HPLN: Chapter 52

Over the course of the rest of Spring of Two-Seventy-Eight and Into the Summer, I spent much of my time on administration. The Hemp Seeds and cuttings had arrived from the Bosporans now that they weren't focused on fighting Bolgios and I needed to organize the plantations, for one thing. For another, I had to mediate disputes here at home and continue on with the general administration of Epirus. The big thing in Spring however was getting the Hemp Plantations up and running. Once I had those up and running, I could get the paper mill up and running and once both were up and running, I could begin to manufacture Byzantine-style rag paper for the use of my administration. I had been working towards that for some time and now would be able to put it into action.

The big issue that had me working towards the production of Byzantine-style Rag Paper was twofold. First, the production of Papyrus had been disrupted by the state of Civil War in Egypt. The Ptolemies going at it along with the independence of Cyrenaica and Meleager's Kingdom had fragmented the supply train for Papyrus and resulted in price spikes for Papyrus and a smaller amount of available Papyrus on the Market. Second was the fact that even with my alliance and marriage ties to the Seleucids, Parchment from Pergamon was still ridiculously expensive. Luxury prices for the writing tools that a bureaucracy needs to function were not a good thing for the continued functioning of said bureaucracy.

Thus far, we had been supplementing our import of Papyrus with wax tablets, importing the wax from some of our vassals whose apiaries fed meadaries and candleworks, and now fed my bureaucracy. The issue with that was the fact that wax tablets were incredibly limiting in terms of what could be inscribed on them. For every one scroll of Papyrus or Parchment, you would need two wax tablets to contain the same amount of writing. It would quickly become unworkable and had been one of the reasons that Rome had switched to Papyrus in the original timeline so that they would not have to pay for the upkeep of multiple warehouses of records inscribed on wax tablets. Byzantine-style Rag Paper would fix the issues with that and allow us to cease using wax tablets as a patch for the issue.

The Plantations had to be placed in an area of well-drained, non-clay, soil. Hemp did not grow well in soil that was too wet, after all. This necessitated the digging of drainage ditches. Hemp was also best adapted to temperatures of seventy to eighty degrees Fahrenheit or twenty-one to twenty-six degrees Celsius. That made it a summer crop, which meant that the Plantations had to be a priority to get off the ground if I wanted any sort of harvest this year. Fortunately, or unfortunately given future sensibilities, there was a common practice way around such issues in the fact that Slavery was widespread. It was unfortunate, but a lot of stuff here in the Hellenistic Period ran off of Slavery to brute force such things. The past was, as they say, a foreign country, even when it was the present, and no matter how much I might want to abolish Slavery, it just wasn't feasible to do without destroying the economy.

Over the course of the second half of April and into May of Two-Seventy-Eight, the primary focus of my efforts went to establishing the Hemp Plantations. Drainage ditches were dug, fields were planted, and facilities built so that by the time that June of Two-Seventy-Eight rolled around we could get at least a few fields planted and switch to building the Paper Mill. This took advantage of the Tidal Mills that I had innovated to speed along the production of Rag paper. Shredded Hemp fibers would be mixed with water and ammonia that was produced from boiling urine to create pulp, which was then pressed into sheets in a wooden mold and dried into paper. The resulting rag paper would take the form of tan sheets that were suitable for writing on. Furthermore, the sheets could be easily rolled up into scrolls or folded up for easy storage.

By August, we would have both the first few Hemp Plantations and the paper mill built and ready for production and harvest when the first Hemp plants were ready in September. It was a testament to how efficient my administration was that we were able to begin actual production this year and as the first week of September, Two-Seventy-Eight, dawned the first sheets of Hemp Paper were rolling out of the paper mill, giving my bureaucracy the material breathing room that it needed to not only function, but thrive as well. At the same time, the stalks of the Hemp Plant were used for the fibers, but the leaves were used in medicines. Dried Hemp leaves for medicinal tea could be used to treat gastrointestinal distress and smoking Hemp leaves could be used to treat pain. Both were trade goods that could be sold at luxury prices, bringing even more money to my treasury.

That wasn't to say that this was the only thing that I spent time doing from April to September of Two-Seventy-Eight, mind you. There were also the usual Kingly duties of overseeing the administration and settling disputes. One such dispute was fairly pressing too, a pair of wealthy merchants were quarreling over monopolization of trade and could not sort the issue out amongst themselves. The dispute was between Eumelos of Bouthroton and Dionysos of Onchesmos over the trade of Dye on the sea routes to Korkyra. Apparently, Eumelos was accusing Dionysos of hiring local Pirates to turn back Eumelos' ships hauling dyes across the Straits of Korkyra to the Cities on the Island itself, a serious accusation that required my intervention as Basileus. I summoned both men to Ambracia to hear the case at the Palace.

