Volume 5: The Hegemon of Southern Italy, Chapter 95: Secret News

Now, Davos gently lifted the blanket to admire Cheiristoya's body. Less than half a year after childbirth, she had already regained her former slender and alluring figure: snow-white, supple skin, long and slender legs, full and rounded breasts, firm and pert buttocks...

Davos couldn't help reaching out again, slowly caressing upward from her adorable toes... Then he felt the flames rising within him again.

"...Alright, Davos... let me... sleep a little longer, I'm so tired..." Christhoya murmured, twisting her body drowsily.

Davos had no choice but to suppress his desire and tuck the blanket around his wife.

...

"So, your brother went to Cosentia too." Davos sat in his study, listening to Aristelas report on what had happened in Daonia and the surrounding area during his absence from Thurii.

"He's been gone six days now, and there's been no news yet." Aristelas answered matter-of-factly.

Davos sensed something in his measured tone and asked, "Aren't you worried?"

Aristelas remained silent.

"Don't worry, the Bruttians don't have the guts to harm our envoy yet! They might be on their way back, or they might have been imprisoned by the Bruttians..." Davos comforted him earnestly. "If there's still no news in a few more days, Daonia will issue a 'war threat' against the Bruttians to force them to release him!"

"...Thank you, Lord!" Aristelas said, with a mix of concern and gratitude.

Davos patted his shoulder solemnly and said, "A warrior who dares to risk his life for Daonia will never be mistreated by Daonia! By the time your brother returns, he'll become a full citizen much sooner than you! But don't worry, I remember everything you've done!"

Aristelas said nothing, but bowed respectfully.

Davos asked again, "Anything else?"

Aristelas composed himself and said gravely, "Yes, about Polyxides."

"Polyxides?" Davos blinked.

"We've discovered that Polyxides granted freedom to quite a few of his household slaves. Then, with his help, these freedmen applied to the Agricultural Affairs Department to lease a large amount of land..." Aristelas paused, looking at Davos.

Davos listened impassively. What Aristelas had just described about Polyxides' actions seemed unremarkable—in fact, Davos might even have to praise him for responding to his call and setting a good example by freeing many slaves.

But Davos knew things couldn't be that simple.

"These freedmen put aside part of the income from the leased land for taxes, part for their own use, but they handed over most of the proceeds to Polyxides."

Hearing this, Davos's eyes snapped open. "How much did they give to Polyxides?"

"The exact ratio is unclear, but it's likely no small amount. He has about thirty-five freedmen who leased roughly one hundred eighty acres of land." Aristelas said, glancing at his notes.

"Those slaves should know about Daonia's land-lease laws. Why hasn't anyone reported it?" Davos demanded loudly.

"From what we understand, these slaves were all born into Polyxides' household and have lived there for at least twenty years. They're probably very loyal to him. Furthermore, through his connections in the Agricultural Affairs Department, Polyxides made sure these slaves leased only fertile land. After paying the twenty percent land tax and the money to Polyxides (registered freemen pay twenty percent land tax, preparatory citizens pay ten percent, and full citizens pay only one percent), the remaining income is still far more than what they got as slaves. Moreover, these leased fields are all adjacent, and the freedmen live collectively in a few large houses under mutual surveillance. There are also people said to be 'their family members' living with them, but they're likely overseers sent by Polyxides..."

When Aristelas finished, Davos's eyes narrowed into slits, a cold glint flashing in them. He asked sternly, "Does Bourkos know about this?"

"From the current evidence, he doesn't seem to be involved," Aristelas replied earnestly.

"Are you sure?"

"I'm sure."

Davos stared at Aristelas's face for a long moment, slightly relieved. He had a good impression of Bourkos—especially after Davos led the army to defeat Croton and enter Thurii, Bourkos had actively cooperated to stabilize Thurii's political situation. He had also responded positively to Davos's new policies. Although he and Polyxides were both prominent Thurian nobles with vast landholdings, Bourkos had voluntarily relinquished most of his land ownership and freed some slaves...

