"Sherman, it seems from this small window of information, was better at fear and vengence"
David from what I read in your initial post, I don't see what you are seeing. He seems to have been supplying those in need. As far as his point that under the right conditions, he would open a trading post on the Bib Black, I can't see what is wrong with that in the way he puts it. He wants to have somewhere for people to get supplies and at the same time to make it hard on the rebel authorities. Sounds good to me.
FC