"So, Eumelos, you are accusing Dionysos of hiring Pirates to force your dye ships back from Korkyra. This is quite a serious accusation." I spoke up from my throne.

"Indeed, Pyrrhus King. The Foul Brigands all but confirmed it, according to my Captains." Nodded Eumelos.

"And what have you to say on the subject, Dionysos?" I questioned.

"Eumelos' claims hold absolutely no weight. If his ships were turned back from Korkyra by pirates, it was simple Ill Luck. Perhaps he is distraught enough over the loss of revenue that he simply requires someone to blame for his ill fortune?" Queried Dionysos.

"You smug bastard! You are behind this! By all the Gods Above and Below, I can feel it in my bones!" Spat Eumelos.

"But can you prove it?" Asked Dionysos, sneering.

"Enough the both of you! This is my court and if you cannot be civil, I shall lock you both in a cell until you can learn to get along!" I snapped.

That brought the brewing argument to a halt as if both men suddenly realized where they were and decided they would rather not be thrown in the palace dungeon until they could get along. It didn't stop them from glaring at each other across the room. I couldn't help but sigh at the petulance on display there. The two were acting like children, with Dionysos being a smug prick and Eumelos getting angry over it. Honestly, I could absolutely believe that Dionysos was hiring pirates to fuck over business rivals. He had that sort of smug aura about him. Unfortunately, there was more at stake here. Hiring Pirates to sabotage a business rival was technically an act of treason, hence why the case had come to me. It was tantamount to sabotaging the economy, after all.

"What am I to do with the two of you? If Dionysos truly has hired pirates to patrol the Straits of Korkyra for the ships of Eumelos, then that is treason and punishable by death. If he has not, then this entire case is a waste of my time and thus punishable by a fine. Either way, a crime has been committed here. The only thing that remains to be seen is whether the crime in question is a capital one or not. I shall send out Admiral Porphyrion with a task force to the Straits of Korkyra. He shall get to the bottom of this. In the meantime, you both must remain in Ambracia as my guests until this matter is settled." I ordered.

With that, my Guards stepped forth to take both Eumelos and Dionysos into custody as a Royal Courier was sent out to Admiral Porphyrion and the Royal Fleet with orders to sail with a Task Force to the Straits of Korkyra to hunt pirates. I ensured that neither Dionysos nor Eumelos could smuggle messages back to their cities to order their respective subordinates to hide whatever crimes had been committed. It took two weeks for Admiral Porphyrion to get to the bottom of the issue, bringing a small flotilla of Pirate Pentekontors to battle off the Coast of Korkyra near the island of Ptychia in the middle of the Straits of Korkyra, smashing them and forcing them to surrender. In the aftermath, one of the Pirate Captains admitted to taking Drachmae from Dionysos to force ships in the employ of Eumelos to turn back to Bouthroton or face capture.

When I heard that, I summoned both Eumelos and Dionysos back to court from the House Arrest I had been keeping them both under as Admiral Porphyrion brought the Pirate Captain he had interrogated, an Illyrian named Bardhyl the Scarred, to testify. As everyone assembled, I opened the session of court with a pronouncement.

"It is treason, then, it seems. Admiral Porphyrion, bring forth the Prisoner that he may testify." I commanded.

My Admiral nodded, his large, armored, form moving to grab a manacled, scarred, bald, Illyrian in a tattered tunic and manacles from a pair of guards. He practically dragged the stubborn Illyrian Pirate forward by the chains and nodded to me. Bardhyl looked like he'd been having a rough go of it. Several of the scars were clearly fresh, either from the battle or interrogation. Then Admiral Porphyrion turned to the Pirate and commanded him to speak.

"Tell the King what you told me." Ordered Admiral Porphyrion.

"Aye. I will. We was hired to attack ships owned by a certain Greek Merchant. Eumelos, as was. Paid a handsome sum of Drachmae for it too." Opined Bardhyl, nodding to Eumelos.

"And who paid you for this?" I questioned.

"That man there called hisself Odysseus. I know a fake name when I hears one, though." Answered Bardhyl, pointing at Dionysos.

"And how much were you paid?" I queried.

"Half a talent per ship, silver enough to be set for a good long while." Informed Bardhyl.

