Manuel IV

Manuel IV

Over the next few days, Varro settled into Anastasia's mansion and discussed wedding details with his fiancée.

In his spare time, Varro went out to visit friends and found that the attitudes of those acquaintances had become perfunctory, as if he were dealing with a wealthy out-of-town businessman with no real connections.

But upon closer examination, his situation wasn't much better than that of wealthy businessmen from other places.

As the second son, Varro did not inherit the title and was merely a distant Imperial Clan. His relationship with his elder brother was estranged, and it was impossible for him to offer any protection.

Anastasia's situation was equally dire.

After the Principality of Ryazan annexed other Rus' powers, many nobles fled to Constantinople, and her grandfather was one of them.

Although her grandfather and father were good at business, the family lacked local roots.

Three years ago, Anastasia and her sister inherited the vast family business, which has been the object of envy from the outside world.

Unable to bear the harassment any longer, the older sister sold the steel mill last year and moved to the Peloponnese with her husband.

Anastasia a machine factory that produced various types of steam engines. She didn't understand the specifics of business management, so related matters were decided by her subordinates.

As time went by, the factory lacked effective oversight, and profits continued to decline.

Anastasia complained to her fiancé that their bonus for the first half of the year was only four thousand gold coins, less than half of what it used to be.

Varro: "Don't think about these things tonight, just enjoy the show. I'll go with you to the factory to check the accounts tomorrow."

More than a century later, the Theodosius Grand Theater still enjoys a nationwide reputation.

The recently released play is "The Later Triumvirate," which stars a young Octavian.

The play tells the story of his power struggles with Anthony and the Senate, culminating in his ascent to the pinnacle of power.

After they sat down, Varro put his arm around Anastasia's shoulder, inhaling the fragrance of her hair. "When I was at the front, I read about 'Caesar the Great' in the newspapers. Was it good?"

"I don't want to be bothered by certain annoying people, so I rarely go to the theater alone. Last month, Vivian and the others invited me over to see 'The Apennines War Chronicles.' Vitus was constantly at war, and there were very few scenes involving Queen Agnes. It was so boring."

As the first act ends, Varro walks to the bar to get food, and someone strikes up a conversation with him.

The man deliberately steered the conversation toward a steel mill, seemingly wanting Varro to invest in it.

Why have so many people been pestering me to invest these past few days?

Varro sensed something was wrong and promptly refused. "I'm quite busy these days, I'll contact you again later."

The current environment in Constantinople is complex, and wealthy people are often deceived. Varro lacks powerful backers, has no desire to get rich, and is only focused on preserving his family business.

November 20th, morning.

Varro and Anastasia's carriage arrived at the southern coast, where the Sushnitsyn Machinery Factory was located.

"It's not even December yet, and it's already snowing? Why is the weather so cold this year?"

Varro stepped out of the carriage. Light gray patches of snow remained on the edge of the street, while the snow in the middle of the road had long since turned into a puddle of dirty water after being trampled and crushed by wheels.

Thud! Thud!

The noise of the steam engine interrupted the conversation. Anastasia, dressed in a white fur coat, leaned close to Varro's ear and shouted, "The one directing the workers to move parts is the foreman of the assembly workshop. The large factory building directly opposite is the assembly workshop, and the two-story building on the far east side is the office; Uncle Trevi works there."

Anastasia 45% of the factory's shares, Trevi, her father's partner, owned 25% of the shares, and the remaining shares were distributed among more than a dozen people.

Varro quickly realized that the factory's production scale was normal, but the dividends were declining year by year. It must be her good uncle who was secretly sabotaging things. Not long after, Trevi ran out of the office building to warmly greet his niece and her fiancé.

"Little niece, it's so cold outside. Aren't you afraid of getting sick? Come in and sit down."

Before setting off, Varro made some preparations, but his business experience was too limited, and Trevi almost completely dominated the conversation.

"My dear niece, business is tough these days. The cold weather this year has caused almost a complete crop failure in Cappadocia, and grain prices in Constantinople haven't come down. Grain prices have dragged down other commodity prices, increasing overall production costs."

