chsdbacks #431 - Gold Lacquer Peacock Feather Letter
#431 - Gold Lacquer Peacock Feather Letter
"Get out! Who allowed you to come near?"
The sergeant kicked a homeless beggar picking up rice grains from the cracks in the paving stones, sending the little beggar, who looked to be just over ten years old, tumbling head over heels.
Several homeless people immediately surrounded the little beggar, dragging him back into the dark alley amidst his low sobs.
In the shadows of the alley, beneath disheveled hair, pairs of bloodshot eyes stared at the gleaming Feiliu Fort Cathedral.
The pure white stone spire soared into the clouds, and looking up from the narrow alley, one couldn't see its entirety, only the gold-threaded terraces and the gold and silver statues of saints in the shrines.
Between the shrines, through the clear white frosted glass, one could see priests in black and white feathered satin robes moving back and forth.
And beneath the shrines, there were twice as many guards as usual.
These guards were different from the militia guards of the high fort; they were real armored soldiers, each with strength approaching that of a foot knight.
Watching Sergeant Hamishir walk back from the street corner across the square, a guard whispered, "They're at the other end of the square, is this really necessary?"
"Who says it's not necessary?" Sergeant Hamishir blinked his bulging, dead-fish eyes. "Wasn't Bishop Resit of Bai Shui Fort killed by a beggar before? Many esteemed bishops will be passing through the square."
"But that was in North Munde County, in the territory of that Grand Duchess."
"Who knows if there are any Short Hairs among these vagrants?" Sergeant Hamishir took a halberd from his companion, resting it on his shoulder. "Valentine Taylor and his followers are everywhere. Why are you defending them? You're not a Short Hair, are you?"
"Of course not," the guard, a citizen by birth, retorted. "Surely not everyone who doesn't support or oppose is a Short Hair?"
"Hard to say."
"Nonsense!"
Seeing the atmosphere becoming tense, a priest standing in the shadow of the church door quickly came out: "What are you talking about?"
The two guards exchanged glances and tacitly turned their heads away, unwilling to say more. The issue they were discussing was sensitive, after all, and the atmosphere in Feiliu Fort had been tense lately.
"Don't go looking for trouble, making so much noise, you deserve a beating!" After warning the gossiping guards, the pot-bellied priest turned and walked into the church.
The guards at the door fell silent again, but standing guard was such a boring job that they couldn't stay idle. Before long, they began to whisper again.
"What's been going on lately? Why are things so strict? We can't even talk," a guard whispered, nudging his companion's ribs.
"It's still about those Holy Relatives Army."
"Haven't they been much quieter lately? Why be so nervous?"
"Hey, you don't know," the citizen guard whispered. "Have those holy aunts and grandaunts come up with new fun?"
"What is it this time? Didn't they just crown Valentine Taylor as Pope last time?"
Hamishir interjected, "Those foolish country folk have done more than that!
The day before yesterday, they held a believers' assembly in Iron Gate Town. At the assembly, they appointed Ludwig, the Abbot of Braga Monastery, as the Guardian Pope of the Southern Territory, Valentine Taylor as the Guardian Pope of the Western Territory, Grand Duchess Melia Ti as the Guardian Pope of the Northern Territory, and Saint Jeanne as the Guardian Pope of the Eastern Territory."
"Ha! So, the Qianhe Valley now has four Popes."
"Four? Five!" The citizen guard covered his mouth with his right hand. "They nominated that Horn to be the Pope above all Popes, calling him the 'Great Cosmic Supreme Pope'."
"Good heavens," the guards buzzed like mosquitoes. "Qianhe Valley has five Popes, Fran has one, Leia has one, and the Empire doesn't even have an Emperor, but it has seven Popes."
"Now everyone can be Pope."
Although everyone was murmuring, there was still a righteous person who couldn't help but ask, "How do you know about such a secret matter?"
"The groom of Father Dodralson told me," the sergeant replied.
"How did the groom of Father Dodralson know?" the righteous old guard asked again.
"The groom of Bishop Barnivos told him," the sergeant replied immediately.
The righteous guard was even more puzzled: "Then how did that groom know?"
Before the sergeant could answer, a guard suddenly stood at attention, holding his halberd upright, and hummed from his nose: "Silence, silence, Bishop Matteo is coming."
Wearing a dusty silk priest's robe, Bishop Matteo, his face covered in dust, didn't even wait for a servant to help him. He jumped out of the carriage impatiently and strode up the steps three steps at a time.
He didn't even notice the whispering guards, hurrying into the church.
Passing through the arched corridor filled with golden lilies, bypassing the flowerbeds full of flowers, Matteo pushed away the servant who tried to guide him and ran up the spiral staircase, grabbing the handrail.
His destination was Bishop Barnivos's study, the Deputy Bishop of Qianhe Valley. He rushed straight over and pushed open the door to Barnivos's study: "Bishop Barnivos, I have an urgent battle report!"
Barnivos looked at Matteo, who had broken in, in surprise, and said to the bishops beside him, "Let's stop here for today. You guys go talk to those deans again and try to get through this crisis."
