Alien Knights

Standing in front of the window of the chief commander's office, Todd looked at the sixteen corpses hanging from the snow-covered hills and trees from a distance, and was speechless for a long time.

A knock on the door interrupted his thoughts.

After obtaining permission, Huggins walked into the room, looked at the back in front of the window, and whispered: "Your Majesty, the list you want me to investigate has already been formed."

Todd turned around, sat on the armchair, closed his eyes: "Read it."

Huggins took out the paper in his arms and read out the names: Master Terrence, Ulysses, Dion, Elijah... Some Todd has heard of, but some have never heard of it.

After five minutes, Huggins finished reading the long list, dropped his hands, and fell silent.

Todd opened his eyes and asked, "What are these people doing recently?"

After thinking for a while, Huggins said: "Most of these students or scholars are from Taylor College. They recently spontaneously formed a "Jade Society", and they often gather together to discuss academics and discuss current affairs..."

Seeing that the person in charge of the Kingdom Security Bureau hesitated to speak, Todd said again: "If you have anything to say, just say it, there is no need to hesitate."

"Yes! Your Majesty! What these people are talking about, in my opinion, is against the teachings, and even against the gods! They question the words in the Bible, and some people even suggest that the Muxi Kingdom should abandon the Heavenly Father and uphold the truth." While talking, Huggins found that Todd was still indifferent, and said anxiously: "Your Majesty, I know you have prejudice against the church, and you have a permissive and even conniving attitude towards the truth. ’ It’s not wise for the blasphemers of the banner to come here.”

Todd reached out his hand to stop Huggins' exhortation, and said slowly: "I can understand the psychology of scholars. After experiencing the "disaster of truth", they no longer believe in kingship and religion, hoping to control their own destiny. This request to participate in legislation and justice is a temptation for power. Although I don't intend to give in, the development of Muxi Kingdom is really impossible without them. If you don't believe it, think about it, what achievements have these people made recently?"

"Achievements?" Huggins was taken aback, and after thinking for a moment, he said: "Many of them have the dual identities of teachers and researchers of Muxi College. Last month, they proposed the ratio, quantification and conversion formula of "exotic microorganisms", which updated the ability evaluation criteria of alien fighters in the army, and greatly simplified the manufacturing process of "successors".

Listening to Huggins reporting the achievements of these scholars, Todd sighed.

No matter which dynasty, no matter what kind of kingdom, for the monarchs of feudal countries, apart from those usurpers, these intellectuals are the most troublesome.

Knowledge has always been a double-edged sword for kingship in the era of "divine right of kings". Used well, it can improve people's livelihood and strengthen the military; used badly, it can hinder governance and even trigger revolutions.

In the long history of previous lives, whether in Europe or Asia, the struggle between the School of Science and the School of Metaphysics has never stopped. "Emphasis on democratic consciousness or national capacity" has always been at the core of political disputes.

Take today’s Muxi Kingdom as an example. The constitutionalists with scholars as the backbone demand the enactment of laws and obtain status to ensure their own safety. This appeal is not wrong, but the behavior does not meet the requirements of the times and the environment; Todd uses the prestige of the Holy Son and the power of the Knights to implement a military dictatorship. This behavior seems problematic, but it is the only choice in the current environment.

From Todd's point of view, it is impossible for him to allow scholars to take power, nor to transfer part of his power. The brutal struggle and conflicts in the other world force him to be a dictator; but he has to rely on the strength of scholars to develop the technology and culture of Muxi Kingdom.

This creates a rather contradictory situation. Todd must rely on the power of knowledge and must maintain the authority of religion. How to shift the focus of scholars' attention from the struggle for power to the research and development of science and technology is a question that the king must carefully consider.

Todd, who has no idea for the time being, can only signal Huggins to pay close attention to the movements of scholars and limit their inappropriate words and deeds, especially those who deny the doctrine and call for democracy.

