NOVEL WEB Chapter 738: Colonial development
The sixth year of Alpheo's reign proved to be a prosperous one, both in internal and external policy.
It began with an exceptional harvest. Grain yields surged by more than 30% compared to prior years, a bounty made possible by the sweeping annexation of fertile territory during the campaign against Herculia.
The benefits of that conquest, however, would only begun to properly show themselves during the second year. Projections for the coming year promised an even more dramatic increase, as villages once reduced to ashes by Egil's rampage were being steadily rebuilt and resettled.
These restored settlements would greatly boost the Crown's power by increasing the pool of supply that it would be able to make use of for its campaign and policies.
Of course, the major foreign event was the fall of the Principality of Herculia, which did more than redraw borders.
A significant portion of the wealth seized during the campaign was immediately funneled into public works and fledgling new industries. Roads were restored, the aqueduct expanded, and new granaries constructed to store the great number of bushels that now entered into the capital.
The economy, which had wavered under the strain of food scarcity brought on by the winter march led by the prince, now rose up with renewed vitality.
Employment soared thanks to the public works. Soldiers returned home with purses heavy from plunder and hearts hungry for indulgence. They flooded the taverns, inns, and brothels of the capital, igniting a wave of spending that set the city abuzz.
The increase in grain's price was, in fact quickly balanced by an increase in offers coming from foreign hands, manly Romelian merchants.
Anticipating this windfall, Romelian had already flooded Yarzat with supplies. First, they sold grain and goods to the army itself, seizing the opportunity to profit from wartime scarcity.
Then, they followed the trail of gold back to the capital, where they were met by eager buyers and hungry mouths.
Mostly it came from the tavern-keepers. Knowing well the habits of returning warriors, they stockpiled wine, grain, and cured meats, ready to exchange their cellars for silver. The first weeks of peace became a festival of excess, as it had been many times before, which saw their initial investments return deeper profits.
One of the many reasons why the price of grain in the Princedom remained stable, despite the near-constant state of war during Alpheo's reign, was the prince's foresight in the probable consequences of the aggressive foreign policy that he undertook.
Alpheo, understanding that successive military campaigns would inevitably drain the granaries and strain domestic supply, moved swiftly to forestall the threat of famine and, as a consequence, an economic collapse that would see the astonishing rise in power of the princedom, something that he had painfully worked on, completely fall to the ground.
Recognizing the inevitability of prolonged conflict and also of the inherent risk it would bring, he forged trade agreements with foreign merchants, particularly those from the southern kingdoms.
These merchants, who already traveled northward in search of Yarzat's famed soap and cider, became crucial partners in a quiet but vital exchange.
In return for barrels of cider and shipments of soap, they supplied grain in bulk, filling the gaps left by the army's consumption.
In short and simple terms, they bartered one for the other, with, of course, the balance of gains heavily favoring the merchants, which however, was misleading if it was analyzed through only a small lens.
The arrangement, while reducing the immediate silver profits flowing into the royal treasury, proved far more valuable in the long term. It stabilized food prices, secured the capital from bread riots, and preserved public morale during the harshest months.
In short, Alpheo renounced on some coins, and with them, he basically eliminated one of the major causes for uprising, famines.
More importantly, it ensured the continuity of the prince's longer-term reforms, initiatives that would have otherwise crumbled under the weight of food demand.
Among these was the ongoing policy of land assimilation, aimed at incorporating the tribal coastal territories into the administrative and cultural fabric of the Crown, and of course, the newest policies of land-lease that the court partook in.
Alpheo knew very well that while swords would win battles, bread kept states standing, so he made sure that while he sharpened the first, he filled the shelves with the second.
On the foreign front, the news that reached the royal court was equally encouraging, if not more so.
A fresh missive had just arrived, bearing updates from the distant colonial territories.
"It would seem," Alpheo said, a genuine smile forming on his lips as he set the letter aside, "that this year has brought us nothing short of triumph on every front. The Herculeian Princedom has fallen under my rule, and Governor Valen has successfully repelled the Duskwindai reprisals in the Chorsi Highlands, securing both their independence and their alliance with us. Truly wonderful..."
He paused a moment, savoring the satisfaction of it, not simply the military success, but what it meant for his broader ambitions.
With the Chorsi now safe and firmly bound to Yarzat's interests, many of the economic and cultural integration efforts he had envisioned for the mountain tribes could now begin in earnest.
Across from him, Aron, tasked with overseeing the colonial correspondence, nodded as he folded up the letter from Governor Valen. A smile tugged at the corners of his mouth; he, too, understood the weight of such a victory.
