When the Saint comes, she does not collect food

#386 - Montenegro Treaty

Standing by the window, Horn looked down from the second floor of Black Mountain Fortress. Domenico and the others were sitting in the courtyard, drinking mint water in large gulps.

Sweat soaked their clothes, but they were still unwilling to take off the tassels and wide robes that symbolized their status.

With such elegant posture, it was as if they were not here to surrender, but to inspect.

Turning around, Horn looked at the cardinals and legion commanders in the hall.

In contrast, the grassroots legion commanders and bishops were all wearing either sleeveless robes or linen shirts.

Coupled with their fierce temperament and the straps on their bodies representing their military ranks, they really looked like bandits in their bandit attire.

If Horn hadn't repeatedly emphasized the importance of appearance, they would have loved to attend the meeting bare-chested.

Unlike the previous discussions about the next campaign plan, they were now discussing the surrender documents of the nobles.

"We're about to win, it's just a matter of time, why should I agree to them?" Kohler and Rudylow, the two pro-war flag-bearers, were clearly opposed.

They both had the feeling of, 'I haven't even tried hard yet, and you've already fallen.'

Harkuto raised an objection: "Do you know how many people there are in Golden River Township? Almost 400,000 people. Our 200,000 people are already stretched thin, how can we manage another 400,000?"

"Manage what? No need to manage," Kohler waved his hand dismissively. "Wouldn't it be good to let them manage themselves?"

"Come on," Das retorted, siding with Harkuto. "You didn't pay attention in your Holy Doctrine class, did you? Power doesn't exist in a vacuum.

If we let them manage themselves, it's highly likely that a new batch of knights will emerge, and things will be no different from before we came."

"The most important thing is that we don't have much time left," Jeschka said, interrupting their conversation. He spread the thin parchment map on the table for the legion commanders to see. "We need at least a month to completely conquer the remaining parts of Golden River Township, and Rapid Stream City has been besieged for almost two months..."

"Rapid Stream City is probably fine. They haven't activated the alliance agreement to ask us for help. They have reinforcements from Kasha County, and they can last at least another month."

"I've been to Rapid Stream City. Even our short walls can last this long. With such high city walls, lasting another month or two is no problem."

"Currently, Dog Fox Township is blocked, and news can't get in or out. We have to go around Kasha County every time. The last time we got news from them was fifteen days ago. Who knows what their situation is?"

"Didn't they used to be able to break through the Dog Fox Township blockade? It just costs more money and manpower. If they really need help, it will only take three to five days."

Horn, who had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes closed in contemplation, opened his eyes: "The merchants of Rapid Stream City are afraid of us. They won't ask us for help unless it's absolutely necessary.

Moreover, we can't put the reins of fate in the hands of others, in the hands of Rapid Stream City. Whether internally or externally, cooperating with the knights is the best solution at present."

"But are those knights really trustworthy? They are our enemies," Zhuerdan rarely expressed his opinion at the meeting.

Horn shook his head vigorously: "We are eliminating the devil as a group, not as individuals."

"Besides, they are Kush people, which is better than those foreign knights, right?" Thomas, the great-grandson of the monastic secretary of the Holy Father Society, chimed in.

"Whether it's war or peace, they are both means to drive out the devil. We cannot wage war for the sake of war, nor can we pursue peace for the sake of peace.

I want to end the war here as soon as possible to prevent the overall situation in Thousand River Valley from collapsing."

In the end, Horn made the final decision, casting his ten thousand votes.

Despite some dissatisfaction and doubts, the senior leaders of the Salvation Army present still obeyed Horn's order.

"Yes, Your Eminence."

After an efficient meeting by the cardinals, an agreement was drafted before three o'clock in the afternoon and handed to Domenico before the meeting.

Excluding the minor details, the main content of this agreement was seven articles:

First, with Black Mountain as the boundary, Ibe Township would be established to the south of Black Mountain, and Golden River Township would remain to the north. The 'Holy Kingdom Land Decree' would be partially implemented within Ibe Township, and the 'Holy Kingdom Land Decree' would be fully implemented within Golden River Township.

Second, the death tax, the 'Labor Law,' and the tribute system would be abolished in Ibe Township.

Third, a religious court would be established in the Kang River Monastery. While retaining the nobles' right to enforce laws, the nobles' judicial power would be abolished and handled by itinerant priests and specialized judges.

Fourth, land rent would be statistically analyzed and reduced to 30%. Landlords were not allowed to increase rent below 30%. This would be supervised by itinerant priests. Landlords who exceeded 30% would be treated as criminals and subject to fines.

Fifth, Kush knights would be accepted into the Salvation Army, and earls and nobles would be accepted into the Senate. All Kush knights and nobles must obey the orders of Holy Grandson Horn.

