Game Mind of a Medieval Modern Person - Chapter 231



Only Noblemtl

231. It’s not just me who dies

About 10 years.

This was the period when Bishop Powis of Narva enforced various policies by asserting his status as a seer of the Holy See, Duke of Athelton, and the stigmata.

However, no matter what authority was asserted, it was impossible to avoid the question of whether it was legally justified.

This is because most of the policies pursued by Bishop Narva exploited all classes and gave power to Duke Æthelton.

Even if we just look at representative cases, there were three major ones.

First, after his death, Bishop Narva continued to threaten the long-standing right of the barons to the judiciary.

Of course, the intention of bringing fairness and justice to the local community through a unified code of laws covering the entire Duchy of Powis was very good.

But in reality, it was coercive.

The existence of the dispatched priests who were exerting economic and political pressure under the pretext of salt bonds made the lords think twice before making a decision.

And that’s not all?

Originally, the priority between secular law and church law was unclear, so it was an implicit rule not to infringe on areas outside of the jurisdiction.

But Bishop Narva broke this unspoken rule by calling for uniform justice.

Even if we can understand that customary law was created under the pretext of increasing the lords’ judicial discretion, what happened afterwards clearly crossed the line.

The parish synodal is a representative example.

Narva transformed the small councils that had been held to reduce differences in local customs and doctrines into judicial bodies.

Here, the issue arose as to the fact that Narva himself had contributed greatly to the establishment of customary law and that he had invited the ecclesiastical lawyers to the courts in order to insist that church law should also be taken into account.

Common law and church law, which nominally represent the secular world, are equal.

But when the one who enacted the law was the head of the local church and church law also began to be used as a standard in the judicial process, the talk of equality became an empty promise.

As if that weren’t enough, there was also a mixed militia that had no command authority but was greatly influenced by the bishop.

After the bishopric of Narva, he brought in priests and mixed militias to exert all-out pressure on the lords who ignored or refused the advice of the diocesan synod, and the lords had no choice but to submit to external pressure.

As this trend continues, the standards people look at when making judgments have also changed.

Church law began to be considered superior to customary law.

Naturally, the barons whose independent judiciary had been violated could not have been pleased with the bishop of Narva.

Second, the unprecedentedly harsh social policies resulted in a great loss of support from the lower classes and the refugees.

The bishop believed that in order to strengthen the defense of the frontier, he needed a settlement where he could supply local supplies and troops, and this was indeed the case.

It was strategically the right decision, but the price the lower classes and refugees had to pay for it was beyond imagination.

Refugees who had fled the war from far away, as well as homeless vagabonds and poor day laborers, were dragged under swords and pikes.

In addition, there was a lot of resentment because the property of the lower classes and the refugees who could not secure their status was seized at a low price by setting an upper limit on the price through a strong purchasing policy that was no different from plunder.

By sharing the wealth collected in this way with powerful lords and wealthy estates, they were able to secure food and tools, but it must have been unfair to those who had it taken away.

Eventually, when those who could not endure a series of harsh social policies took up arms and started riots, he sent the army to brutally suppress them, so it was difficult to avoid being evaluated as cruel even though he was a person who manifested the stigmata.

Of course, it was an action that had its pros and cons.

Thanks to the strengthening of the border defenses, Powis was able to repel the invasions of the pagans for seven years and achieved considerable progress under stable rule.

However, if you were to ask whether Bishop Narva acted morally, no one would be able to give an easy answer.

Third, the attempt to improve deficit trade with the mainland met with opposition from intermediary merchants.

This matter came to light after the two cases mentioned above.

The original Bishop of Narva had long been concerned about the trade deficit of Powis, and he took strong measures when he noticed that precious metal coins were being used to buy luxury goods produced at home.

He negotiated with the Bishop of Ile-de-Fuit, Ganistar, to define as luxury goods the items he deemed less necessary and impose heavy taxes on the middlemen who imported them.

