Mediterranean Hegemon of Ancient Greece Chapter 1034: Kingdom of Daunia Employment Guide

"Tibullus, thank you for the advice you just shared! I've learned a great deal..." Publius continued, expressing his gratitude.

Tibullus hurried to reply with modesty, "Lord Publius, there's no need for such politeness. I merely grew up in Thurii; having heard and seen so much over the years, I just happen to understand the kingdom a bit better. But understanding is one thing—talking is easy, while actually getting things done is hard. People like us have to keep our feet on the ground and advance step by step. You, however, are in an excellent position, my lord. You became a Senator the moment you joined the kingdom. You only need to solidify your foundation, and you can achieve even greater things..."

Publius nodded. "You are absolutely right," he said solemnly. "Rome is in the past. I need to rouse my spirits and build a better future in this far more powerful country of Daionia!"

He paused for a moment before humbly asking, "Tibullus, that was your advice for me. Do you have any suggestions regarding my children?"

"I recall you mentioning an 18-year-old son, a 10-year-old son... and a... a..."

"And a 6-year-old daughter."

"Ah..." Tibullus pondered for a moment before replying. "Your eldest son is 18, which means he is already an adult according to Daunian Law. However, since the kingdom has already allocated land to you, he won't be granted his own plot for the time being. If he doesn't want to stay home to help you manage the farm until he inherits your estate, he has three paths to choose from: politics, business, or military service—"

Counting on his fingers, Tibullus patiently analyzed the options. "Given your family's background, I'm sure your eldest son received a good education growing up. But to hold a public office, he must pass the kingdom's official exams. In the early years of the kingdom's founding, the exams for civil servants were quite easy, but it's much harder now. With more and more young people graduating from the various town schools, the competition has grown incredibly fierce. Not only do candidates need to be literate, write well, and be skilled in arithmetic, but they also need a rough understanding of Daunian Law and the Canon of Hades.

"After passing the exam, he would have to serve as an intern public official for a year in the town where his census registry is located. Only after demonstrating satisfactory performance would he be officially registered with the Kingdom's Civil Servant Management Committee as a formal official. From there, the committee would assign him to the lowest-ranking public post in a specific department of some town—"

"Oh, the Kingdom's Civil Servant Management Committee was originally an agency under the Senate, managing the appointment, promotion, reward, and punishment of all mid- and low-level officials in the kingdom. Now, it falls under His Majesty's direct control. Its primary leadership consists of three Senators—one head and two deputies—who oversee dozens of subordinate officials and clerks. The current head is also the foremost of the Senate's five Rotating Chairmen—Lord Cornelius."

"I see. Then... which department manages the kingdom's high-ranking officials?" Publius immediately thought of another question.

"High-ranking officials are almost entirely drawn from the Senators. Their appointments, such as Town Magistrate or the chief officials of the kingdom's various departments, are nominated by the Senate and finally decided by His Majesty. It might seem easier than the process for us mid- and low-level officials, but it's said that the performance reviews within the Senate during their tenure are a massive ordeal and not easily passed. Senators with poor track records often suffer great humiliation and find it very difficult to secure another post in the future. For example... ahem, ahem..." Tibullus coughed dryly, stopping himself just in time.

"Anyway, you'll learn about these matters soon enough, so I won't say more. Let's get back to your children. Your eldest son has never received an education from the kingdom's schools, so there is no way he could immediately pass the exams and enter politics. If he is eager to start a political career, he could first apply to Thurii City Hall to work as an unranked clerk—"

"An unranked clerk?"

"That refers to public workers who have no official rank whatsoever—clerks, scribes, messengers, bookkeepers, custodians... They also have to pass an assessment and receive a salary, but they generally aren't allocated additional land. There's also part-time work; when City Hall is swamped and short-handed, they recruit volunteers to help out, who are then dismissed to go home once things quiet down. Although the pay for part-time work is very low, it will be recorded in his census registry file, which will benefit his future development.

"Your eldest son can start out as an unranked clerk or part-timer to hone his practical abilities and familiarize himself with the kingdom's various affairs. At the same time, he can set aside some time and money to hire a tutor or attend adult education classes at the Thurii School. Two or three years later, when he takes the kingdom's official exams, his hands-on administrative experience will actually give him an advantage over those young citizens who take the test right after graduation, making it easier for him to pass..."

Tibullus took a breath. Seeing Publius listening intently, he continued, "If your eldest son is willing to go into business, you can sponsor him with some money and have him register at the Commercial Office in Thurii City Hall to obtain his business qualifications and credentials—"

"Why must one register with this Commercial Office just to do business? Can't people trade freely?" Publius asked curiously. Although Rome's commerce wasn't highly developed, its commoners enjoyed the freedom to buy and sell as they pleased.

