Sword of Dawn

Page 190

Chapter 0456 Not a Negotiation

Gao Wen sat at the top of the conference table, relaxed his body and leaned against the high chair back, and watched the changes of expressions on the faces of every southern noble at the scene with a smile on his face.

Everyone's reaction can be seen in a panoramic view, and no one's reaction is beyond his expectation.

Confusion, astonishment, silence, resistance, a little thought, and the outspoken anger of a few people.

These nobles themselves are useless, their rule has collapsed, after losing their land and army, these nobles who walked out of the castle became useless, putting them in cells can only consume food, and sending them to labor can't create much Wealth—and Gao Wen didn't think that simple labor and education and transformation could fundamentally change these stubborn and dull people, so he didn't care about these people's attitudes and their own wishes.

But the "added value" of these nobles besides themselves is useful.

To establish a new order in the rigid and backward old order, the easiest and biggest problem for the pioneers is the stubbornness and counterattack of the old order.

It is difficult for the people at the bottom to change their customs, but in this social background close to the Middle Ages, the people are numb and have no freedom. At most, they will only appear slow in responding to orders due to their own numbness and ignorance, but they will never refuse the orders of the lord Therefore, although it is difficult to change customs and promote education, it is more of a matter of time and cost. In contrast, the "system" left by the old nobles is the biggest difficulty.

The "scholar group" and "retainers" born attached to the aristocratic system rely on the employment of the old aristocrats, or are simply extrajudicial mercenaries (legal extraordinary robbers) composed of the illegitimate children and adopted children of the old aristocrats. The exiled knights and forsworn knights who left after the collapse of the old nobles, these groups that are destined to be affected or have been affected in the process of changing the old and new orders are the biggest obstacles in the process of social transformation. The lack of cooperation of these people is enough to give newborns The government affairs department has caused huge troubles, not to mention that some of them have even become violent factors that directly threaten territorial security.

Gao Wen knew that he was lucky. Compared with many pioneers who tried to establish a new order, his biggest advantage was that he was not only the founder of the new order, but he also represented the highest authority of the old order—as the Ansu Kingdom One of the founders of the Chinese Communist Party, he has sufficient "jurisdictional justice" to formulate the norms of social operation, and even if someone questions this, he does not need to care about it at all.

Now that he knows this, of course he must maximize his "jurisdictional justice". He must deprive and transfer the ownership of the old nobles in a legal way, and use the "jurisprudential claims" of these old nobles to complete the system A smooth transition in order to minimize the old order’s pushback—or, rather, to reduce their excuses for fighting back.

Gawain can despise the rules and order of the old aristocratic system, but since people in this era recognize it, he can also use these rules and order without any pressure, as long as they can exert enough value.

"Ladies and gentlemen, these documents are not so difficult to understand," Gao Wen estimated the time, and he broke the silence when he saw that some nobles couldn't help but want to speak, "If you understand it, Just sign it."

"Duke... Your Excellency the Duke," a fat middle-aged man finally couldn't help standing up first, "The contents of these documents... are you serious?"

"Of course," Gawain nodded, "what else?"

Afterwards, he stood up slowly, glanced at everyone's faces, and said unhurriedly: "...except for the castle, all land and property attached to the land belong to the Principality; abolish taxes, All the privileges of the old system, including legislation and military recruitment, all powers belong to the government affairs department; unified laws and regulations, and the abolition of all old private laws... I have written it clearly."

"My lord, we are willing to swear allegiance to you, but these things... are these things still negotiable?" Another nobleman boldly stood up, "This is almost a complete subversion of order, even if it is for your authority , you should also think more about it..."

They've at least learned awe and humility, but they clearly haven't figured it out yet.

"I think you guys made a mistake." Gao Wen barely changed his expression, he just stated the facts quietly, "The things written in these documents have actually been implemented, as early as the day the war ended. , you have already lost your land and property, and the things you want to keep are no longer in your hands—so I am not here to discuss with you today, I am just notifying you officially."

The southern nobles in the hall started to commotion, and dozens of days of prison life could not completely wear away their thoughts, so when these thoughts collapsed, even if there were a circle of guards standing around the hall, even if there were people from the southern border sitting in front of them. They couldn't help but start talking in a low voice.

