Law of the Devil

The carriage of the archbishop of the North Central Diocese did not keep Du Wei waiting for too long, and arrived early the next morning.

The arrival of an archbishop in charge of the educational affairs of several provinces of one side naturally caused an earthquake in the local officials. The status of an archbishop is no less than Du Wei, the duke. What's more, he has mastered the religious affairs of several provinces, has a large amount of fiscal revenue in his hands every year, and is also in charge of a holy knight order. There are millions of believers in the diocese, and he may become the future pope.

Such a person does not seem to be as arrogant as Du Wei imagined. It is different from what the mayor said before. The archbishop's entourage is not many. In fact, Du Wei originally thought that there would be a convoy, but in the morning, there was only one carriage at the pier.

Surrounded by local officials, several of the archbishop's entourage boarded the ship together and met with Du Wei.

The first meeting was very friendly. Archbishop Maximus is a very graceful old man, wearing a black clergyman's robe. It can be seen that he is very plainly dressed. This robe It is also old, and the corners seem to have some traces of wear and tear. And his silver hair stood upright neatly, with a warm smile on his face and kind eyes. From any point of view, he doesn't look like an archbishop who is in charge of the religious affairs of several provinces. Instead, he looks like a priest in a small local religious institution, with an ordinary appearance. An old man with a kind smile. The only difference is probably his eyes.

His eyes were clear and deep, flashing the wisdom and shrewdness unique to an old man of his age.

"Dear Duke." Archbishop Maximos bowed slightly to Du Wei: "First of all, I would like to express my gratitude to you. Thank you for allowing me to take your boat back to the imperial capital, and thank you for waiting for me here night."

Du Wei returned the salute with a smile: "You are too polite, my lord. It is really an honor for me to have a distinguished guest like you on my boat. Moreover, it is nothing to stay here for one more night, you see. The river bank The scenery is beautiful."

After a few pleasantries, the archbishop introduced his entourage.

In fact, as the Archbishop of a diocese, Jean Duvey was oddly so. The retinue of Archbishop Maximus was too small. When he came on board, except for himself. There are only three people. A coachman, an old man in the robes of a priest. Probably a role like the vicar. There is also a knight in armor. It's just that the knight helped the coachman to carry the ceremony.

Subsequently, Du Wei sent away the local officials who saw him off. Welcoming Maximus into his cabin.

"Please sit down. My archbishop." Du Wei smiled and asked his subordinates to bring tea. Then he said, "To be honest, you are the highest-ranking clergyman I have ever seen."

"Oh?" Maximos' expression changed: "Your Excellency, you were born in the imperial capital. With your status, have you never met His Majesty the Pope before? Although His Majesty has rarely appeared in public in recent years, But His Majesty will personally preside over the grand ceremony of the temple every year."

Du Wei shook his head: "No. Oh, I'm sorry. I'm not a believer in the temple. So I haven't participated in the ceremony of the Temple of Light."

This Maximus was indeed very personable, and he didn't show any weird expressions after hearing this, but just smiled casually: "I hope that the Duke can enter the embrace of God as soon as possible. If you change your mind one day in the future. I would like to baptize you myself."

Then Maximus introduced the other old man beside him to Du Wei: "This is my close assistant and most loyal friend. Father Ramsay is also one of the vicar bishops of our North Central Diocese." for a moment. He smiled and said: "We are rushing back to the imperial capital this time. To participate in the annual temple ceremony. At the same time, according to the tradition, we have to meet His Majesty the Pope and personally report to him on the work in the diocese last year. It is a pity. Our land ship It’s broken, so I can only go ashore temporarily. I wish I could bring dozens of followers, but because the traveling speed of the large group of horses and horses is too slow, in order to get here, I had to leave the large group of horses and horses and come here alone in a light carriage. gone."

Du Wei nodded and thought to himself: You are anxious to go back to report to work because you are trying to please the Pope. No wonder you are so anxious to gain more weight in the competition to succeed the Pope.

But he said with a smile: "Master Archbishop, you don't have to worry. I still have many servants on board. With me, you will be treated like the most honored guest. I have already cleared out a clean cabin for you to rest in." .Well, by the way, I don't think you've had your breakfast yet, and I've got it ready."

