Chapter 1109: Chapter 1046: Falan’s New State Religion

The hall had long been cleared out, with the original tiered benches moved to either side, leaving only a walnut long table in the center.

Two silver tea pots were placed on the table, steam rising gently from their spouts.

Standing in front of the long table, having mutually deferred a bit, the two most powerful young men in the current Empire each took their seats.

Horn and Charles faced each other, with Armand and Cambert seated on either side, the Document Monks holding rolls of papers seated at the ends of the long table.

The tips of feather and fountain pens hovered over the paper, waiting for someone to speak.

Sunlight streamed through the stained glass, casting colorful spots on the ground.

Horn picked up the teapot and poured a cup of black tea for Charles: "Your Highness, the Falan border legion was indeed quite careless.

They lost two thousand five hundred men in Spark Town, and even misplaced nineteen clockwork cannons.

Fortunately, our brigade was nearby and found them all for you.

However, there’s still eighteen hundred missing, what do you think we should do?"

Charles picked up the teacup, rubbing his fingertips against the warm wall of the cup: "What more is there to say? I’ll just call up more troops again and it’s settled." 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

"Don’t you think this is absurd? If you say so, then it’s just fine to send the lost soldiers back to you directly, isn’t it?"

"No fuss among gentlemen, none of that." Charles laughed heartily, "This trip cost quite a bit, right? I’ve already settled the accounts with Dragonfly Port for you."

"Ah, I’m really too embarrassed about this." Horn picked up the black tea on the table and took a sip, "But I suggest such situations happen less frequently."

"Mr. Horn, do you have any insights?"

Horn tapped his fingers on the table: "Your Highness Charles, this is the issue I want to discuss: establishing mutual embassies."

He gestured for the Document Monks to unfold the rolls of paper, with thick stacks of documents written in Elvin laying out the clauses.

"The Holy Alliance sets up an embassy in Huaqiu City, Falan sets up an embassy in Joan of Arc Castle, ambassadors can bring guards, enjoy extraterritorial rights...

Diplomatic activities between both sides are conducted through embassies to present diplomatic notes in advance, mutually recognizing national sovereignty...

Falan merchants and aristocrats can invest in the Holy Alliance’s workshops and trade associations, and Holy Alliance caravans can also set up spice shops and book stores within Falan’s borders..."

Charles VIII paused with his hand holding the teacup, his eyes glancing at Cambert.

The elder archbishop’s brow tightened, obviously opposed to the idea of "Holy Alliance caravans entering Falan."

Yet the King’s voice was calm: "Grandiva’s sugar and spices are indeed favored by Falan’s nobles.

However, I wonder if Falan merchants could be allowed to invest in the Holy Alliance’s clockwork gun workshops?"

"Military workshops can’t, civilian ones can." Horn chuckled, "For example, threshers built for manors, crane machines built for docks, these workshops welcome Falan capital."

Charles nodded and did not inquire further.

He understood that all nations are cautious in matters of military, and opening civilian sectors was already a concession.

As for opening investments, it was a major growth point for Falan’s currently slow economic growth.

Places like Windmill Land still need slow management, inserting Falan people in them would truly bring them under control.

While the Thousand River Valley, having weathered wars and four years of development, exhibited enormous potential just from consumption tax alone.

Even if he refused, the nobles wouldn’t, more likely they’d sneak their investments in.

So it’s better to bring it to light, at least Charles could see it.

"I agree to this term."

The Document Monks and Falan’s secretaries immediately began scribbling on the rolls, starting to exchange treaty drafts for confirmation.

After Horn brought up the embassy topic, Charles VIII spoke afterwards: "After this conference, should I address you as Your Highness Horn or His Majesty Horn?"

"Your Highness, His Majesty, what’s the difference?"

"Although one should not meddle in politics for a position held by someone else, he nonetheless should take the welfare of all Empire believers as his duty.

If it is demanded by the people, only taking office can most benefit the nation, and he must bear the responsibility."

By this point, the intention of Charles VIII was evident.

At this point, the plan to support Grandiva as Pope was completely bankrupt.

Falan could not bring the Pope under its control, bearing the cost of a result of war with the Holy Alliance at military and political levels was too high.

