CHAPTER 131: CHAPTER 129: THE SENATE EXPANDS TERRITORY AND INCORPORATES FOREIGNERS!

With the help of many refugees who had met Horn in person and Thomas, Horn’s identity was recognized by the refugees.

Horn naturally did not miss this opportunity; instead of directly performing the Holy Father’s descent, which would be too degrading, he chose another approach.

He jumped down from the wooden platform, shook hands with the refugees, and asked them their names, origins, and reasons for uprising. Then he patted their heads and said:

"I bless you on behalf of the Holy Father!"

After an almost hour-long fan meeting and handshake event, Horn, now covered in fleas, finally arrived at the tent where the refugee leaders were discussing matters.

On either side sat the refugee leaders on small folding stools, who stood up to welcome Horn, while he nodded and walked straight through.

Reaching the end of the tent, Horn unhesitatingly sat down on the leading small stool of the refugee camp.

Busak and Thomas, who had gone to conduct investigations and gather statistics, had returned, handing a document to Horn.

Lowering his head, Horn carefully read the report.

According to the report by Thomas and Busak, based on the statements of the refugee leaders present:

The entire refugee camp had a little over eleven thousand people, which was a remarkable number, accounting for one-fifth of the total population of Joan of Arc Castle.

These eleven thousand people were led by thirty-five legion commanders.

Yes, Thomas had completely copied Horn’s system.

Each legion commander was a refugee leader, controlling anywhere from one hundred to five hundred people.

However, they did not implement a lower-tier organization system; the legion commanders directly led hundreds of people without a base level of ten households leader.

Among these thirty-five legion commanders, the report provided statistics on their reasons for uprising and their backgrounds:

Seven were public register farmers, five armed farmers, sixteen refugees, one robber knight, three bandits, and two citizens.

Regarding reasons for uprising, twenty-one cited "could not survive," eleven "wanted to follow the Saint’s Grandson to become a master," one "for fun," and two "arguing with wife/father, and left home in a fit of pique."

Excluding those three special cases, from this result and Horn’s earlier investigations into the refugees’ attitudes, it’s roughly understood:

Most of these "hairy" rebels came for survival and to rise in status and wealth.

Survival is a short-term need while rising in status and wealth is a long-term need.

Thus, to control them from the ground up, these two needs must be met.

Horn raised his head and looked around the tent.

This tent, picked from who knows where, was filled with a rotten stench.

Inside the tent, the air was filled with the smoky smell of wood and dry grass, the faint firelight illuminating the sunken cheeks of the legion commanders.

On each rickety slant-legged stool sat three or four dust-covered legion commanders.

The legion commanders included knights and robbers, as well as farmers and artisans, but without exception, they were all dressed in patched, faded, tattered clothing.

In the large tent, everyone’s gaze was fixed on Horn.

"Relax, gentlemen, I am not here to lead you, but to join you."

Horn said with a smile: "I know you must have a lot of doubts and concerns.

But I think, before that, we should first arrange the core issue, which is everyone’s food supply."

The legion commanders immediately began clamoring to ask when they could get food supplies.

"Silence! Silence!" Thomas shouted immediately.

Horn also extended his hands downward to signal the legion commanders to calm down.

"Famine is urgent, to be more efficient, before the meeting starts, we need to set a rule of order; it can’t be a noisy mess like this."

Horn’s voice echoed on the wooden platform: "The rule is simple: no speaking without raising your hand. Those who raise their hands speak in order, and no one may interrupt when someone is speaking."

"Do you agree? If you agree, please raise your hand; if you have any objections, speak quickly."

Under Thomas’s inquiry, the legion commanders looked at each other and gradually raised their hands.

Once everyone had finished raising their hands, Horn smiled and said: "Thank you all for your understanding, trusting that the Holy Father and Saint Miseria can see it in my eyes."

"Now, the first question is, do you acknowledge me as the Saint’s Grandson and Pope?"

This first question is about legitimacy.

In essence, Thomas had taken power from Horn, and now it was merely returning the political authority.

But the formal procedures still had to be followed, and the refugee leaders compliantly expressed their willingness to acknowledge him.

"Acknowledge."

"We acknowledge."

A smile appeared on Horn’s face; his first step was completed.

With the construction of legitimacy complete, he occupied the righteous position, making actions rightful and justified.

The refugees lacked much experience in political struggle, allowing Horn to find an opportunity.

If it were the Imperial Nobility, they would have engaged Horn in a grand political ceremony for three hundred rounds.

With this step completed, the next issue was how to turn legitimacy into power.

To control these people, Horn needed to ensure most of the refugees depended on him, while he only relied on the military and financial power of a few in the Gulag Old Camp.

Therefore, the first thing Horn needed to do was to establish military supremacy, and second, to control finances.

There wasn’t much to say about finances because the source of finances was Casti.

Horn also brought them new sources of wealth, sufficient to win over the lower people.

