“Surely you don’t intend to determine prices and wages, as Diocletian did,” Dacius protested.
“No, that scheme was a failure. But a plan that makes men proud of themselves and gives them a reasonable share of what they produce with their own hands should succeed. What say you to that, Eumenius?”
“The principle is above reproach,” the scholar agreed. “Its success will depend on how well it is carried out.”
“Then it will be sure to succeed,” Constantine said with a smile. “I am this day appointing you Chief Chamberlain with the task of putting my plan into effect, while I take steps to make the frontier safe.”
“How do you propose to do that?” Dacius asked.
“By building bridges across the Rhine that cannot be easily destroyed, starting at Colonia Agrippina. And by putting a fleet of war galleys on the river to patrol it.”
Slowly and admiringly
Eumenius shook his head slowly, and admiringly. “Sometimes I wish you had less ambition, Augustus,” he admitted. “I was looking forward to returning to my old post as teacher of rhetoric at Autun.”
“That will wait. My task now is to rule Gaul so well that other parts of the Empire will be envious.”
“And desire you for their ruler,” Dacius added.
“Perhaps that too. I have one more step in mind. What do you think of letting the Christians rebuild their churches?”
“It would be a good move,” Eumenius said promptly. “They were intensely loyal to your father and are sure to transfer that loyalty to you. Let me pass the word quietly to the bishops that the churches will not be tom down again and no edict will be necessary. That way Galerius cannot use it against you.”
Thus it happened that the Christians quietly rebuilt their churches throughout Gaul and resumed public services of worship. And with the spreading of word that the young ruler though not a Christian himself looked with favor upon their faith, the church grew rapidly, further entrenching Constantine in the favor of a substantial section of the people of Gaul and Britain.
The building of the great bridge across the Rhine at Colonia Agrippina served notice upon the Germanic tribes that any rebellion would be put down swiftly with the sort of punitive raids into their territory for which Constantine was already famous. And with Britain and Gaul safe and prosperous, tax funds flowed steadily into the treasury, to be administered carefully and even austerely by Eumenius, as Chief Chamberlain.
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