Chapter 487

Pinghu Town, government office, round table room.

"The LORD said that those who believe in me should be kind and compassionate, give help to those in distress, give fire to those in need, share food with those in need, and do not bury brothers and sisters if they survive, do not expel orphans, women and children, and do not abandon the old, the weak and the Disabled..."

Kohler clasped his hands and held them at the tip of his nose. He knelt solemnly on the floor. Sweat dripped down his chin. His knees were sour and soft. The muscles on his thighs jumped. The thin linen shirt was wet on his body, not to mention how uncomfortable it was.

The heat in the conference room and the priest's endless chatter made his head dizzy, and there was only one thought in his heart:

"Why isn't it over? Why isn't it over?"

"... helping others, helping others, saving others, saving others is the way of self redemption and dedication... Follow the way of the Lord, and the glory of the Lord is with you." The priest painted a holy emblem on his chest, announced the end of the sermon, nodded to the church attendants around him, motioned them to open the doors and windows and dispel the smell of sweat in the conference room.

Kohler quickly drew a triangular holy emblem on his chest, stood up and rubbed his sore knees. Suddenly, he saw a fat man with a lot of sweat around him who couldn't stand up for a long time. There was a pool of water under his feet. He felt inexplicably happy.

The fat man's name is Wei Qi. He recently moved from yeliucheng to Pinghu Town. It is said that he used to be a prominent businessman in the black market of deepwater city. He has more than 200 clerks, more than 20 grocery stores, four hostels and two pubs. He can be called a powerful businessman. Because his business was too big, he was worried. He had to sell out the storefront of Shenshui city at a low price, took the initiative to pay a lot of money to the Shenshui City gangs, and then went to Yeliu city to make a living.

Yeliucheng's business is really easy to do. As long as there are shops, everyone can get rich. However, the most difficult thing for yeliucheng today is the shop. I don't know who Weiqi left. He actually talked to master John of yeliucheng. Master John not only took out six shops to take care of Wei Qi, but also introduced him to Pinghu Town.

Free citizens and businessmen also want to squeeze into the market of yeliucheng, and the free citizens and businessmen of yeliucheng want to settle down in Pinghu Town. As we all know, for businessmen who buy houses in Pinghu Town, their store business in yeliucheng is stable. Nowadays, Pinghu Town no longer sells houses to the outside world, and no amount of money can be paid by free citizens and businessmen.

Kohler was the first group of free businessmen to buy houses in Pinghu Town. He deeply realized the benefits of Pinghu Town.

Pinghu Town market is not as popular as yeliucheng at ordinary times, but on weekends, tens of thousands of migrant workers pour into Pinghu Town market to open their money bags, eat, drink and have fun and go shopping. The market is crowded and shoulder to shoulder, which is more lively than Yeliu city. Although there is no big business for hired workers, the profit of goods retail is very high. Small rivers flow and gather sand into a tower, and the total profit is quite amazing.

The merchants in Pinghu Town transported the bulk commodities led by Randall to yeliucheng market for sale, and then purchased goods from yeliucheng and sold them back to Pinghu Town for retail. They gave birth on both sides and made money on both sides. They couldn't close their mouths one by one.

Another ten days will be the Randall family's annual midsummer carnival. Kohler received the notice from the tax official early in the morning and asked him to rush to the government affairs hall in the afternoon to attend the merchant party held by the marketing director of Pinghu Town to jointly discuss the goods preference and tax relief during the carnival.

Not all businessmen are eligible to attend the meeting held by the government affairs department. The marketing director of Pinghu Town selected 26 representatives from 274 merchants. Kohler is one of them.

He had lunch early, took good care of his appearance, put on decent clothes and the latest gentleman's shoes, and rushed to the government hall in advance together with 25 other representatives. They did not expect that Wei Qi, a fat businessman who had just joined Pinghu Town, was also here. What's more, pastor Dane of Pinghu Town church would preach to them in the round table room.

It's agreed to discuss the matter. How can it become listening to the preacher?

Dane looked at 27 embarrassed businessmen and felt strange. He preached to believers every day, but he was the first to preach in the Lord's government hall.

