The effects of war were clearly all-encompassing.
A large-scale national war like the one between the Soma Alliance and the Sika Kingdom was not merely a contest between armies, but a clash of national strength.
Therefore, victory or defeat on the front lines did not simply mean soldier casualties; it also affected many aspects of the rear.
As he walked along the road, Richard saw that because the authorities were preparing tomorrow morning's Entry Ceremony for the delegation, Xia Ya as a whole was filled with a festive, cheerful, and bustling atmosphere.
Numerous laborers were being barked at by low-ranking officials as they cleaned the streets and hung festive decorations. In the square, several statues commemorating the victory were being carved by stonemasons and appeared likely to be completed before tomorrow.
However, that was only the surface.
Looking past the surface, one could see many negative things. For instance, there were far fewer customers in the shops, and some stores had even closed down, with "For Sale" signs posted outside.
After listening to the pedestrians' murmurs, Richard confirmed his suspicions: the war had deeply affected the residents.
To win the war and ensure logistics, the Alliance had mobilized considerable manpower, material resources, and funds. The depletion of the treasury had led to several additional War Taxes being imposed, while the payment rates for many existing taxes had also been raised.
With tax rates rising, naturally less money remained, and the residents' purchasing power plummeted. As a result, shops earned less money and struggled to keep operating, making closure inevitable.
Fortunately, they had won, so there was room to catch their breath. Tax rates would return to normal and might even be lowered, while Sika's war reparations could stimulate the economy as well—if they had lost, it would likely have been