When the Saintess Arrives, No King Exist-Chapter 616 - 579: Constitutional Convention of Thousand River Valley

Imperial Calendar April 29, 1446, more than a month has passed since that fateful battle.

The port outside Feiliu Castle is now full of gear sun banners and obsidian iris banners, with the port's inns nearly filled by merchants and representatives from various counties.

Many local figures, moreover, have come to Feiliu Castle at their own expense.

They command their servants or family to move their luggage from the boats to the port, marching boldly toward the city.

Elm and willow trees surround the cobblestone and flagstone square, soldiers clad in black knee-length jackets carry axes and Saint's muskets, patrolling in groups of four at street corners.

At the distinctly different corner of the street, three or five mountain infantrymen from the Duke's Army clad in chainmail sit atop barrels, drunkenly playing dice and cards.

Carrying a light wooden case, the young man wearing a brimmed felt hat jumps onto the dock, his eyes alight as he surveys the buildings and pedestrians before him.

Immediately, a coughing sound of reminder follows from behind him, only then does the young man belatedly turn around, smiling as he assists the coughing old Monk off the boat.

Following this highly respected old Monk, representatives traveling with them disembark one after another.

First a middle-aged Monk in a black robe and his monk followers, then artisans, citizens, merchants in jackets and vests, along with their apprentices and assistants.

Walking last are the farmers in long tunics, stepping in long stockings and wooden shoes. 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

"So beautiful, Feiliu Castle." The farmer cannot help but exclaim.

Nearby, a merchant scoffs: "Better to look at the distant church, stay here three days, and you'll hate this place."

"Bigger than our old port at Rapids City, but too spacious and wasteful, and too many churches." With hands on hips, the Notary in midnight blue silk robe stands at the roadside, commenting on the situation.

The old Monk turns to the Meigedi Commerce Association attendant guiding them, asking: "Where is the person meeting us? I can't stand for too long with my old back."

"I've notified them, they'll arrive in at most two periods." The attendant responds with a accommodating smile.

These people are representatives from Lower Reif, actually only nine of them, with the rest being attendants, guards, and alternate representatives.

Their purpose is clear, participating in the constitutional convention for the founding of the Thousand River Valley.

After defeating Prince Kongdai and occupying Feiliu Castle, Horn and Moliat did not immediately declare the founding of the state at Feiliu Castle.

Instead, they jointly sent a letter across the Thousand River Valley, requesting each county select 5-9 representatives to come to Feiliu Castle for joint discussions on national issues.

Moliat also stipulated three conditions in the letter: first, no need to repay interest from church usury exceeding the principal; second, liberate all Monks and Priests imprisoned for spreading Juanist Faction ideas; third, forgive all Armed Farmers who participated in the war.

These conditions effectively quelled post-war unrest across regions.

After sending the joint letter, the Salvation Army and Duke's Army left Feiliu Castle one after the other, leaving behind troops to maintain order.

After all, the main force of Prince Kongdai had been swept clean; there were still remnants of opposing factions in North Mande County, Mande County, and Kasha County.

The Salvation Army continued south to eradicate those entrenched in Kasha County's Puzilio, and the Duke's Army needed to return home to fend off the Noble Alliance Army of Shattered Stone Plain.

Prince Kongdai and having already lost battle naturally meant that assisting forces from Thorn Garden had nothing else to say.

Puzilio quickly sold off mercenaries at the front line, fled with his Knights and Land Servants carrying goods plundered from Kasha County.

By mid-April, Horn had successfully reclaimed Blago Monastery.

The Noble Alliance Army of Shattered Stone Plain, having gained nothing, reluctantly fought Moliat only to ultimately suffer defeat.

After both Puzilio and the Noble Alliance Army withdrew, the last county controlled by the Church, Mande County, chose to surrender after struggling for so long.

According to news from three days ago, the County Bishop of Mande County fled to Norn overnight, while local nobles and Knights offered allegiance to Moliat with water and earth, signifying submission.

