Of course, in the face of Jiang Tian's arbitrary decision, surrounded by tens of thousands of soldiers and armor; whether it was the siblings who were the heirs of the uncle's country, or the Dutch nobles, vassals and citizen representatives who accompanied him to express their feelings; In the end, I was still unable to express my dissent and objections.
Next, most people started arguing on the spot with red faces over the qualifications of representatives to the Auxiliary Council and the specific details of the selection process; instead, they ignored the two siblings, who were the principals, in disguise. This situation also allowed Jiang Tian to confirm one thing again.
After the defeat and death of the former Earl of Holland, neither the (civilian/merchant group) Cod Faction nor the (noble/vassal) Hook Faction wanted a serious and qualified ruler; they just wanted support. A puppet that is easy to manipulate and influence, just has more power.
Even the process of the previous Earl's defeat and death itself was very problematic. However, Jiang Fang did not send troops to the lowland princes of the Netherlands simply to solve their problems; he just wanted to obtain a relatively stable and peaceful environment for the northern border of the kingdom.
In the end, with the guarantee and endorsement of the kingdom's force, the two sides reached an agreement known as the "Rotterdam Settlement"; and the New Kingdom army was finally able to return with a full load of trophies, military contributions from local areas, and the forcibly relocated population of many captives. Embark on the road back home.
However, before leaving, a small incident occurred. A considerable number of local Dutch residents actually made requests and petitions, and were willing to migrate to the kingdom along with the surrendered Britons. Of course, most of them are destitute and debt-ridden farmers.
Because of the British occupation, the situation was directly or indirectly improved; there was also a small number of local officials and small fief owners who had initially taken refuge with the British for self-protection. Apparently they feared a reckoning from within the county after the British left.
In this regard, Jiang Tian did not hesitate to give them the last bit of kindness; he turned around and purchased a large amount of materials needed for migration at a relatively favorable price from the two parties that reached an agreement. Therefore, in the end, along with the first legion, there was a huge immigrant team of fifty or sixty thousand people.
In addition, Jiang Tian also took the time to hold a private award ceremony for a certain yellow-haired mercenary; he was awarded a white copper medal of courage and the title of honorary sergeant major to reward him for his performance in this operation. specific performance. I also gained a grateful new subordinate.
In Seine City, the capital of the Kingdom of Zealand, where snowflakes were falling, Rafaro, who had just chaired a municipal meeting, did not get on a carriage with a warm charcoal fire. Instead, he wore a large cloak and faced the biting cold wind, walking straight through the city. On the streets that have been cleared of snow and frozen hard.
He walked aimlessly like this until he passed through most of the city. I passed by and inspected several public relief points set up by the Civil Affairs Bureau on the streets, and then I tasted the rusks full of impurities and the thick soup with a strong taste in a large pot;
"Well, another night when no one froze to death for the time being." Rafaro muttered to himself, passing through the crowds of people who were busy plowing snow and cleaning roofs on the streets, as well as changing the fuel for street lamps; and the people who were originally used to pull corpses. Now it's a carriage full of garbage. Finally came to the Civil Affairs Bureau.
As he pushed the door open, the cold wind and snow powder swayed, and after turning around a short corridor, a lively hall with endless people coming and going suddenly appeared in front of him. There were at least a hundred people busy going back and forth; there was the rustle of moving documents, turning pages, and writing everywhere.
Most people were so engrossed that after Rafaro walked in, he almost didn't raise his head to take a second look; he was still immersed in the numbers and reports he had. So, with little alarm to most people, LaFaro made his way to the third floor.
As a member of the Capital Region Control Commission and acting mayor of Seine, Rafaro also met his former comrades who fought side by side, survivors of liberal radicals who advocated the rule of men and Platonism; he was released from the dungeon prison of Hezhou Castle. Serafi took the initiative to ask for a job.
