And this was only the beginning. The new soldiers would have to be assigned to officers, billeted, fed, and paid. The logistical nightmare was making Galliott’s head spin. He had sent riders into Eldacre to gather clerks, who would hopefully have access to a supply of new ledgers, and who would then take the responsibility of gathering names and information. It was all very well acquiring an army, but the organization of it was a massive headache.
Galliott moved away from the table. As he walked towards the castle several of the former Finance’s officers approached him, firing questions for which he had – as yet – no answer.
‘All will be made plain when the Moidart meets you this afternoon,’ he said, keeping his voice calm, his manner assured.
Once clear of them he entered the castle, and made his way to his own office on the first floor. Possibly twelve thousand new men now had to be absorbed into the Moidart’s force. The Finance had offered a chailling a month for musketeers, two for cavalry and three for officers. This was a third higher than the Moidart paid his own men. Therefore, to prevent mutiny and desertion all the Moidart’s soldiers would need to have their wages raised. Seventeen thousand soldiers – averaging say a chailling and a half per month – would cost the Eldacre treasury what? Sitting at his desk Galliott dipped his quill pen into an ink jar and began to write figures on a sheet of paper. Seventeen thousand multiplied by one and a half made 25,500 chaillings. Dividing this by twenty to arrive at pounds Galliott discovered that the treasury would need 1,275 pounds a month merely for wages. Adding in the cost of feeding the men would raise it by … Angrily he tossed aside the pen.
The treasury contained just over two thousand pounds. Taxes would raise the figure by roughly four hundred pounds each quarter. The last quarter’s revenues had just been gathered, so it would be twelve weeks before any new funds were available.
It didn’t take a mathematician to know that the Moidart could not afford an army of this size. He had promised the Finance’s men they would be paid their first month’s wage tomorrow. That would come close to emptying the treasury; in a month’s time there would be nothing left to pay them.
Galliott had nothing but admiration for the Moidart’s plan to defeat the Finance. It was masterly. Yet its achievement had caused massive problems.
Picking up his quill, he worked on for half an hour, producing estimates. Then Sergeant Packard tapped at his door, entered and saluted. Packard was a big man, a twelve year veteran, solid and reliable. He was tough and brighter than his bluff, everyman manner would indicate. ‘Clerks is here, sir. The lines are getting shorter.’
‘What’s the mood like down there?’
‘Most of the soldiers are fine. They had no love for the Finance. There’s been some talk, though. A couple of my boys heard some Pinancers muttering about revenge.’
‘That’s inevitable.’
‘I didn’t have ’em rooted out, sir. Thought it might cause problems.’
‘That was wise. Most of the dissenters will leave.’
‘How we going to pay all these men?’ asked Packard.
‘Good question. I am sure it is one the Moidart has considered.’
‘Yes, he’s a clever man,’ said Packard. ‘How did he know they wouldn’t fire on us the moment we marched up to the castle?’
‘I don’t think he did know,’ said Galliott. ‘It was a calculated risk. We didn’t come in with muskets ready. We just marched slowly to the walls and began to erect tents. There was nothing threatening in our movements. If it had been the other way round would you have opened fire on the men pitching their tents?’
‘I guess not. I’d have thought the generals had patched up a treaty or something.’
‘There you are then. Any word on the Redeemer?’
‘No, sir. Looks like he slipped away.’
‘The Moidart won’t be pleased with that.’ Galliott pushed himself to his feet and scratched at his unshaved chin. He hadn’t slept now for twenty-eight hours. He felt bone weary.
‘You look all in, sir.’