However, Manuel currently had no intention of revealing his plans for external warfare to anyone outside his cabinet.
After all, if the soldiers knew that the war they were about to face was not accidental, but rather orchestrated by their respected Caesar, it would inevitably lead to a mutiny.
Thinking of this, Manuel collected himself and looked at his generals, signaling them to continue asking questions.
After the first two had asked their questions, Posadas could no longer hold back and jumped out to ask, "Caesar, when will we fight our next battle?"
The air in the meeting room immediately solidified awkwardly.
Only the occasional chirping of cicadas in the air indicated that time here had not actually stopped.
"Sorry, I don't know, next." Manuel skipped his question without changing his expression; how could such a confidential matter be openly discussed at this meeting?
Posadas grew anxious, "Caesar, I'm serious!"
"Unfortunately, so am I," Manuel replied with a smile, until the other party reluctantly gave up pressing the issue.
After continuing to answer and explain the doubts of several people, he looked at the generals he had summoned for the meeting and asked seriously, "Does anyone else have any questions?"
The generals, who had already received his full explanation, all responded, "No, Caesar."
Seeing this, Manuel smiled and nodded, "Very well.
Then let's conclude today's military meeting."
"Yes, Caesar.
Loyalty!"
By the time Manuel returned to the Palace, it was already late afternoon.
However, this did not mean that his official duties for the day were over; he still had to review legal provisions, administrative systems, and important documents that had been drafted, and even events and cases with considerable public influence were awaiting his final judgment.
"Ah, I didn't expect that even with a cabinet, there's still a possibility of dying from overwork." At dusk that day, Manuel, who had rushed through these matters, rubbed his sore eyes and gave a bitter smile.
The following June was similarly dull and complex for Manuel.
Finally, at the end of the month, after nearly a month of auditing, reviewing, and re-approving by Manuel and his cabinet, the bosphorus code, or the theodosian code (Revised), adapted from the theodosian code, was officially passed and was set to be implemented nationwide in July.
Manuel personally preferred to call this code the "Caesar's New Law."
On the morning of the first day of July, the nobles and dignitaries of the Autocratic State, summoned by the Caesar of the Autocratic State to participate in a large meeting, gathered in the assembly hall of the Bangup Palace, escaping the scorching summer heat while solemnly and earnestly attending this meeting, which could be said to determine the internal affairs of the Autocratic State for the next few decades.
At this meeting, which summoned all the notables of the Autocratic State, Manuel wore a purplish-blue pallium, popular among East Rome nobles in the past, and draped a light blue silk chiton over it, to signify the importance of this meeting to the attendees.
Once the pre-arranged time arrived and all attendees were confirmed present, Manuel, as the Bosphorus Caesar, officially ordered the meeting to begin and announced several important resolutions to those present:
In terms of administrative divisions, there were two main blocks: one was the direct territory of the Autocratic State under Manuel, which was the Tauris Peninsula and its surrounding areas; the remaining mainland areas were divided into three governorships: the Little Cherson Governorship, the Western Kizlyar Governorship, and the Kuba Governorship, all managed by governors personally appointed by Manuel.
In fact, Manuel personally preferred to call them military districts, but to maintain a low profile and disguise them externally, he ultimately used the common name "governorships" for them.
Entrusting these mainland areas to the management of governors was not a casual decision by Manuel.
Although theoretically these lands were fertile black soil, with the technological level of the Middle Ages, Manuel couldn't say he had any ideas for developing the local area; he could only say he was willing but unable.
Given this, it was better to hand these places over to loyal locals to govern themselves, appointing governors who firmly stood on his side, which could also incidentally help the peninsula's homeland fend off Tatars from the Golden Horde.
Taking this opportunity, Manuel also officially announced his appointments for governors at the meeting: "The following are the governors for each governorship: Governor of Little Cherson, Kristo Balin; Governors of Western Kizlyar, Dauletiar Giray and Haydar Giray, co-governing; Governor of Kuba, Gregory Giunio.
