Re: The Magnaura
Savvas turns to Manouelitis.Originally Posted by Warmaster Horus
No experience with vassals? Dear Manouelitis, I don't have vassals, no, but I work behind the scenes. You see, young senator, the most important parts of diplomacy happen in private, where you can't see it.
Tagamta being a small House, I manage to be on good grounds with all other Houses, the Royal family, and, this will perhaps surprise you, I can even come to an agreement with the Order on some points.
Besides, is experience with vassals required to run an Empire?
Some of the Senators in this Magnaura will have to admit that I know very well how to negotiate.
With all due respect, dear Basileus, my words aren't intended to insult or accuse the Grandmaster. I am only showing that he lacks the necessary qualities of being Megas.
But I do have a plan, dear Basileus.
As for diplomacy, I will always drive a hard bargain. I will try to get the last florin out of anyone who is interested in trade rights and map information. I would also ask our Orthodox allies for small gifts in return for preferably nothing and if they insist, map information.
Allthough I would never ally with a muslim faction, if the opportunity is there and if the money is needed for the overall good of the Empire, I would see no harm in letting them pay for a temporary cease-fire, trade rights or map information, only to attack them again right away. If they are foolish enough to spend florins on us, than why should we refuse it? They are infidels, no more no less, and in love and war, everyting is allowed.
Alliances with Catholics can be made, but only if they are prepared to pay a decent amount of florins...
We have enough diplomats as it is now, so no need for training additional agents.
Zagreb needs to be retaken and I don't see no harm in sacking that settlement.
Cairo, Alexandria, Damascus, Caesarea, and any other settlement we conquer during my term as Megas should be sacked. As explained before, but our Grandmaster seems to refuse to understand it, sacking all settlements we conquer is the best thing we can do, even from a moral point of view. Do harm now to avoid disasters later. It's dirty, but it's necessary. It seems dispicable, but it isn't. It's a necessity.
After Cairo and Alexandria have been sacked, the war with the Fatamids will pretty much be over. I will communicate with our noble crusaders after they have taken said settlements and I will encourage them to also conquer the Castle of Gaza and convert it into a city.
The Order of the Knight's Templar are a pestilence for us in the region. It is a weak faction without allies. I would humbly request the Basileus to send a declaration of war against the Templar Knights and ask the Order of St John to take Tortosa and sack it.
I would also gather what units we can miss and send them by ship to Acre, to sack the settlement.
The money we gain can be used to build more military infrastructure in Dardanellia, Belgrade, Aleppo and Tbilisi.
But I will also invest in economical buildings in the coastal settlements, both in the West, the Centre and the East. This will ensure a steady income. You cannot talk about military if you don't talk about money as well. Soldiers need to be paid. Where possible and beneficial on the mid-long term, I will replace expensive mercenaries by cheaper regular units of similar quality.
The Western frontier will also be strengthened. Some Senators in the west are spending alot of time in their own settlements, blocking garrison units that can be used elsewhere. Senators who agree to cooperate and to let me use or (disband in case they are unnecessary) their units in case of an emergency, will be rewarded, others will receive nothing.
Constantinople has a large army within its' walls. I will train two or three additional regiments. I already mentioned Dardanellia. This castle is near Constantinople and I will train additional units of better quality to a) aid Constantinople if the city would be besieged; b) defend the region and intercept Jihads c) defend the region against the French Crusaders. We all know Jerusalem will fall soon against the German Crusaders. Those French won't go back to France empty handed...
As for the Levant, once Caesarea falls, the Seljuks will be broken. House Komnenodoukai and Asteri will have my support in their efforts.
I won't split the fleet. Having a large fleet has the advantage that it will defeat any enemy fleet it encounters. We don't want to lose expensive ships, let alone valuable armies travelling on said ships.
I know that what I propose will cost money, hence the need for the sacking of settlements.
Because some Senators will refuse to sack settlements (no doubt with the noblest intentions, but they are wrong),I feel they should be obliged by an Edict, namely the Edict I proposed.
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I don't play ahead nor do I toggle of fog of war...
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