"Good, that's fine..." Davos murmured softly, but he knew clearly that this time Bourkos would likely be dragged down by friendship.

"Is anyone else doing this?" Davos asked in a gloomy tone.

"We're still investigating, but with so many cities, we're a bit short-handed..." Aristelas said with difficulty.

"How many people do you need? Draw up a plan. After I review it, if I think it's feasible, I'll increase your budget. I want you to investigate this thoroughly! Look into it carefully! Focus on all senators in the Senate and citizens holding Alliance public office!" Davos's tone was harsh. He hadn't expected corruption to sprout less than two years after Daonia's founding, and he was quite furious.

But as magistrate, Davos also had to consider other issues, so he cautioned, "Conduct the investigation quietly—don't alert anyone. Report any developments to me immediately!"

"Understood, Lord!"

"Davos! Davos!..." Mesis shouted his name angrily, hurrying into the living room.

Davos knew this fat man must be coming to ask for something again. So he put on a stern face and said, "Mesis, you should address me as Lord Magistrate here."

"Fine then, Lord Magistrate." Mesis came before Davos, thrusting out his hands. "Please relieve me of my post as Alliance Treasurer. I can't do this job anymore!"

"Why? Don't tell me you want to take some time off and travel somewhere else." Davos first teased, but seeing Mesis's serious expression, he said in surprise, "Haven't you been doing pretty well all this time!"

"You told Mariji to give me the message to prepare four Army Corps and two months' worth of grain reserves, right?" Mesis demanded.

Davos understood now and nodded, "That's right, I told Mariji."

"I can't do it!" Mesis said indignantly. "Four Army Corps means at least thirty thousand men. They consume nearly sixty thousand *minas* of grain every day. Two months would be nearly four million *minas*! For such a huge amount of grain—even without considering future price increases—we'd have to pay at least... The treasury simply doesn't have that much money now! Even adding the land tax revenue for September and October and the regular commercial taxes, it's still not enough. Because we also have to pay all public officials' salaries; build the Castron-Crimissa Road and the Crimissa-Asperustum Road; renovate the Crimissa marshlands; and Pleisinas has applied to build small temples of Hades in Amendolara, Crimissa, Nerulum, and other cities. Every one of these projects needs money! Lots of money!"

"Alright, Mesis. I know you've tried every way to save Daonia's expenses, and you've really worked hard! But if you quit, I won't be able to find a better Treasurer in the Alliance! Can you bear to see the alliance we worked so hard to build collapse from a lack of funds because the treasury isn't managed well?" Davos quickly praised him.

"Now that the alliance is getting bigger, with considerable income and expenditure, managing it well really isn't something just anyone can do!" Mesis perked up at Davos's praise, and his earlier frustration dissipated. After thinking for a moment, he said, "Lord Magistrate, the most I can prepare is three Army Corps and one month's grain. If you don't accept that, then replace me!"

One month! Davos stroked his chin. In the past, when he led troops into battle, most fights occurred near Daonia's territory. The scope and scale of battles were small, and they ended quickly. The longest—the Second Croton War—hadn't even lasted fifteen days, so he'd never felt the pressure of logistics. But this war with the Bruttians meant conquering a region and fighting an entire tribe. The difficulty would be far greater. Even if the war went smoothly, he expected it to take longer than before. Two months was just his conservative estimate. He hadn't expected Daonia to be stretched so thin already, unable to provide full support.

War tests national strength! The phrase popped into Davos's mind. He felt a bit helpless. Think about it: Syracuse had led an army of eighty thousand to attack Carthage at the beginning of the year, and the war had been going on for half a year without ending. Daonia had risen too quickly, its foundation too shallow, its reserves insufficient!

"Davos, I have a way to solve the grain supply issue." Mesis stepped forward, addressing Davos familiarly and speaking a bit mysteriously.

"Oh? What's the idea?" Davos's interest was piqued.

"The harvest is coming soon. After the harvest, every citizen's home will have plenty of grain. We can have each of them bring their own twenty days' or one month's rations—problem solved!"