Chapter 1059: Chapter 1002: Sowing the Seeds of Uprising

The root solution is the best strategy, yet the council members of Black Snake Bay are indecisive.

However, the superficial remedy, though inferior, they can fully endorse.

After all, compared to the hidden risks of allowing the Saint Father’s Association entry, spending some money is more acceptable.

When the council members left the banquet hall, they did so in groups, whispering among themselves, ignoring inquiries from other uninformed members. 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

Their stance has always been anti-church, but this involves a historical legacy issue:

What is the allegiance of the Saint Father’s Association? Is the Black Snake Bay Federation aligned with socialism or secrecy?

This question, the council members couldn’t figure out and didn’t care to understand. Ultimately, they didn’t care.

He was only concerned with one thing.

If the Saint’s Grandson insists on allowing the Saint Father’s Association to settle in Black Snake Bay, would it affect the power of the plantation owners?

The foundation of the plantation owners’ current prosperity is built on the backs of refugee slaves.

On this matter, the Holy Alliance’s Saint Father’s Association has cautioned repeatedly.

Yet the plantation owners only restrained themselves temporarily, then reverted to old habits.

However, among them, some have reflected on the possibility and consequences of the Saint Father’s Association settling in.

For instance, those Secret Faction Clans who are colluding with the Holy Alliance and the battle groups, such as the Ruo’an Faction, Wolf Clan, Shadow Crow Clan, etc.

This indeed is a fundamental solution. After entrusting the grassroots to the Saint Father’s Association, they only need to collect money monthly.

Why bother staying in the countryside, enduring hardships, riding horses and boats, running back and forth to tend to the plantations?

Murmuring for a while, Anthony Seck voiced everyone’s sentiments:

"Compared to nobles and Secret Factions, being a plantation owner is much more satisfying!"

......

Standing at the window of the Celestial Maiden City’s palace, Horn silently watched the departing council members.

He returned to his desk, checked off several names, and handed it to Kesuku.

He reached for the empty teacup, and Delawan immediately stepped forward and poured him a cup of grapefruit tea.

Seeing Horn enthusiastically reading "History of the Thousand River Valley War" unfolded from the desk, Delawan hesitated for a long time before asking, "Your Highness, may I ask a question?"

"Oh?" Horn continued to read with his head down, "Ask away."

"Those transformed beasts wreaking havoc on plantations, it doesn’t seem like it’s their own doing, does it?"

"I know what you’re guessing; it’s exactly as you suspect."

Yes, behind those transformed beasts, there’s evidence of Cheka’s manipulation.

During this period, Delawan’s constant company on ships and corridors brought him into contact with Cheka Commissioners and Daze Village’s transformed beasts.

Given the unusual performances during this time, it’s easy to deduce that Horn is behind the beastmen attacks.

Moreover, considering the ultimate beneficiaries of these events, Horn’s involvement becomes evident.

As for the Black Snake Bay council members, they’ve vaguely sensed something but dare not confirm, nor have the courage to do so.

"So, you intend to transform plantation slaves from refugees into beastmen?"

"Isn’t it just another form of slavery?" Put down the book, Horn raised his head, "This is a win-win action.

Firstly, after abolishing slavery, the refugee population is bound to flow north en masse, driving labor prices upwards.

Thus, there will inevitably be a raw material output gap in Black Snake Bay, with beastmen and snake-men used to fill this gap.

They struggle to adapt to the northern cold climate and lack skills, so labor costs won’t be too high.

Although it will be tough for the beastmen, it won’t be for nothing. I’ll grant them citizenship status."

Striking down the Black Snake Bay Federation’s slavery system is both simple and challenging.

Simple because Horn has controlled Black Snake Bay Federation’s finances and firearms; challenging because it requires surgical precision.

Cutting away Black Snake Bay’s entire slave system with minimal complications.

"Secondly?"

"Do you know what gives these Secret Factions the courage to faintly resist?"

Noticing Horn’s testing expression, Delawan lowered his head, pondered for a long time, then slapped his forehead: "The jungle!"

"Exactly." Horn admired the surprised Delawan with a glance, then sat back in his chair, "These jungles are dangerous and sheltering them.

Despite my purges of the Secret Factions, their thousand-year-old traditions aren’t easy to suppress.

If our methods are too aggressive and trigger widespread resistance in Black Snake Bay, they’d just retreat to the jungles, merging with those beastman bandits.

The consequence wouldn’t be ideal, though not devastating, leaving a festering wound.

Later attempts to resolve it would consume far more resources than now."

"So your attacks on beastmen and recruiting them are to eliminate their retreat?"

"Yes." Horn crossed his legs, "Precisely, to expedite the development of Black Snake Bay, expanding known maps to the borders.

This way, even if they flee into the jungles, they won’t significantly impact our raw material output.

At that time, they might even collaborate with Falan; don’t find it outrageous; look at the northern Pope aligning with the Royal Court.

War is inherently random; it might affect the Holy Alliance’s development."

"Indeed, it’s been a hard journey for the Holy Alliance to reach its current state; it must be cherished." Delawan nodded, recalling the vigorous economic growth in Thousand River Valley.

"But that’s where you’re wrong." Horn shook his head, "Sometimes, bottles and cans should be smashed as long as people are preserved, development can always recover later.

What I’m saying is, no matter how big the country, if it loves war, it will perish; war is the last resort when political issues can’t be resolved."

If these slaves are to be liberated, two conditions must be met.

First, elevate slave labor costs to match tenant farmers or hired labor.

Second, there must be a driving force for plantation owners to abandon their sunk costs.

Introducing the Saint Father’s Association to Black Snake Bay is preparing for both.

Horn thrusting the Saint Father’s Association into Black Snake Bay aims to inject uprising seeds vigorously.

Of course, with the presence of the Holy Alliance, this uprising will be limited to a localized low-intensity conflict.

Meaning, their uprising might mainly consist of strikes, revolts, and civil rights movements.

Before that, numerous confrontational reforms are required, such as shifting from property voting to asset voting.

"In other words, freedom must be fought for oneself; I can offer assistance and guidance, but ultimately, the value of a united front must be earned by oneself."

Delawan pondered for a moment before exclaiming, "Are you suggesting future preparations..."

"Thousand River Valley was reborn from war, sacrificing tens of thousands of lives; Black Snake Bay should be equally prepared!"

"Sacrifice tens of thousands of lives too?" Delawan exclaimed in shock.

Horn humorously knocked his head: "I merely mean they should prepare for a slave uprising, not wait for a savior.

With me here, with the Holy Alliance here, tens of thousands of lives shouldn’t be lost, otherwise what’s the point of the Holy Alliance?"