When the Saintess Arrives, No King Exist-Chapter 640 - 601 Ansel and Bryson and South Mangde County
By July, with Horn and Jeanne returning to the ry Court Barracks, the reform movement for perpetuity land rights began in Kasha County and South Mangde County.
Kasha County, having previously been ravaged by war, saw most of its nobility and knights flee following Prince Kongdai's death and Puzilio's escape.
Additionally, with more native free farmers than other counties, the perpetuity land rights reform progressed relatively smoothly, with at least a thousand knights stationed in Kasha County.
Thousands of knights' families began migrating to the plains along the waterways.
However, the perpetuity land rights reform in South Mangde County did not proceed as smoothly.
Initially, knight nobles protested, "Why should we be deprived of our rights when we've won," leading to a dozen or so revolts by knights and nobles.
However, they were suppressed by the Black Champion Army, who had been deployed in advance. County Governor Hylviss seized the opportunity to impose pressure, and the knights unwillingly accepted the reform.
Soon after, village magistrates colluding with old church forces were exposed, and Hylviss shed tears as he executed subordinates.
A few days later, a carriage riding with over a dozen monks was attacked by the so-called "Robber Knights from Mande."
Thereafter, Hylviss and Jeska joined forces in the investigation, implicating nearly thirty knights, with the offending knights being publicly executed by the Autocratic Duke, and two counts were ordered to Xia Lvcheng for house arrest.
By the end of July, and beginning of August, County Governor Hylviss finally announced the start of perpetuity land rights reform.
During this month, the monks were not idle either.
Under the personal oversight of Madlan, the efficiency-driven Exorcism Order began streamlining institutions, optimizing finances, and eliminating a large number of unnecessary church positions.
By mid-July, they started doctrinal assessments and audits of the remaining priests, and by early August, Madlan had reduced 2953 priests to 1601.
While Kasha County began registering tax rolls and church property statistics, South Mangde County started pushing on a village-by-village and manor-by-manor basis for perpetuity land rights reform.
Imperial Calendar 1446, August 2, South Mangde County, Mire Village.
On the muddy road fenced with timber and cold wood, an old donkey with drooping ears was gasping, with its saddlebags filled with documents and provisions.
The relatively warm sunlight filtered through the dense trees, casting fluctuating bands of light on the road and bushes laden with berries.
Flanking the old donkey were two monks, one old and one young.
The 17 or 18-year-old young monk wore a brown-red thin woolen jacket similar to the Salvation Army's style, while the older monk, not too old at around forty, donned a loose robe of old cleric style.
To strangers, it would seem that in this group heading to Adrian Knight Manor to sign perpetuity land rights agreements, the middle-aged monk was leading.
But in reality, the young monk named Ansel was the true wandering cultivator, while the middle-aged monk named Bryson was an assistant transferred from the old church system.
Of course, they couldn't be traveling to Adrian Knight Manor alone; they were accompanied by five Black Hat Army Cultivators offering protection along the way.
The present South Mangde County was not particularly peaceful, as who knew from where a few "Robber Knights" might appear.
Smelling the cold, damp air, Ansel sneezed and rubbed his nose: "Uncle Bryson, how much longer do we have until we reach Adrian Knight Manor?"
Although Bryson was an assistant, Ansel did not act superior, but instead warmly used a familial term of address.
Bryson looked around and spotted a dilapidated wooden hut in the forest: "That's the Hunter's Hut; we should be there in about half an hour."
Previously, Bryson had been the priest in the nearby district, responsible for the Church School, and was one of the rare few who could read the Gospel from cover to cover.
That was no small feat, as the Gospel was written in Elvish, and even Horn only recently read it in its entirety.
Hearing Bryson's words, Ansel tightened the garment he wore: "This forest is so quiet; we've walked a whole way and haven't seen anyone."
"Quieter than before," Bryson remarked with emotion, "Many mountain people have followed their kin to Pingyuan County, all thinking of leaving this dreary place."
Ansel clicked his tongue: "How can you say that? Thousand River Valley is our homeland, and South Mande is a part of it; how could it be a dreary place?"
"Yes, yes, I was muddle-headed," Bryson sheepishly replied, though his mouth couldn't help but betray a silent smirk.
Though both are Mountain Counties, South Mangde County is vastly different from Shangruifo County in layout.
Proximate to Pingyuan County, Shangruifo County can benefit somewhat from the warm seasonal monsoon, so its river valleys still hold many clustered manors, like in High Castle Town.
But South Mangde County is blocked by high mountains in the northwest, the Black Bone Swamp Mountains to the west, and the highlands of North County to the southwest.
Sharing the Iberian River route, North Mangde County can trade its vast minerals outward, while Mande County enjoys the commercial benefits of the Dragon Sleep Mountain Pass.
But South Mangde County gets nothing.
The mountains here are shorter than in Shangruifo County, but more numerous, with river valleys and mountain depressions scattered throughout.
Thus, mostly around flatland churches, small manors and villages are built along rivers and mountains, spreading in all directions.
Between two parishes, areas calculated in li units often emerge as no-man's-land; every winter, the lords band together and lead armed farmers to the forests to hunt wolves, or else merchants could not venture in.
Its only resource is copper-tin ore, but it lies in the west's densely forested swamp area, precisely where Bryson's Mire Village is.
