The Rise Of An Empire In Ancient Europe-Chapter 168: Slaughter and Pacification (Part 2)

Amid the uproar, a voice exclaimed, "Tina’s husband?! Ulaza, you’ve lost your chance!"

This comment drew the first light laughter from the guests.

"I thought you had died while being pursued by Grumentum..." Ulaza said bitterly. "So, I already have a wife."

"At that time, none of us could be sure we’d live to see today!" Bagul’s words resonated with the guests, and he continued, "So tonight, let’s not talk about anything else—just drink! Let’s celebrate being alive today!"

"Right!" Ksema exclaimed, holding a two-handled amphora filled with wine.

After taking a sip, he declared loudly, "This is great wine! I’ve never had such good wine before! Tonight, I’m going to finish off all of Bagul’s wine!"

Everyone burst into laughter.

Bagul secretly thanked Ksema for helping to ease the tension.

Raising his cup, he shouted, "Let’s give thanks to the Ruler Asinu for his protection!"

Bagul led the toast, and after a few rounds of wine, the atmosphere at the banquet grew lively. Cups clinked, and laughter filled the room.

Amid the commotion, Bagul stood and said to Arsistatus , "Come, brother-in-law, let me introduce you to my guests!"

Assisters held a wine jug in one hand and a cup in the other.

"This is Ksema, my childhood friend and wrestling rival. Though he never managed to beat me!"

"Don’t listen to his nonsense!"

"If you don’t believe me, let’s wrestle again someday!"

"No need to wait! Let’s do it after the banquet tonight. Dare to try?"

"Bring it on! Do you think I’m afraid of you?" Bagul responded enthusiastically.

Hearing that there would be a wrestling match later, the other guests eagerly joined in the excitement.

Arsistatus, following Lucanian etiquette, saluted Ksema and clinked cups with him, draining his drink in one go.

"Well done!" someone shouted, clearly impressed by Arsistatus’ use of Lucanian customs and his straightforward demeanor.

"This is Ulaza, my friend and once a suitor of Tina!"

"Pleasure to meet you!" Arsistatus clinked cups with Ulaza and said, "Don’t worry. Tina is doing well, and I’ll always take good care of her."

Ulaza glared at Arsistatus and said, "I want to wrestle you later. Do you dare?"

"Of course!" Arsistatus answered decisively, raising his cup and draining it in one go.

"Well done!!" The guests cheered again, starting to find this Greek to their liking.

"This is Uncle Hermon. He used to take us fishing when we were kids.

He’s the best fisherman among all the Lucanians!"

After making his rounds, drinking a whole jug of wine, Assisters found himself slightly unsteady on his feet.

However, the wary looks from the guests had disappeared entirely.

"Brother-in-law, you should know..." Bagul said with emotion as he returned to his seat. "We used to live as small tribes in the forests between the upper reaches of the Lari River and the Agri River.

We often interacted and united against external enemies. But after Grumentum and Niutum formed an alliance, we couldn’t resist their power.

Some were forced to join Grumentum, others like Ksema and Ulaza joined Niutum, and some of us fled the deep mountains... I never thought we’d gather here again." Bagule’s voice carried deep emotion. "If my father knew, he wouldn’t be able to sleep tonight!"

Bagul’s words stirred the memories of the guests, and they sighed with sentiment.

Bagule then patted Arsistatus on the shoulder and declared loudly, "My brother-in-law has another role.

He is a close aide to the Thurii Alliance’s Archon, Juleios, and was sent by him to help govern Niutum!"

This revelation drew gasps of astonishment from the guests.

"Juleios? You mean the Greek who defeated more than 10,000 Akpiru with just a few thousand men?"

"Arsistatus, I heard Juleios later used a few thousand troops to defeat tens of thousands of Crotonians. Is that true?"

"I’ve also heard he’s the son of a Greek Ruler!"

It was no surprise the guests were so amazed.

While Niutum had been cut off from Thurii during the war, Laos, with its port, ensured that news from the outside world eventually reached Niutum.

When the Lucanians wondered why their powerful coalition had failed, Juleios’ name first came to their ears. For those who paid attention, more stories of Juleios’ achievements trickled in through merchants arriving at the port of Laos.