Until now, it has not been properly implemented due to the unstable political situation within Powis and the Bishop’s attention being focused elsewhere.

However, after the inauguration of the Ordo Sanctus Illenio, Narva, in close collaboration with Bishop Ganista, gradually strengthened the overall regulation of luxury goods.

The purpose is to secure tax revenue and prevent currency outflow.

Because of this, they didn’t care whether the middlemen engaged in trade with the mainland died or not.

This is in stark contrast to the efforts made to abolish customs duties between the territories within the Duchy of Powis.

Because of this, even among the merchant class, the person who received sharply different evaluations was Bishop Narva.

If he went on like this, the fact that Narva himself was of the bloodline of the Duchy of Powis, his title as a bishop, and his special status as a stigmata apparition could not quell the opposition of the lords.

Why Narva didn’t face strong resistance.

There was only one reason why he did not fall from power.

Because everyone understood that the policies Narva was pursuing were the only way to combat the pagan warriors who were sweeping through the Isles at dawn.

And now, the cause that protected Narva has returned as a dagger.

“Let us help our compatriots in Nevar!”

“End the pagan threat once and for all!”

Regardless of the nobility of their occupation or lineage, everyone gathered in front of the local chapel and shouted.

Let us completely defeat the pagans and liberate the entire Morning Star system.

The temple’s banner was ringing everywhere.

The people who had suffered for a long time did not want to be patient any longer and put strong pressure on Narva, which had already turned down cooperation from local influential figures.

Narva, who had been implementing all kinds of oppressive policies under the pretext of fostering the power to fight against pagans.

If we had avoided fighting here, the result would have been clear.

The driving force behind the policy disappears.

But the bigger problem wasn’t the policies Narva was pursuing.

The more observant and discerning ones realized what would happen if Narva refused to listen to the calls for a holy war.

Among them were minor lords who had been neglected for a long time.

The lords gather together under the pretext of socializing and exchange trivial tales, but they are like lynxes who never miss a moment when their prey is weak.

His eyes were sparkling like those of a wolf prowling around its prey.

“Whoever planned the coup in Nevart was smart.”

“The author who dared to challenge me, a stigmata apparitionist and a close associate of the Vatican, has fallen for my trick.”

Yes, that’s right.

After the bishopric, Narva took an outwardly tolerant attitude toward Ise, in the process of shaping the situation in the Isles in favor of the Duchy of Powis.

A representative example is the recognition of Kardal Orne Yuvas, who was suspected of heresy, as the regent of the Duchy of Yuvas.

What would happen if Narva, who was maintaining a precarious balance, refused this request for a holy war?

There was a reason why the lords’ eyes sparkled.

“You allow this faith only conditionally, you don’t hold holy wars, and when your compatriots ask you for help, you refuse them under the pretext of difficulties.”

“It’s not like there were no apostates among those who manifested the stigmata. Actions speak louder than words.”

“Tsk tsk tsk… This is how you tell who’s a heretic.”

You can refuse the temple.

But the price would be to completely lose the credibility of Narva’s most powerful tool: the Brand of Heresy.

It would be an opportunity for those who were hiding and obeying in fear of being branded a heretic.

It was a moment of choice.

As the voices demanding a temple grew louder day by day, Bishop Narva, who had been silent, finally spoke.

“Okay, let’s do it. The temple.”

There was one condition attached to it.

“But we can’t just go, so let’s prepare for exactly one year and then go.”

***

Public opinion was divided once again.

Those who say we should go and rescue them right now, and those who say we should still prepare.

The one who had the upper hand here was none other than the latter.

“Just going and dying together is not a holy war. Rather, since this is our only chance to save our compatriots, we must prepare thoroughly and go without fail!”

“It’s not that I’m not going, I’m just saying I’m going to prepare and go. Why are you guys so hasty?”

That is truly the most orthodox of orthodox theories.

After all, the one-year preparation period for the temple completely convinced most people.

