I Became A Black Merchant In Another World-Chapter 410: Burden of the Empire (6)

The biggest entertainment for soldiers in the Tuscan Imperial Army was reading newspapers after work on Saturdays.

Even though reading newspapers was just reading one copy of the newspaper delivered to each platoon of about 30 people, it was actually a small festival that took place once a week because the kitchen provided beer and wine, and even provided plenty of snacks including bread.

Sergeant Lucas, who was in the 5th Division of the Tuscan Imperial Army, also waited for the newspapers to arrive with his platoon members.

“When will the newspapers arrive? The food will get cold if we keep doing this.”

“What’s the rush, Sergeant?”

“Aren’t you hungry? I’m going crazy with hunger.”

“It’s not like the food is running out, just wait a little bit. Doesn’t it taste better when you eat it when you’re hungry?”

“You’ve become a priest. Get discharged and become a priest. I’ll come visit you once when you celebrate mass.” “Can I expect some donations?”

“I’ll bring some hard military biscuits that are not tasty at all.”

The two of them and the rest of the platoon chatted with each other while waiting for the youngest to come with the newspaper.

While waiting, the youngest finally came running out of breath with the newspaper. freewebnøvel.com

“Private Mateo! Sorry for being late!”

“Read it quickly!”

“Yes, I understand!”

When Mateo opened the newspaper, all the chattering people became quiet.

And they started to eat the food in front of them.

“On April 23, the embankment of the Baron Toleros collapsed, causing problems in the wheat farming. When His Majesty the Emperor heard the news, he immediately opened the imperial treasury and gave 100 gold coins as consolation money to those who suffered direct and indirect damages, and ordered Baron Toleros to rebuild the embankment.”

As soon as they finished reading one article, the soldiers started to chatter.

No one specifically taught us to read one article and talk about our impressions...

It was hard to listen to the contents of the newspaper, which contained almost 20 articles, and remember only the impressive ones.

In order to use the newspaper, which was the only fun entertainment in the military, as efficiently as possible, we had to chew, tear, and enjoy every article without missing a single one.

“As expected of His Majesty the Emperor. Before I enlisted, my fields were completely destroyed by a landslide, and I barely survived thanks to the support money Your Majesty sent me. He hasn’t changed since then.”

“I told you we treated Your Majesty well?”

“I honestly can’t believe that we had to worry about starving until just recently.” “The chaplain’s words are all right. Thanks to Your Majesty, we were drafted into the army, but now we eat properly, don’t get ripped off, and don’t get beaten up for ridiculous reasons.”

The youngest of the platoon continued to read several articles.

A story about a nobleman who cheated on two women and ended up getting stabbed and killed, a woman who committed adultery and tried to kill her husband in order to marry her lover, etc...

Everyone started talking as these ridiculous articles poured out.

Lucas’s voice also grew louder.

“Wow, Your Majesty is so passionate, but why is the world so crazy? Back then, men cheating on each other and dying was okay, but I couldn’t have imagined a woman killing her husband to marry someone she was having an affair with.”

“The sergeant and the youngest over there are only two years apart at best, so what are you talking about, like an old man?”

“Hey, I couldn’t have imagined it back then.”

As the atmosphere heated up with all sorts of articles being mentioned, there was an article that Fabio had added at the end.

Mateo, the youngest of the platoon, carefully began to read the last article.

“The King of the Kingdom of Lyon blames all his mistakes on the Holy Empire and drives his people to death. And yet, he never admits his mistakes and only raises taxes.”

The soldiers here, including Lucas, didn’t know much about politics or difficulties.

However, everyone perked up their ears when they heard that taxes were high.

Excluding the Emperor, whether or not someone high in power dies, there wouldn’t be much change in their lives right away, but raising taxes a little would make a big difference right away.

Even though the Kingdom of Lyon wasn’t their business, everyone was interested in it.

