Chapter 456: Not Negotiation

Gawain sat at the top of the conference table, relaxing his body and leaning on the high chair, smiling as he watched the expression changes on the faces of every southern noble present.

Everyone’s reactions were visible, and no one’s reaction was beyond his expectation.

Confusion, astonishment, silence, resistance, a little thinking, and a few people's overflowing anger.

These nobles themselves are actually of little use. Their rule has collapsed. After losing their land and army, these nobles who walked out of the castle have become useless. Putting them in cells can only consume food and destroy them. Sending them to work won't create much wealth - and Gawain doesn't think that simple labor and education can fundamentally change these stubborn and slow people, so he doesn't care about their attitudes. , and their own wishes.

But the "added value" of these nobles besides themselves is useful.

To establish a new order within the rigid and backward old order, the easiest and biggest problem for pioneers is the stubbornness and counterattack of the old order.

Although it is difficult for the people at the bottom to change their customs, in this social background close to the Middle Ages, the people are numb and have no freedom. At most, they will only be slow to respond to orders due to their own numbness and ignorance. The lord's orders will never be refused, so although changing customs and promoting education is difficult, it is more of a matter of time cost. In contrast, the "system" left by the old nobles is the biggest difficulty.

The "group of scholars" and "retainers" who were attached to the aristocratic system relied on the employment of the old aristocrats, or simply were extralegal mercenaries (legal extraordinary ones) composed of the illegitimate children and adopted children of the old aristocrats. or bandits), as well as the exiled knights and sworn knights who ran away after the collapse of the old aristocracy. These groups that are destined to be affected or have been affected by the changes in the old and new order are the biggest obstacles in the process of social transformation. These people's Failure to cooperate is enough to cause huge trouble to the newly born Government Affairs Department, not to mention that some of them have even become violent factors that directly threaten territorial security.

Gawain knows that he is lucky. Compared with many pioneers who try to establish a new order, his biggest advantage is that he is not only the founder of the new order, but he also represents the highest level of the old order. Authority - As one of the founders of the Anzu Kingdom, he has sufficient "legal justice" to formulate the rules for social operation. Even if someone questions this, he does not need to care about it at all.

Now that he knows this, he will of course maximize his "legal justice". He will use legal methods to deprive and transfer the rights of the old aristocrats, and use the rights of these old aristocrats to "Legal claims" are used to complete the smooth transition of the system and to minimize the counterattack of the old order - or, in other words, reduce their excuses for counterattack.

Gawain can despise the rules and order of the old aristocratic system, but since people of this era recognize it, he can also exploit it without any pressure.Use these rules and order as long as they can exert sufficient value.

"Ladies and gentlemen, these documents are not that difficult to understand, right?" Gao Wen estimated the time and broke the silence when he saw that some nobles could not hold back and wanted to speak. "If you understand, just sign."

"Duke...Mr. Duke," a slightly fat middle-aged man finally couldn't help but stood up first, "These documents are on The content...are you serious?"

"Of course," Gawain nodded, "What if?"

Then he stood up slowly and looked at He scanned everyone's face and said unhurriedly: "...Except for retaining the castle, all land and property attached to the land will belong to the principality; all old system privileges including taxation, legislation, and recruitment of soldiers will be abolished. All power is vested in the Government Affairs Office; unification of laws and regulations, abolition of all old private laws...I have written these clearly."

"Sir, we are willing to swear allegiance to you, but these things...are these things? Can we still discuss it?" Another noble stood up boldly, "This is almost a complete subversion of order. Even for your authority, you should think more about it..."

They At least they learned awe and humility, but they obviously haven't understood the situation yet.

"I think you have made a mistake," Gawain said with almost no expression on his face. He just stated the facts quietly. "What is written in these documents has actually been implemented. As early as the day the war ended, you have already lost your land and property, and the things you want to keep are no longer in your hands - so I am not here to discuss with you today, I am just officially informing you. "

The Southern nobles in the hall were in a commotion. Dozens of days in prison could not completely erase the thoughts in their hearts, so when these thoughts collapsed, even if there were a circle of people standing around the hall The guards, even if the ruler of the Southern Territory was sitting in front of them, they couldn't help but start talking in low voices.

However, Gawain just watched quietly, waiting for these people's discussions to quiet down.

They finally calmed down, and Gawain continued: "Sometimes, it is more important to recognize the reality clearly than to strive for things that will never be obtained. By signing this document, you can at least have a decent attitude. Life, your title of 'noble' can still be retained, and you can also rely on annuities to maintain food and clothing, and even maintain a relatively wealthy life - if you can open your eyes and see those who are hungry and cold under your rule People, you will know how lucky you are. You have made a big mistake, but you can still be so comfortable and comfortable. What is there to be dissatisfied about?"

