Chapter 408 Marriage
Constantinople is naturally the place with the best economy and the most prosperous culture, but there will also be a dark side in a prosperous place. In invisible places, a large number of poor people have established slums, and they can only find some day jobs in the city. The city hall has opened a free food supply station, but the items obtained can only sustain the most basic survival. If you want to save assets, you must either work hard or go elsewhere. And many people choose the latter.
Some people are immediately attracted by the offer of tax exemption and financial support for a few years if they are willing to immigrate overseas. I signed up with my family, but the exchange condition was that I had to contribute unpaid labor for a period of time in the early stage, and then I could start my own business freely.
In addition to the recruitment of trade halls, there have been newly established trading houses in Castle and Thessaloniki recently. The terms they offered were also very generous, and some people followed them.
Charlie will not do business at a loss. The money needs to be earned by transporting goods. If the younger brother is willing, he can also transport some slaves there. This needs to be discussed with him.
The opening of the canal is good for the shipping industry. There are no less than one or two hundred ships using the canal every day. Soldiers were stationed in Ashkelon and the Canal Zone, and the Sudanese army could not get close.
"Dear Sultan, our negotiations with Constantinople have failed. Their emperor is unwilling to cede the benefits of the canal."
The Egyptian envoy returned to Cairo to report the failed negotiations to the Sultan, and the Sultan sitting on the throne had long thought that Rome would not compromise easily. Why did you agree to their request in the first place?
"It's not your fault. You were careless before. Egypt must maintain contact with the Holy City. This is Allah's guidance and a step back to its peak in the future."
If the Sultan wanted to revive the prestige of the Mamluks, he would need a large army to spread around. He also wanted to get back the title of Custodian of the Two Holy Lands. Now that the canal in Rome was connected, it directly cut off the land connection. This left him with what to do.
"Sultan, I think we still need to maintain contact with Rome. Our rule in the north is very fragile. The local vassals are dissatisfied with Su Cairo's rule. Moreover, although Osman was destroyed, some people who escaped are still fighting against Rome on the border. .If we anger them, we will lose all the land we have regained.”
Sudan also feels that this is the most suitable solution at present. Egypt now also needs to obtain more manpower and funds from North Africa. Then set your sights on Tunisia.
At this time, Tunisia was under the rule of the Hafsid dynasty. The area was mainly famous for its pirates, who often robbed Christian merchant ships. Moreover, the local geographical conditions are good, with a large amount of arable land and good business. It can be used as a logistics base in Egypt.
Regarding the Roman Canal, the Mamluks could only follow the previously signed treaties. You can cross the river temporarily, and merchants between the two places can also cross the river, but they need to pay tolls.
The leader of the Crescent Church in Jerusalem was also nervous because thousands of soldiers were stationed in Ashkelon, not far away. At this time, the armed forces in Jerusalem only numbered 700 people, and the main force of the Mamluks was actually blocked by an artificially dug canal. The imam hated the rulers of the Abbasid dynasty in his heart. Why didn't he stop using the canal and destroy it more completely?
Some vented their anger and took revenge on the Christians in the city. He even broke into the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and killed a clergyman. He directly sent people out to report the news to the people in Ashkelon. As a result, the other party directly led 200 people to catch the murderer. For the sake of peace between the two countries, the imam had no choice but to reluctantly hand over the murderer to the other party. He also continued to hypnotize himself. This was for the sake of peace. Peace in the Holy City.
The south was not much better than the north, so Woick took the army south for a tour, and the emir of Damascus became timid. He also promised to attack the Baitakshi Order. Who doesn’t know that the Roman Empire is the guardian of the Orthodox Church? You may not say anything if you attack Catholics, but if you attack Orthodox Christians, you will be finished.
The events in Jerusalem have made the Orthodox Christians want to form a Crusade again to regain the holy city. However, Rome is very busy now and they don't know when they will get government support.
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Stefan's wedding was held in Hagia Sophia, and the Patriarch personally officiated. The emperor also came to the scene in person.
In the eyes of everyone, Stefan and Michelle completed the ceremony. This also allowed the French royal family to directly establish a relationship with Rome. The French envoy Philippe was a close confidant of Queen Isabeau. After her husband became insane, she began to get involved in politics. She hoped to bring in Roman power to counter the Orleans and Burgundians, although her own luxurious life was the main cause of popular dissatisfaction.
Philip met with many Roman nobles and officials in Constantinople, and Grand Prime Minister Listerine expressed his welcome to the French envoys from afar. Philip also expressed the hope that Stefan could go to Paris to meet his father-in-law, but he declined because he needed the emperor's consent.
But France had more than one envoy. Secretary of State Pierre Salmon negotiated with Rome on the orders of Charles VI. In fact, Charles VI's mental illness was intermittent, and he could still make some correct decisions when he was awake. As the king's confidant, Salmon not only produced two king's guides, but also helped a lot in handling government affairs.
For the king, but also for myself. Salmon needed to grow the faction loyal to Charles VI. If he could not weaken the faction, he could only expand the faction loyal to himself and introduce new power organizations to compete. Then just let Rome enter France to get a powerful boost.
But this has to be done in secret, after all, there is a pope of his own in Avignon. If the other party knows that France has joined forces with heretics, they will wish that the Crusaders will arrive immediately.
The filial son of God cannot be fully filial now, and Charles VI is still a devout Christian. He only needs the help of Rome, and forget about spreading the gospel.
"Your Highness, the King of France's mental illness is sometimes good and sometimes bad. The Duke of Orleans and the Duke of Burgundy have shaken hands and made peace. It seems that they have divided their own interests."
"It seems that they are ready to divide the country."
The speed of centralization in France is still too slow compared with Rome, mainly because of many powerful vassals in the country. A large number of dukes, earls, and knights have gathered certain powers in this land since the reforms carried out by Charles V, but there is no way to deal with the most important Duke of Burgundy and Duke of Orleans, because the king needs their soldiers and funds to deal with England. This is also the reason for looking for foreign friends. Being able to defeat England with the help of Rome is the best solution.