The existence of professional unions immediately spread to the surrounding areas under imperial control. At Jinqi's suggestion, the professional trade union system soon also produced a division between upper and lower levels. Constantinople was represented by the Imperial Trade Unions, while the professional unions in the rest of the region were local trade unions, each of which was directly responsible for local industry. For example, the mining union in Epirus is responsible for the working hours and wages of all miners and blacksmiths in Epirus.

Other agricultural and fishery unions have also emerged, granting them a degree of autonomy, although the government controls these basic industries relatively strictly.

The formation of such unions, coupled with the continuous curtailment of the rights of the old aristocracy, even spontaneously organized among the people to praise the rule of the Palaiologos, and the plebeians shouted the advent of the era of freedom.

"You see, Sophia, the desires of the citizens are actually quite simple." John carefully brewed oriental tea from all the way from the Mamluks. This familiar texture and taste made him feel emotional.

Although the Mamluks lost completely in Armenia, they weakened the military power held by the Mamluk aristocracy. The core production capacity of the Mamluks in Egypt has not been fundamentally hit, and the trade agreement with Epirus will naturally continue to be implemented.

"Something bitter and astringent...... Is it really delicious? Sophia sipped the grape juice mixed with ice cubes, and showed no interest in the green tea in John's cup, "But the professional union thing, if the royal family really doesn't add any interference, it's not necessarily a good thing." ”

"What's wrong?" John looked up a little strangely, when he decided to write to Constantine XI to propose a professional union, Sophia was relatively supportive, but now, listening to the girl's tone, it seems to have changed a little.

"At first glance, it seems that relying on professional unions and upper echelons to fight in the Senate does do a good job of transferring contradictions, but ...... If these unions are allowed to develop freely, they may be exploited by others. Sophia still sipping on the grape juice and carefully considering the language, "The speed of development of professional unions will inevitably affect the neighboring countries, and the same organizations will probably arise among them...... But this is all good, and the diplomatic situation in the west of the empire is relatively good. The most dangerous were the Ottomans, across the sea. ”

"Ottoman? They don't necessarily inherit it. Their national conditions are completely different from those of empires. ”

"That's not what it means...... My idea is that the professional union system looks rigorous, but professional unions are easy to infiltrate and exploit. Even if it has a seat in the Senate, the union is still active in the ordinary market after all, and most of the members of the union do not receive a good aristocratic education, and it is easy to turn against the empire if they are simply provoked by the Ottoman spies. Sophia frowned and said, "This is a problem that must be solved, it seems that the Ottoman side is still calm now, but Muhammad will never give up any opportunity to weaken the empire." ”

"You say this question, it seems really difficult to bring it up......" John handed the teacup to Evelei, then sat down at his desk, spreading out the manuscript he had written while researching the professional unions the other day, "It's not that the Empire really can't interfere with the internal activities of the professional unions, on the contrary, it should have been a simple question. Merely...... At the beginning of the establishment of the professional union system, in order to maintain stability in the country, the royal family promised not to interfere in any internal affairs of the professional union, at least for a short time......"

"There's nothing wrong with not interfering in their internal affairs, but you can be flexible." "We can amend the new bill to protect them." Since it is known that the Ottomans ...... Even the Venetians could target professional unions, and we could use that as a pretext to enact some protections. ”

"Your Majesty, Epirus's letter."

"Oh? It's the fourth one in the past few days, and it seems that John is quite interested in the professional union. ”

Agrippa shook his head with a smile and said, "I'm afraid this is also because the professional union system has just emerged, which looks beautiful but is actually full of loopholes. I guess this letter is no exception, probably to fill in the flaws left by the union system, right? ”

Constantine XI opened the envelope and read the contents of the letter: "Agrippa, it seems that you know John very well...... Let's convene the Imperial Council. Oh yes, Publius called too. ”

"It's not...... Do you want to discuss issues related to professional unions? Publius is still busy with the expansion of the Holy See, right? Agrippa was a little curious, "Is he going to attend a meeting of the Senate as well?" ”

"This time is different......

First of all, according to John's vision, preventing the Ottoman infiltration of the Senate in Constantinople required not only keeping Pedro's dark line on the lookout, but also keeping the common people aware of the sanctity of the Senate.

And the honor guard is sufficient, and the powerful Holy See guard has become the first choice.

Of course, armed defense is secondary, and the main problem is to prevent infiltration within the professional trade unions. This requires strict regulations on the composition of professional trade unions.

"First of all...... Only those who have imperial citizenship, or who have been temporarily elected for ten years, can only participate in the Senate. This would stop a large part of the Ottoman spies who were plotting against each other. It would seem that this rule applied to the Senate as a whole, but in fact it was directed at the lower class of the professional unions. ”

This is what Constantine XI read out of John's letter as it was. John's letters, with little official rhetoric, expound only on the most important matters. Although it sounds a little weird to read, the members of the Imperial Council have long been surprised.

And then there's the second one...... The Empire provided free personal protection for members of the Senate for up to a month, sending two or three capable guards to watch everyone's every move. We can say that it is to prevent the patriarchs from being assassinated by foreign forces, but in fact, it is to cut off the ties between these patriarchs and external forces. ”

Constantine XI let out a sigh of relief: "This John's idea is really ruthless......"

"This is also the best way, for this group of members of the professional union, it is inevitable to be grateful to the royal family, think about it, the two Holy See guards beside you, who doesn't know that you are a noble senator? His Majesty, John, has made good use of the characteristics of this group of people. ”