Chapter 343 Conflict in the West, Recovery in the East
The changes in Anatolia could not be hidden from Constantinople. It was expected that the Mamluks would send people to contact Peter with the Ottomans. The union of two countries with the same religion would put a lot of pressure on Rome.
If a war breaks out now, Rome can dispatch 50,000 troops within a month, and Ukraine in the north can also dispatch 10,000 troops and Cossacks. As long as they keep suppressing the Ottomans, they can lose half of their blood even if there is no direct conflict.
For Rome, population is the resource that needs to be restored most at present. Due to local expansion and agricultural recovery, the local population growth rate has increased a lot, with Wallachia and Moldova being the highest, followed by Bulgaria, Serbia, Smyrna and other places. The population surge in some places has prompted them to migrate to Anatolia and Illyria, and also to seek a living overseas or in cities.
The land near Ansera has been reclaimed, and the local policy of returning grazing to farming has been implemented. Some places that are not suitable for pastures have all been converted back to arable land, and small tribesmen have been forced to settle down and taught to farm. Immigrants can also get preferential conditions to settle in new lands.
"Your Highness, our current population has reached 9 million, and in a few years it will be able to return to the population of John II's time.
Peter listened to the population report. The current population growth rate is about 1.25% to 1.5%, which is already among the best in Europe.
"How many foreign immigrants are there?"
"The largest number of immigrants are from Hungary, Bohemia, Lithuania and Naples. Most of them settled in Anatolia and Ukraine and reclaimed land. They are all poor people. After hearing about the preferential treatment, they knelt down to express gratitude to Your Majesty."
Peter nodded. Now they only need to unify Anatolia, and the empire can consider recovering Egypt. I really don't know how it took more than ten years to unify the East, which is so big.
"Now we need to continue to transport supplies and soldiers need to continue training. "
Peter talked about the next policy. The situation of large landowners in Anatolia basically disappeared. The Roman version of the policy of granting land for military merit and land to the tiller promoted agricultural development. In order to have more labor, farmers would naturally have more children, so the population increased.
In terms of culture and education, Peter ordered many scholars from the University of Constantinople to compile an encyclopedia, which included various books. At the same time, the newly established Examination Institute began a nationwide unified selection examination. After passing the local examination, candidates from all over the country needed to go to the capital for the final examination. Those who failed would be given travel expenses by the government to go home, which was also a respect for intellectuals.
These policies were unthinkable in other countries. Even people living in northern Italy were willing to serve the empire. A reverse immigration began, and some people were born. Those who couldn't survive or wanted to make achievements came to Rome to settle down and became farmers, merchants, soldiers, and officials, working together for the future of the empire.
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When Mircea left Prague, the mayor cried and sent him off. Because the emperor was here, Prague's funds had bottomed out. Not only that, the city government owed the Hanseatic League 100,000 florins, which all needed to be paid by the citizens.
What, you want to collect taxes from the nobles? Then you think you are dying too slowly. Who dares to provoke the nobles? Just grit your teeth and bear it.
Mircea also took a tour of Brandenburg. There were swamps, wastelands, closed farms and arrogant Catholic churches everywhere. The capital was just a small town with 2,000 people. Vlad also saw it and thought that it would be difficult to rule here. It's very difficult, and I have to learn from my elder brother.
Mircea's trip this time shocked a number of Central European countries. Small countries have completely surrendered, and some unwilling ones have turned to Sigismund, hoping that he can expel heretics.
Speaking of the Holy Roman Emperor, Jobst feels that he is useless. Except for the high title, there is nothing else left. The emperor of the empire often serves as the king of several countries. The king is real, and the emperor is virtual. This is called virtual and real. If it is completely virtual, it will not work. The troops cannot be mobilized, and taxes cannot be collected. Just wait for the princes to shit on their necks.
It looks like an empire, but it is actually just a loose confederation. The empire has more than 300 states and 1,500 knights' manors and territories. The emperor of the empire is just a virtual position, without real power, and his words are not effective. The capital of the empire is not Fixed, Prague and Augsburg have been the capital. Such a country is better to dissolve.
In France, a civil war led by the Orleans faction and the Burgundian faction kicked off. The Duke of Armagnac, Bernard VII, the father-in-law of Charles, Duke of Orleans, established an alliance against John and his supporters. The wedding gave the Orleans faction a new leader, making the Duke of Armagnac the protector of Charles and his mother Valentina Visconti, and the Orleans faction was renamed the Armagnac faction. Other members of the alliance included the Dukes of Berry, Bourbon and Brittany, and the Counts of Alençon and Clement.
Bernard VII formed a bandit group called "Flayers" to plunder Paris and the surrounding suburbs. The Duke of Burgundy led 60,000 people into Paris to attack the Bretons. Although he eventually withdrew from Paris, he later made a detour to attack and defeat the "Flayers".
Britain took advantage of the relationship between the two sides and provided support to both. The Armagnacs made a treaty with King Henry IV of England to prevent an alliance between England and Burgundy by ceding Guyenne and recognizing the English king's suzerainty over Poitou and Angoulême. Similarly, John the Fearless protected Flemish cloth merchants from the English wool embargo in order to satisfy English interests.
Henry IV was very happy to see the civil war in his neighbor, but he still focused on domestic affairs. But the more important reason was that his main energy was focused on the country to maintain the rule of the Lancastrian dynasty over England. Similarly, King Charles VI of France had little intention of resuming the war because Henry had his daughter as a hostage. His daughter was Richard's wife, Isabella of Valois. For these reasons, during the Hundred Years' War, the truce between Richard II and Charles VI continued during Henry IV's fourteen-year reign. So Henry turned his attention to his land neighbor Scotland.
Four years ago, Henry led his army to invade Scotland, but was stopped in front of Edinburgh. Two years later, the Scottish invaders were repelled at the top of Homilden.
Subsequently, English pirates captured James Stuart, the Scottish crown prince who was on his way to France, on the coast near Flamborough Head. He was handed over to the King of England and imprisoned by Henry in Windsor Castle. This situation is very good, and it should be the most comfortable period for Britain.