When the Saint comes, she does not collect food

Chapter 600 Constitutional Convention (End)

Moss-covered tree trunks knelt on the ground, with deep cuts from swords and knives in them.

Horn bent down and picked up a broken arrow from the furry green grass. It had a light brown-red rust color, but it also had a faint smell of blood.

Looking up, a dozen continuous low hills appeared before my eyes. Between two lush low hills, the deck of a broken bridge hung on the edge of the cliff, still swaying in the wind.

The warm and scorching light shone on the straw hat. The tips of the grass leaves brushed against his ankles, making him feel itchy. In a trance, Horn actually felt like he was still the farmer in the field.

Just as he looked up, he saw a circle of armored guards around him, and cuirassiers were running back and forth on the avenue.

This small area is filled with the singing of birds, the fragrance of flowers, and the fluttering of butterflies. There is no sign of the withered scene of previous autumn and winter.

If no one told you, who would know that a little-known war had once broken out here?
"Do you want to take a break?" Without riding a horse, Meliati stood beside Horn and asked softly.

Horn did not answer. He seemed to have not reacted and stared blankly at the top of the mountain. He seemed afraid to take a step forward. It was not until Jeanne beside him gently hugged his arm that he came out of his trance.

Facing Jeanna's worried eyes, he stroked Jeanna's hand to indicate that everything was fine, then turned to Meliati and said with a smile: "No need, let's just go up."

Jeanne held Horn's hand and followed Meliati, and they climbed up the hill.

"How is the information collection for "Chronicles of the Thousand Valleys" going?" Horn asked Melia as he walked.

Meliati pursed her lips tightly under her iron face, but still said: "We are still collecting historical materials. Many of our historical materials are incomplete, so we have to extract them from other historical materials."

“Do you need to buy it from outside?”

"Of course, but compared to those fortresses and rivers, it's not expensive. It just takes time. Maybe the Kingdom of Leia will attack before we have finished repairing it."

"It would be better if we wait another 300 years to repair the modern times after the battle." Horn looked around the low hills that were once covered with dead leaves and yellow earth. "By then, some things can be concluded."

"Chronicles of a Thousand Valleys" will be the first history book since the establishment of the Holy Monarchy of a Thousand Valleys, divided into three hundred years of ancient times and three hundred years of modern times.

Of course, a book called "Biographies of the People in Qianhe Valley" was also compiled together.

The former is a chronicle, while the latter is a biography, so the former must serve politics. It is not only a history book, but also a political book.

How this book is edited will basically determine the appearance of the imagined community of Qianhe Valley.

"Have all the county governors arrived?" Horn continued to ask.

Melia nodded and said, "All eight county governors are in place. The county governor of Lower River County is Catherine. Except for the Sheriff of the River Township, whose sheriff is Carl, the sheriffs of the other three townships are all concurrently held by your priests.

I appointed Martin as the sheriff of Cassia County. The sheriff of Dock Township, where Xiaochi City is located, is the priest of the Pope's Palace. The other three sheriffs are all mountain knights. "

After the constitutional convention ended, Meliati and Horn quickly determined the candidate for county governor.

The county governors of Hotam County and the other five mountain counties are all mountain people, while Lower River County and Cassia County are considered "neutral" by most people.

As for Langsander County, it exists as a special district directly under the Pope. After all, although Meliati is the lifelong monarch elected by the representatives, the crown is still crowned by the highest clergy according to tradition.

In terms of finance, in addition to land tax, tariffs and consumption taxes are collected as the monarch's core income, and the citizens' city rent and redemption tax are combined into one and changed to city tax.

As for Langsand County, as a special economic zone, it is responsible for its own customs duties and city taxes. The highest level of religious tolerance is implemented in this special zone, so alchemical products can be bought and sold at will.

Originally, the religious tolerance law was to be implemented throughout the Thousand River Valley, but Horn thought that it was too hasty and would easily lead to counterproductive effects, so he vetoed the bill and only implemented it in Longsand County.

