Chapter 432 Going to Collins
A carriage was driving slowly on a dirt road in the countryside. Judging from the style and decoration of the carriage, it was a carriage specially used for rental. In areas with relatively developed commerce, there are a large number of transportation rental services for transporting goods and carrying people.
"Guest, let me tell you, you are really brave, especially since you are a foreigner."
The coachman's voice came through the window in front of the carriage.
Friedrich List smiled helplessly, are all the coachmen in Cape Bay so talkative?
He just wanted to quietly enjoy the scenery along the way.
But out of politeness, he still responded: "Why do you say that?"
"Don't you know?"
The coachman's voice was full of surprise.
“The situation between the two sides has become increasingly tense recently.”
Lister knew that the two sides in the coachman's words were referring to the coastal countries of the Cape Bay led by the Cape Bay League and the inland countries of the Cape Bay led by Collins.
The apparent conflict between the two sides focuses on whether to continue the witch-hunting campaign that has been going on for many years, but Lister, who has lived in Cape Bay for a long time, understands that the essence of the conflict is still due to economic interests.
The coastal countries have controlled maritime trade for a long time and made a lot of money every year, while the inland countries can only rely on a few local specialty products produced by underdeveloped agriculture and handicrafts to earn some external income. Profits, such as tea and silk, have to rely on the merchant ships of those coastal people. Coastal merchants who control shipping often use various means to lower the purchase price. How can this not arouse the jealousy of inland countries such as Collins.
The Holy See chose the inland country of Collins as the seat of Archbishop of Corner Bay. The income of Corner Bay Church from properties in various places, as well as the tithes collected in various places - this is the capital income of Corner Bay Church. The bulk - all gathered in Collins. After the Corner Bay Church paid its share to the Holy See, the remaining money was mainly spent on Collins and the surrounding inland countries. Therefore, many people in the inland depended on the church for their livelihood, and some of them even Many people receive alms from the church directly.
This biased fund-use policy of the Corner Bay Church has cultivated a large number of devout believers in the inland countries, resulting in a very strong religious atmosphere in the inland countries, especially in its residence, Collins, from the king to Slaves are all loyal believers of the Illuminati Cult.
However, it also caused strong dissatisfaction among the coastal countries. It was generally believed that the Jiaowan Church was killing the rich and giving to the poor.
The witch-hunting campaign in recent years has disrupted normal commercial activities in coastal areas as never before. In the end, in the capital of the Horn League, the church messenger was thrown out of the window, and then the rebellion began. The widespread spread of new sects aiming to control the Gulf Church along the coast has pushed the long-standing conflicts between the two sides to a new peak.
After hearing what the coachman said, Liszt asked: "Don't you often run this road? Aren't you worried about yourself?"
The coachman turned around and smiled at Hehe through the window. , "People like us who run around all year round to make a living, naturally have our own way. Guest, don't worry, if someone stops us on the road, just leave it to me to deal with it. But, hey, you have to be more alert when the time comes. ..."
The words of the coachman made Liszt feel a little worried. Although he had made preparations in advance and knew that the road might not be peaceful, he had a reason to go - there was a very interesting person in Collins. A nobleman of high status, he sent someone to contact the office of Tod Shipping Company in Niceburg. He wanted to export his silk and tea through Aldo.
Because of the recent situation, merchants in the Northwest Gulf have taken over a lot of business that originally belonged to the merchants in the Corner Bay. On the one hand, the coastal countries are trying to attack the inland economically. On the other hand, the inland people do not want to continue to tolerate the maritime merchants. of treachery.
Whatever you are afraid of will come. Just after Liszt raised his heart, dust started to rise on the road in the distance.
A group of people quickly rushed to the carriage and surrounded them.
"Stop the car! Who are those people inside!"
The leader, riding a tall horse, shouted fiercely towards the carriage.
Liszt was very nervous and remembered what the coachman had just said, leaving everything to him. The driver immediately jumped down and ran to the leader's horse. The man on the horse leaned down and the two had a conversation.
Then the leader shook the reins, came to the front of the carriage, and shouted in a deep voice:
"Aldo! We are the witch hunters of Collins, come down and be inspected!"
Liszt had no choice but to open the car door, stand on the ground and carefully salute the man. "My lord, I went to Collins to discuss business with Earl Bridges."
I thought that mentioning the name of the noble would make the person in front of me a little more polite, but unexpectedly, the other person muttered, "Another treacherous businessman."
Liszt was so frightened that he stopped talking.
The leader first put one of those stones against Liszt's body, scratched it up and down, back and forth, and kept chanting something in his mouth - as if he was reciting fragments from the holy scriptures.
Nothing abnormal happened, "Okay, you are not a wizard, but..."
He waved his hand, and his entourage came over holding a box.
The leader reached in and pulled out a piece of paper with something crookedly written on it.
“Listen, you godless pagans, your sins have been accumulated and cannot be washed away by ordinary means. However, our merciful servants of God in Collins, they are facing the light day and night. The Lord prayed devoutly and created these sacred talismans for the world - indulgences! As long as you offer one directly to the Father, you can get one, and then your sins can be washed away - note that it is just the previous one - —Otherwise, humph, just wait until you die and be burned by fire forever in hell!”
Liszt was dumbfounded, what else could he say?
And what does direct devotion mean?
The driver nearby gave him a gesture common to all corners of the country. Well, it turned out to be money.
"Sir, I am also a believer in the Lord of Light."
Liszt smiled and took out the Holy Emblem he carried with him.
The leader glared hard, like an angry bull, and said maliciously: "Listen, O man, you think faith is just a show, I can see it with just one glance. I see that your faith is not pious at all, and your eyes are full of desire for money.”
Liszt wanted to defend himself, but the other party did not give him a chance to speak.
“My eyes, which have been blessed by the servants of God, will not lie to me! People with sins on their bodies are not qualified to enter Collins!”
His men began to make noises, mixed with a lot of Cape Bay slang that Liszt couldn't understand.
Liszt wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and looked at the coachman's face and made gestures to him repeatedly.
“Okay, sir, how much should I give to Heavenly Father?”
He compromised, serious business matters.
“A silver coin!”
The other party said angrily.
So expensive? It's just a piece of paper.
However, Liszt knew that the other party was not a good bargainer, so he still paid for it obediently.
A group of people cursed and left after getting the money.
Finally I can get on my way again...
(End of this chapter)