15. Tall

  The peasant strategy had the effect it was supposed to have, oxen and cows were given to local villages, as well as ploughs to astonished villagers, with many villages now having chickens who previously didn’t. Adaneus introduced a literacy program, teaching people to read to disseminate his message to the masses. The local countryside was a mix of Orthodox and Catholic Christians, but they were mostly rudderless and they chafed at the Norman oppression, ploughs being gifted for free as a symbol of his generosity. 5000 solidi bought ploughs for the local peasants and winning loyalty among many of them. This left 24,400 solidi in the state treasury, on the 27th of January, cinnamon and cardamon, and saffron powder was sold at it’s usual prices; at 940 litrai each it was a grand total of 15,000, 9000 for Saffron powder, 3000 for Cardamon and 3000 solidi for cinnamon, enough to grow the treasure back to 39,400 solidi despite the massive spending. The strength of the system was absolutely in Adaneus’s economic might. He was not a conqueror, and he didn’t have to be, he instead focused the artisans and spice handlers on processing his crops. Frankincense and Myrrh were soon going to be made, and that would add a tremendous amount of coin to the treasury.

  “I wonder if the Romans of the East even remember their possessions here?” Kwame mused, “surely they must have sent someone to save this city.”

  “Then they are fools to not try and save it, we saved it, not them,” Adaneus said, “we saved the city, and they were too busy attacking themselves to even bother to help it, their bickering is a fucking joke,” Adaneus said, practically hissing, pontificating while talking.

  “I've heard that the bickering of the Eastern Romans is practically a joke among all its neighbours, they could rule the world if they stopped fighting themselves,” Kwame said.

  “An economic Republic, with defence prioritised so that our neighbours get nothing but iron in their throats will conquer Italy. Sicily must be ours. We must turn these lands into an economic magnet, an economic superpower, that all our neighbours envy,” Adaneus thought aloud.

  Sitting on a wooden chair and leaning forward on a table while his friends discussed strategy.

  “Envy will cause war Adaneus,” Butros said, “they will come for us.”

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  “Bolt shooters will end that war,” Adaneus said bluntly.

  A small ship with bolt shooters and armed men were gathering, but Adaneus could not guarantee anything.

  “I don’t have enough men,” Adaneus warned, “it’s better to accumulate gold and hire mercenaries, but from where, and how, I have no reliable commander to administer them, or a fleet to transport them. We could take all the Norman cities, we need a supply line, we need so many things.”

  The town had more bolt shooters, perhaps 700, but in truth, it now did not have full capacity at operating them, peasants frequently came to the city to see the true nature of Bari, the city was bustling with wares, Adaneus spent 400 solidi on the bolt shooter program, the first citizen of his city state, something akin to the economic priest who churned out resources, not a king, not even necessarily in charge, but certainly having some input in the affairs of state. A producer of spices who could tip the economic balance of the world let alone Italy; a man whose appearance on the stage would now disrupt everything. A man blessed by Magec who intended to disrupt the entire order of things.

  Over the course of January 28th, he upgraded the harbour, gave coin to locals, and made sure the state was running smoothly. Norman spies noted the apparent relative opulence of the state with awe, looking at the busy markets and the remarkable lack of poverty.

  There is nothing I can report about the city that is bad. Over the last few days, the population has grown by excited merchants and peasants and other city folk. Perhaps 500, the new quarter is being filled up, with an extra 5 catapults and 5 ballistae, making the total count 25 ballistae and 35 catapults alongside many Tzangrai bolt shooters. Overall, it is my recommendation that we either storm this city or leave it alone. Every day it becomes stronger though.

  Spies disguised as merchants were operating, some looking at Adaneus, who walked around with a few bodyguards, and whose city was fanatically loyal to the city and the state. Bari now had a 11,500 population with 10,500 being followers of the new solar cult, Magec was growing to the local villages surrounding the city, making the situation for the Christians in Italy interesting.

  The 29th of January, the city continued it’s accumulation of wealth, 3500 solidi worth of cloves were added to the treasury, 42,500 solidi, a staggering accumulation given that he only had so little time stewarding the wealth of the city. Nothing too eventful happened that day beyond Norman scouting parties.

  “They patrolled around did they?” Adaneus asked Kwame.

  “Yes, from what I heard they are testing us, they must have heard something.”

  My report also extends to the local peasants, there is something strange when they bring their wares, they clearly have reverence for the deities here. He is doing other things, education. This is much worse than some warlord. He wants to stay for a long time.