Juleios reminded Epitenes, "If these newcomers arrive, they’ll undoubtedly differ from the freedmen soldiers of the current Third Battalion. You may need to submit a proposal to the Senate and have the other senators discuss and review it. I can assure you, I’ll do everything in my power to ensure the proposal passes."
"Understood!" Epitenes responded, his excitement barely contained.
The ceremony continued with the presentation of flags to the Company Commanders. Each company’s flag was crowned with an iron statue of Tisiphone, the vengeful goddess of Greek mythology. The statue depicted her wielding a torch in one hand and a viper whip in the other. Below the statue, golden stars and the company’s number were embroidered onto the flag.
The flags for the Platoon Leaders bore the statue of Cerberus, the three-headed watchdog of the underworld, at their peaks.
The entire ceremony lasted nearly two hours. Throughout, the soldiers remained spirited, and the cheering from onlookers outside the square was incessant.
Finally, Juleios raised the Legion flag high once more. Below him, the battalion, company, and platoon flags were raised simultaneously. The sight of shimmering bronze and iron statues, vibrant red and yellow flag cloth, and the colorful plumes of red, purple, and white on helmets added brilliance to the steel-like ranks of soldiers.
More importantly, these symbols unified the army, boosting morale, enhancing officers’ efficiency in command, and improving the overall coordination of the troops.
Juleios felt a deep sense of pride as he observed the soldiers standing in perfect formation. A real army was taking shape before his eyes. Waving the Legion flag, he shouted:
"With the flag, the unit lives! Without the flag, the unit dies! Where the flag points, victory is assured!"
The soldiers echoed in thunderous unison:
"With the flag, the unit lives! Without the flag, the unit dies! Where the flag points, victory is assured!"
Though most of the Lucanians in attendance couldn’t understand the words being shouted, the overwhelming force and rhythm of the chant filled them with unease. Vespa and his son Bagul, however, understood every word.
They remained silent for a long time. Finally, Vespa exhaled deeply, as if releasing his mounting tension.
"My son," he began, "do you remember the wolf packs we often saw in the mountains? When a powerful wolf king defeats the other lone wolves, some choose to join the pack. Do you think those wolves are cowards?"
"No, Father," Bagul replied. "I think they are the smartest because they know that under the leadership of a powerful wolf king, they’ll find food, avoid fierce enemies, and ensure their bloodline continues."
Vespa nodded slowly, his resolve hardening. "In my younger years, I led our tribe across lands far and wide in search of a livelihood. I’ve seen many Greek armies—Naples, Thurii, Tarentum—but none have ever shaken me as much as this one. Amendolara may be a small city, but its army is extraordinary. Whatever Juleios is aiming for, it’s not simple. The survival of our tribe depends on the Greeks keeping their word."
The next day, while the city was still abuzz with the enthusiasm from the grand spectacle, Commerce Officer Marigi visited Juleios at his residence to present his commercial plan.
"Consul," Marigi began, "our Amendolara has a small population, poor land, few wealthy citizens, no unique products, and no port. If we follow the usual methods, it will be very difficult to attract foreign merchants to trade here."
Juleios nodded. The truth was undeniable. Amendolara had remained a small city of only 4,000 citizens for over 200 years. Its limited resources forced surplus citizens to emigrate, keeping its population stagnant. Yet, Juleios believed Marigi had thought of solutions to address this.
"But—" Marigi raised his voice, his tone confident, "our neighbor, Thurii, has a bustling port. Every day, over a hundred merchant ships trade there. Heraclea, though newly established, still sees twenty to thirty merchant ships daily. Their warehouses are insufficient, forcing merchants to pile goods in open spaces, where exposure to the elements ruins them. Disputes are frequent, and the city-states often favor their own citizens in resolving these disputes, frustrating the merchants."
It was clear Marigi had done extensive research, his words flowing with precision and insight. Juleios began to suspect the kind of business Marigi wanted to develop in Amendolara.
Marigi continued, "Thurii is only fifty miles away, and Heraclea is about the same distance. Metapontum is slightly farther—about ninety miles—but still reachable within a day by caravan. So—" He glanced at Juleios with pride. "We can build a large number of warehouses between the Brano and Sisno Rivers in Amendolara and charge relatively low rent. Additionally, we should construct simple, affordable inns and provide ample, good-quality food.
"This will attract foreign merchants, sailors, and even freedmen to settle here. We can also establish a larger and better marketplace than Thurii’s. By offering excellent service and ensuring merchants’ interests, Amendolara’s trade will undoubtedly flourish!"
When Marigi finished, Juleios clapped. "This is essentially a logistics and distribution center from my previous life," he thought.
"Excellent, Marigi! You’ve proven yourself worthy of the position of Commerce Officer. Back when Darius the Younger appointed you as Trade Officer for Media, he truly underestimated your talent!"
At the mention of Darius the Younger, Marigi’s expression darkened slightly. "Darius preferred soldiers and farmers over merchants. He often said, ’I admire two types of people the most: those who cultivate the land and those who protect it.’"
Juleios nodded thoughtfully. "Indeed. Persia’s vast lands are dominated by farmers and herders. Internal stability was always their greatest concern. With so many tributary states paying taxes, Persia was never short of wealth. Darius wasn’t wrong to prioritize stability, though leading troops into battle personally was a gamble he shouldn’t have taken."
"I fully agree with your plan!" Juleios said, his enthusiasm evident.
Marigi straightened eagerly, knowing Juleios’s insights were invaluable.
"First, roads," Juleios began. "Currently, we only have dirt roads connecting us to Thurii and Heraclea. They’re difficult to traverse and inconvenient for merchants transporting goods. We must construct smooth, wide, and durable roads, with sturdy bridges over the rivers. I’ll start preparations immediately."
"Secondly, what are the tariff rates for Thurii, Heraclea, and Metapontum?"
Marigi explained earnestly, "It depends on the goods. Common or urgently needed goods have low tariffs, usually around 2%. Luxuries or items that threaten local livelihoods face tariffs as high as 20–30%..."
Juleios listened attentively, impressed by Marigi’s thorough research. Amendolara’s future as a thriving trade hub seemed within reach.