February 16th, cloudy.
Without the burden of infantry and military supplies, the Besançon audience team, all made of fast horses, arrived at the western border of Yona Province in less than five days and entered the territory of the capital, Besançon.
Besançon's audience included Art, Caitlan, and Banting, as well as the accompanying priest Robert and the twelve-man baronial guard led by Ron, the seventeen-man contingent led by Stanley (the task force suffered battle damage, and some members were transferred to low-level infantry officers), and the escorts under Caitlan and Banting. There were fifty people in total. Everyone was on horseback and armed, and there were a dozen pack horses at the tail of the team.
In addition to carrying the food and fodder consumed by the audience team, these packhorses are also valuables that the three lords specially brought to Besançon. After finally making a trip to the capital, they must bring generous gifts to visit the dignitaries who are about to become important ministers of the country. In this regard, Art is not exempt from vulgarity, and he has the most things. Half of the packhorses are the goods carried by Art, because he also has the most people to visit.
When the team passed through Vaal City, Art stopped for a long time, because there were still eighty or ninety prisoners sent from the Eastern Territory to defend the city in Vaal City. Originally, more than a hundred were sent from the Eastern Territory, but in the past few months, people have escaped one after another, so there are still these eighty or ninety prisoners.
Yate kept his promise and announced the restoration of their free status. These people were eliminated prisoners with weak combat capabilities. Yate entrusted the garrison commander of Vaal City to resettle them on their behalf, and either demobilized or retained them to garrison the castle.
After crossing the city of Vaal, the surroundings turned into ruins and rubble. The closer they got to Besançon, the more decayed they became.
War is a demon that devours all good things. In just half a year of fierce fighting, the wealth in the capital was reduced to scorched ruins.
The land that used to be fertile was full of rotten crops. Men were forced to fight and died on the battlefield. Old people, women and children stayed in their hometowns and became the objects of massacre and anger after the war. In these autumn days, the golden waves of wheat became unharvested and turned into the ground. Mildewed weeds; the formerly prosperous village castles and the luxurious and simple houses and mansions in the castle villages and towns are all charred and desolate. The stone walls have been smashed, the wooden houses have been burned, and the mills have been demolished. It is difficult to see a complete building along the way except the church.
After the war was suspended, the surviving farmers began to return to their homes. They knelt in front of their houses that had been turned to the ground and cried bitterly. Then they dragged their frail bodies and began to rebuild their homes...
Riding on a tall horse, Sir Banting looked at the farmland on both sides of the road. From time to time, there were old farmers hunched over or simply lying in the fields. "What are those untouchables doing lying in the fields?" To satisfy hunger, the war broke out so quickly that the farmers had no time to harvest the food in the fields, and these things just rotted in the fields~" Ron answered Banting's question in a deep voice. Being from a "pariah" background, he was very familiar with such scenes. No matter who wins or loses in the outcome of the war, it is these pariahs who lose in the end.
"These must be despicable people who support the Western Army and deserve to starve to death!" Banting was born as an earl minister and inherited his father's lordship. Of course, he would not have the slightest sympathy for these despicable low-class people.
Matt was worried that Banting's words might irritate Ron. After all, Ron was born as a pariah, but he accidentally looked back at Ron and found that there was no movement on Ron's cold face. "Sir Banting, these farmers will be the subjects of the new country in the future. Starving to death will always harm the national strength of the country."
Banting did not think that killing some untouchables would harm the country's national strength, but he did not dare to directly refute Art's words, so he hesitated and brushed it off.
When Art rode past the old farmer on the roadside, the old farmer raised his head and glanced at the people passing by. There was evasive awe in his eyes, but he could also see a trace of hatred and murderous intent.
“Maybe this old farmer’s relatives were killed by people like him, maybe his home was burned down by people like him, maybe he was bullied and oppressed by people like him...” Art thought to himself, his eyes met the old farmer’s for a full moment, and then he turned his head sharply and kicked his horse and continued to move forward.
