The climate of the Crimean Peninsula varies from north to south. Due to the Crimean Mountains, which run almost parallel to the coastline, the entire peninsula's climate is divided into two distinct parts.
The southern quarter of the mountain range consists of plains, woodlands, and grasslands with a Mediterranean climate, characterized by clear seasonal differences in summer and winter.
The remaining three-quarters are semi-arid temperate continental steppe regions.
In ancient times, all of Crimea and the surrounding areas were inhabited by Goths.
By the 15th century, Theodoro and Genoa's Black Sea colonies occupied the fertile plains, while the Tatars, including the later Crimean Khanate, occupied the remaining northern steppe regions.
However, the master of the Eastern European Great Plains in the Crimea region has not yet emerged. Currently, four Tatar princes are vying for dominance in this area: Ulugh Muhammad, Little Muhammad, Dawlat Berdi, and Haji Giray.
In addition to them, the current Golden Horde, Said Ahmad, can also exert some influence on the local situation.
Manuel is currently reading materials about the Crimea region and its local Tatar princes. He is trying to find a way to keep the area in chaos until 1430.
Because for him, the more chaotic it is, the better, at least until Theodoro and Genoa finish their fight.
"Ulugh Muhammad was a former ruler of the Golden Horde. Little Muhammad has deep roots in Astrakhan and could raise an army to contend for the Khanate at any time. Dawlat was also a Khan of the Golden Horde. Haji Giray's family has deep local roots and is backed by Lithuania..." Manuel analyzed, biting his pen in frustration. "None of them are easy to deal with."
He genuinely didn't know much about the establishment of the Crimean Khanate. In his previous life, he only knew that the Crimean Khanate was established around 1430 and then became an Ottoman vassal around 1475. Even after being reborn into this era, the chaotic political situation on the Great Plains still made his scalp tingle.
But he had a strong premonition: after the Crimean Khanate was established, it would quickly align itself diplomatically with the Ottoman.
This diplomatic mission to Haji Giray was also to confirm whether his premonition was accurate.
"Your Highness, Mansour has arrived." This sentence suddenly pulled him back from his reverie to reality.
Manuel quickly recovered and rose from the carriage, beginning the customary diplomatic mission.
However, this time was different from before. The greeters arrived very quickly, but the people who greeted them did not seem like diplomatic personnel.
Instead, they were attendants temporarily serving as foreign affairs greeters, as they were dressed entirely as soldiers, except for their ability to speak greek.
Most of them even spoke vulgar slang, causing several noble-born members of the delegation to frown.
Fortunately, their attitude was peaceful, and their emotions did not fluctuate significantly.
Unlike those nobles who still had a bit of a bad temper, Manuel keenly noticed something strange, but he couldn't immediately pinpoint the problem.
So he pretended to be profound and asked Mana:
"Mana, do you feel like something is off?"
"Honestly, Your Highness, I don't think this is out of place," replied Mana, who had studied diplomacy. "In my opinion, although the attire, etiquette, and speech of these greeters are mostly unrefined, they have not shown disrespect, impatience, or disdain since the beginning, and the reception generally meets the standards.
This precisely indicates that, given sufficient conditions and further training, they could fully become formal diplomatic personnel."
"Doesn't this mean that Haji Giray has already begun to plan for the establishment of a stable and fully functional government?" Manuel replied softly, his voice filled with worry.
"This, Your Highness..."
"I hope he doesn't become our enemy," Manuel interrupted him, a hint of anxiety in his voice.
This diplomatic mission went relatively smoothly. Through the official status of the Theodoro delegation and Vytautas's personal letter, Manuel and his companions successfully met Haji Giray after he finished his prayers.
Haji Giray was a bit older than Manuel, appearing to be in his early twenties, with Tatar hair and beard.
His facial features were generally Eastern European, but his eyes and eyebrows still showed remnants of Mongol heritage. His appearance was heroic, which was quite a plus for a first impression.
He was dressed in military attire, with a beautifully ornamented saber inlaid with jade at his waist. Even Manuel inwardly praised his attire.
Haji very politely adopted a humble and modest demeanor for their discussion.
Theodoro was also pleased with this smooth turn of events and began discussing matters of mutual interaction with him.
Other aspects went very smoothly, but in military matters, Haji politely declined: "I am very sorry, but our side is currently still fighting against those who aspire to the Khanate and harm the local people.
And, not to make light of it, my army follows me for various reasons, so if I were to send my troops to another country, it would be unjust to them."
It seems what they wanted most would not be realized for a while, the Theodoro people thought.
"Hmm, speaking of military matters, there's something I'm not sure if I should mention?" Haji suddenly changed the subject.
"Speak freely," Manuel replied with a smile.
"I wonder if your country would be interested in joining me to defeat the nomadic bandits currently scattered across the Crimea region, and also their source?" Haji asked with a smile.
This, is he asking them for an army? The experienced Regen felt his mouth twitch.
Manuel's expression, however, remained as calm as before, as if nothing had happened.
"You all go back first. I will discuss this matter with His Highness Giray." After a while, Manuel, as the true decision-maker of the delegation, asked everyone except Mana to temporarily leave.
Haji Giray felt a turn in events, suppressing his joy with a hint of surprise.
Once only Manuel, Haji Giray, and their respective confidants remained in the camp, the two decision-makers relaxed. There was a moment of silence, and then Haji broke the quiet:
"Olubey Gavras, I know this might seem sudden to bring up now, but I believe it would benefit both of us if there were only one Khanate left in the Great Plains of Crimea."
"I agree," Manuel replied with a smile.
Not! He immediately added that word deep in his heart.
"Therefore, I hope we should cooperate at this time. I know the depth of the Golden Horde's exploitation of your country, and the incredibly malicious threat from Genoa.
I personally believe that these immense injustices should not exist, and we should work together to bury these past rotten corpses!"