30. Policies

  On the 23rd of February Adaneus discovered that Taranto had fallen almost without a fight, the news meant that the heel was under Republican control, other reports that Helios priests had been freed and that ploughs and animals were making it to the peasants, allowed Gocelin to cut through the interior relatively unmolested, perhaps a peasant grumbled here and there but public order was good. The lack of effective taxation by the new regime was surprising, apparently Norman agents having attempted a negative propaganda campaign in a certain way surprised the peasants even more, when cows and chickens, and goats and sheep began making their way to the local peasantry their eyes dilated and they welcomed the new administration quite readily. 20,000 solidi had been spent buying animals of all kinds to flood the local peasantry and to give them ploughs, granted he only got 300 ploughs, but there was still 1000 chickens and a fair few cattle, and news spread fast about what was going on, 40 mules, 500 sheep and 500 goats made their way across the heel to amazed peasants. Gocelin while marching soon found peasants who had heard the news and had made their own Republican flags, a pale imitation but there it stood over a village as men and women and even children shouted.

  “Praise Helios! You must be Gocelin!” A villager shouted, amazed and filled with hope.

  “Why yes I am,” Gocelin said.

  He squinted preparing his reflexes for surprises.

  “Praise be to god-s!” The villager said awkwardly, forgetting the polytheism until the last second.

  Gocelin smiled at the peasant, and did a shy wave, women gawked at the soldiers, and Thorphinius was already scolding them.

  “If any of you lay an unwanted hand on them, I’ll chop them off,” he said, “that plays into our enemies strength and undermines the campaign! Do you understand?”

  “Yes sir!” They all said resolutely.

  “They’re good boys,” a woman said holding a round piece of goat cheese, “please accept this as a gift.”

  “Thorphinius, that cheese is a bonus for the best soldier,” Gocelin said, “or just I don’t know, add it to the rations or something, thank you ma’am, it is appreciated.”

  Adaneus sold 1570 litrai of saffron powder, 3135 litrai of indigo and cloves, 6270 litrai of black pepper, all in all 70,000 solidi entered the treasury, leaving it with 230,000 solidi. The council made an interesting decision, ‘purchased taxes’ in effect leases, 50 salt flats and 250 fishing boats spread around the newly administered territories. Organised under 50% control of the state and leases on a 10 year basis, the fishermen and salt panning cooperative workers technically had half of their work go to the state, in essence taxes, but purchased off the workers. 200,000 solidi was blown on the scheme, but it provided more production on the heel, as boats and salt pans were being made and in the case of the ships mostly bought. The Helios priests functioned as quasi administrators, as carts of gold was given to fund the project. Boats were purchased, albeit not the entire 250, but at least 50 fishing boats made it to the local fishermen who were astounded that the state would give such a generous offer. Helios priests directed people who wanted to make new salt flats in Monopoli, and Otranto, and across the heel, providing more jobs and opportunities, Adaneus spent 5000 on his processing workers as a bonus, leaving the state treasuries with 25,000 solidi. Throughout the day Adaneus gathered administrators and processed spices, the economy needed money, and he spent it in the most effective investment.

  The author's tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

  February 24th he sold 1570 litrai of saffron powder, and 3140 litrai of cinnamon and 3140 litrai of frankincense; all in all roughly 35,000 solidi entered the treasury, with merchants clearing the markets clean, the processing workers making a significant amount of revenue.

  “Are you sure it’s right to do the economic investments so close to a war?” Kwame warned Adaneus and Demetra.

  “While your caution is admirable, that money is going to recycle to us,” she said, “I would recommend arming the countryside a little, fortifying villages so that Norman raiders get a nice bolt to the face.”

  Butros nodded, but then made a counter point:

  “Better that our field army annihilates them prior to that point,” he said.

  “Talking of field armies,” Kwame mused, “my priests, our priests report that they have been in contact with Gocelin, he is marching down toward Lecce.”

  “Lecce is an island, in a sea of our territory, I am sure it will surrender relatively quickly.”

  “If news of the investments get there, then yes I am sure they will,” Kwame said, “I heard news the Normans were lying about us to the peasants, some of the priests were being captured, beaten even because of the situation.”

  “That was inevitable, I am sure the Catholic clergy were saying things.”

  “There are other issues,” Kwame continued, “there are still Orthodox peasants, so we have Orthodox rabble rousers, Catholic ones and us.”

  “Well, that could be beneficial in one way,” Adaneus said, “they won’t be a united front. Either way our gifts and investments will reap dividends.”

  60,000 solidi in the treasury recovering from the spending of the day before, with endless batches of resources ready to be sold to various merchants. Bari was preparing for the worst, the heel was under the Republics control, but everything else was gearing up for war, Guiscard fleeing to his domain, and the various patch work of Norman lords were preparing to war with him, as well as the entire Christian world. Even the Muslim Emirs in Sicily had a plan, the three Muslim empires, Almoravids, Fatimids and Seljuks could all potentially be a problem, but the main issue would come from Almoravids and Fatimids for they had naval capability, still for the moment Muslim traders were effectively tourists, buying the wares, but tales of the wealth of Bari would permeate and like honey it would attract wasps and hornets.

  Our state has a steep problem, if we can at least trade amicably with the Eastern Romans and Venetians, we should be able to survive, but we are surrounded.

  The reality was even Catholic merchants came to buy goods, profit was profit regardless of the source. The city was a solid population of 13,000, with perhaps a 1000 Catholics, the nature of the religious minority inside Bari was ‘cultural’ Christian, for the city of Bari was definitely loyal to the new regime, despite war Adaneus had spared the city folk conscription, hiding behind their walls in safety. Hours passed, and Adaneus talked to Butros on top of the walls.

  “I do not want Spartan walls bathing in blood,” Adaneus said, “I hope our artillery can keep whatever invader off our walls and city, make sure the ammunition stockpile is sufficient for many years. And many invaders.”

  “Of course,” Butros said.