"Oh? He can also make full-body plate armor?"
"Uh~ He claims that he can make full-body plate armor, but I asked the craftsmen around him and this guy has never succeeded in making even one usable full-body plate armor since he came to Black Iron Castle. The plate armor pieces he made are not flexible enough at all, and when you put on his plate armor, it basically becomes a A pile of scrap metal waiting for enemies to come and kill him. He spent a lot of time and money making plate armor, but no one has cared about the scrap metal, and he is now in poverty. "
"But this guy sounds arrogant. He said that he is transforming the parts of the armor connection, and when he succeeds in making excellent plate armor, he will be promoted to a weapon craftsman."
Dawson blew his nose and threw it to the ground, then put his fingers on his skirt and wiped it, "Sir, how about I take people to Gongfang Street to try their luck at night, maybe those craftsmen I met during the day suddenly want to think about it again."
"Forget it. Well, it seems we can't recruit any craftsmen." Art waved his hand. He had visited all the workshops in Black Iron Castle today. Those craftsmen were not interested in the conditions offered by Art at all. Even some of the craftsmen who were interested didn't want to talk to Art anymore when they heard that they were going to the remote mountainous area in the south.
On the other hand, after being dumped by Art, the guy blocking the road in the workshop area followed him to the hotel where everyone was staying. He forcefully pestered Dawson to introduce him, hoping to be recruited by Art as a weapon craftsman.
“Sir, that poor craftsman is still waiting outside the hotel, should we drive him away?” Dawson didn’t have a good impression of that guy.
Matt picked up the upper arm armor on the table and looked at it for a few times. Compared with the plate armor given to him by Viscount Balian, it was simply a defective product, but at least it could be used. "Matthew is going to send a message and give him the treatment of an ordinary craftsman. If he is willing, take it away. If not, get out immediately." Art said and threw the upper arm armor to the guard beside him, Matthew, who held the armor and walked out of the room.
The weather was cold, so Art put his hands in front of the charcoal brazier in the room and baked them for a while. After his hands were warm again, he stood up and told Dawson, who was standing beside him: "Dawson, will you go to the castle herald later to see if the carrier pigeon that Oliver took away has flown back? It's been a day and a half, and with his ability, he should be able to walk, let alone riding a horse."
< br/> The Oliver in Art's mouth is the soldier from the task force who disguised himself as a firewood seller at the outpost of the mansion in Thorne City. He is about to arrive at Besancon near the center of a whirlpool. Art must understand the dynamics of the Burgundy County during this period, at least to know whether the Dean family has been eliminated as he planned, and whether the minions and cronies of Bernard's group have been affected.
If the situation does not develop in the expected direction, then he will have to consider the other extreme plan...
Late at night, Dawson hurried back to the hotel holding a letter brought back by a flying pigeon. He opened the door and woke up Art, who was sleeping in front of the wooden table.
Matt took the note handed over by Dawson and opened it impatiently. There was only a short line of words on the note - the Dean family was destroyed, the heresy was rising, everything was going smoothly, come to Besancon as soon as possible.
Matt put the note on the candle flame and ignited it, and the tiredness on his face slowly turned into a smile, "Dawson, ask Matthew to quickly pack up and follow me to Besançon overnight. You take the remaining soldiers of the task force and the newly recruited craftsmen and family members to bypass Besançon and go directly south back to the valley."
Dawson followed Art and participated in the whole thing, and he also knew the risks involved. He reminded with some worry: "Sir, Besancon is very dangerous now. Should you bring two more guards or should I accompany you to Besancon?"
Ate shook his head, "The brigade behind needs a stable person to lead it, and the road going south may not be smooth. I feel more at ease with you leading the guys." If there is really a danger, even if I take all of you, it will not help. It is better to take Matthew, plus the two Olivers who are already waiting at Besançon. Even if there is really a danger, it will be easier for us to escape with fewer people. "
"Well, I will prepare two fast horses immediately."
On the evening of the third Friday in January, the sunset has not yet set on the horizon.
With the sound of church evening bells, a young man wearing a winter coat and cotton robe rode a horse and his entourage to the Besançon Cathedral. He walked to the door of the church and jumped off the saddle. He slowly knelt on his knees outside the main entrance of the church hall.
Several religious guards at the door of the church knelt down and asked no questions when they saw the visitor, and quickly walked into the church to report.
It was the time for believers to pray at night, and people were coming and going inside and outside the Besançon Cathedral. A man knelt in front of the church inexplicably motionless, which attracted the attention of believers. More and more people were watching, and people were pointing at this strange kneeling man.
After a while, an old man who looked like an auxiliary bishop came out of the church with two young priests, and asked softly why the men were kneeling in front of the church door.
The kneeling man saw the person in charge coming out, raised his head, and replied loudly: "In the name of God, I, Art Wood Wells, the frontier baron of the court of the county of Burgundy, the knight of the palace guard, and the southern border patrol officer, formally request the Archbishop of Besancon to grant religious asylum to me and the people of my territory."
