Reaping the Gains
Twenty-one years after the Dark Portal, Zul'ra sailed west, entrusting the affairs of Amani to Chief Chieftain Broken-Tooth, the former leader of the Smolderthorn clan. This shrewd and capable female Trolls did not disappoint her trust. 💎✌ Claw 🐍🐠
In the two years that followed, Broken-Tooth, along with Maki, Lostro, Mordu, and others, established the Aman'Shuli Council Aman'Shuli Council, which served as the center for the operation of the entire Amani, thus creating a preliminary political structure.
In the past, most major events in Amani were decided by Zul'ra himself, and then assigned to be carried out collectively by all the Trolls of Amani. Although it seemed very convenient and quick, it was very unsafe, because the entire Amani revolved around him. Once he was lost, Amani would fall apart.
After the establishment of the Aman'Shuli Council, the situation changed. Even though Zul'ra stayed in Kalimdor more than two years, Amani remained under the control of the Council, which rationally allocated its forces and maintained a steady pace of progress.
While the entire Eastern Kingdoms was plagued by the Scourge, a significant decrease in population, and a severe reduction in food production, Amani's population continued to rise. Currently, its total population has exceeded 120,000 compared to nineteen years after the Dark Portal.
Amani currently has over 150,000 acres of various farmlands, over 50,000 livestock and pets, a year's worth of food reserves in its warehouses, and over 5 million gold coins (in Arathor Gold Coin coins). It owns five ports, three shipyards, plus 63 other facilities including ironworks, logging camps, and animal pens.
The Aman'Shuli Council primarily deployed its military forces in the Zul'Aman region to defend against the rampant Scourge in the north and the increasingly fanatical Lordaeron, while the cities of Jintha'Alor and the eastern highlands of Khaz Modan served as logistical bases, with transportation between these locations facilitated by sea.
After Zul'ra dispatched almost all of his shipyards to Kalimdor, Amani's three shipyards were put into construction one after another. In just over two years, they built four ramming ships, five destroyers, and thirteen transport ships. However, the giant bats were scarce, Amani was unable to build a second aircraft carrier like the Bat Nest.
Without anyone noticing, he had once again amassed a fleet. Zul'ra felt a great sense of accomplishment at this, along with admiration for Broken-Tooth and all the Amani Trolls. He had only drawn up a blueprint, but Broken-Tooth and the Amani Trolls had brought it to life.
After the development of Amani, Zul'ra also focused on the now-defunct Defias Brotherhood, and personally spoke with Sen'lai, whom he had sent to the south in Jintha'Alor.
The Defias Brotherhood uprising was brutally suppressed. Edwin VanCleef and many other Defias Brotherhood members were arrested and killed, but a group managed to escape, including Fakqi, Dibodun, and others who are now with Sen'lai and have fled back to Amani.
"Although they escaped, they have basically lost the will to fight!" Sen'lai said with deep emotion as he spoke of the condition of the survivors who had escaped with him.
Sen'lai can be considered a participant in the Defias Rebellion. Due to Zul'ra's orders, he provided a lot of help to the Defias Brotherhood, helping them organize their military and offering advice according to Zul'ra's requirements. He watched as Sanra rose to prominence, entertained guests, and then his empire collapsed.
"Don't they have any plans for the future?" Zul'ra couldn't help but ask.
"I don't know, but I think they definitely can't pick up where they left off because they lack a leader like Edwin." Sen'lai shook his head; he wasn't optimistic about the Defias Brotherhood's situation.
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"It's a real shame about Edwin." Zul'ra thought of the man who used to seem rather crazy, and lowered his gaze. His original idea was to have the Defias Brotherhood merge with the Syndicate so that the Syndicate would have enough power to support Alterac. Now he didn't know if it was feasible!
"In fact, Zul'ra Jin, we are not without a chance." Sen'lai suddenly raised his head and looked at Zul'ra Jin, who was thinking with his eyes downcast.
"What?" Zul'ra looked at the Witch Doctor who had suddenly spoken.
"Edwin, he has a daughter named Vanessa, whom we escaped with. If she could possess her father's abilities, perhaps she could revive his unfinished work." Sen'lai proposed someone who could potentially unite and revitalize the Defias Brotherhood.
"How old is she? How is she now?" Zul'ra glanced at Vanessa VanCleef, Edwin's daughter, who also seemed to be a tragic figure.
"She was still three or four years shy of fifteen. During our escape, she was very quiet. She was heartbroken, but she didn't break down; she was incredibly strong." Sen'lai didn't know Edwin's daughter's age, but he knew that the girl possessed a resilience beyond her years.
"She's too young. This child can't carry too much. Send her to Taretha to be cared for. Also, I've been searching for other Defias survivors in the Syndicate. I have an idea, you can see if it's feasible..." Zul'ra refused to put the matter on the little girl, and then told Sen'lai about her idea of facilitating the merger of the Syndicate and the Defias, asking for his opinion.
"Send Defias to Durnholde!" Sen'lai's eyes darkened as he listened to Zul'ra's words. The Syndicate was an assassin organization, and Defias was similar in nature. The merger of these two introverted and conservative organizations seemed unlikely, but it wasn't a bad idea either.
Syndicate have capital and power, but they lack the ability to govern a regime. Defias, while not exactly good at this, is at least better than the Syndicate. However, they have just been violently suppressed and have lost their capital and power. The two have what the other lacks and what the other has, so they can complement each other's strengths and weaknesses.
"Perhaps. The current members of Defias have basically lost their fighting spirit. Many of them are probably just thinking about finding a place to retire peacefully. The Syndicate is a good place for them, and there is also a chance to make a comeback. Maybe I can go and ask!" Sen'lai didn't dare to make a guarantee.
"Then let's go ask them. We respect their wishes!" Zul'ra nodded in agreement. This matter couldn't be forced; it depended on the thoughts of the Defias survivors.
Following Zul'ra's advice, Sen'lai spoke with the remaining leaders of the Defias Brotherhood. Unsurprisingly, these survivors were all demoralized and only wanted to find a place to live out their remaining years in peace. Durnholde was a good place, and there was also a chance to make a comeback, so most of them agreed to go there.
The Defias survivors' agreement to cooperate with the Syndicate was a welcome development, and Zul'ra immediately sent them to Durnholde, also writing a letter for Sen'lai to deliver to Duke Foulcrest, the experienced Witch Doctor, who was also ordered to continue following in the footsteps of the Defias Brotherhood.