Therefore, before this, Horn had announced that he found a source of wealth for the refugees, creating a fait accompli.

In this way, the lower level refugees all know that it was Horn who brought them food.

Even if the middle-level leaders hold the distribution power, they can’t twist it into their own doing.

"Then the second issue is about using work in exchange for relief."

"Can you really persuade Lord Casti to provide us with jobs and wages?" a Public Register Farmers Corps Commander raised his hand and asked.

"Of course, in fact, the slots Casti gives me are limited, so not everyone can get money, food, and work.

If you want to earn wages and food, you must first come to me to register.

According to the family law of the Holy Father in my Great Pope Country, work is distributed to the Ten Households Leader, organized by groups of ten households.

Whoever can bring ten households to register with me will be the Ten Households Leader."

Another Bandit Legion Commander raised his hand and asked, "What about us these Legion Commanders, do we continue to command the Ten Households Leaders?"

"Actually, you are just temporary leaders, not Legion Commanders appointed by me in the usual way." Horn gradually restrained his smile.

The knife was revealed, and the Legion Commanders exclaimed.

"Why? We are the bosses!"

"Without us, they would have been bitten to death by wild wolves long ago."

"What kind of rule is this? I’m not convinced, I want to see the Holy Father!"

The shouts of the Legion Commanders in the tent grew louder, and more people joined in.

Even at the entrance of the tent, a few refugees were poking their heads in to check.

"Bang!"

After a sharp, piercing noise, the thunderous sound of the clockwork guns made most people present instinctively shrink their necks or cover their ears.

When the sound faded, they fearfully looked at the two black-clad soldiers holding the clockwork guns.

"Is that the Thunderbolt Stick?"

"The Thunderbolt Stick really exists? I thought..."

"What about the Ice Giant? Why don’t I see the Ice Giant?"

"You fool, the weather is so hot, if the Ice Giant came, it would have melted long ago, surely hiding in the cellar."

"You insolent ones, causing disgrace in front of the Holy Presence, do you not realize that it is the Pope sitting before you?" Thomas shouted.

After the echoes of the gunfire ended, Busak stood behind the soldiers, glaring at everyone present: "Have you forgotten the discussion rules we agreed on before?"

The Legion Commanders almost all wore expressions of anger without daring to speak.

"I know you feel it’s unfair, I see your merits and efforts." Horn still wore a casual smile, "So, I have decided that all thirty-five Legion Commanders will be granted the position of Elder, joining the Senate."

Busak loudly explained from the side: "The so-called Senate is where every Elder can vote and decide on every issue of the Pope Country. All Elders are equal, with one person, one vote.

Originally, you could only command your own people, now you can command everyone, isn’t that good?"

Busak’s words echoed in the tent, resonating in the minds of the Legion Commanders.

Anger gradually subsided as they exchanged glances, each lost in thought.

On second thought, it actually sounds quite good.

Especially the relatively weaker Legion Commanders became increasingly excited.

They had little power to begin with, only pushed to a nominal position and unable to command the bosses below.

But now, becoming an Elder is great, truly in power, indeed following the Saint’s Grandson can lead to being someone important.

"I agree!"

"I agree as well."

"Your Holiness, when can we join the Senate?"

"No rush, no rush." Horn pressed down with both hands, stopping the Elders’ inquiries and focusing on those Legion Commanders who hadn’t stated their positions.

These stronger Legion Commanders, mostly Bandits and Armed Farmers, weren’t very satisfied with this.

Even though they could enter the Senate, they couldn’t directly command their own people, which left them feeling somewhat empty.

Knocking the scepter on the ground, Horn continued to apply pressure with a faint smile: "Ladies and gentlemen, please take note, I will only allocate work to ten households.

If you have not registered, whether you come to me alone or with a Legion Commander, I will not provide you with a slot."

The strong Legion Commanders felt at a loss.

Since once the weaker Legion Commanders joined the Senate, their total number of refugees became a minority, a single log cannot prop up a house.

Stubbornly refusing to join?

Seeing their neighbors well-fed, the people below would blame their hunger on the Legion Commanders, guessing who they would choose between their stomachs and their leaders?

Given the current situation, joining is the best fallback choice.

But joining like this means all control over the refugees in the camp falls into Horn’s hands.

Opposing Legion Commanders had beads of sweat appearing on their foreheads.

Seeing this situation, Horn didn’t continue to pressure but changed the subject: "I know you’re hesitant, but that’s okay, you can hesitate for now.

The position of Elder will be reserved for you until noon tomorrow, giving you half a day’s time to consider.

I’ll finalize the list for the conferring ceremony tomorrow noon. If you haven’t come by then, it will be assumed you’ve withdrawn."

Saying this, Horn’s face showed a mysterious smile: "I won’t give a second chance, nor will I wait for you. Tomorrow noon is the last opportunity."