The War of Franconian Succession, Part 3, or, "Your papers, please!"

The "fraternal" assistance offered by the ever wily and ambitious Landgrave of Hesse was planned most carefully. Using a moonless night in early September, the assistance (in the form of six infantry battalions, two gun batteries, and a squadron of Dragoons) crossed the frontier a few hours before dawn with the intent of stealing a march into Franconian territory. In this way, they hoped to stake out a "Special Security Zone" under Hessian administration and round up any dissiden... bandits before anyone was the wiser. Of course, this would only last until the area could be declared secured and the bandits dispersed.

Hessian column emerging from woods

But seen by some...

Unbeknownst to the way-too-clever Dropov and his contacts at the Hessian Court, the alleged "lawlessness" and "banditry" had prompted the local Grenzschutz commander, Major von Burgebrach to increase both the mounted and foot patrols along the nearby border area. He also approached several of the local hunters/poachers to report anything suspicious. Being fellow patrons at the local pub, and known for a generous hand when it came to a round of drinks, they were more than happy to comply. 

The word is passed! 

Despite the secrecy, misdirection, and overall bad guy stuff, the column was spotted about five minutes after it crossed the frontier. Stealthy to a fault, the poachers noted the details and raced to find one of the mounted patrols of the Grenzschutz. Luck was with them, and the warning was passed on. 

Now, von Burgebrach was not just a keen bureaucrat, but prior to his joining the Grenzschutz, he was a middling commander and staff officer. He also knew that due to his family's relative obscurity and low end nobility, his chances of future advancement were limited. This motivated him to be the best Customs and Duties collector in the entire service. Now, while not exactly "trade" or "commerce", the law specified the collection of a nominal toll per head for travelers to Franconia. Flipping through his current copy of the  Handbuch der Maut und Zolle, he sought the appropriate toll. 

Things are a bit tense.

Listed alphabetically, the Handbuch gave the current rates for cow, pigs, goats, merchants, travelers, even dubious characters...but nothing on battalions, batteries, or mounted squadrons. He did find an old listing for barbarian marauders but even that didn't quite fit. He would have to use his best judgement...and oh, how he hated that (if he got the toll wrong, the balance would be extracted from his pay). He grabbed his notes and calculations and headed out of his office.