Prelotta, Adrian knew, intended to change that. The other Southron tribes had joined this great invasion for the customary reasons—loot, and the prospect of “martial glory.” Only Prelotta was thinking further ahead than that. He intended to occupy this territory, and remain there after the other tribes returned south for the winter. Prelotta was thinking like a conqueror, not a raider—and for that, he needed a subject labor force.
Helga was still glaring at him. Adrian tried to think of what he might say to mollify her, but the only words which came to him were . . . best left unspoken.
This is really no different from what your father’s doing in the islands, love. In principle, at least. Use a conquered land’s resources and labor force to enhance your own power and wealth. Um. Granted, the methods are dissimilar. Um. To put it mildly.
The methods are what matter. A civilized conqueror—one, at least, who’s willing to think like a civilized man—can substitute mercy for cruelty and forethought for rapine. So, in a generation—even less—Verice Demansk stands to rule over a realm even richer than it was, and with a subject population that is not really that discontented with its new rulers. Because they, too, are sharing in the new wealth. And even enjoying their new status, if the conqueror is a very intelligent man. Which we think Demansk is.
Then, with his usual wry humor: But I agree that your lady love probably doesn’t want to hear it, at the moment.
To Adrian’s relief, Helga’s angry expression faded and was replaced by simple sternness. “Leaving aside everything else,” she grumbled, “these savages are going to be so much pig feed once Tomsien gets here with a real army.”
She turned in her saddle and cast a sour glance back at the huge plodding column of Reedbottoms in their war wagons. “Unless this fancy scheme of yours works. I have my doubts. Savages are savages, I don’t care how fancy their weapons are. No staying power, once they hit something tougher than a village of peasants.”
Adrian cleared his throat. “Well . . . that’s a bit uncharitable. They’re quite courageous, you know. If that weren’t true, the Vanbert regulars wouldn’t use them as auxiliaries.” He decided it was time to point out that Helga was being a bit self-righteous. Pointing ahead: “Tomsien will have several thousand tribesmen under his own command, you know, in addition to his ten brigades of regulars.”
Helga didn’t seem much impressed. Nor, to be honest, was Adrian himself.
Ten brigades, the gods save me. Even allowing for most of them being understrength, that’s still something like fifty thousand men. The biggest army ever fielded in the history of the world, leaving aside the tales in ancient legends.
You won’t have to face that many, countered Raj. If I were in Tomsien’s place—and I’ve been there, lad—I wouldn’t be bringing more than six of those brigades. That’d be more than sufficient, under normal circumstances. Which these aren’t, because of the Hussite tactics you’ll be using. But Tomsien won’t understand that. In fact, he probably doesn’t even know about it. From what I can tell, at least, he’s been incredibly lax about gathering intelligence.
Center interjected. always a mistake, dealing with barbarians. especially because spies are so easy to hire. one tribe will readily spy on another, and vice versa, for a small amount of money or trade goods. but tomsien suffers from the typical arrogance which afflicts empires in decline.
Again, Adrian chewed on Raj’s words. He was inclined to trust the former general’s assessment. Adrian had gained a lot of experience over the past two years, but he knew full well that he wasn’t and never would be Raj Whitehall’s equal as a military leader. Still . . .
But why not bring all ten? I would.
It was always a little weird “hearing” a disembodied and ghostly snort of derision. But that was surely what came to his mind from Whitehall.
Stop thinking like “you.” You wouldn’t have been squeezing your provinces dry the way Tomsien’s been doing. You’ve got the mind of a scholar and an artisan, not an imperialist grandee.