When the Saint comes, she does not collect food

Chapter 1118 Torrent
While Bradak and other members of parliament were discussing countermeasures during their lunch break...

The news of the passage of the first decree had already spread rapidly throughout the area surrounding Longbow Fortress.

This news spread not only around Longbow, but also throughout the entire Dawn Island region.

The first to learn of the news were the surrounding laborers, helpers, and migrant workers.

Compared to farmers who own land because of the Holy Alliance, those who rely on being tenant farmers and day laborers are more inclined to join the Holy Alliance.

After all, the opposite of "those who have stable property have stable minds" is "those who have stable property have worries".

In contrast to the farmers' hesitation in joining the Brotherhood of the Fathers, this group was remarkably decisive and efficient.

Today, in cities like Changgongbao, the number of Father worshippers among these migrant tenant farmers and laborers can reach 40% to 50%.

Although it may not seem like a large number, the remaining displaced population are mostly politically apathetic and don't care about parliament or anything like that.

Therefore, almost all willing laborers and tenant farmers joined in.

The newsboy, barefoot, rushed across the street shouting as he carried the message, arriving just in time for the various workshops' lunch break.

This was a major measure taken by the monks of the Shengdao sect after they came to power, mandating a one-hour lunch break for all workshops.

The sounds of hammers and anvils gradually ceased, and craftsmen and helpers poked their heads out of the workshop.

Five or six orphaned newsboys, collectively employed by the monks of the Holy Path Sect, walked along the alleyways and streets, shouting with all their might.

"Breaking news! Breaking news! The Common Piety Committee has been banned by the State Affairs Conference!"

"Given this situation, Dawn Island is highly likely to be incorporated into the Kingdom of Fran!"

Upon hearing this news, many of the laborers were stunned. They rushed out without even having time to eat.

Further down the street, you can see artisans and their helpers carrying tin lunchboxes, passing on their knowledge by word of mouth at doorways, on rooftops, and by windows.

What were the results of the meeting?

"It seems the Holy Alliance faction lost."

"What do you mean?"

"It seems the Common Piety Committee is going to be abolished..."

"What?! What about my contract? Didn't we agree that I'd be free next month after paying off my debts?"

"I don't know that."

"What? I didn't hear that!"

"These traitors want to turn all of us laborers into slaves!"

By the time the lunch break was almost over, the news had changed from "the Common Piety Committee was banned" to "Franzanist members of parliament attempted to restore slavery."

When the work bell rang, the helpers and laborers lost all interest in continuing their work.

Even if they reluctantly attend, they are distracted.

Many people simply stopped going to work and instead gathered together to discuss the matter.

In particular, many labor leaders who had joined the brotherhood of the Church of God earlier rushed to the front line to explain to the workers and church members.

"Previously, in Leia, at least the priests were the judges, which was somewhat restrained. If the Francans come, wouldn't the guild leaders be the judges?"

"If anyone can buy their way into office, who will help us when we encounter injustice in the future?"

"If a lawsuit were to be filed, the person who would be suing would probably be sitting in the judge's seat."

"This is the restoration of slavery. If this continues, we will all become workshop slaves!"

These migrant workers became increasingly anxious and restless.

When the Common Piety Committee was first established, in addition to reaching an economic cooperation agreement with the Holy Alliance, its biggest task was to take charge of improving the safety and wages of migrant workers.

Normally, with the Holy Alliance's Thousand Rivers Valley as a crossroads of the three kingdoms, Dawn Isle could attract a large number of Norn, dwarves, and centaurs as buyers.

They also have vast markets in France and even overseas, allowing them to earn sufficient profits without exploiting migrant laborers.

Moreover, only by improving wages and safety can these workers have purchasing power and earn more income.

However, short-sightedness and the pursuit of profit are inherent to money.

Even though the Holy Alliance pointed this out to them, it still couldn't stop them from continuing to exploit them.

All the Holy Alliance can do is try to regulate, or even enforce, their behavior.

Even this small change is a world-shaking transformation for the working class.

They will no longer be fired because of illness, will no longer be injured without compensation, and will no longer go hungry until night because they didn't have a lunch break.

But now?

These oligarchic businessmen actually wanted to strip them of these powers.

If they had never seen the light, they could have endured the darkness, but now they cannot.

If we miss this opportunity, when will the next one be?

Only the Father knows!

"Winning this battle would have been worse than not winning it!"

Someone shouted, which immediately drew a chorus of agreement.

Anxiety spread like a plague, and the helpers became increasingly restless.

Some suggested "going to Parliament Hill to protest," while others said "going to the Christian Guard for help."

But the labor leaders of the Brotherhood of the Fathers noticed that after this group finished speaking, they would always retreat into the crowd and protect everyone in front of them.

The remaining laborers, despite their shouts, didn't actually move an inch. They were still undecided, believing that living a miserable life was better than dying.