Everyone on both sides of the long table. Their faces became tangled and embarrassed. Some people frowned and thought, some hesitated to speak. Finally, some people couldn't control themselves. A middle-aged man with a sallow face and sunken eyes stood up: "Please forgive me for not being able to accept it - —Your Majesty, please forgive me for not being able to accept it! I refuse to sign, even if I have to pay for it with my life - you cannot destroy our traditions and laws like this! "

As he spoke, the middle-aged man looked beside him, his mood seemed very excited: "Everyone, we have gone through the most difficult days, and we have nothing to lose. Glory is the only thing we have left, I...I would rather take it into the coffin..."

Gawain looked at the middle-aged man's venting behavior and looked at the nobles on both sides of the long table. The various reactions after hearing these remarks were also what he expected: nobles have a special way of thinking. They can run away when the artillery fire falls, and they can abandon the castle and the people without hesitation when the sword is coming. , but sometimes when it comes to the so-called "glorious bloodline and surname", these spineless guys stand tall instead. This schizophrenic behavior pattern is difficult for outsiders to understand, but it is very consistent with this era. Background.

“Viscount Wayne Snape, I hope I didn’t call you by the wrong name. ”

Gawain’s sudden opening interrupted the middle-aged man’s impassioned statement. The nobles who had once again become commotion also fell silent. They all looked in Gawain’s direction. The latter waved to the side - a Government Affairs Department official left the room immediately. After a while, the Government Affairs Department official returned to the conference hall, holding a small metal safe in his hand.

Gawain opened the file and said casually: "Mr. Viscount, it looks familiar, doesn't it? I believe you have similar things in your homes, kept in the deepest parts of your castles, to prove the legitimacy of your titles and fiefs, and to prove the antiquity and orthodoxy of your surnames - such as this one.

"Wayne Snape, Viscount of the Snape family, noble of the south, branched from the Spencer family in Ansu 476, and received the surname; Spencer family, earl, Holy Spirit Plains The nobility began with the ancestor Maximilian Spencer; Maximilian Spencer, knight lord, earl, knight of Gawain Cecil, was granted the title in the harvest month of the first year of Ansu, and the original territory was located in the south. On the west side of Gray Mountain, due to the influence of the demonic tide, the fiefdom was moved to the south of the Holy Spirit Plain..."

"Then, this is another document," Gawain said as he took it out of the safe An older, more fragile parchment document. This document is so old that the protective magic on it is about to lose its effectiveness. The old parchment has been severely weathered and corroded, "Maxi Milan Spencer’s canonization document—of course, it’s a copy.”

Gawain raised his head and looked quietly into the eyes of the middle-aged nobleman at the long table.

"Wayne SneeMr. Pu, guess whose signature is at the end of this document? ”

No one could predict this incredible situation in advance. Even after Gawain was resurrected for so long, the nobleman named Wayne Snape did not hide his secret in the family castle. The documents inside, which would only be taken out and looked at when the heir received the title, were associated with the "living person" in front of him. This had nothing to do with wisdom, but limitations in the direction of thinking, so now he could only stutter: "Duke ...Your Majesty the Duke..."

"Mr. Wayne Snape, you ask for tradition and law, then I will give you tradition and law - Maximilian Spencer is a smart and motivated young man Man, I am sorry to see that one of his heirs cannot bear the glory and merit of him - it is the duty of the master to protect the reputation of his followers, and for this reason, I have to deprive you of your title of nobility. ”

Wayne Snape’s eyes widened and his mouth opened like a suffocated fish on the shore. In this direct blow to the weak point, he drowsily heard Gawain. The following words from Syl: "...Mr. Snape, you can leave now. "

The hall became deathly silent, and Gawain looked at the result with satisfaction - prescribing the right medicine is always the most efficient solution, and using the nobles' biggest weakness to attack them is far more reasonable than any other. and debate are more effective.

For them, deprivation of the title is more terrifying than death.

Of course, the reason why he can do this is because he has mastered the crushing ability in the first place. Use force to force these people to sit at the negotiation table, otherwise even if he holds the canonization documents of every noble in the country, what he says will not be useful.

"Everyone, actually I am. I don’t want to do this.” After putting the documents away again, Gao Wen slightly raised his voice and said, “I would rather have everyone sign smoothly in a harmonious atmosphere, so I have to emphasize here – be present. The titles and surnames of each of you, going back several generations, will eventually fall into the names of Charles Morn and the Duke of the Four Realms. As the only one of the founding kings and Dukes of the Four Realms who is still alive, I can deprive them of them. Each of you has a noble title. Even if the canonization document of your ancestors was not signed by my name, I was also a witness to the canonization ceremony seven hundred years ago. As a witness, I can question whether each of you is qualified. Inherit your surname——"

Gawain didn't say the next words, but his meaning was already clear:

He can question whether everyone's title here is legal. , and if anyone wants to raise objections...unless Charlie Morn and the other three founding dukes climb out of the coffin.

Don’t the southern nobles want tradition and law?

This is the tradition and law of Ansu.

“It’s almost time—ladies and gentlemen, the pen for signing is in front of you. ”