I built a manor in the Middle Ages

Chapter 174 Contractors

luxury.

What a luxury!

Luc could never have imagined that Pierre had become so rich after not seeing him for half a year.

No wonder he was so determined to get into the county. Besides status, there were also countless wealth waiting for him.
Luc inexplicably thought of the incorruptible Hugo, took a deep breath, bowed slightly and said:

"Your Majesty Bishop!"

"Get up, my dear child."

Pierre raised his arm and said, "You're an old friend of mine, don't be so reserved. I haven't seen you for half a year. How are you and Du Si getting along? Do you have any children?"

"Thank you for your concern. We are fine and have no children for the time being."

Ryan stopped outside the gate, and now they were the only two in the church.

Pierre nodded and said, "Yes, your fief is too small."

"But I heard that, although you only earned from one bridge, you managed to maintain three followers. Could you tell me how you did it?"

Pierre's smile remained unchanged, but Luc could hear a strong hint of temptation in it.

It seems that Baron Berry told him about this.

But it just so happened that Luc also had something to say.

"Your Excellency, this is the reason I came to see you this time."

Luc's face fell, a look of sorrow on his face. "As you know, my fiefdom is too small, and I don't have much money, so I can only find some devout travelers and ask them to contribute a few pfennigs to support me. But I also know that this is not a long-term solution. So this time, in addition to obeying your call, I also hope that you can provide me with some help."

Seeing Luc's depressed look, Pierre stared at him for a few seconds, stroking his coral bracelet, and said lightly: "Oh? What help do you want me to provide?"

".I hope you can help me find a caravan so I can invest and share in the profits."

Pierre definitely called him here to tell him something, so he might as well take the opportunity to ask for some benefits first.

"That's impossible, Knight Luc. I'm just a bishop and cannot participate in secular caravan trade!"

Pierre shook his head decisively, looking like a servant of his master.

What Lord's servant are you!
Seeing this, Luke couldn't help but curse in his heart.

Where did this church get all this gold, silver, and jewelry? Is it really because of serving God?

It seems that Pierre either really has no way to get involved in caravans, or he is most likely involved in a caravan himself, and the profits are huge, so he doesn't want to share them with others.

"However, I have another way for you to make some money."

Pierre paused and slowly told the real purpose of calling Luc.

He opened his eyes wide, his crow's feet spreading like waves, and said word by word: "Knight Luc, do you still have a blank sheet of paper?"

really
Luke pursed his lips quietly, and as expected, he still came for the white paper.

If there was anything I could have that Pierre would value, it was nothing more than a blank piece of paper. In fact, I had a premonition before I set out.

However, he does not plan to continue producing white paper for the time being.
Earlier, he'd relied on paper bribes because he had no leverage. However, due to the small production volume, he didn't cause any unrest and even managed to secure the title. But now, Pierre clearly wanted a long-term partnership, and the demand would only increase. Over time, he feared it would attract some unscrupulous covetousness, and he didn't believe Pierre would protect him then.

Who knows, he might even find a way to seize the opportunity to get the white paper formula.

"Your Excellency, I'm afraid I can't provide it for you. It's a family secret technique that requires special materials, which unfortunately have now been used up. But may I ask, what do you need the white paper for?"

Luc looked around the magnificent church and chose to refuse.

Come to think of it, Pierre doesn't look like he's short of money.

"there is none left?"

Pierre looked at Luc suspiciously. Seeing Luc's frank expression, he slowly closed his eyes, not knowing what he was thinking. After a while, he slowly said, "I believe you must have seen the chaos at the city gate when you entered the city?"

"Yes, sir, those serfs are lawless."

"...I don't blame them. After all, there is famine in Macon County."

As a strategic point in the Burgundy region, Macon County remained neutral when the Duke of Burgundy was fighting the rebellion, but sometimes neutrality means opposition.

That's why the Duke of Burgundy wanted to replace him with Berry. Pierre tapped the armrest with his emerald-covered fingers and said carefully:
"I wonder if you've ever heard of the Abbey of Cluny?"

Luc pricked up his ears, wanting to hear what was going on about the famine, but Pierre suddenly changed the subject and mentioned Cluny.

Cluny, Luc is so familiar.

He also frequently corresponded with one of the monks.

But before Luc could answer, Pierre said to himself:
"It doesn't matter if you haven't heard of it. You just need to know that this is a group of damned heretics who betrayed God's creed!"

"You absolutely cannot imagine their evil. They are cunning, hypocritical, greedy, and even want to deceive His Excellency the Duke, attempting to use secular power to eliminate us, God's most loyal and pure believers!"

Pierre's face was grim, his earlier affability seemingly vanishing at the mention of Cluny. "Of course, the Duke was wise enough not to agree to their request. But these damned fellows haven't changed their evil intentions. They've even started sending their monks to the surrounding monasteries to spread these abominable rumors."

“Now, these guys have come to Macon County!”

Pierre stood up and made the sign of the cross on his chest. "I swear by God, those rumors are false."

"But those ignorant peasants believed Brother Cluny's lies and were convinced that I was the one who caused the famine in Mâcon."

"He incited civilians and pilgrims to cause riots time and again. He is truly a demon who deserves to go to hell!"

"Knight Luc, since you can't provide a blank sheet of paper."

Pierre turned around slowly, a smile on his face again: "Then, why not obey God's guidance?"
"How about helping me get rid of him!"

……

It was no secret that famine was afflicting Macon.

At night, after coming out of the church, Luc found a tavern. Listening to the conversations of the drunkards and the obviously expensive food, Luc was certain of this.

He also learned another piece of news - there were no slave traders in Macon City.

Sipping his oatmeal, Luc recalled what had just happened.

He promised Pierre.

However, a request was also made.

"Your Excellency, I can't provide you with white paper, but I have a way to help you save food!"

"Are you serious, sir? Are you really going to kill the ascetic monks of Cluny?"

Back in the room, Luc called Ryan and others over and told them what happened in the church.

Ryan opened his eyes wide after hearing this. He had always respected Hugo and was a little surprised that the master who also respected Hugo would agree to such a thing.

When Miller heard that someone was going to kill someone, he didn't care who the target was and straightened his back instantly.

".Even if I don't kill, someone else will."

"Do you still remember the hooligans who beat people at the city gate?"

"They are a brotherhood from Macon, and Pierre has long since hired them to kill the Ascetic of Cluny."

"They will move with us."

Luc narrowed his eyes, a dangerous light flashing in his eyes.
"Besides, if I don't kill him, I'm afraid the bishop won't agree to let me become the church's contractor."

"As you know, there are no slave traders here, so if we want to acquire population, we need to find other ways."

"Contractor is a good position. I can also test the mill plan."

That’s right, the help Luc offered to Pierre was to become a church contractor!

Build him a water mill that can reduce grain loss!
"But you are right. Brother Cluny is a man worthy of respect."

Cluny advocates integrity and justice, which inevitably leads to conflict with corrupt monks like Pierre, but Luc did not expect the conflict to come so soon.

Although Pierre just kept saying that the famine had nothing to do with him, but based on Luc's understanding of him and the ascetic monk, it is likely that what the ascetic monk said was true.
I don't know what Pierre did.
If Luc had to choose, he actually admired the ascetic more.

This is not only a matter of character, but also because a good monk can have a great influence on the rule of secular lords.

Luke called a few people to his ear and said in a low voice: "So, this is what I think."

(End of this chapter)