Chapter 109

Even though he was a higher-ranking bride than most nobles, I thought someone quite eccentric would join a challenging plan like this…

When I entered the reception room, the high priest Harry Wilke was more unusual than I had imagined.

This was because he wasn’t wearing the purple vestments that symbolized the authority of a high priest.

Thinking about how the treatment one receives changes based on whether one wears this or not… he was simply incomprehensible.

And when he confirmed my arrival in the reception room, he bowed his head and greeted me first.

“I am your humble servant, Harry Wilke.”

“I called for you. Please, make yourself comfortable.”

I naturally sat down in the empty high seat, and Wilke took a seat opposite me.

“Thank you for coming.”

“No, as a servant to all who believe in Deus, if His Excellency the Count calls, I would come even if it were during Mass.”

I’ve heard that priests conduct the Mass until the very end even upon hearing of their parents’ deaths, but isn’t that a bit too much flattery, no matter how you look at it?

Such thoughts crossed my mind, but seeing the sincere respect in the eyes of Wilke, who was over sixty, made me realize…

That must be a genuine sentiment without a hint of falsehood; the heart of an aging clergyman weighs heavily.

“Thank you for saying that. By the way, how is the ministry going these days? I ordered that each village have two priests, and I wonder how the dispatched ones are doing.”

“Yes, thanks to you… Many wandering preachers have now settled in the villages and are serving the souls entrusted to them by God well. During the day, they teach the village children the teachings of Deus and the basic knowledge needed to live, and in the evening, they teach the parents the teachings of Deus and literacy. The adults who have received this teaching express their gratitude, saying they can now read the scriptures and gather the children on their days off to read the Bible from the village hall.”

As he spoke, Wilke’s eyes began to glisten with tears.

“Moreover, among the peasant children, there are those who wish to study more difficult subjects, saying they want to help His Excellency the Count… Children inspired by our teachings tell us they wish to become priests like us.”

“In that case, how is life in the village?”

“Unless there is a disastrous famine, the serfs do not go hungry. Rather, they’re eating three full meals a day of porridge and bread. The children even complain about side dishes as if they were well-off city children… Being able to work as a priest and a shepherd serving the teachings of Deus in such a rich environment is the greatest blessing in my life, no, for all priests.”

If another priest had said such things, I would have thought he was trying to curry favor with me to become a bishop.

Because, no matter how true it might be, it sounds like excessive praise and flattery.

However, the Wilke before me looked at me with sincere eyes, and in every single word of his voice, I felt his earnestness.

And once again, a strong conviction washed over me.

If I were to send more individuals like Wilke, who share the same thoughts, into the Duke Maxburg territory, they could set fire to that domain just like the Lutherans and Calvinists who caused the Thirty Years’ War.

I decided to test Wilke.

“Then there’s no need to do anything else… Why are you so eager to follow the suggestions from Chris Belladora?”

“Because that’s the way of a shepherd.”

There was no need for further testing; he had passed.

I had thought about it while observing him, even though he was a high-ranking priest, higher than most nobles, giving up the position of an auxiliary bishop to be treated equally with commoners…

If it were such a priest, he would surely not pursue any selfish interests and would enter the Duke Maxburg territory to practice what he had learned in our domain.

In other words, alongside the humble serfs, he would plow the fields and, in his spare time, spread the teachings of Deus he had learned.

The serfs would genuinely follow such priests, and merchants engaged in commerce would see such faith as beneficial and far more pure.

So I clapped three times and said.

“Alright, I will no longer doubt you. Now, let me tell you a secret that has been hidden from you.”

“A secret from His Excellency… what could it possibly be…?”

“I wrote the text that blinds the eyes of Deus.”

Upon hearing that, Wilke widened his eyes in shock.

“How could someone like a Count, who is not even a clergyman, possess such profound knowledge… And why would someone as wealthy as you write such a book…”

I simply mixed the concept advocated by Martin Luther with various theological ideas, hoping you would drop the bomb known as the Reformation.

And the theological concepts could be discerned just by reading a book that deals with the Reformation.

However, the words I recorded in the book are practical theology that far surpasses the theology of this age.

And I recited the most pivotal phrase from that book.

