He cautioned Epitenes, “If these new recruits come, they will be different from the freedmen who are now soldiers in the Third Brigade. You will likely need to submit a proposal to the Senate for the other senators to deliberate and approve. I can assure you that I will do everything in my power to see it passed. However, you must be prepared for the fact that the conditions they will have to meet to become citizens will likely be more stringent. Also, this recruitment drive in the eastern Mediterranean must be conducted discreetly. Do not attract the attention of the Spartans.”

“Understood!” Epitenes replied, his face alight with excitement.

Next was the bestowal of the company standards. The finial of a company standard was an iron statue of Tisiphone, one of the Furies, the fearsome Greek goddesses of vengeance. In one hand, she held a torch; in the other, a whip of vipers. Below the statue, the banner was also emblazoned with a gold star and the company’s number.

The standard of a platoon, in turn, was topped with an iron statue of Cerberus, the three-headed hound who guarded the gates of the underworld.

The entire ceremony lasted for nearly two hours. From beginning to end, the morale of the soldiers in the square remained at a fever pitch, and the cheers from the onlookers were ceaseless.

Finally, Davos raised the great legion standard one last time. From the ranks below, the standards of the brigades, the companies, and the platoons were all raised in unison. The finials of brass, silver, and iron, the banners of red and yellow, and the crests of red, purple, and white added a splash of vibrant color to the wall of bronze and iron. But more importantly, these symbols would fuel the soldiers’ morale, make the officers’ commands more efficient, and their actions swifter.

A deep sense of satisfaction washed over Davos as he beheld the true army that was taking shape before him. He waved the great standard and roared a final oath:

“As the standard stands, so stands the legion! If the standard falls, the legion is lost! Where the standard points, we are invincible!”

“AS THE STANDARD STANDS, SO STANDS THE LEGION! IF THE STANDARD FALLS, THE LEGION IS LOST! WHERE THE STANDARD POINTS, WE ARE INVINCIBLE!”

***

The vast majority of the Lucanians could not understand the words the soldiers were shouting, but the sheer, overwhelming pressure of that tsunami of sound was enough to strike terror into the heart of any who harbored hostile intent.

Vesba and his son Bagulos, however, understood every word, which is why their silence was all the longer and deeper.

Finally, Vesba let out a long breath, as if to expel all the disquiet from his soul. “My son, do you remember the wolf packs we often see in the mountains? When a strong alpha defeats a lone wolf, some of those lone wolves choose to join the pack. Do you think those wolves are cowards?”

“No, father,” Bagulos replied, understanding his father’s meaning and seeking to comfort him. “I think they are the cleverest of all. They know that only by following a strong leader will they have enough food, that they will be safe from fearsome enemies, and that their bloodline will continue. The proud wolves either die alone in the mountains or become food for other beasts.”

Vesba nodded, a decision solidifying in his heart. “In my youth, I led our people in search of a better life. I have seen the armies of many Greek city-states—Neapolis, Thurii, Tarentum… but never have I seen a Greek army that has shaken me as this one has. You must understand, Amendolara is but a small city. For it to possess such an army… the ambitions of this Archon must be great indeed. Since we cannot defeat them, and we are now their captives… we can only make the choice that is most beneficial for the survival of our people. I only hope the Greeks do not go back on their word.”

***

While the entire city was still buzzing with the memory of the magnificent spectacle in the square, the Commissioner of Commerce Marigi was in Davos’s home, laying out his commercial plan.

“My Lord Archon,” he began, “the people of Amendolara are few, our land is poor, we have not many wealthy citizens, no special products, and most importantly, no port. If we follow conventional methods, it will be very difficult to attract foreign merchants to trade with us.”

Davos nodded. This was the simple truth. It was why Amendolara, after two hundred years of existence, had never grown beyond a population of four thousand. The small city simply could not support more people, forcing any surplus population to emigrate elsewhere. It had always been, and remained, a backwater town. Davos was confident that since Marigi was bold enough to state this harsh reality, he must have a solution.

