Regarding the proposal from Gigano and Casani, Horn naturally couldn't agree immediately.

He merely brushed it off with "the leader is often a figurehead," and the next day convened the Cardinal Conference to discuss the matter with several cardinals.

The merchant and citizen forces within the Salvation Army, as well as the aid from the Falan, were naturally quite welcomed.

With economic prosperity, these people have a reason for existence; otherwise, they could only plead for military orders from the Salvation Army.

Even some military forces welcomed it, as they needed better weapons and more soldiers to defeat Prince Kongdai.

They knew the military expense was large, so if the Falan could provide some support, it would certainly be welcome.

However, there were others who believed that the involvement of the Falan would slowly infiltrate the Salvation Army, leading to compromised independence.

Of course, most people were staunch royalists and supported whatever Horn supported, believing that Horn was always right.

This was the aftereffect of Horn's hands-on leadership, as many Salvation Army members and veterans had this mindset.

They had neither much knowledge nor the habit of independent thinking; following the Saint's Grandson's decisions was enough.

Since Horn had the final say, most of the participants in this Cardinal Conference could only act as advisory consultants, with the ultimate decision still resting with Horn himself.

After three consecutive days of meetings and consultations with several bankers, and after obtaining the information collected by Armand, Horn finally made up his mind.

This agreement with the Falan Kingdom was a sugar-coated bullet; Horn couldn't currently swallow the sugar coating and return the bullet, but he could at least spit the bullet out.

To achieve this, it was necessary to make adjustments in the terms of the agreement between both parties.

On the fourth day of the meeting, Horn finally summoned Casani and began the twelve-hour long agreement signing session.

In the cramped study room, a fierce debate unfolded among the few individuals present.

Every time Casani proposed a plan, it was met with Horn's remark, "A good strategy, but I'd like to make some adjustments," and then the plan would be altered beyond recognition.

The discarded support agreements piled up like bricks, forcing Casani to leave several times, doubting whether Horn was genuinely sincere in his negotiations.

Eventually, he came to terms with it, realizing that diplomacy worked this way, each side acting for their own benefit; if the negotiations were too swift and smooth, it might as well be a surrender document.

As the candles flickered, the exhausted Casani and Gigano, dedicated to the Falan Kingdom, were finally about to give in.

They held a small meeting in another room and finally reached a consensus with Horn's proposed plan.

The draft of the "South Thousand River Valley Free Trade Agreement" was then freshly produced, outlining only the general scope.

Specific figures, such as tariffs on different goods and the specific amounts of support funds, would still require further negotiation in later stages.

But the agreement process was finally concluded, and seeing Horn no longer continuing with "a good strategy," the Falan envoys breathed a sigh of relief.

On the surface, this trade agreement was a civil trade treaty signed between the merchants of the Three Counties (Langsande County, Lower Reif County, and Kasha County) and the Royal Chamber of Commerce of the Kingdom of Falan.

Initially, the Thousand River Valley was viewed as core church territory, especially the Leia Church, and such a civil trade treaty would have been sabotaged in the past.

But now in the South Thousand River Valley Church, aside from the Kasha County northwest and the northern towns of Shangruifo, the rest of the local churches were thoroughly cleared out.

Moreover, Kasha County in the three counties even borders the Falan Kingdom, although the border area happens to be where the church's remnants are, they dared not act against the Falan anymore.

Currently, the Leia Kingdom is embroiled in a civil war with one king and two dukes, and no one would protect them if they took action.

"Don't hurry to leave, everyone, I've just asked the kitchen to prepare some hot soup and roasted Saint's Grandson duck, just perfect for a night snack," Catherine said, looking at Horn handling the final details with Gigano, smiling at the Falan envoys.

Casani, slouching in his chair, immediately straightened his back, his stomach growling on cue, "What's roasted Saint's Grandson duck?"

For the Falan, who are naturally fond of fine food and clothing, curiosity for new foods and garments is no less than the desire for newly explored lands.

"This is a roast duck personally crafted by His Excellency, brushed with malt syrup, air-dried for half a day, and roasted in a fruit wood brick oven, eaten with honey and red bread sauce; it's very particular."

"Red bread sauce, I haven't tried that before." Having been hungry all day, Casani's mouth watered at Catherine's description.

If the agreement hadn't been signed yet, he would have certainly refrained from doing anything to disrupt major matters.

But now that the tasks were accomplished, his relaxed demeanor resurfaced, and if that roast duck was delicious and the wine tasted well, what harm in granting a bit more advantage?

"Gigano, don't just gawk around, acting like a stingy Leia person."

Taking Gigano's seat, Casani, frustrated from a day of negotiations, seized the agreement, saying to Horn, "Mr. Horn, let's go over the main agreement once more, and if everything aligns, I'll send the agreement off."