In a sense, Serafi, the interim civil affairs director, has much deeper qualifications than Rafaro; he was also one of the famous leaders in the May storm that led to the collapse of the White Iris Dynasty. A frequent visitor, he has stayed in almost all the prisons in the Capital Region.
Therefore, in his early career as a political activist, he was either being interrogated in prison, being arrested on the way to prison, or engaging in radical and dangerous activities that could land him in jail at any time; but he also became familiar with people from all walks of life. character, developed a following.
It's just that his luck was a bit unlucky; when the charter government was established that tried to protect the king and reconcile the royal power, it was just taken as a signal for reconciliation between all social classes and the royal family, and he was quickly included in the list of unsettling factors after he pardoned political prisoners in batches and released them from prison. , and was rearrested.
Then, the Chartist government, which was criticized for its command and silliness, collapsed within a few years due to internal and external difficulties. The royal family, which lost the protection of the charter government, was destroyed in the Blood Moon Incident; the five Dukes took the opportunity to summon local armed forces into the capital, and carried out retaliatory massacres and endless civil wars.
Then he was also regarded as a symbol of persecution by the old regime during the coup in the capital. The rioting crowd robbed the Wang family prison from prison, participated in the uprising launched by liberals in the capital, and was elected as one of the public security committee members. Expelled and defeated the victors of the civil war among the five great dukes.
However, he, a public security committee member from the Supreme Free Commune, had not been in office for long before he was criticized for his ruthless liquidation of old nobles and officials, and his harsh treatment of all potential traitors and wavering elements. As a result, it was quickly liquidated after the establishment of the republican Directory.
But also because of this period of prison life, he escaped the ensuing purges and counterattacks against republicans and liberals by the constitutional (maintenance) government that advocated conciliation. When he launched another prison riot and came out, he encountered the Burgundian dynasty raiding the capital.
Then he fought to the last moment and was captured exhausted among the dead. He should have been beheaded by the restored dynasty. However, because he was too weak and near death, he escaped and was thought to have died there. Into the palace prison. But then fate played another joke.
The short-lived Burgundian dynasty was quickly defeated by the rising Free Army in the south. In order to welcome the coming new government, as the number one internal agent and spy, Rafaro; in the last period of the Burgundian dynasty's rule, the prison was almost opened and began to list various social talents.
Even the eucalyptus scroll was lost, and Serafi, who had been forgotten for a long time and was dying, was able to see the light of day again and receive treatment and recuperation. Then unexpectedly, Serafi, who originally seemed to be dying of illness, volunteered to work for the new government after initially recovering.
However, the long period of street riots and prison life not only left many deep marks on his appearance, but also seriously damaged his health. Therefore, even though he is barely a few years older than Rafaello, his beard and hair are already mottled with gray and premature aging, and his face is full of wrinkles...
Now, as the interim director of civil affairs, the other party has been immersed in the stack of documents, and failed to notice and pay attention to Lafaro's arrival. Until several clerks and staff who strode forward to report unexpectedly saw Rafaello sitting by the door and hurriedly saluted and said hello.
Civil Affairs Director Seraphim, who was immersed in his work, looked up in surprise. Then, he ordered someone to bring a pot of scalding strong coffee and a pot of black tea with a lot of brown sugar, as well as a large plate of rough biscuits with jam, a small bowl of fried salted lard slices and a salt shaker for dipping.
"..." However, Lafaro raised his brows after just taking a bite of the biscuits, because the raw materials of the biscuits were exactly the same as the thick soup used to relieve the poor on the streets; they were both expedited from the south and had been in stock for many years. ; And jam, coffee, and strong tea are also cheap flavors.
However, Serafi ate it with gusto, and bit into the fried lard dipped in salt until it squeaked. Therefore, Rafaro couldn't help but ask: "Are the prices in the capital already so high now, or is there a shortage of your salary and personal ration share?"
"Of course not, it's just that after so many years in prison, the tastes and habits developed can no longer be changed!" Serafi smiled slightly and said: "But compared to others, I am still lucky; after experiencing so many things, Still alive to see the Kingdom revive and rise.”