Cellino, the head of the Morning Island branch of the Order of the Knights of Dorre, was one of them.

Cellino was extremely courteous and respectful towards Narva, which was the backbone of the Order of the Knights of Dorre.

“Your Majesty. Thanks to your help, the influence of the monastery has increased greatly. The headquarters is also very satisfied. I think it is a very encouraging result compared to Cardinal Martyr.”

“Let’s get to the point. I’m sure you’ve heard that Branch Manager Cellino is also preparing for the temple.”

“Of course. It’s the duty of the Knights Templar. Eradicate Ise! I will take the lead. I will help.”

“hmm.”

Narva opened his mouth cautiously, looking at Branch Manager Cellino, who answered confidently.

“Then, I would like to ask for 30 old guns and various ranged weapons within a year.”

“?”

“I’m not asking for much. When I went to the castle, I saw that our Dorre Knights’ Order is quite knowledgeable about mechanical crossbows. I’d like to have as many mechanical crossbows as possible, as the name suggests…”

“Yes.”

At that moment, Branch Manager Cellino’s momentum changed.

So much so that even Narva, known as a lone wolf, took a step back.

“I am perplexed that someone who knows how much manpower and money is needed to create that number is asking us to create it all in one year.”

“No, if you knew how to speak properly…”

“Even if we build a cannon, if we try to move the cannon without a road in a nearby area with a lot of forest that has not been properly reclaimed, the mobility of the army will be greatly reduced. It is questionable how effective it would be to fire a cannon at Ise’s group who know how to move freely through the dense forest. Even if we lure them to a wide plain, it will be quite a burden on the soldiers. Do you really need 30 cannons?”

Cellino’s remarks were dripping with the sorrow of a field technician.

A desperate struggle to understand that something doesn’t just come out when you tell it to.

Overwhelmed by those emotions, Narva had no choice but to make another suggestion.

“Then what about the production of mechanical crossbows?”

“It’s true that we have the technology. However, we don’t have the facilities in the Morning Star system. Even if we mobilize all the blacksmiths and forges we have, it will be difficult to supply the amount you want.”

Eventually, Narva, persuaded by Cellino, took a different approach.

“Let’s contact the headquarters and ask them to send us some mechanical crossbows or whatever. I persuaded Cardinal Martyr and saved the reputation of the Dorre Order. I’ll use this opportunity to help the temple and ask for your help.”

“Okay. I’ll contact the head office.”

“…”

Strangely, old memories were coming back to Narva’s mind.

These are my memories as a manager who had to run around here and there to achieve New Year’s goals.

Of course.

Narva was not the only one who was being treated well.

***

October 16, 1225.

Narva appeared in the square in front of the cathedral.

This was after rumors had been spreading for several days that there would be a speech.

Narva looked down at the crowd gathered in the square and conveyed the grim reality with a gloomy expression.

“I hesitated for a long time. Hoping it was just a rumor. It’s heartbreaking. I hoped it was just a rumor, but Nevar was full of people who had fallen into the clutches of Ise and were groaning. It was a reality that I, too, did not want to believe, as I am human…”

That’s the end of the long and tedious excuses.

“But closing your eyes won’t stop the blade from coming. The cries of pure goodwill to save our fellow countrymen in danger, the words to drive out the villains and realize justice. It was your voices, and no one else’s, that helped me make my decision.”

There was no sign of guilt in Narva’s eyes.

It was just like smooth obsidian, shining with a delicate air.

“Now it is your turn to serve in the temple.”

There is something that those who were blinded by the wish for the fall of Narva after the bishop did not see.

“Whoever engages in the fight to save the compatriots of Nevar in any way will be the first to be saved under the stars of humanity!”

The risks of the temple are not borne solely by Bishop Narva.

“Those who can fight, volunteer for the temple!”

Flutter-.

Narva raised both arms and pulled back his black cloak.

“Those who cannot fight, donate what they have to the temple!!!”