Reconstruction (3): Invaders at the Border
Lazica's heartland. Thanks to the wall construction that proceeded alongside the village's restoration, the settlement was gradually taking on the form of a proper city. Such rapid transformation was possible only because of the soldiers' tireless efforts.
"I believe it's remarkable that we've restored Lazica in such a short time," came Ioannis's report. As his briefing indicated, the reconstruction of Lazica had progressed at a commendable pace. Of course, a major factor was utilizing the foundations of the houses that had originally stood here. Even accounting for that, however, erecting a village in mere months was astonishing.
"Now that the village is restored, it's time to till the surrounding lands."
Winter was ending, and spring was slowly arriving. Spring's advent meant preparations for the autumn harvest were underway.
"Labor is the issue."
Ioannis nodded at my words. One might suggest using the Turkic soldiers for labor, but that was nearly impossible. They were fundamentally nomads who knew nothing of farming. Some might think agriculture was a labor-intensive but simple task, yet it required a baseline of knowledge. In the East Roman Empire, where wheat farming dominated, one had to plow the soil, apply fertilizer, and spray pesticides to ward off pests. Factors like climate, wind, and water demanded attention too. Throwing lifelong pastoralists straight into agriculture was out of the question. At best, they could handle plowing—but even that was problematic.
"Exactly. With spring here, the power struggles within the East Roman Empire will soon ignite."
Since Basil II's death, Emperor Constantine VIII had ceased issuing edicts personally. Instead, Magistros Ioannikios Keroularios was doing so in his stead. The emperor had effectively secluded himself. Given his perennial poor health, Ioannikios cited this to wield full authority as the emperor's proxy. People were beginning to suspect as much. If Constantine VIII was bedridden, his daughters Zoe or Theodora should have assumed the regency. Yet since the emperor's seclusion, neither had been seen, fueling natural suspicions. Folks had caught on that the nobles were running the empire with the emperor as a figurehead. Inevitably, the empire fractured. Winter had stalled any action, allowing ambitious schemers to hunker down and gather strength. Now spring had arrived for them. Those who had bided their time were drawing swords to expand their influence—nobles, warlords, and opportunists alike. Focusing solely on farming without defenses in the face of such threats would be suicidal.
"We can't commit soldiers to farmwork at this critical juncture when power struggles are erupting."
Men were vital laborers, but also the sole combat resources. Vikings might deploy women in battle, but that would jeopardize child-rearing for the next generation. In the medieval era, with rigidly defined gender roles, this was the primary reason soldiers couldn't be spared for farming.
"Agreed. We must rearm and train the troops to prepare for the coming battles."
As Ioannis said, wars demanded advance preparation. Thus, farming would have to rely on skilled farmers, women, and the elderly.
"Fortunately, the experienced farmers prepared throughout winter, so we can start this year's crops immediately."
While soldiers rebuilt the village, the farmers had readied for spring by digging trenches and mixing in livestock manure to neutralize its toxicity. Animal waste required this detoxification; applying it raw would acidify the soil, preventing crop growth. I'd learned this from my father, who tended a backyard garden. Though superficial knowledge, it gave me a rough grasp of agriculture, which I was putting to good use now.
"So we're back to the labor shortage."
The aforementioned labor woes. Tilling fields with weaker women, children, and elders was grueling. Not impossible, but to maximize harvest, as many fields as possible needed preparation before sowing season.
"Yes. The farmers say it won't require long-term manpower, so how about temporarily assigning some soldiers for the urgent tasks?"
Ioannis's suggestion was the most reasonable, and I was inclined to accept it. At that moment, the door burst open. A scout rushed in with an urgent expression and began reporting.
"Soldiers bearing the Kantakouzenos family's banner are approaching Lazica?"
"This is a direct confirmation from Lord Angelos."