Thus, at the end of April, the entire Thousand River Valley, over 200,000 square kilometers of land, fell into the hands of Horn and Moliat.

What all the Thousand River Valley People had dreamed of came so quickly, leaving the representatives standing at the dock in a daze.

Originally, they did not take the joint letter from the Saint's Grandson and Female Grand Duke seriously, until the heads of Banifus and Prince Kongdai were passed over, they hastily elected representatives.

As supplemented by subsequent envoys, each county's delegation must include nobles, citizens, farmers, and monks.

Naturally, this excluded Priests.

After all, everyone is of the new era and governance, chanting the "Holy Path Salvation Teachings," whereas Priests read from the "After Gospel," hence are disqualified from attending this meeting.

Of these formal representatives from Lower Reif County, there are nine in total: 2 Knights, 4 citizens, 2 monks, and 1 farmer.

The two Knights are new nobles aligned with the Meigedi Commerce Association, with estates not primarily based on grain production, but on economic crops, namely dye plants.

They even have their own dye workshops in the city.

Among the four citizens is a Notary, a banker, a mason, and a dyer.

Although referred to as artisans, it is actually workshop masters or even guild heads; ordinary store owners or small workshop masters are not as easily selected.

The two monks are esteemed elder monks from the monastery, differing from others mainly as Juanist Faction members.

The final farmer representative is naturally an Armed Farmer.

Though Public Register Farmers and Armed Farmers have equal eligibility, in practice, those eligible for representation were none genuinely of impoverished backgrounds.

The truly impoverished Public Register Farmers often exist in quite closed environments, unaware of changes in the Thousand River Valley, still reciting names of Prince Kongdai and Banifus.

Yet unbeknownst to them, their lives are about to undergo earth-shattering changes.

"Ah, the carriage has arrived." As the excited farmer jumps from the curb, everyone follows his gaze and stands up.

Two elegant carriages gradually approach, one side adorned with a sun banner, the other with an iris banner; passersby knowing these are constitutional convention carriages, making way.

After signing and sealing the confirmation letter, representatives bring their personal belongings aboard the carriage, while their attendants need to find a nearby small inn.

Sitting in a luxurious carriage with gilded coat hooks, the lone farmer representative is squeezed by the dyer to the door's edge, precariously perched on the seat cushion, wary of dirtying it.

Once the initial novelty wears off, the farmer representative grows bored, glancing around before mustering the courage to ask the stoneworker representative across from him:

"Liborole brother, I've inexplicably become the farmer representative and still don't know what this constitutional convention is about, you have broad insight, could you tell me?"

"Constitutional, means establishing a constitution." The stoneworker named Liborole, although only half-knowledgeable, having the instinct to teach is nearly universal, is piqued by the opportunity. "Rangbang, you've caught a good time; previously, foreign nobles and Priests created laws, now with the Saint's Grandson and Duke in power, it's our turn for lawmaking."

"Oh—" Farmer Rangbang nods seemingly understandingly.

Opposite, the Knight Ovid with a stomach pressing against the tabletop scoffedly remarks: "You really think the constitutional convention will give you speaking and voting rights?"

"Otherwise?" Liborole glances sideways at him.

"Do you understand the statutes? The teachings? You understand nothing, you know what is right or wrong?" Knight Ovid's retort leaves Liborole speechless, "Citizens are at least literate; you, Rangbang, right?"

Rangbang shrugs, nodding.

"Inviting farmers is merely to show all-encompassing support." Knight Ovid struggles to turn around, "Let me tell you, you're here as a mascot—freedom and equality are irrelevant to you, speak less, follow my instructions for voting."

"Once you receive the participation stipend, you may boast upon return, but too much talk, wrong clicks, well I'm sorry, you'll face consequences on return."

Rangbang shrinks his neck, dazedly nodding, remaining silent.