Turning our attention back to Alexius. While the battle in Bithynia was fiercely going on, Sinop was also a little "lively".

A large number of refugees from Western Asia Minor poured into Paphlagonia, which seriously affected the order and stability of local society and brought a huge food and economic burden to the local area.

At the same time, the situation of land abandonment and annexation has become more serious and worsened. First, refugees are pouring into the local area. The local government is unable to support these people and can only resettle them in the countryside far away from the city. The rural economy has already been severely damaged and the local rich peasant class has monopolized the land.

The wanton annexation of land owned by homesteaders has aggravated land conflicts. In order to survive, these refugees or locals can only sell themselves or their families to landlords as "slaves" in order to obtain a piece of land or a morsel of food.

(The Eastern Empire abolished slavery very early, but the slave trade still existed, and was particularly serious during the years of famine. The slaves of dignitaries can also be regarded as a type of slaves. They can be purchased, used, and circulated, and they have no personal freedom, but they

They are also protected by law, and slaves can sue, but they are not exactly slaves.)

Second, refugees or locals fled to monasteries to become priests in order to avoid taxes or military service (or to protect themselves), because the Eastern Empire allowed monks to be exempted from all taxes and military service.

Since then, a large number of lands have been annexed and monopolized by local rich farmers or lords, and have become their private property. With more and more refugees, no one is cultivating the land, food production has been unable to increase, and social order has naturally become unstable.

In general, the main problems Alexius is currently facing are "no soldiers to recruit", "money but no soldiers", "money but no food". The local social order has long been in decline under the rule of the Angelus dynasty for decades.

Collapse, serious class imbalance, forming the negative problem of "the rich are getting richer and the poor are getting more and more"; at the same time, this is also one of the important reasons for the collapse of the military region system, the government's ability to control land and household registration continues to decline

, serious land annexation, frequent population movements, farmers and soldiers could not guarantee their livelihood, and finally fled.

The military district system is somewhat similar to the military district system, but the details are different.

Another point is that Trebizond-Pavlagonia is no longer enough to support the huge population. In the 13th century, the population of Asia Minor was about 6 million to 10 million. "The central plateau is mountainous and the coastal land is fertile and flat."

"The topographical factors have caused the population to be mainly concentrated in coastal areas, among which Western Asia Minor has the most dense population and the most developed economy. (Cilicia and Trebizond can also be used)

The total area of ​​Asia Minor is about 500,000 square kilometers, of which the arable area accounts for about one-third. In modern times, it is possible to rely on advanced agricultural technology and imports to alleviate the food pressure caused by population growth; but this was not possible in the Middle Ages. Productivity

It is backward, plague is raging, and there is not enough land when there are more people, so the problems just mentioned above are prone to occur.

Population growth increases according to a geometric progression, while subsistence means only increase according to an arithmetic progression. The additional population will always be eliminated in some way, and the population cannot exceed the corresponding level of agricultural development. This theory has been

Called the "Malthusian Trap".

The essential problem is still the contradiction between man and land.

While Alexius ensured the restoration of agricultural development and social order stability, he also tried his best to reduce the food pressure brought about by the growing population. These two issues seemed contradictory, but they were not.

(After 1204, the empire was fragmented, and population circulation in various places was greatly restricted)

The solution is simple: expansion.

This is the most efficient solution. Use war or diplomacy to seize land and divert domestic conflicts. It can also alleviate problems such as population pressure and food shortage.

Alexius is now waiting for the opportunity. The fall of New Rome has brought a huge crisis to the empire, but it has also brought about changes that can subvert everything. If he can seize this golden opportunity, he can achieve it all at once.

Solve the many problems plaguing the Empire.

And this opportunity was none other than Bulgarian Tsar Kaloyan.

Historically, Kaloyan severely dealt a heavy blow to the Latin Empire in 1205. The latter was forced to withdraw its troops from Asia Minor, which brought Theodore and his Nicaea regime back to life. After that, the Latin Empire was no longer able to attack Western Asia Minor on a large scale.

.

Alexius's idea was very simple. When both the Latin Empire and the Nicene Empire suffered heavy casualties, he would suddenly send troops to regain Western Asia Minor in one fell swoop.

At the same time, all local snakes and other anti-Party gangsters in Asia Minor were shot to death.

External expansion can be much easier than internal reform.

Historically, the Nicaea Empire of Laskaris was in quite a bad state internally. As long as the family was a little unstable, a coup might occur.

(Although the Lascaris family is also an aristocratic force, it is different from the Valleolo family. The latter is entirely for family interests and the national interests are second. The former is running for national interests. The actual nature of the two is completely different.

.)

After Valleolo came to power, he essentially focused on the interests of the nobility. Do we need to pay attention to the country's peril? Why did the Valleo dynasty live for so long? Because it pleased the nobility and abandoned the country, so that it could survive before death.

Be "chic".

Therefore, if Alexius dealt with the disloyal parties, he would definitely use tough measures to lay a solid foundation for the restoration of Rome.

"In order to fight against the outside world, we must first settle the internal affairs." What's more, the Eastern Empire is notoriously prone to civil strife. Cruel methods such as "eye gouging," "castration," "nose cutting," and "arm breaking" have become popular.

, almost brought political infighting to its peak. Later generations would call this top-level political infighting "Byzantine palace conspiracy."

Throughout the ages, no reform has been without bloodshed. Reformers will inevitably touch some people's "cakes", and most reformers will die miserably.

All reforms are about re-dividing the cake, which means who gets more and who gets less.

If Alexius does not handle the internal affairs well, then the internal fighting will continue until the emperor's heir, his heir's heir...and so on.

The problem must be solved fundamentally. Alexius must make a good start. Even if he takes great risks, he must persist. Only in this way can his heir to the throne have the confidence to continue to cleanse the domestic anti-party.
Chapter completed!