shayvaan wrote:Quite aside from the implications of adding 5-7 million TLs to the population of the EOC (over a million of whom were soldiers who were dedicated to BREAKING the EOC), where would you come up with the infrastructure to feed them? Educate them (remember these are mostly serfs)? Or any of the thousand and one other things like shelter and medical care that goes into a stable society?
In the Honor Harrington series they had a hard time providing for providing decent living conditions for a million or so prisoners-of-war with a contra-grav society, don't think I'd want to try something on that scale with the early-industrial society of even Charis.
That is called sweat equity. The MH can build their new towns. I am sure there will be clergy who will volunteer to see to the health, to teach and even to minister to those people. Between the sweat equity of 5-7 million people consecrating land and building towns and cities from the wilderness and the moral guidance of clergy willing to exile themselves into that wilderness in the name of their vocation, the MH will forever be infected with independence of mind and thought. These stubborn and independent folk will have Cayleb and Sharleyan to thank for the independence, lives and yes, freedom for themselves and their families.
Cayleb gave them this opportunity for a pittance! He simply asks them to create every convenience they wish from the wilderness. He doesn't even claim the product of that labor as the old Harchong aristocrats did only to give back a tithe (if they were lucky). No, he allows the immigrants to keep the product of their work and only
asks a tithe in return for his protection against madmen like Clyntahn and the worst of the Harchong Nobles.
It will take months if not a year or two and multiple trips to move those men to Silverlode. The first group can begin getting things in order and the follow on groups will add to the infrastructure. All the while their dependents will move East and West to meet in Silverlode. I am sure there will be extra galleons available for fishermen to buy dirt cheap for use to feed these men until enough land has ben consecrated to support the new population. Between that and exported agricultural products from Charis, Emerald, Corisande and Chisholm, feeding those men will not be a problem.
The big question will be assimilation. No one will know what sort of culture will develop on Silverlode. What can be foreseen is that the new immigrants will be a hardy, independent and stubborn lot who will be grateful to an Emperor and Empress who returned the Mighty Host's attempt to kill their imperial subjects with life and freedom for themselves and their families. Surely, God acts through those paragons of virtue and generosity! Perhaps it shows that the Emperor's Church may be correct in their doctrine after all.