When the Saintess Arrives, No King Exist-Chapter 671 - 629: Tree Roots Buried Deep in the Soil

Although the autumn wind outside is chilly, Horn's study is bright and warm like spring, only the imposing large volumes on the bookshelf give a sense of oppressive weight.

In front of this bookshelf, Catherine spoke nonchalantly, as if casually discussing: "…Suppose there is a person holding great power, yet seems indifferent to promises…

Actually, I've seen many historical writings from throughout history, like the civil wars of the two Emperors in the Ancient Aier Empire... I think you should understand that beauty has always been a bone-cutting knife…

…Your Majesty Horn, do you think if such a person continues to grow, whether it will affect our shared goals?"

Horn placed his hands on the table: "You might as well speak more clearly."

Seeing Horn still unresponsive, Catherine looked around, then gritted her teeth and pressed her whole body onto the desk: "…Moliat."

"Oh, you are talking about Her Highness Moliat, don't worry, as long as the goals are aligned, I think everything can be properly resolved."

"No… Did you listen to what I said all this time?"

"It's too early to think about these now." Horn waved his hand jovially, "Let's talk about it after defeating the Leia Kingdom, don't pop the champagne prematurely, the battle hasn't started yet and you're already thinking about dividing the spoils."

Looking at Horn's harmless demeanor, Catherine hesitated to speak further, sighed, and turned to leave.

"Remember to call Moliat after the dinner banquet tonight, I'll take you to meet Hilov."

"Got it." Catherine slammed the door in frustration.

Horn lowered his head, continuing to browse through Juanuo's critique on the Church collection, expecting to implement the Truth Paper across all counties in the Thousand River Valley by next spring.

By then, the tender theological introductions would disappear from the Truth Paper, replaced by Juanuo's ruthless criticisms and exposures of the Church.

The basic content could be summed up as "Oh damn, the Leia people and the Church are too evil."

This isn't Horn's intention, but for the upcoming war, stirring vindictiveness is unavoidable.

Otherwise, when the Leia Kingdom comes, there'd be trouble if there are loyal pathfinders everywhere.

Although this action cannot eliminate the pathfinders, it can greatly increase the cost for them to guide the way.

Seeing Catherine leave, Horn remained indifferent, René walked forward worriedly: "Your Majesty, I must remind you that Lady Catherine's words do have some rationale."

Horn lifted his head, gazed at René for a long while, then softly said with a smile: "Do you think I'm unprepared?"

"Are you really?"

Without directly answering René's question, Horn unfolded a blank piece of paper, while drafting the schedule for the next few days, he said lightly: "Where do you think Moliat's power comes from?"

"From the support of nobles, gentry, and wealthy merchants," René answered swiftly.

This kind of political analysis, Horn had led them through countless times before.

Especially during the period stuck in Daze Village, almost every night Horn would hold a book and teach them, guiding them to read history and analyze the situations in historical texts.

"Where does the power of these people come from?"

"Because they have a noble status?" René uncertainly retorted.

After thinking for a moment, Horn decided to give René a hint, he was after all the core of Cheka, and any future matters would have to rely on him to execute.

If unable to grasp Horn's intentions, affairs in the future might be hard to handle.

"This is just the surface." Horn took out a blank paper and drew three concentric circles, "We divide the forces supporting Moliat into three types, core subjects, effective subjects, and nominal subjects.

Core subjects are those like Herman and Hylviss helping Moliat govern, effective subjects are the nobles and gentry you mentioned, while nominal subjects are the ordinary citizens below. 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

The biggest difference between effective subjects and nominal subjects is that effective subjects have the capability and willingness to influence the country, while nominal subjects either have willingness but no capability, or capability but no willingness, or have neither.

But where does the power of these effective subjects to influence the country come from?"

Watching René fall into thought, Horn smiled: "They too have three concentric circles, Moliat's nominal subjects are the effective subjects or even core subjects of effective subjects.

Moliat's way of ruling is to expand the number of effective subjects, thus she can easily replace core subjects, making both core and effective subjects obey her.

In other words, it appears the core subjects handle state affairs, but actually, they all rely on the voiceless nominal subjects, do you understand what I mean?"

René nodded thoughtfully: "You mean, as long as we can turn their nominal subjects into our effective subjects, they will switch sides to protect their status?"

"Not to switch sides, but at least stall, and if we further push, maybe they'll switch sides."

René still frowned: "But you can't spread that much Divine Favor in one year, right?"

"Why would I need to spread that much Divine Favor?" Horn retorted.

"With all due respect, Your Majesty, we defeated the Extraordinary using the power of the Extraordinaries," René furrowed his brows, "but these ordinary people, it's not that I disdain their power, it's just too dispersed."

"Then why do you think I established the Hundred Households District?"

Upon hearing Horn's words, René slowly widened his eyes: "Ah, you, you already thought of it during the constitution drafting period…?"

Horn did not respond directly, instead he leaned back against the chair, folded his arms across his chest.

Establishing the Hundred Households District and perpetual lease rights is Horn's overt strategy, or a step forward towards modernization, as long as executed properly, the more advanced system will naturally crush the old system.

And those inside the old system may not even feel the reason, only thinking it's coincidence.

However, establishing the Hundred Households District is only the first step of a three-step process, it's not finished with reforms, industrialization and modernization are bound together.

It's not only the economic and war situations that need to change, even lifestyles and ideological and cultural layers need to be synchronized for transformation.

After the French Revolution, the army driven by republican fervor, fought terribly against the old-style Austrian and British forces.

In situations where both sides have equal material conditions, the ideological revolution brings not only a cultural avenue flourishing, but also causes significant changes in the material realm.

Politically and economically, he has already laid down the material foundation; now waiting for the ideological revolution.

As for ideological reforms, in fact, they have already started, otherwise, how would you explain the debates on the Truth Paper about whether one can voluntarily become a slave?

"But Your Majesty, may I ask an inappropriate question," René walked up and lowered his voice, "although we gathered so many mortals, can they match the Extraordinaries?"

"The deeds and means of mortals defeating the Extraordinaries, I have seen them," Horn silently added in his heart, not only in this world, but also at his homeland.

"Is this really useful? They can't withstand the knight's charge either."

"But we can, you need to know, it is not the branches holding up the green leaves that decide whether a tree's canopy flourishes," Horn showed a mysterious smile pointing at the ground, "It's the roots deep buried in the soil."