However, Gao Wen just watched quietly, waiting for the discussion of these people to quiet down.

They finally calmed down, and Gao Wen continued: "Sometimes, it is more important to recognize the reality than to strive for those things that will never be obtained. Sign this document, you can at least live a decent life, your 'nobles' The title is still preserved, and you can also rely on the annuity to maintain a comfortable life, and even maintain a relatively prosperous life-if you can open your eyes and look at the people who are hungry and cold under your rule, you will know How lucky you are to make a big mistake and still be so comfortable and comfortable, what can you not be satisfied with?"

On both sides of the long table, everyone's face became tangled and embarrassed. Some frowned and thought, some hesitated to speak, and finally someone couldn't control it anymore. A middle-aged man with a sallow complexion and sunken eyes stood up. : "Forgive me for not being able to accept it—Your Excellency, please forgive me for not being able to accept it! I refuse to sign, even if I have to pay my life for it—you can't destroy our traditions and laws like this!"

While talking, the middle-aged man looked to the side, his emotions seemed very excited: "Everyone, we have gone through the most difficult days, we have nothing to lose, glory is the only thing we have left, I... I'd rather take it in the coffin..."

Gawain looked at the middle-aged man's act of venting, and watched the various reactions of the nobles on both sides of the long table after hearing these remarks, which he expected: nobles have a special way of thinking, they can When the gunfire falls, they can flee with their heads in their arms, and they can abandon the castle and the people without hesitation when the sword is approaching. But sometimes when it comes to the so-called "glorious blood and surname", these spineless guys stick out their chests instead. The behavior pattern that seems to be schizophrenic is difficult for outsiders to understand, but it fits the background of this era.

"Viscount Wayne Snape, I hope I didn't call you by the wrong name."

Gao Wen's sudden opening interrupted the middle-aged man's impassioned statement, and the nobles who had already become agitated again followed suit. They all looked in Gao Wen's direction, and the latter waved to the side. ——A government affairs official left the room immediately. After a while, the government affairs official returned to the conference hall, holding a small metal safe deposit box in his hand.

Gao Wen opened the safe deposit box and took out an ancient document from it—this document was written on enchanted parchment, even if it was a copied version, it has a history of hundreds of years. If it wasn't for the protection of magical power, it would have been weathered and dilapidated. Unreadable to an extent.

Gawain opened the file and said casually: "Mr. Viscount, doesn't it look familiar? I believe that you have similar things in your homes, and they are kept in the deepest part of your castle to prove the legitimacy of your titles and fiefs, and to prove your Old and orthodox in surnames – such as this one.

"Wayne Snape, the Snape family, viscount, noble of the South, branched from the Spencer family in Ansu 476, and received the surname; Milan Spencer; Maximilian Spencer, knight lord, earl, knight of Gawain Cecil, was entrusted in the harvest month of the first year of Ansu, and the original territory was located on the west side of the gray mountain in the south. Affected by the tide, the fief was moved to the southern part of the Holy Spirit Plain..."

"Then, this is another document," Gao Wen said while taking out an even older and more fragile parchment document from the safe deposit box. This document is so ancient that it acts on it The protective magic is about to lose its effectiveness, and the old parchment has been severely weathered and corroded, "Maximilian Spencer's canonized document—of course, a copy."

Gawain raised his head and quietly looked into the eyes of the middle-aged nobleman beside the long table.

"Mr. Wayne Snape, whose signature is at the end of this document?"

No one could have predicted this unbelievable situation in advance. Even though Gawain had been resurrected for so long, the nobleman named Wayne Snape did not take the share hidden in the family castle. Sometimes he will take out the documents for a glance and associate them with the "living person" in front of him. This has nothing to do with wisdom, but a limitation in the direction of thinking, so now he can only stammer: "Duke... Your lord Duke..."

"Mr. Wayne Snape, you ask for tradition and law, so I will give you tradition and law - Maximilian Spencer is a bright and motivated young man, and I am sorry to see one of his heirs Unable to bear his glory and merit—protecting the reputation of followers is the duty of the master, and for this reason, I have to deprive you of your title of nobility."

