While I cannot express anger at our good effort and fortune against Milan and wait expectantly for the day some years hence when those wonderful Italian lands join our Republic, I do share my frustration at spreading ourselves so thin.
Our excellent Fodoron has dutifully reported how thin our budget is; we all knew this or have you not studied the financial reports? To think we could be at war for any long protracted time is madness. Now, we are in more danger. Should the Turk establish their capitol on the European side of the Straights, our history may indeed be short.
We must also see the great need to expend funds to raise our relationship with our vassel. While I don't feel excited about giving money to Milan, the worse thing would be for her to be attacked by another enemy while not yet in our alliance. We know that having been recently defeated, she will not easily join us, but join us she must! We must protect what we have won.
Thus, I fear sending our army down to the Straights. I am torn. I don't want us to take a loan, but we must bring Milan in swiftly. I don't want to see Constantinople fall, but we barely have enough money to pay our current bills.
Ah, the shortsightedness--Milan would have been there 30-60 years hence; Byzantium not so.
I will take my seat and wait to listen to wiser voices. We cannot extend ourselves financially. We cannot allow Milan to fall to other wolves. We cannot allow the Ancient City to fall. Can we afford to do all three? Others, please speak. I listen willingly.
Our excellent Fodoron has dutifully reported how thin our budget is; we all knew this or have you not studied the financial reports? To think we could be at war for any long protracted time is madness. Now, we are in more danger. Should the Turk establish their capitol on the European side of the Straights, our history may indeed be short.
We must also see the great need to expend funds to raise our relationship with our vassel. While I don't feel excited about giving money to Milan, the worse thing would be for her to be attacked by another enemy while not yet in our alliance. We know that having been recently defeated, she will not easily join us, but join us she must! We must protect what we have won.
Thus, I fear sending our army down to the Straights. I am torn. I don't want us to take a loan, but we must bring Milan in swiftly. I don't want to see Constantinople fall, but we barely have enough money to pay our current bills.
Ah, the shortsightedness--Milan would have been there 30-60 years hence; Byzantium not so.
I will take my seat and wait to listen to wiser voices. We cannot extend ourselves financially. We cannot allow Milan to fall to other wolves. We cannot allow the Ancient City to fall. Can we afford to do all three? Others, please speak. I listen willingly.