When the Saintess Arrives, No King Exist-Chapter 639 - 600 The Constitutional Conference (End)

The moss-covered tree trunk lay prostrate on the ground, deep clefts from swords and blades carved into it.

Horn bent down and picked up a broken arrowhead from the plush grassy ground, its faint rust color carried a subtle scent of blood.

Raising his head, a dozen rolling hills appeared before him, and between two lush green hills, the surface of a broken bridge dangled beside a cliff, swaying in the breeze.

Warm and scorching light shone on his straw hat as he walked, the grass blades brushing against his ankles with an itch that made Horn suddenly feel like he was once again that farmer in the field.

Yet upon looking up, he was surrounded by a circle of armored Close Guard Cultivators, and cuirassier cavalry galloped back and forth on the main road.

This small area was alive with birdsong and fragrant flowers, butterflies fluttering—the scene of decay from the autumn and winter prior completely concealed.

If not mentioned, who would ever know that a scarcely known battle had erupted here?

"Want to rest a bit?" Without a horse, Moliat stood beside Horn and softly asked.

Horn didn't reply, seemingly lost in thought, staring at the hilltop without daring to step forward until Jeanne gently wrapped her arm around his, jolting him out of his daze.

Facing Jeanne's concerned gaze, he patted her hand to signal that he was fine and turned to Moliat with a smile: "No need, let's just head up directly."

Arm in arm with Horn, Jeanne followed Moliat as they headed up the lush hill.

"How's the information gathering for 'Chronicles of Thousand River Valley' going?" Horn asked Moliat, walking alongside.

Moliat's lips tightened under her iron mask, but she still replied, "Still collecting historical materials, many of our records are incomplete, need to extract from other sources."

"Need to purchase externally?"

"Of course, but compared to those fortresses and rivers, it's not expensive, just takes time, might be Leia Kingdom attacks us before we finish."

"Reconstruction after battles, even if in three hundred years of modern era, is fine." Horn surveyed the hills once covered in dead leaves and yellow earth. "By then, some things can be conclusively defined."

"Chronicles of Thousand River Valley" will be the first history book since the foundation of the Thousand River Valley Holy Monarch Country, divided into three hundred years of ancient and modern era.

Additionally, a "Record of Figures from Thousand River Valley" will also be compiled.

The former is annalistic, while the latter is biographical, hence the former must serve political purposes, not merely a history book but a political one.

How this book is compiled will basically decide the image of this imagined community, Thousand River Valley.

"Have all the County Governors arrived?" Horn continued to ask.

Moliat nodded: "The eight County Governors are all in position, Catherine is the Governor of Lower Reif County, besides Carl as Village Magistrate of Zhuanghe Town, the other three village magistrates are also your Priest-in-Charge."

"For Kasha County, I appointed Martin as the County Governor, the Village Magistrate of Doke Town where Xiaochi City is located is a Priest from the Pope's Palace, and the other three village magistrates are Mountain Knights."

After the constitutional conference concluded, Moliat and Horn quickly determined the County Governors.

The Governors of Hotam County and the other five Mountain Counties are mountain people, while Lower Reif and Kasha Counties are "neutral" in most people's eyes.

Langsande County serves as a Papal Special District; although Moliat was elected as the life-time monarch by the representatives, the coronation still follows tradition administered by the highest religious personnel.

In terms of finance, beyond land tax, tariffs and consumption tax are collected as the central income for the monarch, while the citizens' city rent and redemption tax are combined into city tax.

Langsande County, as an economic special zone, manages its tariffs and city tax independently, implementing the highest grade of religious tolerance within this district, thereby allowing free trade of alchemy products.

The law of religious tolerance was initially intended to be promoted throughout Thousand River Valley, but Horn believed it was too soon and might cause adverse effects, thus vetoed the proposal, implementing it solely in Langsande County.

"Since the County Governors are in place, isn't it time for your perpetual leasing rights and Hundred Households District reform?" Just as he finished speaking, Moliat suddenly pointed to the side.

Horn glanced over but couldn't help but laugh; it was a pile of broken pottery shards and assorted small tools, many had grown moss and mildewed.

They lay quietly in the shadow of the trees, with full sunshine casting rippling reflections on a brown-white pottery jar.

Jeanne looked at Moliat in puzzlement, how did she know these things?

"The Hundred Households District reform should commence, I'm looking to initiate it in Kasha County and South Mande County." Horn calculated the days, "July, August, September, it should be complete by the end of September, then in October when Lower Reif County and Hotam County's autumn taxes are collected, we'll act."

Reforms in Kasha County were necessary due to the importance of the sugar grain trade's export path via the South Nao'an River, needing enhanced control.

Current reforms in South Mande County were essential after the grain harvest season to promptly dredge Daze Village's river mouth and rapidly connect the waterway from Cold Spring Castle to ry Court Barracks.

Post-September acts in Pingyuan County were due to Lower Reif County and Hotam County being critical land tax zones in Thousand River Valley.

The perpetual leasing rights and Hundred Households District reform would likely cause upheaval, potentially reducing grain yields, necessitating an off-season implementation.

As for why not reforming all at once, Horn indeed lacked sufficient manpower.

Thinking of this, Horn suddenly turned to Moliat and asked, "How are the troops at Shattered Stone Plain?"

"They've all withdrawn, and sealed the borders."

"Can you smuggle some wool?"

"Of course, the border is so long, with so many mountain valleys, their blockade can't cover everything, but the price will be higher, how much do you need?"

"4000 dans of raw wool, how much would it cost?"

"4000 dans of raw wool?" Moliat hadn't yet responded when Jeanne spoke first, "That's over 200 tons, our ry Court Barracks can only handle 150 tons at most, it's too much."

"Don't worry, I have a solution." Horn patted Jeanne's hand, then turned to Moliat, "I'll have Catherine send gold pounds by ship; receiving everything within 3 months will suffice, no less than 1200 dans per month."

"Alright." Moliat jotted down in her notebook, not looking up, "Once the situation stabilizes, I'll dispatch Hylviss, South Mande County's Governor, to ry Court Barracks to meet you."

Amid this conversation, a group of them strode across the grass, reaching the hilltop.

Tender trees swayed in order, with red, blue, and purple clover flowers covering the hilltop, dyeing it a pale pink.

Horn turned to Moliat, noticing her smile, "Prince Kongdai gave him a solitary grave, I refurbished the tomb."

"Thank you." Horn nodded in gratitude, tapping the glass lantern jar containing Prince Kongdai's head, "You've got quite an eye."

Amid the singing of cicadas, hoarse and prolonged, a marble tombstone stood firmly in the floral sea.

Taking a deep breath, Horn slowly stepped forward, the plush sea of flowers rising in waves, he reached the grave, the tombstone inscribed "Here lies the last knight on the continent".

Beside the tombstone, surprisingly lay a moldy rabbit leg, seemingly placed over ten days ago, he turned to Jeanne with a smile: "Looks like we're a bit late."

"Long time no see, teacher." Jeanne's eyes smiled, though her mouth curving downwards, tears hung at the corners.

"See, someone always remembers you."

Laying Prince Kongdai's head aside, Horn sat cross-legged before the grave, with Jeanne clutching his arm, they both sat down.

Horn then drew a bound booklet from his chest, placing it before the tombstone - the "Thousand River Valley Holy Charter": "Old Danji, I'm bringing a just country to see you, it still has many imperfections, but..."

Before his words were completed, the floral sea suddenly rolled in waves, under a sudden fierce gust, colorful petals soared into the air, and the "Charter" was blown open, pages flipping with a ruffling sound.

As if someone was eagerly leafing through.