I built a manor in the Middle Ages

Chapter 178 Salt Road
"The County of Macon was built on the Saône River, and caravans pass through it every month. Whether you want to go to Champagne or Provence, as long as you take the water route, you will inevitably pass through the County of Macon."

"So this is actually a trade transit hub."

"I think you, Chevalier Luc, are aware of this matter, right?"

Far away in the dense forests of Macon County, Luc was warming himself in front of a blazing bonfire. Hearing Lin En's question, he smiled and nodded, "Of course. It's clearly drawn on the map Hugo gave me."

Lin En nodded silently, "Hugo is a knowledgeable monk."

"But since you know this, you should also understand what Burgundy is most famous for."

“Salt and wine!”

Lynn answered to herself.

He stretched out a hand, drew two marks on the ground, and said seriously to Luc who was looking at him:
"Burgundy has a warm climate and abundant sunshine, perfect for growing grapes. And most importantly, perhaps God's favor, there are numerous salt mines here, just like the iron mines in Lorraine. I wouldn't say they're everywhere, but at least there's no shortage. These lords and those damned-to-hell fallen priests have benefited greatly from this. The gold coins they've put into their pockets are probably as many as autumn leaves."

"Pierre is one of them!"

When Lin En mentioned the mastermind behind the assassination, he said with a sullen expression:
"It's true that the Mâcon County doesn't control any salt mines, but as long as it controls the waterways, any salt caravan passing through it must pay it a tax!"

"Pierre collected a large amount of salt tax, which caused famine here!"

Luke rubbed his beard. The water stains on his body had basically dried, but the hair needed some time. Hearing Lin En's words, he was a little puzzled.

“Why does a salt tax lead to famine?”

".Because his salt tax was not only imposed on caravans, but also on farmers."

"Even if you eat salt made from wood ash, you still have to give it to the pfennig. If you don't, you can't wash away your sins."

Lin En sighed, and seemed a little angry when he mentioned this matter. "The Count of Macon was a lord who liked to impose heavy taxes. Coupled with Pierre's excessive collection of taxes, the serfs had no more food left."

"If there's no food, won't there be famine?"

"Besides."

Lin En sneered, "I don't know if you know that a group of Jews have come to Macon County?"

Seeing Luc blinking and looking clueless, Lynn pursed her lips and said, "Macon County isn't a manor. There are many free farmers and craftsmen here. Their houses and farmland belong to them, but as long as they're hungry and buy Jewish food."

"They certainly can't afford these exorbitantly priced grains, so they have to sell their souls and borrow from Jewish loan sharks. Just look at them. Signing a Jewish contract is like signing a pact with the devil. The only option left for them is to mortgage their only assets because they can't afford the compensation."

"Then the Jews will share the spoils with Count Mâcon and Brother Pierre, am I right?"

Luc took over the conversation and saw Lynn nod silently.

"What a damn bunch of guys."

"Yes."

Both of them fell silent.

After a while, it was already dawn. The weather was good today. The sunlight shone through the treetops and fell on Luc who was leaning against the pine tree.

Lin En raised his head and looked at the man who was intertwined with light and shadow. He hesitated for a moment and said:
"Knight Luc, if you are equally outraged by this atrocity, then why did you just kill an innocent farmer?"

Luc was smoking meat on the campfire. When he heard Lynn's words, he looked up in surprise, but met Lynn's firm gaze.

Luke didn't reply immediately, but handed half of the roasted bacon to Lynn, who hesitated and slowly took it.

Putting the coarsely salted barbecue into his mouth, Lin En widened his eyes quietly. "This salt seems to be much less bitter. Where did you get it from?"

"That's not important. Before I answer your question, I want to hear more about the salt smuggling route."

When he met Lynn for the first time last night, Luc pointed out the secret that was not recorded in his notes.

This is not Luc's prediction, but the information he got from the tavern owner.

—The Brotherhood of the Saône River operates an underground salt road!
No wonder they are so majestic in Macon County.

