Chapter 83

In modern Korea, public education is a form of support and welfare aimed at developing citizens’ capabilities for democracy through education.

However, the actual public education began after Prussia was defeated by Napoleon, as a foundational effort to turn the entire populace into soldiers.

In fact, the philosopher Pietra from Germany argued about the purpose of education in this way:

“To adapt children to instructions and commands by not allowing them to speak unless they raise their hands. And for young children to hold opinions similar to that of a powerful state, stronger than their parents.”

I don’t intend to raise all children as soldiers, but I do plan to introduce elementary education to instill a sense of belonging and basic knowledge among all citizens residing in the Croilet Count.

Thus, I moved to persuade the Croilet Archbishop, who represents them, to employ clergy, who make up the largest proportion of intellectuals in this era, as teachers.

However, our Archbishop Your Excellency is in the church of Blueport, where I am, for various reasons.

**

While it takes a lot of time to build a large cathedral, the church where the Archbishop sits in Blueport is not very large.

It might not even measure up to 100 pyeong in Korean terms.

However, fitting for a church where the Archbishop resides, it was magnificent inside.

The windows above the church were adorned with stained glass in red, blue, and yellow, creating a fantastic atmosphere, and silver candle holders lined the walls of the church.

Furthermore, the lectern from which the Archbishop conducted mass was made of ebony, while the pulpit was made of white marble.

Even the floor inside the chapel, though somewhat lower quality, was still laid with marble.

“Inside, it’s more splendid than the cathedral in Nante…”

As I uttered those words, the Archbishop, clad in deep purple vestments, stepped out from behind the pulpit and greeted me.

“That’s because I am the Archbishop. Of course, it was originally a position that the former Bishop of Nante acquired through luck when Your Excellency defeated Count Schwabin and was appointed as the Abbot of Pomelia.”

He spoke with a voice tinged with laughter as if he was mocking his own position, but the emotions visible on his face were different.

Frustration, lament, resignation, and a slight joy about becoming an Archbishop mixed into a complex and delicate emotion. If I were to express his current feelings in one word…

It could be described as a desire to reclaim his rights and power.

“It seems that Your Excellency the Archbishop has many grievances about your situation. You came to a church that normally should be managed by the parish priest just to follow me.”

Upon hearing this, the Archbishop tried hard to hide his discontent and replied.

“No, originally I wouldn’t have become a bishop… By the grace of His Holiness the Pope, I became the Bishop of the wealthiest Croilet in Elaline. How can I have any complaints?”

“Is that so… Then, may I ask you for one favor? Could you grant it?”

“Please speak, Your Excellency.”

“It’s just that I wish to provide basic education to the rural children and adults through the priests and nuns in the cities and towns.”

In this era, “serfs” are merely beings who harvest crops with iron forks and scythes and give birth to young ones.

Saying I want to educate such beings is nonsense that no noble has ever said…

To the Archbishop, who has lived his entire life as a noble, it must sound incomprehensible.

Thus, the Archbishop raised his voice in protest as if he were about to point a finger at me.

“What do you mean by that? The parish priests in the villages are sent to spread the teachings of Deus throughout the countryside, not to educate lowly serfs using the precious servants of God!! That’s utterly absurd!!”

“Calm down.”

“Is this a matter to be calmed?”

Then, to soothe the Archbishop before me, I spoke in a somewhat threatening tone.

“Your Excellency the Archbishop, please calm down. And I have thought everything through.”

“But, Your Excellency the Count… to use the servants of God merely for educating serfs is…”

“I am saying this because I have thought it all out. Furthermore, strictly speaking, did not Deus also teach the gospel directly to humble fishermen like Peter when He came to the world?”

With the authority of a count and a claim based on scripture, the Archbishop could not rebut my argument.

“So, priests and nuns can teach these children the correct attitude of being servants of Deus. If they can first learn to obey the holy church and its clergy along with legitimate authority from their hearts, how wonderful would that be?”

As I mentioned, if priests and nuns provide the children with proper education, it’s certain that the unaware children will absorb knowledge and thoughts suitable for leaders like a sponge.

Then, from the lord’s perspective, they could gain more loyal serfs and soldiers.

And from the clergy’s perspective…

“Then the rural serfs and furthermore, in decades to come, even citizens and nobles will willingly obey the authority of the church. There will be no more instances where nobles of low status and small principalities look down upon priests or monks as they do now.”

“You are right. In fact, children nurtured from a young age by priests and nuns in seminary adapt more swiftly.”

“And Your Excellency the Archbishop.”

I paused for a moment before continuing.

“If I may be so bold, may I speak a bit more honestly?”

“Please go ahead.”