Perhaps having glimpsed Bryson's grimace, Ansel sternly replied, "Don't doubt; just watch. I guarantee the people here will love their homeland, besides, there's nothing wrong here—I thought it would be much colder and higher, but it's quite alright."
"Alas, I'm getting old; who knows when I'll see it," Bryson replied timidly, though internally he couldn't help but secretly smirk.
While South Mangde County was busy with specific reforms village by village and manor by manor, North Mangde County was already consolidating tax records and church properties.
Empire Calendar 1446, August 2, South Mangde County, Mire Village.
On the muddy road fenced by slats and cold wood, an old drooping-eared donkey was trudging with dusty bags brimming with documents and provisions on both sides.
The somewhat warm sunlight filtered through dense trees, casting a moving pattern of light across the road and bushes laden with berries.
Walking alongside the old beast were two monks, one old and one young.
The young one, around seventeen or eighteen, wore a light brown-red overcoat similar in style to those of the Salvation Army, while the older one, in his early forties, wore a loose, old-fashioned cleric's robe.
This group, heading to Adrian Knight Manor to sign perpetuity land rights agreements, gave strangers the impression that the middle-aged monk led them.
In reality, Ansel, the younger monk, was the true wandering cultivator, while Bryson, the middle-aged monk beside him, played the assistant role transitioning from the old church system.
Of course, they could not possibly make their way to Adrian Knight Manor alone. They were followed by five Black Hat Army cultivators, ensuring their protection throughout the journey.
The current atmosphere in South Mangde County was anything but peaceful. It was uncertain when a few "Robber Knights" might suddenly emerge.
Picking up on the cold, humid air, Ansel sneezed and rubbed his nose."Uncle Bryson, how long until we get to Adrian Knight Manor?"
Although Bryson was just an assistant, Ansel didn't act condescendingly, addressing him warmly with a familial tone.
After a glance around the forest, Bryson spotted a rickety little wooden house: "That's the Hunter's Hut; we're about a half-hour away."
In the past, Bryson was the priest of a nearby church district, someone who, unusually, could read the Gospel from cover to cover in its entirety.
This was no simple feat, as the Gospel was written in Elven, and even Horn had only recently managed to read through it entirely.
Listening to Bryson, Ansel tightened his jacket: "It's so quiet in this forest. We've walked quite a way, and it seems like we didn't encounter a soul."
"Much quieter than before." Bryson sighed, "Quite a few mountain folk followed their kin to Pingyuan County. They all want to leave this godforsaken place."
"How could you say that? The Thousand River Valley is our homeland, and South Mande is part of it too, how could it be a wretched place?" Ansel clicked his tongue.
"Yes, yes, I was mistaken." Bryson lowered his head with a forced smile, yet he couldn't help but smirk inwardly.
That said, though both are Mountain Counties, South Mangde County's layout is entirely different from Shangruifo County.
Being near Pingyuan County, Shangruifo County at least benefits from the warm monsoon season, and thus still has many compact manors and villages in its river valleys.
But South Mangde County is surrounded, blocked by Black Bone Swamp Mountains to the west, North County's highlands to the southwest, and High Castle Town's benefits are reaped by Mande County, which enjoys commerce through Dragon Sleep Mountain Pass.
South Mangde County had access to no such benefits.
Its middle-aged mountains are nonetheless numerous, with river valleys and mountain depressions scattered throughout.
Usually centered on the Flatland Church, many small manors and villages were constructed along the waterways and mountain ranges, spreading outwards.
Area counted in li units often appeared between two church districts, with lords leading armed farmers to hunt wolves in the forests together every winter, as traders couldn't get in otherwise.
Its only resources were copper and tin mines, located in the densely forested swamps in the west.
Perceiving Bryson's subtle grimace, Ansel replied sternly, "Don't be so dismissive. Just watch; I guarantee the people here can love their homeland. Besides, there's nothing wrong with the Thousand River Valley. I thought it would be much colder and higher—it seems just fine."
"Ah, I'm getting older; I don't know if I'll live to see that day."
Bryson nodded meekly as he replied, while inwardly he smirked.
But, as if to interrupt Bryson's musing, they suddenly heard rough laughter ahead.
The stench of sweat mixed with alcohol came wafting over, as a big, red-faced man came from behind the wooden fence with a laugh.
"Priest Bryson, it's been quite some time!" said Knight Adrian enthusiastically.
Bones creaked audibly from Bryson's torso as he struggled to say, "Knight Adrian, this, this is Ansel, my wandering cultivator companion."
Ansel held out his hand to Adrian: "Hello."
"Hello, hello." Ignoring Ansel's proffered hand, Knight Adrian enveloped him in a bearhug instead, interrupting with cheerfulness that contrasted sharply with Ansel's awkward composure.
"Adrian, do you know why we're here?" asked Ansel, nearly fainting from the mix of body odor and alcohol wafting from Adrian.
"Of course, it's about perpetuity land rights, right? I'm in favor! Glad to not have to manage it anymore. It's great," said Knight Adrian, beaming as he eyed the five accompanying monks, "Would you esteemed gentlemen care to join us for a meal?"
"No need, it suffices that we've escorted you here." The leading monk nodded toward Ansel, "We'll be patrolling here every three days; if there's an urgent matter, just signal us with the red-mane wood smoke."
Grinning, he then told the group: "I heard you were coming, so once the sun rose, I came here to wait for you. Come have a meal before you give your speech; I've arranged everything."
