N-M #508 - The three forces gradually become familiar with each other
#508 - The three forces gradually become familiar with each other
After discussing the most important issue of dividing the spoils, the remaining key minor issues were quickly resolved.
These included the mutual opening of borders and roads, the registration of wizards, the judicial scope of both parties (territorial jurisdiction, following local customs), and unified tariffs, among other things.
Lourdes also inquired about Horn's marital status, but he brushed it off with "From a witch's lifespan perspective, I'm still a minor."
It was at this point that Horn suddenly realized why Carrie had said she could guarantee that their children would be established as heirs by the leader of the Joan Party.
Isn't this just like a grandmother taking care of her grandchildren?
It has to be said that among the four witches Horn knows, Carrie is the only one with a mother.
With these matters settled, only some minor details remained, such as the name of the alliance.
Since this wouldn't affect the overall situation, they decided to discuss it at the formal meeting tomorrow, leaving the rest to be communicated and revised separately.
If all three parties were satisfied, the alliance treaty could be signed on the third day after the formal meeting, officially establishing the alliance.
Tidying up the documents on the walnut round table and putting them back into their bags, Horn looked up at the clock on the wall and realized it was already half past six.
The banquet should be starting soon.
"Time flies," Horn said, stretching, as he walked to the liquor cabinet in the break room and took out a silver flask.
Holding the silver flask, Horn lined up three hourglass-shaped copper cups and poured a drink for each of them.
Ludwig was the first to pick one up, while Lourdes, despite looking young, was accustomed to both smoking and drinking in private, and naturally picked up her cup skillfully.
She looked at the amber liquid swirling in the copper cup, sniffed it, and found it wasn't the familiar scent: "What is this?"
"Apple cider," Horn said, raising his cup, "We Salvation Army members don't particularly like wine; we prefer apple cider, and we use it to replace wine on important occasions.
Of course, we don't forbid others from drinking it. If you want wine, I can have someone bring it to you now."
"No need, apple cider is fine," Lourdes said, holding her cup and standing on the seat, just at eye level with the other two.
"To our friendship, cheers!" Horn gave the first toast and then drained his cup.
………………
"It's so fragrant, and there's no bitterness at all." A young wizard, stuffing a candied sweet potato root into his mouth, wanted to eat more but was tapped on the head by his companion.
"I can't believe it, Yam," Gevaudan said. Although Gevaudan wasn't a member of the Dragon Language Scholars Alliance, the two had a close relationship as secret societies in the northern Black Serpent Bay County.
Gevaudan looked longingly at the candied sweet potato root in Gevaudan's hand, and Yam retorted, "What's wrong?"
"Today is all-you-can-eat, why aren't you eating meat and cheese, and instead you're eating sweet potato roots?" Gevaudan put down the sweet potato root, grabbed Yam's arm, and dragged him to the other side of the table.
"Here, eat. You can still get full even if you don't eat staple foods."
The long table was covered with a red and white checkered tablecloth, with vegetables and flowers placed in the middle, and wooden barrels of beer at the end.
Plates were neatly filled with caramel egg tarts, and the sweet aroma hit Yam's brain.
Looking at the dazzling array of tableware, crispy pork knuckles, amber-red Saint-Sun roast duck, and a large pot of rich cream of mushroom soup, Yam didn't know where to start.
"I'll go get some wine, let's meet at the round table over there," Gevaudan said, pointing to where a group of secret society members were gathered near a pillar.
Holding a plate, he walked around the table, looking at the stoves still heated with honeycomb briquettes, but not knowing what to eat.
"If you don't know what to eat, I suggest you try the Saint-Sun roast duck."
The rather introverted scholar-type wizard Yam widened his eyes, at a loss for how to respond.
"Excuse me, I'm Jourdan, the fifth legion commander of the Black Hat Legion." Jourdan put the wooden tongs on the plate and extended his hand to Yam.
When Gevaudan returned with several bottles of wine, he was surprised to find that the place where the secret society members had gathered was now full of officers and secret society members.
Most of the secret society members were rough people who didn't get along with the monks, but they got along well with these officers.
Especially since these officers brought playing cards and wine, the noise from the secret society members and officers almost drowned out the band's music.
Watching the spittle flying and the cards shuffling, Martin shook his head helplessly.
"Let's go over there."
Dragging Granpin and several Brago monks, they walked to a quieter spot by the window, where they could enjoy the rich and beautiful night view outside.
A group of people had already gathered in the quiet spot by the window.