The two exchanged pleasantries for a while, but the vice-bishop Ramsay always looked a little uneasy. Compared with Maximus's demeanor, the vice-bishop Ramsay seemed a little more wretched, looking like He seemed to be the most ordinary skinny old man, his eyes were white and black, his bones were bony, and his appearance was quite unpleasant.

Seeing Maximus and Du Wei exchanging greetings, he seemed hesitant to speak several times.

At this moment, a majestic and mighty voice came from outside. It sounded like thunder through the door.

"My lord, the salute has been done."

When Maximus heard this voice, a sincere smile appeared on his face: "Ah, this is my accompanying guard Rhine, Your Excellency, please let him in."

With Du Wei's permission, the cabin door was pushed open, and an extremely majestic man walked in from the outside!

Even if Du Wei is used to seeing all kinds of fierce generals in the northwest, including Longbottom and Gaida under his own command, they are all burly guys, and after going to the Northwest Army, he also met Lu Gao's subordinates. The many fierce generals of...

Even so, Du Wei couldn't help but take a deep breath when he saw Maximus' guard for the first time!

Is this guy... really a samurai?

From visual inspection, this guy named Rhine is at least two meters tall! And I'm afraid the height can be called a little giant! Because he was standing in the cabin, his head had just reached the ceiling.

He wears the largest suit of knight armor. It is also the style of a knight of the Holy Knights, with a body as thick as a giant bear, as if full of an explosive power! As for his exposed parts outside the armor, his muscles are knotted, and I am afraid that those so-called "bodybuilders" Du Wei has seen in his previous life are far inferior. Such a giant man... Du Wei just visually inspected it, and immediately confirmed one thing: this guy's arms are definitely thicker than his own thighs! And it's twice as thick! .

Such a monster...is he still human?

His appearance is also very strange, a square face, the outline still looks like a normal person, but his appearance is really not human. Lion nose and wide mouth. Coupled with the pair of eyes that are like copper bells, it is like a lion transformed into a human. Plus his long brown hair. It looks even more like a lion's mane!

Such a person, if not seen during the day. But if they meet by chance in the middle of the night, they will definitely scare people to their knees, thinking that they saw a monster with a lion head and a human body.

He just stood in the cabin, and the two guards under Du Wei who followed beside him looked as if they had turned into dwarfs. Moreover, what does Du Wei think. It seems to be able to feel it. This guy named Rhine has a pair of eyes. Full of an indelible wild taste.

Seeing Du Wei looking at his guard, Maximos smiled: "Your Excellency, this is my guard. He is also my most loyal subordinate, Rhine. I named him Rhine. His appearance The place of birth is strange, and his life experience is also very pitiful. I found him in the wild many years ago. He actually grew up with a group of wild animals. It seems that he was abandoned by his parents in the wilderness and raised by wild animals because of his strange appearance. I think he is pitiful , I took him back to raise him. Thinking about it now, it has been more than ten years. Don't look at him as rude, but he is actually a very good boy."

After finishing speaking, he looked for his hand, his face was full of kindness: "Rhein, salute Grand Duke Tulip."

"Yes." There was another voice like thunder, and this Rhine immediately knelt down on one knee and performed the most solemn one-knee salute of a knight. Seeing him kneeling heavily, Du Wei was even worried that the floor of his cabin might crack if this guy knelt down.

"I have seen Lord Tulip Duke." The thunderous voice almost made Du Wei's eardrums ache. Seeing such a mighty and majestic man, Du Wei couldn't help liking him, so he quickly got him up and asked someone to bring a chair for him to sit on. It's just that he's such a big guy, there's no chair for him to sit on. The ordinary chair, when pressed by his buttocks, immediately snapped and shattered.

Seeing Rhine's bewildered expression, Maximus laughed: "I am a knight, my weight is too much higher than ordinary people's. His weight is five or six times that of ordinary people. I can't sit in an ordinary chair. My lord, Just let him stand."

Du Wei also laughed and said: "I have a lot of filth with the grassland people in the northwest. My favorite is a strong general like the Rhine Knight. It doesn't matter if you can't sit on the chair!" Zhang Duan collapsed, and only then did Rhine sit down. He asked someone to bring up the prepared meals, and ate with Maximus and the others in the cabin.

