((priavte - Jaume))
The Marshal, back from Egypt, had heard of the Greek general's new demands, and immediately went to the palace, getting to the Emperor in a quiet place, alone.
'Your Imperial Highness', he began, 'I don't have any matters related to the army right now to present You, else I would not have interrupted Your thoughts. No, it is the new Greek demands I come for. You cannot simply give in. Let me explain my reasons: Think of the last demands. Mandromenos stayed back on the Serbian border, certainly not for the reasons he stated. Then, against Persia, he ignored my campaign planning, stormed ahead to claim his victory. What does that signal now? That he can have Hispania do exactly what he wants. First, Genoa: Only Hispania was involved, while the Greeks could relax. Then Persia, showing his skill against a far inferior enemy, no matter if my campaign would have been more efficient, only for personal glory. Gains he already tried to capitalise on as he spoke about the Basileus. You cannot appear weak again, or there will be no stop to Greek demands, and we will have to ask us if we are protectors - or slaves.'
Montségur paused. 'And his cause - ancestral lands and imperialism - are both wrong. No Serb or Hungarian will feel Byzantine, but that is the weak part. Do we have to remind the Greeks who is Caesar of Rome? Your Imperial Majesty, the Greeks will not give in if You reclaim their lands as part of Rome, so why should You support them? And while they do not like the word, and it is officially shunned - they remain Your subjects. If a nation is to claim Imperial grandeur, then Yours, more than it already does.'
He let that sink in. 'The time of weakness is over. And the Cortz certainly won't approve the war either.'
He left, as suddenly as he came.
((Cortz))
We cannot give in to the Greeks again. This is no longer Anatolia. I call for our assembly to veto this decision, should it stand.
The Marshal, back from Egypt, had heard of the Greek general's new demands, and immediately went to the palace, getting to the Emperor in a quiet place, alone.
'Your Imperial Highness', he began, 'I don't have any matters related to the army right now to present You, else I would not have interrupted Your thoughts. No, it is the new Greek demands I come for. You cannot simply give in. Let me explain my reasons: Think of the last demands. Mandromenos stayed back on the Serbian border, certainly not for the reasons he stated. Then, against Persia, he ignored my campaign planning, stormed ahead to claim his victory. What does that signal now? That he can have Hispania do exactly what he wants. First, Genoa: Only Hispania was involved, while the Greeks could relax. Then Persia, showing his skill against a far inferior enemy, no matter if my campaign would have been more efficient, only for personal glory. Gains he already tried to capitalise on as he spoke about the Basileus. You cannot appear weak again, or there will be no stop to Greek demands, and we will have to ask us if we are protectors - or slaves.'
Montségur paused. 'And his cause - ancestral lands and imperialism - are both wrong. No Serb or Hungarian will feel Byzantine, but that is the weak part. Do we have to remind the Greeks who is Caesar of Rome? Your Imperial Majesty, the Greeks will not give in if You reclaim their lands as part of Rome, so why should You support them? And while they do not like the word, and it is officially shunned - they remain Your subjects. If a nation is to claim Imperial grandeur, then Yours, more than it already does.'
He let that sink in. 'The time of weakness is over. And the Cortz certainly won't approve the war either.'
He left, as suddenly as he came.
((Cortz))
We cannot give in to the Greeks again. This is no longer Anatolia. I call for our assembly to veto this decision, should it stand.