Watching Huggins close the door and leave, Todd was about to sit down when another guard knocked on the door and reported, "Your Majesty, Lord Joe, I request to see you."

After Todd agreed aloud, an old monk with a "Mediterranean" hairstyle walked in holding a stack of papers.

Seeing the astonishment on the king's face, Cultivator Joe didn't give the other party a chance to speak, and said straight to the point: "Your Majesty, we must talk about the kingdom's financial issues."

"Financial problems?" Todd said with a puzzled look: "I read the financial report you submitted, and Muxi Kingdom's financial revenue this year is much higher than its expenditure. What's the problem?"

Brother Joe pulled out a piece of paper, pointed to the data on it, and said, "Your Majesty, most of the kingdom's income this year comes from plunder and occupation. The real income from taxes and minerals is very small, while expenditures on experimental equipment, construction projects, military expansion, and food imports are increasing day by day. If this continues, if there is no new source of income, the treasury will run out of money by this time next year."

Todd opened his eyes wide, grabbed the paper and read it again and again, and asked quickly: "Didn't we take down the North Stone Mine? The income from silver ore should be enough to support the development of the kingdom!"

The monk shook his head: "Restarting the mine requires recruiting manpower, opening the shaft, and repairing equipment. The official start of construction will wait until April next year. And after the beginning of spring, the coalition forces of the Silver Ring and the barbarians will attack the mine again. Whether the silver ore can be shipped out smoothly is a problem, let alone buying and selling."

Todd pressed his back against the back of the armchair, and squeezed the bridge of his nose with his hands, full of frustration.

Why do those who travel through novels and movies become kings or leaders, just wave their hands and shake their bodies, the aura of dominance pervades the whole field, and heroes bow their heads to vote. After opening a warehouse to release food a few times, and then going down to the grassroots to give a few speeches, the people always burst into tears, shouting long live the protagonist with gratitude, and their loyalty soared to 100 in an instant, never falling. As for money matters, there is no need to worry about it, never having to consider financial balance and expenditure control. When it's my turn, I have to spend a lot of energy to coordinate the relationship between the factions and the contradictions among the people, and I have to find ways to raise funds. Could it be that the difficulty chosen by others is "easy" when traveling, but the difficulty chosen by oneself is "hell" when traveling?

Brother Joe was asked to go back and think about the countermeasures. Todd sat in the empty room and sighed up to the sky. Just as he was about to call someone to prepare some tea, the knock on the door rang again.

What's going on today?

In just two hours, three groups of people came?

After obtaining consent, the guard opened the door and reported: "The president of the craftsman's guild, Aiden Kom, has brought a few people and asked to see you."

Old Aiden, that honest old craftsman?

Full of doubts, Todd agreed to the request.

A few minutes later, old Aiden came in with two young men, one a monk and the other who appeared to be a student.

When the old craftsman entered the room, the first thing he did was stretch out his two hands and hold down the heads of the two young men. The three of them knelt down on the ground and slammed their foreheads on the carpet.

Seeing this, Todd was puzzled, and asked, "What are you doing?"

Aiden raised his head and said in a condescending tone: "Your Majesty, you trust me and let me manage the production of saltpeter. But because of lax discipline, my subordinates secretly took the raw materials and used them for private use!"

Todd took the hot tea handed over by the attendants, and felt a little unbelievable when he heard the old craftsman's words: "Steal raw materials? You mean, these two young men stole the dung used to make nitrate?"

Old Aiden nodded desperately, then rubbed the hem of his clothes nervously, beckoning the young people to speak quickly.

"Your Majesty! Please forgive our mistakes!" Compared to the quivering friar, another young man dressed as a student looked more calm.

Todd blew on the hot air on the tea, looked at the three kneeling on the carpet, and asked curiously: "You have nothing to do, what are you doing stealing excrement?"

The young man's next words made the tea in Todd's mouth turn into rain and mist, and sprayed out.

"Make perfume. 』