When the Saintess Arrives, No King Exist-Chapter 618 - 581 Constitutional Convention (Part 1)

With the arrival of the last batch of representatives, the entire Feiliu Castle became lively.

A large number of nobles and landlords, both big and small, gathered at Feiliu Castle out of panic, along with both local and foreign merchants, local and foreign citizens, wealthy farmers who just finished sowing, and laborers coming to watch the commotion.

During this time, the Salvation Army first printed and posted a large number of flyers and notices promoting Holy Path faction's ideas, followed by knights from North Mangde County also printing numerous notices for the Juanist Faction.

The monks of the Saint Father Association took to the streets, preaching directly to passersby.

The priests and monks under Moliat were not to be outdone, and also promoted Moliat's policies on the streets.

Coachmen and boat owners spread chaotic and confusing news via waterways in all directions.

Although the church was expelled and replaced by one or two new lords, it made little difference to the nobles.

They only needed a lord above them; the name was irrelevant, as long as their interests were protected.

However, the news that both Moliat and Horn wanted to reduce noble power was unacceptable to many rural little knights and nobles.

They either hurriedly came to Feiliu Castle to try to stop this act or secretly transferred wealth in preparation to flee Thousand River Valley.

They used almost every method - bribing the Salvation Army and the North Mangde knights, even buying the representatives.

But uniformly, they did not dare to resist with force against these two.

From April 29 to May 3, Moliat continuously met with nobles and lords of all sizes, guild leaders, and wealthy merchants from various places, even accepting some people to participate in the constitutional meeting.

The front of Horn's residence was equally busy, but except for some monks and clergymen, it was mostly scattered laborers and refugees of the Saint Sun's Army.

Relative to the Grand Duchess's faction with its abundant resources, although Horn had absolute control in Langsande County and had defeated Prince Kongdai, he couldn't form an advantage over Thousand River Valley as a whole.

Without the option of Moliat, those noble lords and wealthy merchants would surely have to reluctantly turn to Horn.

Historically, Moliat's identity provided natural influence for united efforts—descended from three kings, knight origins.

But without Moliat, Horn's rebel army would probably have been crushed early on by Prince Kongdai's successive orders.

Both sides were displeased with each other yet lacked the strength to confront face-to-face.

With the looming threat of the Leia Kingdom, they had no choice but to unite and compromise.

Amidst the chaos and disorder, Feiliu Castle finally welcomed the moment for the constitutional meeting to convene.

On the morning of May 3, Rangbang, dressed in rented formal wear, mingled with the artisan citizens of Liborole, slowly entering the venue under the guidance of gendarmes.

The venue for the constitutional meeting was actually the Pope's Palace at Feiliu Castle.

Since Johnny VIII customarily toured the Thousand River Valley District after his ascension, this place had been the palace of the archbishops of Feiliu Castle.

The main venue for this meeting was the bishops' lecture hall.

However, compared to the neatness of the chapel and Holy Communion Hall, the lecture hall had accumulated dust, evidently unused for quite some time.

By the time Rangbang and the others entered, the venue had been cleaned.

Floor-to-ceiling vertical banners hung on both sides of the walls; the left-side banner was black with red edges, featuring a red cross in the center, while the right-side banner was blue with white lilies and an obsidian design.

The morning sunlight streamed through the tall but narrow stained-glass mosaic windows on both sides, illuminating the dust swirling in the air.

Rangbang cautiously observed the venue from behind Liborole.

The oval-shaped venue could seat two to three hundred people, with the main platform or judgment bench on the north side facing south.

Saint Son Horn and Duke Moliat sat left and right on the judgment bench, both wearing red and white togas of Ancient Aier today, with green olive crowns tucked behind their ears.

Saint Son smiled as usual, extending his hand to greet the entering representatives.

Moliat unusually wore only a half-face gilded iron mask but placed her black lacquered iron fist on the table.

The iron fist was a real metal fist, specially made after Prince Kongdai cut off her left hand, installed on her former wrist.

Their attire was clearly patterned after the tribunes of Ancient Aier, even matching the traditional number of tribunes.

Under the left black-red banner were Salvation Army officers in black wool jackets and cassock-clad Saint Father Cultivators.

Sitting in the front row closest to the judgment bench were Jeanne, followed by Jeska, Grampwen, Busak, Grandmother Vivian, Patrick, and various legion commanders.

Under the right blue-white banner were nobles in wool tights and split sleeve silk robes, knights in fitted narrow-sleeve uniforms, and recently secularized priests.

Sitting in the front row closest to the judgment bench on the right were White Horse Knight Spitroch, Red Horse Knight Moro, Count of North Cold Valley Seching, Earl Sanboli of Stone Wall Town, Count Nathaniel of the Threshing Town, and others.

Guided by gendarmes, representatives were seated facing the judgment bench.

The first row already seated had Rapids City Governor Catherine, the new abbot Martin of Blago Monastery, Valent Taylor, André, and various bankers and wealthy merchants from Rapids City.

The arriving representatives were automatically divided into three tiers, with monks and minor nobles in front, citizens and merchants in the middle, artisans and farmers at the back.

Seeing the messy seated, sweat-smelling, and jostling representatives, the people on the right seat couldn't help but roll their eyes.

