HERALD OF STEEL

Menes was speaking from experience when he advised Alexander regarding the distribution of the rewards.

The propensity for the infantry grunts to cause trouble and raise issues out of something that was not even worth considering was really something that needed to be seen to be believed.

And hearing this quickly also reminded Alexander of how he used to divide any obtained loot. The shares were certainly not equal.

Now back then, Alexander did that based on contributions- the infantry did the fighting while the slaves and servants stayed at camp, so natually the former got more, with the higher position in the ranks getting more rewards as they were responsible for more things.

However this gift was just that- a gift. Alexander could give any amount to anyone he wished.

So he did not think to divide it like that.

But now Menes was saying to do exactly that- because the men would not care how much they got, they would get how much ‘more’ they got.

And Alexander certainly understood this psychology

For example- if both someone and their friend takes a job interview and he gets hired for 80,000 dollars a year, he will feel very happy.

However if just after a few months he hears that the friend got a 100,000 dollars a year offer in the same industry, suddenly that sweet job will start to taste bitter.

This is because for most people, there was no absolute happiness, only comparative.

“Sigh… okay, then give the servants half- 50 ropals,” Realizing this, the pasha hence changed his order, elucidating, “I will give 600,000 ropals in total. Give the men 480,000 and the servants 60,000. You take 20,000 and divide the rest between the officers and their assistants.”

There were five major officers under Menes-

A man who led from the front, rallying the men to charge the enemy. He was also the lead drill sergeant during peace times, in charge of training new recruits and keeping the veteran’s sword sharp and well oiled.

Then there was an officer who was at the very back, urging the men forward and keeping an eye out on the lines, thus making sure the formation was kept. He was also in charge of preventing routs and in case of a retreat, usually led the rear guard.

This post would go to Menes’s deputy, who stayed close to the commander, working closely to run any errands or relay instructions to other parts of the legion.

There was an officer in the middle of the formation also, kept there to maintain order. While in peace time he was in charge of the camp’s defense. So he would be the one to deligate sentry and watch duties.

The fourth was a standard bearer who carried the all important flag, helping the men keep heed of position in the vast battlefield. In regular times, he kept attendance, and solved disputes among men.

Lastly there was the trumpeter, responsible for giving all the various signals, as well as being the military clerk in charge of soldiers’ pay and calculating all the various deductions.

And to help them, there were quite a few slaves and staff.

So all in all, even when shared amongst all, these men would get surely at least a few thousand ropals from Alexander’s dividends.

The order instantly brought a large grin to Menes, his pearly whites shining brightly against his dark skin.

20,000 ropals was not a small amount even for him. But much more than that, he was pleased Alexander had actually listened to him, heeding his advice.

“Good! With this I can personally beat the shit of anyone who dares cause a problem.” The general replied pleasantly with such gusto, believing he could have the officers’ full support in any disciplinary hearing with this ‘bribe’.

“Mmm… don’t mention it. Just take this as your compensation.” While Alexander gently patted his general on the shoulder once more, his gaze suddenly turning soft and his voice a bit shamed and weak, “I am sorry that I cannot take you to Adhan this time. But I really need someone I trust to look after the men here. Just in case something happens…”

Looking at Alexander’s face and hearing his words brought great comfort to Menes’s heart.

The black general was of course aware of all these arrangements and also why Alexander was going it, that still did not mean he was not even a tiny bit salty.

The capital was said to turn into a golden wonderland during this time of the year, decorated from top to bottom with festive festoons.

So naturally, the relatively young Menes was curious to see the spectacle for himself. And when it was denied to him, he felt a bit disappointed.

But now with this apology, and hearing Alexander further add, “Do not worry. I will make it up to you next year. You and the princess can spend the fall and winter here,” all that swiftly melted away like dews under the sun.

“Hahaha… don’t mention it, don’t mention it.” The man uproariously roared without a care in the world, placing both his hands on his hips and declaring imperious,

“I am a general…A fight! What would a poor mercenary like me do in that stuffy place full of snobbished, uppity nobles? I would die of suffocation. Hahaha!”

Whether genuine or not, Menes’s answer pleased Alexander, letting him give a light but deep smile.

“Ahhh… one last time,” Then as the very last point, the Pasha hushed his voice and detailed,

“The men who follow the Ramuh religion, let them all go out during the last day of the fair. It is of special significance for them.”

“But when doing so, also keep an eye on those who want to leave the camp pretending to be them. They are either liars or hypocrites to the Mother.”

“Do not do anything for now. Just pass on the list to me. I will take care of them later.”

“…..” There was biting tone to Alexander as he said so, and hearing the instructions, Menes turned to give the man a deep, profound look.

There were of course no atheists in the legion- the disbelief in the existence of god was a grave offense in not only Adhania but across the whole world, one whose only punishment if convicted was death.

In fact, this was also one of the charges brought up against Socrates- that he had disrespected the gods by denying their existence. Which ultimately led to his famous end.

Thus if any men were to leave the camp to go enjoy the last day, his allegiance would be clear.

And realizing this ploy, Menes’s heart skipped a small beat.

‘Really, how these nobles think are really beyond me. To scheme and plot even during such a festive time. *Sigh*, he even gave them a 100 ropals to spend. How can the men not fall for this trap? Even I would!’

There was both great admiration in his silent rumination for Alexander over the trick as well as quite a bit of dread, as Menes once again understood why the man was actually the boss.

Only someone like him could sit with the nobles and snatch food from the tiger’s mouth.

And as he thought like this, the black general actually felt a trace of true pity for his men who would be foolish enough to fall for this all too easy trap.

Needless to say, getting one’s name into a list to be read by the Pasha was an extreme result- be it good or bad. And in this case it was certainly very, very bad.

He might not execute them outright, that would have been too extreme. But stopping their career completely on its path was definitely on the table

“Sure! No problem.” But regardless of Menes’s own opinion, he of course nodded quickly to the request, and with that, the two men finally parted for the moment.

….

Alexander quickly returned to Lord Iyazid and more importantly, by now the extremely impatient twins, who quickly chewed out his ears for the dealy.

However before Alexander could apologize, he was swiftly interjected by that middle aged nobleman who had greeted him initially, now interjecting with an urgent, somewhat cramped face,

“Ahhh.. my lord, will your men be staying here? These are actually His Majesty’s personal hunting grounds, so…”

Even though the man trailed off, Alexander understood what he was trying to say.

If 6,000 men were to live, eat and clean themselves everyday, by the time they left this place in six months’ later, the whole thing would become a barren wasteland, stripped of all its resources.

The wood would be used for construction of not just walls and palisade, but also barracks as well as kindling for cooking, while all the vegetation would become fodder for the pack animals.

There was a reason moving armies were called locusts, sucking all the food like a vaccum everywhere it went.

“Ahhh… no problem. I will talk to His Majesty. I am sure he will agree.” But Alexander simply breezed away the concerns, while quickly stepping up to go meet Lord Iyazid, leaving whatever the nobleman wanted to say in his mouth.

When he was given the chance to meet with Alexander, the middle aged man was certainly over the moon initially, thinking he had earned the king’s enough trust to let him be designated with such an important task.

However that alacrity evaporated almost instantly as soon as he met Alexander.

And now he was really starting to regret it.

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