Steel and Sorrow: Rise of the Mercenary king - Chapter 163

Chapter 163: Getting to work Chapter 163: Getting to work Alpheo wasted no time.

As soon as the meeting with the courtiers ended, he immediately set about organizing efforts to tackle the looming famine.

He knew all too well that the damage done by Lady Elyra’s neglect had left the land in chaos, with villages stripped bare and crops ruined.

The people had nothing left to sustain them, and the food stores would barely last the winter.

If nothing was done now, the famine would only worsen in the following year, and the population would plummet.

Alpheo’s mind raced with solutions, and he quickly settled on the most critical step: agriculture .

Though the harsh winter was upon them, there was still one crop that could grow beneath the cold earth-potatoes.

Potatoes could thrive in the harsh conditions, providing sustenance through the long, bitter months.

It was the one thing that could save them from total disaster.They were basically the rats of the plant world.

Luckily, Alpheo had come prepared.

Anticipating the dire situation in Confluendi, he had brought with him a large supply of potatoes, enough to start planting in the surrounding lands.

Nobles tended to shy from such a thing, naming it like oats like a food for animals like pigs , however Alpheo knew that such a thing was the perfect solution for the situation.Also he personally loved potatoes ….  He summoned Asag and the remaining soldiers, ordering them to oversee the work in the fields.

The refugees would be put to labor-those strong enough to work would help prepare the frozen earth, digging trenches and planting the potatoes in whatever plots of land were still viable.Obviously near the villages they destroyed  The next harvest might not be abundant, but it could be enough to stave off starvation and give them the time they needed to rebuild.

In addition to organizing the cultivation of potatoes, Alpheo turned his attention toward another resource flowing through his future lands: the great river.

The river, winding its way through Confluendi, had long been a vital artery for trade, irrigation, and sustenance.

And right now it would serve as a lifeline for the starving population.

He knew that relying on grain alone wouldn’t be enough in the short term.

Cultivation would take time to bear fruit-months before they saw the first harvest.

But the river, abundant with fish and fresh water, could help alleviate some of the immediate pressure.

Fishing could provide food for the hungry mouths that couldn’t wait for crops to grow.

Without delay, Alpheo ordered groups of refugees, those strong enough to work and skilled in fishing, to be sent down to the riverbanks.

Teams were formed to gather materials and construct basic fishing nets, and the refugees began the task of building small piers and fishing stations along the river.

He also sent word for the local artisans and craftsmen to start constructing rudimentary boats that could help increase the fishing yield.

As the labor force divided its efforts-some tending the fields for future sustenance, others focusing on the river for immediate relief-Alpheo kept a close eye on the organization of it all.

The guards ensured order, keeping the work going efficiently and preventing any disruption, while the courtiers, now under strict supervision, kept records of the grain and fish being collected.

As the courtiers finished their tallies and handed the reports to Alpheo, it became clear that the vast majority of the refugees were simple peasants-farmers and laborers from the surrounding villages that had been ravaged during the conflict.  Among them, however, the courtiers also identified a handful of craftsmen-most notably, a small group of shoemakers.

While their trade was not immediately relevant to agriculture, Alpheo saw an opportunity.

Without hesitation, he ordered that these shoemakers be taken into his personal service, not as mere workers, but as an essential part of his standing army’s logistical core.Most people tended to undermine the importance of having shoemakers in an army, for when soldiers are forced to wear shoes too big or too small for the foot during long marches , it may cause them to take injuries on their feet .The Ottoman Empire was especially among the first army to take this problem seriously, calculating how much time the boots could walk before having their soles breaking off , and as such, preparing couples of unused boots for each soldier.

Alpheo, despite the exhaustion of overseeing the refugee camps and restoring order, refused to be idle.

As soon as the immediate crisis began to stabilize, he secluded himself in a dimly lit tent with parchment, ink, and quill, working late into the night to draft letters to the lords of nearby regions.

Each letter was an urgent plea for the sale of rye, grain, and other foodstuffs, knowing that the resources they had for now would barely be enough for a few months and so they needed to buy things with the silver he brought.

The task was not simple.

Alpheo knew that appealing to the lords’ , would not yield the supplies he needed as most would ask for prices above the market one as they knew of the situation he was in.  Each lord, of course, sought their own benefit in the arrangement.

