49. Purchases

  April 9th Zethos occupied the town of Muro Lucano, his divided army was still intimidating enough that the locals gave up, handing over 2000 solidi from the local churches and garrison. Zethos observed the hilly terrain.

  “To think the Eastern Romans lost this land so easily,” he muttered, “and now the Western Romans have taken it back.”

  “How loyal are you to the Western Romans?” Aspar asked, out of curiosity.

  “I cannot complain too much, although obviously they must be a little annoyed with me, I am adventuring by myself,” he muttered, “such can be the situation when one takes such a bold and daring adventure.”

  He augmented his half of the treasury to 41,000 solidi, looking at the map at other potential towns to subdue. He did not realise it, but he was close enough to the lands of the Lombard Dukes for them to attack him, instead, a small parlay party organised by Gisulf and Sergius surprised him in the town just as he was about to march for another town.

  “On behalf of Sergius and Gisulf, we wish to make a peace with the Western Roman Republic, we wish you no ill, and so demand you don’t cross the border into the domain of Salerno,” one of the emissaries said.

  “I see,” Zethos said, “if that is the case, that is what I will do.”

  How honest they were, Zethos wondered, but at the same time, he did not know, that they already had received word of the cataclysm of defeat that had befallen Richard, word that had not quite reached Zethos’s ears.

  Lucanus had 39,000 solidi, he marched into Laurenzana and acquired 2000 solidi, making his total 41,000. He was the commander of this force, and a part of him wanted to move with the objectives inside Lucania, but he himself had an idea he didn’t quite share with Zethos.

  “Calabria,” he thought to himself out loud, “fuck it, I should pacify the region first.”

  Marching on Corleto Perticara to secure the southern road.

  “Sir there are towns to the west and east of us unsecured.”

  “Let’s take something worth taking,” he muttered.

  Meanwhile in the capital. Bari had a massive surge of merchants come and buy wares, many Latin Christians from up north, who wanted to see what exactly was Bari. 7850 litrai of cinnamon, 9450 litrai of cardamon, 9450 litrai of cloves and 9450 litrai of indigo; in total some 193,000 solidi entered the state coffers. Due to the victories, and reports of expansion on every front, Adaneus did what he did best. With 657,000 solidi he decided on a rampant spending spree. Buying 200,000 solidi worth of boats, some 160 medium sized fishing boats were given to the new Western Roman Republic citizens, if necessary Adaneus offered citizens to buy out the boats or to simply lease them on the 50-50% basis that they were offered. An additional 50 salt pans were made with 100,000 solidi, in the newly consolidated regions north of Bari, and an additional 100,000 solidi was spent acquiring leased land for the state. 5000 iugera of agricultural land acquired on a 20 year lease that would give the state 25% of the revenues. The fishing ships were likewise given the option of a long term lease as well, the contracts relatively free to choose, and so many did indeed choose 25% to the state on a 20 year basis over the 10 year basis for 50-50. Adaneus spent 50,000 solidi on education, a massive splurge that he calculated would increase state revenues without him having to do anything and would likely increase trade.

  Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  “The Western Roman Republic has 43,000 iugera of leased land, 158 salt flats, and now 620 fishing boats,” Butros said, “these are impressive figures, and even with the state getting no immediate effect, this splurge means that the influence of the state is felt. No one can say ‘where is Bari?’”

  “Perhaps, but that is 450,000 solidi just gone from the treasury.”

  “I agree it is an absurdity, but also it is a massive investment in the state, knowing that the Christians have been beaten, our economic investment should mean the other two factions calm down a bit,” Demetra said, her head now on the table, “talking of calming down, come on now my dear.”

  They went to their private chamber in the capital, in the supposed heart of government, Demetra looked at him with her green eyes, undressing Adaneus before sitting on him in a reverse cowgirl. He finished quickly three times before she finally finished, and then they went back to work, Demetra looking at her man before thinking quietly before letting him know that he might soon be a father. Following that brief moment of lust in a bureaucratic moment, the Papal legate came to beg for peace. Adaneus had a smile on his face, and the papal man couldn’t fathom why.

  “The holy father wishes for peace with your infernal regime,” he said, “we will allow you to keep Foggia but anymore north, and the Holy Roman Emperor marches down south and crushes your pitiful country.”

  “Pitiful country?” Adaneus said, “are you begging for peace or what?”

  “The holy see does not beg, god will punish you for your sins, but if you don’t stop, Henry has promised a massive army to crush you.”

  “I have beat two of your armies so far, what says I can’t beat another one.”

  “This arrogance will not go unpunished!” The papal legate shouted at Adaneus.

  “Well, I hope not, I intend to crush the Sicilian states, so if your promise holds true, which I’m sure it won’t,” Adaneus said, “I will honour a line in the dirt so to speak, where the Western Roman Republic will not advance.”

  “On your honour?”

  “On my honour specifically,” Adaneus said.

  He did not elaborate and the Papal legate was confused as to what it could possibly mean. The state was left with 217,000 solidi, but at the least it had made clever investments.

  Sauromates on the 9th of April in the twilight hours launched an attack on Spinazzola. Roughly 1000 Shadows had come into the town, and within not very long the town fell, the Republic’s banners fluttering over the important buildings. The only two casualties was one Shadow who had duelled a soldier, the others quickly surrendering when it was realised that the entire infiltration team was inside. The two deaths aside, the church wealth was used by Sauromates to make a public display of Pagan generosity and to highlight the greed of the Christians.

  “This is what they took from you!” He said, “and this is what we give to you!”

  Roaring peasants and townsfolk were accompanied by the few slaves who were freed. Roughly 2000 solidi worth were taken from the administration, with the church wealth being given to the populace. The religious faction now had a triangular shaped territory where their influence was greatest, more propaganda, more Helios priests, and more conversion to the gods were there, from Bitonto to Canosa to Spinazzola this area fought in a different manner to the generals. Sauromates’s agents had discovered the papal diplomat, but they were not so willing to have a peace. Particularly among the new ex-slaves, the idea of peace with the Christians did not sit well at all. The Shadows had perhaps swelled back to 2000, and the problem for the Christians and the Republic grew.