At 7:30 in the evening, Mavey took Yunia out of the church and came to the gate of the Kremlin, followed by Laiwen, Daniel and...
dino.
At first, Ma Wei had no intention of letting Dino attend this dinner. However, he repeatedly asked for a very good reason. The church will expand its business in the future. What can it do without enough connections?
Although the brand of the Church of Truth is already prominent enough, in some matters, Dino still thinks that it is right to get to know a few more officials and generals.
"I am not trying to get any benefits from them, but I am afraid that they will embarrass us!" After the gatekeepers checked their identities, Dino followed Mavey and walked into the Kremlin, while saying confidently: "Business aspect , many problems lie in a gray area between what can be operated and what cannot be operated. For example, when I open a winery, people insist that my hygiene is not up to standard and the wine I produce does not meet food safety conditions. What can you do about this kind of thing? ?”
"Your thoughts are still stuck in the days when you were a grocer." Mawei said: "The Church of Truth has developed to this day and has the support of Katerina. Didn't she also approve a special pass for you? Take it. With it, no one will dare to embarrass you."
"That's what I say, but that special pass was approved by me alone. When the church runs its business in the future, we may encounter some difficulties."
The letter snorted: "Who dares! Your worries are completely unnecessary. If Katerina can sit on the throne, then the Church of Truth will be the state religion. Who dares to embarrass the state religion?"
"What are you two talking about?" Ma Wei suddenly stopped and turned to look at them: "Even the church's business must comply with legal standards. It doesn't mean that as a state church, we don't have to care about legal provisions and rules! The church can do business, but the quality of the goods it produces must pass the standard and the price must be low to meet the basic needs of the people. Profit must come second to these two! Do you understand?"
"I understand..." the letter muttered: "I just said that we won't be embarrassed, and I didn't say that we would be evil businessmen..."
Listening to Ma Wei's words, Dino said nothing. Of course he knew that it was very important to produce products with acceptable quality, but if the quality of the products was too good, it would not be damaged for decades. If customers stopped buying, how could the manufacturer maintain it? Going down?
Of course, he didn't dare to say this, because he knew in his heart that if he told Ma Wei about this, Ma Wei would be furious.
In the final analysis, Dino is still thinking about making profits for the church, while Mavey is thinking about...
Not just making money.
After walking through the long and narrow courtyard, Ma Wei and the others arrived at the Grand Kremlin. This is the core area of the Kremlin. It is similar to the Winter Palace and the Palace of Forgetfulness. It is one of the most important buildings in the Kremlin area and also Katerina's residence.
The houses in the Kremlin were severely damaged. After repairs, they were barely usable. Today's dinner was held in the palace where Katerina lived.
At night, the Grand Kremlin was resplendent with twinkling lights. Countless waiters and maids passed through the corridors, and Katerina's personal maid, Marusha, was standing at the door waiting.
"Father Mawei, His Highness has been waiting for you for a long time. Please come with me..."
Marusha lifted the hem of her skirt, tapped the ground with her right toe, and after an elegant salute, she led Ma Wei and others through the labyrinth-like palace. The luxury and solemnity here were suffocating. Even the hanging pillars of the corridors were decorated with plating. Painted with gold, the tall arched dome is engraved with exquisite patterns. Even though it has been looted and destroyed, it still shows the former glory of the Romanov Kingdom.
Lai Wen looked at an empty round table and said: "The treasures that can be placed here must be priceless..."
"If you like it, you can ask Your Highness to give you one as a gift in the future." Marusha chuckled and said, "The Kremlin is most in need of these things."
"Okay, okay, if Her Royal Highness Katerina is willing to give it to me..."
In Ma Wei's subtle glance, the voice of the letter gradually became quieter: "Forget it, I still don't want it."
Marusha always kept an elegant smile on her face. She walked to a large door, opened the small door next to it, signaled Ma Wei and others to wait outside, then walked in and faced the officials and officials gathered in the hall. The generals bowed deeply and said: "Church of Truth, Mawe Enders has arrived."
The hall quickly became quiet. Waiters standing on both sides of the door, one on the left and one on the right, stepped forward and opened the heavy front door.
Squeak....
The door slowly opened, and Ma Wei had enjoyed such a grand formation only once three years ago. That was when he returned to the Kingdom of Windsor and accepted the summons of King Rhodes IV.
At that time, he was just an ordinary naval lieutenant. Now...
He has become a veritable big shot.
Just one name is enough to silence the high-ranking officials and generals in the hall.
Ma took Yunia's little hand and walked into the hall. Under the gaze of countless pairs of eyes, she pressed her right hand on her chest and nodded slightly: "Praise the goddess."
The atmosphere in the hall was silent, no one spoke. Dino and Lai Wen looked a little nervous, as if they had never experienced such a battle. On the contrary, Daniel yawned, looking indifferent.
"Father Mavey...."
Among the crowd, Katerina, who was wearing a dark blue dress and a diamond necklace, put down her wine glass and walked over: "Thank you for accepting my invitation to attend today's dinner."
"I'm very sincere and grateful." Ma Wei responded.
After Katerina expressed her stance, deafening applause immediately erupted in the hall. The silent and oppressive atmosphere disappeared. Smiles appeared on the faces of officials and generals, melodious music played, and the celebration banquet continued.