"The governor adds," Aron continued as he read from another longer report, "that in the aftermath of his victory, the two eldest sons of the late Duskwindai chieftain, who fell by his own hand, have turned against one another.
They are raising warbands from the scattered settlements their father once held and have begun to feud over who should inherit his mantle. Valen believes this chaos offers a rare chance. He seeks permission to launch an expedition and break the Duskwindai's power entirely while they are weak and divided, while of course asking for support to mount such campaign."
At this, Alpheo grew silent, resting his fingers against his chin in contemplation. It was, without question, a golden opportunity. A civil war among the Duskwindai was the perfect moment to strike decisively. But while the military might was available, other logistics complicated the matter.
"No," he said at last, his voice firm but tinged with regret. "Inform Governor Valen that an expedition will not be possible next year. We are already preparing for war against the Oizenians, and though we can support a campaign with weapons and steel, we cannot spare the grain. Whatever stores we have must be preserved for the home front. Our people, and our soldiers, will need it here."
It was unfortunate, but necessary. The Oizenian campaign held greater strategic weight for the stability and expansion of the crown's heartland. Spreading their resources too thin could compromise both fronts.
And between a campaign in the homeland and one in the colonial frontier, it wasn't hard to see which one held the higher priority.
Still,just because they couldn't march didn't mean they had to sit idle.
"This delay does not mean inaction," Alpheo said firmly thinking of the new directives to give "If we cannot send an army, then we shall send men bearing gifts and promises. We ride on the momentum of a great military victory.
Speak softly and carry a big stick, and you will make a road where none existed before."
The reports from Governor Valen had been clear: the strength of the Duskwindai did not rest solely on their own warriors, but rather on the forced levies and conscripted support of subjugated tribes. These were not bound by loyalty, only fear.
"That is where we strike," Alpheo continued, his eyes fixed on Aron "We do not need to fight the Duskwindai, at least not yet. We simply need to turn their vassals to our side and make them crumble from within.
Send word to the Governor . We will be dispatching a generous shipment: steel weapons, armors, wine, soap, and cider. He is to organize diplomatic envoys, each bearing these gifts to the nearest tribes enslaved under Duskwindai rule. He is to offer them alliance, not overlordship, make that distinction clear."
Aron nodded, quickly transcribing the message as the prince continued.
"Tell him to sign mutual treaties. Make them believe they have found an equal, not another master. And assure them that Yarzat has a steady, generous supply of steel, enough to arm all who are willing to stand beside us."
Aron looked up briefly. "Your Grace, with those terms, I suspect many of the tribes would be more than happy to swear themselves to the Chorsi outright."
"That may be," Alpheo acknowledged with a nod, "but they must do so willingly, and they must believe it was their decision. The Chorsi will be working quickly to fill the void left by the Duskwindai civil war. We must allow them to draw them in,not as conquerors, but as allies. A Confederation will finally rise, and our merchants will dominate its markets."
A quiet satisfaction settled into the prince's expression at the thought.
"With the allure of freedom, the promise of protection, and the temptation of Yarzat steel, most of the vassal tribes will turn. And when the civil war ends, the Duskwindai chieftains will find their dominion has bled away into the hands of our allies. By then, it will be too late.And when they will mount their campaign, this time, we will have the upper hand."
He paused, then added with a small, almost indulgent smile, "And let it be known that for his service Governor Valen is to be rewarded. Inform him that he is to be made a lord. We'll find a castle and lands befitting his station, and he may swear the oaths through a letter, as he will have enough to worry about in his backyard.''
Aron looked up from his notes, brows furrowed as a memory stirred. "Ah—Your Grace. That reminds me. A matter I forgot to raise earlier. In his previous letter, Governor Valen mentioned that the Chorsi chieftain had offered his daughter's hand in marriage… to Valen. He's asked permission to accept the proposal."
Alpheo raised an eyebrow, thoughtful. He remained silent for a moment, considering the implications.
Not only would it tie Valen more tightly to the region, but it would root Yarzat influence by merging with the Chorsi ruling family
"I see no reason to deny it," he said at last. "Approve the match. Let the Chorsi know their gesture is well received. And prepare some gifts for both bride and groom."
''Of course, Your Grace.'' Aron said as he bowed before leaving the room, after of course being dismissed.
Now along, Alpheo turned to the windows with a relieved sigh, where the early autumn sun was casting golden light across the marble floor.
"A good year indeed," he murmured, more to himself than anyone else, as for a small moment he wished he had a cup of tea in hand to sate that moment of peace further.