12. Upgrades

  Adaneus woke up on the 23rd of January to sell the cinnamon bark, he kept two creation crystals and went to the market selling cinnamon bark, 627 litrai of cinnamon gave the city of Bari 1500 solidi to play with, 500 immediately going to the workers who were working with the various exotic spices, that still left Bari with 11,100 solidi which was kept for safekeeping. Butros came urging the leader to spend more on bolt shooters. More cloves bushes cinnamon trees were grown, his workers happily processing the vast spice export that would make Bari a fearsome little beast.

  “Yes, you are right, I think the manufactories are on it are they not?”

  “Yes,” Butros said, “but make sure to send them money.”

  He sent another 500 solidi, and the bolt shooters became more of a priority, even one of them was fearsome, but a whole squadron could annihilate enemy in relentless fire. Taking the city would be almost impossible. Imported wood would aim for roughly 1000 bolt shooters, enough to make an attack of the city insane, granted so many bolt shooters would need three men crews, something Adaneus was aware of, and his population was barely 3000, then again he didn't tire of resources so it wasn’t entirely unreasonable.

  The Eastern Roman approach of endless mercenaries is not necessarily a good approach, it’s ok, but it lacks coherence, theirs is made worse by the fact that they constantly wield it against themselves. Artillery will do the work and devastate our enemies, bolt shooters can be light enough to carry and heavy enough to put holes through our enemies. Still they might come through, offensive operations will have to be put on hold until I’m absolutely certain that our enemies cannot take the city.

  Over the course of the day, the artisans were busy making the bolt-shooters, the crossbowmen repurposed to be bolt shooters, albeit they would need loaders and runners. For the moment it was something like 200 bolt shooters, still an impressive amount but not quite a 1000, the city was fortifying quickly, mobilising to defend itself and defend its prosperity. New walls were now being erected, and Guiscard was nowhere to be seen, having withdrawn his forces and headed southwards to deal with more important matters. The city of Bari had proven itself unprofitable for the Normans, the new Western Roman Republic green banners with golden lightning bolts an imposing view for the enemies of the city. Adaneus decided to give a speech to a loyal crowd.

  “Eastern Rome focuses on mercenaries, we will grow rich, and we will slowly re-conquer Italy. As you well know this city has no taxes, and I don’t wish to change that, but other cities of Western Rome will have import taxes at least. This city will be a jewel in the Mediterranean. Helios will cast his light on us, and we will make the monotheists know that their tyranny is over. We have a strategy for conquest, a strategy to become the most powerful polity in Italy. The siege of Guiscard is over, it was already over before, but now they have officially left! By Helios we shall continue!”

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  The crowd was roaring in praise, the once starved garrison and city now had fish imports as well as grain, the city was buzzing and Adaneus sold 1500 litrai of cloves at a price 6000 solidi, leaving the coffers at 17,100 solidi. The increase in wealth funded more bolt shooters, with Adaneus spending 500 more solidi on the venture. The town was buzzing with praise and excitement at the prosperity. Adaneus now away from the crowds, looked at his two closest companions looking at maps of nearby targets, and Adaneus nodded as he looked at them.

  “Monopoli,” said, “that’s the most obvious target given the circumstances, we just don’t have the troops to take it.”

  “The whole south eventually,” Kwame said, nodding, “my men are getting comfortable here I have to admit.”

  “I will delay offensive operations until the city is fully safe, I would hate for Guiscard or other Norman warriors to blitz us, also we have to be careful of the pope now. And the Saracens as well, they are going to get news of this new city state.”

  “What is the update on our trading fleet?”

  “Nothing, they left on what the 21st?” Adaneus said, “we will have to wait a while, I have a week to wait for Frankincense and Myrrh, it is frustrating, but I do realise I am equalling a small towns yearly income in mere days.”

  “Correct,” Butros said, “we can afford to wait, do not grow impatient, we should seriously think about pamphlets, propagandising the message to the countryside. The local villages think we are satan worshippers or something.”

  “Hmm,” Adaneus said, as he sat on a ledge, looking at the thriving market town, “that is not good true.”

  The expanded quarter, had working walls and towers, able to partially repel any invaders, it was technically separate from the rest of the town, with a wall separating it, but nonetheless had a new iron gate, as well as portcullis to make it sturdy, the new town was a residential area, buildings of imported stone were made, some 2000 solidi leaving the state treasuries to facilitate it, leaving the state with 14,600. Nonetheless the city was rich, and the people working hard to make the extra part of the town both defendable and inhabitable.

  “Perhaps what 2000 people can live there, if this truly does become western Rome, you might have to expand the city again,” Butros cautioned.

  “Then we will, perhaps into the sea, perhaps in another direction,” Adaneus said.

  The city continued its construction, Adaneus looking out to the setting sun. He stared into the distance, squinting. Kwame came up to him, with his small ex slave band.

  “What you thinking about?”

  “You never know when they will come,” Adaneus said, “the pope could come and destroy us with a coalition of armies, the Eastern Romans I don't worry about, too busy scheming at each other.”

  “And the Saracens?” Kwame said.

  “Yes the Almoravids, the Fatimids and the Seljuks, their movements are all a bit worrying, us against the world,” Adaneus said, looking out into the distance, “us against the world.”

  He looked out into the distance before heading back to his abode, a small humble house among the others in Bari, the lights went off and he went to sleep, holding the bracelet that blessed him so.