“Salvation is received freely, not by human deeds, but according to the redemption of Deus. Therefore, all shepherds must devote themselves to feeding, clothing, and properly nurturing the lambs… They must not dominate.”

“God…”

“Having such thoughts, I too, though not a clergyman, aimed to govern as a lord and provide good things to feed, clothe, and protect them. And now I want to send you, who will realize such thoughts, to Maxburg.”

Though I said that, I do not truly believe it.

Protecting my serfs and citizens and making them prosperous is ultimately for my own wealth and glory, as well as for Ela and my father, and other precious people like Balt.

To achieve this, I must dominate over them, enjoying wealth and power as much as necessary, and sometimes even more.

However, right before Wilke, I had to act as if I had no aspirations whatsoever.

I handed him documents detailing the equipment and amount I could support him with.

“I have already prepared 20,000 gold coins to support you, and I have arranged for you to purchase the necessary items from the Mainz Count’s territory with that money.”

“Mainz is undoubtedly occupied by His Majesty the Northern King, the Count’s father…”

“Yes, but do not worry. My father-in-law is sure to have goodwill towards you. As proof, after this Mainz occupation, a four-field crop rotation was implemented and taxes were lowered, just as I did.”

“Is that truly so?”

“Yes, and aren’t you curious why I’m doing this?”

Upon those words, Wilke perked up his ears and asked.

“Please tell me; I will do my utmost to fulfill your lofty ambitions.”

“I imposed hefty reparations on Maxburg to protect the serfs and citizens in my domains. Henceforth, the Duke Maxburg territory will become a difficult place to live. Of course, as the lord of the count’s territory, I do not regret it… but what sin do those who are dying there commit?”

“Indeed… Your Excellency.”

“However, if I were to send money and food directly to that wretched Maxburg, he would definitely use those funds to wage war again. Therefore, it would be best to help the serfs survive in such dire conditions through you.”

Personally, I do not find it very favorable that innocent Maxburg serfs are suffering due to reparations, and if Maxburg were a little wiser…

He would raise taxes immensely to fund for war, then declare he would not pay off his debts and lead the mad serfs to raid our lands.

If that happens, it would cause immense damage to me, so ensuring the serfs do not starve to death is the best method.

That way, I can continue to benefit from them.

“Also, you will see equipment known as a printing press here.”

“Yes, Your Excellency. But how does it work?”

“It’s a machine that assembles characters made of metal into one plate and prints by pressing it down like a compressor. With this, I plan to print Bibles for the serfs. Even if the serfs in Maxburg are hungry, I want them to find the true faith by themselves.”

Upon hearing that, Wilke was so moved that he suddenly began to cry.

“Your Excellency…”

“Yes, through this, I will ensure that all serfs can read and understand the scriptures. More people will have access to the teachings of Deus. And you will lead the priests on my behalf, dispatching them across all of Maxburg from a base in Lothringen to carry out these tasks. However, the distribution of the Bibles must be done very secretly, and you must act as if you are merely a group of wandering missionaries. This way, Maxburg will not dare harm the priests who dedicate themselves to their serfs.”

***

After sending Wilke off, Chris entered the reception room, standing naturally where Wilke had just sat.

I signaled for her to sit, and she quickly took a seat and asked.

“I just read the plan you shared with me, but I don’t quite understand, and I’m curious.”

“What is it?”

“Up to what point are you looking ahead? No matter how I think about it, I cannot fathom what you desire. I cannot imagine the extent of the effects we might achieve.”

Of course, it would be unimaginable because this is a kind of madness that history is bound to produce.

At first, Maxburg and Wilke will coexist in some form, but over time, Maxburg will raise taxes on the serfs, who will have managed to live thanks to the priests.

Right now, he is probably losing a war and has raised the tax rate to 70%. When the priests begin to make an impact, he will likely push it to around 80% to repay his debts.

Consequently, even while the serfs work harder, they will face starvation…

Some of the zealous individuals among those who labor alongside the serfs will rise in revolt, reminiscent of the German Peasants’ War.

Then, flames will erupt across Maxburg, and what then?

“Chris, we must look further ahead. This will surely become a profitable business for us. Although future historians will call me the most wicked man in the world…”