Constantine would begin his day by addressing the issues regarding Morea, aristocrats coming to him about petty land issues, merchants about taxes, the peasantry about abuses by their landowners, residents complaining of the lack of potential jobs within the cities, and monks coming to ask for funding for a new monastery. It got to the point of so many problems being brought to him at once that the Despot would end the resolving of issues being brought to him for the day
'This is way too much, I can't wait till Plethon gets back to Mystras,' thought Constantine
It had been a few weeks since he had a meeting between his close and trusted friends about what he wanted to accomplish within Morea. So far they had all left to start working on their different tasks, with Sphranzes already in Ragusa negotiating with the merchants there, Nepotian and Plethon still out together in Morea, Constantine's brother Thomas had gone out already to begin bringing back skilled workers to the Despot to develop the land as well as just to bring more settlers.
'Speaking of things to do,' thinks Constantine as he's walking around the palace
'Those ships we captured, I believe John has given back the borrowed ships we used for the battle of the Echinades, however we have a few back near Monemvasia.'
Constantine then calls for his servant before saying,
"Gregory, I'd like for you to fetch Christophoros for me, I have a task for him to do if he's still in the city, please hurry."
The servant bows before running out of the Palace towards the house of the merchant, and soon he quickly arrives back with Christophoros behind him. Christophoros would kneel before asking,
"What may i do for you Kephale?"
"A few weeks ago, some ships were captured by our fleet and docked at Monemvasia, I'd like you to potentially go and sell these ships to see if we can make some money here, preferably to other Rhomaioi merchants," says Constantine
"I will write up an order to be given to the men guarding the ships to have you take them to be sold, once they are sold i'll ask you to bring back the money made from it back. Do you have any idea how much could be made from it?"
Christophoros sits quietly for a second, before responding,
"If I had to guess, around 8,000 Hyperpyron, not a crazy amount, however still significant."
"Still significant, I'd like for you to move as soon as possible for this, and afterwards I'm quite certain you'd be free to do as you will for a while before I'll need you again." speaks Constantine
He then moves to write a letter signifying his intent for the merchant to sell the captured ships to other merchants and individuals. He would then proceed to create a seal of wax, and stamping it with the double headed eagle on it.
"Here Christophoros, and thank you my friend."
The merchant would bow before exiting the palace, and the kephale would continue to go about his duties now once more, the city had been vibrant, and growing more and more every week with new buildings also being constructed by many coming here. The Despot would eat a small meal before continuing to head out individuals to solve their issues as lord of the land. A man dressed in fine garbs would approach and kneel before Constantine,
"My lord," he states
"My name is Manuel Lakaris, my family is from the city of Thessaloniki, an area sold to the Venetians a few years back by your brother Andronikos."
"Welcome to Mystras Manuel Lakaris, you say you're from Thessaloniki? I've heard the situation over there is dire as a result of the siege the Ottomans have place, i've been told they've been difficult to negotiate with." responds Constantine
"Very difficult, in fact, all offers made have been delayed or rejected, even with offers of silver and gold being high in amount. I'm here to ask for help my lord, Thessaloniki is in trouble, my family believed under the Venetians we would be enriched by their trade, and that we'd be safe, but things grow more dire by the day. My family and many others fear that the Ottomans will slaughter the people there as they have done in many other areas. I know I myself find it difficult to move elsewhere due to many of us not having anywhere else to go. I ask for support in providing the Rhomaioi people of Thessaloniki a home here." begs Manuel
"Our families don't have any other homes to go to, our only home is at risk of being taken, and we all know the risk of staying if we do, slavery or death, I don't want either."
Constantine would scratch his facial hair a bit before asking,
"I may have a few ideas, how many people are in Thessaloniki currently that wish to leave?"
"I'm unsure the exact amount, but from before we have around 25,000 people within the walls of the city, I know many families that wish to escape and voice it quite often." responds Manuel
"I'd like you to stay here in Mystras for a little longer, and I'll have an answer for you soon, I'll need to take a look at the land here in Morea, and I'll be asking you more questions regarding the situation of Thessaloniki. Feel free to stay inside the servant quarters of the palace." issues out Constantine
"Thank you my lord," would respond Manuel as he bowed
Constantine would send a servant to collect records of the land held throughout Morea and throughout the city and then continue on with talking to the people and solving problems brought to him, mostly being small issues that could be resolved between the parties involved, but it did not bother him too greatly, by evening Constantine had talked to all that had come to him and then decided to retire for the day.
"Gregory! Around what time will the food be ready?"
"Around an hour left Kephale!"
Constantine would slump in his chair, regretting his decision to eat lightly earlier that day, and then would remember Manuel Lakaris, the man he invited to stay in the palace. He would jump up and move to bring him to the hall to eat with him and discuss the issues involved.
"Hm, so let me see, from what has been recorded, there's a lot of land that is free for cultivation, so many of you could be granted free land to develop here."
Constantine would tap on the table a bit with his fingers before shouting out,
"WAIT! I know! Perhaps those fleeing could assist me in a project, to create a new city within Morea to aid in trade and protection of different areas. Our population is far too rural already and the people are used to their urban lifestyle. I'd be able to send some people to work the land as well to have something accomplished too!"
