The stern imperial guards guarded the village, and the solemn sect chief priests stayed in the barn. He looked at the empty walls of the barn, with a bit of surprise on his solemn face and a slight frown on his face, speechless for a moment.
After a few breaths, Shulot looked at the village priest Yoloki and asked in a deep voice.
"The entire clan will be annihilated?"
"Dear Chief Priest, more than two months ago, I reported the situation in the village to the priests in the capital city in the lake, hoping to get back some of the village's food from the local hereditary nobles... Then, then, the capital city The priesthood directly dispatched five hundred temple guards to destroy the manors of local nobles. Dozens of direct men were sacrificed, and the remaining two hundred women, children, and servants were exiled to the Western Kingdom..."
"Exiled to the Western Kingdom..."
Shulot was stunned for a moment, thinking of the immigrants who continued to move from the Alliance, and he was silent. After a while, he spoke calmly.
"Yo Luoji, since the local nobles have been wiped out, have you ever gotten back the extra tribute collected by the village?"
"Sir, the sect leader, the temple guards took away most of the property, leaving only some food, which is barely enough for the villagers to last until the autumn harvest."
Yoroki answered carefully.
"The priests of the capital promised to reduce or reduce the tribute for the autumn harvest. The farmers tightened their belts and were busy for more than a month before harvesting pumpkins as their daily staple food. The fragrance of grains during the harvest season will attract many animals and insects. If you catch them and eat them, you can satisfy your hunger. When the corn is harvested in October, the days ahead will be easier."
"Um?"
Hearing this, Shulot took a closer look at the scarce grain in the barn and shook his head slightly. The farmers were busy all year long, producing grain and cloth to support the nobles, priests and warriors, but they could only eat pumpkins and insects... Thinking of this, Shulot lowered his eyes, his expression still solemn.
"Yoluoji, there are thousands of people in the village. I'm afraid these grains won't last for the pumpkin harvest."
"Master Priest of the Sect, the food in the village is enough...but, just..."
"Just what? Say."
Yoloki hesitated to speak. He glanced at Shulot in fear, gritted his teeth, and knelt down suddenly.
"It's just that you're here. If you want to rest here for one night, there won't be enough food!"
"Um?!"
Shulot's expression changed and he looked at the kneeling village priest.
Yoluoji's face turned pale, he kowtowed as if pounding onions, and kept explaining.
"Sir, Lord Priest! There are hundreds of warriors living in the village, so they must provide enough food. You can't just use insects and wild vegetables to make up for the meal. As for the food for you and the nobles nearby, it must be fine grains. After a few meals, the village will be full of food. There will be nothing left. You know, the warriors who have a full day can consume as much food as six or seven farmers!"
"A warrior who is well fed for one day can be worth six or seven farmers..."
Hearing this sentence, Shulot was moved, and his solemn expression also changed slightly. He was silent for a moment, then turned around and walked directly out of the barn.
"Bertard."
"Your Highness?"
"Send out men to take twenty days' worth of food for a thousand men from the moored fleet and leave it for the local villages."
"Do your will!"
Several warriors hurried away. Soon, large quantities of grain were unloaded from the fleet and sent to the barns in the villages. The warriors also gathered in front of the fire pit and started to light a fire to cook.
Seeing this scene, Yoroki's face showed a bit of joy, but also a bit of worry. Happily, the village's food gap has been filled, and believers can survive until the pumpkin harvest. What worries me most is that what he said just now seemed to offend the sect leader.
"You can't control your mouth, you can't control your mouth! If you offend the sect leader..."
Yoroki stood dozens of steps away and looked at the sect chief priest who was eating black bean paste in front of the fire pit from a distance. He was extremely annoyed and slapped himself twice.
He is still young, in his early twenties, and has served as a village priest for only more than a year. He can't control his mouth or the mood in his heart. More than two months ago, he reported to the capital's priests and exposed the evil deeds of the local nobles, and he also took many risks.
If he was asked to make another choice after staying in the priesthood of the Alliance for ten years, he would probably rather let the farmers die from lack of food and starve to death than speak out to the sect chief priest.
The fire was blazing, and Shulot finished a bowl of black bean puree and drank a bowl of pumpkin soup. Then he calmly wiped his mouth with a handkerchief and waved to the village priest.
"Yo Luoji, come here."