"Now that the county governor is in place, is it time to start the reform of your permanent lease and hundred-household districts?" Just as she finished speaking, Meliati suddenly pointed to the side.

Horn glanced over there and couldn't help laughing. There were broken pottery jars and various small utensils all over the ground, many of which were covered with moss and mold.

They lay quietly under the cool shade of the tree, and the full sunlight shone on a brown and white pottery jar, which actually reflected light like water waves. Jeanna looked at Meliati in confusion, how did she know these things?

"It's time to start the reform of the Hundred Household Districts. I plan to start promoting it in Kasha County and South Mound County." Horn calculated the time. "July, August, September. It should be completed by the end of September. In October, we will wait for the autumn tax revenue from River County and Hotam County to come in, and then we will start."

The reason for implementing reforms in Kasha County is that the next important export channel for sugar and grain trade is the Nanauan River, and control must be strengthened.

The reason for the reform of South Mound County now is that after the grain harvest season, it is necessary to start dredging the river mouth of Dazexiang immediately and open up the river from Cold Spring Castle to the Holy Palace as soon as possible.

The reason why Plain County was targeted after September was because Lower River County and Hotam County were important areas for land tax in the Thousand River Valley.

The reform of permanent leasehold and 100-household districts will most likely cause chaos and may lead to a reduction in grain production, so it must be implemented during the slack farming season.

As for why not all changes were made at once, it was because Horn did not have that many people.

Thinking of this, Horn suddenly turned to ask Melia: "How is the army in the Stone Plain?"

"They have all retreated and blocked the border."

"Then can you smuggle some wool?"

"Of course." Meliati shrugged. "The border is so long, and there are so many mountains and valleys. Their blockade is simply not enough to defend it. But the price will be a bit higher. How much do you want?"

"How much does it cost to buy 4000 dan of raw wool?"

"4000 dan of raw wool?" Before Meliati could say anything, Jeanna spoke first, "That's more than 200 tons. Our Holy Machinery Court can only handle 150 tons at most. It's too much."

"Don't worry, I have a way." Horn patted Jeanna's hand and said to Meliati, "I will have Catherine ship the gold pounds over. It will all arrive within March. No less than 3 dan per month."

"Okay." Meliati took out a small notebook and said without looking up, "Once the situation stabilizes, I will ask the governor of South Mound County, Silvers, to meet with you at the Holy Court."

As they were talking, a group of people walked on the green grass and reached the top of the mountain.

The tender trees swayed in unison, and the red, blue and purple clover flowers connected together on the top of the mountain, dyeing the mountaintop light pink.

Horn turned his head to look at Meliati, and saw that she was smiling: "Prince Kongdai built a solitary tomb for him, and I rebuilt the tomb."

"Thank you." Horn nodded to Meliati and knocked on the glass jar that contained the Prince of Condé. "You have good taste."

Cicadas chirped in the sunshine, hoarsely and long. In the middle of the sea of ​​flowers, a marble tombstone stood firmly.

Taking a deep breath, Horn took a slow step forward. The furry sea of ​​flowers created a wave. He walked closer and saw the tombstone with the words "Here, the last knight on the continent is buried."

Next to the tombstone, there was a moldy rabbit leg that looked like it had been there for more than ten days. He turned to Jeanne and smiled, "It seems we are a little late."

"Long time no see, teacher." Jeanne's eyes were smiling, but the corners of her mouth were turned down, and tears were already hanging in the corners of her eyes.

"You see, there are always people who remember you."

Putting Prince Condé's head aside, Horn sat cross-legged in front of the grave, while Jeanne sat down with him, holding his arm.

Horn pulled out a bound booklet from his bosom and placed it in front of the tombstone. It was the Sacred Charter of the Thousand River Valley: "Old Danji, I have come to see you with a country where the righteous can be just. It still has many imperfections, but..."

Before he finished speaking, the surrounding sea of ​​flowers suddenly began to wave. In the sudden strong wind, petals of various colors flew into the air, and the pages of the "Charter" were also blown away.

It was as if someone was flipping through it impatiently.

(End of this chapter)