Wayne Snape widened his eyes and opened his mouth like a suffocated fish on the shore. In this blow that hit the weak point, he faintly heard the next sentence from Gawain Cecil: " ...Mr Snape, you may leave now."

The hall became deathly silent, Gawain watched the result with satisfaction - prescribing the right medicine is always the most efficient solution, attacking the nobles with their greatest weakness is far more effective than any reasoning and debate.

For them, deprivation of titles is more terrifying than death.

Of course, the reason why he can do this is because he first mastered the crushing force, forcing these people to sit at the negotiating table by force, otherwise even if he holds the canonization documents of every noble in the country, what he said It won't work either.

"Everyone, I actually don't want to do this," Gao Wen said with a slight increase in volume after putting away the documents again, "I prefer to get everyone to sign in a harmonious atmosphere, so I have to do it here Let me emphasize—the titles and surnames of each of you present will eventually fall under the names of Charlie Moen and the Dukes of the Four Realms after going back several generations. People, I can deprive each of you of the title of nobility. Even if the canonization document of your ancestors is not my signature, I am also a witness to the canonization ceremony 700 years ago. I can question each of you as a witness. Are people eligible to inherit your surname—"

Gao Wen did not say the following words, but his meaning was very clear:

He could question the compliance of everyone's title here, and if anyone wanted to raise an objection... unless Charlie Moen and the other three founding dukes climbed out of the coffin.

Don't the southern nobles want tradition and law?

Such is the tradition and law of Ansu.

"The time is nearly up—ladies and gentlemen, the pens for signing are before you."

Chapter 0457 Arrangements Clearly

The nobles signed it.

It only takes 1 minute, and the last sliver of influence of the southern aristocratic system on this land disappears.

Gao Wen sat at the head of the long table in a solemn and solemn posture, and the 31 surviving lords from the southern region sat on both sides of the long table. The heirs of noble and ancient surnames bowed their heads here, silently He signed his name on the document in front of him, and in the corner of the hall, an old man in a scholar's robe was instructing his apprentice to turn a slightly bulky magic device in the direction of the long table.

It was actually a magic net communicator. Although it was so bulky that a young and strong man could lift it up, it already represented Cecil's most advanced technology.

When the scene around the long table was reflected in the camera crystal of the magic net communicator, Godwin Orlando pressed a button on the device without hesitation.

In another room not far away, the projection crystal above an arcane printing machine lit up, and the holographic projection showed the scene in the large conference hall. Accompanied by a series of mechanical running sounds inside the machine, its arcane The radiance of magical energy emerged from the surface of the transfer cylinder, and the transmitted image was quickly printed on the prepared paper.

Hetty took out the paper from the side of the printing machine, carefully rolled it up and sealed it into an envelope, and handed it to an assistant who was already waiting beside: "Send it to the newspaper office and tell them to use the full page."

The assistant took the "bottom board" away as if holding a treasure, while Hetty looked at the holographic projection above the machine in front of her with a lot of emotion, and couldn't help admiring softly: "It's really unimaginable..."

Floating aside, Kamel asked after hearing Heidi's words, "Are you talking about what happened in the conference hall, or this device?"

"All of them," Hetty turned her head and said seriously, "The scene of the old nobles signing the contract will be recorded in this way, and spread throughout the entire southern border at an astonishing speed, which is far better than any notice, any preaching, any Rumors and ironclad evidence will spread across this land in an unstoppable way... I always thought that those cannons that can break mountains and crack rocks are the most powerful weapons, but now I finally understand... why the ancestors said that the printing press is the same as a weapon It's powerful."

Then she lowered her head and looked at Rebecca, who was squatting behind the side of the arcane printing machine, taking apart the cover of the machine to check the internal operation: "...and this child thought of magic net communicator and arcane so quickly I was also amazed at how the printing presses were combined.”

"I said a long time ago that Rebecca is a genius, and she lives up to the honor of the Cecil family," Gawain's voice came from the direction of the door, intervening in the conversation between Hetty and Kamel, "and As for what you said earlier... I'm glad you're finally realizing the combined power of the printing press and the 'media'."

Rebecca, who was digging under the printing press to study the condition of the machine, heard Gawain's voice, and immediately got up while yelling happily: "Ah! You are here, Mr. Zu! You were so..."

"Bang!!"

