23. The Gamble

  Gocelin waited until the 9th of February, tired of waiting with his large force. He received grain, bolt shooters and 2000 men.

  “Damn I need at least 2100 men to man the bolt shooters,” Gocelin said aloud, to the mirth of Thorphinius who laughed at his foolishness, “stop laughing it’s not fucking funny, those things need 3 man teams at a minimum. 2 is much slower and doesn’t work.”

  “We can hire them along the way,” Thorphinius said, “now you have so many men, it’s actually foolish to stay in one spot and just consume resources, you either take the heel or disband the men and stay lean.”

  “Damn it, I hate it when you are right!” Gocelin said.

  Thorphinius grinned widely

  They went out into the plaza and Thorphinius made a speech.

  “The Western Roman Republic will defeat Guiscard this year! The Pope may call us filthy heathens, but Adaneus has built a lighthouse in dark times.”

  Installing some 400 or so bolt shooters, he gave 500 of his mercenaries to be part of the garrison alongside the relatively untrusted militia. Leaving the port of Brindisi to take Otranto.

  Adaneus mobilised the resources of the city the best he could. Selling 1570 litrai of cloves and 1570 litrai of cinnamon and 940 litrai of black pepper; all this added 11,000 to the treasury, Adaneus making drastic measures as he looked at the situation on the ground.

  “I want to hire 5000 mercenaries from Ragusa, if they can make their way here, I will pay them in full,” Adaneus said.

  “That’s like half our treasury on mercenaries,” Butros said in shock, “we have 101,000 solidi, you want to take half our treasury and spend it on mercenaries?”

  Demetra was eager to hear Adaneus’s opinion.

  “The issue is probably 3000 will effectively be technicians for the bolt shooters, 2000 will be line infantry, Gocelin probably realised it already but he doesn’t have the technicians, he has bolt shooters which are effectively useless to him.”

  “I should have aided you better,” Demetra said, “I should have warned you already that this would be the result.”

  “It’s ok my love, I appreciate it, we are mobilising the city’s resources to absolutely defeat the Normans,” Adaneus said.

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  “From what I can tell the bolt shooter production is going well, a lot of wood is being bought, so that will add at least 2000 solidi to our spending,” Butros said, “if you wish for faster production.”

  “Of course,” Adaneus said, “it is the least I can do.”

  He put out the order, not having the ships to ferry the men, the problem would be the delay.

  “Expect a week at least,” Kwame said, “that’s how mercenaries work, given your desperation they might actually push prices up.”

  “Either way, if they help us win the war against Guiscard and his allies, I will take it,” Adaneus said.

  “Don’t overextend because of Gocelin, he is playing hard and fast,” Demetra said.

  The others giggled like school children. Demetra staring at them with a tired expression, before leaning onto his back, and staring at him with full intent.

  I need a wife. Butros thought, that lucky son of a…

  The 10th of February, late afternoon, Gocelin landed his 6600 forces in the city of Otranto, his men hoisting the green flags over the battlements. Bolt shooters shot anyone dumb enough to resist, with only 100 of his own troops dying from the stubbornness of the defenders.

  “Thorphinius what is the result of our plunder of the governor, garrison and church takings?”

  “5000 solidi,”

  “That puts us back to 15,000 solidi,” Gocelin said, looking at the map with worry, “we need to either wrap around the coast now, or advance and take Lecce.”

  “I think Adaneus can do the soft work and coax Lecce to defect to us,” Thorphinius said.

  “Then we will do as much.”

  11th of February Adaneus sold 600 litrai of Frankincense and Myrrh respectively netting some 3000 and 4500 solidi, this added to the treasury a solid 107,500 solidi (as 2000 had been spent on bolt shooters) that was soon enough going to be used to fund a big mercenary splurge.

  “The other alternative is to hire Lombards from the countryside to then use against our Norman foes,” Butros said, “it is a risky gambit given that we are taking men from nearby who might want to side with the Normans over us.”

  “I’m not so sure,” Demetra said, “I’ve noticed the population is growing and many peasants are saying positive things.”

  12,500 was now the population of Bari, of course from Adaneus’s position he could hire his own people but that would subtract from production.

  12th of February Gocelin landed at Gallipoli and took the town. His fleet was 40, and he had been sending ships back to Adaneus to ensure Otranto and Brindisi would have catapults and ballistae and bolt shooters; it gave him a mere 1000 solidi, that was still enough before he would sail for Taranto.

  “16,000 solidi is enough to encourage the defenders, I’m not going to give it a garrison, for the next city is the true prize.”

  “Adaneus assisted you with 2000 mercenaries, if you take Taranto you will have essentially secured the heel, granted there is the problem with the hinterland.”

  “Nothing is as well fortified as Bari, that will take time,” Gocelin admitted, “still we’re doing well, Guiscard might be raising troops there.”

  “All the more reason to seize the city of Taranto and halt the process,” Thorphinius said, “it will be a prize.”

  “It certainly will,” Gocelin muttered, “Helios will conquer Italy it seems.”

  “No you will,” Thorphinius said, making Gocelin wince and grin.

  But how my friend? With the help of Adaneus? Gocelin thought.

  When counting the sailors he actually had 7600, as he had 900 sailors in his forces, granted he had sent many of his sailors back to ferry supplies and forces. Taking the town of Gallipoli was one thing, taking Taranto was another entirely, it was a large city, and even with his spearmen they had fortifications, places to hide and delay and make the fight difficult.

  Damn, I’m going to be stuck here. Perhaps I could take Lecce instead, gather troops, but the problem comes if Guiscard figures out what I’m doing and sends cavalry to crush me. All of these choices are grating.