Letter 13: The campaign season is approaching and my forces are being assembled.

To the most pious Emperor Maurice, from his friend Childebert, king of the Franks, The campaign season is approaching and my forces are being assembled. I write to press on the question of the subsidy your letter promised, because the assembly and maintenance of an army requires resources that must be arranged in advance, and I do not wish to begin the march into Lombard territory without the confidence that the financial support I was promised will be forthcoming. The Lombard situation has, if anything, worsened since my last letter. They have extended their operations in the Po valley in ways that directly threaten communities that have long looked to us for protection. The local population is suffering — not only from the direct violence of Lombard raiding but from the disruption of agriculture and trade that follows any prolonged military presence. I am not writing to increase the pressure on your treasury; I understand the many demands that are placed on it. I am writing to ensure that our coordination is as tight as possible so that the campaign, when it begins, achieves its objectives efficiently and the need to keep forces in the field is minimized. When can I expect the subsidy? And what communication have you had recently from your generals in Italy about the situation on the ground there? Their assessment of the moment for joint action will be important. Childebert