Rebecca's head hit a metal guide rail under the machine firmly, and there was a bang sound that could be heard in the whole room. Gawain saw that the whole machine was even shaken by the shock, and then Seeing Rebecca clutching her head and screaming in pain, she crawled outside: "Oh my...it hurts..."

Hetty was taken aback by the movement of the silly roe deer, and forgot to blame her for a while, and quickly squatted down to check her niece's head. Gawain was also taken aback, and came to the great-grandson on the N+1 floor in two or three steps In front of the woman: "Are you okay?"

Rebecca wobbled up with her head in her arms, raised her head and looked at Gao Wen, with tears streaming down her face: "It's okay..."

Gawain breathed a sigh of relief, and hurriedly directed the mechanic next to him: "Then check the machine..."

At the scene, no one felt that there was anything wrong with Gao Wen's words...

Hetty gave Rebecca a helpless look, but remembered that she was still praising the girl just a moment ago, so she held back the words of reproach in her heart until the end, so she changed the subject to Gawain: "Ancestor, you put those nobles Throw it all away?"

"The signing meeting is over after they signed," Gao Wen said indifferently, "I have explained all the follow-up arrangements to them, and it won't take long. Of course, to celebrate their freedom and become Cecil I have arranged a small-scale banquet for them... but I don't care what kind of mood they will attend."

After saying this, Gao Wen waved his hand: "Leave these aside for now—is the 'photo' printed out? How is the effect?"

"Ah, sorry for the ancestors, I have been sent away," Hetty exclaimed a little, and then reported, "The effect is very good, the effect after printing the illusion magic on paper is the same as the traditional 'shorthand' ’ The spells are very different, but more realistic."

"That's good, as long as you've reviewed it," Gawain nodded in satisfaction, then glanced at Rebecca who was still wiping tears and sniffling beside him, "Stupid boy, does it still hurt?"

"It doesn't hurt," Rebecca said with her neck blushing, but she immediately shook her head, "it's just that there is still a little buzzing in her head..."

Seeing the girl's forced composure, Gawain could only sigh dumbfoundedly: "Oh—you'd better protect your head, it would be too much a loss if you knocked yourself stupid with such a good head."

Hetty also looked dumbfounded. She sighed softly and turned to Gao Wen: "Ancestor, do you think those nobles who signed the signature will settle down?"

"Honestly speaking, I never trust them, no matter before or after they sign," Gao Wen said very directly without outsiders, "but I don't need them to support me or oppose me from the bottom of their hearts, It doesn't make sense. We need to keep our vigilance on them, keep them under surveillance, at least until they and their first generation are dead, and even if these two generations are dead, we need to continue to be vigilant The behavior of their children and grandchildren, but the surveillance will be milder."

Gawain raised his head and looked in the direction of the conference hall. His vision seemed to be through the walls and door panels, and he could directly see the southern nobles who were wandering away.

"Remember: the aristocrats who signed here today and their first-generation descendants are not allowed to enter politics, take part in any position in the government affairs department, and are not allowed to enter the education system and news communication system, even if they are the most junior clerks, substitute teachers and Assistant editors are also not good, if there are really capable and stable people among them, they can do business, they can be investors, I even allow them to set up factories, as long as they have brains, they can rely on these to live far more The landed nobles live a more comfortable and wealthy life, but there is no place for them in government affairs halls, schools, and newspaper offices."

"Yes," Hetty replied with a serious nod, but she was still a little worried, "but in this way... maybe we will miss some talents. The direct descendants of nobles are the best intellectuals in this land at present, and they may Most of them are unstable factors, but there are still some that can be won and educated..."

Gao Wen sighed, and of course he understood Hetty's words: "I allow them to run businesses and set up factories after passing the assessment. This is to avoid waste as much as possible, and there are already many hidden risks in it. Consider the size of the risks and the expected benefits comprehensively. , this line cannot be changed. In addition, I have not completely restricted death—the second and third generations of the old aristocratic heirs, as well as offshoots who are not descended from the direct line, these people can enjoy and ordinary Citizens have the same rights."

Speaking of this, he paused, and then continued: "Of course, this will still miss some talents, and it will not be fair to them, but this is a necessary price-it is easy for us to destroy the army of the old nobles on the battlefield, but If they become part of Cecil's system, it's going to be a huge problem trying to get them out."