"I think our people would have no issue at all with something like this, do you think it's possible?" asks Manuel
"I believe it may be, though I'm waiting on a few men to return from a task I ordered them on a while ago, once this happens I can for sure say this, but until then it's just speculation. Why don't you stay here until they've returned and can talk about this. I'd be happy to host you!"
"I'd be honored to Kephale," responds Manuel
Just as they were finishing their conversation, the food Constantine had been waiting for would arrive, and the pair would eat together and plan of different potential scenarios that could possibly work until night had come.
The next day, Constantine would be surprised by Plethon, Nepotian, and Basil, back from their journey through their journey through Morea, each going to major concentrations of people to accomplish their task.
"Plethon! Basil! Nepotian! Welcome back! I hope your journey was fruitful!" yells out Constantine
"Very i'd say! I've found many good candidates for an advisory council made up of aristocratic educated men that would be good at helping advise you and to work together! This should bring these families into more cooperation regarding projects and regarding Morea in general. Do you have a building ready to host them?" asks Plethon
"I don't have an official building yet completed, however I believe we may use the library for such until the building is complete. Have you informed them of when to congregate for their semi annual meeting?" replies Constantine
"I have kephale, in 2 weeks they'll meet in January for such, to report on their own situations and to discuss policies here." happily exclaims Plethon
"Perfect! Also… were you able to get an estimate for the amount of citizens within Morea?" asks Constantine while smiling
"From accounts from my own counting, counting of those employed by me, account for around more than 26,000 households. Over 100,000 people are within the borders of Morea currently, maybe more if the households have more surviving children than just 2." exclaims Plethon
"I believe this may be almost double Constantinople itself! We have much we can do with this!" yells out Constantine
"Now, with this, how about you Basil? What did your findings grant?"
Basil would clear his throat and then pull out a large piece of paper entailing his findings
"Firstly, the previous tax management of Morea had the nobles bribe the tax collector to collect less. Secondly, many of the peasants live under lands they don't directly own, such as under the nobles here. Thirdly, from my own estimate, we can increase the amount earned through taxation through the flat excise tax and the low land tax should increase revenue by around 50% including the wages paid to Imperial officials. I had also thought of a system which will ensure there isn't corruption, with the amount to be taxed from each being determined by the Royal treasurer rather than the tax collector."
Constantine, while grinning, would shout out,
"Excellent work my friend! I had a feeling he'd be a wonderful addition!"
Basil would nod and then continue to speak,
"I believe issuing the new tax code, which will be done annually starting in June. And to please them, not levying other taxes unless agreed to by the council."
"I think this sounds more than reasonable, great work Basil." says Constantine
"Now…. Nepotian… did you find a few candidates for what I was speaking of?"
"I found a good two hundred that I think are ambitious towards improving their own knowledge and to bring the knowledge gained back to Morea, many young nobles, some young farmers, some craftsmen as well along with merchants." mentions Nepotian
"Ah excellent work my friend, you've done well, be sure to begin having them gather to go overseas for this, I would like to talk to the group before they leave. Around our first council meeting would be a fine time to leave." says Constantine
"All of you have done great, I'm happy to say things are all going according to plan so far. Now, I'd like you all to meet someone that is here staying in the servant quarters, he is from Thessaloniki."
"Gregory, can you please bring Manuel here?"
Gregory would nod and bring the man to meet with Constantine and his advisors. The man would greet each and all, and thank them for listening to his pleas.
"This man here has an issue regarding people wanting to flee Thessaloniki, I think we can try and help the people here and possibly build up a new city to help facilitate trade or for strategic purposes. This is what I hope to discuss in the next meeting hopefully."
"That sounds like a wonderful topic to start the council meeting on, i'm sure the people would be encouraged to speak on such with their own ideas. I can't wait to do so!" says Plethon
The group would say their goodbyes before preparing to leave once more to go and finish their duties. Constantine would stay in the hall drinking some wine, when a knock comes at the door of the Palace. Gregory moves to open the door to find a messenger.
"I have a message from your brother Thomas lord Constantine."
"Oh?" replies Constantine
"Please tell me of what he's accomplished!"
The messenger would then break open the seal, and begin reading out what Thomas had written,
Dear brother, I have reached Italy and the land is so full of riches and grand architecture, you should come and see it one day if you can. I thought that we were grand, however once coming here I see things that can only be described as devine. My journeys have not gathered much success, however I have found some craftsmen willing to move to Mystras. I have also found some educated whom are fascinated with the culture here and whom intend to go there, whether they stay or not unsure of. I have found one man that was very unique, a Czech gunsmith who had apparently fled Bohemia was here and I thought i'd give it a shot to ask him if he'd be interested in coming to Morea, and there is a good chance he will as he's had no success in his business in Italy, along with many choosing not to do business with him due to being a heretic to them. He has informed me that he may try to bring others if your reign is deemed tolerant. I will continue on my journeys
~Thomas Palaiologos
"This is perfect!" yells out Constantine
"He has done more than enough, Gregory, some ink and paper please, I must congratulate him on his successes."
Constantine would write to his brother and then retire back to his room, thinking of all the possibilities with what he has now.
'I think with this, we can begin our campaign in July' thinks Constantine
'Soon I will bring the Peloponnese under my control'