Herald of Steel

Keeping a standing army was expensive.

In fact, it was bloody expensive.

And a very simple math could be used to demonstrate that.

The average peasant would earn a hundred fifty roplas per month.

A soldier would need at least two hundred (200) a year because of the dangerous nature of the work.

And cavalry would demand at the bare minimum three hundred (300).

So in a year, a legion of four thousand eight hundred men and the five hundred cavalries would consume more than ten million roplas!

And this was the lowest estimate, with little said about the servants, food, equipment, and pack animals.

A more realistic number would be twice or close to three times that amount.

And for context, a pasha from his entire province, which was on average roughly three hundred thousand square kilometers, would get in the ballpark of two to three hundred million roplas, whereas the area around Zanzan under Alexander's control was just a thousand square kilometers.

Even assuming Zanzan was an enormous, productive city (it was not), still, Alexander would consider himself very lucky to get ten million roplas in annual tax revenue, meaning he couldn't even afford to maintain a single legion for the entire year!

Even his entire remaining fortune of around three hundred million roplas will only last him just nine years.

And this was considering a mere five thousand and three hundred soldiers, which was nothing.

Any real war would require twenty to thirty thousand, while the major ones, like the ones with Amenheraft that were bound to happen at one point, would need twice or thrice the numbers.

This was certainly not sustainable.

And fortunately, Alexander had already thought of a way to shore up his income.

But it was a risky proposition and Alexander would confess being a bit nervous saying it out aloud.

But he decided to do it anyway, "The issue of money is certainly a big one. And we will need to quickly start earning money." He eased himself into it.

And then quickly bit the bullet and said, "Thus I propose a one percent land tax to everyone!"

"What, this is not what you promised us, Alexander." Melodias angrily stood up and pointed at Alexander, feeling incensed and betrayed.

"That's right, that's right. Why should we have to pay taxes?" This time it was Heliptos.

When Alexander had decided to put his hand on the greedy mercenary's treasure stash, all loyalty the man had flown out of the window.

"Commander, I implore you to reconsider," Grahtos, a religious zealot who had converted to the faith of Gaia, also asked Alexander to retract this dangerous statement.

Alexander scanned the table and saw all had some varying degree of displeasure etched on their face, except Menes and Theocles.

He expected this much resistance as not having to pay taxes was one of the biggest allures to being a landowner.

But Alexander couldn't back down as he intended everyone in his land to pay taxes.

But he also couldn't antagonize his military commander.

So, he cleverly bought time, as he gestured for the men to calm down using his palm, "Please, please, calm down. I never said the tax will be forever. It will only be for six years, till the armistice ends. By that time we will have the businesses running and it will be the business tax that will ride us through."

This placated the men a bit but the time still seemed too long.

"Pasha, six years is too much. Please decrease it." Menicus, the de-facto leader of the commanders asked Alexander, supported by the others.

Alexander however had no intention of doing this but didn't outright dismiss the plea.

Instead, he appealed, "Gentlemen, all of you are misunderstanding what this tax will do. This tax is not like the tax you paid before. Before, your taxes would go to the state and its rulers, faceless, unknown men who cared nothing for you."

Alexander then raised his index finger, "But, remember, you are the rulers now, Whatever taxes you pay will benefit you. Your taxes will be used to fund the army that will not protect some unknown nobody, but they will protect you, your family, and your wealth."

Alexander then revealed, "I have spent close to eight hundred million roplas on Zanzan, from the slaves to the grain to the animals to the ships…the list could go on. And the reason I did this is because I saw Zanzan as an investment. And it is my wish that all of you will do it too. Because your fortunes will rise and fall with Zanzan's fortunes."

This inspiring speech swept away the little acridness many had in their heart as they doubted they could ever earn eight hundred million ropals in their lifetime, much less spend it in one go.

Since Alexander was willing to do so, and since the arrangement was temporary, they finally consented.

"Good," Alexander lightly nodded and smiled, "Since we already discussed administration, I believe I should address your peerage." He decided to offer some sweet after dishing out the sourness.

This made everyone sit up straight as this was the prize for which they had left their home country to come to Adhania.

Even as they spoke, a ship containing these men's letters to their families asking them to come to Zanzan was making its way across the sea.

And many harbored the wish to greet their loved ones as a lord and a noble.

And so Alexander pronounced, "I name Menes, Shordar(Baron) Menes, I name Melodias, Shordar(Baron) Melodias….."

In this way, the military leaders and Theocles were made nobles.

"Thank you, my lord," They all then kneeled and proclaimed their loyalty to Alexander, swearing, "We vow to serve you loyally and faithfully till our bloodlines end,"

And then Alexander returned their vow with his own promise, "And I, Alexander, hereby swear to protect and guard my retinues with the utmost sincerity against all threats and stick by them through thick and thin."

After this ceremony, Alexander chuckled and used his hands to gesture, "Now, get up, get up." adding, "This is only an informal announcement. We will soon hold a feast and let the city know to make it formal."

"Hehehe," The crowd was full of smiles.

Alexander then decided to bring them back to earth a bit, "Please remember that all of you are only shordars (barons) now. That is the rank all noble families start at and I expect all of you to work hard to improve your rank."

Alexander was clearly an exception to the rule but usually, that was how noble families usually started and through time, conquest and proving their loyalty slowly made their way up the chain.

"Yes!" A unified chant was produced as the men's eyes glowed with zeal at the prospect of a better rank.

But then Alexander decided to dampen the mood a bit.

"Ahem," He gave a fake cough, "As you know the land around Zanzan city is too small, only around a thousand square kilometers. And so I will give you the title now, but your land will be given a bit later."

And this certainly dampened the mood a bit, but they also understood reality.

"Pasha, how long will it take to expand our territory?" The greedy Heliptos asked impatiently.

"Hmm, with the treaty in place we can't go recklessly attacking the other nobles too," Melodias had a displeased tone to his voice.

And the others shared similar feelings.

"Haha, don't worry, I have a plan," Alexander's cheerful chirp penetrated the acerbic atmosphere.

He then explained, "The nobles that left the city during the plague will certainly come back to take back their house. And when we refuse, it is likely they will plot against us."

"And then we can use the excuse of self-defense to annex those territories!" Heliptos in his excitement finished Alexander's statement for him.

"Um, that's good, that's good," Melodias nodded his head in appreciation.

"Yes, and even if they don't do it, remember that the king has given us the right to annex foreign lands. And Tibias is right next to us," Alexander hung even more bait.

And the men took it hook, line, and sinker as Menicus quickly asked, "Com…Pasha when do you intend to launch the attack? This winter?"

It seemed that the men were a bit too excited.

'Hold your horses, old man,' Alexander lampooned a bit at the over-eagerness.

Alexander then laid out his rough plan, "This winter is too soon for any offensive actions. I estimate that the new legionary concept and the new cavalry techniques will take at least a year to perfect and building all the weapons and armor will also take that long."

"There is also the case of building siege engines and gathering intelligence." He added.

"So, if there is no outside threat, we will launch an attack past the Cisrian hills next November," Alexander set the deadline.

This produced wide smiles across the men's faces, as they were relieved to know that the treaty would be of no hindrance to them.

And next came even better news, as Alexander announced, "And, let it be known that as long as it's possible, we will be launching a winter campaign every year for the foreseeable future."

And in this way, this proclamation would become Zanzan's policy for many years, very similar to how the Romans did it.