Volume 4: The League of Dionia, Chapter 14: If I become rich and powerful, let us not forget each other.

Cheiristoya pointed to the wine cup in Andria’s hand and said, “Beer is made from barley. What you’re drinking now is the result of many experiments—it tastes quite good, though there’s still a bit of sediment. But Davos says, ‘That’s fine; eating it is good for the body.’ Now I drink a little every day. It quenches thirst without making you drunk like wine...”

“The beer has a peculiar flavor, but after drinking it, you want more! Please, give me another cup!” Andria said, handing the wooden cup to Asuna.

Asuna refilled it for her, and she took another sip before continuing, “My lady, I came today with good news. Most of the loans we gave to the citizens of Amendolara last April have been repaid!”

“So soon?!” Cheiristoya was slightly surprised.

“This year’s wheat harvest was plentiful, and I hear there’s fighting in Sicily and the Peloponnese, so prices have risen. Plus, our tavern has been actively buying up cattle, sheep, and even their entrails, so they made quite a bit extra,” Andria explained. “Thus they were able to repay both principal and interest, and some even want to borrow more to buy more livestock for our tavern’s needs.”

“Excellent! They make money, we recover our loans and earn more—both sides benefit. As Davos would say, it’s a ‘win-win.’ And we can also lend money to the citizens of the Thua Alliance in Thurii who need it more!”

“My lady, this time we earned a total of four hundred drachmas in loan interest, and the tavern in Amendolara has made about five hundred drachmas in just over a month. So far, we have nearly a thousand drachmas in profit!” Andria said excitedly.

“Indeed, who would have thought that the entrails people discarded could be made into such a delicacy, and good for the body too! If Davos weren’t so focused on governing the city, he could have become the most famous merchant in all of Greece!” Cheiristoya said happily. “His suggestion for the beer also shows promise—it might become a new source of income for us. Now we just wait for the arena to be built!”

“Lord Davos is a descendant of Hades—what can’t he do? Bacule respects him deeply!” Andria echoed in praise, then remembered something and said, “My lady, several groups of preparatory citizens have come to the bank recently asking if they can get loans to engage in maritime trade.”

“Maritime trade?” Cheiristoya frowned, thinking for a moment. “Sea trade is risky. One mistake and the ship sinks with all hands, and we can’t recover the loan. Besides, they’re only preparatory citizens—if they fail trading abroad, they might run away, and where would we find them to get our money back? But then again, Davos says our bank’s primary purpose is to support local commerce and promote trade prosperity...” Cheiristoya pondered seriously, forgetting she was holding a rose she intended to plant; a thorn pricked her finger.

Asuna and Andria immediately fussed over her, sucking her finger and wrapping it in a strip of fine cloth.

Cheiristoya didn’t mind. She continued seriously on the previous topic, “We need to be cautious about loan applications from preparatory citizens. First, investigate their character—whether they are upright and honest. Also, check their seamanship skills, whether they have equivalent collateral and trustworthy guarantors... If all these conditions are met, it’s best to specify in the agreement that they are prohibited from long-distance maritime trade across the eastern and western Mediterranean in the beginning...”

“I understand, my lady.” Andria nodded.

...

While Cheiristoya was speaking with Andria in the backyard, Davos was receiving two guests in the front courtyard.

“Hieronymus, Agasia, please sit! This is your first visit to my home!” Davos welcomed them happily into the hall and immediately had a slave bring dried figs, dates, and wine to entertain them.

Hieronymus seemed a bit reserved, but Agasia smiled and said, “My lord, we have something we want to ask your permission for!”

“Oh, what is it?”

“My lord, back when we were all in Persia, in order to return to Greece, we comrades helped each other and fought the enemy together, building deep friendship and bonds. In Byzantium, I, Hieronymus, and a few others followed you to Magna Graecia. Most of the other comrades, confused and exhausted, chose to go home. I thought they had all returned to their homelands to live peaceful lives without war. But recently, some of the light infantry Epithenis recruited from the eastern Mediterranean said, ‘The mercenaries from the expedition to Persia didn’t go home. They were forced by the Spartans, fighting the Persians in Asia Minor for meager pay.’