After speaking, he greeted Matteo.
To be honest, Barnivos didn't like Matteo's rigid and stubborn personality, but he had to use him, because this troubled time made this knife really useful.
Lately, it has indeed been a troubled time. In other words, it has been a troubled time since last year.
First, there were Short Hairs and Holy Grandsons, then Melia Ti and Catherine, and recently, a messy Holy Relatives Army emerged, actually looting several churches near Feiliu Fort.
Especially that Valentine Taylor, taking advantage of the absence of the main knights, attacked everywhere, robbing people, money, and women, specializing in robbing churches without strong fortress protection.
To prevent himself from becoming the next victim, a large number of bishops gathered in Feiliu Fort, seeking the protection of the Edict Company, which is why it has become so heavily guarded and crowded.
Under the instigation of Braga Monastery, a large number of monks wrote letters to the Holy See like snowflakes, demanding the replacement of the bishopric to appease the people's grievances.
Unfortunately, neither Pope Grandiva of Fran in the south nor Pope Puliano of the north responded. They are still arguing about the issue of orthodoxy.
Barnivos is having a headache over this matter. He risked his life to take Constance's position. Now he hasn't enjoyed the fruits yet, but he has to bear the price. How can this be?
But fortunately, with his great courage, he urged Alman, the nimble knight of Jiliu City, who is now about to capture Jiliu City.
As for the North Munde battlefield in the north, Barnivos has been doing his best to support supplies externally and suppress rioters internally, so that Hotam County is now peaceful and people can leave their doors unlocked at night.
Although he was frightened by Valentine Taylor before and made the twelve golden peacock feather letters, fortunately, Alman is about to capture Jiliu City.
As long as he gives Alman more credit, deals with a few people, and writes a few more strokes in his writing, he can cover up this matter.
Nothing can stop his progress.
You know, what he is currently doing is within the capabilities of the Bishop of Qianhe Valley. Doing it well is no merit, doing it badly is a fault.
But for Barnivos, the Bishop of High Fort with "limited abilities", it is a great achievement.
Perhaps the Holy See will send a new bishop to replace him as deputy bishop in the future, but the credit is real and can save ten years of tempering.
As long as he can survive this period, Barnivos is confident that he can at least get the position of canon of a metropolitan cathedral, and maybe even go further!
Just watch, within ten years, the position of Archbishop of Qianhe Valley will still be his, and maybe he will even have a position as cardinal.
When he becomes a cardinal, Barnivos won't even look at nuns or peasant girls. Only daughters of knights or even earls can stroll around on his crucifix.
Calming his mind and withdrawing his lewd thoughts, Barnivos walked quickly to Matteo.
"What's the matter, so anxious?" Barnivos asked with dissatisfaction, looking at Matteo, who was out of shape and panting with his hands on his knees.
"Your Excellency Bishop, Your Excellency Bishop..." Matteo gasped hoarsely, "Urgent report from Zhi Shui Wu, Alman is dead, and the Jiliu City Church army has been completely wiped out!"
"What did you say, what did you say?!" Barnivos asked again, raising his voice, his hair standing on end. "Say it again."
"Knight Ellard's urgent report, the Salvation Army defeated the nimble knight Alman at the Leixi River, annihilated more than 120 Edict Knights, and the entire army was defeated. They are currently in Zhi Shui Wu and Mosbi Fort.
Knight Ellard said that Jiliu City is upstream of Feiliu Fort, and it can be reached by boat in an instant, requesting support."
The Salvation Army defeated Alman... annihilated the Edict Knights... can arrive in an instant...
Barnivos's body trembled. Every time a word popped out, several golden stars appeared in front of his eyes.
By the time Matteo finished speaking, all that the Deputy Bishop of Qianhe Valley could see was not golden stars, but the fallen Feiliu Fort and the gallows close at hand.
If the enemy comes by water from Jiliu City, they will probably arrive next week!
Frozen in place, Barnivos stared blankly ahead, his throat making a continuous rattling sound, scaring the servants, monks, and Matteo into not daring to move.
"Bishop Barnivos?" Matteo asked tentatively.
"Gah—"
After staring blankly for a full five seconds, he suddenly made a "Gah" sound and fell straight backward. The servants quickly supported him.
But looking at Barnivos's face, his eyes were indeed tightly closed, his teeth clenched, his face was pale, and there was no breath under his nose.
"Bishop Barnivos!"
"Bishop Barnivos, what's wrong with you?"
"Quick, bring the monks and use divine magic!"
"It's too late, bring water." Matteo decisively splashed water on Barnivos's face.
But Barnivos still didn't wake up. Matteo gritted his teeth, rolled up his sleeves, swung his arm and gave him two slaps. The deputy bishop's eyelids trembled slightly.
The first thing Barnivos did when he opened his eyes was to touch his burning face in a daze, and then he screamed with a voice that shattered glass: "Quick, write a letter, use a golden peacock feather letter, and ask Prince Kong Dai to transfer troops back to defend!"