CHAPTER 409: CHAPTER 287: GOING WITH THE FLOW

Everyone couldn’t help but shudder. Although Maximus spoke cryptically, everyone understood: isn’t this just a repeat of the rebellion they had once risen against?

Karina retorted with some dissatisfaction, "Leader, I think you’re exaggerating the issue. Reserve Tribe Members only need to work hard for three years, or even shorter, and they can become Official Tribe Members, obtaining vast tracts of land. This is clearly written in the tribal decree! Moreover... they also have their fellow Nix Tribe Official Tribe Members as role models. Even if they harbor some discontent, they should be able to endure."

"Yes, Leader. Haven’t the Segestica Reserve Tribe Members in our tribe previously done quite well?" Volenus reminded from the side.

"Everyone, I’ve already said just now, today’s circumstances are vastly different from last year’s!" Maximus tapped the wooden table with his fingers and said loudly, "Last year, those Segestica Tribe Members who joined the tribe were few in number, and they were prisoners captured by our army. They weren’t killed or handed over to the Aldeans for torture; they merely lost a bit of freedom and had to do exhausting labor to stay united with their families. They felt quite fortunate, so they were able to endure.

But now we are standing on Segestica’s land, where there is a great multitude of people! According to Casinos’ account, their entire tribe exceeds 100,000 people, several times the population of our Nix Tribe! Several times more, everyone! They are here, on their own land! And then they willingly lose their houses, belongings, lands, and freedoms, labor for a few years, just to obtain even more land?!

Everyone, most of the people in this world are shortsighted. They cannot glimpse a brighter future and merely wish to cling tightly to their immediate benefits! Although we have crushed Segestica’s army and occupied their Main Camp, it doesn’t mean we already possess Segestica’s land!

Segestica’s territory is enormously vast. We not only need the Segestica prisoners to join the tribe, but also need more Segestica citizens to quickly join the tribe. Only in this way can the tribe rapidly claim more Segestica land, enhance our power swiftly, greatly reduce the chances of Segestica people rebelling against us, and allow the tribe to focus its energy on countering retaliations from other major Pannonian Tribes!"

After hearing these words, everyone present was moved and fell into deep contemplation.

A moment later, Quintus said gravely, "We indeed need to find ways to have more Segestica people voluntarily join the tribe, rather than letting them all turn into Foreign Auxiliary Members. Otherwise, we would need numerous subordinates and soldiers to oversee such a massive number of Foreign Auxiliary Members. At that time, we wouldn’t have the energy to supervise the Reserve Tribe Members anymore, nor would we have enough manpower to handle the tribe’s other affairs. Moreover, if the Pannonian Army invades again, we would have to leave behind some soldiers to guard against rebellions from the Foreign Auxiliary Members..."

Quintus’ reminder made the expressions of those present even sterner.

Gaius, however, replied with an air of ease, "Everyone need not worry. Wise Leader, surely you’ve already devised a solution to get more Segestica people to voluntarily join our tribe while ensuring they’re productive without our close supervision, right?"

"Indeed, I’ve come up with an idea, and I’m just about to discuss it with you all." Maximus, seizing the moment, spoke gravely, "That is, to amend the tribal decree regarding requirements for Reserve Tribe Members: anyone who voluntarily joins the tribe and becomes a Reserve Tribe Member will immediately be allocated 50 mu of land!"

"What?!" Everyone was astonished.

Pigeris blurted out, "Joining the tribe and being directly allocated land—does that even qualify as Reserve Tribe Members?!"

"Listen to me first!" Maximus cast a slightly discontented glance at Pigeris, who quickly lowered his head in fright. Seeing this, the others refrained from speaking further.

Maximus stressed his tone and said, "Reserve Tribe Members are still Reserve Tribe Members. Under regular circumstances, they’ll still need to obediently work for three years to become Official Tribe Members. Although they’ll be allocated 50 mu of land, they must turn over 60% of their annual harvests to the tribe until they become Official Tribe Members, at which point they’ll only need to pay 15%.

Their current possessions will remain their own, but their current houses won’t necessarily still belong to them, as the tribe will relocate them to new houses in villages near their allocated land. These new houses won’t be worse than their previous ones. As for the grain stored at their homes now, they must hand over 60% to the tribe. If they find themselves short of grain before next year’s autumn harvest, the tribe will provide them supplemental grain, depending on the situation... What do you all think of this proposal?"