"This is simply the most ideal era. The wise monarch directly selects talented people to discuss state affairs, and lower-level officials are selected through fair examinations; rather than based on aristocratic origin and blood; they also listen to opinions from their subjects through the Zizhengyuan composed of various classes. The cry and the need.”
"This is simply the most perfect and exquisite combination of the centralized power of (Serlis) Orientalism, the co-governance of the (Roman) republican elite, and the (Greek) liberal thought of the sage. Our Majesty, really You are worthy of being an apostle and saint walking in this world!”
"So don't worry, I will definitely take good care of myself and try to live longer." After saying this, his face showed an unusual light and said: "This way I can witness and experience with my own eyes, under the leadership of His Majesty the Knight King, what will happen to the kingdom?" How prosperous and powerful will it be?”
"By the way, the signal tower on the border has sent a message that His Majesty has led the First Legion back to the country." Rafaro said helplessly: "It's just that this time we will take the coastal road in Calais; so we estimate the next target. , those armed forces in the province of Upper and Lower Normandy.”
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"So next, I need the Civil Affairs Department to fully cooperate with the staff of the Royal Statistics Office and the Finance Committee to use the last time of winter to complete the census of the redundant capital region and the preliminary calculation of local resource output as soon as possible."
"This is not possible. I need more replacements, otherwise it will be impossible." Seraphim shook his head without hesitation and said: "You sent most of the old officials to be reorganized; Southern Church School And students from vocational training institutes, all departments don’t get enough marks.”
"I am here just to solve this problem," Lafaro said with a confident smile: "The war in the Netherlands has been calmed down, and the newly established Northern Special Military Region has also replaced the next batch of disabled veterans. Among them There’s no shortage of people who can count and read.”
"Originally, I planned to transfer them all to the nearby General Police Station and local branch offices in the Capital Region; but if you need it, I can request to be seconded to the Civil Affairs Bureau to take over some of the positions; but whether I can convince them to stay voluntarily depends on It depends on your ability and means..."
"Nowadays, many entertainment venues in the Outer Ring District and Xiacheng District have passed the review again, received licenses, and gradually resumed business." After talking about business, Rafaro mentioned in passing: "Those in the Upper City District Theaters, clubs and private salons also came to life.”
"My personal suggestion is that you can place some informants in cafes, restaurants, hotels and other places where the public gathers, through business license approval; in addition, the relevant practitioners of theaters, clubs and private salons in the inner ring are also Same reason..."
"Are you planning to let me use my duties as director of civil affairs to engage in the work of the former public security committee member?" Serafi's expression gradually became serious: "You are not satisfied with the current work of the Capital Police Department. And do we want to separate its functions and powers separately?"
"No, no, the police department has its own responsibilities. That is the basic need to maintain order and public security. At least there are no problems yet." Rafaro shook his head and said, "But because of the special regulations There are too many people retained, which makes it difficult for me to feel at ease.”
"So, whether as a member of the Control Committee or the acting mayor of Seine City, I need a source of information from the lower levels or even the gray area; as a basic reference. There is no need to worry about the gray area of Seine City for the time being, so I need to come from Cooperation from the Civil Affairs Bureau. At least it would be nice to be able to show an improved new look of the capital after my king returns."
However, when Rafaro walked down the stairs again, he looked calmly at a young man standing at the corner of the stairs; the other person nodded slightly and retreated into the shadow of the building. This is also one of the spies he secretly arranged within the Civil Affairs Bureau.
As a spy leader who has been lurking in the royal capital for many years, he will certainly not listen to or trust anyone, even if that person was once very close and trustworthy; but the long time and various encounters are enough to make a person change from the inside out. Being subtly influenced and changed beyond recognition.
This is the lesson he learned from surviving the tragic turmoil in the north, and even after changing his appearance, he still lives with ease.