“When I investigated the place where Your Excellency was affiliated through merchants, I found out that you were an auxiliary bishop in the papal household… But I hear that the former head of the papal household, who was favorable towards you, was impeached on ridiculous grounds by the head of the Third Council and is now wandering without a position.”

Upon hearing this, the Archbishop widened his eyes and trembled in horror.

“So what do you mean by that?”

“And I believe that you will lose this position when I leave Blueport. The papacy is already thinking of placing the second son of another great noble from Elaline instead of you, Your Excellency. Therefore, you must have been positioned as someone with a weak support base.”

I did not mention it here, but in a divided nation, they do not send an established Archbishop to someone like me who has suddenly gained great importance.

However, the current papacy, due to the overconsumption of clergymen who cannot marry because of the influence of the sugar I exported, lacks funds…

In fact, it indicates that they would send an Archbishop to increase your status on the condition that you send them money first, promising that they will send a qualified candidate afterward.

And even though they may have appointed you as a puppet, it would be foolish for someone of your stature as an Archbishop to remain unaware of this.

Nonetheless, in the worst-case scenario, the papal government’s disciplinary committee could invade and threaten with excommunication, then strip you of everything… so I couldn’t just toy with you.

Regardless, if I threaten you, a person who has been backed into a corner might lash out at me, so I began to negotiate with the Archbishop, who was now sufficiently cornered.

“However, if I implement the education through the priests and nuns I proposed… at the very least, you will have double the number of clergy under your command.”

“Double…? Is that true?”

If we train them in the morning and prepare them for mass and various ceremonies in the afternoon, they could manage village-level tasks.

But ideally, we should increase the number so that one person teaches children in the morning and another teaches adult serfs at night for efficiency.

And by increasing the village priests, if one of them were to advance to a prominent seminary or attain a position, they would naturally support both you and me.

“How could I possibly lie to Your Excellency?”

Upon my words, the Archbishop’s expression brightened further, but I pretended not to notice and continued speaking.

“Very well. Additionally, I find myself in need of a priest as an administrative assistant in my army for conducting mass. We are also looking to recruit more… could you assist with that?”

“To have priests even in the army… that would allow for a tremendous number of priests to be gathered. At the same time, since soldiers will feel a sense of life and death, they would likely donate a lot as well.”

While it might cause problems if I say so in relation to the fear of death that Korean clergy face…

Here, it’s just the Archbishop and me, and considering the times…

“Usually when going to war, soldiers spend 60% of their wages on courtesans and various pleasures… if we hold mass for them every day, you can expect to collect about 20% of their wages. Of course, we should also add hazard pay to the priests serving in the field; they too need money for missions and research activities.”

“And if even one out of a hundred of them makes it to the center, it would be a huge help for me.”

“Even without that, the priests overseeing military service and the education of young children will exert a greater influence on the lives of the serfs. If they demonstrate this influence for about three years, the papal headquarters will reconsider your position.”

Then I handed over a prepared contract to the Archbishop and said.

“If you cooperate according to these terms, I will provide funding to send to the headquarters. That way, Your Excellency the Archbishop, who holds a kind view of me, might one day become a cardinal, wouldn’t you?”

“Haha, I will read this. If there are any lacking clauses, I can add and assist.”

While he said this, anyone believing it would be a fool.

The Archbishop leisurely read through the documents for quite a while and suddenly focused intently on one clause.

Then with a serious expression, he looked at me and asked.

“Wait, how can you bring a poorly translated version of the scriptures to be used temporarily in theology for serfs? This is theologically…”

To this, I answered nonchalantly.

“Since we are teaching, even if they cannot conduct masses or use the scriptures in official documents, they should at least understand the meaning, right? Please think of it as similar to explaining stained glass while making them understand the scriptures. Also, as far as I have heard, His Holiness the Pope has placed no restrictions on this matter…”

“I understand. However, I cannot allow them to use an officially translated version in public documents!”

Furthermore, I added an indirect suggestion for a preparatory measure to potentially create some mischief later on in Romania.

“And since the serfs need to see them, I would like to leave at least four copies of the scriptures in each village… is that acceptable?”

Hearing this, the Archbishop replied with a stunned expression.

“His Holiness the Pope has not prohibited this, so it should be fine. However, in order for me to persuade the Pope and the cardinals as an Archbishop…”

“Who am I, but the Croilet Count, known as the wealthiest noble in the Empire? If necessary, I’ll give you gold coins in quantities of a thousand. But please actively cooperate with my plans.”

**

Thus, I completed preparations to establish compulsory education and finalized the plan regarding the training facility for developing military forces.

The first line concerning the most important personnel and organization stated:

[500 Knights, 4,000 Man-at-Arms, 25,000 Infantry]