Maximus’s calm analysis of the military situation did not surprise Quintus and the others, as he had mentioned it before and gained their agreement. Naturally, his words once again garnered everyone’s attention.
Flanitnus said somewhat reluctantly, "Leader, if these poor people from the south want to join us and we always refuse to accept them, this might not be too good."
"It’s not that we won’t take any," Maximus had already considered. "Those with special talents and who can read and write, we certainly shouldn’t miss. As for the others, we can recommend them to Attutmus or Spartacus, as they have no such restrictions and are eager to have as many join as possible."
"Understood, I will act according to your instructions," responded Flanitnus.
Maximus, recalling something, added, "Volenus, just like before, send your men to join the Military Affairs Department in recruiting soldiers, selecting useful ones to be allocated to other departments."
"Yes, Leader," Volenus respectfully replied.
"Pigeris, I urgently called you here this time to have you quickly take charge of Sarabia Port’s affairs, just as you did in Pompeii—"
Before Maximus finished speaking, Pigeris eagerly interrupted, "No problem, I will ensure the port is promptly made available for our army’s use and operates even better than Pompeii Port!"
With a solemn expression, Maximus reminded, "This time, not many merchants are trapped in the port. Many merchants in Sarabia, seeing the situation wasn’t favorable after the exiled population of Canossa entered the city, set sail early and left, leaving few ships docked in the port. The difficulties you face are far greater than in Pompeii!"
"Leader, rest assured, I will make the port thrive!" Pigeris confidently said.
"Excellent!" Maximus showed a hint of a smile and said, "Aside from Roman merchants and ships, I can allow you to make promises to other merchants; as long as their ships come to trade in my Sarabia, first, no trade tax will be levied, and second, their safety and that of their goods will be ensured within my army’s control. Other details... you can discuss with them thoroughly and then report to me for approval."
"But even just this first point is enough to tempt many merchants," Pigeris said happily.
Why did Pigeris say this? Because after the Marci War, the Italian people all became Roman citizens, and Rome could no longer levy direct taxes on Italian people, but trade taxes still had to be collected. This tax mainly targeted all merchant ships entering Italian ports, levying a 5% trade tax based on the value of the goods carried by the ships.
And there are only a few real trade ports on Italy’s east coast, with many merchant ships transiting through Sarabia Port. If Sarabia doesn’t levy taxes, it saves them quite a bit of money. If the goods landed can be transported inland to Italian towns by land without losses through the territory controlled by Maximus’s army, it’s even more appealing to merchants.
"This time, it’s not just about trading with these merchants; you have other tasks to do," Maximus said slowly, looking at him. "Next, we will recruit soldiers, and the port’s labor force will surely decrease greatly. Soldiers need to intensify their training, and I won’t allow us, like in Pompeii, to have to frequently send the army to help unload goods at the port."
"But... but if the port lacks labor, the ships can’t be unloaded!"
"Don’t worry yet," Maximus gestured, "when these port workers join the army, they will naturally be relocated to live in the barracks, so the places where they originally lived... relocate the fleeing Canossa people there to work as dock laborers, so the city’s plaza can be cleared and order better restored."
"Leader, order is restored in the city, but how could these Canossa refugees willingly work as dock laborers?"
"They fled here originally hoping to rely on the Sarabians, but now the Sarabians can’t even fend for themselves and can’t help them. When people are starving, they are willing to do anything."
Pigeris seemed to be in thought, but he then shouted out, "There are probably quite a few of these Canossa refugees, and if they cause any trouble, I alone can’t handle it—"
"Don’t worry, I will have Camillus lead his Third Battalion soldiers to guard the port. You two have been old partners, and I’m confident that you will cooperate very well here in Sarabia too."
Pigeris breathed a sigh of relief, but then his heart tightened again as Maximus continued, "Moreover, you have another task—"
"What? Another task?!"
"Among the Sarabian nobles we executed this time, most were merchants, and their shops are concentrated within the port. You are to take them over and start operations again."
Pigeris’s eyes glinted and he immediately shouted, "Leader, you have given me so many tasks; I can’t handle them alone. You must assign me people, enough people to manage!"
"That’s no problem. Among the hundreds of slaves in the wealthy district are surely quite a few who have managed businesses for these Sarabian nobles. Volenus, pick them out and give them to Pigeris."
But Pigeris still wasn’t satisfied and said, "Leader, I still need more people, those who can actually help me manage the port, my own subordinates!"