Hetty bowed her head deeply: "Yes, I understand."

Gao Wen pondered for a while, and added: "Well, if you really find a very recognized talent among the nobles in the southern border and their direct descendants, you can report it to me, and I will personally organize the assessment and consider it as appropriate."

Then he breathed out: "Next, let's go and see our real guests."

In an area not far from the conference area, in a small but clean and comfortable living room, Andrew Leslie and Roperney Grant were quietly waiting for the Duke's arrival.

"This day came quickly, didn't it?" Viscount Andrew held up the black tea in his hand, and greeted the Viscount next to him with a smile, "It seemed like yesterday——Cecil was a dying surname last year, but today they have The king has arrived at the southern border."

Ropeni Grant showed a warm smile: "I have been waiting for more than a year or two, Mr. Viscount."

"...you are an admirable lady. You have faith and determination than me," Viscount Andrew said after a moment of silence, his attitude was sincere, and then he laughed at himself, "Unlike me, I was just Investing in a business."

"Investment?" Luo Penny looked at the pale man who was said to be physically weak due to excessive consumption of potions. She didn't know much about this past, "What kind of investment?"

"The investment in Duke Cecil," Andrew Leslie said softly, looking forward, "that is really the most daring business I have ever done in my life..."

"Gao Wen is our monarch now," Ropeni Grant looked at Viscount Andrew quietly, "does this investment make a profit in your opinion?"

"Earn or lose..." Andrew Leslie muttered in a low voice, and the territory that had developed rapidly in the past year appeared in his mind, and that territory had completely become Cecil's industrial raw material production base. Emerging the astonishing wealth he had earned in the past year, every gold and silver coin bears the mark of Cecil, who has been regarded as the best, kindest, and most enlightened Leslie family has ever lived. Lord, his people praise him, for his steadfast execution of Cecil's laws...

He is about to become the consul of Tanzanian City, and as a proof of his achievements, the Leslie family will always remain in the government affairs hall of Tanzanian City.

He believes that as long as the Leslie family does not do disobedient things and is not too stupid in the future, then his descendants will enjoy great wealth forever, which is unimaginably more than when he was a land lord in the past.

But they will also forever lose the power to kill and kill on the territory, and even... they must submit to the management of the government affairs office.

Did this investment make or break?

"Of course I made it," Andrew Leslie raised his head and smiled without hesitation. "Of course I made it, and it can only be made."

The waiter's voice sounded outside the door: "Duke Gawain Cecil is here—"

Chapter 0458 Propagation

When the two Viscounts Andrew Leslie and Ropenny Grant left, the 700-year-old feudal aristocratic system in the southern land officially came to an end.

If the artillery fire at Crushed Stone Ridge and Rock Fortress destroyed the entity of the aristocratic system, then 33 contract documents voluntarily accepting the reform and a joint statement document with the signatures of all the nobles in the southern border destroyed the soul of the system.

Gao Wen was holding the "Joint Statement on Restructuring" that still smelled like ink. On the signature page of the statement, 33 names, including Viscount Andrew and Countess Ropeni, seemed to represent the end of an era. He carefully Carefully printed each name in his mind, then took the dip pen from the desk, and wrote Gawain Cecil's name at the end of the document.

He knows that the old era has not really ended—in the north of the Rock Fortress, outside the barriers of the mountains in the south, Ansu is still an ancient kingdom that relies on the old aristocratic system to run, and ignorance and darkness still hang over everyone, and even Even in the southern border, within the Principality of Cecil, the shadow and influence of the old era will still linger for a long time, and it is still a long way to go to completely eliminate it.

But with the documents signed today, the cause will move forward even more smoothly.

"This part of the signed document is for the public." Gao Wen pushed the document in front of Hetty across the desk. "In addition to printing and distributing the whole territory, we will find a mason to carve it into a monument, and the tree will be placed in a conspicuous place in the city. The next step is to Spare no effort to publicize the restructuring of the southern border, use newspapers in places with a high literacy rate, and find ways to promote "tavern public opinion" in places with a low literacy rate, everyone in the southern border must know this news before the end of the harvest month."

