The Re-Estize Kingdom, a vast swathe of land, ranging from fertile plains, to vast forests, and even harbors on the sea. Their nation, at least on the surface, looked like it wouldn't suffer all that much due to the vast amount of resources, and the weakening of nearby nations, rendering them incapable of performing any forced annexation. However, this couldn't be further from the truth.
This was a newly formed kingdom, with much resentment stemming from those who wanted to remain independent. As such it was difficult to get nobles to work together properly. This impediment was the chief reason behind their own food shortages. And finally, after a few months of worsening conditions, and a slowing rate of national economic production… The King ordered a gathering of the nobles from all regions:
"Why do you refuse participation in trade between the domains?!" The King demanded an answer. "This isn't any time to hoard resources."
No one spoke up, they were all secretly plotting from the beginning. But there was one Noble who stepped up to answer. A younger man, clearly having recently inherited the domain from his parents.
"My King, allow me to answer why my domain hasn't bothered… We simply don't have enough for ourselves either. We had once been receiving a monthly supply package from Tus Nadair. With it, we increased our population, and now, with the new restrictions in place, there's simply not enough food to go around."
"My King, my lands are in a similarly dire situation. It's as if we've been abandoned by the goddess."
"BLASPHEMY!" The King bellowed, in course with numerous other nobles.
"I don't want to say it! That's just the state of things! Fields take time to grow food. We've already initiated the production of more wheat. But there simply isn't enough to share, even in exchange for other material."
"Is it really that bad?" The King said, sighing inwardly.
A guard knocked, and entered. "My King, apologies for the interruption for this important meeting. But there is a representative of the Roble Holy Kingdom here that wishes to speak with you."
"About?"
"It's about extending a helping hand in these trying times." A man wearing brilliant armor appeared.
"Sorry, but we can't afford to send you any aid as of now. We're quite strapped ourselves at the moment."
"Oh, it seems I wasn't clear on this. First, allow me to introduce myself, I am the vice head paladin in service to his majesty, and her exalted self. I have been given the authority to make arrangements with your people in our king's name, so rest assured I'm well informed about what we can offer. Now then, earlier I meant something that would benefit us both. We require some additional forces for a short time. We lost much of our forces in the Demon God's assault. So we're left with minimal forces. We are recovering quite well in other areas. But when it comes to the power of our military, we could use a sizable force, even only to intimidate the enemy. In exchange we are willing to provide you with adequate compensation in the way of goods, and food stuff."
"It's like you already knew what we needed, but why would you ask for soldiers, weren't the demon gods wiped out?"
"Yes, however, we're currently making efforts to defend our people from the threat of the demi-humans… I'd rather call these particular ones monsters…"
"Why not ask the Slan-"
"Do not mention those cowards' names in front of me! It'll be a cold day in hell before we work with the ones who left us to our own devices against such a monumental threat. They abandoned us, so we rose and formed our own country. Asking for a coward's aid in combat is a recipe for disaster."
The shocked look on the king seemed to cement some missing information. "I see, so that's what happened at that time. In that case, what can you offer in the way of provisions?"
"Simple though it may be, it will be enough to feed 2 million people." We can do more, but this is the perfect starting place. "In exchange we'd like 5 legions of soldiers to help in our efforts to repel the enemy for the next year. While stationed with us, their needs will be met by our country. So you won't need to worry about their provisions outside of transit to my country."
"That price, it's quite steep, is it not?" The king asked, waiting for a reaction. "Make it 10 million, and I'll send a few mages along with the soldiers as well."
"3 million-"
"9-"
"3.5-"
"7"
"4"
"5, but that's as low as I can go! Any less it won't even be worth sending the soldiers."
The paladin acted a little reluctant, but sighed. "Very well, then we shall agree to this arrangement. Let us sign binding agreements, in the way of Tus Nadair."
"Verywell, and now that we're allies, there's something I'd like to ask."
"What is it?" The Paladin asked, signing both copies of the agreement.
"How did your people pull out of the rut you were in to begin with?"
"We refused to be stagnant, and helped each other. Our king's foresight is far & wide, his majesty issued edicts that some didn't like at first, because it had to be done." He paused. "If you think the same thing can happen here, I'd advise against it. Your country hasn't seen the horrors ours has. And thus a different solution will be required. But you shouldn't wait too long, or you'll have the power pulled out from under you by criminals who just do the work required, regardless of your own ideals."
"I see. Please take a rest in the guest rooms. We still have internal matters to discuss."
"I'm sure you do. But before I go, I'd appreciate it if you'd make haste in honoring this agreement."
…
Soon after, the nobles stopped fighting against everything, and instead began to pool together, figuring out what each domain's weaknesses in their provisions actually were, and ultimately their strengths as well. With the exchange of soldiers, for emergency provisions, Re-Estize Kingdom began to recover from the terrible rut they had once found themselves in.
A year later, the Robel Holy Kingdom had finished their wall, and trained up a bunch of true warriors out of their citizenry. The Re-Estize soldiers who'd survived the hellish fighting, returned home. They brought with them 5 million more provisions, as a marker for those who'd fallen in battle, 10 thousand for each lost soul. Overall, it was a rather welcome sight to see so many return alive, as they surely thought only half of them would survive.