“The people’s lives have become impoverished, but the most absurd thing is the right to the first night. The standard price for not offering the first night is about 50 copper coins, but in the Kingdom of Lyon, the cost of the first night is increased tenfold to 5 silver coins. And a man who cannot afford this must offer his wife’s first night to the lord. So it is said that many lords of the Kingdom of Lyon enjoy pleasure by changing other people’s women every day.”

There is an unspoken rule not to get angry while reading the original article.

Because if someone gets angry, the immersion is interrupted when others are listening.

However, Sergeant Lucas cursed at that sound.

“Those bastards, you shouldn’t even bother to rip their heads off and throw them in the shit bucket! You’re charging them taxes that they can’t even afford, and they’re telling the lord to get drunk on their first night with their wives? Those bastards wouldn’t eat food that was soaked in the shit bucket themselves, but they’re forcing their subjects to do it. Is that what a human being does?”

The other soldiers should have told them to shut up since they broke the unspoken rule.

They didn’t really criticize them because they all felt the same way.

“I know you’re getting angry, but listen until the end and then curse. You have to listen to everything and criticize me, man.”

“Ha, I’m sorry.”

Mateo took in the atmosphere a little and continued speaking.

“As a result, the serfs who could not afford the increased taxes sold their families to pay the money. When His Majesty heard this news, he was very saddened and said, “Deus must have ordered their lord Louis to take care of the people of the Kingdom of Lyons, but why doesn’t he take care of his people? And how can the Holy Empire allow parents to boil and eat their young children? Is this what Deus wants? My heart is complicated.”

It was actually Fabio who set the table.

However, no one in the Tuscan Empire knew that Fabio had planned a civil war in the Holy Empire.

Even the nobles, including the emperor, only knew that Fabio had put a hook in the mouth of the already messy Kingdom of Lyons and pushed it into a war with the Holy Empire.

Therefore, this is what it looked like to the soldiers, including Lucas.

Our ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) merciful Emperor takes pity not only on the people of the Empire, but also on others.

“I would also like to add a word. The Tuscan Empire is already the most beautiful country in the Albanian continent, if not the greatest. So wouldn’t it be right to embrace them according to Your Majesty’s will?”

The newspaper reporter deliberately cut off the article here.

And after the reading was over, there was an outpouring of intense reactions from the soldiers.

“Wouldn’t it be great if the Holy Empire and the Kingdom of Lyon all became citizens of our empire?”

“But it’s still war. It’s annoying if war breaks out.”

“Your Majesty wants to embrace them.”

Usually, when talking about war, the atmosphere should become very cold.

However, even in a gathering of individual soldiers, if they were to accept war as a possibility rather than opposing it...

If the military chaplains loudly called out Your Majesty’s will, they could declare a ‘holy war.’

Sergeant Lucas also became prepared to go to war after hearing the Emperor’s heartfelt contribution.

“If someone has received something, shouldn’t they be able to return it? If His Majesty the Emperor wants to embrace them, I will gladly go to the front lines and fight. Even though I cannot return everything I have received, I will never forget the gratitude I have received as a human being.”

The soldiers of the Tuscan Empire spend 1-2 hours out of 24 hours a day being indoctrinated with how great His Majesty the Emperor’s grace is.

And that is not simply brainwashing, but a reality based on what they actually experience.

Thanks to the Emperor, they eat well, live well, and thanks to the Emperor, they are discharged from the military and become factory workers, but they can get married and start a family.

‘Would there have been any hope for us if His Majesty didn’t exist?’

“Your Majesty the Emperor wants it. If Your Majesty chooses war, I will gladly fight. And who knows? I might achieve great things in war and become successful.”

Other soldiers agreed with him.

“If Your Majesty is going to be upset, why not just take up arms? What can we do?”

This thought gradually spread throughout the Tuscan Empire’s army.

And when the chaplains’ sermons were added, the Tuscan Empire’s army became a crusader army burning with righteous anger.