The Rise Of An Empire In Ancient Europe-Chapter 111: Bagul

The sun cast long shadows over Amendolara as Juleios returned to his new residence.

The house, once belonging to the former consul Marcellis, was large and stately, befitting its previous owner.

It now housed not only Juleios and Cristoia but also Marcellis’s two orphaned children: six-year-old Cynthia and three-year-old Adoris.

By the time Juleios arrived, Cristoia had already taken charge, organizing slaves to clean and arrange the home.

The scent of freshly baked bread filled the air, but Juleios had little time to savor it. He met the two children briefly. They hid nervously behind Cristoia, their small faces peeking out timidly. It was clear Cristoia’s gentle nature had already won their trust.

As Juleios began to settle, Asistes arrived, his expression urgent. "Bagul has been brought in."

Juleios nodded, setting aside his bread. "Take him to the side room," he instructed, his tone brisk.

The Lucanian Captive

Bagul, the son of the Lucanian chieftain Vespa, was dragged into the room. His hands were bound tightly behind his back, and his gaunt figure bore the marks of starvation and despair. Exhausted, he collapsed onto the floor, barely conscious.

Juleios stood tall, his eyes sharp as he observed the man before him. "Is this the Lucanian warrior they call Bagul?" he asked.

"Yes, Consul," Asistes confirmed.

Juleios’s tone shifted to mockery. "This? This is the so-called ’warrior’? He looks more like a dying dog. Andrea spoke of him as if he were a hero, but he doesn’t even have the strength to look me in the eye."

The taunt cut through the air, drawing a reaction. Bagul’s eyes fluttered open, and he forced himself to look at the man addressing him. The young, commanding figure before him was not what he expected from a consul.

"And... Andrea... how is she?" Bagul croaked, his voice weak but filled with desperate concern.

Juleios stepped closer, his tone serious. "She’s safe. In fact, she’s been pleading with me to let you go so you can be together." free𝑤ebnovel.com

Hearing this, Bagul’s face contorted with pain and longing. He rolled onto his side, his chest heaving with suppressed emotion.

After a long silence, he opened his eyes again, faint hope flickering within. "You... you would let us go? You’d grant us freedom?"

Juleios’s lips curled into a bitter smile. "Freedom? Do you think that’s possible after everything you and your tribe have done to Amendolara? The slaughter of our people, the desecration of our women, the forced labor that reduced our population from 1,500 to barely 500? The citizens of this city-state would happily tear you limb from limb."

Bagul’s faint hope was extinguished, his body stiffening like a puppet cut from its strings.

Juleios’s Proposal

"But," Juleios continued, his tone shifting, "I am not a man who believes in vengeance through senseless bloodshed. I seek a different kind of retribution."

Bagul’s eyes flickered with renewed light. "What... what do you mean?" he asked cautiously.

Juleios crossed his arms and laid out his terms. "The men of your tribe will become slaves of Amendolara. During peacetime, they will work tirelessly—building roads, repairing walls, digging canals, and tending farmland. In times of war, they will serve as auxiliary soldiers, fighting alongside our citizens."

Bagul absorbed the words in silence. His people had treated the Amendolarans in much the same way when they occupied the city. It felt like divine retribution, yet it stung all the same. "And the women?" he asked hesitantly.

"They, too, will become slaves," Juleios replied. "They’ll work in weaving, wool shearing, and olive pressing. As for the unmarried women and widows, they will be married to my soldiers—not as concubines, but as wives."

Bagul’s head shot up in disbelief. "Wives? Truly?"

"Truly," Juleios affirmed. "This is my offer.

For five years, your people will serve Amendolara as slaves. During that time, any insult must be endured silently. However, should anyone physically harm you, they will face severe punishment. After five years, you will gain your freedom. Those who wish to stay and become citizens may apply, while those who wish to leave will be free to do so."

Bagul sat up, a spark of vitality returning to his eyes. The offer was unexpected—freedom in exchange for service and the chance for integration into the city-state. It was a lifeline he hadn’t dared to hope for.

"I accept," Bagul said cautiously. "But I must speak to my tribe, especially my father. Will this agreement be formalized?"

Juleios smirked. "There will be no written agreement, only a pact based on trust."

Bagul hesitated. "Why should we trust you?"

Juleios’s gaze hardened. "Because I am the one who defeated the Lucanian coalition. My soldiers trust me because I keep my promises. The people of Amendolara trust me because I have sworn to protect them from future calamities. If you wish for your people to survive, you will trust me too."

Bagul’s eyes met Juleios’s unwavering stare. The young consul’s confidence was unshakable, his authority undeniable. Reluctantly, Bagul nodded. "Very well. I will speak to my people. If they agree, we will submit to your terms."

The Plan for Unity

After Bagul was escorted out, Juleios turned to Asistes, who had been silently observing. "Tomorrow, take Bagul to the Lucanian women. Let him select those who will marry our soldiers. Once chosen, arrange for the women to be properly dressed."

"Do you think the soldiers will agree to marry them?" Asistes asked, curious.

Juleios smiled. "Spread the word. Tell them Lucanian women are tall, strong, and hardworking—ideal partners for men who value strength and resilience."

Asistes nodded, his skepticism fading. "And what about the men?"

Juleios’s tone grew serious.

"By marrying the Lucanian women, our soldiers will form bonds with their tribe. These marriages will create kinship ties, binding the Lucanians to Amendolara. It’s not just about assimilation; it’s about ensuring lasting peace through unity."

Asistes hesitated before asking, "But why go to so much trouble for captives?"

Juleios’s gaze hardened, and his voice carried the weight of his vision. "Because Amendolara’s strength will not come from conquest alone but from the unity of its people—Greek and Lucanian alike. Together, we will forge a city-state stronger than any in Magna Graecia."

With those words, Juleios’s plan for Amendolara’s future became clear: not domination, but integration—a bold strategy to rebuild and strengthen the city-state through unity, trust, and shared purpose.

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