To respond swiftly to emergencies, I'd issued special orders to Angelos. One was border surveillance, so a report from him was no small matter. The Kantakouzenos family—a house recorded during Alexios I's reign, risen through intermarriages with the Komnenos clan. They'd briefly produced an emperor under the Palaiologos dynasty but were now mere provincial soldiers. Their motive for invading Lazica was obvious: to seize this seemingly weaker territory and bolster their power. Their lands lay near Trapezounta, specifically Trebizond Kalesi. Once Trapezounta's original core, it had become a fortress city after Trapezounta rose as the Chaldia theme's hub, separating the old center and major garrison.
A city five times smaller than Lazica, yet as a trade and military nexus, its strength dwarfed ours.
"The soldiers of Trebizond Kalesi, ruled by the Kantakouzenos family, are renowned for their bravery," Ioannis explained. Indeed, they were famous for their valiant troops. Numerically, we held the advantage, so we could crush them by force—but considering our casualties, they were no pushover.
"Our Varangians and Turkic cavalry are brave too. Ready the soldiers for now. I'll head to the front myself."
Ioannis nodded and departed. With servants' aid, I donned my armor and mounted my horse.
"I need to know their intentions for coming to Lazica."
First, assess the situation.
"They seem too provocative—like they're trying to bait the enemy."
The man glanced warily at his deputy. Andronikos, the new head of the Kantakouzenos family, muttered to himself while eyeing the grim-faced warrior.
"That's the goal of this operation."
The deputy had dragged his young lord to the battlefield. Originally Bulgarian, he'd settled in the empire after the Bulgarian Empire's fall—a peasant named Peter Delian. Though humble, his charisma rallied fellow Bulgarian peasants to migrate to Anatolia's Trebizond Kalesi. They'd aimed farther east but halted due to bandit hordes nearby. Enter Andronikos Kantakouzenos. Succeeding his late father at sixteen, he'd led soldiers against the bandits invading his noble lands. Lacking experience, he struggled. Peter, witnessing this, aided him to press eastward. Despite his peasant roots, Peter's wartime savvy routed the bandits easily. In gratitude, the then-thirteen-year-old Andronikos welcomed Peter and other Bulgarian refugees. Over three years, Peter advised Andronikos, forging Trebizond Kalesi's troops into a formidable force. Already renowned soldiers, they gained fame across northern Anatolia under proper leadership. Their reason for coming to Lazica? To claim the newly annexed lands.
"Trebizond Kalesi boasts sturdy walls, but its territory is too cramped for our growth. To survive, we need an alliance with Lazica."
Andronikos nodded at Peter's explanation. A natural fortress, yes—but too small to build real power.
"Wouldn't allying with Trapezounta have been better...?"
Peter's eyes flashed sternly, as if to banish the thought.
"Have you forgotten recent events? You went personally to request an alliance—what happened?"
Trapezounta had reverted to its original owners after the Georgian War and the Komnenos withdrawal: the Arainos family. Proud since ancient Roman times, they scorned the upstart Kantakouzenos house, barely notable until Andronikos's father. Even with the lord present, they sent a servant to rebuff him. Despite the humiliation, peace-loving Andronikos pressed for alliance. The arrogant Arainos reply?
"Offering the blood and sweat your late father poured into Trebizond Kalesi and its soldiers just to spare your lives? Even an ignorant peasant like me knows that's an insult!"
Peter raged as if it were personal. Andronikos, adopting a placating posture, tried to calm him.
"O-Of course I know. Yeah..."
"I won't stand by while my lord who took me in is insulted."
"R-Right. B-But... how does this relate...?"
Peter fixed him with a look demanding sincerity. Andronikos chuckled awkwardly, waving it off.
"T-To keep me from being insulted... right?"
"Good—you get it, my lord."
Peter had led the soldiers to Lazica's border deliberately exuding menace—to avoid past humiliations.
"If we can't secure an alliance as equals, we'll use force."
Peter clenched his fist with resolve. Andronikos watched his deputy, inwardly wondering if this would work.