According to John Powell, the West African army paid their large armies with resources taxed on the people who did not join the army.
What is the cost of a large army?
A large army is a great drain on the resources of any country. During battles, the men and women must be adequately provided for so that they could concentrate on the task at hand.
After the war, the surviving soldiers must be medically attended to and paid to resume civilian life while the professional soldiers are maintained in the barracks. If they are not kept busy, they may turn to usurp political power through endless coups.
Thus, according to John Powell, the West African army paid their large armies with resources taxed on the people who did not join the army.
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