Chapter 1121: Chapter 1058: The Course of History and Personal Struggle
Horn watched the citizen dressed in a silk robe with tassels standing before him with great interest.
To be honest, the rise of the citizen class in Thousand River Valley is relatively recent, at most thirty to fifty years, spanning one or two generations.
Relatively speaking, there is not yet a fully developed citizen culture.
Their attire often does not differ greatly from farmers, only with better fabric and tailoring.
But the man standing before him, Bradak, was different, showcasing the unique culture and fashion customs of an established wealthy city like Leia.
He tied a bundle of hair with silk, curled his hair using an iron tube filled with charcoal, applied thick lead powder on his face, and wore fake wooden El ears.
In front of Horn, who truly knew the lavish display of Imperial merchants and nobility, this outfit seemed like a theatrical character trying hard yet failing to impress.
He couldn’t help but want to laugh but had to strain to keep a straight face.
No, can’t laugh yet.
As the envoy sent by the Dawn Island Five City Alliance, Bradak stood before Horn with careful caution, yet spoke with generous rhetoric.
He bent forward slightly, one hand behind, the other on his chest, delivering a speech while glancing around to observe the expressions of several people.
In this office, Horn sat at the head, with Jeanne and Jia Li on either side.
Further aside were Qianqian and Gospel Court Executive Deputy Alfonso.
After all, currently, Evangelist Busak is still in Norn negotiating business and diplomacy, thus most affairs are handled by this scholar from the River Island Royal University Administrative Academy, Alfonso.
A student of Senius, he has already joined the Saint Father’s Association.
Bradak, being from Longbow University, was naturally a bit envious at this moment.
However, he did not let it affect his demeanor and instead became more determined in his speech.
He could clearly see that the major figures were relatively amicable, nodding with smiles.
Yet, Saint Son Horn, who held the highest authority, remained stern-faced, showing no expression, with a hint of dissatisfaction.
One must know, back in his hometown Longbow Castle, he was a renowned debater and orator.
Why now, despite his passionate discourse, does this happen...
Could it be just because he accidentally mingled with the Falan Kingdom yesterday?
"Alright, I understand what you mean." After receiving a sign from Horn, Qianqian spoke first, "What’s the Five City Alliance’s view on this war?"
"This is not a war, merely us stepping out to expel a greedy bishop, and inviting the new Pope to send a new bishop."
While speaking, Bradak continued to glance at Horn sitting at the top.
"This is indeed war." Qianqian uncovered ruthlessly, as clarity is key in settling accounts, "And your objective in this war is to escape Leia Regent’s exorbitant city tax, right?"
Bradak fell silent, unable to deny it.
After the Second Windmill Land War ended and Holy Seat City fell, the entire Leia Kingdom faced drastic changes.
Leia, which could once dance alongside Falan, after three consecutive wars—civil conflicts, Thousand River Valley War, and Windmill Land War, was already pushed into a state of fiscal bankruptcy.
Especially certain empty-headed fools from certain countries seized massive profits amidst Leia Kingdom’s administrative chaos, draining Leia dry.
As for Duke Omes as regent, it was the first time he was troubled by money.
Consistently extracting money from Thorn Garden family to subsidize the enormous fiscal deficit in Leia has led to complaints from many local nobles.
Yet, who could Duke Omes reason with?
Windmill Land is lost, the kingdom imprisoned, his treasury money confiscated over seventy thousand to cover public deficit.
Being King turns out to be poorer than being a Duke!
One of Leia’s great sources of wealth, sea trade and local city tax from Windmill Land was taken.
Incidentally, Windmill Land happens to be the major creditor of the Leia Kingdom, and now the debt controlled by Falan renders the "unable to repay debt, kill the creditor" trick unplayable.
Under the backdrop of widespread deficit, Regent simply had to act against the scarce cities within the territory.
These free cities were often initially under church or great noble protection.
The great nobles are temporarily untouchable, but cities formerly governed by the church are not necessarily so.
Holy Seat City has fallen, temple knights are almost completely wiped out, bishops completely suppressible by Duke Omes.
To preserve their riches, bishops had no choice but to do their utmost to levy taxes, filling Leia’s terrifying void—
They not only had to support Leia’s own army but also the stationed Falan troops in Leia.
Faced with high taxes and an unprecedentedly weakened church, some cities chose to rebel.
Aside from one at the border of Immortal Stone Field, the remaining four are all in Dawn Island, leading them to form the Dawn Island Five City Alliance.
However, from the perspective of citizens like Bradak, the current difficulty is having wealth but no arms and no legal (support).
Either invite the bishop from the Falan Church to receive the city or invite the bishop from the Holy Alliance to receive the city.
Considering the Falan bishops have the reputation of "stripping troops", the Five City Alliance is more inclined to invite the more incorruptible Holy Alliance to preside.
"Would the Holy Alliance not assist her fellow believers?" Bradak’s words couldn’t help but carry a trace of resentment and disbelief.
According to the Holy Alliance’s narrative, their assistance is a matter of course.
But with this intention, they seem unwilling to send troops?
"If you wish for the Holy Alliance to dispatch bishops, we can certainly do that."
Having played the hardline, Alfonso followed up with the soft approach, smiling warmly as he spoke to Bradak, "Not only that, we can also waive your city taxes for the next three years.
The tax revenue collected by your city hall or city council will be at your full disposal."
"Really?" Bradak’s eyes shone brighter than last night’s fluorescent lights.
"Of course." Alfonso elegantly sipped his coffee, "We can also provide you with a batch of cheap grain and a quota of spices and sugar.
In addition, there will be weapons and armor, and we will dispatch Holy Alliance officers to help train your soldiers..."
"Weapons and armor and training soldiers?" Bradak repeated the keywords mentioned by Alfonso.
These words tensed his muscles in spasm.
"Surely, you don’t think the presence of the Holy Alliance would deter Leia from reclaiming your cities, do you?"
"No, wouldn’t they?" Bradak’s naivety made several people present wish to laugh, yet he defended, "Did you not defeat them?"
"Let us entertain such a hypothesis." Horn coughed slightly, speaking for the first time, "What do you think will happen if the Holy Alliance sends high-ranking monks to receive the Five Cities?"
"Duke Omes intimidated by the Holy Alliance’s grand prestige will yield."
"Wrong." Horn shook his head helplessly, "He will muster a great army and launch a fierce attack against you."
"Why?!"
Qianqian boredly propped her face on her fist, creating a tender white curved flesh near her cheekbone:
"From a geopolitical perspective, neither Falan, Holy Alliance, nor Norn would presently strike Leia.
Falan acquired Windmill Land, Holy Alliance acquired New Five Counties and Shattered Stone Plain, we all need to digest what we’ve gained.
Moreover, support from the Holy Alliance could easily be misconstrued as preparing to strike Leia.
Do you think Charles VIII would allow the duck in his mouth to fly away? He would launch war at any cost.
In that event, it would become a four-nation warfare among Holy Alliance, Falan, Leia, and Norn.
Even if you seek aid from Falan, the result remains the same, they would not risk this.
War born from greed will not cease because of fear, can you bear this responsibility?"
