Chapter 457: Near East Issues

"Allah will punish them, you fools."

At the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, the imam cursed after learning that the Syrian emir had surrendered to Rome. He could never have imagined that, as the barrier of the holy city, they would surrender so easily.

Without the protection of Damascus, the only barriers to the north of Jerusalem were Tiberias and the Golan Heights. Like its predecessor, the Kingdom of Jerusalem, Jerusalem was now facing the danger of being besieged from both sides.

In the south, Ashkelon had become impregnable under the construction of Rome, and the army inside exceeded the total number of their troops in the coastal areas.

In addition, Roman merchants were also squeezing the business of Arabs and their believers. Roman goods dealt a heavy blow to the local area. Some Roman merchants saw the value of camels, so they bought and raised them in large quantities, and even formed groups to buy Arab camels at low prices, which was really unbearable. There were many fights in the local area, but in the end the other side was better.

The Mamluks were already cowards. Since dealing with the Cairo incident, the Sultan had not thought about the pagans in the north. Digging the canal was even said to be a cowardly act. The great Egyptian Sultan was so afraid, what great things could he do.

But we have to admit that the Mamluks are already the most powerful force on the peninsula. If even he is unwilling, then who else can make a move?

Woick's negotiations gained hundreds of thousands of people and large tracts of rich land for Rome, and at the same time further oppressed the actions of pagans. Mecca and Medina were so angry that they wrote directly to the Black Sheep Dynasty and Zarayier, asking them to send troops to attack Rome.

But the Mamluks didn't dare to fight, let alone them. Moreover, these two were paying tribute to the Timurid Empire on the one hand, and making friends with Rome on the other. They didn't dare to fight either.

Moreover, Rome and the Timurid Empire were on good terms, and the trade between the two countries was also very large. With the benefits of the Black Sheep and Zarayier, since there was money to be made, why fight?

This is no longer the era of great conquests hundreds of years ago, nor the era of the Crusades two hundred years ago. Pragmatism prevailed. As long as there is money, there is nothing that cannot be done.

There were also people within the Mamluks who wanted to expel Roman forces, but the upper echelons were not strong enough. Every time, Rome would give the Sultan and the Emir unexpected pressure and bribes, and bribed the ministers around the Sultan, fooling them into signing various treaties. For example, the Treaty of Smyrna in 1407 stipulated that Roman merchants could buy land in Alexandria and only charge 7% business tax. A large number of Roman merchants poured into Alexandria, directly pushing up the city's housing prices by two times. In order to make more money, local officials drove out the citizens who were originally in the city.

Not to mention opening canals and building fortresses on Egyptian land. Some knowledgeable people wanted to stop them, but it was limited to attacks on merchants, which was useless. Rome had a hundred ways to deal with them.

In the southern part of the peninsula, the Aden colony was continuing to expand northward and westward. The government adopted a tolerant policy. As long as they recognized their rule, the power of the chief would remain unchanged. They only needed to pay tribute to themselves. For a time, more than 30 tribes surrendered one after another. They were all from the Five Imams, and the Sunnis were all wiped out.

In the Oman region, Rome also adopted a tolerant policy. The local tribes believed in Ibadism. As long as they were loyal to the emperor, their beliefs could be preserved. After all, Rome's main target was the Sunnis, and these local factions could be tolerated for the time being.

Rome's dealings with heretics put the Sunnis, a popular faction, in an awkward situation. The status of the sect that was originally the most powerful suddenly reversed, and its power was constantly squeezed. There was a great trend of unifying the peninsula. At this time, it could only continue to exert its influence and let the tribes in the desert protect the holy city.

————Dividing line————

The 9 policy recently implemented in Rome was very smooth. This practice of combining taxes and service was implemented from the vicinity of Constantinople to other cities and villages.

Moreover, this practice was not only aimed at farmers, but also at citizens living in cities who were taxed according to their income and asset valuations. As for other less developed economic areas, it remained the same.

Not only that, Rome's taxes and service were paid in currency, making acceptance and transportation easier, and the people were no longer troubled by various tax collections. Collecting taxes based on the area of ​​land reduces the burden of labor service on hired farmhands without land and poor farmers with little land, and transfers it to rich landlords with more land, which is more fair and equal; it reduces the burden of corvée on landless people.

The new policy has achieved good results, and Peter has successfully gained a wave of popular support. At the same time, the implementation of the reform has increased tax revenue in Constantinople, and the income of places near the capital alone can increase by one-fifth.

The changes in government and economy in the past few months have allowed the empire to continue to revitalize. It is not easy for the treasury to maintain balance when both the East and the West have to spend money.

In the palace garden, Peter was still looking at the translated oriental books, with a cup of brewed tea in his hand, and there were more than a dozen eunuchs around him. Listerin also accompanied the emperor to enjoy afternoon tea.

"Your Majesty, the King of Georgia sent 50,000 lei, Kara Yusuf sent 40,000 lei and 50 female slaves."

Peter was barely satisfied with the protection fees sent by these countries. As tributary states, they should take more. What if they are interested in fighting against the empire again?

"With so little, are they very poor?"

Peter will not stop until they are wiped out. These countries are not very powerful, but they are good at making people feel disgusted. They frequently harass the Roman border, but they are just small fights, and Rome will not waste energy to fight back.

Moreover, the King of Georgia pays tribute to Rome externally, and still claims that the two countries are enemies internally, but Rome has to give in because of its great power.

It can only be said that Georgia is not convinced by Rome in heart, but at present, the king has no ability to seize land from Rome or the Black Sheep Dynasty, and even the Knights' land in Azerbaijan cannot be taken away. They can only live in the Caucasus in this way.

"I don't care what they think, but Georgia must take out 80,000 lei next year."

"Your Majesty, 50,000 lei is all the savings of Georgia. If it is 80,000, I'm afraid the king can only increase taxes."

Peter looked at the prime minister, who was still too kind. To treat these people who eat at home, their blood-making ability must be completely lost. Save them from jumping around.

"Georgia has always wanted the Empire's land. If we don't teach them a lesson, I'm afraid the Empire's hard-earned authority will be lost."