Iron Powder and Spellcasters

   Chapter 384 Vortex (10)

  [Guten Village outside Steel Castle]

   [Legion Barracks, Colonel Bern's Office]

   There were three knocks on the door, neither light nor heavy, and a loud and powerful baritone entered the room: "Report!"

"Enter."

   The duty lieutenant was given permission to enter the colonel's office with a guard. Colonel Berne glanced from the scroll on the desk to the lieutenant and nodded slightly.

   "Sir." The lieutenant touched the heel of his boot, and stood at attention and reported, "There is a young gentleman outside the camp who wants to see him, claiming to be your friend."

  Colonel Berne casually flipped through the calendar to confirm that he had no appointment today, frowned and asked, "What's it called?"

   "He wouldn't say it. He just said that the last time I drank with you was at the reception at Esther's mansion."

   "Oh... where is the man?"

   "Waiting at the guard post."

   "Invite him in."

"Yes."

   After a short while, the lieutenant on duty led the visitor into the colonel's office, and immediately retired, closing the door by the way. Only the colonel and visitors remained in the office.

   "Your stable is really luxurious." Winters saluted meticulously and broke the silence with a smile: "There's even a stove, which is more comfortable than where I live."

Colonel Berne took off his glasses and sleeves, raised his hand and invited Winters to take a seat: "Unlike your Plato, Monta is too cold, and there are no cavalry establishments, only officers ride horses. Officers' mounts are precious, of course. take good care of."

  Winters dragged his sore left leg and sat in front of the desk: "When I go back, I will pick some good horses for you."

   "Forget it, I can't afford it." Colonel Berne looked at Winters and asked curiously, "Why is the forehead so purple?"

   Winters didn't change his face: "Accidentally hit it while riding."

   "Put an ice cube on it, the bruises will go away faster." Colonel Berne was talking casually a moment ago, but the next moment he narrowed his eyes slightly and asked, "How did you find this place?"

  Winters put the black wooden box under his arm on the Colonel's desk with both hands: "Who doesn't know your name in Steel Castle? Why bother to find it?"

   "What is this?" Colonel Bern raised his eyebrows and looked at the wooden box.

   Winters quipped: "Bribery."

   Colonel Bern laughed and reached out to open the wooden box.

  In the center of the wooden box, a reed-wheel pistol of exquisite beauty is surrounded by black velvet, which is pleasing to the eye.

Colonel    took out the short gun, played with it, and happily asked Winters: "Fuller's?"

   "Of course!" Winters replied confidently: "The best gun in Fuller's workshop is naturally matched with the best man."

   "That's right." The colonel reluctantly put the short gun back into the wooden case and pushed the wooden case back to Winters: "But going into the camp with a gun, you are too bold!"

   Winters spread his hands: "Your subordinates have checked several times, but the gun is not loaded. I was also searched inside and out repeatedly, and even my walking stick was taken away."

   "Really?" Colonel Bern didn't answer. He leaned back in his chair and looked at the young man in front of him grimly: "So, what is your purpose in coming to me?"

  The office fell into a brief silence.

   Winters did not answer the question directly, but mentioned another irrelevant person: "Colonel, I served under another lieutenant colonel."

  Although Winters was not quite sure, his tone seemed to be saying a confirmed fact: "Lieutenant Colonel Jessica, John Jessica."

  Colonel Berne suddenly sat up straight, then slowly leaned back, snorted softly, and asked, "Is he still alive?"

   Sure enough. Winters muses: Overseas officers also have their own coterie.

   "Alive, even back to Palatu. Just..." Winters was silent for a moment: "It's just that Lieutenant Colonel Jesska lost his other eye."

   Colonel Bern also fell silent. After a while, he said, "The Lord has arranged for each of us, at least he returned home alive."

   Winters didn't believe in destiny, but it was difficult for him to tell Colonel Bernie about Lieutenant Colonel Jesska's experience, so he could only nod silently.

After a while, Colonel Berne waved his hand wearily: "Okay, boy, if you have anything, just say it! But I tell you in advance, I won't bend the law or sabotage because you were once a one-eyed subordinate. Principle. So before you speak... think about it."

   Hearing Colonel Bern's words, Winters was completely relieved.

