked to it to express their important views on international affairs.
"Hey... Look at the second edition. It seems that the Olympus Games are really going to be restarted."
Some citizens who read newspapers discovered other news.
"Really? The emperor really cares about the will of the citizens..."
"Nonsense! A devout Orthodox Christian should not indulge in ancient pagan sports!"
"Stop arguing! The emperor wants to revive sports. Besides the Olympic Games, football is the most important sport!"
"Ah, about this matter. I heard that the emperor has converted the racecourse into a football field, thinking that this would allow more citizens to participate..."
"Haha, you just found out? The first football match will start in a few hours. It will be held on the football field converted from the racecourse."
"Humph, it's all the Punicus kicking. I knew it a long time ago, but I just didn't want to watch..."
"This is something the English like. Didn't Your Majesty send people to England to learn about it not long ago?"
"I've been to England, the football there is pure..."
Football is a sport with a long history. The earliest football-like sports appeared in the East. There were similar sports in ancient Greece and Rome, but the modern football rules originated in England.
As early as the 9th century, football had already appeared in the medieval Kingdom of England. Enthusiasts in villages and towns would kick inflated animal bladders back and forth, aiming at the opposing team's "goal", which could be a home gate, flagpole, tree or church.
In the following centuries, English football continued to develop, football matches began to prevail in various parishes, the rules were gradually improved, modern football took shape, and the word "football" officially appeared at this time.
Although some high-level rulers believed that football was immoral and issued some bans and restrictions, this did not affect the common people's love for football, and the number of participants increased instead of decreased.
By the end of the 15th century, football had become the "national sport" of the Kingdom of England, and both adults and children loved to play it.
Due to the simplicity of football, the fact that early football required almost no venues or tools, and the fact that it could mobilize a large number of people to participate in it, Isaac decided to list football as a national sport of the Eastern Roman Empire, include it in the Olympic Games that were about to be resumed, and guide capitalists from all over the country to invest and organize private football clubs.
Streets or beaches, flagpoles or fishing nets, leather balls or inflatable bladders, and twenty or so brave men… For early football, this was enough. Moreover, football is undoubtedly the most commercially valuable competitive sport. Even in Europe at the end of the 15th century, it was not difficult to embroider some advertising slogans or family emblems on athletes’ clothes. The English were already doing it.
In the future, the development of sports in the Eastern Roman Empire will always take a completely commercial route, and government departments will not impose any restrictions or provide any mandatory guidance.
In Isaac's view, the primary purpose of the Olympic Games, or any form of sports competition, is to attract more people to participate, to strengthen their bodies, to unleash their vitality, and to promote economic development.
Therefore, no matter from which perspective, sports commercialization is the best route. Sports with greater commercial value will naturally attract more people and drive more people to participate. The two complement each other and move forward hand in hand.
As for those niche sports or high-threshold sports, it is difficult to attract more people and cannot create much commercial benefits. Naturally, not many people are willing to watch them. There is no way to drive public participation and they are basically not worth funding. Isaac has no reason to let all taxpayers pay for them. Let them find ways to attract investment themselves.
"Grandpa, aren't we here to watch a football game?"
The grandson looked at Peter.
"Didn't you organize a football team in Bilinchi before? The slogan of our "Good Man Peter" company was embroidered on the football team!"
“Will they play?”
"Probably not."
Peter sighed.
"Your grandfather's reputation has not been very good in Constantinople in recent days. Many of the football players I arranged are our company's... uh, employees."
"I have read the eleven-a-side football rules written by Emperor Isaac several times. I originally wanted to let my employees play well and use this opportunity to promote the game, but forget it now to avoid irritating the citizens. Let's talk about it later."
"That's a shame. Bilinch Black Castle, what a nice team name!"
The grandson said this regretfully and touched his grandfather's head.
"It's okay. When I grow up, I won't let you get bullied!"
"OK!"
Peter immediately smiled and kissed his grandson's cheek hard.
"Just pursue your art. You don't have to worry about our affairs."
"Today's game is also very exciting. The two teams are Royal Carthage and Carthaginian Athletic, because the emperor first promoted them in Carthage and brought them back to Constantinople a few months ago."
"This is an exhibition match, the opening show of the Olympic Games."
Speaking of this, Peter recalled.
"It is said that the people of Constantinople are not very interested in the team from Carthage. The Fugger Chamber of Commerce and the Notaras family have respectively united with several large chambers of commerce and nobles to start organizing football clubs in Constantinople. They seem to be called Constantine United and Constantine City."
"There is also the city of Nicaea, which has been developing rapidly recently. It seems that the local ceramic capitalists have jointly organized the Nicaea Potters."
"Nicene Potter? What an ugly name."
The grandson complained.
"It still sounds better than Lynch's Castle Black."
"Haha, this is for making money. Think about it, if this team becomes famous, will Nicaea's ceramics be known and loved by more people?"
Peter said with a smile.
"If our Bilinchi Black Castle can become famous, our company's... employees will also be more popular."
"Everyone is moving very quickly, as if they believe this is a way to make money."
The grandson spoke thoughtfully.
"It's mainly because they have nothing to do. Traditional entertainment can no longer satisfy them, so they all like to find something new."
Peter pouted.
"Besides, no matter how the nobles and capitalists compete, there is one thing they all agree on from the bottom of their hearts."
"What is it?"
The grandson asked curiously.
"Since Emperor Isaac has decided to promote it, it must be correct and there must be benefits to it."
Peter said this with deep feeling.
"My child, remember this. As long as you follow Emperor Isaac, obey his wishes, and accept his advice, you will be able to live a good life no matter what you do."
"What if Emperor Isaac is no longer around?"