“However,” Marigi’s voice rose with emphasis, “our neighbor Thurii has a very prosperous port. Every day, over a hundred merchant ships from other city-states call there to trade. Our other neighbor, Heraclea, though not long established, also sees twenty to thirty ships a day. And further afield, the port of Metapontum is just as bustling. But from my observations these past few days, their ports and markets all suffer from the same problems. There are too many ships and too much cargo, which leads to a shortage of warehouse space. Merchants must queue to rent a warehouse, and their goods are often left piled up in the open, where they are exposed to the sun and risk spoilage or theft. At the same time, the influx of foreign sailors has overwhelmed the local inns. Not only have the prices of lodging and food skyrocketed, but the sailors complain constantly. The ports are also crowded and chaotic, which leads to frequent disputes. And when disputes do arise, the city authorities are slow to resolve them, which not only wastes the merchants’ time but often shows a bias towards their own citizens.”

Marigi rattled off the shortcomings of the neighboring ports, a clear sign that he had conducted a thorough investigation, likely combining it with his own experiences as a merchant. Hearing this, Davos could already guess what kind of enterprise he was planning to establish. In his recent conversations with Crystoia, he had been struck by the fact that the economic thinking of Mediterranean merchants of this era was not so far behind that of the modern people of his past life. The banking industry in Athens had even developed a form of insurance (primarily for maritime ventures). Even more impressively, the Athenians had already learned how to use their currency to promote and solidify their commercial hegemony. Before the Peloponnesian War, they had used the silver from the Laurion mines to mint their famous “Owl” coins, renowned for their high purity. Even in their darkest hours, Athens never debased its currency, ensuring the “Owl” remained the most trusted and sought-after coin in the Hellenic world. They then used their power within the Delian League to enforce a monetary union, giving them absolute control over the league’s trade and cementing their empire. It took Uncle Sam over two thousand years to pick up the same trick, Davos thought. He did not dare to underestimate the wisdom of these ancient peoples. He held his tongue and listened intently as Marigi continued.

“Thurii is no more than fifty li from us. Heraclea is about the same. Metapontum is a bit further, perhaps ninety li. A fast horse can make the journey in just over an hour; a merchant caravan, in half a day. Therefore,” Marigi glanced at Davos, a self-satisfied smile on his face, “we can build a great number of warehouses in Amendolara, in the land between the Brano and Sisno rivers, and charge a lower rent. We will also build a great number of simple inns, offering cheap lodging and plentiful food. I am certain this will attract foreign merchants, sailors, and freemen to our city. Once we have a large enough population of them, we can build a new market next to the warehouses and inns—one even bigger and better than the one we built at Thurii. We will use superior service to protect the interests of these merchants and sailors. And then, the trade of Amendolara will surely prosper!”

As Marigi finished his confident pronouncement, Davos could not help but applaud. This is a logistics and distribution hub! he thought.

“Excellent, Marigi! Excellent! It is clear you are worthy of the title of Commissioner of Commerce,” Davos said, making no secret of his admiration. “Cyrus the Younger making you a mere trade supervisor in Media was a true waste of your talents.”

At the mention of Cyrus, a shadow passed over Marigi’s face. “His Highness Prince Cyrus preferred soldiers and farmers to merchants,” he said. “He once told me that there were only two kinds of men he truly admired: the man who knew best how to furnish his land with tools and livestock and cultivate it well; and the man who knew best how to defend that land, those tools, and that livestock.”

Davos thought for a moment and sighed. “Yes. The Persian Empire is vast, and the majority of its people are farmers and herders. Ensuring domestic stability was his most important task. And with so many subject nations and cities paying tribute to the royal house, Persia did not lack for wealth. Cyrus was not wrong. Had he lived, he might have been a great king. A pity… When the hopes of so many rest upon one man, his life is no longer his own. He did not understand this and took a terrible risk, leading the charge himself. A great pity.”

Marigi sighed as well.

“I approve of your plan in its entirety,” Davos declared. “And I will add a few points of my own.”

Marigi immediately perked up, listening intently. He knew that Davos possessed an extraordinary talent for commerce; the bustling market they had built at Thurii had been largely the Archon’s own design.

“First, the roads. The current dirt track between us, Thurii, and Heraclea is too difficult for merchants to transport their goods. We must build a flat, wide, and solid road, and we must construct sturdy bridges over the rivers. I will begin preparations for this at once. Second, the warehouses and inns must not only be cheap, but also clean, sanitary, and safe. There must be no theft or robbery. You will need to coordinate with Hylos on this and devise a system. Ah, yes, what are the customs duties in Thurii, Heraclea, and Metapontum?”

“It depends on the goods,” Marigi replied, his mind shifting back to business. “For common, essential goods, the duty is low, usually only two percent. For non-essential foreign goods, or for goods that threaten the livelihood of local producers, the duty can be as high as twenty or thirty percent.”