Responses to his missives were swift but demanding, with most nobles asking for far more than just coin.

Temporary tax exemptions were the most common demand, as the nobles sought to ease the burden on their own lands in exchange for the supplies Alpheo required.

Others requested special rights or privileges-exclusive trading rights with Confluendi once the famine was resolved.

Alpheo weighed each request carefully,accepting some and refusing others.

Currently he sat hunched over a small wooden desk in his dimly lit tent, the air filled with the quiet rustle of papers and the faint crackle of the fire outside.

He broke the seal on yet another letter, this one marked with the sigil of Lord Xanthos of Bracus.

As his eyes scanned the page, a sudden laugh escaped him-sharp and unexpected.

He leaned back in his chair, with a smirk.

Just then, Egil pushed aside the tent flap and strode inside, his weathered face etched with curiosity as he was waiting outside for Alpheo to finish his work.

“What’s got you laughing like that?” he asked, folding his arms as he eyed the papers spread across the desk.

Alpheo, still amused, waved the letter in his hand.

“Here, read this.

It’s from Lord Xanthos.

You’ll get a kick out of it.” Egil narrowed his eyes at the offered letter, then tossed it back on the desk with a shrug.

“You know I can’t read that nonsense.” Alpheo let out a long sigh, shaking his head.

“Of course not,” he muttered, rubbing his temples.

“Should’ve known.” Alpheo cleared his throat, setting the letter down as he began, “As you know, I’ve been writing to various lords, asking them to sell me supplies for this camp.

Most of them, greedy bastards that they are, have been asking for things like tax exemptions.

They know full well that while I may not have the authority to grant such things, if I accept, my soon-to-be wife will have no choice but to comply, or risk damaging the royal honor.” Egil raised an eyebrow, leaning against the tent post.

“So, what’s this Xanthos asking for, then?

Coin?

Land?” Alpheo chuckled, shaking his head.

“No, nothing as simple as that.

Xanthos doesn’t care much about that .

No, what he wants is a promise from me that we will go to war with the Princedom of Herculia.” Egil blinked, momentarily stunned.

“War?

What in the hell for?” “Apparently,” Alpheo said, leaning back in his chair, “the lord of Bracus cares more about his personal feud with the lord of Arduronaraven than anything else.

During a rebellion, the lord of Arduronaraven killed Xanthos’ brother.

Ever since, Xanthos has been plotting his revenge, and he sees this as his opportunity.Jasmine tells me every year he always leads raid’s onto his land , with the lord of Arduronaraven doing the same as response.Of course the royal crown always have his consent , not that the lack of it would actually stop our lord from doing his yearly raid…” Egil let out a low whistle.

“He seems like quite the guy.” Alpheo smirked.

“That he is.

I have to say, for all his wild demands, we might actually get quite close..” Alpheo picked up the letter again, smiling to himself as he skimmed over a few lines before speaking.

“In his letter, Lord Xanthos expressed his respects for our disciplined army and my so-called ‘martial skills.’ Giving my compliments for my numerous victories over the rebels .

He asked more than once if I could use that same army, whom he heard so much praises, to settle some old scores with the bastard of Arduronaraven.” He chuckled softly, shaking his head.

“It’s almost flattering how blunt he is about it.” Egil snorted, crossing his arms.

“So, what are you going to do?

You thinking of actually agreeing to this madness?” Alpheo leaned back, tapping his fingers thoughtfully on the table.

“Obviously, I’ll accept.

He’s in a position where he could become a valuable ally.

And honestly, I’m even considering sending a few new military supplies his way I plan on issuing .

I have a feeling that out of all the big nobles, Xanthos is the one I have the best chance of grooming to my side.” Egil raised an eyebrow.

“You think he’d be loyal?

Or just using you to settle his grudge?” Alpheo shrugged.

“A bit of both, probably.

But loyalty can be nurtured over time.

Right now, he’s driven by revenge, and if I help him achieve that…

well, let’s just say he’d owe me more than just his gratitude.

Besides, aligning with someone like Xanthos means having a fierce ally, and that could be useful in more ways than one.War-minded individuals after all have the same line of thinking….”