Chapter 28: Regulatory Arbitrage
In the eyes of Palatu law, whether militia are considered "common laborers" or "soldiers" doesn't matter to other ethnic groups—they're all there to do a job anyway.
But for the Dusacks, the distinction couldn't be more significant.
If militia are "soldiers," then Dusacks serving as militia could offset their service time, even though the work they actually do is that of common laborers.
This was an idea from Brother Reed, who, after a couple bottles of wine, couldn't keep his mouth shut.
The surviving elders of the Dusacks had all sworn an oath to Marshal Ned thirty years ago, formally aligning themselves with the Republic of Palatu, and eventually settling and multiplying into what is now the Newly Reclaimed Land of the Dusans.
And their descendants, upon coming of age for service, would swear the oath anew.
But within all the oaths, only "eternal loyalty" and "service" were mentioned, without specifying the form of service, leaving room for interpretation.