The grandson asked.
“What will become of our motherland?”
"How could this be? He will always be there."
Peter said this, but his expression was not relaxed, and he sighed.
"You're right. After more than 30 years, everyone has long been accustomed to his rule. If he is gone, I don't know what will happen."
"No matter what, live in the present moment."
The carriage continued to move forward, passing through the bustling downtown area and stopped outside the Civic Stadium, which was converted from the Royal Hippodrome.
Although some people in Constantinople were not very interested in the match between the two Carthaginian teams, this new event still attracted many citizens, nobles, officials and capitalists who were bored after having enough food and clothing. They also came one after another. They sat in the boxes above the viewing platform and regarded it as a social place.
Peter led his grandson to the upper compartment and saw many banners with slogans along the way:
"The Larissa Paul Stables has provided the imperial army with military horses for twenty years. Now, they are launching civilian and racing horses and will be contracted to undertake the horse racing events in the Olympic Games..."
"Moreia Tobacco Company carefully selects the best quality tobacco leaves and will provide high-quality tobacco for Olympic athletes to help sports..."
"Notaras Gold and Silver Carving Workshop will provide athletes with carefully crafted gold and silver medals, made of materials from Silver Elysium and Gold New Thrace..."
"The Sfrangis Textile Factory selects the finest silk from Mystras and the finest cotton from Platinum Port to sew various sportswear for athletes..."
Seeing these advertising slogans, Peter was in a trance for a while, then he pulled his grandson and continued walking.
"See, this is Constantinople under the emperor's rule. Everything is so new, everything is so prosperous, and everything is moving forward at a rapid pace."
Peter whispered.
"You will have to come to Constantinople later."
"No, I still like Bilinchi, that's my hometown, everyone is very nice to me!"
The grandson shook his head stubbornly.
"The plantation owners all like me very much. They are all good, simple people who express their emotions directly, unlike those northerners who pretend to be nice!"
"It's up to you, Bilinqi... I don't know how long this abnormal prosperity of this city can last, decades? A hundred years? Anyway, I won't see it."
Thinking of this, Peter laughed again.
"Let's go watch the game!"
The game hadn't started yet, but the stands were already packed. Peter took his grandson to the high box, where the butler was already waiting.
The game of football had just begun and the rules had just been established, so everyone was basically just kicking the ball randomly. However, this new sport still made a lot of people very excited. Some people were whispering to each other, some were placing bets, and small vendors were walking around with baskets on their backs, selling fruits, snacks and beer to the audience. It was a prosperous and lively scene.
After a while, a young man in gorgeous clothes came up. Peter winked at the butler, and the butler wisely took his grandson away.
The man's name was Joseph Gattiluccio, the Genoese gang's boss in Constantinople and the current emperor's cousin.
"Why are you late?"
Peter lit a cigar for Joseph.
"Haha, I saw some excitement on the road."
Joseph laughed.
"Some so-called 'progressive' priests brought dozens of Saracen slaves from the workshop area, hoping to invite them to watch the game and experience the beauty of the empire, even though these slaves have repeatedly firmly opposed changing their beliefs."
"As a result, they happened to meet those people from the Theodosius Jihad Club on the way and were beaten back to the workshop area. The citizens cheered. A child who fled from Anatolia even cried and asked all Saracens to die to pay for his parents' lives."
Peter nodded thoughtfully without laughing.
He knew that the so-called Theodosius Crusaders Club was a military club composed of veterans and their descendants who survived the Battle of Constantinople in 1453. It was the military force of Constantinople, had always opposed the Saracens, and had tried to ban any Saracens from surviving on the territory of the Eastern Roman Empire.
"So, most Orthodox Christians don't like Saracens at all, don't care about the life and death of Saracen slaves, and don't even regard them as human beings. They are just afraid that what happened in Bulgaria will happen again and worry that they will be harmed by escaped slaves."
Peter analyzed.
“What a contradictory era.”
"Which country doesn't have conflicts? Think positively, old Peter."
Joseph smiled and exhaled a puff of smoke.
"You have seen the Emperor. What did he say?"
"Good attitude, nothing serious."
Peter shrugged.
"In the future, the supervision may be stricter and the rules may be more complicated, but your majesty will soon turn to the East, and we will still make money."
"Old Prime Minister Isurt is still ambiguous. Deputy Prime Minister Basilius suggested giving them second-class citizenship and slowly assimilating them. Minister of Education Balsamon said that gentle measures should be taken to treat the Saracens. Prince Alexios of Georgia even directly banned slave traders from entering his territory. It is no different from before."
"Well, it's pretty much what I thought. But their opinions don't matter at all. At least Emperor Justinian and Queen Isabella are on our side, and General Gonzalo also hates the Saracens."
Joseph nodded.
"Well, once we meet with the Emperor together with the Canary Gang and come up with a feasible outcome, the temporary alliance between the three gangs will be over. We still have to compete for the big market in Anatolia."
"That's fine, but please remember my words, rules, order, standards, these are very important things."
Peter said seriously.
“In the future, we may still have to jointly suppress those irregular trade practices. This is for the future of this industry!”
Joseph nodded and was about to leave when Peter stopped him.
"The child whose parents were killed by the Saracens you just mentioned...how did he live?"
Peter asked.
"I can adopt him."
"You don't have to raise the child. The child is in the Imperial Orphanage. The emperor values population the most."
Joseph curled his lips and walked away.
After the guests left, Peter bought a lot of snacks for his grandson and asked the butler for a glass of the cheapest Surt beer, savoring the bitterness of his youth.
This is what he often does. Every time he complains that things are not as good as before, he drinks it all up every time.
The whistle blew and the game began.
(End of this chapter)
