Soon, more than half a month passed, and a new year arrived.
Thanks to prior preparations and sufficient buffer time, the bureaucratic system reform implemented by Manuel landed smoothly.
However, a common historical problem that emerged during this period made him quite exasperated; due to historical legacies and the limited number of bureaucrats, many officials held multiple positions and titles in the implemented bureaucratic system.
This was quite abstract compared to the division of labor Manuel envisioned for the bureaucracy.
But he had no immediate good solution and could only observe the situation after discussing it with some members of the cabinet.
After all, whether it was the Macedonian Dynasty, the later Komnenos Dynasty, or the current Palaiologos Dynasty in Constantinople, it was common for officials to perform multiple duties.
In addition, the composition of official backgrounds also caught his attention.
As mentioned long ago, due due to the irreversible damage suffered by East Rome society after the events of 1204, generally only the upper class could receive a normal and complete education.
Although Manuel had dedicated himself to establishing education before he was Crown Prince, the knowledge gap caused by wealth and status could not be bridged in the short term.
Therefore, in the current Bosporus, if ordinary landlords and minor nobles were included, the proportion of officials from noble lord backgrounds could even reach over eighty percent.
"Forget it, things that require long-term development cannot be rushed." Thinking that he was only 24 years old and still a young Caesar, Manuel, who had been cooped up in front of the fireplace at Trabzon Palace since early morning, handling state affairs and warming himself, shook his head and temporarily put it out of his mind.
It was indeed more comfortable to stay on the southern side of the Black Sea in winter, he thought; although there was also snow and ice, it was still warmer than the north.
Due to the establishment of the bureaucratic system, his diligence, and the light workload of recent affairs, Manuel quickly finished his official duties for the day and rushed to have lunch with his family.
After the birth of their eldest son, as both mother and child recovered well, neither Theodore nor Barbara showed any overly severe sequelae.
Manuel arrived at the dining room just before noon for the meal.
At this moment, looking at his wife and children, he felt a surge of emotion and immediately shouted to them:
"Children, I'm home!"
As soon as these words were uttered, Barbara, who had been expressionless moments before, covered her mouth and burst into laughter, while little Justiana, only 3 years old, also started to giggle after watching her parents laugh together for a while.
Only little Theodore, after a moment of confusion, became agitated and started to cry loudly.
"Ah, this…" They had gone too far.
The young couple, seeing their son crying hysterically, only then started to soothe him.
Although their actions just now might have seemed childish for a young couple, Manuel had been busy with post-war recovery and paving the way for bureaucratic reform for the rest of last year, and Barbara had been in a long period of postpartum care.
Such peaceful and tranquil days off were truly rare for them.
When pressure is released, people always react in unexpected ways, don't they?
Not to mention that in a while, difficult matters might suddenly pile up.
After finishing lunch with his family, Manuel had intended to take his two children and accompany his wife back to the bedroom, then comfortably collapse on the bed.
But just as he was about to leave his seat, an unexpected matter was suddenly brought before him.
"Reporting, Caesar, a difficult matter from the Trabzon city judge has been reported to MegasCancellarius.
And MegasCancellarius believes this matter should be decided by you.
Please give your instructions, Caesar." After hearing the attendant sent by Amiroutzes, Manuel couldn't help but frown in displeasure.
Although he didn't know what the specific matter was, wouldn't it have been better if it had just been written into a daily official document for him to review?
Was it necessary to bring it before him immediately?
But since this was the tone he himself had set, he would reluctantly accept to go in person.
If Caesar found that Amiroutzes was making a mountain out of a molehill this time, he wouldn't mind making a note of it against him.
After all, if Manuel didn't currently lack suitable candidates and Amiroutzes wasn't genuinely capable and exceptionally knowledgeable, he would never have granted this turncoat, who in official history advocated surrender to the Ottoman and fawned over Muhammad II, such a high position as "Grand Chancellor."
Soon, around one o'clock when the clock hand in St.
Basil's Cathedral in Trabzon city pointed, Manuel arrived at Amiroutzes's office court relatively on time.
As Caesar was expected to arrive in person, Amiroutzes cooperatively dismissed his judge's court temporarily, leaving only himself, a legal clerk, and necessary trusted attendants, preparing to welcome Caesar's presence.
Manuel nodded, quite pleased by Amiroutzes's gesture.
After taking his seat at the head of the table, he briefly exchanged pleasantries before immediately getting to the point, "So, Holy Father above, what problem or trouble has My Grand Chancellor encountered that requires My personal attention?"
"This matter concerns an Amytzantaros man who has come to sell himself, Caesar," Amiroutzes respectfully revealed a bit of the court's and his own difficulty.
"An Amytzantaros," Manuel looked directly at his subordinate and smiled, revealing a bit of his knowledge, "As I know, 'Amytzantaros' was initially used in Trabzon as a court military rank with a status equivalent to the common court military rank 'Protospatharios' before 1204.
Like 'Protospatharios,' in our era, it has become a title exclusively granted to foreigners.
"However, it later also became a specific term for Greek-Turk mixed-blood military nobles.
During the period of political instability in Trabzon in the 14th century, due to the excessive activity of the Amytzantaros in the Trabzon civil war, they were ultimately purged during the time of John III Megas Komnenos."
Looking at Amiroutzes's astonished expression, Manuel smiled somewhat playfully, "Hmm, did I say something wrong?"