"Dear Sect Chief Priest..."
Yoroki trotted over and fell to his knees a few steps away.
"The Lord God witnesses! Sir, I...I am guilty, I am guilty!..."
Seeing Yoloki's performance, Shulot raised his eyebrows and smiled lightly.
"Yo Luoji, what are you guilty of?"
"Ah! Sir, I shouldn't offend you...I should, I should let the farmers..."
Yoroki was so anxious that he was sweating. He had already thought about something, but he couldn't say it at this moment.
"You're guilty, Rocky."
Shulot put away his smile and nodded.
"Your crime is that the village is short of food. You didn't report it to me as soon as possible, and you didn't ask for help from the priests in the capital!"
"...ah?"
Yoloki opened his mouth, not knowing what to say.
"Of course, it's not your fault."
When Shulot said this, he felt something in his heart and sighed.
"If another sect leader came here, he would not be like me."
After all, the alliance is highly hierarchical. Although in the past two years, with the reform of religious law, many civilians have jumped up and become priests of the alliance. But in the eyes of the upper-level rulers, the lives of farmers are still like weeds in the wind, not worth mentioning.
"Joloki, the Lord God teaches us that we must have a heart of love to treat believers and people well. You have done a good job here! The farmers also have a steelyard in their hearts. As the priest of the Lord God, you only care about them and treat them well. They take it to heart, so they believe in the Lord God so devoutly!..."
Shulot looked gentle and spoke with emotion, many fragments flashing through his mind.
If the alliance's monotheistic faith wants to fight against the Cross, the "creatures of the gods" are only auxiliary, and it fundamentally depends on the actions of the priests. In this era, the upper echelons of the Cross Church were already in decay. The next Pope, Alexander VI, would completely tear off the fig leaf of the Holy See and ignite the flames of the Reformation. But at the bottom of the Cross Church, there are many pastors who are poor and self-sufficient, devout in doctrine, and willing to dedicate themselves to spread the glory of the Lord God.
These shepherds were not afraid of the dangers of the sea and came to the American continent ship after ship, not out of greed for wealth, but out of true devout faith. They went deep into the jungles and plateaus, spread the faith of the Cross, and showed bewildering kindness to the indigenous people. They were also the key to maintaining distant colonies. They are the biggest enemy of the Church of God!
Yoroki raised his head, listening to the narration of the sect chief priest, and also looking at Shulot's gentle and kind face. He felt a clear spring flowing through his heart, which was completely different from the feeling given by other high-ranking priests. After waiting for the sect chief priest to finish speaking, he knelt on the ground again and kissed the sect chief priest's clothes.
"Dear sect chief priest... I, am from a commoner family in the capital, and I often feel for the hard work of the farmers... You, you are different from other sect chief priests, you are a saint who comes to enlighten us personally! "
"Joloki, empathizing with believers is the most precious quality of a priest."
Shulot nodded with a smile and shook Yoroki's hair. After this night, some long-term reform plans were born in his mind, related to the promotion system of priests, but it was not the time yet.
"Stick to your true intentions. The Lord God will reward you!"
In front of the swaying bonfire, Shulot said to Joloki one last time. His smile was gentle, but his words contained a promise.
At noon on the second day, everyone had lunch early and continued to board the fleet. On the shore of the lake, thousands of war boats lined up waiting, with the flags of the gods fluttering. The Alliance navy has received news of the fleet and rushed here overnight.
Annatri came in a small boat, jumped quickly, stretched out the spear in his hand, and jumped onto Shulot's galley. She wore tight-fitting leather armor on her upper body, leg-revealing shorts on her lower body, and her feet were bare. Even on the rocking boat, she still ran freely, like a vigorous tigress. She came to Shulot in two steps, knelt down on one knee and saluted.
"Your Highness, Commander of the Alliance Navy, Annatri, greets you!"
"Captain An Na, no need to be polite! I haven't seen you for a long time, but you are still so heroic."
Shulot said with a smile. He stretched out his hand and asked Annatri to stand up.
"Did the Alliance navy come with any message?"
"Haha, thank you for the compliment, Your Highness. Two envoys are coming with the ship!"
Annatri smiled heartily and pointed towards the boat behind.
Xiuluo looked closely and saw that the boat was swaying slowly towards here. There were two people standing in front and behind the boat, one was an old man with gray hair, and the other was a young man with long flowing hair.
