Deleted member 97083
The Pony Express was very short lived but probably the most "optimized" horse relay system despite the creation of horse relay systems by many different empires in the past. The Pony Express, which was able to send messages 1,900 miles (3,100 km) in 10 days, seems to have been the most effective system that could have been implemented before railroads.
(Though I could be wrong. The Mongol yam could have been more effective.)
In any case, what if the Romans were dedicated to maintaining their horse relay system continuously with no interruptions, and, by chance, stumbled onto the same the same "specifications" as the Pony Express. So they place the relay stations 5-25 miles apart, they switch the horse at every stop, the rider at every 3 stops, rode day and night, riders were professional riders and could not weigh over 125 pounds, etc. The end result being a courier system that travels 190 miles (310 km) a day.
With faster communications, how does this affect the Roman Empire? Say it is established during Augustus' reign. It's the alternate version of the cursus publicus.
(Though I could be wrong. The Mongol yam could have been more effective.)
In any case, what if the Romans were dedicated to maintaining their horse relay system continuously with no interruptions, and, by chance, stumbled onto the same the same "specifications" as the Pony Express. So they place the relay stations 5-25 miles apart, they switch the horse at every stop, the rider at every 3 stops, rode day and night, riders were professional riders and could not weigh over 125 pounds, etc. The end result being a courier system that travels 190 miles (310 km) a day.
With faster communications, how does this affect the Roman Empire? Say it is established during Augustus' reign. It's the alternate version of the cursus publicus.