After walking for a while, the group arrived at a temporary outpost set up beside the road. This place was close to the city of Besançon, and the defenses became increasingly strict.
Ron Ze immediately informed the team of their identities and handed the palace document to a young officer in charge of the outpost for inspection. The young officer probably couldn't read either. He only glanced at the seal at the end of the document and immediately bowed to Ron, then trotted up to Art and the others, bowed and saluted, and stepped forward to hold the reins of Art's war horse. "My lords, please come forward." Ten miles away is the city of Besançon. Do you want to stop and rest at the outpost before continuing on your way? "
Matt took a look at the temporary outpost that controlled the road, which was a few broken wooden houses made of wooden boards. There was really no place for people to rest. "Forget it, we have to rush to the palace to return to work, so we won't stop."
The young officer nodded repeatedly, "My lords, please walk slowly. I would like to remind you that the city of Besançon and its surroundings are not very stable. Recently, killers from the Western Army have been lurking everywhere to attack officers and dignitaries. Your lords must be extremely careful; in addition, the palace has been summoned recently. Refugees from all over the country have returned to their hometowns to farm, and the Chinese military command camp has also strictly ordered the troops not to disturb the people. The Chinese military law enforcement team is often patrolling nearby. Please control your soldiers, so as not to be taken to the Chinese military command camp by those unkind military law soldiers. "
Matt glanced at the young officer. He was worried that the brave cavalry in his team would rob the surrounding civilians, so he warned them.
Matt admired his Flanders cousin more and more. He at least knew how to clean up the corrupt situation as soon as possible and restore the national strength as soon as possible.
"Thank you for reminding us, we will pay attention to it."
At said that, he took out a few copper pfennig from his arms and threw them to the young officer. "Guard the road and take it for a glass of beer after changing defense." He picked up the reins and continued on his way.
"Thank you for the reward..."
If it is as Art thought, you will see refugees returning home one after another along the way. There are also some people wearing official uniforms registering the returning refugees on the roadside, so that they can return to their original village and manor as soon as possible to continue farming.
When they arrived at the city of Besançon, countless refugees gathered under the tattered east city wall to receive the clear soup and wheat paste distributed by the palace. Most of these were war refugees who had no grain left. They returned to their hometowns one after another after hearing the palace's call. They were waiting for relief and resettlement from the palace.
"Oh my God! This is still Besançon? It's hell!" Sir Banting didn't care about the refugees who returned home. All he could see were the broken walls and devastation.
Besançon city was riddled with holes in two months of offensive and defensive battles. Not to mention other places, the east city wall in front of us alone had three collapse gaps. Through the gaps, we could still see the houses, mansions and shops on the inside of the city wall that were smashed to pieces and burned to black.
The city is not much better outside the city. The free market town originally built on the city wall has long been razed to the ground. Burnt and smashed siege equipment is scattered everywhere. Many civilians are taking down the wooden boards of the abandoned and broken siege equipment to build shelters or use it as firewood to keep warm in the cold night.
If the civilians who dismantled the wooden boards had paid a little attention, they would definitely have discovered that the wood used to make the siege equipment was probably the beams or walls of their houses outside the city...
Without further ado, the group entered the city of Besançon after passing an inspection by the soldiers guarding the east city gate.
There were not many free citizens in the city. Those who originally lived in the city had already fled to the west before the Eastern Army besieged the city, because the Besançon court at that time widely spread rumors that the Eastern Army was massacring the city (although it was not all rumors).
Those citizens who stayed in the city and escaped the massacre of the war were completing the labor temporarily assigned by the palace - transporting the dead and ruins in the city to the outside of the city for dumping and burial. In return, they could receive a meal of thin wheat paste from the palace, so many people were vying to serve.
When Art and his party passed by, they saw several carriages leaving the city. Most of the carriages were filled with broken bricks and tiles. Among them was a stripped and beaten corpse. It looked like it was the Western Army hiding in the city and resisting.