They also specially asked people to prepare a large barrel of fine wine and a pot of beef for this Rhine.

Du Wei is most interested in this Rhine. Seeing Rhine drinking happily, with a barrel of fine wine, he casually lifted the huge wooden barrel, widened his mouth, gurgled a few times, and his thick Adam's apple went up and down. , Immediately poured down half a barrel. After putting down the wooden barrel heavily, he sighed and looked at Du Wei with a simple and honest smile: "Thank you! I haven't had such a good drink for a long time."

Du Wei was stunned: "Why, don't you usually drink alcohol? I remember that although the holy knight requires penance, he doesn't abstain from alcohol."

Maximus's face sank next to him: "Rhein, have you forgotten my words again? Why don't you pray before eating?"

Rhine immediately put down the wine barrel, and that stern face was full of shame: "Yes."

Afterwards, Maximus and the bishop of Ramsay crossed their arms, closed their eyes and prayed to the food in front of them, and said something in their mouths: "Thank God, I have food to eat and clothes to wear..."

Although Du Wei didn't think so about this kind of prayer. But looking at the piety on Maximus's face, it came from the heart, without any pretense, and he didn't say much. Out of politeness, they also put down their knives and forks until they finished praying.

Finally, after several people opened their eyes, Du Wei said with a smile: "Master Bishop, you are too harsh on this knight. Does such a strong general have no alcohol on weekdays?"

Maximos smiled wryly, feeling a little embarrassed. He whispered: "This... Your Excellency Duke, you don't know. Rhine's stature is far larger than that of ordinary people, and his appetite is also amazing. The food he eats every day is five or six times that of ordinary people. , and I’m afraid I can drink ten or twenty times more. Although I am an archbishop, my salary is limited, and I don’t usually have much money to buy him alcohol.”

When Du Wei heard this, he couldn't help but be amazed.

salary?

What a joke! The dignified archbishop. Living on a paycheck?

Although Du Wei also knew. All the official priests, the temple pays their salaries...but. What is the identity of the archbishop? It is equivalent to being a prince under the church! Take charge of church finances and military forces in several provinces!

That kind of people. Say something like this to yourself. Is it to show his integrity? Du Wei has never had a good impression of the people in the Temple of Light. Because in his opinion. These guys are nothing more than money-swindlers. In the northwest, he knew the local bishops of several temples. But they are all full of fat. In front of people, he looked pitiful and compassionate. Food and wine behind the scenes. The food is the blood and sweat dedicated by those ordinary poor people

It is also tax collection, but handing over the money to the government is very different from handing over to these gods. At least Du Wei thought to himself that in the northwest, although the government collects taxes, it builds a bridge today and a road tomorrow. On weekdays, he is also responsible for civil affairs. The so-called land tax is collected from the people and used for the people.

But these fat-headed god sticks. What did you do with the tax? Just sit in the temple that is warm in winter and cool in summer and pray to the gods, and then take the blood and sweat of those believers?

But this... Archbishop Maximus. But in front of himself, he showed a kind of integrity that was completely different from other gods?

such a move. Is it true or false?

From Du Wei's point of view. Such a person. Or he is a saint who is truly compassionate and noble. either. It is the generation of treacherous and evil people!

Looking at Du Wei's expression. The archdeacon of Ramsay smiled. This guy not only looks wretched, but also seems to speak harshly: "Your Excellency, it seems to be against the personnel of our temple. There has always been some prejudice. I don't deny that in other places, some priests have acted ashamed of the robes they wear. But in the jurisdiction of Archbishop Maximus, including ourselves, every clergyman lives strictly according to his own salary standards. There is absolutely no depletion of the temple's religious tax land, and there is no such thing as greed and corruption. ".

As he said that, Bishop Ramsay pointed to the exquisite delicacies on the plate in front of him, and said with a smile: "It is thanks to the blessing of His Excellency the Duke that I can eat such delicious food today. Usually in the religious center, Maximus and I An adult's lunch is nothing more than a plate of bean stew."

