Chapter 369: 364: The Chairman

Technically speaking, these three things are only the bare minimum criteria that is required for a government to start acting its power and function normally again, but honestly speaking with the current state of Drama being like post war it makes every kind of work hard to get started with. The chain of governance has been broken down in to several parts and segregated, the people's distrust towards the officials are way too high, and the influence of these land lords and merchants are still there in place, they surely would not want to see their core interests getting disrupted in the process of the rebuilding and reforms. 
One always says that the fastest and most thorough way of implementing a reform is by eliminating the previous dominating class, and surely Antonius wants to do it, but he can't, as the leader of this still tiny state he has way too many other stuff to consider other than these reforms, such as the military factors, geographical factors, political factors and diplomatic factors. 
Building schools might seem to be irrelevant and unpractical at this point of time, but Antonius is not that kind of person who would only focus his sight on the short term interests and benefits, he tend to start planning out things as early as possible to make life easier for him later. 
Eliminating the rogues and bandits along the roads and hills might seem to be merely a military kind of problem, but considering that these bandits are mainly from the people who lost their lands due to these greedy land lords, and because they are largely sympathized by the people, they can choose to hide within the crowds when the situation is intense making it even harder for them to be hunted down, furthermore there is a huge gap in the need for man power, and thus the best solution ought to be convincing these rogues to lay down their arms and come back to where they lived and pick up their farming tools once again on their lands.
But what about these merchants and land lords who robbed these lands away from them through illegal means? Well, this is yet not a factor to be considered, as Antonius feels like he has already given enough pardons and benefits to these people against his will, if they still dares to protest Antonius would not hesitate to make that guy an example to shut the rest up. 
For Antonius the most challenging part is actually to set up the population's trust and confidence towards a clean government again, because even he knows a very simple rule that it takes a long time, may be even longer than five years, to build up the trust, which can be destroyed in within one month, especially for the regional government of Drama. While the first step in to doing it is to start with the census, to build an effective knowledge on how many people they have to pay tax, go to school or work, and pull those hidden population working as slaves in the land owner's estates making them free self employed farmers again to maximize the taxation of the government. 
The land lords and merchants looked at each other exchanging eye sights, all frowning, massaging their forehead, hiding their faces away from the Caesar knowing that how much impact can this new set of rules bring to them. Those who are on tipsy or drunk immediately became awaken and clear minded after they have done reading the document in their hand, making Antonius suspect that this document is a way better material to wake drunkards up as compared to ice water. 
"My lord, I am not going against this document, but you see… There are a few things that I would like to point out…" The chair man Borislav, arrowed by his pals again, squeezed his wrinkles and forced himself to stand up once more to negotiate with the Caesar. "Do not get us wrong, we are definitely supportive in every single action you decide to implement, but…"
"There is no need to be nervous." Antonius became pretty open this time. "This is not an official document yet, it has no lawful government paper, just a draft of advice handed out to each one of you to be discussed in to making it a better version." 

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"If that is the case, my lord, I must congratulate you that if we managed to fulfil every single title stated on this… outstanding and marvelous manuscript to serve the citizens better, we would be remembered as saints and recorded down in the manuscripts of history, because honestly speaking, I do think that there are indeed some difficulties for the current government of Drama to complete all these things in just five years…" 
"Yes, indeed, my lord." Another merchant with a smooth chin came out and persuaded. "The first plan rebuilding the confidence of the people on the next government is a must and the whole lot of us will help the officials to achieve that goal unconditionally, but for the second part…Eliminating the threat of road burglars, hijackers and bandits through a relatively peaceful measure, letting them return to their old civilian lives, things are not going to be easy, we need a lot of money to turn the minds of the farmers, soldiers to scourge the land to hunt down those stubborn pricks, and most importantly land for them." 
"I know these bandits." A land lord shivered as he recounted his former experience. "They are just like a bunch of wolves, which have been fed with grass and grains for the entire life. But when these wolves got a test of meat, in this case robbing and plundering for quick wealth they shall not desire to go back to the same old lifestyle of working three seasons in the fields just for enough harvest to feed their family, so we need to offer them a price that is much higher, in this case more arable land. But the problem is, where is the land going to come from?" 
Antonius tilted his head staring at this two men with his arms crossed before his chest, without saying a word. 
Then another merchant came out of the line with a bitter face, holding that paper in his hands complaining. "My lord, I trust that none of us over here have any objection towards building schools and academies, if those islanders in the Aegean can do it, I bet that we people of the more civilized cities can do it too. But there are the same problems as the last one, where would the land, building materials, mentors and funding come from?" 
"I've got a quick solution for the lands!" The chairman now went on an all out in trying to pursue his career in Antonius' government as he bites his teeth hard and declared. "Though there are many difficulties, but apart from the land and properties that are going to be confiscated, I am willing to donate all of my family's lands to the government in support of restoring the farmers back to the fields to prevent a famine from breaking out in this place next year, troubling the others to ship their valuable crops to aid us! And also, apart from that I shall also use my personal influence in the Aegean market to purchase as much grains and food as possible!" 
Antonius nodded his head in a great satisfaction, that is exactly the kind of answer he has been hinting for all the while. He made a round of applause and smiled to the chair man. "Master Borislav, I have always heard from my men that your oldest grand son is already an adult, with a buffed up body shape and an overall academics performance unmatched by any one in his age… Well just nice that I am still lacking a personnel guard other than Yuri accompanying me by my side at all times, do you think that your grand son can be up to the task?" 
The elder chairman's eyes lit in gratefulness and anticipation, as every one smart enough here knows that what does it mean to have a family member in your direct line of descendants accompanying the top sovereign of this state means, there is no doubt that the family of Borislav is most likely going to remain prosperous and noble for the following years to come, unless if Antonius loses his power in the region. The other land lords and merchants all now stared at this chair man they elected themselves, with some sentiments of hatred and despise rising up in their head, because they know that the best chance and offer from the Caesar has been taken away by Borislav their beloved chairman Borislav. 
With the largest share now confirmed to be gone, the rest of the merchants and land lords rushed in eagerly waving their hands screaming at the top of their voices, ready to use their wealth to buy a future for their family and children.

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