Trevi glanced at Varro meaningfully. "Not only that, the Army suffered a defeat in the north, and rumors are everywhere that Ryazan is about to capture the Tarol Coalfield, causing the price of coal in Constantinople to rise by 30%."

The situation is so bad that I have done everything I can. My little niece, if you need money, don't hesitate to ask Uncle Trevi, but you mustn't tarnish my reputation.

Back when your father and I started this factory, during the busiest period, we didn't go home for two months straight. At night, we'd put several wooden crates together as a bed, and our fingernails were always covered in black grease...

Out of consideration for their fathers' relationship, Anastasia remained silent.

Finally, Varro revealed his purpose: to request an inspection of the company's accounts.

Trevi looked at the woman on the sofa with regret and helplessness in his eyes. "I still remember how you used to smile, just like my own daughter. Now you've grown up and your heart is set on your husband."

Since you want to check the accounts, please give your uncle some time to organize the ledgers. Please come back in three days.

On the return journey, Anastasia leaned against the carriage seat, suspecting that her fiancé was misunderstanding a good person.

Varro stuck to his opinion. "Trevi's son is hooking up with several actresses at the theater at the same time, and not long ago, he gave someone a necklace worth thousands. Where do you think that money came from? Wasn't it stolen from some idiot shareholder?"

I have no experience in business, but I've heard about the methods. If the manager, finance personnel, and supervisors collude, there are plenty of opportunities to drain the entire factory.

Actress?

Anastasia's gaze instantly sharpened as she sniffed her fiancé's collar and sleeves, like a lioness worried about her territory being invaded.

"Stop fooling around, we're talking serious business. Oh, little pigeon, how dare you bite me..."

After taking his fiancée home, Varro went to Theodosius Square and hired an accounting firm to help him audit the accounts.

However, the situation was much more complicated than he had anticipated.

The accountants checked the accounts for a week and found that they were generally correct, but some details were overlooked. However, the accounts did not meet the criteria for filing a case of fraud.

He asked the head of the accounting team, "Isn't there any other way?"

"I'm sorry, sir, Trevi has held real power for three years, and the finance and management are all on his side."

Trevi is a cautious person; he should have reached an agreement with the other shareholders to ensure their shareholding exceeds 50%. That way, you won't be able to regain control at the shareholders' meeting.

When conventional methods failed, Varro pinned his hopes on other approaches.

"My elder brother is Despot, but he can't help me."

My uncle is Hereditary Nobility on the Mykonos. However, he has been recuperating at home for a long time, and my cousin is engrossed in his studies. Their family lacks influence in Constantinople and cannot help me.

Varro thought of his Military Academy classmates and the friends he had made at the party.

Faces flashed through his mind, but he couldn't find any worthwhile help.

"What will Anastasia do if I haven't solved this problem by the end of the holiday?"

In desperation, Varro attended various gatherings even more frequently, and finally learned a piece of information:

Recently, Trevi has secured several orders, seemingly in an attempt to expedite the transfer of assets.

"This matter must be resolved as soon as possible. If it drags on until next year, they'll drain the entire factory dry!"

On the morning of December 1st, heavy snow fell.

Varro, putting on his coat, was about to go out when he suddenly saw a plain carriage parked outside the courtyard. Behind the carriage were four Cuirassiers, their breath condensing into white mist.

A Eunuch in black robes looked over curiously. "Are you Varro Palaiologos? His Majesty needs to see you. Don't keep him waiting too long."

His Majesty?

As a child, Varro was taken to the Court by his father and met the young crown prince, which was their only interaction.

As far as I can remember, the two of them never even exchanged a single word.

Varro sat in the carriage with a puzzled look on his face, watching the scenery outside the window recede into the distance.

More than ten minutes later, the carriage stopped in the square south of the Central Administration office area. It was named March Square, or Vitus Square, it made no difference.

March is the month of Vitus' birth. After his death, to commemorate this Restorer of the World who single-handedly saved the empire, the Eastern Roman Empire named March after him.

This has happened many times in Rome history.

After Caesar's death, his surname was changed to July (Julius-July).

Octavian sought to strengthen his connection with his "adoptive father" Caesar, so he instructed the Senate to name himself August (Augustus August).