But Luke thought that this was what Lin En recorded, but he didn't expect that through the other party's panic, he found that it seemed not that simple.

As expected, the man behind the salt smuggling road was still Brother Pierre!
This guy eats both ends
Luc muttered to himself, but Lin En shook his head and said, "No, that's all I know. I don't know the specifics. Otherwise, there's no need to hire someone to spread the news. I can just take the evidence to the Cardinal and have him remove him from his position."

Pierre is a shrewd man and will certainly not let Lynn find evidence of his crime. This is why Luc persuaded him to fake his death.

Instead of spreading rumors that he is monopolizing trade routes, it is better to accuse him of assassinating a saint!
After the two of them finished eating, Luc slowly stood up and said, "I found a perfect hidden cave for you. I will let Miller protect you. You can come out again after I make arrangements in a few days."

"Okay, may God bless you and everything goes well." Lynn made the sign of the cross.

"Thank you." Simply spreading Pierre's crimes was certainly not enough to shake his authority.

Luc's real plan is to wait until things ferment and the snowball gets bigger and bigger, and then let Lynn miraculously resurrect!

miracle!

The miracle of resurrection from the dead!

It was undoubtedly a shocking event that a devout monk was miraculously resurrected after being killed.

Jesus was no different.

Of course, Lynn is no match for Jesus.

But this news will definitely spread from one person to ten and from ten to a hundred.

Let his fame spread throughout most of Burgundy.

What followed naturally was the rapid decline in the reputation of the villain in the story, and that villain was naturally Brother Pierre.

As for how to spread it?

Luc felt his pocket. He had a witness and money, so it wouldn't be a problem.

After putting on his clothes, Luc got up and prepared to return to Macon County.

He also had to report to Pierre and complain about the brotherhood's drinking and mistakes.

Before leaving, Luke paused, thought for a moment, and said with his back to Lin En:
"Brother Lynn, that farmer is not an innocent man. I sent people to investigate. He often bullies widows in the village and steals frequently."

“Even if they are innocent.”

Under Lynn's obscure gaze, Luke did not continue speaking and left.

……

Two hours later, in a cemetery behind St. Vincent's Church.

Various cross-shaped tombstones were placed in a disorderly manner in front of the earthen mounds.

Brother Pierre turned his eyes away from the corpse in disgust and waved his hand. A young monk beside him took out a jingling linen bag from his arms and handed it to Varg.

"You did a good job, this is the reward you deserve."

"Thank you, Bishop!"

Varger, with her ponytail standing upright, knelt down happily, took the coins with both hands, and then slowly left at Pierre's gesture.

"What a greedy wild dog." Looking at Varg's receding back, Pierre snorted, turned sideways to look at Luc on the other side, and his smile became much more sincere.

"Knight Luc, you are indeed a trustworthy guardian of God. Tell me, child, what do you want?"

Pierre knew very well that a bag of coins would not get rid of Luc.

As for the mill, it was a collaboration between the two.

"Your Excellency, I believe my story cannot be hidden from your wise eyes. I did invest in a caravan. I don't expect my caravan to obtain a quota on the Macon County trade route, but I hope that after my contract is completed, I can take these fifteen craftsmen with me to expand the caravan."

Luc put his hand on his chest and finally told the real reason why he came to Macon County.

Pierre smiled kindly and said, “Of course it’s no problem, it’s a reasonable request.

As long as you can convince them, and you only need to pay 15 pfennigs each for resettlement, you can take them away."

"What a greedy jackal!"

Luc cursed inwardly, then said with a smile on his face, "Of course!"

Wait until everyone leaves.

Pierre's pupils spun slightly, and the young monk understood what he meant and picked up a shovel. He buried the body in a mound called John's Tomb. As for John's body, it had long been abandoned in the wilderness.

"poor guy."

Pierre looked at the dead monk's body and suddenly sighed.

(End of this chapter)