17. Upgrades

  Gocelin woke up on the 31st of January to a bustling market, 940 litrai of Myrhh and Frankincense were sold, 7500 more solidi entering the treasury bumping the figures back up to 34,000 for the state, the act was profound for Gocelin who looked at the man directing things with a profound respect.

  This man could seriously dominate Italy.

  “Gocelin!” Adaneus said, “I need you to hire 2000 mercenaries and take this town.”

  They brought a table, and one of Gocelin’s lieutenants with ginger hair and a large axe brought a chair and said:

  “I am Thorphinius, a Varangian meant to keep watch of this operation, Western Rome seems interesting, what other plans do you have?”

  “We need mercenaries,” Adaneus said, “in return for your loyalty, I will offer you Tzangrai, these bolt shooters will allow you to dominate at sea and on approaches, Thorphinius, assist this man in his mission, western Rome needs good fighters. Our true strength is having unassailable fortresses, each city we take must be fortified with catapults and ballistae and bolt shooters. You understand?”

  Gocelin nodded and smiled, he then tapped the table.

  “I heard something from one of the townsfolk, I just had to make sure it was true, is it really true you charge no taxes in Bari?”

  “Other towns will have light taxes imposed on them, but in Bari yes, no trade taxes either, the logic is simple, I want people to come here, if traders come to the town I can sell my spices, the other towns, a light administrative tax,” Adaneus mused.

  This man is more impressive the more I speak with him, if he ruled the East they would have a lot more success, but their immediate politicking is about stopping coups. Palace politics and other nonsense.

  “That makes Bari a paradise compared to the other extractive states surrounding here, it is impressive what you have done, so what are you tactical and strategical plans for us?”

  “You should hire 2000 mercenaries, I will equip your ships with bolt shooters so that you have an edge on the sea, you are to take Monopoli and then use it as a base to take more cities, Otranto, Brindisium and eventually Taranto. We don’t have enough men for the type of army we truly want, but with your help we will soon have the manpower necessary.”

  You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

  “Three per ship,” Gocelin said, “maybe some extra for land operations, but I like your thinking, you know how my people fight, they like to charge.”

  “I wanted an artillery army, slow methodical, but with artillery to back it up. Glaives to hack at the horses with bolt shooters to make any missile troops wish they never came into contact with them.”

  “An interesting idea,” Thorphinius said, “it has merit, a hodgepodge strategy of mercenaries is fine and all, but ultimately artillery truly is the most efficient way to fight, wastes the least amount of men even if it is expensive.”

  “Even without the economic boon that is this Republic it could have worked,” Gocelin said, “the issue for Eastern Rome is they are too busy fighting each other, give a general an artillery army and he uses it to besiege cities, give garrisons artillery and they refuse the authority of the country.”

  Adaneus had gone to get some parchment to write the details of the new constitution and agreement.

  “You will be in charge of Poseidon’s Wave, your task is to unite Apulia for now, focusing on lightly garrisoned towns, with your lieutenants and further mercenaries, you should be able to capture Monopoli.”

  “I will need to stop at Ragusa,” Gocelin said, “if I recruit from the local area they will alert their allies. We will recruit mercenaries, I assume the sea lanes are safe.”

  “We will give you the tzangrai,” Adaneus said, “bolt shooters will help you in sea battles, you are now in charge of Poseidon’s Wave, a face that will wave away our enemies, that will wash the enemies of western Rome.”

  “I appreciate the position, you honour me with the position and trust,” Gocelin said, “I see great hope in your words.”

  “You better come back,” Kwame said, eyeing the man, his voice quivering.

  His dark eyes looked at the blue eyes with menace, daggers in his eyes.

  “While I could flee or make my own domain, I will return,” Gocelin said, “because I know you have gold to make an empire. Don’t fret, I will return, and I will put the green flag with the thunderbolt high!” He said triumphantly. “Thorphinius! Let’s go.”

  The soldiers and sailors cheered.

  “We will come with more men,” Thorphinius said, “that I can almost assure you.”

  The bolt shooters were mounted in strategic positions on the fleet, with some extra and bolts stored for combat purposes.

  “If you need to purchase more ships, do so, the Republic can arrange more payments,” Adaneus said.

  “Mark my words, we will conquer Italy for you, focus on the prosperity of Bari,” Gocelin said.

  The ships left the harbour, and the 30th of January would be a momentous day. 1071 of the Christian calendar; Gocelin came as an Eastern Roman and left as a Western Roman.

  Such humility, to not even desire kingship is rare, in the East he would be deemed a fool, but he simply harvests his crop and continues, making Bari rich, I will give him a kingdom, and procure lands of my own of course, but he is a man worth serving, this Republic gives anyone a chance, that I can see with my own two eyes, even Thorphinius is impressed, and nothing usually impresses him. He accepts gold, but it is rare that he goes beyond the shine of it, I see the way he looks at this Republic.

  “I think I want to be a citizen of the west,” Thorphinius mused, “Miklagard, the great city that’s what we called Constantinople, but now I am sure that is the destiny of Bari, a great city that will outshine all others.”

  Gocelin stared out to see with pride, watching as the choppy seas calmed and the wind went behind his sails.

  “Oh?” Gocelin said with a smile, “that’s interesting.”