The streets and alleys of the city are patrolled by soldiers wearing armor and holding spears and axes. These should be soldiers of the Imperial Guards newly formed in the capital. Art recognizes the burqas on the soldiers. They are soldiers belonging to the Longxia Legion.
The patrolling soldiers were also very wary of this group of troops entering the city. Along the way, two waves of people came forward to inquire and told their troops that they must immediately enter the military camp in the city specifically for foreign troops according to military orders, and the soldiers were not allowed to go out at will.
In fact, Flanders has always maintained a strong vigilance. The Longxia Legion was responsible for guarding and patrolling the entire city of Besançon. The palace where Flanders was stationed was also served by his hundred-man guard as chamberlains. Art can understand, after all, the war has not subsided yet, and danger is everywhere.
After leading the army into the military camp in the church square in the city, Banting went directly to find Earl Baldwin's new mansion (the original mansion was destroyed). After all, he was Earl Baldwin's internal retainer; Ron sent the letter of appointment and merit report to the palace to the palace, waiting for the palace to arrange an audience; Art and Caitlan took Robert and a small number of guards to find a hotel to rest, bathe and change.
· After the war, it was not easy to find a hotel that was still open in the ruined city, but the difficulty did not mean that it was not available. Before Art left the camp, Stanley had already scouted the city with several task force soldiers, so after Art left the camp, he went straight to a hotel on the west side of the church square.
The owner of this hotel is called Emery, the fat man who was beaten black and blue by the drunkard Angus. Today, Emery also has a secret identity - Art's Hawkeye in the North, and he is also the intelligence director of Besançon City.
After the beginning of the War of Succession, the intelligence network that Art had worked so hard to establish in the North was almost completely destroyed. The Hawkeyes who were hired by Art to collect intelligence information either died or fled due to the war, but Emery survived strongly.
Half a month ago, Amory went into hiding after helping Stanley's task force collect intelligence about the Western Army. He buried the wine goods under the stable in the backyard of the hotel, then closed the hotel and fled to a monastery outside the city to hide; half a month ago, the Liberation Army captured Besançon, and Amory ran back to the city and opened the hotel.
Amory was good at sociability. After returning to the city, he immediately used drinks and money to make friends with some officers of the Liberation Army. With the blessing of these people, he quickly recruited some bankrupt citizens to rebuild the hotel in the dilapidated houses.
By the time Art and the others arrived, Emery was already waiting at the door of the store, accompanied by Task Force Captain Stanley.
Hong time no see, the owner of the hotel is more bloated. Apparently he is living a good life in the monastery outside the city.
"Dear Lord Art, I would like to express my highest respect and blessings to you." Emery trotted up to Art's horse and bowed deeply, his attitude was extremely sincere and respectful.
Matt jumped off the horse and tapped Emery lightly on the head, "Thank you for your kindness, God bless you, my friend."
Emery raised his head in fear. The great "big man" in front of him was too polite to him, "Master Art, please, I have prepared rooms for you all."
Ate and the others walked into the hotel. It was completely broken, with traces of burning damage on the walls and roof, and some of the most obvious places had been plastered with clay. The first floor of the hotel was full of guests, most of whom were soldiers and officers. It seems that in this war-torn season, the only ones who could still enjoy wine and meat were these soldiers who exchanged their lives for money.
After five or six days of jolting on horseback, everyone was very tired. Art came to the quietest and cleanest room specially arranged by Emery. The bartender had already prepared a tub full of hot water for Art. Art took off his clothes and took a comfortable bath in the hot water. This was the first time he had enjoyed a hot tub bath in recent months...
For dinner, the owner of the hotel personally prepared a long table full of food and the highest quality wine for Art and others in a separate room on the second floor.