Originally, Horn, who was still determinately set, put down his pen: "That's better, you read it."

"First, during the period of signing the trade agreement, the Falan promise to refuse any proposals to jointly attack the Thousand River Valley with other countries."

"Agreed." This is a declaration to the Empire that the three counties of the Salvation Army are under our Falan protection.

"Second, the Golden Chalice Commerce Association will, in multiple batches within a year, purchase Holy War Bonds worth 50,000 gold pounds from the Meigedi Commerce Association. As for the interest rate, I heard it's 10%?"

"Yes." Horn nodded, speaking frankly.

Catherine immediately added at the back: "But those bonds were for war preparations. For these new foreign bonds, we will have specialists calculate the specific rate..."

"No need to calculate, just set it at 4%, the affluent Falans wouldn't care about such minor interest dividend," Casani waved his hand boldly.

An interest rate of 4% is nearly interest-free in this commonly high-usury empire.

"Third, Meigedi Commerce Association and the Royal Chamber of Commerce of the Kingdom of Falan will jointly establish a Falan Qian River Valley Investment Bank and issue bonds.

We will appeal to Frank Citizens and nobles to purchase these bank bonds, with the bank paying out interest annually.

However, how many people will actually buy, we can't guarantee, so one-third of our Holy War Bonds purchase needs to flow into the investment bank as shares."

"Agree."

This bank and that Golden Chalice Commerce Association are the channels through which the Falan provide support to Horn, mainly consisting of several Thousand River Valley local Falan commerce associations.

Through this investment bank, there will be an endless stream of funds flowing from the affluent Falan Kingdom into the Savior Pope Country.

"Fourth, Falan will relocate a batch of immigrants, which includes unemployed bankrupt artisans, Frank Citizens who believe in heretical faiths, workers exiled by the King of France, Pantsless Men, and over a dozen university students whose radical opinions or dueling murders forced them to go into hiding.

Their number is about ten thousand, entering in five to six batches, primarily comprising Pantsless Men and bankrupt artisans.

The Thousand River Valley Investment Bank will invest in establishing workshops for them locally, they will open shops within the Savior Pope Country, and the border will be opened, allowing Falan immigrants to enter."

"Agreed, but their identity can no longer be Falans, but locals, and they must enter the household register."

"Can accept," Casani took up the pen and made a couple of marks, "but you can't force them to naturalize."

"Of course not."

"Alright, the fifth secret clause, if the Salvation Army expels the Thousand River Valley Church, it must join the Falan Kingdom's market. Both parties will negotiate unified tariffs and declare mutual friendly relations, preferably with marriage alliances."

"Everything else is fine, but marriage is probably not possible, I am the Pope, I cannot marry and have children."

"What are you afraid of?" Casani surprisingly looked at Horn, not expecting him to be so pure on this matter, "Which Pope doesn't have a lot of illegitimate children? Just give the title of first mistress, many would be eager for it."

"We'll see when the time comes, let's not discuss things that haven't happened yet." Horn rubbed his temples, truly unwilling to continue this topic.

Both parties read through the final few details, such as delivery times and mutual respect principles, and the "Agreement" was completely finalized.

As long as Monte Yac agrees, it can be signed directly.

"On the day of signing, we will purchase 8,000 gold pounds at once, where 2,000 gold pounds will be offset with half-breast armor and single-handed weapons. Remember to send the blueprint of your armor and swords to my villa."

To prevent being recognized, Casani still had to put up a front.

Otherwise, if the Salvation Army wore all the Falan-style half-armors to the battlefield, even the Leia people would know it was the Falans causing trouble.

Although they could guess now, they still have no evidence, the standard armor would be a bit too overt.

Watching the monk copying anew, Casani smiled and asked Horn: "I'll ask one last time, are you sure you don't allow the commerce association to directly enter? They would willingly provide you with over 20,000 gold pounds of donation all at once, plus 900 gold pounds of annual personal profit."

"I certainly wish the big and small commerce associations to enter, but that will have to wait until the Salvation Army completely defeats the Thousand River Valley Church and becomes independent, then I will establish a stock exchange to ensure you'll earn abundantly."

"I look forward to that day."

After confirming the signing of the agreement, Gigano hurried with the draft to find Monte Yac.

Before leaving, he left Horn with good news that it had been confirmed that Prince Kongdai had returned to Feiliu Castle with his troops.

This meant that the situation had basically stabilized.

Having been out fighting for many days, many soldiers were tired and homesick, just as the nobles in Dog Fox Village had been mostly cleared out, Horn prepared to return to Joan of Arc Castle.

In mid-August, leaving behind more than a dozen officers to train and recruit local soldiers, Horn, with two legions and the first batch of 2,000 immigrants, set off towards their happy home.