"This is definitely a great idea, Leader!" Gaius was the first to respond, "Distributing land immediately lets the Reserve Tribe Members see that what we say isn’t empty words but rather tangible benefits. The land becomes theirs, so naturally, they’ll take better care of it and work hard to cultivate it! Their current possessions remain theirs, and they move into even better houses. They’ll only feel thankful!

As for handing over 60% of their current grain, I believe they won’t resent it much, because over the next three years, they’ll still have to surrender 60% of their harvests. They’ll see this as the sole price they have to pay to become Reserve Tribe Members of the Nix Tribe."

"But leaving 40% of the land yields for Reserve Tribe Members every year—wouldn’t that be excessively generous?! In September alone, I surrendered close to 50% of my grain as a quota," Capito objected.

"That’s because you don’t farm the land yourself, but hire several Reserve Tribe Members to cultivate the land for you. As per regulations, the grain you hand over to the tribe is naturally higher," Gaius said, teasingly yet also explaining to the finance department, "But based on your role, the tribe distributes a salary to you monthly (currently the Nix Tribe pays its officials in wheat, distributed annually by the finance department after harvest season in October), which amounts to more than the grain you surrender. Several others, like Quintus, Flanitnus, Lebilus, and Sidonius, who are busy with management and don’t engage in farming, have similar situations."

The individuals named all turned to look at Gaius. He shrugged nonchalantly, "What I said is all true, isn’t it!"

Volenus quickly chimed in, "I believe leaving 40% of the grain yields to the Reserve Tribe Members isn’t too much. Of that 40%, at least 10% will serve as seeds for the next planting year, roughly 20% can barely sustain them until the next autumn harvest, and the remaining portion can be used to trade for new farming tools and daily necessities...

This way, the tribe won’t need to provide extra assistance to Reserve Tribe Members anymore. They can live independently, just like Official Tribe Members, saving our tribe quite a bit of trouble... 40% is neither too much nor too little—it’s just right! Leader, your idea is spot on!"

"Not only does this save each department energy, but also allows these newly joined Segestica people to live relatively freely, making them feel the tribe is genuinely treating them as tribesmen. Coupled with the oath’s binding power, they should lead a stable life within the tribe," Pigeris emphasized.

Everyone quickly agreed with Maximus’ suggestion, amending and solidifying the new regulations regarding Reserve Tribe Members in the tribal decree.

Maximus excitedly struck the table and said, "Everyone, the new regulations are finalized. Next, let’s discuss how to claim Segestica’s domain! Marcus, bring the Segestica map!"

The attendant swiftly placed the prepared map in the center of the table, and everyone immediately set aside their meals and gathered around the table.

This was a rough map of Segestica’s domain, drawn by Maximus based on Casinos’ descriptions. The map outlined only the Sava River, surrounding mountain ranges, and the Main Camp, without marking other villages.

Maximus gestured at the map and said, "Everyone, I’ve divided Segestica’s territory into four primary sections: northern Segestica, southern Segestica, eastern Segestica, and western Segestica. Its northern part has narrow, flatlands along the upper Sava River, while the rest is mountainous, reportedly bordering the lands of the Yabod and Noric people.

Segestica has few tribes in the north. They previously clashed with the Yabod people but were defeated by their Great Chief Andres. Over the years, northern Segestica was rarely disturbed by the Yabod people. The Segestica people have good relations with the Noric people and have long purchased iron ore from them, so the northern territory is crucial for us as a source to acquire iron ore, though it is not our immediate focus.

Segestica’s western region connects to our Kupa River domain through forest paths. The land here is flat and fertile, dense with villages and a large population. Our West Village is also situated here, making the west our priority for development. Stabilizing the west will enable the Kupa River domain to seamlessly integrate with Segestica, allowing unrestricted flows of resources and personnel between the two regions, thus solidifying our foothold on the Sava River plain.

Segestica’s eastern region similarly boasts flat, fertile land, albeit less than the west, as parts of the east are hilly and border the northeastern Pannonian major tribe of Desitia. According to Casinos, Desitia has close ties with Segestica, and their Great Chief, Temagis, is friends with Andres. Therefore, they’ve actively participated in both the siege of our temporary camp and the recent invasion by the Pannonian Tribe Alliance. In the future, we’re bound to clash with them..."