When the Saintess Arrives, No King Exist-Chapter 818 - 769: Is There an Insider?

The Uffizi Palace in autumn grows cooler day by day.

Pedestrians on the street have removed their summer shirts and sandals, replacing them with the latest wool fabrics produced by the ry Court Barracks.

Although Her Highness Moliat's earlier attack on Shattered Stone Plain ended in defeat, before losing, they had provided a huge inventory of wool to the Mountain region.

Currently, both the Mountain region and the ry Court Barracks are working overtime, estimating they'll need until the end of the year to use up the remaining wool.

The maid's gaze returned indoors from the window; in the tea room, three major figures were gathered here.

Horn, Martin, and Catherine were seated behind a small table, seemingly leisurely sipping tea.

Yet Martin kept anxiously rubbing his hands, Catherine was also frowning, while Horn remained expressionless, reading a newspaper.

Though His Eminence had an average appearance, looking somewhat rustic, the maid still felt her heart inexplicably race when she looked at his face.

This was the Holy Father, after all...

The maid indulged in her imaginings until the kettle on the nearby coal stove emitted a 'toot toot toot' sound, bringing her back to reality.

Blushing, she hurried over to the stove, picked up the kettle, and began brewing tea for the few.

Seated behind the small table, Horn concentratedly scanned the newspaper in his hand.

"... In the Oranbo riots, more than a hundred people were injured and killed, even including children. It's rare for citizens and the army to fight each other..."

"... Such riots have erupted multiple times in the past two weeks; the citizens are suffering greatly, and this time the riots have exceeded people's limits..."

"... As the Village Magistrate, Baron Raymond further stated that the rampant bandits must be manipulated by remnants of the Church, and hopes citizens will actively report them like him..."

"... As the article's editor, Old Juanca made a fair statement; His Highness the Despot's defeat made it difficult to pay all the bonds, and citizens' anger is quite normal..."

"... But Old Juanca can't help but nag a bit; no matter how angry, people shouldn't gather for armed conflict, let alone attack our prosperous and innocent towns and residents..."

"... Lastly, Old Juanca calls on His Highness the Despot and His Highness the Great Shepherd to provide a reasonable measure, not only to quell public grievances but also for justice and fairness in Thousand River Valley..."

Seeing the last period, Horn's expression remained unchanged, but across from him, Martin couldn't sit still.

"Your Eminence, wasn't Her Highness Moliat too eager?" asked Martin, who had rushed from Kasha County, uneasily, "The riots have spread to us."

Taking the steaming red tea from the maid, Catherine held it without drinking: "How could Moliat and Herman, who are both measured, cause such a thing?"

"It's simple enough," Horn folded the newspaper, setting it aside, "Someone's over-executing things, that's all."

After all, most bond buyers were those with some spare cash.

How could ordinary civilians have so much money to buy bonds?

Those truly purchasing were the Plain Faction nobles who had lost the right to use their territories, retaining only ownership and some taxes.

They needed bonds to offset the depreciation of precious metal currency.

Yet, after Moliat lost a battle, they only repaid the Mountain Faction nobles and Mountain people.

Even less need to mention the hatred and friction between Mountain immigrants and locals.

According to the Cheka investigation, someone seemed to be intentionally provoking friction and riots.

After Moliat left Hotam County, numerous Plain Faction nobles began connecting with each other.

With news of Moliat's disappearance and defeat, such connections intensified.

Moliat's governing team originally had many Plain Faction nobles, and this scene might very well be a result of political struggle.

However, if blamed on political struggle, don't they know that once Moliat returns, everything they've done will be in vain?

Something feels amiss...

Watching the pondering Horn, Martin couldn't help but interrupt with a question: "What is His Highness the Despot thinking? Issuing such orders. What is His Highness the Deputy Despot (Herman) thinking? Actually executing them."

Catherine said: "There's nothing wrong with this method, essentially it's forcibly suppressing the opposition, simple and effective."

"Starting from Moliat's finances, you can analyze why," Horn had long since discussed and analyzed this with the Secret Monk and Qianqian.

The Thousand River Valley War lasted two years, ending in March of the Imperial Calendar 1446.

Most of the remaining time in 1446 was spent sweeping remnants and reforming grassroots, with almost no income for both forces.

As for the money extracted from the Church and nobles, most were used to restore the economy and people's livelihoods.

It's important to know that during the Thousand River Valley War, the damage to people's livelihood was considerable.

In just nine months, they restored seventy percent of pre-war conditions, while simultaneously completing Hundred Households Districts, and the funds invested were definitely substantial.

Horn and Moliat only formally took office in 1447.

According to Qianqian and Horn's estimates, Moliat received roughly £100,000 in income throughout 1447.

This was in total; specifically, Moliat could actually use around £60,000 to £70,000.

During this period, Moliat was also organizing the Iron Fist Battle Group and Mountain Knight Order and other new forces, while also settling Mountain immigrants.

Simply put, the £70,000 wasn't enough, and they spent the £100,000 Moliat had accumulated from capturing Xia Lvcheng.

Of course, Horn bore considerable responsibility for this matter.

Most of the money-burning infrastructure plans were proposed by him, and in this regard, he was somewhat too aggressive.

Numerous constructions were future investments bound to bear fruit ten, twenty, or even fifty years later.

The most classic example is the town public education and compulsory education Horn forcibly implemented, which would take at least twenty years to see any effect.

Schools, ports, towns, roads, sluices... A large amount of money flowed into the populace's hands.

After all, to build a unified market within the Holy Alliance, besides mass production and institutional regulations, infrastructure is an indispensable link.

As for the money Horn earned from Black Snake Bay and war, much of it supported the local finances of Black Snake Bay.

More had to be preserved as reserve funds and to prepare for any potential future cash flow disruptions.

They couldn't always rely on bonds.

Therefore, the money Moliat could use was inherently quite limited.

The repayment of war bonds would actually require taking a share from Horn's wool trade—namely, Moliat selling wool to Horn for profit.

Fortunately, the bonds were two-year terms, allowing repayment to wait until next year, deducted from national taxes.

But next year, the Leia people would invade, requiring money even more.

If postponed further, it would enter wartime with repayments indefinitely delayed; who knows if Thousand River Valley could win?

Thus, bond buyers were unwilling to postpone repayment, preferring an eighty percent or even fifty percent repurchase, rather than postponing.

They feared that delaying would eventually render the bonds worthless.

In bond buyers' eyes, "postponement" equals "default."

At this moment, there must be a quick cash injection to stabilize the situation and confidence first.

Moliat's defeat in a battle was also a means to stabilize the situation and confidence, just poorly executed and counterproductive.

Horn could squeeze out some funds, borrowing in Langsande County.

But considering the war, unless absolutely necessary, it's best to keep some reserved.

If the Falan were willing to contribute this money, it would be ideal.

Speaking of Falan, they arrived.

Horn had just explained his analysis of the matter to the two, when the door was knocked open by the Secret Monk: "Your Eminence, Mr. Gigano has arrived."