When the Saint comes, she does not collect food

#432 - The attitude of the Kingdom of France

The brilliance of the sun shone on the grayish-blue limestone walls, casting intense rays through the open pointed arched windows onto a Western-style carpet with a green background and griffin patterns.

Holding a gilded copper cup, Montaigue leaned against the wardrobe by the window, taking small sips of the wine within.

He wasn't focusing much on the expensive wine in his hand, but rather on the distant entrance of Feiliu Fort.

There, a lightly armed cavalryman with red feathers was riding a swift steed, galloping through the streets, overturning a passing vegetable vendor's cart, and nearly knocking down a mother and child.

"How many gold-lacquered feather letters is this?"

Montaigue turned his head; behind him stood a Fran merchant who had placed his sun hat on a walnut cabinet.

This tall, thin Fran merchant was named Giganon, and he was also one of the shareholders of this trading post's blockhouse, chosen to receive Montaigue.

Unlike most uninhibited and informal Fran people, this merchant's collar was neatly arranged, and his sleeves were properly positioned at his wrists, without exposing his hairy arms.

Downing the chilled wine in his hand, Montaigue casually tossed the copper cup into the ice bucket and plopped down in a chair. "Three were sent yesterday, and three this morning. That was the fourth today."

"It's not going to repeat that previous episode with twelve gold-lacquered letters, is it?"

"This is nothing," Montaigue scoffed, putting his feet up on the table. "Before, it was one letter a day for twelve days. Look at this, by the twelfth day, there will probably be thirty-six letters."

Giganon took out two copper cups from the cabinet, poured a glass of wine for each, pulled out a chair, and sat down. "This Salvation Army battle has really made a name for them. The news hasn't even spread yet, and when it does...tsk tsk, annihilating two Edict Legion infantry companies..."

"If they were willing to accept employment, I bet many nobles would hire them to cause trouble for our great King Gigi," Montaigue agreed, taking the wine and taking another sip.

The so-called King Gigi was a derogatory term for the current King of Leia, Ginigis, a nickname given by the Duke's Alliance during the Leia Civil War.

Comfortably shaking his head, Montaigue swirled the copper wine cup. "We were right not to confront the Salvation Army; we have no conflict of interest with them."

Knowing Montaigue was justifying his past mistakes, Giganon still praised him insincerely.

However, this wasn't his main purpose today. He changed the subject after a few casual remarks, shifting the conversation to the current situation in the Thousand River Valley.

After all, with the small civil war in the Thousand River Valley and the large civil war in Leia, merchants dealing in weapons, armor, horses, and grain were making a fortune, while the income of those dealing in daily necessities like him was declining daily.

News that could change his current situation was what these Fran merchants cared about most.

"Based on the current situation, the Salvation Army, bolstered by funding from Rapid Stream City, will likely gain a foothold in Langsand County and Lower Ruifo County," Montaigue was reliable when it came to crucial matters.

"In this way, the entire Thousand River Valley will be divided into three parts. First," Montaigue raised three fingers in turn, "Prince Condé's and the Church's forces, including the wealthiest Hotam County and the isolated Mangde County under their rule.

Second, the forces of Grand Duke Melia, consisting of the four mountain counties, Upper Ruifo County, North Mangde County, South Mangde County, and Nos County, forming the Hema Stone Duchy.

Third, the forces of Saint Sun Horn, a loose alliance consisting of Kaxia County, Lower Ruifo County, and Langsand County, mainly the most powerful Salvation Army.

Given the current situation, if Prince Condé advances north, the three plain counties will send troops to attack Hotam County; if he advances south, the four mountain counties will send troops to attack Hotam County. Currently, the relationship between the Hema Stone Duke and Saint Sun is ambiguous, and their future as friend or foe is uncertain.

In the long run, the Thousand River Valley is likely to split and form a lawless zone."

Although he was tipsy, it didn't prevent him from analyzing the possible future situation in the Thousand River Valley in an organized manner, which might be a Fran talent.

After listening to Montaigue's words, Giganon became even more worried. Did this mean it would take several more years of fighting?

