However, given the current situation, the troubles in Trabzon are temporarily unrelated to Theodoro.
Let's turn our attention back to the war in the Crimea region. After several months of entanglement with the Golden Horde, the Crimean Khanate achieved the glorious feat of losing all territories north of Bakhmut. The once vast territory of the Crimean Khanate, which extended into the Great Steppe, was now showing a tendency to be squeezed into the coastal areas.
Moreover, if Haji Giray had not decisively withdrawn his troops and arrived before Tenek Emir of the Golden Horde could take Cherkassk, launching a rather impressive counterattack against the enemy, Crimea might not even be able to control the eastern Kuba region now.
Upon learning of this situation, Manuel, still in the military meeting, could not help but laugh a few times, "Good, good, good, this is how these Crimean Tatars should be beaten to the ground. 'Jochi Ulus' indeed, go back to your Tatary, Haji Giray!"
"Speaking of which, Your Highness, we can't just sit idle during this time, can we? Wasn't it discussed yesterday to try and take Henichesk as a stronghold on the mainland?" Tukharovsky, whom he had called to attend this war meeting, reminded him indirectly.
"That's true, indeed." Manuel immediately came back to his senses upon hearing this and continued discussing military plans with his generals.
The military meeting for the capture of Henichesk thus continued. "So, let's consolidate the intelligence gathered yesterday," Manuel said, returning to the main topic with a serious expression, "Henichesk, a Tatar village and town that we have frequently entered and exited before. That area, both before the war and after its outbreak, had several thousand inhabitants."
"Uh, Your Highness, I apologize, just a quick reminder, according to the latest investigation by the Dark Department, due to the war, the Tatar nomads there have decreased from several thousand to just over a thousand," Badars suddenly interjected to correct him.
"Hmm… I understand." Manuel suppressed the urge to lightly tap Badars on the head.
"Ahem, let's continue. According to the latest intelligence, due to the war, it has now sharply declined into a small village of just over a thousand people."
"Well, rather than war, the more accurate reason was the mutual scorched-earth plundering by both Theodoro and Crimea there," Tukharovsky wanted to say, but he ultimately suppressed this urge.
"Even if it has become like this due to the war, to still have over a thousand people, coupled with the thriving salt production industry there, it shows that Henichesk's development prospects are not bad. In other words, Henichesk is a promising land." Although it sounded a bit nonsensical, Manuel was not speaking carelessly when he said this, because he knew that in his previous life, Henichesk was the second-to-last largest city in Cherson Oblast, with a permanent population of 18,000 to 20,000.
"Moreover, according to the classification methods of those naturalists, although Henichesk is geographically part of the mainland, it is also adjacent to the Crimean Peninsula. With it, while protecting our homeland, we can also project military power into the Great Steppe area. And gentlemen, I reiterate," Manuel pointed to the small path between Henichesk and the peninsula on the map, "as I said yesterday, the peninsula and Henichesk are not only connected by water; there is a narrow land route between them. Thus, although it is heavily affected by tides, as long as it is properly expanded, it can still be used for troop movement and combat."
"Let's look at the terrain of Henichesk. According to relevant surveys, it is also a deep harbor. Although it has not been properly developed due to the chaos in the Tatar steppes, if people are sent to dredge it a little, our naval trade capacity can be expanded again."
"And now, at the right time, we can take this valuable land. Look, future wealth awaits us." As he finished, Manuel slowly raised his eyes, and his gaze sharpened.
These words were actually prepared for the key financial and administrative officials of the Principality, and he had already discussed them piecemeal with his generals yesterday. He merely organized and re-emphasized those words now to confirm whether his strategic direction was correct.
However, his words also inadvertently persuaded and won over some generals who had initially been against his decision. Although some of them were confused, "But since His Highness explained it that way, it must be correct," they thought to themselves.
In short, under Manuel's well-reasoned speech, all the generals supported his decision. After confirming that his strategic direction was largely without error, Manuel cautiously began to formulate the plan to attack Henichesk.
"Your Highness, in my humble opinion, to take that place and successfully hold it, we should avoid conflict with the main forces of Crimea. Although we can force them to retreat with our mature fortress defense technology, on the open steppe, Tatar cavalry can more easily leverage their charge advantage. If we clash head-on, I fear we don't have much chance of winning." Fearing that his Highness would once again rush into the Great Steppe with a thousand men as he did last time, Tukharovsky had to quickly remind him.
"Yes, Your Highness. The archery skills of those Tatar horse archers are very troublesome. Last time, when we just escaped from Keziyar, there were nearly a hundred of us, but we were reduced to only a few dozen by the Tatar horse archers," Posadas also worried with lingering fear.
Stop scolding, stop scolding, and last time… Well, it was indeed Tatar horse archers who chased them last time. Thinking of this, Manuel was momentarily at a loss for words, his mouth twitching slightly. However, he recovered his composure in an instant and seriously stated, "I will not make the same mistake again. So rest assured, this time we will wait until Giray goes north to try and reclaim lost territory, then we'll give him something exciting."
Speaking of this, Manuel smiled slyly and said, "Like April or May, when the ice and snow melt."