Subsequently, during the reigns of Caligula, Nero, Domitian, and Commodus, they all voluntarily assigned their names to a particular month.

For the next two thousand years, only the new names for July and August were widely accepted.

Despite the changing times and the rise and fall of dynasties, the influence of Caesar and Octavian on the Mediterranean Sea world could not be erased.

In Greece villages in southern Crimean Peninsula, September is called "Herakleios," which some say is in honor of Heraclius, while others say it is in honor of Hera-cles.

Vitus's life of conquest included not only military conquests but also significant changes to administrative, educational, and medical systems.

Even today, the Eastern Roman Empire still enjoys his legacy, and the people have naturally become accustomed to the new name for March.

The Latin world did not follow this change.

Although various countries absorbed the systems and technologies of the Eastern Roman Empire and benefited greatly, they remained wary of the Eastern Roman Empire and were unwilling to change the names of the months to avoid expanding Vitus's influence.

On the other hand, many Latin scholars felt that Vitus was just a lucky guy who relied on the advantage of firearms to bully the Ottoman cavalry who only had cold weapons, and was not a formidable character.

At the Alexius Gate on the south side of the office area, Varro was being searched by the guards.

When he left home, he intended to give a gift to the mistress of some important person, so he carried a large sum of money and a jewelry necklace with him.

The Eunuch in black robes ignored this trivial matter and urged the guards, "Have you finished searching? Let him in quickly, His Majesty doesn't have time to wait."

The current emperor is Manuel IV, who is thirty years old and has been on the throne for five years.

In terms of seniority, he and Varro are distant cousins.

Varro recalled that most of the outside world's evaluation of him focused on two aspects, "Frowning face" and "stingy and petty". He did not inherit the advantages of Vitus the Great, but only inherited the disadvantages.

After navigating a complex and winding corridor, Varro arrived at the entrance to his study, where a large twelve-panel screen made of gilded rosewood was displayed.

The so-called "gold lacquer" is made by mixing gold powder with pigments and applying it to the screen, giving it a noble yet understated golden color.

During the reign of the late King John XI, the relationship with the Wanli Emperor was relatively good, and the two sides exchanged gifts, among which this screen is a treasure.

In addition, the study contained the finest Jingdezhen porcelain, and a plum blossom bonsai was placed near the windowsill. Just as Varro was engrossed in looking at it, the Eunuch next to him coughed, bringing him back to his attention.

He entered the study and bowed to Manuel IV behind the desk.

At first glance, the emperor's face was thin and sorrowful. Although he had just turned thirty, his demeanor and clothing made him look like a middle-aged man in his forties, reminiscent of factory owners on the verge of bankruptcy.

"By seniority, you are my cousin. I seem to recall meeting you at the Court more than ten years ago?"

After exchanging a few pleasantries with Varro, the Emperor suddenly changed the subject. "Your brother Andrei, after inheriting the title, has been staying in Constantinople and refusing to leave, frequently interacting with several councilors. Are you aware of this?"

Varro, of course, knew nothing about this.

I've already been kicked out of the house by my brother; who knows what he's up to?

Malaka!

Will this implicate me?

Sensing Varro's anxiety, the Emperor said calmly, "Don't be nervous. In his early years, Father established the House of Nobles (the Senate) to collect taxes. In his later years, public resentment was boiling over, and he was forced to establish the House of Commons. Now, the powerful and wealthy are all reaching out to both places. Your brother's actions have not crossed the line."

Okay, let's talk about your own situation first. The frontline has a very low opinion of you; they say your command is rigid and cowardly, and you're not a qualified commander.

Varro quickly defended himself. "Your Majesty, this is not my fault. My orders were to hold Yarki Village and cover the flanks. How was I supposed to know that the 16th Infantry Brigade would attack ahead of schedule?"

Moreover, even if I led two companies to charge, this battle would still be lost. The enemy numbers are too great; 20,000 men attacking two of our brigades—even Vitus the Great...

Manuel spent his teenage years at the Military Academy, so he understood the logic of war, and his cousin hadn't made any procedural mistakes.

