Chapter 8 Part 2 of 2 (Patreon)

“As of this moment, all Shida guards are dismissed. Ax recruitment station for the Vermire Army will be set up within the city. Aras, you will expand the farms here to support the city. Trade will be opened to the rest of the Vermire Empire in two weeks. Everyone will have the right to basic education, three classes on novice crafts and one class on an apprentice level craft. The First Army will move into the city to make sure that there is no counterattack,” Pan Kun dropped a city cornerstone on the ground.

“Replace to your old city cornerstone with this. It will link you to the Vermire Empire. And these,” Pan Kun pulled out a bundle and tossed them to Aras. The ex-lord took a few heavy steps back from the weight. “Are to be posted throughout the city immediately”

Aras’ cousin looked at Pan Kun and then to Aras.

“Yes, sir, we will see it done.” Aras bowed his head and hit his cousin in the side with his elbow.

“Yes, sir,” his cousin said, his voice faltering at the odd word.

“Good, Shida will be our second city of the day. Oh, and make sure you send letters to the lords and people that you know. Tell them we are looking for people. It does not matter if they are peasants or traders, we’ll train them. After all, if I, a one-eyed crippled, can be the leader of Vermire’s Army, there are plenty of opportunities for others to do the same.”

***

“Brigadier Nasreen has taken her objective. We have now claimed all five cities without a drop of blood.” Aditya pushed the marker on the map over the city.

He stood in his office with Consortium Leader Quan and Evernight.

“With the formal creation of the Empire, we have unlocked the Kingdom menus. We have made King’s Hill the capital, the outposts are rated as villages and towns depending on their numbers and the new cities should transfer over easily. It will allow us greater control in the future and increase our defensive ability. We gained access to two totems, one in Zahir and the other in Malakesh city.” Aditya pointed to the cities.

“The armies cleared and altered the ground of the roads to each of the cities for the road construction teams. Other teams will be heading out with the Beast Mountain-ah sorry, the Vermire Army units to create and man the planned defensive network of towers.” He waved his finger to the rough circle of markers that ran between each of the five cities. “At the same time, King’s Hill will receive an upgrade.” He rested his hands on the map and looked at the two others, smiling.

“A Totem of our very own.”

“Our construction crews are sure to be busy,” Consortium Leader Quan said. “Though I hear that the construction crews from Alva that helped with King Hill’s expansion will be assisting?”

“Correct, they will assist with the towers, the totem is just materials which Alva will happily supply. As well as the teachers that we’re sending out to each city,” Evernight said.

“Teachers, or spies?” Aditya asked.

“Why can’t someone have multiple jobs? We need people in the heart of these cities to know what people are thinking. Alvans are trained in many crafts. They can easily teach novice and apprentice level classes while gathering information on the people. Make sure first-hand that things are going well in the streets, not just based on the reports we get from the managers. Even if the city is producing, if people hate us, then we’re sure to lose the city.”

“I have been receiving letters recently from noble houses in the different nations,” Quan said.

“They want to come back to the Consortium?”

“Yes, they claim they were not part of the actions against us. Although we know most of them were.” He gave a sidelong glance to Evernight.

“I made it clear that at this time we have too many students within the Vermire Empire and have no slots open for people outside the Empire.”

“Their reactions?” Aditya asked.

Quan indicated to Evernight to answer.

“They’re not pleased. think it’s a stupid idea to teach the people of the Empire; as if there are people that can learn and people who are too dumb. They think we will stop the practice and go back to them, begging them to join us because we will bankrupt ourselves trying to support so many people.”

Aditya snorted and shook his head.

“I wonder what they will think in a few months time.” Quan stroked his beard, the old man’s eyes shining.

“Our first priority is to hold the land we’ve claimed. Alva Army will reinforce us but we need numbers. What have the kingdoms’ responses been to our letters?” Aditya asked.

“They ...” Evernight paused. “Aren’t pleased with the terms, it will make them weaker. They are looking to their other borders now that they have lost so much of their professional fighting force. They’re asking for the return of nobles before they give us compensation.”

“They want to turn it into a barter?” Aditya asked.

“So they attack us and want us to beg them for resources?” Quan echoed as he grit his teeth.

“They are testing us. I think we should assert our position,” Evernight said.

“How?” Aditya asked.

“We have all these nobles under contract. Let’s send them back and liquidate their assets, turning them over to us. That should do it and it will bring hundreds if not thousands of people over to our side.”

“They attacked us once and we put all of the traders moving supplies, camp followers and their armies under contract. Not sure our relationship can get worse. Just make sure that you get as much as possible out of their estates and cities before the kingdoms notice.”

“It might reveal some of our capabilities. I think it would be good to scare them a little. So, they’ll be wary in the future.”

“Make sure we don’t kill anyone unless we have to,” Aditya said.

“Understood.”