It's not ready yet!
“Let’s wait a bit. There are too many rumors right now. We don’t want to hurt any good members of parliament,” labor leader Farabow shouted to the crowd. “If necessary, we can go to Parliament Hill to help with the protest.”

“But we need to set some rules first,” another labor leader beside him shouted. “Like when we were fighting, we elected squad leaders by neighborhood, didn’t we? We can do the same now.”

Farabour raised his voice: "If anything happens, we'll spread the word along the streets, and everyone, led by their squad leaders, will go to Parliament Hill to protest!"

"it is good!"

Seeing the laborers gradually disperse from afar, the oligarchs' guards and informants finally breathed a sigh of relief.

"Phew, that startled me. I really thought they would dare to make a move!" The captain of the guards wiped the sweat from his face.

"Don't worry, it's always like this." The oligarch's butler, who was accompanying them, lit his pipe. "Just you wait and see, they won't make a move!"

"Should we continue monitoring them for now?"

"Well, besides that, those few just now..." The butler narrowed his eyes to slits, "Write down their names, tell their employers to fire them, and forbid any workshop from hiring them!"

"it is good."

While tensions were high inside the city, things were just as lively outside, beyond the oligarchs' surveillance.

An eagle flew through the rain, looking down—

Outside the city of Changgong Fortress, on the muddy road, figures dressed in gray monks' robes were riding donkeys.

The gray robes were soaked through by the rain and clung tightly to their bodies, yet no one stopped in their tracks.

A monk was riding a donkey when the donkey twisted its hoof on the muddy road.

He simply abandoned the donkey, shouldered a backpack full of pictures and leaflets, and trudged forward, his steps uneven.

"We cannot let the Franco people succeed... We cannot let our hard-won second Holy Way Kingdom be destroyed... Let's march towards the earthly kingdom, let's march towards the earthly kingdom!"

Seemingly encouraging himself, the pampered monk gritted his teeth and continued forward.

He finally arrived at Grape Seed Village on the outskirts of the city, after breaking several blisters on his feet.

I climbed up the big rock at the entrance of the village, and raindrops dripped down my cheeks.

He held up a leaflet and shouted to the villagers who had gathered around: "Fellow believers, I have some news for you. The council has abolished the Common Piety Committee..."

This is a conspiracy by the French!

They want to join forces with Franz, but then the landowners will seize your land and exploit you just like before!
"We finally defeated Leia; we can't let the oligarchs steal the spoils of victory!"

Hearing the monk's call, many villagers came out of their homes and came closer.

Seeing people gathering around, the monk became even more enthusiastic: "You were enslaved by the Leia before, and now you are enslaved by the Franco. Don't you want to own your own land?"

You've all tasted the sweetness and suffered the bitterness, do you really want to continue suffering?
Gentlemen, please follow me to Longbow Keep to support our fellow believers!

"..."

"We must support our fellow believers, otherwise if they lose, we will all suffer the consequences."

"..."

"Gentlemen, I must say..."

Standing on the rock, the monk chanted again and again until his throat was hoarse and his mouth was dry, while the villagers listened in silence.

Some people were looking down and playing with their fingers, some turned around and walked away, and some even stood aside with amusement, as if watching a clown.

Looking at the villagers' numb faces, the monk's heart sank deeper and deeper.

He wanted to say more, but the more he spoke, the more bored the villagers who had gathered out of curiosity became, and the faster they left.

In the end, he was left alone standing on the rock, all alone, like a log.

The rain hit my face, icy cold.

He lowered his head in despair, the leaflets in his hand scattered by the wind.

Is it really as the Franco people say, that the farmers are all fools and incapable of participating?

After climbing down the rock and taking a deep breath, the monk did not give up but continued towards the next village.

He hadn't taken more than a few steps when he heard a series of orderly footsteps behind him.

Looking up, one could see a dozen or so strong farmers walking out of the village lanes, including some of the farmers who had turned and left earlier.

They were all wearing black hooded cloaks, with bulging waistbands.

So he went back to get his weapons and cloak? The monk's eyes lit up.

The leading farmer pulled down his hood, covering half his face: "The Third Legion of the Guardians of the Church, Myrbom salutes you, let's go!"

The monk's tears immediately mingled with the rain and streamed down his face: "Let's go!"

Without further ado, the group continued walking along the muddy road.

They were stunned as soon as they stepped out of the village.

On the road in the distance, groups of people, densely packed together, were moving toward Longbow Fortress.

There were farmers carrying hoes, helpers holding hammers, and retired Christian Guard soldiers wearing hoods.

Rain streamed down their hoods and cloaks. No one spoke; only the sound of their synchronized footsteps was clearly audible in the rain.

Raising his arm, the monk shouted, "Follow them!"

The crowd surged and approached Parliament Hill like a flood.

(End of this chapter)