When we heard that, we felt terrible. Here we are enjoying a prosperous life, while our former comrades still suffer in distant lands, at risk of losing their lives to a javelin, sword, or spear at any moment. Magistrate, since we have so much surplus land and so many enemies like the Lucanians and Croton waiting to be defeated, why don’t we invite them here?! They are not only experienced in battle but also come from the same region as us—the eastern Mediterranean. We share the same customs and are familiar with one another, unlike the citizens here—” Agasia stopped abruptly, seeing Davos’s expression darken.

“What about the citizens here?” Davos asked sternly.

Agasia hesitated, but Hieronymus took over: “Some Thurians say, ‘They’re low-class Greeks who only know how to kill. They have no real knowledge and can’t govern a city-state. They’ll only mess up Thurii...’”

Davos’s face darkened, but he quickly reassured them, “That’s just a minority. Most Thurians are very grateful to us! Besides, power is in our hands. Let them talk and vent their frustrations; it can’t hurt us. Don’t you agree?” Davos comforted them.

“As for inviting Timasion and the others to the Thua Alliance, I have considered it. But right now they are mercenaries for the Spartans. Our current strength is not enough to provoke the Spartans.”

“My lord,” Agasia said earnestly, “we both know that mercenary work is a free profession. If conditions are bad, they can leave their employer at any time. Timasion and the others are only staying because they have nowhere else to go after leaving the Spartans. We can offer them a new choice. Just send someone quietly to Asia Minor to spread the news. I believe once they learn about our situation, they will find a way to come here!”

Davos was deeply moved by Agasia’s words. He knew well that his current success was based on military victories, and the foundation of those victories were these Greek expeditionary soldiers. Future wars would only be more numerous and larger, and he would need more excellent soldiers. Tapping his fingers on the armrest, weighing the pros and cons, he decided to try: “Alright, send one person, but it’s best not to contact them directly—just spread the news. Have you decided who to send?”

Hieronymus and Agasia beamed at Davos’s agreement.

“My lord, Hieronymus still has to train the soldiers. I’ll go myself,” Agasia said.

“Alright, but be careful. Go and return quickly!” Davos nodded, then asked Hieronymus, “How is the citizens’ training going lately?”

“The new recruits are training very diligently, especially the original Thurii citizens. They have mastered all the skills and are only lacking real combat,” Hieronymus replied.

“Soon many more new soldiers will join the units, and our forces will expand significantly. I hope you will strengthen the training so that combat effectiveness doesn’t decline. By next year, there will be opportunities for them to engage in real battles,” Davos demanded.

Hieronymus’s eyes lit up: Lucania?!

After Hieronymus and Agasia left happily, Davos’s expression turned serious. He called for Asiastes: “Recently, there have been people in Thurii expressing dissatisfaction with the Amendolara citizens. Find out why and who they are.”

“Yes!”

In October, the leisure season—normally the month when Greek city-states hold their Assembly and elect generals and magistrates. But in the Thua Alliance, the magistrate was sole and lifelong, so no election was needed. Senators were either specially approved by the magistrate or advanced by seniority; citizens had no say. All high public officeholders served two-year terms under the newly passed laws, selected by the Senate and appointed by the magistrate—again, no citizen involvement.

Fortunately, at this time the citizens of the Thua Alliance—the Amendolara citizens—were busy with various trades as the warehouse and tavern district below the acropolis grew increasingly prosperous. The Thurii citizens, meanwhile, devoted their energy to rebuilding their homes. The preparatory citizens were thrilled to have rented land for the first time in their lives, early on loosening soil, fertilizing, and watering. The vacancies they created were filled by a flood of freemen who, hearing the news, rushed in frantically. The port area was full of foreigners speaking various dialects, working as sailors, porters, cleaners, and even running small businesses... They took on dirty, hard labor while eagerly registering at the census office, counting the days on their fingers, hoping that after two years they could immediately apply for preparatory citizenship.