The food on the long table was not luxurious, including beef and bacon pies, fatty pork pies, boiled fat sheep, barley, radish, onion and pork broth. The staple food was wheat bread and a few grains of fine wheat white bread reserved for nobles, paired with large barrels of wine. Emery, who was thoughtful, even asked Ron to specially prepare a roast rabbit with honey for Art.
Amory was very thoughtful in being able to prepare not extravagant but absolutely sumptuous food during the war season. For the people who had been fighting in the East for more than half a year, this kind of food was enough to make their mouths full of saliva. After Art and Caitlan said a few words, everyone started to feast.
With the remnants of the windstorm, a large table of food was quickly wiped out by seven or eight hungry men, who then dispersed with burps.
After returning to the room, Art called Ron, Stanley and the hotel owner Emery to discuss the secret.
After everyone arrived, Art patted his bulging belly, stood up and took a look at the people in the room, "You are all people I trust."
Att paused for a moment, "I estimate that this visit to the court will honor my title of Viscount, my territory and fiefdom will continue to increase, and our power will continue to expand."
"With the expansion of our power, our horizons should also be broadened. In order to broaden our horizons, we must get more and more timely news. I need to know everything from the important decrees and palace decrees of the countenance to the southern goods trade in various places and even the prices of food materials. And these things require eyes to see and ears to listen, and these are the eyes and ears."
"But this battle for the succession has put us before The ears and eyes under the cloth were almost destroyed. The eagle eyes we planted in various places died or fled, and basically lost contact. Today I called you all to discuss how to rebuild our ears and eyes. "
"Father Robert once said that I was weaving a spider web across the entire county. I think this formulation is very interesting. Father Robert was right, I just want to weave a spider web that covers the entire county."
"Today, the entire county is still in chaos, and all the forces have not yet established a stable influence. I will take this opportunity to place eagle eyes at various critical nodes." ——The Palace of Besançon, Count Baldwin's Palace, and the City of Dijon. "
As soon as Art said this, everyone was shocked. Previously, Art's eagle eyes were only deployed in various cities, but now he has a clear direction, and it seems that his plan is not small.
“Flanders has just entered the palace, and the palace guards must be served by the guards of the Earl of Longxia, but the servants and servants of the palace will still be recruited from all over the country, so the first eagle eye starts with these servants of the palace; Earl Baldwin’s mansion is also a In the same way, all the servants in Baldwin's original mansion were killed by the Western Army, and he will definitely have to recruit heavily. Things in Dijon City are a bit difficult, but you can refer to the previous experience of setting up Eagle Eye in Besançon City, and mainly inquire about things about the County of Burgundy. "
"The matter of rebuilding the spider web will be left to the three of you, with Ron as the leader, Stanley and Amory as assistants. After the spider web in the North is built, Amory will be responsible for the daily management."
"I plan to give two hundred thousand pfennigs to the three of you, and you must complete this task within half a year."
「艾莫瑞，现在贝桑松城有许多空闲的商铺旅馆，你去找一处足够大的商铺建立一家贝桑松最大的旅馆，再多招一些流莺野燕，吃喝玩乐俱全，名字就叫红磨坊。」
「红磨坊明面上是一家奢豪的旅馆妓院，但实际上是我在勃艮第伯国北地蜘蛛网的中心，以后你收集传递"In addition, you try to recruit some pigeon trainers to train carrier pigeons to deliver messages for us."
"Sir, it is not safe for carrier pigeons to convey top-secret messages. Once the carrier pigeon is intercepted or lost, the letter will be easily exposed..." Stanley pointed out the shortcomings of carrier pigeons.
Matt waved his hand, "Of course, in order to prevent top-secret information from being intercepted and obtained by carrier pigeons, we have to use ciphertext."
No one has ever heard of such a strange thing as "ciphertext".
They correspond the text to be transmitted to a certain word in the Bible, and then write the page number, line segment and sequence of that word on the secret letter. Three sets of numbers represent one word..."
"Such a secret letter can only find the corresponding meaning in these two Bibles, and it is useless for others to take it..."