Randall understands that there are many new things, you have to study hard and think carefully... Dane remembered Pope Clement's advice, smiled bitterly, shook his head, cleared his throat and said, "is there anything you don't understand about the way of self salvation?"

"I understand, I understand... We will follow the teaching of the Lord." The businessmen nodded hurriedly.

The servants of the government hall came into the conference room with cool well water and handed it to the businessmen respectively. After the merchants drank water to relieve the summer heat, Reverend Dane said slowly: "now there is a new thing that will test your piety."

The businessmen looked at each other and secretly complained... Lord Dane wants us to donate money?

After drinking a cup of cold water, Kohler sobered up a lot and took the lead in saying, "dear Lord Dane, if there's anything, you can tell me. As long as I can do it, I won't prevaricate!"

The rest woke up and said:

"Yes, yes, yes, as long as it is within our power, we will never pass the buck."

"I know that all of you here are devout and generous believers. You donate every month... Among the civilian believers who built the cathedral in Pinghu Town, you donate the most." Pastor Dane nodded with appreciation and said in a deep voice, "Randall and phinice lead 100000 people. Some believers live in hardship. Although the church has many relief, it can not completely solve their difficulties... They need the self salvation of all believers."

Cut, not for money!

Businessmen exchanged eyes and focused on Kohler. He stepped forward, bowed deeply and said sincerely, "I am willing to give 400 silver sol to help my brothers and sisters tide over the difficulties."

The people gave generously, "I am willing to give 400 silver sol to help my brothers and sisters redeem themselves."

"I give 380 silver sol..."

"I give 360 silver sol."

Wei Qi, a fat businessman, raised his right hand and said, "I'll pay 100..."

100 silver sol also meant to shout so loudly... Kohler and others showed contempt.

"100 kingsol!" The fat businessman took a breath and finished.

100 kinsol? 3600 silver sol! Dead fat man, I'm really rich... There are only two stinky money... Everyone nodded friendly to their new partner with disdain in their eyes.

Dane also glanced at the fat businessman, shook his head and said: "It's not just a matter of money... The kingdom of Gambis is fighting against the ferocious fish man. Not long ago, Randall had 307 heroic mercenaries killed in the war, and more than 100 people were injured, of which 27 were disabled for life... In addition, the marsh scouts who are responsible for monitoring the ant army have also been killed and injured from time to time. So far, 83 marsh scouts have been disabled, and some of them are even disabled Paralysis for life... Although Viscount Randall gave them pensions, they needed someone to take care of them. Their wives, parents, brothers and sisters had to take out their hands, stop working and stay at home to take care of them. Some families have only husband and wife and minor children, and their wives can't go out to earn money to support their families. The pensions will run out one day, which will make it more difficult for such families. Others A bachelor who has no one to look after can only live in the church's workhouse for a long time... "

Diane paused and continued: "in the future, there will be such unfortunate people and such families... I hope all of you here can contribute money and help these families redeem themselves."

It's really not a matter of money... It's a matter of a lot of money. It's a bottomless pit if we don't save the poor!

The businessmen turned pale and made up their minds. When the pastor left, they went to ask Mrs. Lilia to come forward and ask her to let the pastor give up his request that killing people is not worth their lives.

"Mrs. Lilia and I have already talked..."

Businessmen are so frustrated... Can Pinghu Town stay?

"She agreed with you to form a mutual aid association. The purpose of the mutual aid association is to help needy families complete self salvation."

Dane said with a smile, "the mutual aid association has built a mutual aid hospital next to the workhouses in villages and towns, which is specially designed to accommodate the orphans, widows, disabled and weak led by Randall, so that their families can be reborn. Who would like to join the mutual aid association?"

"Me!" Rich businessman wedge raised his hand again and shouted, "I'd like to give 400 kinsol and join the mutual aid association!"

"Good! From now on, you will be the first leader of Randall mutual aid." Dane pointed to the fat man and asked kindly, "believer, what's your name?"

"Reverend master, my name is Vicky."

The fat man bowed triumphantly, which attracted the angry eyes of businessmen.

