Chapter 385 Treaty of Montenegro
Standing at the window, Horn looked down from the second floor of Montenegro Castle. Domenico and others were sitting in the courtyard, drinking mint water.
Their clothes were wet with sweat, but they still refused to take off the tassels and robes that symbolized their status.
With that elegant gesture, it seems that they are not here to surrender, but to inspect.
Turn around, Horn looked at the cardinals and legion commanders in the hall.
In contrast, the grassroots legion commanders and bishops all wore either sleeveless burqas or linen shirts.
Coupled with this fierce temperament and the laces that represent military ranks, wearing a bandit outfit really looks like a bandit.
Had it not been for Horn’s repeated instructions to pay attention to their appearance, they would have been in the meeting shirtless.
Different from the previous discussion of the next battle plan, what is being discussed now is the surrender letter of the nobles.
"We are going to win soon. It is only a matter of time at most. Why should I agree to them?" Coleman and Rudillo, the two main militants, have clear banners.
Both of them have the feeling that you have fallen before I even exert any force.
Hakuto raised an objection: "Do you know how many people there are in Jinhe Township? 400,000 people. Our 200,000 people are all stretched thin. Can we manage another 400,000 people?"
"Whatever, don't worry." Coleman waved his hand carelessly, "Wouldn't it be nice to let them take care of themselves?"
"Come on." Standing with Hakuto Das, who was on the same side, retorted, "You haven't studied the holy way properly. There is no vacuum in power.
If we let them manage their own affairs, there is a high probability that a new batch of new ones will be born. Knight, it’s no different than before we came.”
"The most important thing is that we don't have much time." Jeshka interrupted their conversation and spread the thin parchment map on the table for the legion commanders to look at, "We at least It will take another month to completely capture the remaining parts of Jinhe Township, and Rapids City has been besieged for almost two months..."
" Rapids City is okay, they have not activated the alliance agreement to ask for help from us. They have reinforcements from Kasha County and can last for at least a month."
"I have been to Rapid City. A wall as short as ours can last for so long. With a wall as high as this, it can only last one or two more. Months are no problem at all.”
“Currently, Gouhu Township is blocked. News cannot come 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 happened to them before? "
"Weren't they able to break through the Gouhu Township blockade before? They just have to spend more money and manpower. If they really ask for help, it will be there in three to five days. ”
Horn, who had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes closed and meditating, opened his eyes: "The businessmen in Rapid City are afraid of us and will not come to us for help unless they have to.
Besides, we can't The reins of destiny are handed over to others, into the hands of Rapid City. Whether it is internal or external, cooperation with the knights is the best solution at present."
"But are those knights really trustworthy? He is our enemy." Jourdain rarely expressed his opinion at the meeting.
Horn shook his head: "It is the group of devils that is being destroyed, not individuals."
"Besides, they are Kush people, so they are better than those knights from other places, right?" St. Great-grandson Thomas, secretary of the Order of the Holy Fathers, echoed.
"Whether it is war or peace, they are all means to expel devils. We cannot go to war for the sake of war, nor can we go to peace for the sake of peace.
I want to end the war here as soon as possible to prevent the overall situation of Qianhe Valley from changing. "Defeat."
In the end, Horn made the final decision and cast his 10,000 votes
Although there may still be some dissatisfaction and doubts, the senior Salvation Army leaders present still listened to Horn. Order.
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
After an efficient meeting among the cardinals, an agreement was drawn up before three o'clock in the afternoon and handed over to Domenico before the meeting.
Excluding those minutiae, the most important contents of this agreement are seven:
First, with Montenegro as the boundary, Ibe Township will be established in the south of Montenegro, and Jinhe Township will remain in the north. The "Holy Country's Land Acquisition Edict" is partially implemented within the scope of Yibei Township, and the "Holy Country's Land Acquisition Edict" is fully implemented within the scope of Jinhe Township.
Second, abolish the dead-hand tax, the Labor Law and the tribute system in Ibe Township.
Third, set up a religious court in Cam River Abbey, retaining the law enforcement power of the nobles while abolishing the judicial power of the nobles and leaving it to itinerant priests and specialized judges.
Fourth, the land rent was calculated and reduced to 30%. If the rent was less than 30%, the rent could not be increased. This part was supervised by the traveling priests. Those who exceeded 30% were considered guilty and had to pay a fine.
Fifth, accept Kush knights into the Salvation Army, and admit earl nobles into the Senate. All Kush knights and nobles must obey the orders of Saint Sunhorn.
Sixth, all knights are baptized by the Holy Doctrine, and all families send their direct descendants to study in the new school at Castle Joan of Arc.
