The witch gave in subconsciously, but the nun was filled with fear, just as Knight Robert had expected.
But because of this, she would never give in. Because if even she gave in, then Yang Hao's last home would disappear without a trace.
(Oh my god, what the hell am I doing! Theresa, Theresa! If this little witch casts a violent spell on you and kills you, who will be there to judge you?!
And did the knight really intend to attack? It would definitely hurt if the sword hit him, right
No, I don't want this to happen. Now that things have come to this, can't you just go away and figure out how to deal with your own mess
"I should have thought that you were just a bunch of bandits! I shouldn't have forgotten that before he integrated the Roman Empire, it was a mixed autonomous territory of a large number of human tribes... I shouldn't have had any expectations of you barbarians!"
Sister Teresa kept her mouth shut, the fear in her heart already rising to her throat as the knight's sword was slightly unsheathed, but she still kept her mouth shut, showing no signs of giving in.
(What the fuck am I doing?! Theresa, Theresa! Have you forgotten that for the "nobles" and "mages" of the Roman Empire, "barbarian" is the most fucking insulting word?! Stop provoking them, or else it will be terrible if they really draw their swords and act separately...)
Theresa could even sense Priscilla's sudden murderous intent.
To this genius mage, the word "barbarian" was not only a denial of all her current achievements, but also a humiliation to her entire life... But what could Theresa say? She was just stating a fact.
The origin of the Roman Empire was that a group of barbarian tribes were integrated into a country under the guidance of a kingdom with a regent, which was only the size of a small city, and then ruled by a group of people who forgot their roots and lived a life of drunkenness and debauchery - so is she wrong? No!
She was just telling the truth, which was an insult to the Roman Empire, but you were so shameless that you expelled the regent, remained silent when the regent was humiliated, and boycotted everything he did!
As a result, now that the entire empire is going downhill, they only remember the good things of other countries? They are eager to have the regent return immediately like lightning? How can such a good thing happen in this world
You are shameless, but could you at least have some sense of shame as a human being
Ah - I really want to live in the Elf Kingdom. Although the elves are old-fashioned and stubborn, at least they recognize Yang Hao's achievements and his efforts, right
Life there is not luxurious, but at least my days of pretending to convert are over, and he doesn't have to be in such a state that he can't even go to town. At least we can live a normal life...
What about you
A bunch of fucking bitches, a bunch of bitches who wouldn't even attract stray dogs if they walked naked on the street...
It is you who use the legacy left by others, it is you who drive others away, it is you who humiliate others, it is you who destroy the achievements...
…
Well, he will just be killed, right
As long as I, Mother Teresa, am still fucking alive, I will never let you take another step towards the monastery!
“Click—”
Sister Teresa, whose face was pale and her whole body was trembling, held her head high and looked at Priscilla, who dared not look her in the eye, with a proud but contemptuous look. She glanced at the imperial knights who were ashamed and angry about being called "barbarians", and Knight Robert who could not help but draw his sword.
Whether it was Robert or Priscilla, their murderous intent had already been transmitted to Sister Teresa's heart. But what did it matter
She is a human being, not an animal. She will never forget her roots, and she will never forget all the efforts Yang Hao has made.
So she had to stand here, so she wanted to stand here, she wanted to protect Yang Hao's last home... until she died, or until he no longer needed her.
But no one can pass through here before then.
They were facing each other. Just when the situation was getting out of hand and the Empire decided to force its way in, the long-eared archers who used the forest scent to cover themselves in the dark drew their bows and prepared to force their way in—
“—”
Suddenly, they heard the sound of kneeling.
Looking back, I saw a man carrying a basket full of firewood, holding a rusty axe, with a half-trimmed beard full of bumps, and almost uncut hair. He was wearing linen clothes and tying boots that were almost worn out.
"Your Majesty the Regent—"
The man walked straight towards the monastery with an expressionless face. Along the way, all the imperial knights made way for him and knelt on the ground devoutly to perform the highest etiquette.
"Your Majesty the Regent..."
Knight Robert was stunned for a moment, then he half-knelt in great joy, then he took out his weapon with the same piety, holding it in both hands to show his loyalty and harmlessness.
However, the man did not even bother to look at him. He walked straight towards the two people who were confronting each other.
A trace of joy flashed in the eyes of the witch Priscilla, and she said impatiently:
"Yang Hao, please listen to my explanation—"
"Why are you still standing there? Let's go back together."