Du Wei had a strange expression on his face, and this Ramsay continued: "As for wine... Lord Maximus has always advocated economy, wine is a luxury, and a lot of grain is wasted to brew it. Therefore, in our North Central In the diocese, the bishop has always advised those believers not to promote drinking."

After hearing this, Du Wei looked at these guys carefully and began to have some doubts, but the god robes on Maximus and Ramsay were half old and not new, with many wear and tear. And this Rhine, the armor style on his body is also very old, and even the leather boots under his feet are obviously worn for a long time.

These guys are temporarily boarding their own boat, and they have nothing to do with him. If it is a fake, there is really no need to pretend like this in front of him.

Moreover, this Rhine looked like a rough man with no plans, definitely not like a guy who would lie.

Could it be...the people in these temples are really one in a million, truly compassionate and devout believers?

Thinking of this, Du Wei couldn't help feeling a little respectful, and asked someone to bring up a bucket of wine, and said with a smile: "In this case, let this Rhine knight drink to his heart's content in my territory today. "

But this Rhine, after drinking a barrel, honestly put down the barrel, and said solemnly: "Thank you, Lord Duke, but... one barrel is enough. I am responsible for protecting the safety of the godfather. I dare not get drunk."

godfather?

Du Wei glanced at Maximus, and Maximos smiled slightly: "Yes. Yes, I raised this child since he was a child. I have officially baptized him. He also recognized me as godfather."

Du Wei nodded. Looking at this Rhine, my heart suddenly moved. His eyes fell on the knight badge on his chest, and he couldn't help being a little stunned.

Hussein next to Du Wei was originally the Grand Knight Commander of the Holy Knights. On weekdays, Hussein had already told Du Wei how to identify the various grade marks of the Holy Knight's identity badge.

Generally speaking. Holy knights will wear two badges on their chests, one is a badge that symbolizes the official knight rank issued by the Knights Association, and the other is a badge that represents the status of a knight of the Holy Knights.

But this Rhine's chest. But he doesn't have the badge of the Knights Association... In other words, he doesn't have an official knight rank?

And even his only badge that symbolizes the status of a holy knight... Judging from the badge level that Hussein told Du Weidi. The badge on Rhine's chest is among the ranks of the Holy Knights. The most low-level one!

An "Alternate Holy Knight" badge!

Alternate?

That is. Such a giant. They are not even officially considered holy knights. It's just an alternate.

Du Wei is not an idiot who judges people by their appearance. Of course, I don't think that because this guy is big, he must be good at it.

But. This Maximus dared to take such a guard on the road. That's for sure. This Rhine must have outstanding skills.

only. A... alternate knight?

Du Wei's heart moved, and he deliberately asked: "Since Rhine is a holy knight, he should also have a salary on weekdays. I have heard that the church treats holy knights very preferentially. From this point of view, don't Rhine knights still have a salary on weekdays?" Don't have money to drink?"

Ramsay seems to be a person who is very good at observing words and emotions. He smiled after hearing this: "This... Rhine is not an official holy knight. He just gave it a name for the convenience of following the bishop."

Maximus smiled, and said lightly: "Line has been with me for a long time. I don't want him to leave my side. You know, my lord, if you want to become a real holy knight, you have to leave me and become a knight." The headquarters of the regiment received strict training. Since this child came to me ten years ago, he has never left me. I am also reluctant to let him leave. Therefore, I just let him hang a name."

paused. He laughed again: "Besides, Rhine has never practiced any martial arts or swordsmanship, and what he relies on is just brute force. To tell you the truth, he has not even mastered basic swordsmanship until now. So, I'm afraid he Even if you go to the holy knight training, you probably won’t pass. Ramsay is right. Let him hang up the status of an alternate knight. It’s just to follow me. It’s just convenient in name.”

here we go. Du Wei couldn't ask any more questions. A few people casually chatted about some local scenery in the northwest, and talked about some things in the parish.

After the meal. Du Wei was about to send them back to the cabin to rest, when Lao Yan walked in from outside suddenly, with a somewhat uncomfortable look on his face, and after entering the door, he said, "Your Excellency...on the river ahead. It's a bit weird."

"What's wrong?"

Lao Yan hesitated for a moment. Du Wei said, "Say it directly."