However, after reviewing the battle situation at Yarki Village, the General Staff found that the situation was not so simple.

This village is located in a special place.

If the commander is brave and resourceful, he will proactively scout the woods and be able to locate the Artillery positions of Ryazan to the north of the woods.

Assuming the commander is cautious, he would have his skirmishers occupy nearby high ground to help his own routed troops cross the river, and then reorganize these friendly forces to enhance their combat effectiveness.

My cousin is the type who doesn't do anything.

The battle lasted for most of the day, Varro remained holed up in Yarki Village, ordering all his soldiers to reinforce the defenses.

Upon receiving the order to retreat, Varro complied without hesitation, abandoning the defensive line he had painstakingly built.

Ultimately, the unit retreated south, only to be easily defeated by the enemy en route.

Based on records of Varro from units such as Army Higher School and Border Guard Brigades, the Army Department concluded:

Varro lacked initiative and battlefield judgment, was rigid in his actions, and lacked the charisma to inspire morale. In short, he did not meet the standards of an excellent frontline officer; his greatest strength was in engineering.

During his first two years of service, he led his troops to assist in construction, leaving a deep impression on commanders and engineers.

Manuel sighed deeply. "You majored in infantry at the Military Academy, but your grades weren't as good as your minor in engineering. Military life isn't for you. Would you be interested in doing me a favor?"

Varro solemnly replied, "I pledge my life to Rome!"

The emperor, weary of such pronouncements, gazed at the map on the wall and sighed again, "In the past thirty years, Rome has suffered frequent natural disasters, resulting in declining grain production. A few years ago, an epidemic broke out in the east. Father has neglected court affairs for decades..."

The government entrusted this empire, riddled with problems, to me.

Years of famine have led to a decline in Finance revenue. Enemy forces are invading in large numbers, but the Central Administration has no money to raise enough troops. Is the legacy of Vitus the Great to be lost in my generation?

Varro regularly reads newspapers and is aware of the current situation.

The Eastern Roman Empire's Foreign Affairs situation was dire. The major powers, from west to east, were: France, the House of Habsburg, Ryazan, and Persia.

Mughal Empire, Ming Dynasty.

The first four were hostile to the Eastern Roman Empire. The Mughal Empire and the Ming Dynasty, located in the east, did not interfere in the Mediterranean Sea affairs.

In the mid-20th century, the Eastern Roman Empire began to forge secondary allies, such as Spain and the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.

However, Spain suffered from internal power fragmentation, and despite its expansion into the Americas, it was constantly under pressure from France. They not only lost the richest gold-mining regions of Central America, but also inflicted heavy losses on the Eastern Roman Empire on the Italy front.

The situation is even more serious in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, where the power of the nobility has expanded to an uncontrollable level. The nobles are unwilling to pay taxes and at the same time wield enormous influence, preventing further changes in the kingdom.

After speaking for a long time, the emperor changed the subject. "A few days ago, the House of Habsburg proposed peace talks, expecting a ceasefire at the beginning of next year, which will give us a brief respite."

The Prime Minister suggested establishing the Southern Canal Company. After the Sui Ten Canal was completed, Trade between the Empire and the East would be much more convenient, enabling it to seize a large share of the business from France and Portugal.

Conservative estimates suggest that this canal could generate tens of millions of yuan Finance revenue annually.

With this money, what are Ryazan and the House of Habsburg? Perhaps I can restore Italy and accomplish the unfinished work of Vitus the Great.

The company is currently in the preparatory stage, with the majority of its funding coming from private sources. You will serve as a representative of the royal family, holding a seat on the board of directors. Inform me immediately of any news. Focus on your work and assist the engineering director in advancing the project.

In short, whether the Empire can weather this difficult time depends entirely on you.

(Note: Around the 17th century, during the "coldest" phase of the Little Ice Age, severe cold and drought occurred frequently. Anatolia suffered greatly in history, and the Ottoman Empire declined significantly. One record shows that the Bosphorus Strait froze over in 1621.)

(Note: The founder of the Mughal Empire was a descendant of Timur. At this time, the Mughal Empire occupied northern India and were destined to unify the entire India subcontinent.)