“—”
As expected, he did not give up the Roman Empire, nor did he give up on me—
Just as Priscilla was delighted with this, she even subconsciously reached out her hand to him, expecting him to hold it tightly as before.
He passed by Priscilla's side, and she turned around and stared at him, stiffening suddenly and in shock.
The weathered Yang Hao hugged the nun's shoulders and carefully ensured that the trembling girl in his arms did not have any wounds. He repeated in a gentle tone that only Priscilla and the little queen could hear:
"Why are you still standing there? It's cold outside, let's go back together."
The kneeling knights and former lovers are no longer visible.
Now that she was so close, Theresa was sure that there was only room for her in his eyes.
Chapter 9: Priscilla, how much are you worth
Yang Hao ignored the existence of the Imperial Knights and his former lover. Now disillusioned with the Roman Empire, he just wanted to live a peaceful life with Theresa.
Obviously, he gave up the Roman Empire, but the Roman Empire could not give up him for its own destiny—
To be exact, she had given up before, but now, like a starving dog, she was eager to invite him back so that he could give her some food.
Although Priscilla felt sad and upset because Yang Hao ignored her, she still had to stand up at this critical moment.
"Yang Hao! Please listen to my explanation... The people of the Roman Empire need you now!"
She turned around and pleaded, hoping that the man who was carefully examining the nun to see if she was hurt would change his mind, hoping that he would remember the people who had sacrificed so much for her.
In response, the man remained silent for a while, then sneered with disdain:
"The common people? The common people?!"
He let go of the hands that were around the nun's shoulders, put his face close to hers and whispered "Don't worry" under her worried gaze. Then he turned around and repeated the same word three times.
The common people... The common people...
As if recalling his past, the man looked up at the sky which was already at dusk.
Today was a good day. He chopped a lot of firewood. If nothing unexpected happened, he and Theresa would be able to spend this cold early spring peacefully.
He no longer wanted to think about the Roman Empire.
But the "common people" mentioned by his former lover Priscilla still touched his sore spot.
Yang Hao lowered his head, looked at the trampled grass on the ground and laughed a few more times:
"Hmph... the common people... the common people. Priscilla, do you know who betrayed me first when I led the team to the parish to negotiate with the Elf Kingdom on border frictions?"
Before the witch could open her mouth to speak, Yang Hao stated, "It was the people. Ah, the people I spent countless efforts to help. I established free medical institutions for them, I opened free night schools for them, I even provided insurance and facilities for their farmers to deal with natural disasters, and provided them with more jobs. I tried my best to create a possibility for them to improve their class. I spent countless efforts to publicize how these measures benefit ordinary people all over the country...
Then what? What did they do
I underestimated the religious fanaticism of these paramecium, I underestimated their stupidity, I underestimated their greed...
They see it all as a gift from God, and I understand that.
I understand that they can't understand the purpose of those dams and underground heating pipes because they have never been to school.
I can understand that they sold themselves to the nobles and landlords for a dozen copper coins, and finally became their slaves who were required to hand over 40% of their agricultural profits every year for 20 years.
They don't understand that cheap factory-produced products can provide more necessities in winter, they just simply think that this will reduce their income - which I can understand.
But I can't fucking understand how their character is worse than that of dogs!"
Yang Hao roared in a suppressed manner, and grabbed the collar of the Night Witch with his left hand that was not holding the axe handle, pulled her in front of him, and then pushed her forward suddenly.
He stared at his former lover with bloodshot eyes, gritting his teeth in anger at what she had said about the people of dawn:
"Do you know that there is a village in the north where villagers killed a teacher who had worked so hard to obtain a degree but was still willing to teach the ignorant people almost for free just for two silver coins
Did you know that these two silver coins were not given to just one mastermind, but were shared by two hundred households in the entire village
Do you know that the knowledge my teachers imparted to them was not as good as the pastor reciting a passage of the Bible to them? Do you know that my doctors went through so much trouble to save lives, but in the end they received not thanks but a "God bless you"? Do you know? !
Do you know how many people these fucking beasts have hurt and betrayed who helped them? Do you fucking know
No, you don't know...
Since the establishment of the Roman Empire, you have not even left the palace. You are obsessed with studying your own night magic in the palace, you are obsessed with teaching your mage students, you have never personally understood how hopeless those beasts are, you are not fucking qualified!