"Follow me, and I will introduce you to these officials," Katerina whispered.
Following Katerina, Mavey and the others met the fifth-ranking minister-counselor Sadov, who was in charge of finance, the fifth-ranking minister-counselor Maynard, who was in charge of military affairs, and various officials including Laimontov, who was in charge of civil affairs. level official.
Because of the "Official Rank List" promulgated by Peter the Great, the officials of the Romanov Kingdom have their own special ranks, from level one to fourteen, and are divided into three categories: military, civil, and palace positions, which are regarded as the kingdom's official ranks. bureaucracy.
The successor Paul I continued this tradition, as did Katerina.
Like Bodlinov, he belongs to the rank of captain, which is the same level as the ninth-level honorary counselor. Because he is a member of the Guards, he belongs to the palace position and directly reports to Katerina.
Looking at these gorgeously dressed officials wearing beaver fur coats, Ma Wei didn't smile at all on his face. He just nodded politely as a greeting.
However, these officials seemed not to be aware of Ma Wei's indifference. They were all smiling, and their words were full of respect. They opened and closed their mouths with His Majesty's unique honorific towards the Pope.
"I know what you're thinking."
When walking to the next official, Katerina said softly: "Do you feel in your heart that there is actually no difference between me and Paul I?"
"...."
"It's understandable that you think so, because I currently need the help of these officials, so I can only tolerate them temporarily." Katerina said: "Although I am the Grand Duke of Mosk, this is just a false name. If I cannot give these officials Officials have substantial benefits, why should they follow me? My father's legacy is only effective for those generals who followed him in the north and south, and has no effect on these civil servants who are soaked in money jars..."
"I believe your highness is not that kind of person." Ma Wei said.
"Just watch, Father, sooner or later, I will use the strongest means to eradicate the shortcomings of the Romanov Kingdom and bring this country back to its peak."
With that said, Katerina smiled and raised her glass, and said to a mustachioed official who came over: "Ohar, this is Father Mavey, Father, this is Senate Secretary Ohar."
"Your Highness, Father..." O'Harr, who had a mustache, imitated Mavey's movements, pressed his hands on his chest, performed the prayer etiquette of the Church of Truth, and said with a smile: "The victory of the war is really something worth celebrating. I believe that under the leadership of Your Highness and the Father, the Romanov Kingdom will usher in its own era."
After a brief conversation, O'har turned and left. The smile on Katerina's face disappeared and she looked at Makarov, Goffman and others not far away: "Come here."
Makarov drank the strong wine in the glass in one gulp, strode forward, and saluted Katerina, but ignored Mavey. Apparently, Mavey's previous refusal to launch an armed coup caused his dissatisfaction.
Goffman, Zorugin and other children from noble military families did not have much resentment towards Mawei and greeted him very politely.
Seeing Makarov's rude behavior, Katerina frowned: "Makarov, have you forgotten what I told you before?"
With a curl of his lips, Makarov took a deep breath and nodded to Mavi, still not using honorifics: "Hello, Father."
"Your Excellency is really a general who is loyal to the royal family. This is very good. With your help, Your Highness Katerina will definitely achieve something." Ma Wei said with a smile.
"Hmph!" Makarov still didn't look good.
Onufri and Rafael, whose lives had been saved by Edward, tried to persuade each other, but it was not suitable for them to stand on either side, so they could only stop and worry.
"I am here this time to clear up your misunderstandings about me." Ma Wei said: "I have brought a complete action plan, but these matters involve confidentiality and can only be told to my absolutely loyal companions, Katjie Your Highness Lina... After the dinner, please prepare a quiet room."
"Okay." Katerina nodded and glanced at Makarov again: "If you are hostile to Father Mavey, you are hostile to me. You must understand the situation clearly, Makarov."
Makarov's expression changed, he hesitated for a long time, picked up a bottle of liquor from the passing waiter's tray, and said to Mavey: "As long as the plan you come up with can help His Highness ascend the throne and realize His Majesty Peter's will, let I can do whatever I want....I respect you by doing it first."
After saying that, Makarov raised his head and poured a bottle full of spirits into his belly in front of Mavey, which attracted applause from the surrounding generals.
To be honest, Ma Wei doesn't hate people like Makarov. Although he is straight, he doesn't have any dirty and hidden thoughts. Compared with the politicians who are so embarrassed, he is definitely a good person.
When he first served in the Royal Navy, most of the sailors on the ship also had a cheerful personality like Makarov.
"Drinking will make me lose my judgment, so I have stopped drinking." Ma Wei said: "I think you don't want me to do bad things by drinking, so I will save this bottle of wine for the day of victory."
"No problem!" Makarov agreed.
At 10 o'clock, the banquet ended, and the officials left the Kremlin drunkenly. The generals went out for a circle and then came back. Katerina took them to the Georgiev Hall upstairs, where... ....
Ma Wei and others have been waiting for a long time.
"Everyone."
Ma Wei looked serious, his eyes swept over the faces of Onufri, Raffl and other generals standing on both sides of the hall, and said in a deep voice:
"Although we lost an opportunity, there are still better opportunities waiting for us!"
"Next, our Church of Truth will help Her Royal Highness Katerina to overthrow the decadent old era and let the light of truth..."
"Shine on Romanov!"