   "Legion" is the direct military force of the Monta Republic installed in each autonomous state, and it is also the main executor of inspecting smuggling, clearing bandits and suppressing rebellion.

  If even the Legion was willing to help "without going against the principle" - even if it was just turning a blind eye - Winters' next actions would be much easier.

   "When you met Mayor Wupper, do you hope that the city government can provide funds to recruit unemployed workers for training?"

   "So what?"

   "Did Mayor Wupper agree?"

   "I haven't answered yet."

   "You can rest assured that he will never agree." Winters was astonishing.

   Colonel Bern looked as usual: "Why?"

"There is nothing that the 'honourable' MPs of Steelcastle fear most than what they say is the mule workers taking up arms and rioting. You suggest that they allow the unemployed to undergo military training? It's asking them to put a noose around their necks . If it were you, would you agree?"

   Colonel Bern frowned and said nothing.

   Winters changed the subject: "But I can help you convince Mayor Wupper, or Mayor Servette."

   "Oh?" Colonel Bern sneered.

"Not only can I help you persuade the Steelcastle Council, I have a better proposal." Winters did not ask first, but offered to help: "You want to recruit the unemployed into training because you want to give them food and clothing, Keep them from taking risks. Am I right?"

  Colonel Berne was noncommittal, motioning Winters to continue.

   Winters asked casually, "Why stick to military training if it's just to give the unemployed a loaf of bread?"

   Winters Montagne was not a seasoned administrator, but he did do a little bit of work in Iron Peak County and accumulated the next little bit of success.

"Dredging canals, leveling roads, repairing city defenses... If the regiment is willing to maintain discipline, there are still many things that unemployed can do. Military training is enough as a title." Winters finally added: "Of course, there is really nothing to do. Yes, it is understandable to accept several contracts of carriage.”

   Colonel Bern sighed, got up, walked to the closet, and returned with a bottle of distilled spirits and two square glasses. The colonel poured Winters a quarter of a glass and half a glass for himself, and asked, "What do you want?"

   "I hope to deliver a shipment to Lucerne, in the name of the Legion." Winters' face did not show any smugness, but his attitude became more and more humble.

  Lucerne is the border city of the Republic of Monta, across the river from Palatu.

   "Lucerne?" Colonel Bern picked up the square cup, sniffed the scorched aroma of the spirits, and asked suspiciously, "The only way to get to Lucerne from Steel Castle is by land, which is very troublesome."

   "The outlet of iron has always been through the Wupper Canal, so the House of Lords of Monta will inevitably guard the Wupper Canal and the downstream waterways." Winters answered honestly: "In this case, it is better to 'seek the distance' and detour to Lucerne."

   Of course, Winters didn't say a word - Lucerne also has waterways, and it goes directly to Mirror Lake and the New Reclaimed Province.

   "It's a good one, 'seek far away'." Colonel Bern took a sip of strong wine: "But Lucerne also has to obey the orders of the horn fort, send the ordnance to Lucerne, and you can transport it out of the country?"

   "You don't have to worry about this, General Arpad has his own way." Winters toasted.

   "At first I thought you were just a minor character, but now, it seems that I have misunderstood - you are the big man in this deal."

   "Colonel, I'm not an important role." Winters responded humbly: "But in this 'purchase', I can make full decisions."

   Colonel Bern nodded slightly, and after drinking the spirits in his glass, he looked at Winters and asked calmly, "Help you, what can I get?"

   "Money." Winters didn't hesitate: "If you want."

   Colonel Bern smiled. "I don't need money."

   Winters restrained his smile, and his expression gradually became solemn and formal. He stood up, bowed and saluted: "Then you can get my gratitude, and I will owe you a favor from now on."

"There is an old saying in the Helvetians: a hero's promise is heavier than an Atta gold." Colonel Bern also stood up, handed the glass to Winters, and toasted with Winters: "Young man , may your eyes be ever bright, and may your sword be ever sharp."

Colonel    returned the black wooden box to Winters: "Leave this gun, you will need it more than I do."

  …

When Winters visited Colonel Bern, Anna was checking the Schmid family's "books".

