CHAPTER 771: FAMINE IS IMMINENT, SHOULD A HOLY WAR BE DECLARED?

The biting cold winds of the far north swept across the land and sea.

In the Rhine Kingdom, among the seven Electors, the Duke of Saxony, known as the "Golden Lion," and the Earl of Askan, the "White Wolf," had made preparations as best they could. They stockpiled food and supplies, organizing their storerooms...

In fact, the parliament had vaguely hinted at something to the continent’s powerful nobles, though it was unclear whether they listened or acted, and to what extent they could do so.

It must be said, to independently govern a territory, to gather lesser nobles internally, to soothe the populace, and to fend off enemies from abroad while both courting and guarding against the Radiant Church requires a sharp mind.

Not to mention stockpiling for two years, at the very least, if next summer’s harvest fails, they could still hold out, hoping for the autumn harvest.

As for problems with the autumn harvest...

The north is barren, unlike the south with its abundant resources and high food production. The amount they could stockpile was limited. Moreover, too much activity might alert the Radiant Church—what exactly are you doing?

Amassing such large stocks of food and fodder, are you planning to wage war? The last time the Church called all the nobles to prepare for a holy war, your enthusiasm was lacking, so whom are you planning to fight now with all this grain?

At this moment, the two great nobles watched the early winter snowfall, catching the large snowflakes in their palms, each feeling a chill in their heart.

They hoped next year’s famine wouldn’t be too severe, hoped the barbarians wouldn’t come rampaging indiscriminately, and hoped their neighbors would have a clear enough mind to withstand the pressure when the time came...

"This year, the royal treasury has fared well." The King of Poi browsed the report presented by his chief minister, his beard twitching uncontrollably as he could not help but smile:

"That set of seventh-tier enchanted armor can now be ordered from the Dwarf Kingdom. Talia’s dowry can also include that set of jewelry inlaid with rubies and diamonds. To be Queen of Caroling, she needs several impressive sets of jewelry..."

"But Your Majesty, we’ve received word that there might be a severe famine next year. Saxony and the northern borders are already stockpiling grain. Should we not..."

"Ah, how could we run out of food?" The King of Poi waved his hand dismissively:

"The great plains of Lublin are known as the granary of the eastern lands, and the black earth there is exceedingly fertile! Even if half the land has a poor yield, it would still feed the entire nation!"

The chief minister silently bowed his head, clutching the report and decided to double the storage in his own lands and store several hundred tons more food. Taking advantage of the early winter before the heavy snows sealed the doors, he hurried to fill the granaries!

Those knights and minor lords, if they really start rioting due to lack of grain, and if gaps appear in the territory allowing orcs to raid and capture people, after one or two years, the finances of the territory would collapse!

When the howling cold winds reached the holy city of the Radiant Church, their force had greatly diminished. With the many churches inside and outside the city, the divine arrays scattered throughout the churches, and the sacred light twinkling from the church roofs, the citizens of the holy city only saw a few thin snowflakes—

Especially the inner city’s residents, at least at the level of apprentices, assistant priests, or deputy priests. If they were combatants, they would at least be level three or four warriors. When a cold blast came, they would simply shrug their shoulders, pull their robes a bit tighter, and easily endure it.

"There might be a severe famine next year." The Pope, the Grand Commander of the Holy Knights, the Grand Inquisitor, and the head of the ascetic monks, sat together once again for a meeting:

"So, should we still wage a holy war next year? If a famine does occur, it seems like a bad time to start a war..."

"Is this information reliable?" The head of the ascetic monks slightly frowned. His faction did not engage in the Church’s political intrigues, focusing solely, even exclusively, on offering loyalty to the Lord of Radiance:

Some were locked in a tiny church carved from rock, devoutly praying without moving for thirty years;

Some wore sackcloth, walked barefoot for miles daily carrying water buckets from the mountains to clean the statues in the great cathedral;

Some traveled from village to village, treating villagers and spreading the light of God;

Some lived off only their own labor for decades, not consuming anything else...

The ascetic monks were devout and powerful, their

faith in the Lord of Radiance nearly fanatical. Consequently, they were often out of touch with the upper echelons unless necessary, as the Pope would not involve them: R̃𝖆ꞐОＢÊŠ

Seeing church officials indulging in luxury and vice would lead them to actual violence!

The elderly head of the ascetic monks, fingering a string of wooden beads around his neck, his expression grave:

"If the information is accurate, it’s best not to launch a holy war. Otherwise, the Lord’s followers will suffer greatly..."

"The likelihood of this information being true is very high." The Grand Inquisitor sitting diagonally across from the head monk spoke solemnly:

"We obtained reliable information from the nobility of the Kent Kingdom. It is said that at the time, the queen gathered all the nobles of the capital, a legendary mage attended in person, and a Gold Dragon flew in to personally announce the prophecy of next year’s famine—"

"When did this happen?"

The head monk’s piercing gaze swept across immediately. If ascetic monks represented purity in the Church, the Grand Inquisitor almost represented pure darkness. As the leader, he understood and could tolerate the necessity of such a role within the Church, but he couldn’t help but feel disgusted.

"Mid-year."

The head monk’s fingertips tensed, and with a "snap," he crushed a bead. His drooping eyelids lifted slightly, and his gaze seemed to smash across with one word:

"Useless!"

The Grand Inquisitor felt a bit awkward:

"At that time, everyone present signed a magical contract not to reveal any information. We waited a long time before an elderly noble, nearing the end of his life, indirectly disclosed the matter..."

"Alright." The Pope had been listening with his eyes slightly lowered, seemingly indifferent to the skirmish between his subordinates, but now he finally spoke up:

"Those heretics are always cunning, it’s not surprising. —Is there any corroboration for this message?"

"Yes. Since mid-year, that heretic kingdom has been buying large quantities of food while also using divine magic to boost growth. Additionally, the Duke of Saxony and the Earl of Askan are also stockpiling large amounts of grain, suspected of colluding with the heretics. —Your Holiness, should we punish them?"

The Pope bowed his head in contemplation, silent. Beside him, the Commander of the Holy Knights pressed on his sword hilt and spoke up:

"Your Holiness, starting internal strife before the war begins is unadvisable, in my opinion. I think we should let them prove their devotion—perhaps gather more evidence, and when the holy war starts, command them to take the lead?"

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