"Admiral?" I asked.

"When we raided their dock on Ptychia we found around forty-thousand Drachmae in silver." Responded Admiral Porphyrion.

"And how many ships were there in the Pirate Fleet you fought?" I questioned.

"Fifteen." Affirmed Admiral Porphyrion.

"So not quite half a talent per ship in their stash then. They must have spent some of their illicit coin." I mused.

"They're pirated, My King. Pirates are known to spend plunder like water." Shrugged Admiral Porphyrion.

"Indeed. You may take Bardhyl back to the Dungeon now, Admiral." I nodded.

As Admiral Porphyrion practically force-marched Bardhyl back to his cell, I turned back to Eumelos and Dionysos. Dionysos' expression was pale, and he seemed to be nervous. That was all the confirmation I needed to know that Bardhyl had been telling the truth and that we had caught Dionysos red-handed. I folded my hands in front of me as I stared down Dionysos. He fidgeted a bit and I nodded to myself on seeing that before speaking again.

"Have you anything to say in your defense?" I queried.

"My King, you cannot possibly believe the accounts of such scum! You must know that they are untrustworthy, yes?" Asked Dionysos, trying to throw doubt on Bardhyl's confession.

"I trust my Admiral, Dionysos. His judgment is sound. Besides, your very reaction proves your culpability. An innocent man does not react to false confessions in the manner that you reacted to Bardhyl's testimony. I find you guilty of hiring pirates to attack your business rivals. As such is tantamount to sabotage of our Kingdom's Internal Trade, this is treason. The punishment for which is to be hung by the neck until death. You decided to truck with pirates, now you will die like one." I pronounced.

As the guards moved to grab Dionysos, the man began begging for his life. I turned toward Eumelos and nodded at the man. He bowed to me, but I wasn't finished just yet.

"As Dionysos has been judged guilty of treason, his businesses may be declared forfeit. Eumelos, as you have experience in the dye trade, I shall offer Dionysos' businesses to you. However, mindful that Dionysos of Onchesmos has a wife and young daughter, I will set aside a quarter of the captured Pirate Drachmae for their use, as they could have had no part in Dionysos' treachery and will be losing their primary source of income. The remaining thirty thousand Drachmae shall be forfeit to the Royal Treasury. This is my decree and as such is beyond contestation." I intoned.

"Thank you, my King. I shall run these businesses wisely." Bowed Eumelos.

"See that you do." I nodded.

And with that, the case of Dionysos of Onchesmos versus Eumelos of Bouthroton was settled. I was satisfied that the correct people had been punished, that the economy would continue to function without interruption, and that the treasury had made a small profit, all while minimizing harm to innocent parties. It had been the biggest concern of mine aside from the Plantations and Paper Mill for Much of Two-Seventy-Eight. However, it was in October of Two-Seventy-Eight that things would get interesting. I would receive two embassies one after another, both of which would lead to further territorial acquisitions for Epirus. The first would be from Mytilos of Rump Dardania, offering vassalage to Epirus in exchange for paying the rest of his war debts to Macedon. The second would be from Ptolemy Keraunos, offering an alliance in exchange for joining his upcoming war against Ptolemy Philadelphos.

The first was self-explanatory, I would gain Rump Dardania as a vassal. The second, however, would be much more interesting and far more lucrative a proposition. I would demand Cyrenaica as my price for an alliance.

And Ptolemy Kerounos backed into a corner, would be forced to agree. . .

XXXX

AN: All right, here's the next chapter. We see how Pyrrhus is handling administration over the course of Two-Seventy-Eight BC. The Hemp Plantations and Byzantine-style Rag Paper Mill are priorities, but they aren't the only ones and the legal dispute that cropped up between Eumelos of Bouthroton and Dionysos of Onchesmos took a fair bit of attention as well. Fortunately, things are looking good for Pyrrhus as he seems to be on top of all of those varying issues.

As for place names in this chapter, since people have asked, Korkyra is Corfu and the Straits of Korkyra refers to the Straits of Corfu. Ptychia is the ancient name for Vido Island. Bouthroton was a Greek city on the Aegean Coast in Modern-Day Vlore County Albania, while Onchesmos was a Greek City on the site of Modern-Day Sarandë, Albania. Finally, Ambracia was a City on the Site of Modern-Day Arta in Greece and the Capital of the Epirote Kingdom under Pyrrhus.

At any rate, the next chapter will include meeting with the Ambassadors from Dardania.

Stay tuned. . .