Tibullus explained, "Applying for registration at the Commercial Office primarily makes it easier for the kingdom to collect taxes and for the Census Department to categorize and manage the records. For a merchant, having this kingdom-issued business credential makes it much easier to secure larger loans from Cheiristoya's Bank. He can also use it to apply for membership in various local merchant guilds, gaining more support, information, and connections, which will greatly benefit his growth.

"But the kingdom doesn't prohibit others from engaging in trade. For example, farmers in the kingdom's towns don't need to apply to the Commercial Office. They can take their surplus agricultural products to designated areas in their local town markets to sell, tax-free. However, the goods sold must be in small quantities, and they cannot take them to other towns to trade. If caught violating this, the consequences are incredibly severe—ranging from heavy fines to being stripped of their citizen status..."

Publius had merely been a bit curious. In reality, the Romans were not a people known for their business acumen, and he had little interest in the subject. Having grasped the basics, he pivoted the topic: "And what if he chooses military service?"

"Lord Publius, first you must understand that according to the provisions of Daunian Law, all male citizens between the ages of 18 and 45 are obligated to serve in the military and regularly participate in military training, regardless of whether they are farmers, artisans, merchants, or kingdom officials..."

"That's the same as it used to be in Rome."

Having worked in Rome for several months, Tibullus had some understanding of how things had been there. He offered a solemn reminder: "But unlike in Rome, the citizens of Daionia actively fight for the chance to go to war and earn merit, hoping to win the land and spoils rewarded by the kingdom. Yet, getting onto the battlefield is no easy feat. Under normal circumstances, only soldiers in the Regular Legions are permitted to campaign abroad. Only after they sustain casualties are reserve soldiers drafted in as replacements.

"The young citizens of Daionia undergo military training from a young age. By the time they reach adulthood, they are already familiar with all of Daionia's basic military tactics. Your son, however, knows nothing about this. It will be very difficult for him to become a formal legionary within the next three or four years. If he wants to speed up the process, the best method is to volunteer as a garrison soldier at one of the fortresses within our borders. Though it's arduous work, he could become a formal legionary in just a year or two. And after participating in a few battles, there is a high chance he could be promoted to squad leader.

"However, becoming a platoon leader requires exceptional performance, which isn't easy. But once he becomes a platoon leader, it means he has stepped into the ranks of the kingdom's officers and will become a person of interest to the Ministry of Military Affairs. As long as he avoids major injuries and illnesses in the future and repeatedly earns military merit, he could rise through the ranks step by step... perhaps even becoming a Legion Commander. And upon becoming a Legion Commander, he would have the chance to enter the Senate and become an esteemed Senator...

"The military is a fast track. Not only can one earn vast tracts of land as rewards for battle merit, but one can also reach high positions at a young age. For example, the current commander in Sicily, Prosous, will become one of the kingdom's new Senators in his early forties after this war!"

Tibullus spoke with envy, then let out a soft sigh. "However, they exchange their lives for all of this. One misstep, and they could die on the battlefield, leaving the land and wealth they won only to their wives and children—just like the naval fleet commanders Phalarios and Miltias, who have already died in this war. That is why I don't envy them too much. A civil servant's promotion may be slow, but it's safe!"

"Is the path to promotion within the military exactly the same for all citizens?" Publius asked.

"What do you mean?" Tibullus was taken aback for a moment before quickly grasping his implication. With a solemn expression, he said, "My lord, you must understand that Daionia is nothing like your old Rome, where noble scions could serve as centurion-level officers the moment they enlisted. That simply does not fly in the Kingdom of Daunia! All citizens must start from the very bottom as ordinary legionaries. Even His Majesty's adopted sons and sons-in-law had to rely on their own hard work to slowly climb their way up to become platoon leaders and cohort commanders. If you're thinking about taking some other shortcut, it's best you abandon the idea.

"According to the law, the military is under His Majesty's direct control. Every officer's promotion and appointment must ultimately be approved by him, and the Senate is strictly forbidden from interfering. Anyone who tries to meddle in military affairs will inevitably draw His Majesty's fury. The Laodicean Incident over a decade ago served as an excellent lesson for everyone on that front."

"The Laodicean Incident?" Publius asked curiously.

"It's a very complicated matter. I'll explain it to you in detail when we have time later," Tibullus said, quickening his speech. "Besides those, your eldest son could also choose to become a farmer or an artisan, but given your status, neither of those should really be an option, so I won't say any more on it..."