Chapter 193 - 132: Covenant
Maximus was right, both parties had friendly intentions, so the agreement was quickly reached.
The drafted agreement is as follows: Article 1, Leader Maximus of Free Italy will purchase the land of Validosi from the Alde Tribe of Illyria for a price of eighty-three silver talents. Once the payment is made in full, Validosi and the surrounding land will permanently belong to Leader Maximus and his subordinates.
During the negotiations, the purchase price was the focus of the dispute. Pigeris reduced the price to below fifty silver talents on the grounds that "the core region of Validosi is a swamp and uninhabitable," while Cleobrotas and others argued that "although Validosi is now a swamp, once the climate improves, it is still suitable for living and farming," thus raising the price as much as possible. In the end, Maximus personally determined the price to avoid unnecessary disputes.
Over the past year, the Maximus Army first occupied Pompey, then seized Sarabia, and during this time looted countless farms, accumulating a great deal of wealth. Although a significant amount was spent on port trade, he later replenished his coffers by plundering the wealthy town of Padua, so dozens of talents were nothing to him. Winning the friendship of the Alde Tribe was more important.
Next is Article 2: The Alde Tribe and Leader Maximus with his army will form a defensive military alliance. If one party is attacked by an external enemy, the other party must send reinforcements to help repel the enemy.
Initially, Maximus hoped to form a comprehensive military alliance with the Alde Tribe, but Cleobrotas, considering Maximus’s strong intention to attack the Pannonians, feared the Alde Tribe might get drawn into a long-term war with the Pannonians—a loss it could hardly bear due to its weakened state. Thus, he insisted on altering the alliance to a defensive one.
Next is Article 3: Establish a market between the Alde Tribe and Maximus Army to allow both sides to freely trade again (this was Maximus’s strong request);
Following is Article 4: Aside from the jointly established market, neither party may enter the other’s territory without invitation (this was Cleobrotas’s request, considering Maximus’s army consisted of many outsiders, including foreigners, who might disrupt the various villages of the Alde);