The Chancellor knocked on the door to the kings private cabinet. Gaining admittance he bowed and said "Sire, I am getting disturbing gossip about the Mountain Marches. The people there did not support your rescue of the kingdom, and there are reports they are supporting your cousin in an attempt to supplant you. Where is this coming from? Are the people of the Marches mad? Your cousin has the mentality of a seven year old!"
Captain Grubo, who was seated in a chair next to the desk, barked a laugh. "We have been hearing the same gossip from the Eastern coasts and other places. It seems that the new Metropolitan in Punica isn't bothering with interdicts. He is spending with agents in the disaffected lands."
The king looked at the reports from his agents sourly. "He is spending money like mad, but most of it seems wasted. The money he is spending in the Mountain Marches has, paradoxically, found fertile ground there." The King smiled wolfishly. "If they get much of a calling it would be good to crush a rebellion like the one they can raise there. The denizens of the Mountain Marches are a thievish rabble. Crushing them would be easy and popular."
The Chancellor said "Aren't you too sanguine?"
The king nodded. "You are right. The amount of money the Metropolitan is spending a rebellion is worrisome. I take challenges to my authority very seriously. However most of the population seems content. The sale of church lands is relatively popular. Even the peasants who can't buy the lands prefer the new landlords to the exactions of the churchmen"
"We have been selling to the most sober and industrious rather that the most greedy." The Chancellor said. "It seemed to me we would gain more money that way. It seems to have worked as I expected."
"It seems to have had a salutary affect." The king agreed. "We get information on the Metropolitan's agents before they can do too much damage"
"You have discovered them? " The Chancellor was surprised. "This is the first I heard of it."
"I first got wind of them two weeks ago. I have my own agents." Captain Grubo grinned wolfishly. "I have a few of them resting in prisons in quite a few places till I can interrogate them myself. " He paused. "There are quite a lot of them and most of them seem stupid. I wonder if he has some good agents we are not hearing about because of the bad ones."
"He seems very busy in the Mountain marches." The chancellor paused. "Maybe he is spending so freely because he has a deadline? It is three days before the Sabor Naroda is due to meet. They grant you majesty, it will be that much harder to depose you."
"That is exactly why." The king said. "That is why you see all these reports. They are going to try to get an uprising somewhere near the capital, if not the capital itself. I have been tightening up discipline among the soldierly so they aren't raising cain with the citizens and expanding their numbers."
Captain Molodoychen knocked and came in. Very bad news sire. A force of Punician mercenaries has landed on our northern coast. And Captain Povrchan with 7,500 troops has joined them
"Captain Povrchan! He was the most sure of my allies!" shouted the king. "Why did he join the rebels?"
"I am not so shocked as you," said Captain Grubo. "he felt that paying off Nefchika's loans was a personal insult. He is going going to be a tough fighter."
"Having him on their side is like have 21,000, not seven." Said the king. "He is the best at finding chinks in the enemy line. He is also the fastest captain. He worries me."
"Me too." said captain Molodoychen. Captain Grubo nodded.
"7,500 isn't so many. You have 35,000 in and around the capital." said the Chancellor. "He should be easy to take care of"
Captain Grubo said "I have been giving extra drills to whoever complains about paying Neftchika's loans. I have been giving lots of extra drills lately"
"Me also." said Captain Molodoychen.
"How many Punician mercenaries does he have?" Asked the Chancellor. "I have heard that they aren't worth much in a pitched battle."
"Judging from the number of transports, between 10,000 and 15,000." Captain Molodoychin waved his hand showing uncertainty. " As for the quality of the mercenaries, that depends on a few different factors. They have some troops that are little more than armed mobs. And they have some that are very good indeed. They need to be in that neighborhood."
"Captain Grubo, you will be in charge of security around the capital. I will leave 10,000 troops with you. Choose the most reliable. Captain Molodoychen, you will take the vanguard of 12,000 and you need to leave by this afternoon to a place lof your choosing close to the capital. I will follow with the hospital wagons, extra rations, supplementary weapons and so on. I will be with the other captains. Talk to the men and make sure they know that cousin Dybokkhin is their choice for the new king. I can't imagine why Povrchan signed on for making him king. I can't imagine." The king sat incredulous. Then he stood up. "Make sure your troops behave themselves on the march. I don't want to make any more enemies than I have to. Fornication is fine, rape will be punished. Take what food you need, but stealing valuables will result in hangings"
"You aren't going to meet Captain Povrchan!" The Chancellor was shocked.
"I have no choice. The king has to goo with the balance of his troops"
Captain Molodoychen said "The troops expect it. They won't fight otherwise"
"But the Sabor Naroda! If you aren't here for it, they will go home and we will have to start the whole process over again. And you are loosing to much money to the troops. You can't continue borrowing. The interest rates will skyrocket. The discounts on the bills are bad enough as it is. Meet with them for one day at least! You can call them again but have your majesty confirmed. "
"It will take three days to get the wagons ready. Have the van move forward to where they can get a good look, but wait for you." Captain Grubo ticked off another finger. "It will take them a week to get unloaded off all the ships. Meet with the Sabor, then call for another one when you have settled Captain Povrchan."
"Captain Povrchan moves so very quickly. I can't let him get to far. He can do an incredible amount of damage." The king looked worried.
"Captain Povrchan has to worry about his allies. he can't move anywhere without them. His force without them is too small." Captain Grubo said. "I think sending a van out this early is a bad idea. You will alienate people along your route. You were talking about Captain Povrchan being too hot headed. Don't make the same mistake."
The king looked mulish for a moment, then thoughtful. Then he laughed. He addressed the Chancellor. "Can we get the Sabor Naroda to move faster? Have then meet in two days? Have them meet in the morning and finish up by two? We don't need all the ceremonial you have planned do we?"
The Chancellor looked offended. "You haven't been very cooperative on the ceremonial. You have cut it down to the very minimum. I do believe, however, that we can talk to the men from the key cities. They want their monopolies. They will do anything to get them granted more quickly."