"I just came back from Hamburg and checked the situation of the church." Gregory returned to the topic, "There is something unusual there. There are only three pits in the yard, just enough to bury three bodies. It is not so much that after a search
It was later discovered that it was better to say that those soldiers knew the specific locations of the three corpses from the beginning."
Ella was shocked: "You mean this is a trap designed by Duke Otto to frame the Abrahamic Orthodox Church? But how did he bury the body in the backyard of the church without the people in the church knowing?"
"This is beyond what I can know. However, this is not the first time that Duke Otto has done such a sneaky thing."
Gregory told Ella the information he had gleaned from the bandit leader in Angria.
"He knew all about the bandits' dens in the territory, but he deliberately allowed them to cause trouble and did not clear them out. Not only that, he even ordered the bandits to attack some villages. Under the threat of bandits, many farmers had to move
He sold his land to Duke Otto and became a serf attached to Duke Otto in exchange for Duke Otto's protection."
The more Ella listened, the more surprised she became: "Large-scale annexation of land by nobles? In the Qiqiu Empire, this kind of thing has long been prohibited by legislation!"
"But I have to admit that this method allowed Duke Otto to quickly expand his strength. Only when Sigurd invaded could he compete with him."
"This kind of thing... I never want to do it." Ella's mood suddenly became depressed, "Maybe I really am not a qualified king."
"Do you care what Duke Otto said to you?"
"Perhaps, I will really perish in victory after victory."
"Duke Otto, a barbarian from the Alemanni tribe, is worthy of talking about the way of kings even though he wears a monkey's head."
Gregory's voice suddenly became louder, startling Ella.
"Gregory...why are you so angry?"
"Although I am a clergyman, I have read many historical documents and am familiar with all the changes in the past and present. I couldn't stand what Duke Otto said, so I came to tell the King of Sweden what the true kingly way is."
"The true royal way?"
"'The way to gain many help, the wrong way to help few', the way to be a king, is nothing more than these eight characters. The world does not know its principle, just like the mushroom does not know Hui Shuo, and the cricket does not know spring and autumn. Duke Otto thinks he is smart, but he is just the fluorescence of rotten grass.
, How can it compare to the bright moon in the sky?"
“If you gain the right path, you will get many help, but if you get the wrong path, you will get little help?”
Ella solemnly read these eight words again.
"That's all I have to say. I hope it can be of some help to the King of Sweden."
As he spoke, Gregory twisted his neck toward the door and signaled to the people outside to help him back to his original place.
"Wait a minute," Ella stopped him, "Gregory, can you walk on your own if you try hard?"
"Yes, but it can't be very far, so what?"
"Gregory, I have a plan, but I need your help."
…
…
The day for the execution of the burning has arrived. In order to make the flames look more beautiful, Duke Otto specially set the time at night.
People who came from all over to watch the excitement crowded around the high platform. One side of the high platform was piled with firewood, and the other side was filled with jars of pitch and rosin. Anyone who wanted to could put the contents in the jars
Pour it on the priests and nuns.
People were raising their toes in anticipation of Duke Otto's appearance. At this time, Duke Otto was changing into formal attire in a mansion in Hamburg. This mansion was usually occupied by one of his subordinates, who lived in Hamburg since.
The identity of the businessman is known to everyone. But in fact, this mansion belongs to Duke Otto. He has several such mansions in the Alemannic Federation, most of which are named by other people. The specific location is only his and his
The cronies know.
The subordinates living in these mansions are active in various parts of the Alemannic Federation under various disguised identities, helping Duke Otto to carry out various secret works. And this time, he also entered this house in the name of "borrowing"
Of luxury home.
Duke Otto was changing clothes in his room, while the "owner" of this mansion stood outside the door and reported to him the latest situation in Hamburg.
"In addition to the nobles just mentioned, there are also the Earl of Sauron, the Earl of Allgäu...the Duke of Bohemia and the Duke of Burgundy are also here..."
"I didn't expect so many people to come. The combined territories of these nobles account for nearly one-third of the entire Alemannic Federation." Duke Otto said while putting on his boots with the help of his servants, "It seems that
, we will soon be able to send an ultimatum to the Count of Île-de-France."
"One more thing. The 'Triumpher' from Stade is also here."
"King of Sweden? She obviously refused to hand over those believers. What is she doing here? How many troops did she bring?"
"More than fifty people."
"There are not many people, so we can't make any big waves. The soldiers of the Pirate Kingdom are relatively brave, so we still have to be careful. Send my personal guards over and keep an eye on them."
"That..." The subordinate outside the door hesitated to speak.
"how?"
"The King of Sweden did bring more than fifty people, but more than twenty of them were circus people... They are now performing circuses for the audience on the high platform... Because they are the King of Sweden, we don't dare to pull them down.
."
Prince Otto opened the door with a bang, looking as if he had seen a ghost. He still had a half-worn boot on his left foot.
"Circus show? What's going on in that woman's head?"
"No...I don't know. I thought you would know, Lord Duke..."
"...Forget it, I don't think she dared to rob someone today. Let's just treat this as a warm-up before the main show. But we still have to keep an eye on their every move."
The subordinate nodded and hurriedly walked out. Then Duke Otto closed the door and continued to put on the half-worn boots. But not long after, there was another knock on the door. The subordinate's voice came again.
It rang: "Your Majesty the Duke, there are guests who want to see you."
"Guest? Who? Is he from somewhere noble?"
"Sir, I am not a noble..."
"That's the businessman? I'm getting dressed! And the barbecue is about to start! I don't have time to see them!"
"My lord, you are not a businessman, you are a commoner..."
"Civilians?" Duke Otto scolded, "What do you do for food? Just drive away the finished work and come to report to me?"
"This..." The subordinate struggled to organize his words. After all, what he was going to say next could not be known to the servants around Duke Otto, "...it is the 'people on the mountain'"
"'People on the mountain'?" Duke Otto immediately understood the meaning. He asked the servants to retreat first, and then whispered to the subordinate: "Invite them in... take the back door and don't let anyone see it.