"However, since the Giray brothers are still children, they will temporarily remain in Mangup with their families to receive guardianship and education.
As for Western Kizlyar, I will send a dedicated person to govern it until they are old enough to manage it themselves, at which point they will formally take office." What his actions meant was self-evident.
After Manuel finished these additions, Balin and Giunio both rose to salute, and the two Giray children were also held up by their mother to pay respects.
Since the appointments of Balin and the two Giray children had been rumored at the luncheon in June, there was no dissent.
However, the appointment of Giunio was only considered by Manuel half a month prior and decided after serious discussion with the cabinet.
As for why he was chosen, it was not only due to his sufficient qualifications, but also because Manuel's smooth administration during his time in Theodosia owed much to the archival materials from the Kaffa period that he had specifically brought to Manuel, which drew the attention of the then Crown Prince Manuel to this civilian noble who had long served as an internal official in the area.
Moreover, in the civil war, he not only firmly stood with Manuel and his father but also actively participated in protecting Prince Alexius.
Such a person, perhaps appointing him as a local governor would be a good choice.
Regarding these resolutions of Manuel, those who had either been thoroughly subdued by his methods or sincerely submitted to him had no objections.
Thus, Manuel took the opportunity to officially announce his administrative planning for the directly controlled territories at this meeting: Mayors were to be established in the cities of the Autocratic State, but unlike the "classic mayors" in Western Europe or the Holy Roman Empire, the mayors of Bosporus would merely serve as tools to execute the Caesar's will.
Furthermore, to curb any potential power they might accrue, Manuel, following ancient precedents, specifically re-established the position of Commissioner (ὁ ἐπὶ τῶν δεήσεων, Latin: Epitondeeseon), theoretically on par with the mayor, to oversee their misconduct.
In addition, officers of the city defense army were directly appointed by Manuel himself and, through layers of superior-subordinate relationships, ultimately managed by the Army Commander; administrative bureaucrats and nobles had no authority to deploy them.
Incidentally, the Commissioner nominally had the right to oversee the officers of the city defense army.
The only exception in the city defense army was the "Watchers" Force, a militia serving as a security force.
After the theodosian code came into effect, they were established in other cities.
During routine law enforcement, this specially trained force could, to a limited extent, be deployed by city officials.
However, their total number was carefully controlled to within 500, and under normal circumstances, they wouldn't cause any trouble.
After Manuel sonorously read out the above, the nobles in the meeting became somewhat agitated.
Although they knew Caesar was going to reclaim old powers, they hadn't expected it to be so thorough.
Although Manuel quickly clarified that nobles could still freely adjudicate private property, including serfs, on their own territories, and that bureaucrats would not interfere beyond the law, the meeting still became boisterous.
But what good was more commotion?
The essence of Manuel's meeting this time was notification, not negotiation.
And when the noisy ones saw the watchful guards and remembered who the losers of the civil war were, they all quieted down.
A considerable number of staunch supporters from the Gavras Family among the nobles even spoke out loudly, expressing their firm support for Caesar's leadership.
Thus, the new system for the administrative divisions of Bosporus was officially established amidst much bluster but little actual opposition.
Watching the smooth passage of the administrative division system, Manuel breathed a sigh of relief.
The reason he put so much effort into the administrative division system was precisely to establish a bureaucratic system and restore the tradition of the Roman state, even if it was just a relatively simple framework of bureaucracy.
However, he personally preferred to establish large provinces centered around several major cities to uniformly manage the army and appoint provincial governors.
But since Bosporus is currently considered a small to medium-sized country, it lacks the preconditions for establishing provinces, so this idea is currently kept in his mind and not put into practice.
These matters are currently irrelevant to his current situation.
Thinking of this, Manuel collected himself and continued to announce at the meeting:
"There is one more thing: the administrative division system of the Bosphorus Despotate will be formally incorporated into the new code, the bosphorus code, in the form of law.
Next, I need to explain something," here, Manuel deliberately paused, "the new code will serve as the fundamental law of the Autocratic State and will be implemented nationwide.
The remaining content of the code is as follows."