Chapter 530: Rebuilding Rapid City starts from the port
On the morning of January 3, 1446, Rapid City.
A heavy trumpet sounded from the observation deck, and the shipowners who were forced to dock the ship raised their heads.
Blocks of moving black shadows occupied all their sight. Amid the shouts of the officers, all the war monks had already lined up on the ship's deck in advance.
In the cold wind, these black-clothed war monks stood upright. They leaned their silver-gray spears on their shoulders, carried their brass holy guns on their backs, and wore the sabers around their waists neatly on one side.
Viewed from the side, it looks like a neat row of ancient Al sculptures. Their eyes pass over the curious and fearful citizens in front of them without any emotion.
The pattern of crossed guns and swords on the bow of the black ship was something that citizens had seen on notice boards and on the streets a few days ago.
Salvation Army, Guards Chapter.
Four months later, this fearsome army returned to his loyal city of Rapids.
Amid the shouts of the sailors, five or six ship ropes were thrown from the ship, and the nimble dockers quickly wrapped the ship ropes around the anchor frame and pulled them closer.
The ship's rope was tightened on the anchor frame on the river bank, and even wisps of white smoke and dust rose up due to the rapid friction.
Thanks to the captain's superb maneuvering skills, Barge No. 1 stopped steadily in the harbor formed by the plank road.
Seven or eight sailors stuck one end of the long board with an iron hook on the side of the ship. First, a few military policemen and holy gunmen came down and lined up in two lines by the roadside.
Then in the midst of everyone's attention, Horn, wearing a woolen twill priest's robe and a tall fur hat, walked briskly down the long board.
The citizens "spontaneously" obtained flower petals and colorful flags, and at the urging of the heads of chambers of commerce and guilds, they continued to throw and wave them towards Horn.
It was said to be a huge attraction, and there were less than a thousand people in total, including spectators, porters and boat owners.
Catherine specifically limited the number of people to prevent the likes of the Shadowless Demon Hunters from sneaking in.
Ludwik's death taught her a sad lesson, and she even had a letter requesting Hornpatchka's supervision hidden under the drawer in her study, but she never made up her mind to send it out.
Due to the special nature of Rapid City, Horn has relaxed local supervision to a certain extent.
Judging from the degree of recovery in the port area, this measure has had some effect.
Compared with the ruins four months ago, the scene in front of me has long since disappeared. Those ruins that are still burning with flames have long since disappeared.
There are many shops on both sides of the semicircular pier, and iron signs with scissors, jars, and hammers engraved on them are hung in front of the doors.
Behind the low shops is a large masonry building, which is the newly restored Rapid City Exchange Hall.
Even after careful washing, the charred traces of the fire could not be covered up.
In the center of the dock square is a bell tower under construction, imitating the bell tower in the Holy Arms.
"I didn't expect that we would meet again not long after." Catherine, wearing a wide-brimmed felt hat, looked at Horn who was walking slowly with a smile.
She was wearing a red dress today, and her upper body was wearing a waistcoat commonly worn by businessmen, but it was made of the best black serge material.
"Time is like a wild donkey, it keeps running." Horn stepped forward unceremoniously and hugged Catherine.
After meeting with Mitten, Karl and other senior officials of Rapid City, the group of people just chatted on the dock.
The Privy Monk behind him immediately began to record the conversation between Horn and Catherine:
"Both parties had a cordial and friendly conversation on the situation in Fort Joan of Arc Rapids, and fully exchanged views on the height and age of both parties.
His Majesty the Pope has expressed serious concern about the age of the Governor of Rapid City, and the Governor is also waiting to see the height of His Majesty the Pope..."
Horn and Catherine chatted on the dock, not to avoid the cold, but to make a gesture.
The forces within Rapid City must know that there is someone behind Catherine, and the relationship between the two parties is very good. The longboard vibrated, and thousands of black-clad soldiers stepped off the ship neatly, lined up on the roadside, and marched quickly toward the camp outside the dock.
Horn and Catherine's show finally stopped. He rubbed his cold cheeks: "Why didn't you see Jeanne?"
Catherine, who was leading the way, shrugged: "She went to Xiaochi City with 600 cavalry. She just left yesterday."
"Is the war situation so critical?"
"That's not the case. The latest news is that the church's troops were celebrating New Year's Day a few days ago and suspended their offensive. They just resumed their offensive today."
"Did Brago elect a new abbot?"
"No, they still did not get more than two-thirds of the votes in the seventh round of voting held on New Year's Day, and now they are in the eighth round of voting."
After a long silence, Horn opened the door and stepped into the warm carriage: "What a pair of equally matched opponents."
Do you have to vote? Can't we just imitate the emperor and dissolve the parliament directly, and fight the war first before saying no?
Compared to the cold weather outside, not only was a fire pot lit inside the carriage, but it was also covered with a layer of woolen and fur to keep it warm.
Although it was warm, Horn always felt unsafe.
Lifting the curtain of the carriage, he looked at the slowly passing street scene outside.
After leaving the dock area, there were more rubbles on the streets and ruins on the roadside, as well as gathering construction sites and billowing smoke.
After the Battle of Rapid City, there was a strong demand within Rapid City to abandon the port area and retain only the dock as an access channel.
But Catherine rejected this request and instead called for the revitalization of the port area, because abandoning the area would lower people's expectations.
The rapids city's prosperous business and port area are absolutely inseparable from the relationship.
Once they realize that the port area may never be rebuilt, most of the citizens who rely on the port area will choose to leave.
The target of their immigration is probably the two emerging cities of Fort Joan of Arc and Holy Armament Court.
The original immigrants of Rapid City had already sent the news back from Fort Joan of Arc and Rapid City. In the past four months, the food trade between the two sides had broken down many rumors about Fort Joan of Arc and the Holy Weapons Court.
Many citizens are more optimistic about the trend of the Holy Arms Court. Especially after the signing of the "Sugar and Grain Exchange Agreement", at least two hundred citizen families moved to Joan of Arc and the Holy Arms Court.
In order to reverse this trend in time, even if there is no money to build, we must make a gesture to make people think that there is still hope.
Therefore, Catherine followed the habits of the Salvation Army and announced the "1448 Port Area Vision Plan", stating that it would not only rebuild the port area, but also make the port area more prosperous.
The first thing Catherine did was to complete the facade of the dock area, then sweep and wash away all the rubbish, and finally repaired most of the key buildings.
For example, the Commodities Exchange, the Cathedral of Fiore, the Holy See Bank and the Bank of America, etc.
So far, although it has not returned to its former prosperity, and the Rapids City Government is heavily in debt, it has at least retained people's hearts.
"It's just..." A wry smile appeared on Catherine's lips, "Some people still don't recognize my status as a saint. After I returned to Rapid City, there were hundreds of cases of defection.
These are still caught, and there are probably more who have not been caught. Currently, there are three to four thousand people who have escaped from our Salvation Army territory and have gone to Hotam County or Lujiao Township. ”
"Pedantic and ignorant people, let them go." Horn waved his hand carelessly. When he occupied Fort Joan of Arc, a large number of people also fled to Jinhe Township in the south.
Then, why don't you still work for Shengsun honestly now?
"Speaking of Lujiao Township, how is the attack of the knight on the gray horse?"
"He wrote back a few days ago to express his gratitude, and slowed down the offensive. Instead, he occupied the sentry fort first, so that he could advance, attack, retreat and defend."
Hearing the news, Horn felt as comfortable as if he had hot shit in his crotch in winter.
I finally have a teammate who listens to me. It’s not easy.
(End of chapter)