"Yes!" Lao Yan said solemnly: "The section ahead is the narrowest part of the river, and there is a big boat in the middle of the river blocking our way. We signaled to go over and let them make way. They replied that the boat was broken. gone."

"Can't we go around?" Du Wei frowned.

"My lord." Lao Yan took a deep breath: "Their boat is not small, and it is lying across the river. They also put down a few small boats around, our standard-bearer told me. The cargo on the boat was transported to the shore. But in this way, the river was blocked, and we couldn't pass. Besides, I think those small boats are weird... I have already asked people to slow down. Tell the brothers to be alert. Look what they are doing eccentric."

Du Wei hummed, and his expression was neither happy nor angry. He just glanced at Maximus and the others around him.

really. That Ramsay's face changed immediately, but Maximus looked calm, just glanced at Du Wei, and then sighed: "Master Duke, it seems that we have caused you trouble."

"Trouble?" Du Wei smiled.

Maximus seemed a little embarrassed, and pondered for a while: "My lord, please stop the boat and give us a boat, and we will go ashore. This matter is aimed at us. You are honorable, so you should not It's better to get involved."

As soon as Du Wei said this, he also murmured in his heart: "What did you say... the sky is bright, and as the archbishop of the diocese, does anyone dare to openly stop you on the way? Could it be the Pope?" Order?".

Archdeacon Ramsay snorted: "How could His Majesty the Pope do such a thing! Hmph, Your Majesty has always appreciated our Bishop...but..."

Having said that, Maximus coughed, and Ramsay quickly closed his mouth.

"Your Excellency, please give us a small boat and let us go ashore." Maximus said with a sincere face, "This is an internal matter of our temple. If you are involved, it will bring you big trouble. Thank you Let's take a boat, but I don't want you to be involved in such a thing."

After finishing speaking, he yelled at Rhine: "Rhein, those guys came here the day before yesterday, and we are going to leave."

"Yes, godfather, you wait here, I'll go out to take care of them first!!" The giant man immediately dropped a cow leg in his hand, stood up, and was about to go out.

Lao Yan looked at Du Wei, waiting for Du Wei's order.

Du Wei looked at Maximos, and then at Lao Yan.

That's right, there's really no need for me to get involved in this kind of thing...

However, he was on his own boat, and if something happened to him, he would drive him off the boat... If this is the case, how can I, the majestic Tulip Duke, continue to mess around? I lost my face!

Besides... It seems that it is probably an internal struggle in the temple?

Infighting... very good! Very good!

Thinking of this, Du Wei said expressionlessly: "My lord, please sit down. Since you are on my boat, you are my honored guest. Although Tulip is not a great person, she is not a coward who just makes people intimidated."

Then Du Wei also stood up, and ordered to Lao Yan: "Go, raise my tulip flag! I want to see, who dares to intercept my boat on the road!"

After Lao Yan went out, Du Wei took a deep look at Maximos, and said in a deep voice: "Master Bishop, you don't need to say anything about disembarking! Since you are on my boat, no matter whether you disembark or not, I will not take this trouble." There is no way to hide. In any case, you are my guest on my ship, if my guest is damaged in my territory, will I, Duke Tulip, still be a human being in the future?"

Then, he took two steps closer and said in a low voice: "What is the trouble, I think you should tell me something."

There was a flash of gratitude in Maximus' eyes, and then he sighed long, and did not answer Du Wei's words directly, but said this sentence as if lightly:

"His Majesty the Pope has been getting worse and worse in the past two years..."

These words seemed to have nothing to do with Du Wei's question, but when Du Wei heard it, he suddenly realized something. He seemed to have a smile on his face, then turned his head to look at Ramsay, and asked inscrutablely: "Is it from the south?"

Ramsay hesitated, and said in a low voice, "It should be from the Southeast Parish."

Hearing this, Du Wei felt a little relieved, and soon had an idea.

Is the church infighting?

Since this is the case, even if you tell me to hide this matter, I will not hide it!

He intentionally showed anger on his face, and said loudly: "The people from the southeast parish actually extended their hands to the north! Do you really think that there is no one in the north of us!"

After finishing speaking, Du Wei strode out of the cabin. .