The atmosphere at the meeting was stiff. Reverend Dane coughed, looked around and said: "Of course, it is unrealistic for the backbone members of the mutual aid association to bear the relief expenses. The food and clothing of the orphans, widows, disabled and weak are provided by the workhouse, and the mutual aid association is mainly responsible for taking care of them. Lord Randall allowed the mutual aid association to hire people to take care of the clothes, food and daily life of the orphans, widows and disabled. In addition, the mutual aid association can charge a certain fee from the assisted family members every month to operate the mutual aid hospital The money. "

Hmm? This can be done!

Kohler's eyes brightened, raised his hand and shouted, "I'll give 150 gold sol, no! I'll give 240 gold sol, join the mutual aid association!"

The mutual aid association is a non-governmental organization led by the church and allowed by the Lord. Although joining the mutual aid association will lose a little money for a long time, it can improve its social status in Randall's territory!

Others reacted and shouted:

"I'll pay 220 kinsol!"

"I'll give 240 kinsol!"

"I give 180 kingsol..."

Father Dane nodded with satisfaction, performed a holy light, and said in a solemn voice, "the devout will be rewarded. May the Lord bless you."

"May the glory of the most High Lord last forever!" The people half knelt on the ground and prayed devoutly.

The holy light gradually faded, and a pleasant voice like an Oriole sounded outside the door:

"Father Dane, have you finished your business?"

The charming lady Lilia walked gracefully into the conference room, raised her train and saluted Reverend Dane. Her close guard Marcy bowed.

"Mrs. Randall, may the Lord guide your way." Reverend Dane painted a false emblem on his chest.

"Good day, Mrs. Randall." The merchants bowed respectfully.

Dane left his position, went to Lilia's side and said to the businessmen, "Mrs. Lilia has a duty-free business to give to the Mutual Aid Association." He raised his arm and said, "madam, please, excuse me first."

Lilia smiled, stepped on high heels, invited Tingting to the main position, took a black piece of paper from Marcy's hand and said to the businessmen: "this business is called mutual aid volume. In fact, it is a gambling business... It is issued once a week and the prize is opened on weekends... 20% of the total revenue is the issuance cost and 40% is the prize pool..."

Dane led his chaperone to the door, looked back and found that the businessmen listened quietly with respect in their eyes. He couldn't help thinking of a famous saying in the church:

No matter how devout a believer is, he has to dress and eat!

*********************

Pinghu castle, Lord's study.

Victor sat behind the table and played with a piece of black paper with seven numbers written in special white dye. He did not expect that Randall's improved paper had not been used for writing, but was first used in the lottery.

Randall led the lottery game rules and the use of funds to imitate the earth's lottery, but the name was changed to "mutual aid volume".

The paper and dye of Huzhu roll use several special plants as raw materials. After ignition, it will emit orange and indigo flames. Alchemists use these plant fuels as signal flames, which are difficult for human craftsmen to copy, enough to ensure the anti-counterfeiting function of the mutual aid volume.

Compared with the technical content of the mutual aid volume, its own significance is more extraordinary.

The emergence of mutual aid associations and mutual aid volumes represented the closure of the barrel of centralized land ownership to fill the bottom of the barrel. It has the rising channel of the education system and the self-healing of the security system. From then on, it can steadily hold "water".

"Water" is not limited to exile tenants, but also includes leaders, vassals, knights, nobles, scholars, priests and lords.

Assuming that the tenant has no security system, the bankrupt tenant family can only appeal to the church, and the priest of the church will throw them to the knight. With followers, the knight can create his own small family. The land closed centralization system was lost to the enfeoffment system.

When the most basic exile tenants have the ability to heal themselves, they will no longer rely on knights and priests, but unite stably under the rule of the Lord. The knight could not recruit enough followers, so he could only rent the land to the tenants, work beside the Lord, and gradually become a landlord and aristocrat. Tenants, landlords and vassals will also change to the landlord class.

In other words, Victor can now start recruiting wild Knights!

The military power, political power and legal power of Randall family are concentrated in Victor's hands, and the efficiency and power formed are by no means comparable to that of ordinary Lords. In the pioneering war, the more land resources occupied by the Randall family, the stronger the attraction to the refugees, knights, scholars and clergy, and the bigger the snowball. The traditional enfeoffment lords could not compete with Victor, and the family became weak. The new knights would only join the Randall family.

Victor thus overtakes on the curve.

Productivity has changed. Whoever adjusts production relations first will gain advantages from the new system.