If not absolutely necessary to fight, Falan still prefers negotiation.

Which is to say, I, Charles VIII, support you Horn in becoming Pope, you Horn support me Charles VIII in becoming the Imperial Emperor.

Of course, if Horn doesn’t agree, then Charles VIII would have to forcibly endorse Grandiva as Pope.

After all, the Sixth Great Duke conference only gave Horn an advantage towards Falan Church, not an absolute advantage.

In terms of legitimacy, Grandiva certainly surpassed Horn.

Horn didn’t say much, simply took a letter from his pocket and handed it to Charles VIII.

"What’s this, Puliano Pope’s testament?"

"Yes, you can take a look." Horn picked up the teapot and slowly spoke while pouring tea for Charles VIII, "I don’t know what you think, but you should already realize that the decline of the Church is inevitable.

Looking across the Empire, royal power surpassing church power is the trend, if not to say the Church becoming just a papier-mâché sign is only a matter of time.

Compared to the era of the Hundred Years’ War, interest groups from various countries have already cemented.

And with the Empire not in a state of war with the outside world, the authority of whoever becomes Emperor won’t be too grand.

To be brutally honest, even if you become Emperor, it’s just putting a papier-mâché crown on your head."

After setting down the testament letter, Charles’s face darkened for a moment.

That Grandiva really is contemptible.

Puliano would prefer to designate Pope to the heretical Horn, rather than send Xie Li across the miles to Falan, all based on "no matter who, it can’t be Grandiva."

Thus, with the dual assurance of the Sixth Great Duke conference and Puliano, the title of Pope would firmly rest on Horn’s head.

Now the only question before Charles was.

Emperor or war?

"His Majesty Horn invited me here for tea, should have an answer to this question, right?"

Horn set down the teapot and sat back down: "Your Highness, you must have long been dissatisfied with Falan Church’s property, right?"

This was like a spark thrown into hot oil, Cambert immediately raised his head: "His Majesty Horn! Please mind your words..."

"Archbishop Cambert." Charles raised his hand to interrupt him, his tone flat, "Let him speak."

Without blaming Cambert’s rudeness, Horn leaned slightly forward: "Falan’s Church occupies a fifth of the arable land, managing nearly a million pounds in circulation.

Bishops live in palaces, yet make soldiers fight hungry.

Don’t you want to reclaim these properties, pay your troops, and lower taxes for your citizens?"

Charles’s fingers lightly tapped his knee, not speaking.

Despite royal power already surpassing church power within Falan, priests still remain a privileged class, retaining some autonomy.

Especially within Falan’s economic map, priests, merchants, and new nobles are virtually three main pillars.

The most unsatisfactory aspect of priests for Charles is their identity.

To the priests monks of Falan Church, they possess dual identities, first as Falan people, and second as Church people.

When interests of the Church clashed with Falan’s, they often swayed like the wind.

Sometimes siding with the King, sometimes with the Church.

Some simple examples, Grandiva’s indulgence tickets, Western County Church’s spice monopoly group, senior priest faction around the Dowager...

Neither Charles VIII, his father, nor Lorenzo confronted the priest groups, precisely because they were backed by a large Church.

The royal family spent a large sum each year bribing everywhere, helping Falan bishops manage votes for the Pope position to fall within Falan.

Thus Falan could follow its past trajectory, further strengthening royal power, suppressing nobility, implementing more thorough control.

However, once the three opposing Popes and the Holy Sect appeared, church authority was on shaky ground.

Their efforts for the Pope seemed to become illusory, should the costs be taken back then?

Yet, in that case, what about his Emperor position?

"His Majesty Horn, Falan has its own national conditions here, you don’t understand Falan, don’t make rash judgments!" Archbishop Cambert still couldn’t hold back.

Horn however leisurely pushed yet another document towards Charles VIII: "Your Majesty, I promise the Holy Alliance won’t actively evangelize within Falan.

But you know it’s better to channel than block, rather than let Holy Sect believers form a believer autonomy, why can’t you be the new leader of the believer autonomy?"

"What is your suggestion?"

"My suggestion is..." Horn’s voice dropped even lower, "How about a new national religion of Miseria, with Falan characteristics?"