((No worries. I realize people have real lives that take priority. There may be others seeking promotion too. I seem to remember alscon and DragonOfAtlantis having non-active characters in the army, but they'd have to verify this for me.))
((My heir is now a colonel (?) for over a decade, so I've asked for promotion a bunch of times
. Stat focus would be fire.))
In my opinion, the proposal of the Crown Prince to release Rome is a fatal error, and on the contrary, we have to integrate Rome into Hispania. There have only been problems ever since the creation of that state, a mistake in itself; and we have to ask ourselves what the revolutionaries wanted. Fight the dominating unjustice in that state, firmly Catholic despite our tolerance acts. Unjustice that goes as far as to extend their territorial claims against their benevolent overlord to oppress more people and build up more power to act against imperial interests. Then there's the position of the pope to consider, a man who has been the enemy of the empire for ages, and who cowers behind his walls - after the nations of this world recognized our rightful ownership of Rome, because of a weakness of the Chancellor at that time. No, we cannot restore an independent Papal State in Rome, we have to integrate the eternal city into the empire. The demands of the revolutionaries are mostly useless in our enlightened realm. His Imperial Highness also holds the title of Caesar of Rome, a title that is deeply rooted in the city, and therefore holds great symbolic value. We shall continue not to interfere in the Pope's spiritual affairs, but Rome is Hispanian. And has to be formally integrated as soon as possible, not released from the empire.
As for the Chancellory, this matter has highest priority to be resolved. Afterwards, Hispania shall continue to concentrate mostly on colonial matters:
With the Mayans constantly at war, Nova Hispania should be encouraged to aggressively expand into their territory, if necessary with the aid of Imperial troops.
We shall continue to make demands for the Mediterranean coastline against Morocco and Tunis.
As His Imperial Highness suggested, Hispania shall take Lucca. France's interests in the region should be satisfied with what consists of Switzerland, I will sit down with the Austrians to speak about Mantua later.
A colonial war to secure our new colony on Brunei shall be the next focus. As we extend our reach in the spice islands, controlling the biggest island will be important.
I will also reflect on the Mandromenos' letter. I cannot help but feel that the man acts based on his own interests and is badly informed. As doux of Trebizond, of course he would like to see the city back in Byzantine hands, what will likely happen some day, but certainly not now. Serbia is no longer ruled by the Poles, and hardly a priority target. As for Rhodes, such unilateral demands will not be considered. Why Rhodes, fairly unimportant, instead of Athens, a major Greek city? Because there is no Mandromenos ruling there. I would have expected more from the Treasurer than to unveil such blatant demands to strengthen his family. Unlike these demands that deserve complete neglection, I feel that after the current plan of the Chancellory has been completed, war shall be pursued against Egypt, with the aim of restoring Antioch to Greek rule, and seize the Holy Land for Hispania.
Félicien Pierre de Montségur, Prime Minister and Chancellor of Hispania, Duke of Trinacria