"Before we begin, I have a small question." Clovin, representing Changfeng Castle's knights, suddenly stood up and pointed at those sitting as public representatives, "The constitutional convention is for determining the country of the Thousand River Valley, why let these lowly people defile our sacred halls?"

"What do you mean?" Horn turned his head to look at the knight with a thick handlebar mustache.

Clovin performed a chest salute, "Let them leave, and call them in when we need their petitions."

The representatives on the right, representing the noble forces, began to whistle or clap in approval for Clovin.

The representatives with no power, who had just sat down in the middle seats, were embarrassedly lowering their heads.

"If the lowly people are to leave, then I will leave as well." Horn leaned back in his chair, "I'm just a coarse-cloth farmer from south of the Honey River, has the Thousand River Valley ever enfeoffed me with anything?"

"If Your Eminence leaves, then we will leave too."

"That's right, I am a vagrant also, a lowly person, we will also leave."

The Salvation Army and Saint Father monks on the left began to clamour.

Seeing the Salvation Army on the left backing them up, the representatives in the middle seats gained courage and began to clap and jeer along.

Amongst a sea of jeers, the seated nobles occasionally argued back, while Clovin stood there stiffly, his face flushing red and white.

Clovin obviously hadn't expected this, knowing that Horn held a position of honor equivalent to a grand duke or even a king, yet he could still claim himself as "lowly."

If a farmer or bandit were enfeoffed as knights, they would usually try to connect themselves to a noble ancestor.

Everyone is clothed, so why are you running around naked?

And it wasn't just him; those legion commanders also followed in this bare act, which left Clovin embarrassed.

Amidst the jeers and the laughter of those around, Clovin found himself unable to stand or sit, feeling as if there were ants crawling on his back.

Fortunately, Moliat in the seat of arbitration came to his rescue: "We are all people of the Thousand River Valley, there's no talk of high or low, Clovin, please sit."

Only then did Clovin sit down with a sense of relief, casting a hateful glance at the smiling Horn.

Moliat turned around, "Mr. Horn, since everyone is present, please announce the commencement of the meeting."

Horn stood up unflinchingly, raising his hands and gesturing for the room to be silent, before he spoke: "Honorable Grand Duke Hemashi, esteemed noble and monk representatives, and all friends attending this historic meeting.

Today, we gather here with reverence and responsibility, to lay the foundation for a new nation.

This is not merely an ordinary meeting, but a grand mission, because what we bear is to establish the eternal pillars of order and justice for the future generations of the Thousand River Valley—the Constitution.

The Constitution is not just a compilation of laws; it is a guiding force for all laws and a sacred contract.

Its significance transcends words, bearing faith and hope, connecting the will of the Celestial Kingdom with the order of the mundane, in this land fraught with strife, the Constitution is our common language.

It is the guideline for national actions, the fortress protecting all Thousand River Valley people from tyranny.

The past conflicts have taught us that mere force and enthusiasm cannot maintain long-lasting peace in the nation; the Constitution will be our peace agreement, instructing us on how to find consensus within disagreements, seeking reconciliation in conflicts.

Representatives, standing here, I do not speak as a holder of power but as a humble servant, serving the will of the Holy Father and the believers.

I believe each of you shares the same sense of responsibility, for what we decide affects not only ourselves but is crucial to the present and future of the Thousand River Valley.

For this reason, in every phase of drafting the Constitution, we must ask ourselves: Does this align with the will of the Holy Father? Is this beneficial to the peace and development of the country? Can this protect the dignity and freedom of the believers?

History will remember today, let us begin this magnificent enterprise with reverence, may the glory of the Holy Father forever illuminate this land, and may His wisdom guide us to make the correct choices."

As soon as the words fell, cheers and applause erupted throughout the hall, even those on the right followed suit in clapping.

The applause lasted for a full minute before it ceased, and Moliat timely walked to the front of the platform: "Underneath each of your seats, there is a copy of the 'Thousand River Valley Sacred Charter Draft'. After reading it, we can enter the first discussion session."

A rustling sound immediately arose within the venue.

Horn also sat down, picking up the 'Charter Draft' that he had drafted.

In essence, this constitutional establishment is to have all the classes of the Thousand River Valley discuss and establish what kind of temporary state to form.

Yes, a temporary state.

Horn actually knew that the Thousand River Valley is still just a binder for various forces, a temporary setup, an empty shell.

If not for the strong external enemy, Leia Kingdom, it might have split internally by now.

But precisely because of the strong external enemy Leia Kingdom, there is a possibility of mending the internal split in the Thousand River Valley.

Even if it is a temporary state, this constitutional establishment can significantly influence the true constitutional establishment later on, so Horn must be cautious.

Friends who often establish states know, the first step to determining a country is not its name or territory, but to always determine the origin and legitimacy of its sovereignty.

Taking a deep breath, Horn opened the first page of the Charter, written clearly—

"The sovereignty of the Thousand River Valley derives from the absolute authority of the Holy Father, manifested through the faith and will of the believers. The Holy Father grants all believers the right to participate in state affairs, but believers transfer this right to the supreme ruler through a contract, in exchange for protection and order."

Just the first paragraph on the first page immediately stirred up a huge uproar in the constitutional convention.