  The account books of the Schmid family were kept by the old Schmid in a pure iron cabinet, which also contained important documents such as land deeds, house deeds, and all certificates of the forge.

  There are five large locks hanging outside the iron cabinet, and the key is carried by the old Schmidt. The iron cabinet itself was placed beside the old Schmidt's bed, and the old man had to check it every night to make sure that everything was lying where it should be before he would sleep.

  Rao is Mr. Carlo Eide with all his hands and eyes, and he can't get old Schmidt's account books.

   So he directly bought the person who kept the old Schmidt account.

  …

On the side of   , the veiled Anna kept asking questions and writing notes. The gauze could not block her charm, but added a hazy beauty to her.

   On the other side of the small table, the low-ranking clerk of the Schmid family sat uneasily in the chair, swallowing saliva—anyone who was surrounded by four fierce Dussacs would be equally embarrassed.

  The four guards held the saber and stared at the poor clerk, so that the latter did not dare to show any disrespect or frivolity. To be precise, he was trembling even when he spoke.

  Anna sighed secretly, she originally felt that she didn't need to mobilize the army like this, but the guards firmly did not agree to let the strange man and "Mrs." interview alone.

   "Would you like some water?" Anna asked cheerfully, trying to ease the pressure on the other side: "Mr. Schweidnitz?"

  Schweidnitz, a small and thin clerk, saw the eyes of the four men with swords trying to kill, and shook his head desperately: "No, no, no."

   "It doesn't matter." Anna looked at the guard, not knowing whether to laugh or cry: "Let Mr. Schweidnitz drink some water."

  Schweidnitz wanted to say "no", but the swordsman pressed the water glass in front of him: "Drink!"

  Schweidnitz picked up the water glass and drank all the water with "gudong" and "gudong".

   "Drinking water is useless." Kaman commented expressionlessly: "He needs to drink some wine."

  Anna wanted to laugh but couldn't, so she had no choice but to glance at Kaman.

   "I'm used to it." Kaman bowed his head apologetically. After thinking for a while, he walked over to the panicked clerk, held the latter's shoulder, and said softly, "Don't worry, you are safe here."

   I don't know if the priest's words played a role, but Schweidnitz really calmed down and answered more fluently.

   From business to debt, Anna's questions prepared in advance were quickly finished. She asked some more newly discovered things, then nodded her head to end the conversation.

  Clerk Schweidnitz got the final payment and fled with amnesty.

The    guards returned to their posts, and only Kaman and Anna, who was writing a book, were left in the small living room.

  Kaman took away the water glass and asked casually: "I don't seem to hear anything special."

"Yes, it's very interesting." Anna put down her quill and smiled sweetly: "It seems that there seems to be a common debt relationship between... The ledger will do."

"and then?"

   "Then?" Anna replied brightly: "Then I will ask Mr. Carlo Ed to find more 'account books'."

   "I'm not talking about this and then." Kaman sat down opposite Anna, opened his arms and made a circular motion: "I said everything and then."

Anna still didn't understand Kaman's meaning, she explained patiently: "I don't know how united the forge masters of Steel Castle are, but they are like a chain, as long as you find the weakest link in the chain and break through it, the chain It would be meaningless in itself, and the price alliance would fail. At that point, they would be scrambling to sell and Winters would be able to buy at the lowest price."

  Kaman looked a little unbearable, and he asked hesitantly: "Ms. Navarre, do you realize that what you are doing...may make some honest and respectable people go bankrupt?"

  Anna was also briefly lost, but she quickly concentrated and considered her words: "But Father Kaman, even if Winters and I do nothing, they will go bankrupt."

Kaman was speechless. After a long time, he raised his head again and looked at Anna with complicated eyes: "Everything you are doing is completely contrary to the teaching I received since I was a child. [You have to remember you." God, for it is he who gives you the power to obtain wealth], [seek not earthly riches, but heavenly blessings].

   Winters is already rich, and he has been able to command wealth beyond the imagination of ordinary people. But why is he still obsessed with earning every gold coin? Even at the expense of hurting and destroying others? I don't understand, I can't understand. But there was a part of me that felt vaguely that what he did was actually not wrong.