"Given this situation, I'm afraid I'll have to withdraw from the Thousand River Valley and go elsewhere," Giganon said with a forced smile, opening his collar and taking a big gulp like a proper Fran.

Seeing the melancholy beneath Giganon's cheerful smile, Montaigue became serious. He sat up with a carp-like flip: "Don't rush to leave; I still have something for you to do."

"If there's anything you need, Master Montaigue, I'll definitely help to the best of my ability."

"Do you know why I brought up this topic with you earlier?"

"No," Giganon replied sincerely.

"Such a lively place; how can our Fran Kingdom not get involved?" Montaigue smiled wryly.

Giganon's eyes lit up: "You mean we should support our own force?"

"You guessed it," Montaigue snapped his fingers.

"Then who do you and the higher-ups intend to support?" Giganon knew this couldn't be decided solely by Montaigue; there must be someone above him.

"The Salvation Army," Montaigue acknowledged Giganon's statement.

"The Salvation Army? Are you talking about that peasant rebel army that imitated the Burning Winter Uprising?" Giganon was taken aback. From a power perspective, it made sense, but from the perspective of the two sides' status, it didn't seem quite right.

"These aren't ordinary peasant rebels; these are peasant rebels with military achievements, peasant rebels who have defeated two Edict Legions," Montaigue pointed to his head. "The future Thousand River Valley won't be a lawless zone, but a zone with three rulers.

Prince Condé is backed by Leia and the Leia Church, Melia is backed by Norn and the Norn Great Lords, and only the Salvation Army is a self-initiated force; the rest are insignificant."

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"But their leader claims to be a Pope, and that Saint Sun even says he's the son of the Holy Lord!" Giganon was confused by Montaigue.

Montaigue shook his head: "Isn't it just a leader? Our Grandiva Pope even claims to be a reincarnated angel. They only have a million people; they won't amount to much.

If they can truly stabilize, we'll give them a vassal state status, or just replace the leader.

Besides, they're close to Black Serpent Bay, which is perfect for changing the spice trade route and suppressing those disobedient merchants and nobles in Red Leaf Hill."

Speaking of this, Montaigue remembered the letter sent to him from Flower Hill, a personal letter from Fran Kingdom's Prime Minister, known as the "Thousand-Thread Spider," Lornzo.

Despite the passage of many years, Lord Spider was still concerned about the Battle of Windmill Land. Although Windmill Land failed to gain independence from Fran that year, it created a large number of uncontrolled free cities.

It was originally a major source of tax revenue for Fran and Lornzo's hometown, but now it was beyond the kingdom's control. The first major goal of the Thousand-Thread Spider after taking office was to regain control of Windmill Land.

Montaigue guessed that the main purpose of stirring up trouble in the Thousand River Valley was to hold back the Leia people while preventing the Norn people's forces from crossing the Ibe River, forcing the two to engage in internal strife.

The best outcome would be for the Norn Kingdom and the Leia Kingdom to bleed profusely in the Thousand River Valley, a land of constant warfare, leaving enough time for Prime Minister Lornzo's reform plan.

Remembering the groups of protesting university students and noble forces marching in Flower Hill before he left, Montaigue felt extremely tired.

However, they, the reformers, understood that the difficulties were only temporary. When mass-produced transcendent knights appeared, what would Leia be as a knightly country?

It was precisely because of Lornzo's reform plan that he could easily say, "A million people won't amount to much."

Thinking of this, Montaigue's heart surged. The Fran people should be the most civilized people in the empire; they could finally return to their rightful place.

"Then what do you mean?" Seeing Montaigue silent for a long time, Giganon couldn't help but ask.

"It's very simple," Montaigue took out a letter from his pocket and tossed it to Giganon. "I'll provide the channels; you contact them. They lack funds and manpower and probably won't refuse.

The Royal Zealand Company will acquire shares in your merchant guild; your merchant guild will serve as a trade window between Fran and the Salvation Army, supplying them with Fran weapons and fostering goodwill and even loyalty towards Fran."