For the Lucanians, who revered strength and were deeply superstitious, this strong and mysterious Greek filled them with awe. Bagule, understanding this from his interrogations of prisoners, deliberately emphasized Assisters’ connection to Juleios, instantly cloaking him in an aura of prestige.

Seizing the opportunity, Assisters said, "Archon Juleios once remarked, ’In Lucania, large tribes oppress smaller ones, annexing their people and livestock.

The chieftains of these large tribes grow rich as kings, while the people of smaller tribes live like slaves, even worse than slaves.’" fɾeeweɓnѳveɭ.com

"That’s exactly right!"

"He speaks the truth!"

Assisters’ words resonated deeply with the guests.

"And our Thurii Alliance will never oppress you!" Arsistatus declared emphatically. "Before I came, Archon Juleios repeatedly instructed me, ’Treat the Lucanians as your own people.’ He said, ’In the Thurii Alliance, Greeks, Lucanians, Persians, and other peoples will all be equal, with the same rights and responsibilities, regardless of rank or origin.’"

"That’s true!" Bagul chimed in to support him. "In the Thurii Alliance, the Chief Commercial Officer and Senate Elder Marigi is Persian, yet he is a citizen of the alliance. I am a Lucanian and now serve as the commander of the Fourth Brigade of the First Legion, as well as a Senate Elder! My father, Vespa, is also a Senate Elder!"

The guests gasped in disbelief. Their long-standing contact with the Greeks had given them a basic understanding of Greek political systems.

A Senate Elder was akin to the leader of a major tribal coalition in Lucania, someone who could influence or even dictate the decisions of a powerful chief.

"How can we become citizens of the Thurii Alliance?!" Many among the crowd, eager and excited, couldn’t help but ask aloud.

"If you are willing to join the Thurii Alliance, you can immediately become a prospective citizen. As long as you abide by the Alliance’s laws and demonstrate good behavior, you can become a full citizen in five years.

(The Thurii Alliance Senate, considering the unique circumstances of the Lucanians, has decided that as long as they willingly submit, they can become prospective citizens. However, for fairness, just like the Greeks, they must wait five years to become full citizens.)"

"What’s the difference between prospective citizens and full citizens?" someone observant asked, noting the distinction between the terms.

"Prospective citizens do not have certain rights that full citizens enjoy, such as being allocated land by the Alliance or holding public office. However, prospective citizens are protected by the Alliance and can receive its assistance.

For example, if you become prospective citizens and are willing to farm, the Alliance will lease you land in Niutum to cultivate, with a tax rate of only 5%. (This is a new policy introduced to encourage prospective citizens to migrate to Niutum.) If you prefer herding, the Alliance will lease cattle and sheep to you for grazing, also at a 5% tax rate.

Becoming a prospective citizen isn’t easy; after applying, you must undergo at least two years of evaluation before being approved."

"That’s right," Bagule added, reinforcing the message. "The Thurii Alliance Senate, recognizing our Lucanian distrust of the Greeks, deliberately eased the requirements for Lucanians to become prospective citizens.

This decision faced significant criticism from many Greek citizens!"

In reality, the two speakers worried unnecessarily. Most of the guests weren’t bothered by these conditions. Compared to the heavy burden of surrendering half their income annually to Niutum and their reliance on warfare and plunder for survival, the 5% tax rate offered by the Thurii Alliance was astonishingly favorable.

The guests began whispering eagerly amongst themselves.

"Aren’t you afraid we’ll take your cattle and sheep and run away?" someone joked.

"We’re not afraid!" Assisters replied confidently. "With just a few cattle or sheep, we can identify those unfit to become citizens of the Alliance.

And where would someone who steals from us go? To another Lucanian tribe, only to have their livestock taken and themselves oppressed by an unfamiliar chief? Or wander the wilderness until they freeze, fall ill, or starve to death? As long as you abide by our laws and respect public order, you’ll be free to practice your own customs, celebrate your festivals, and worship your gods."

Hearing this, each guest fell into deep thought.

Then, someone shouted, "How can one become a senator in the Thurii Alliance Senate?!"

Bagule recognized the speaker as Hermon and couldn’t help but smile to himself. Back in the day, Hermon’s tribe was second only to Vespa’s in the region between the Lari and Agri Rivers, making it one of the larger tribes. But now, he was left with only a few hundred warriors under his command.

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