  The scriptures teach that people should not be addicted to the material enjoyment of the world, and should not corrupt morality for money. [How difficult it is for those who rely on money to enter the kingdom of heaven! It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven]. But I can't think of you and Winters as morally vile villains. I even think that you are more noble than my cousins. "

   The fire was beeping, and the candles were flickering, just as Kaman's mind was swaying.

"I don't know how to make things work, Father Kaman," Anna said softly. "In some cases, it's hard to use morality as a rule of thumb. My mother always said, 'One can act according to one's conscience. , but let a group of people make a decision and the interest will always be chosen'."

"Like now." Anna's voice gradually became confused, and after hearing Kaman's entanglement, she was also self-reflection: "Because I am representing Winters' interests, every gold coin I save will become Winters. so I become at ease and not ashamed of my cruelty...I don't know why...I don't even know if it's right...Maybe when the wealth accumulates to a certain level, it is no longer us who own it, It is wealth that owns us."

  Kaman listened silently and smiled sadly: "There is another possibility—perhaps the Catholic ethics of the old era are no longer suitable for this new era of gold flowing."

  …

  Winters is saying goodbye to Colonel Bern when the morality of the Catholic Church and the principles of profit-seeking business collide.

   "Okay, I won't send you too far. Be careful on the road." Colonel Berne glanced at the spotted horse under Winters' crotch, and said with a smile: "But I don't think your old horse can run fast."

   The spotted horse did not respond to the attack, and stretched its neck to eat the dry grass below the road.

  Winters raised his hand in salute and hit the road. Ciel and Berion also saluted quickly and chased after them.

   Colonel Bern watched for a moment, then turned around and walked back in a loss.

   However, the distant sound of hooves returned, and the figure of Winters reappeared in front of Colonel Bern. He rolled over and dismounted and walked quickly to the colonel.

"Colonel." Winters looked serious and made up his mind: "There is one thing I can't ask anyone in Steelcastle, but it is very important. You are my most respected Monta soldier, I trust you, I only I can ask you for help."

   Colonel Bern couldn't help but become serious, but he was still puzzled: "What's wrong?"

   "The next question, I don't ask you as an officer of Palatine or any other identity, but as an alliance citizen, a soldier who swore to defend the alliance in front of the old marshal's tombstone."

"you say."

"Did the Monta Republic directly or indirectly provide cannons, guns and armor to the Herds? Is it possible that Bolso da Esther secretly served the oathbreakers?" Winters' eyes flashed with grief and indignation. With tears in his eyes, he looked at Colonel Bern and asked word by word, "Are the provinces joining hands with the Empire... let's bleed?"

   [Although the Catholic Church itself is extravagant and **** people's fat, the ethical code of the Catholic Church still advocates poverty, purity and kindness. Greed is one of the seven deadly sins, corruption within the Catholic Church is morally untenable, and the reform force within the Church is the main force in curbing corruption in the Church]

   [That is, the pursuit of wealth is an objective phenomenon in society, but on the moral level, the pursuit of human wealth and enjoyment is a shameful behavior]

   [It’s a bit like Su L. Although Su L’s late stage corruption was rampant, Su G’s theoretical moral benchmark is still relatively high, and KGB is also the main force in anti-corruption. After the "death of ritual and music", the problem of corruption has become more serious]

   [The root of Kaman's inner contradiction lies in the fact that the old ethical norms of the church are no longer sufficient to guide the actions of the 'emerging bourgeoisie']

[While it's hard to call Winters a bourgeoisie (he's strictly a working class), the Navarre family is a genuinely new bourgeoisie - just the magnitude of the wealth accumulated by the bourgeoisie of this era has not been so exaggerated]

   [Since the pursuit of profit, the first step is to decriminalize 'greed' and 'self-interest'. No longer blindly thinking about exchanging human merits for tickets to the kingdom of heaven, but accumulating wealth endlessly]

   [At this point, 'pre-selection' is clearly more to bourgeois tastes. Since who can be rescued has been pre-determined, there is no need to waste money to do meritorious deeds, but you can accumulate wealth and live hard with peace of mind, to prove whether you are the chosen one (not referring to Protestantism here, because there are still others in Protestantism). many categories)]

   (end of this chapter)