Seventh, ensure the safety of life and property of knights who have been baptized by the Holy Doctrine.
After reading through the conditions of the agreement, Domenico closed the document with a smile: "Can I ask about the fourth article, shall we appoint the supervising priests?"
< br>
"What are you thinking about?" Coleman, who was already unhappy, stared at him, "It must be appointed by the crown prince."
Domenico's smiling expression gradually turned into astonishment, and other terms for Jinhe Township It's okay, and I can barely accept it, but the rent collection is not allowed to exceed three achievements, which is outrageous. "You can agree to anything else, but the fourth point is really...if farmers don't pay taxes, what will we eat?"
"When did farmers stop paying taxes? This Isn't it written? Pay 30% tax." Horn pointed to the words in the clause, "I don't think this tax reduction is big?"
"Only pay 30% tax, but also cancel the tribute. With the dead-hand tax, some of our dignity, our identity, our social etiquette, our good moral character, our good character, and even our souls will be destroyed.”
A Kush knight who followed Domenico couldn't bear it anymore and interrupted.
Paying 30% tax on co-authorship means no tax to you, right?
Horn leaned back in his chair quite speechlessly: "What you can't get on the battlefield, do you still want to get it at the negotiation table?
Don't be naive, my Friends, to put it bluntly, you are the defeated who surrender to the victors in order to have a breath of peace. I am the one who sets the rules.
The terms I proposed are generous enough. If you postpone it further, you will have to wait for the front. When the fortress is built, I’m afraid it won’t be bounded by Black Mountain.”
Domenico shuddered, and just about to muster up the courage to retort, he remembered what his grandmother had said to him before she left.
“As long as we can keep our current status and property, we will give you whatever the Salvation Army wants!”
After calming down, Domenico thought about it, and then started to pull a few strings. The sleeves of an accompanying companion.
"What's wrong?" the companions asked impatiently.
Domenico smiled apologetically at Horn: "Please allow me to excuse you, I need to discuss it with my companions."
"Please." Horn agreed naturally.
Pulling the sleeves of their companions, they left the house and hid under the eaves in the scorching sun.
In the next twenty minutes or so, Horn and others in the room could hear sometimes high and sometimes low quarrels coming from outside the window.
The quarrel continued until Domenico opened the door again.
Horn, who had been tired all year round, opened his sleepy eyes and stood up to greet the noble envoys again: "Welcome back, how about it? Have you considered it?"
"Out of trust and respect for you." Domenico bowed respectfully to Horn, "I signed this agreement on behalf of the Kush Knight."
…… …
After the signing ceremony, both parties took the agreement and returned to their respective reports.
Domenico stayed in Montenegro Castle, watching Yiqi Juechen’s companions leave his sight, with a helpless smile on his face.
It is conceivable that in the next period of time, Domenico will have to live with the names of "Salvation Army spy", "Jinhe Township traitor" and "lost peasant woman".
The reason why he stayed here was to redeem all his good brothers, and also to clear the identities of the Kush knights who helped the Salvation Army fight the Ibe Army.
"Mr. Domenico." Jeshka stretched out her hand to Domenico in a strong and cold tone, "We have arranged a cabin for you and your attendants, right over there. "
"Okay, please show me the way." I have to say that Domenico is indeed impeccable in terms of aristocratic etiquette, even when facing old farmers, he is polite.
This actually made Jeshka a little embarrassed: "Just follow me."
Following behind Jeshka, Domenico lowered his head as if thinking What, they walked all the way through the corridor and the camp, and came to a two-story building.
This was the former bishop's villa. It was relatively clean, but it was far away from the main building of the castle. After all, the Salvation Army still didn't believe in this group of knights.
After Jeshka who was leading the way thanked him, Domenico stopped him as he was about to leave: "Mr. Jeshka, can I hang out in the military camp tomorrow?"
"Okay." Jeshka naturally didn't care.
They are not afraid of Domenico stealing anything. If they can be like the Salvation Army, they will become the Salvation Army. If not, they will not be able to defeat the Salvation Army. Jeshka has This confidence.
“Then can I apply for a guide from you? For example, a legion clerk?”
"Who are you referring to?" Jeshka keenly noticed that there was something wrong in Domenico's words.
Domenico smiled politely: "During the meeting today, I saw a legion clerk named Bernardo. He looked very much like a friend of mine."
“Do you know him?”
“Maybe he worked as a laborer in my house before, maybe I have even talked to him.” Domenico wiped the sweat on his face with a handkerchief : "Is it possible?"
"Why not?" Rolling his eyes twice, Jeshka shrugged, "Bernardo, right? You will see him tomorrow."
(End of this chapter)