The success of the mutual aid association is the key.

Victor doesn't worry that the mutual aid association is controlled by the church. The backbone of the mutual aid association are businessmen led by Randall. Their sources of goods and stores are in Victor's hands. Victor can make them poor. If they lose their wealth, they will be out of the game. No matter how pious they are.

Afraid, afraid that the high level of the church quickly realized the seriousness of the problem, immediately stopped the mutual aid association and established a new tenant relief system. Clement, in particular, is resourceful and sharp eyed. He is most likely to find the problem first.

Victor thought about it and found that what he could make use of was the mutual strife of the internal forces of the Holy See.

Clement has a strong desire for power and survival. As long as he is forced into a dead corner, he should be able to pull him into the water... Victor thinks carefully for a moment, picks up the quill pen and writes a fiery love letter to Catherine. In the letter, he shows off his ideas about tenant system and mutual aid society to his lover... And an alien version of the lottery.

"My Lord, father Dane wants to see you."

"Invite him in." Victor put down the quill and put the love letter in the drawer.

Reverend Dane walked into the study and saluted, "good day, Lord Randall, may the Lord guide you."

"Call me victor."

Victor got up from his seat and said cordially, "Dane, is the fraternity done?"

"Er... Victor, I think the mutual aid association should slow down first."

Reverend Dane hesitated for a moment, frowned and said, "I feel that the size of the fraternity will become larger and larger... I'd better inform bishop Perot first."

"How big can the mutual aid association be? There are only dozens of representatives of free people businessmen. The funds of the mutual aid association mainly come from the mutual aid volume and are under the dual supervision of the church and the government office. These businessmen just use the money to hire nursing workers. There's nothing to worry about." Victor smiled disapprovingly.

"However, the group of mutual aid will be larger and larger..." Dane hesitated. "I always feel something wrong."

Victor leaned against the table, his chest in his hands and his jaw said: "That's right! The service scope of the mutual aid society also includes the elderly who have lost their ability to take care of themselves, so as not to make them a burden on the tenant family. Although they have lost their ability to work, they still believe in the Supreme Lord. The mutual aid house is next to the church, and they pray day and night... Isn't it a good thing that there are a large group of elderly and disabled people singing poetry in the church every day? Or do you think Because this achievement is too great to bear? "

"I..."

Victor came forward, pressed Dane's shoulder, looked him in the eyes and said: "My friend, the situation under the crown of the Pope is not good. He has given up many parishes. If he supports, there must be opposition, and if he opposes, there must be support! If you inform the Mutual Aid Association, many people will compete for this merit with the crown. If they can't compete, they will more frantically suppress the crown. In the end, it is you... And me."

Victor released his hand and said faintly: "I designed the tenant system to coordinate with the resettlement of displaced people under the crown. The simplest way to solve the problem of self salvation of tenants is polygamy. Randall's leader still has more than 3000 single men. Even if he has two wives, the number of single men will increase to more than 20000. Take away these 30000 single men, and I don't want them! Does that Lord dare to accept tens of thousands of single men?"

"Moreover, the treatment of the tenants is not much different from that of the collar people. The collar people can marry two wives, and the tenant can marry two wives. What will my collar people and vassals think? Doesn't this bring me down?"

Dane smiled awkwardly and exclaimed, "hehe, Victor, your mutual aid association and mutual aid volume are very clever. I don't think you need to change it."

"I think so..."

Victor touched his smooth chin and said seriously: "Dane, for you, this is a political speculation! Do you understand? Clement has hundreds of attendants and students. If you want to get ahead, you must make convincing achievements! If you win a great reputation within the church, the pressure under Clement's crown will be reduced. You are the first to be promoted!"

"Even if someone wants to suppress you and rob you of your achievements... Will your situation get worse?" Victor looked at Dane with pity.

"You're just Randall's assistant to the priest."

Dane's face turned blue. Victor said coldly, "old Miller doesn't care at all... The Lord and the priest need to support each other. You support me and I support you. The higher your position in the future, the greater your help to me. The farther I go, the stronger my help to you."

"We have done this, and we are our closest allies."

Reverend Dane's eyes became hot as a flame, and he nodded heavily, "OK! Let's start the mutual aid meeting first!"