These people were wearing standard clerical robes, holding wine glasses, and talking in low voices about what they had seen and heard in Langsand County.
They were all newly promoted senior monks, many of whom were among the first to be supported by the Brago Monastery.
Many of them were not as knowledgeable as this second group, but they now enjoyed better treatment and a more superior position, which made many new monks jealous.
Don't think that all the monks of the Huano faction are completely devoted to the believers; they also have their own interests, but the church cannot satisfy them.
The monks mingled with the merchants, and the secret society members mingled with the officers.
There seemed to be a red line between the two groups, clearly separating them.
Part of the meaning of holding this banquet was to allow the Salvation Army to get to know these future colleagues.
Horn also invited some insightful merchants to join, letting them act as lubricants and mediators, trying to create a lively atmosphere for the banquet.
Catherine was surrounded by a group, but they weren't there to mediate the atmosphere, but to report.
"4,000 pairs of military boots, 4,000 pairs of marching shoes, and you've only delivered a third so far?" Catherine's eyes narrowed sharply, a sign of anger that those familiar with her knew well.
"Your Highness, we can't do it."
"This is a carefully calculated plan. As long as you work together, you will definitely be able to do it!"
"We do have difficulties…"
"What difficulties? Tell me four."
Several merchants from the leather guild and the shoemakers' guild looked down and glanced at each other, but no one spoke.
The most ⊥ new ⊥ small ⊥ says ⊥ in ⊥ six ⊥ 9 ⊥⊥ book ⊥⊥ bar ⊥⊥ first ⊥ hair!
"Enough. If you dare to play those little tricks again, I will bankrupt you within a year, empty your family's assets, and make your whole family go homeless." Catherine's face was elegant, but her words were chilling.
This was not an empty threat. Back in Rapid Creek City, Catherine had used insider trading and futures manipulation to send several disobedient master craftsmen and wealthy merchants into becoming refugees.
The Zhen Deberg guilds originally had no leverage in front of Horn, and they dared not resist even more.
Horn needed the guilds only because the Salvation Army did not yet have the ability to organize large-scale artisan activities.
There were many production upstream and downstream and supply channels, which the senior monks were still learning.
Even if Horn confiscated their homes, many assets could not be found, and it could even lead to widespread chaos in the entire industry and commerce.
Catherine was different. She had started her career as a guild oligarchy.
Not only could she surgically and precisely cut the assets of guilds and oligarchs, but she could also mobilize people to replace local craftsmen for a period of time.
Seeing their jobs being taken away, the craftsmen would not continue to follow these guild oligarchs in strikes or non-violent non-cooperation.
Catherine had not taken action against these guilds for only one reason—
They were still useful at the moment. As far as possible, do not increase entities.
"I don't care what entanglements you have, what guild rules you have, it doesn't matter. If you don't complete the order, you are challenging my authority.
I only have one requirement: deliver everything before winter. No excuses, don't have any wishful thinking. I'll just tell you one thing—the water in the Ibe River is very cold in winter."
Seeing the small sprouts rising from the grass seeds on their companions' shoulders, several guild merchants swallowed their saliva and nodded timidly.
"It's good that you understand. Excuse me for a moment." Catherine raised her glass elegantly, threatened a few people, and walked towards Ludwig at the door with a smile.
She happened to meet him. Catherine had a few questions about the food situation in Kasha County that she wanted to ask.
But she stopped after only a few steps, standing near a pillar not too far away, with feminine gaze fixed on the two old men in front of her.
The night wind blew through the cracks in the door, bringing not only the cool air of an autumn night, but also the intermittent conversations of the two men.
"…you don't have the right to decide everything alone…this matter must at least get the approval of most of the chapter presidents…"
"This is a surefire way to make a profit…I don't understand why you…"
"…openly cooperating with the wizards of Black Serpent Bay?…Are we a monastery or a secret society?"
"We are cooperating with the Salvation Army. The Salvation Army is cooperating with the secret society."
"The Salvation Army is the secret society! You are not allowed to do this!"
"Jean-Benoît, I am the Abbot of the Brago Monastery!"
"Ludwig, you will regret this!"
Watching Jean-Benoît slam the door and leave, the features on Ludwig's face were all squeezed together.
He stood there for a while before chasing after him.
Raising her eyebrows, Catherine stood behind the pillar and called over a nearby servant: "You are Cheka, right?"
"Me?"
"Don't pretend. I know you are Cheka." Catherine interrupted the servant's words directly, "Tell His Majesty what just happened. This is an important matter."
"…Yes, Your Holiness."