"In this way, it should be much easier for the second-level government affairs departments to carry out their work." Hetty smiled, she was obviously very happy, "There will be no obstacles in recruiting scholars, and businessmen who are hesitant to wait and see should have no worries gone."

"Even so, I'm sure there will still be people who will resist the new regulations," Gao Wen said, "but justice and law are on our side, and any behavior that resists the new regulations can be severely punished, especially those exiled knights—give them a The final deadline for surrender, exceeding the deadline for surrender will be punished as treason and treason. This time, they can no longer use 'loyalty to the old master' as a shield. Our execution of them will be completely legal and will have the support of all the people .”

To understand the three views of people in this era, to understand the way of thinking of the people under the rule, and then to promote one's own career in a way that conforms to the background of the times and the three views of the people, and gradually transform this era in the process, this is Gao Wen's goal. The governance route chosen after conquering the southern border—governing the world is different from conquering the world. The latter often only needs strong force, while the former... requires some brains.

The newly established printing factory started working day and night. The brand-new large-scale industrial printing machine was sent to the workshop of the printing factory as soon as it came off the production line. In the latest issue of the Cecil Weekly, the historic scene of the southern nobles collectively signing documents was used as the front page, occupying an entire page. The large black-and-white portrait was the first time since the birth of the newspaper. The published "photo", at the top of the black and white portrait, the largest bold font announces the meaning of this scene to people:

"The principality signed a treaty, and all the old lords in the southern border swore to uphold Cecil's law-let us cheer for the great order."

The new issue of newspapers goes off the printing press, sorted in the hands of the printers, packed, and then sent to the distribution center, and then sent to Tanzania with the courier caravan, sent to Kant, sent to Gulen, and sent to Housman , sent to every corner of the southern border.

In the main city of Cecil and several satellite towns with a high literacy rate, the newspaper's publicity effect is the best, but in places where the literacy rate is not high, there are still people who can read the contents of the newspaper and tell the news to the public. everyone around.

The morning sun shines on the old and dilapidated streets of Carroll City. The heat from the sun dissipates the condensation on the weed leaves in the corner. The carriage with the Cecil logo on it drives past the only stone road in the town. The bells hanging from the carriages sprinkled a series of tinkling, rousing the townspeople from their slumber.

The blacksmith walked into the workshop and scolded the apprentice who dozed off while looking after the furnace. The stonemason picked up his tools and was about to go to the newly established government office to ask about the work he could do. The women cursed the sleeping children and The husband rushed out of the room and began to tidy up the smelly and messy bed, while the man and half-grown children ate dry food and walked to the street with their working belongings, ready to work in the fields or go to the town square" Take your chances".

A section of the city wall that was once bombarded by the Cecilians with giant cannons still collapsed desolately on the open space to the south of the town. A team of yawning peasants were cleaning up the broken stones and wood under the supervision of the foreman, and occasionally came from the ruins. Passers-by would quickly sweep across the remaining city walls with expressions of awe and even fear, as if the earth-shattering explosion that day was still entrenched in their hearts.

A group of Cecil soldiers walked through the street in a neat line. Although they did not harass people on the side of the road at any time like ordinary noble private soldiers, the civilians on the side of the road would still bow their heads instinctively and in awe. Back off to the side—the Carrolls have adapted to these soldiers. Since the war broke out, a large number of Cecilians have passed through this town. They went from here to the battlefield in the north, and from here after a great victory. Returning to the south; they established a government office in the town, and turned the old lord's castle into a barracks and office, and then introduced new laws; they are "outsiders", but they have become the rulers of the town , and the people living in this town... accepted all of this without feeling anything.

"Master Consul" said that the water must be boiled before drinking, and for this reason, serfs and tenant farmers were allowed to cut firewood (in the past, such untouchables could only pick up wood chips and dead branches, and were not allowed to cut down the lord's woods), then everyone Just boil the water and drink it again; the Consul Lord said that it is not allowed to defecate in the street. After dozens of people were whipped in the street, everyone began to use the newly built toilets. Go to the government affairs office to register, then everyone will go to register, anyway, there is no need to pay...

The Cecilians are very strange, and the new law is very strange, but at least they don't rob food, and they can live in that day.

But not everyone feels that way.