The young man with long flowing hair has a handsome smile and gorgeous clothes. He is the fourth-level chief priest Ugos, the envoy sent by the kingdom to the alliance. The gray-haired old man has a kind expression and an amiable smile. His clothes are low-key and luxurious, and he wears a jade necklace symbolizing royal status around his neck.
The two of them boarded the huge galley warship without any delay. Ugos lowered his head and supported the old man respectfully. The old man took a few glances at this new type of warship that he had never seen before, sighed in admiration, and then walked slowly towards Shulot.
Seeing the old man's familiar appearance, Shulot was startled, but he couldn't believe it. It wasn't until he saw the specially shaped jade necklace around the old man's neck that he was finally sure.
Shulot immediately stepped forward and supported the old man with his own hands. Then, he knelt down respectfully, saluted, and shouted loudly.
"Blessed by the Lord God! Dear uncle Kakamazin, Xiulote, the grandnephew of the Holy City, greets you! May you be bathed in the light of the Lord God and shine on the entire capital... Why are you here?"
"God bless you!"
Kakamazin stretched out his hand and patted Shulott's shoulder affectionately. Then, he calmly and forcefully helped Shulot up and said with a smile.
"You are about to get married to Alyssa. This is a rare event in the alliance and an important wish of the elders... I am the person in charge of your wedding!... Haha, this position is really difficult. Grab it, I had a hard time getting the other old guys to give in..."
Cacamatzin (Cacamatzin) is the eldest son of the elder Vevey Trakaeler. He is at least more than sixty years old this year and is the elder venerable member of the royal family. He is the uncle of King Avit, Alyssa's biological uncle, and Shulot's uncle.
Alyssa once mentioned to Shulot that among the royal family, the elder who is easiest to get along with is the elder's eldest son, Uncle Kakamazin.
In the hearts of everyone, the elders are as bright and hot as the sun, lofty and ruthless. Kakamazin’s style is completely different. He is strict and self-controlled, does not like extravagance, but he has a cheerful personality and is kind to others. He rarely participates in the political affairs of the alliance, rarely interferes in changes in the royal family, and spends his days leisurely. My biggest hobby is to drink some light wine that is not intoxicating with a few old guys and go to the royal garden to enjoy the flowers. If the royal nobles encountered any trouble, he would also lend a helping hand and even go to the elders for help.
It is easy to imagine the popularity of such a lofty and approachable venerable person in the royal family. Shulot never expected that such an old uncle Kakamazin would be the host of his wedding.
"Uncle Kakamazin, could you please come and officiate the wedding..."
Looking at Kakamazin's gray hair, Shulot's eyes flashed. He was a little moved and a little guessed.
The host of the wedding was neither from the Holy City nor a close associate of the king. In the end, he was actually the eldest son of the elder. If the elder had no involvement in the arrangement, he would not believe it.
"It doesn't matter, it doesn't matter! My body is still healthy. No matter what, I can't miss such a grand event! The most outstanding young hummingbird of the royal family and the most beautiful lotus of the royal family embrace, gather together, and stay together for life in this midsummer season. ...What a moving scene this is, a blessing from the Lord God!”
Kakamazin smiled, his face showing genuine emotion.
"I have watched Alyssa grow up since she was a child. She is a truly good child, a beautiful elf like a cloud. Shulot, I have also watched you grow step by step. You are the greatest hope of the royal family. You are Alyssa. The best successor to Werther! Your wedding is not only a grand event for the royal family and the alliance, but also the future of the royal family and the alliance!"
After saying this, Kakamazin paused, the smile on his face faded, and he became serious and solemn.
"As witnessed by the Lord God, your wedding will be left to me! The elder's guards will also be assigned by me, and there will never be any accidents or mistakes!"
Hearing this, Shulot's expression also became solemn. From Uncle Kakamazin's words, he heard a hint of blood and fire. He clearly understood that as the most powerful prince in the alliance, his wedding to Alyssa was not only a royal wedding, but also a covenant for the solid inheritance of the alliance.
From the alliance to all the ministries in the world, there will be many people, many nobles, who do not want to see the wedding go smoothly. And Uncle Kakamatsu is standing here, personally presiding over all this on behalf of the elders, which is the biggest guarantee!
