Finance

Vitus had originally planned to recruit administrators from among the local people. Since Constantinople had sent a batch of civil officials, he simply handed out the exam papers he had prepared to test their education levels.

The exam was not complicated. It covered commonly used knowledge in arithmetic, geometry, agriculture, handicrafts, and commerce.

Vitus stood up and stretched, then told Uranus, "I'm going to have lunch. Stay here and supervise them. If anyone needs to use the privy, make sure a soldier goes with him."

An hour later, Vitus checked the submitted papers. Every single person had passed.

This was hardly surprising. The Eastern Roman Empire was a centralized bureaucratic empire, and its administration, local government, judicial system, and Eastern Orthodox Church all depended on a large literate population.

Even now, Constantinople still maintained the educational system of the classical era. Primary and secondary education were relatively widespread, and literacy rates far outstripped those of London, Paris, and Prague. Literacy was high in the Italian city-states, but still could not compare to Constantinople.

Since these people met the requirements, Vitus began explaining the state of affairs in Achaea and showed them the statistics he had collected some time earlier. Finally, he posed a question:

"How much tax can Achaea collect each year?"

Savard offered an estimate based on the figures from previous years. "Morea has a population of 230,000 and annual revenues of roughly 90,000 ducats, with agricultural taxes accounting for sixty percent. Achaea's population is less than a third of Morea's, so I estimate you'll be able to collect 28,000 to 30,000 ducats a year.

"As for expenditures, I've read Morea's financial reports. Forty percent goes to military expenses, thirty percent is sent to Constantinople, and the remaining thirty percent covers other costs. What do you have in mind?"

(Note: The Eastern Roman Empire's official currency at this time was the nomisma, worth 4.48 grams of gold. For convenience, this book has converted the amounts into ducats and florins wherever possible.)

Thirty percent sent to Constantinople? That was far too much.

If that was the case, Vitus would have about 20,000 ducats (florins) at his disposal—far less than he had earned working for Florence.

At this point, Savard added, "On the way here, I heard the farmers mention that this year's summer tax had been canceled. You truly are a benevolent ruler. The only trouble is, that means this year is bound to end in a deficit. I suggest you explain the situation to Constantinople and ask them to waive this year's payment."

Vitus regretted what he had said earlier, but this was the first order he had issued. No matter what, he could not take it back. "I hope Constantinople will understand my predicament."

With finances tight, he strictly limited the size of the administration, dividing all of Achaea into three towns: Andravida, Kyparissia, and Patras. Each town would have a mayor, tax collector, judge, port officer, and other officials.

"That will do. Focus on managing the towns, and don't interfere too much in the day-to-day running of villages, monasteries, and estates. If you need to recruit new staff, the mayor must write a detailed report, and I'll personally assess the candidates."

At last, Vitus understood why Venice had neglected the Peloponnese. If the shrewd Venetians had no interest in this land, it proved there wasn't much wealth to squeeze from it.

For the next half day, Vitus interviewed the civil officials one by one, then summoned the junior officers of the Tuna Legion to ask whether any of them were interested in transferring to the administration.

"Out of consideration for our friendship, you only need to answer thirty percent of the questions on the exam correctly to pass."

Unfortunately, these miners came from poor families—otherwise, they would not have gone elsewhere to work—and hailed from war-torn Attica and the Peloponnese, where the people's education levels were low. Seven applied to take the exam, but only one officer, a man named Daniel, passed.

"Daniel, what did you do before?"

"Your Highness, when I was young, I apprenticed as a stonemason and received some education."

Vitus nodded slowly, accepting the man's explanation. Then he asked Marcus, Damien, and Uranus, "You don't want to give it a try?"

Marcus said, "If I switch to a civilian post, my income will fall. I'd be better off staying an officer." The other two shared his view.

The three were resolute. Vitus did not want to waste time persuading them, so he dismissed everyone and pondered the candidates for each post alone in his room.

In early February, beneath bright sunshine and a sea breeze that carried a biting chill, a three-masted sailing ship slowly cleaved through the blue waters. The captain leaned against the damp gunwale, squinting toward the coastline as it gradually came into view.

The moment they spotted land, the sailors cheered loudly. Agnes ran from the cabin onto the deck, only to find that it was nothing like the grand, stone-built harbor she remembered. It was merely a humble fishing village built beside ancient ruins.

"Is this the place?" Agnes gazed at the Eastern Roman flag atop the lighthouse, wondering if the captain had chosen the wrong direction.

Half an hour later, the sailing ship slowly approached a wooden pier. The sailors lowered the anchor and secured the vessel with ropes. Once it had stopped, Agnes went to the pier with the help of her maid. After confirming she had not come to the wrong place, she ordered everyone to start unloading the cargo.

Before setting out, she had followed her husband's letter and recruited seven blacksmiths from Florence who were not yet qualified to open their own shops. She had also bought ten Three-Pounders and large quantities of sulfur, saltpeter, iron ingots, copper ingots, lead ingots...

Before long, Vitus hurried over after hearing the news. He had the guards load the supplies onto the carriage, then asked Agnes, "How much did it all cost?"

"Five thousand florins in total. Father paid for it as a congratulatory gift for your conquest of the Principality of Achaea. Also, only five hundred of the gun barrels you ordered have been completed. The rest will arrive at the end of the year."

The cold wind howled, turning the tip of Agnes's nose bright red. Shivering, she wrapped herself in her white fur coat and asked her husband to show her their new home.

"Don't get your hopes up. Andravida is just an ordinary little town. It can't compare to Constantinople or Florence." Vitus helped his wife into the carriage. After heading southeast for two hours, Agnes lifted the curtain and saw the walls of Andravida not far away.

Beyond the town gate lay vast tracts of wasteland. The locals used them as fields and livestock pens. Near the town center, Agnes finally sensed a little bustle. She studied the stalls lining both sides of the road, and judging by the goods on offer, the local people were living in dire straits.

At last, the carriage came to a stop. Agnes saw that the residence was plain and unadorned, even somewhat gloomy, with tall stone walls that had almost no windows facing the street.

Inside the main gate were the living quarters for the guards and servants on either side. Ahead lay a relatively narrow passage, which further strengthened the building's defenses and kept intruders from easily reaching the inner compound.

At the end of the passage stood a spacious central courtyard, overgrown with weeds. An Ionic colonnade ran around it, and directly ahead stood a two-story residence.