Sixth, all knights would accept Holy Doctrine baptism, and all families would send嫡系子嗣(direct descendants) to study at the newly built school in Jeanne d'Arc Fortress.

Seventh, the life and property safety of knights who accept Holy Doctrine baptism would be guaranteed.

After reading through the conditions in the agreement, Domenico smiled and closed the document: "May I ask, regarding the fourth article, are the supervising priests appointed by us?"

"What are you thinking?" Kohler, who was already unhappy, glared at him. "Of course, they are appointed by His Eminence."

Domenico's smiling expression gradually turned into astonishment. Other clauses were acceptable to Golden River Township, but the reduction of rent to no more than 30% was too outrageous.

"Everything else can be agreed to, but the fourth article is really... If the peasants don't pay taxes, what will we eat?"

"When did the peasants not pay taxes? Isn't it written here? They pay 30% tax," Horn pointed to the text on the clause. "I don't think this tax reduction is too much, right?"

"Only paying 30% tax, and also canceling tribute and death tax, then some of our, that is, for example, our dignity, our status, and my social etiquette, and beautiful virtues, beautiful character, even the soul will be destroyed."

A Kush knight who had followed Domenico couldn't help but interject from the side.

So, paying 30% tax is equivalent to not paying taxes for you?

Horn leaned back in his chair, speechless: "You can't get on the negotiating table what you can't get on the battlefield?

Don't be naive, my friend. To put it bluntly, you are surrendering as defeated to the victors, seeking a moment of peace. I am the one who sets the rules.

The conditions I have proposed are generous enough. If it is delayed any further, when the fortresses in front are built, I am afraid that the boundary will not be Black Mountain."

Domenico shuddered, and just as he was about to muster the courage to refute, he remembered what his grandmother had told him before leaving.

"As long as we can maintain our current status and property, we will give the Salvation Army as much as they want!"

Calming himself, Domenico thought about it and then began to tug at the sleeves of several companions who had come with him.

"What's wrong?" The companions asked impatiently.

Domenico smiled apologetically at Horn: "Please allow me to excuse myself. I need to discuss it with my companions."

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"Please do," Horn naturally agreed.

Pulling on the sleeves of his companions, they left the house and hid under the eaves in the scorching sun.

For the next twenty minutes, Horn and the others in the house could hear the arguing from outside the window, sometimes loud and sometimes low.

The arguing did not stop until Domenico reopened the door.

Horn, who was sleepy and tired in all seasons, opened his sleepy eyes and stood up again to welcome this group of noble envoys: "Welcome back. How is it? Have you considered it?"

"Out of trust and respect for you," Domenico respectfully performed a chest-patting salute to Horn. "I, on behalf of the Kush knights, have signed this agreement."

............

After the signing ceremony, both parties took the agreement and returned to report the news.

Domenico stayed in Black Mountain Fortress, watching his companions leave his sight, a helpless smile on his face.

It was conceivable that in the coming period, Domenico would live with the titles of "Salvation Army spy," "Golden River Township traitor," and "迷失者(lost one) of the peasant women."

The reason he stayed here was to redeem his good younger brothers and to clear the identities of those Kush knights who had helped the Salvation Army fight the Ibe army.

"Mr. Domenico," Jeschka said to Domenico with a firm and cold tone, extending his hand, "We have arranged a small house for you and your attendants. It's over there."

"Okay, thank you for leading the way." It must be said that Domenico was indeed impeccable in terms of noble etiquette, even when facing old farmers, he was polite.

This made Jeschka a little embarrassed: "Just follow me."

Following behind Jeschka, Domenico lowered his head as if thinking about something. They walked through corridors and camps, and came to a two-story building.

This was the bishop's former villa, which was still clean, but it was far from the main building of the castle, after all, the Salvation Army was still not very trusting of this group of knights.

After leading the way and saying thank you, Domenico stopped Jeschka, who was about to leave: "Mr. Jeschka, can I wander around the barracks tomorrow?"

"Sure," Jeschka naturally didn't care.

They weren't afraid that Domenico would steal anything. If they could do what the Salvation Army did, they would become the Salvation Army. If they couldn't, they wouldn't be able to defeat the Salvation Army. Jeschka had this confidence.

"Then can I apply to you for a guide? For example, a legion scribe?"

"Who are you referring to?" Jeschka keenly noticed that Domenico's words had a hidden meaning.

Domenico smiled politely: "During the meeting today, I saw a legion scribe named Bernardo. He looks a lot like a friend of mine from before."

"You know him?"

"Maybe he used to be a laborer in my house. Maybe I even talked to him," Domenico wiped the sweat from his face with a handkerchief. "Is it possible?"

"Why not?" Jeschka rolled his eyes and shrugged. "Bernardo, right? You'll see him tomorrow."