Chapotraphouse

It's bizarre that you're right, because this is functionally how rich people always worked prior to capitalist brainworms. Rome, China, etc; hell fucking Al Capone worked this way! Warlords always made sure their guys and their families were paid, treated incredibly well, and made to feel invested in whatever enterprise and world they were building. You just need to follow that model and you'll get Caesar's Seventh Legion with all these people who would die for you because they know you're gonna keep everybody they love on the payroll and eating good.