When the Saint comes, she does not collect food

Chapter 931 Banquet at the Summer Palace

The capital of the Kingdom of France, Huaqiu City.

summer palace.

The hot wind whispered through the boxwood hedges.

In the flowing water of the palace gardens, white-painted swan boats passed by, loaded with noble ladies and aristocratic girls dressed in lace.

Hundreds of glass lanterns floated on both sides of the water. The starlight was mixed with ripples of light, but was broken up by the silver carp in the river.

The ladies played and played with the river water with their hands, while the women looked up at the gardens in the moonlight.

Young men with rosy lips and white teeth walked in the geometric flower beds, spelling out the royal coat of arms with perilla and lavender.

Seeing the ladies coming, they smiled and bowed to them.

If there was one that they liked, they only had to remember the needle-embroidered badge on his chest, and the ladies would be able to see him in bed that night.

Unless the king likes it too.

The Summer Palace behind the glass windows was brightly lit, with 30,000 beeswax candles burning in the crystal chandeliers, changing rainbow colors.

Thousands of nobles, businessmen and civil servants were walking around and socializing in the spacious hall.

Normally, they would discuss the gems of the Sea of ​​Greece, the desert nomadic slaves across the sea, gems and the latest fashions in clothing and art.

But today, those painters and poets did not arouse any interest at all, and even the latest fashionable clothes and accessories of the ladies failed to attract any attention from men.

The hottest topic in the Summer Palace today is the news that has been coming from Qianhe Valley over the past week.

"…On July 12, the people of Qianhe Valley and the people of Leia fought a decisive battle near the Gray Robe Valley of Haji Castle. The Leia people were defeated and suffered a loss of more than 30,000 people…"

"…On July 15, the people of Qianhe Valley ambushed the reinforcements from Xialucheng outside Kenke Town, and the false Pope Pugliano fled in panic…"

"...On July 18, according to accurate information, Grand Knight Lavle and King Genegis were captured, and Grand Knight Bodman led the Imperial Knights to escape luckily..."

"...On July 19th, the 20,000-strong Thousand River Valley Army officially began to besiege Xialu City. The person in charge of the city defense was Constance, the former Archbishop of Thousand River Valley..."

To be honest, no one believed this news at first. Who would dare to believe it?

You know, the Leias are the mortal enemies of the Franks and were once the biggest enemy that prevented them from annexing the Windmill Land.

The entire army of the Kingdom of Leia was mobilized, including nearly twenty command companies, two great knights, and a hundred thousand troops to attack the Thousand River Valley.

From last year to this year, in just over half a year, the army has fallen to the point where only half of the 100,000-strong army remains and a large number of nobles have been captured.

According to statistics from the ransom agent, an estimated 187 barons, 15 earls, and 6 dukes were killed or captured in this battle.

More than half of the nobles in the entire Leia, especially in traditional royalist areas such as Heshang Island and Eagle Foot Bay, were wiped out.

Not to mention the secular aristocratic forces, even more than half of the church’s armed forces were wiped out.

The nobles of Leia who had fled to Faran and Norn because of the civil war in the kingdom even shouted "God punish the sinful king."

Recently, on the streets of Huaqiu City, you can see exiled nobles of all sizes holding wooden cabinets and selling restoration bonds every day.

They didn't understand anything else, but they learned the Holy Union's bond system quite quickly.

Some supported Neidbach as king, some nominated themselves as king, some nominated Prince Condé's son as king, and some even nominated Horn as king.

At this banquet, many exiled nobles were collecting donations.

But the upper class of France looked coldly upon these exiled nobles.

Who will be the King of Leia will be decided by His Majesty Charles VIII, and you are still raising funds.

Holding crystal glasses and shaking fine wine, the nobles stood beside the roasted peacock and whispered to each other.

"There were great knights there, but they were defeated by the people of Qianhe Valley?"

"Who says it's not true? How did the people of Qianhe Valley do it?"

"The Leia people were in such a state of decline that they were beaten and forced to flee by a group of farmers and small craftsmen."

The nobles studied the Thousand Valley War repeatedly, but after a week of study, they still couldn't figure it out.

However, the new nobles and businessmen have different views and ideas.

"You'd better stop thinking like that. I told you long ago that the citizens have power, but you still don't believe me. The people of Qianhe Valley won the battle thanks to the power of the citizens!"

"Without the citizens borrowing money and buying bonds, can Qianhe Valley recruit 30,000 troops?"

But this statement was obviously not recognized by the traditional nobles, who refuted it with a sneer.

"What citizen power? It's the power of His Majesty Charles VIII, right?"

"It was with our help that they were able to win. Without us, they would have lost long ago."

"Your Highness is so wise. You said that supporting Qianhe Valley was a losing business. What about now? Hmm? Answer me!"

"Just wait and see. After the war, that crazy pope will come to Huaqiu City to meet Your Highness and ask Your Highness to grant him the title of Bishop of Qianhe Valley. I say so!"

"Your Highness is wise!"

Although they did not completely agree with what the nobles said, these new nobles and businessmen still had to raise their glasses in agreement.

The king is the boss, and this is in the palace, so we can't just say whatever we want.

However, although the traditional nobles seem to look down on Thousand River Valley, they are actually more focused on Thousand River Valley than the new nobles.

The reason was simple. The king forced them to buy a large amount of Thousand Valley war bonds.

Originally, everyone thought it was a waste of time, but they actually made some money. The information they got from their own information channels was actually much more than what was officially announced.

