Steel and Sorrow: Rise of the Mercenary king - Chapter 420

Chapter 420: Receiving news across the sea(2) Chapter 420: Receiving news across the sea(2) The transmission of information across distances has always been one of the cornerstones of a stable and functioning society, whether in the realms of governance, commerce, or war.

The question of how to convey a message to another person, especially when they are far beyond the reach of one’s sight, has long been a challenge for any leader, commander, ruler, but also to the common person.

One of the simplest and most efficient methods for long distances is to entrust a letter to a messenger, typically mounted on horseback.

This system, while rudimentary, has stood the test of time as a reliable way to send messages, especially during times of conflict.

A general on the battlefield, for instance, would often issue orders and receive vital reports through this very means-an effective solution for relaying crucial information when speed is of the essence.

This method was, in fact, so crucial to military logistics and civil one that the Romans, ever pragmatic in their approach, established a state-funded courier service.

Their empire was vast, and to keep it running smoothly, they set up a network of well-maintained roads, each with designated stations where horses could be swapped out, allowing messengers to travel far more swiftly without exhaustion.

But even with the Romans’ network and the horse-mounted couriers, there remained a fundamental limitation.

For smaller distances, this system was flawless.

A rider could swiftly carry a message from one army to another, or from one city to a neighboring town.

However, when dealing with the enormous expanses that stretched between distant cities or even between sovereign states, the travel time could become cumbersome.

A horse might carry a message with the speed of the wind, but when cities were days, even weeks apart, the message could often feel like a slow drip, trickling its way across the map.

In addition to using messengers on horseback, one of the most ingenious methods of communication in the ancient world was through pigeon post.

Pigeons, particularly homing pigeons, possess a remarkable inborn ability to navigate their way home, no matter how far they may travel.

This extraordinary sense of direction made them invaluable for long-distance communication, even when other methods were too slow or cumbersome.

To use pigeons for messaging, a servant or caretaker would usually be assigned the task of raising and caring for these birds.

The pigeons would be hatched, raised, and trained, and once mature, they would be sent to distant cities or to serve as companions for envoys traveling between courts.

When communication was needed, a letter would be securely fastened to the bird’s leg, and it would be released to fly back to its home-whether that was a royal palace, an important city, or even a distant outpost.

The royal courts, for example, often became hubs for these birds, as each important city needed its own supply of pigeons to ensure reliable communication with far-off territories.

It was not uncommon for a bustling court to have a loft full of pigeons.

The advantages of pigeon post were clear.

The birds could fly much faster than horses over long distances, and because pigeons are naturally homebound, they rarely got lost.

Pigeons were also inexpensive to maintain, feed, and breed, making them an accessible option for many courts and military leaders.

In a time when resources were often stretched thin, pigeons proved to be a cost-effective means of communication.

However, the system did have its limitations.

One of the primary downsides was that pigeons could only deliver messages in one direction-they would always return to their place of origin, meaning that someone would have to be dispatched to bring the pidgeons back to their working station.

Additionally, pigeons were far from invulnerable; they were prey to larger predatory birds such as eagles and falcons.

These birds of prey would often swoop down on pigeons mid-flight, making them vulnerable to interception.

To mitigate this risk, messengers would sometimes send multiple pigeons at once, alongside a horse rider, to ensure that at least one bird would make it safely to its destination.

This precaution helped ensure that messages were sent with the highest likelihood of success, even in the face of the unpredictable challenges posed by nature.

Though not without its flaws, the pigeon post was still a marvel of its time, connecting distant regions in ways that had once seemed impossible.

Alpheo’s capital city , in fact nestled within the grand palace complex a great number of birds.

Far away of course, from royal chambers, there were rooms with windows filled with nearly one hundred pigeons, each contained within their own small, carefully crafted cage.

The cages, lined up in neat rows, were organized with meticulous precision, their occupants resting quietly, awaiting their next assignment.

Above each cage was a small wooden sign bearing the name of an important city: from the capital itself to far-flung cities, each represented by its own pigeon.

As Alpheo placed the letter down onto the table, a small but knowing smile tugged at the corner of his lips.

What he had just read wasn’t merely good news-it was fantastic.

He had expected difficulty, had known that the task he had set for Aron was hard.

After all, they were venturing into uncharted territory, to meet with tribes whose customs, cultures, and even manner of communication were entirely unknown.

The risks were high; failure had always been a possibility.

But now, as he read the words on the parchment, Alpheo’s mind surged with satisfaction.

The talks were progressing-against all odds, they were succeeding.

He could hardly believe it, at just the first attempt they had found potential settlers A deep sense of contentment washed over him.

The highest form of happiness a man could know on any given day was not some fleeting pleasure or transient victory, but the realization that his plan was coming to fruition.

Of course, Alpheo knew that while things were progressing well, the path to a full, lasting success was still fraught with the delicate art of diplomacy.

He had to play his part, and play it with precision.

Most importantly, that meant drowning the son of the tribe’s leader-who would soon be visiting in person-in luxury and opulence beyond his wildest imaginings.

There is no better way after to say I am better than you, then to show one’s power and richness under the guise of hospitality and have the other thank you for it Alpheo was no fool; he knew the power of wealth and status in convincing such tribal leaders of their own inferiority in the face of such grandeur.  This was what power looked like.

This was what security, prosperity, could bring to his people.

The young tribal leader’s son would be shown nothing but the finest of what Alpheo’s court had to offer.

Fine silks, rich foods, gilded jewelry, and the finest wines of Yarzat would be paraded before him.

By the time the young man left the capital, he would be awash in an intoxicating blend of admiration, awe, and the understanding that the might of Yarzat was not to be taken lightly, especially when witnessing the White Army, which was arguably the finest jewel that Alpheo could show –  This was the dance of diplomacy Alpheo knew all too well-once the son had seen just how much more was at stake by aligning with the monarch, his loyalty would be as secured as the city walls themselves.

But the game didn’t end there.

Once the son had been suitably dazzled, Alpheo would then show him the land that would be allocated to his people.  The decision was already made-he had chosen a piece of land close to the sea in the Crownlands.

Where they could get a steady food source for the tribe’s people during the early settling season, as they could fish to sustain themselves while the more laborious task of preparing the land for sowing was underway.

Plus since they were more or less close to the capital it meant that it would be much easier to monitor and control them.

Well, things seem to be going my way, Alpheo thought as he got up from his chair, stretching his limbs.

But midway across the room, his steps slowed as a sudden realization hit him, a solution to one of his nagging problems.

The garrison’s crackdown on the gangs had left the city’s prisons overflowing.

Normally, such criminals would be sent to the gallows, to swing in front of the public as a brutal reminder of the consequences of crime.

But something about the idea didn’t sit right with Alpheo.

The gallows were a waste manpower.

He was always one to see opportunity in the least expected places, and today was no different.

Rather than letting the prisoners hang, why not put them to use?

He thought .

After all the land for the incoming settlers was still unprepared, fertile but filled with wild grass.

Those criminals could work the soil, break it, and ready it for the planting season.

They could build the houses needed for the new arrivals-houses that if that was not the case, would be built during the winter months when the earth was too cold to farm.

 No need to waste lives, plus if I want them dead, I can have them hang after they complete the works…it’s not likes they are of any use to me right now…

Alpheo’s lips curled into a small smile.

It’s perfect, he thought.

A solution to two problems at once: the overflowing prisons and the unprepared land for the settlers.

Plus it also reminded him of something for the future : he had to do some reforms regarding law and Judicial powers in the State….