"Is this... the royal manor?" The young man dressed in a noble murmured to himself indifferently.

Sitting in the carriage, Justinian looked at the royal manor getting closer and closer, with a hint of coldness in his eyes. This large manor directly occupied most of the fertile fields of Rusnina, and was rich. Among them, farms, mills, barns, garages, stables and other facilities were eye-catching and complete, and all of them were there. The farmers working on the fields were all tenants of Mikhail Ducas, but in a sense, this was similar to the situation of the serfs or the dependent farmers who were trying to maintain during the reign of Emperor Justinian I, and there was no personal freedom at all. Justinian knew better what the so-called royal manor was actually a product - this vast manor was the result of the Ducas family's long enclosure in Epirus, and this bad phenomenon was the culprit that endangered the entire empire.

However, sadly, this kind of thing has been ignored by the public after the Pronian system replaced the military system. This has also led to the rising military aristocrats like the Dukas family who have never had any fear of being ugly. The military region that existed in name only has been in name only. The land that the military region should have obtained was embezzled by the nobles, and free peasants could be incorporated into the army, making them the "unity of soldiers and farmers" the pillar of the empire. However, all the military farmers who made great achievements in the past have now become only land taxes to the state, and most of the farmers who paid honestly the cap tax have become tenants of the local military aristocrats. The shrinking economic resources directly led to the aging of equipment and the reduction of combat effectiveness.

This was where the Pronian nobles were used, but Justinian understood more than anyone that this was a choice to quench thirst. Brutal imitation of the Western fief system was equivalent to abandoning the traditional imperial tax system, which allowed the Komuning dynasty to fall, and industrial and commercial taxes to occupy the majority, resulting in the later revival of the empire but were strangled by the Venetians and Genoese. More importantly, the sea of ​​privileges that the Pronian nobles had absolutely dominated the local people led to a tendency to centrifugality, which intensified the division and separatism. This ghost would entangle the empire for life until it was destroyed with it.

Now, the order Justinian wants to rebuild is exactly the "military system" of the past. The system of military-political compatibility and military-agricultural integration can not only basically solve the difficulties in soldiers and military expenditures, but also control the unorganized state of population movement that the Byzantine Empire is currently trapped in. More importantly, the basis for the tax system to be re-established. The empire will no longer rely so much on the profits brought by East-West trade, so that it can have the capital to slowly recover its vitality.

It seems easy to go by, but in fact, the enemy Justinian will face will be a giant. To this day, the military aristocrats in the empire are in full swing, and even the imperial official positions are basically dominated by military titles. The functions of civil servants have long disappeared. Even if they have them, they will merge with the old nobles, occupy a large amount of land, strengthen their control over the peasants, and form a huge opposition force. They will inevitably be the enemy Justinian will face in the future. When they think of this, Justinian felt even more cold.

"Are you thinking about something, Justinian?" Looking at Justinian's frowning, Antonia Doria, who was sitting beside him, seemed to notice a strange thing and asked.

Justinian just shook his head and said, "It's nothing, I'm just thinking about something else and I'm a little distracted." Of course, he couldn't tell others what he was thinking, because once anyone knows, he will think of him as a lunatic, and if he is a little more meticulous, he will understand what is terrible in Justinian's mind. And the entire Epirus' nobles would probably regard Justinian as a big concern and then quickly. After all, he is no longer a young boy with a slight slight word, but a prince of Moria.

On the other side, watching Justinian's expression without a trace of fluctuation, Antonia seemed to understand, "Although I still feel that I can't see through you, maybe in the future, you and I will find that we actually have similarities. But as friends of cooperation, I still want to give you a piece of advice. Before the strength has been stable, don't act irritably. According to the slang of my hometown, a truly brave person must be like a lion's teeth, and also like a fox, know how to seek profit and avoid harm. I just provide you with an opportunity, and as for how to do it, it can only be up to you. I don't want you to make a wrong decision."

Such explicit words of the girl were already a very obvious reminder, and Justinian seemed to have a touch in his heart. He looked at Antonia beside him deeply, and the fog shrouded in the girl was deeper. What secret was hidden, Justinian still knew nothing. But undoubtedly, Antonia Doria's words did awaken him. Before his strength was fully accumulated, any rash actions were unwise. This time, he wanted to stop the Genoese and Mikhail Duka.

He must not rely solely on himself for his transactions on the Black Sea, because if that is the case, even if he succeeds, he will be the target of public criticism. Who can help him? Just as Justinian was thinking slightly, a commotion sound came from the crowd not far away, and the nobles around him looked in the sound and opened the way for such a mobilized guard of honor behind him. When a familiar flag appeared in Justinian's vision, Justinian, who had a flash of inspiration in his mind, subconsciously smiled knowingly.

Surrounded by the guard of honor, second only to the royal family, a man familiar to Justinian went to the upcoming martial arts competition. It was no one else, but the Prince of Agrignon Theodor Ducas who arrived not long ago.

A decision was made in my heart, and the prototype of a plan was formed at this moment. Justinian immediately attached to the ear of the Genoese girl beside me, and whispered seriously: "After getting in, I have a plan."

And looking at Justinian seriously, Antonia Doria nodded slightly: "Are you sure you are ready? If you make a decision, I will do my best to help you, but don't forget what you promised me before."

"Don't worry! After entering, I hope you..." Justinian, who was confident, told his plan to the girl in front of him, and he was already quite sure of his confidence.
Chapter completed!