After a pause, he continued to speak loudly: "I was hunted by the Dean family and their associates for exposing the heretical crimes of the Dinets County merchants Honorable Dean and his son. They threatened to bribe Count Bernard, the palace finance minister, with a large sum of money to kill me. For the sake of God's faith and justice forever, I had no choice but to flee to Besancon to complain to the archbishop and the palace and hope to use the power of God to avoid a heretical disaster!" After saying this, Art lowered his head again and knelt on the ground motionless.
The crowd was silent for a while, and then a buzz of discussion broke out.
The heresy incident of the Dean family has caused a lot of noise in Besançon. The tension and tense confrontation in the capital for several days have made everyone feel strongly uneasy. Now this person claims to be the whistleblower of the heresy incident and is being hunted by Count Bernard, the remnant of the heresy and the important official of the palace. The citizens who like the excitement rushed to tell each other, and soon more and more people gathered around the Besançon Cathedral.
· Seeing that the situation was getting serious, the auxiliary bishop hurriedly stepped forward to help Baron Art who was kneeling and went into the church to explain in detail. However, Art ignored the pain in his knees and the cold floor in front of the church and vowed not to get up until he received religious protection from the Archbishop of Besançon.
The auxiliary bishop was a little at a loss and could only ask the people around him to go back immediately to report to the Archbishop of Besançon, then give Art good words and ask the religious guards to disperse the crowd of onlookers.
The news that Count Bernard, the remnant of the Dean heresy and the finance minister, wanted to hunt down the heretic whistleblower, Baron Art Wood Wells of the Court Border, spread like wildfire... Sir Bernard, we must fight back. If we continue like this, we will be completely crushed to death by Baldwin's group." In the residence of Count Bernard, the backbone of the inner court faction, the chamberlain, the governor of Saône Province, the financial ministers and several palace dignitaries sat in a secret meeting in Bernard's official room.
Less than a week after the heresy incident, Bishop Thorne was forced to suspend his teaching duties. The treasury manager of Besançon and six treasury officials, as well as several transport officers responsible for transporting food and baggage, were imprisoned in the palace pending trial. Several large and small business houses and heads of several guilds in alliance with the Dean family were ordered to come to Besancon for investigation. Everyone in the inner court to which the Dean family belonged was in danger.
The shrill voice of the Chamberlain continued, "That old guy Baldwin has already extended his claws on some of us. This evening the Chief Justice came to me to ask for some eunuchs who were suspected of being involved in the treasury corruption case, but I blocked him. However, he threatened to sue the Marquis about me for harboring criminals."
Governor Thorne also followed up and said: "Sir, when I rushed from Thorne Province to the capital, I heard that a team of troops had sneaked into Thorne Province to secretly investigate the taxes paid by Thorne Province to the palace over the years. Thorne Province has been paying taxes to the palace over the years. Fu Shang's hands and feet are too big, I'm afraid these things will not be easily concealed."
When Bernard heard that someone was secretly checking the tax payment status of his territory over the years, he immediately became angry and said: "TMD, he is Baoer. Wen dares to say that there is no problem with the tax collection in Yona Province over the years? If you dare to check me, I will send someone to check him.” Step, we have lost the opportunity to act at this time, the Marquis will only think that we are retaliating, and the tax concealed by the Yona Province is definitely not as good as that of the Saône Province. The most important thing for us to do now is to find the opponent's Achilles' heel and strike back."
The most difficult problem was also here. The room fell into silence for a while, and the inner court factions sitting or leaning on each other were all thinking about how to launch a fatal counterattack.
However, the inner court faction was too passive and was led by others from the beginning. At this time, they could only respond passively.
"The most important thing now is that everyone sitting here must protect yourselves. The opponent is coming fiercely, and we can only give up some wings to protect ourselves. When you go back, try to clean your own butts. If you really can't clean them, arrange for someone to cover your sins."
Bernard stood up and emphasized to everyone in the room with a serious expression: "You must remember this. No matter what happens, the Marquise and the Crown Prince cannot be involved. Even if you are imprisoned, you cannot say anything that threatens the Madam and the Crown Prince. Once the Crown Prince's status is shaken, none of us will be able to protect ourselves."
Everyone in the room nodded solemnly.
"Sir, that frontier baron is just a maggot with a bone attached to it. Keeping it alive will definitely be a future trouble. We can't do anything about Baldwin and the others, but we should try to get rid of this bastard!" said one of the minister's subordinates through gritted teeth.
Bernard was about to rebuke the officials for their stupidity when the door of the official room was knocked by the manager of the mansion.
"If there is something urgent, you have to disturb us at this time!" Bernard scolded.
The manager of the mansion bent down to apologize and hurriedly walked into the room, "Sir, Besançon Cathedral sent someone to deliver a letter..."
...