For example, there are 10 tons of gold brought from the Pope’s treasury in Xialu City, which is equivalent to nearly 40 gold pounds!
This alone would pay off their bonds and more.

Outside the treasury, including those already distributed to soldiers and knights themselves, there is even more, at least not less than 20 gold pounds.

Not to mention the ransoms of knights and nobles after the war. Those who do ransom agent business make huge profits.

It is said that one ransom agent even wrote the immortal quatrain "Horn, oh Horn, you are my real father".

The faces of these traditional Frankish nobles who had purchased land bonds changed several times a day.

In the morning, it's still a dead horse face. At noon, it's a "it's possible that the horse is dead, but it's impossible that the horse is dead" face. In the evening, it's a "horse, you're coming back to life!" face.

In places like Red Leaf Hill, the nobles who helped Horn sell sugar and bonds were surrounded by traditional nobles.

As for the reason, it's simple.

The Red Leaf Hill Bond Company is connected to the people of Qianhe Valley. Although they cannot decide whether to pay the bonds, they can decide the order of payment.

The nobles of Red Leaf Hill, who were once on the edge of the banquet, were now flattered and surrounded by all kinds of flattering words.

Especially Jiganon from Qianhegu Trading Company, who was surrounded by several layers of people. He was drunk and his face was red. It was unknown how many requests he had agreed to that could not be fulfilled.

Having said the same thing too many times, Jiganon simply stood up on a chair, raised his glass and announced to the people around him:

"Qianhe Valley can definitely pay your war bonds, and will issue industrial and commercial bonds in the future with lower interest rates, but you can still buy them..."

Hearing this, the traditional nobles were almost smiling from ear to ear.

As for those nobles who were jealous of the nobles who bought bonds and those who regretted not buying bonds, they were overjoyed.

The precious metals and grain imported from the Flesh and Blood Court every year, as well as the gold mines in the overseas archipelago, have caused prices to skyrocket, and the income from the land of the nobles has become increasingly worthless.

Having this bond can not guarantee a return to the past, but it can ensure that the rate of asset shrinkage is slower.

Although they still make money through industry and commerce in essence, they can still uphold the noble tradition of "not engaging in menial jobs" and make money through "lending".

After all, lending money is not a lowly job and it can save their face.

As for who the money is loaned to and for what purpose, that is none of their business.

"...Also, everyone, since Qianhe Valley has always been a free country, if you want to build a workshop in Qianhe Valley, you are very welcome..."

When these words were spoken, the eyes of many traditional aristocrats who were trying to transform brightened.

However, they were suffering from the monopoly of domestic industry and commerce by the new aristocracy, and even if they wanted to transform, it was fraught with difficulties.

If Qianhe Valley could welcome the Franks to build the Chamber of Commerce workshops, they would be able to smoothly transform from traditional land aristocrats to new industrial and commercial aristocrats.

As for Qianhe Valley’s anti-aristocratic tendencies, that’s not a problem, just find an agent.

Once we make money in Qianhe Valley, and then transport the technology, money and people back to the country, won’t power be back?

But when the traditional nobles turned around, they saw that the eyes of the new nobles and big businessmen were also shining.

Damn these hyenas!
The land nobles couldn't help but curse inwardly.

The new nobles and businessmen thought differently from the old nobles - a country composed entirely of citizens, what a huge market that would be.

Most importantly, the people of Qianhe Valley have the ability to protect their assets.

Currently, Horn's new country has at least three territories: Gravel Plain, Thousand River Valley and Black Snake Bay.

This is the hot spot for making fortune!
As soon as the news came out, the palace banquet was filled with discussions.

Those Red Leaf Hill nobles, for the sake of bond commissions, are almost exaggerating the Thousand River Valley into a land of milk and honey, with gold everywhere.

However, some are happy while others are sad. Many businessmen and nobles who bet on the loss of Qianhe Valley and shorted futures, or tried to hoard goods, were devastated.

"This is just the first battle. I thought it would take a long time. I saved so many herbs, but it was all in vain."

"It's over. I just bought soybeans and wheat, but even at half the price, no one is willing to buy them."

"It's okay, it's okay, it will be fine."

These merchants gathered together, comforted each other, and tested each other to see if they had the means to ship the goods.

A favorite of the king passed by and heard their conversation, but couldn't help laughing: "Don't worry, everyone, according to the information I have heard, these goods will definitely be useful."

The businessmen's eyes lit up and they continued to ask questions, but the king's favorite just kept his mouth shut and smiled without saying a word.

But soon, they learned the mysterious inside information.

Because Charles VIII, dressed in military uniform and armor, had already walked into the hall and stood at the end of the red carpet.

He waved the paper in his hand, his face full of anger, and his words of justice resounded throughout the palace.

"Everyone, I have terrible news to share with you.

The false pope of the Holy See City and the false king of Leia, Genegis, colluded with vampires and used zombies as knights!
Lord Neidbach was right earlier, they did collude with the Flesh and Blood Court!"

Amid the uproar, Charles VIII drew his sword and pointed it to the north, as if he was talking not about invasion but salvation.

"It is too much to attack our human brothers for paganism. For the glory of the Holy Lord and the purity of mankind——

I am determined to support Anthony, the youngest son of Prince Condé of the former Plantagenet Dynasty, as the King of Leia, to send troops to the Windmill Land and the Holy See City to save our orthodox Messianic religion! "

(End of this chapter)