Chapter 325 Regent

Peter celebrated Epiphany with his family in Constantinople. In recent years, more and more people have participated in this festival, and the bells of the cathedral have become more beautiful.

The emperor gave himself a month's vacation, leaving Peter in Constantinople to handle government affairs, and he took others to Bucuriesti to relax.

"How is working here, Baptiste?"

Peter asked Baptiste, who was recommended to the emperor as the Minister of Finance. Baptiste said that everything was good, but there were too many places that needed money recently. If the treasury was not full, he really had no way.

"Tell me about last year's situation and the initial budget for this year."

According to Baptiste, Rome's fiscal expenditure last year was 1.08 million gold lei, most of which was military expenses and funds spent on national construction. Others include royal expenses, official salaries and other expenses. Because of the tax-free decree last year, the most important agricultural tax and head tax were not levied. But the income from tariffs, Eastern trade commissions, material monopolies and other commercial and diplomatic activities accounted for 600,000 gold lei, which could make up for half of the expenditure.

This year's income can be increased. According to the current population and land statistics, tax revenue can exceed 1.2 million gold lei, while expenditure will be controlled at 1.1 million.

"Your Highness, our trade in the East must be controlled. This is a road flowing with gold and silver, but the rulers of Egypt can cut it off at any time."

"Do you think that the empire should be ready to march to Egypt?"

Peter felt that Baptiste's idea was too radical. Before solving the Ottoman Empire, the empire must continue to accumulate strength. Anatolia and the Levant are where the empire will connect to Egypt in the future, so before it is taken, Egypt can only watch.

"Your Highness, I just hope there will be a backup plan. If this happens, it will be easy for other countries to take advantage of the situation. The canal dug in Egypt must be protected, and it is best to let them hand over the ruling power of this land to the empire."

This is still acceptable to Peter. It is really troublesome to have a country choking the neck.

There is also the colonial report submitted by Mason. The luxury goods transported this year made a lot of money, and 10 more trading posts were opened. There are also many missionaries and immigrants who set out to settle in the East. He felt sorry for not giving his best friend a fief and a title.

However, his letter had been received long ago. Peter expressed sympathy for his family's experience, so he asked his men to send some things as Mason's friends, and told them that Mason had gone to the East and would have to wait a few years before returning.

This year's colonization not only expanded the scope of control, but also obtained a vassal state called Abyssinia. This Christian country on the East African Plateau could become the source and sales market of coffee for Rome, and local slaves could also be used as a large number of laborers.

"Andrew, I hope you can become the first wild earl."

Peter put cane sugar into the brewed coffee, and this way of drinking quickly spread throughout the country through Peter's officers. Coffee and tea from the East became drinks for the upper class and the citizen class. The refreshing effect of coffee was also loved by intellectuals.

Peter also gave Mason an order, which was to give him a huge territory, although a little primitive, but if controlled, it could be larger than half of Italy.

He said in the letter that there was a big island opposite Zanzibar, where the land and resources were very rich. If Mason found it, then this would be his fiefdom.

Along with this letter, there were countless Greek fire and firearms, which were to defeat those Eastern pirates and give them some small Western shocks.

Peter had to work from eight o'clock to six o'clock every day, including but not limited to meeting ministers, approving documents, issuing orders, etc. Some important matters also required seeking opinions from members of the Senate. In the evening, some people also needed to hold banquets to communicate with the nobles in the city. Every noble showed his loyalty to himself, not only him, but also his family.

After his eldest son Alexander was baptized, the nobles wanted to recommend their daughters to the little prince. Royal marriages are more or less political, and Alexander's is no exception. Peter has not yet thought about his son's engagement, at least he has to wait until he grows up before considering it.

After a period of preparation, the Examination Institute was officially established after the Epiphany. It is composed of the dean, vice dean, executive, doctor, recorder and other personnel, who are responsible for all matters related to the examination and selection, and announced that the official selection examination will only be held in the capital except for special circumstances in the future, and travel subsidies will be given to candidates in some remote areas.

Peter walks his own way, and he also makes corrections step by step. Others' is not necessarily the best, you can learn from it, but you can't copy it.

Peter is now appeasing the nobles and introducing citizens and landlords into the political power. Relying on the meeting to learn about the situation at the bottom, let them suppress each other, and the royal family mediates.

While Peter was still handling government affairs, Mircea wrote him a letter in Bucuriesti: Son, I am going to go out and play for you, so you will work hard for a while.

Fuck, you can't use your son to death. What if you don't nod for major decisions?

Mircea directly asked the herald to announce in the Senate: Peter is granted the highest power, and anything can be done first and then reported. Then he prepared to take his family to Hungary, Bohemia and other places.

Why did Mircea want to go abroad on a whim? In addition to wanting to support allies and quasi-allies, he also wanted to let those nobles who despised Rome see that Rome is no longer what it used to be.

Since this was a combination of diplomatic activities and royal activities, the expenses were also paid by two treasuries. Baptiste had no choice but to approve it.

The news that Basilius was going to visit Central Europe caused a stir in the Holy Roman Empire. The King of Bohemia welcomed it very much, and other princes also welcomed the emperor's arrival, but Sigismund and Habsburg didn't think so. Was he here to show off his power?

No, he couldn't be depressed yet. Even without Bohemia, he could still inherit the Holy Roman Emperor. As long as he had this title and the holy war, he could take his army to recover his own territory. The Habsburgs could also obtain rich assets, and the land in the Swiss region could also be assigned to their family. Even the Solon family could obtain fiefdoms and become princes.

Some people and the Orthodox Church in Bohemia also welcomed the emperor's arrival. Some immigrants who went to Rome came back and said how powerful and prosperous it was there. They were also tempted and thought that if the emperor could govern well, he could be given the title of King of Bohemia.