You have no right to say "for the people", Priscilla... You have no right. You didn't before, and you don't now. You can't even look me in the eye.
You speak for these things that are worse than animals, what price are you worth? "
The end of the year 003 of the Imperial Calendar.
At that time, Yang Hao led his team to the diocese, and worked day and night to solve the border friction between the Elf Kingdom and the new Roman Empire once and for all.
He was sold out by a group of unruly people in exchange for one word of atonement from each of the 766 households in the village.
The total cost of printing these words of atonement was less than 5 copper coins using the factory printing press that was still in operation at the time.
The followers around him were bribed with gold coins, which was the only comforting thing for Yang Hao.
What about Priscilla
She tried her best to speak for the common people of the Roman Empire, but how much is she worth
Chapter 10: How much is your loyalty worth
Faced with Yang Hao's questioning, Priscilla was speechless.
She could only be grabbed by the collar and accept Yang Hao's scolding. She had no ability to think, and no excuse to refute, because it was just as he said, Priscilla didn't even dare to look him in the eye when she spoke for the people.
Just because what Yang Hao said was all true - now the Roman Empire was like a puddle of mud stuck to a wall. He brought them to civilization, but they obviously did not welcome civilization.
The ignorance and ingratitude of the people of the Roman Empire had even caused an uproar in the neighboring Elf Kingdom. Even the most conservative and traditional elves had issued a semi-public condemnation of the Roman Empire two months ago, not to mention other countries that had some understanding of the Roman Empire.
It is said that in Isgard, the empire across the sea where the scholars fled, even the beggars begging on the streets despised the actions of the Roman Empire.
Faced with this ironclad fact, no one in the Roman Empire could refute it at any level—except the nun.
Yes, except for the nun.
Mother Teresa herself was not from the Roman Empire.
After the Silence incident, she went directly to the local Population Administration Bureau to give up her citizenship as a citizen of the Roman Empire. The monastery she owned was not even within the territory of the Roman Empire.
She was the only one here besides Yang Hao who was qualified to defend herself. The only evil thing she did to Yang Hao from beginning to end was the bad words he said before he left the village.
"You speak for a group of shameless barbarians. Sooner or later, you will return in disgrace and these barbarians will stay away from you."
Barbarian, barbarian... She stood out from the crowd from the very beginning. When the Roman Empire was still just a tribe, her abnormal white hair and gray eyes had already caused the nun to suffer discrimination since childhood, not to mention the "primordial doctrine" she believed in.
Perhaps Mother Teresa saw the greedy and shameless nature of the tribal people in this land since she was a child.
…
Priscilla opened her mouth, then gave up.
Yang Hao didn't want to say anything anymore.
After pushing Priscilla violently towards the kneeling Imperial Knights and letting her stagger and fall to the muddy ground, Yang Hao lowered his head and looked at his former subordinates and knights expressionlessly:
"So... why don't you leave? Is there anything else you want to say?"
The knights all lowered their heads, ashamed to look directly into Yang Hao's eyes. Although they were not part of the army that was bought with gold coins at that time, they had also received wallets full of gold coins at home.
In today's Roman Empire, loyalty can be measured in money.
As long as there is enough money, betraying the wise ruler who helped you to ascend to the throne can also be a fair trial.
Regent Yang Hao fell here - he spent a lot of money to train his own army and won over the soldiers with the highest salary he could offer, but he could not imagine that the nobles and the Pope who knew how to make money better than him and directly squeezed the fat of the people would be richer than him.
When Yang Hao personally distributed a monthly salary of five gold coins to each soldier of the National Army, the Pope directly crushed the loyalty of most soldiers with a huge sum of 800 gold coins per person. And this was only the first step.
The Pope has plenty of money, and can even turn these 800 gold coins into a monthly salary, but Yang Hao and the Roman royal family do not have so much money. They still have to spend a lot of money on building the country and reducing taxes for the people's livelihood. Everyone knows the result, so there is no need to elaborate.
He could promise the national army soldiers a beautiful world in ten or twenty years, but the huge sum of 800 gold coins per month from the Pope for twenty years was obviously more convincing than the world promised by Yang Hao.
Thoughts and honors were crushed by the weight of gold coins, and loyalty was transferred from one master to another -
Yes, the soldiers of the National Army were "untrustworthy" just as the Queen's uncle and General Dreshuka warned. If they could be bribed by the spendthrift leader the first time, they could certainly be bribed the second time.