Free Web NovelChapter 1199: Chapter 1127: Stirring Up the Atmosphere
Horn ultimately did not manage to talk to Jeanne for now; the Expo affairs are too busy, and Jeanne also seems to be deliberately avoiding him.
However, he remained persistent and eventually stopped Jeanne, arranging a dinner invitation.
The dinner is scheduled after the Expo since he is too occupied for now.
In the meantime, all efforts are focused on preparing for the Expo.
Soon, letters accompanied by invitations were widely sent across the Empire.
With the help of newspaper mogul Lupher Lakin, newspapers from various cities continuously reported, creating a buzz.
Things like "Purchase a hydraulic steel grinder, earn back your capital within half a year, let your mill be twice as fast as your peers!"
Or "No need to buy overpriced refined iron from smugglers anymore! Orders can be placed here directly, saving up to 1 gold pound per pound!"
Or "With this machine, your three weavers equal thirty! The pressure has been shifted to the manual labor team side."
Or "Which is faster, machine or horse? Spring machine car versus carriage, place your bets!"
To grab attention, reports even covered "Saint’s Grandson coldly rejecting Charlie, King snobbishly attending the Expo."
It’s worth mentioning, despite the fact that Horn and Charlie truly have nothing between them, and this is well-known.
Yet, Charlie’s overly borderless tone led to a bunch of small Falan aristocrats spreading rumors about this matter.
In the Holy Alliance, such reports and rumors could really land you in jail, even lead to exile to the eastern county.
Soon, under the dual pressure of the Holy Alliance and Falan, these tabloids quickly disappeared.
No matter what, people in major cities of the Empire are seeing this advertising offensive for the first time.
Compared to future generations’ indifference, the Holy Alliance Expo has already become the biggest topic in the Empire’s news industry these days.
Apart from eye-catching content like the spring machine car racing horses and humans versus machines weaving, there are exhibitions of the Leia Crown, Holy Cabinet, and Dragon Head.
Originally meant to showcase new agricultural machinery and promote Holy Alliance-style agricultural revolution.
In the end, upon hearing agricultural machinery was up, the Industrial Department insisted on participating too.
Upon hearing the Industrial Department was up, the Exorcism Court’s Arsenal also wanted to participate; it’s been a long time since the Holy Alliance expanded its military, the Arsenal is under significant pressure.
As for the Holy Machinery Court Hall, upon hearing, they also joined to develop more immigration efforts.
In the end, it was no longer a simple Expo for the Holy Alliance but became a rare grand event.
Horn originally didn’t want such extravagance, but considering the suppression of economic momentum from the recent cleanup campaign.
Using the Expo to stimulate the economy may not be a bad idea, so he tacitly agreed.
......
Longbow Castle.
Unlike two years ago, Longbow Castle is no longer as dirty and dark.
Due to not needing to pay city ransom tax, and a large batch of oligarchs falling and having their assets confiscated.
Several affluent cities of Dawn Island rapidly expanded positions such as cleaners, postal workers, and printing workers for the migrants.
As for the church land outside the city, it was auctioned off among oligarchs, citizens, and farmers.
The Holy Alliance also sent over a batch of devout currency, establishing savings banks and Saintess Bank in several major towns.
With increased currency circulation, the Dawn Federation immediately regained some of its former prosperity, even surpassing it.
Monks sent from the Holy Alliance carried out sweeping reforms on Dawn Island.
Beginning with clearing out crime, eradicating bandits and robbers.
Next was establishing an urban-rural exchange system, which directly allowed Favor Department Store to set up branches.
Finally, too narrow alleys and streets were demolished, a large number of city residents and new immigrants were relocated to newly built housing.
Many of these were monastery lands, courtyards, houses, or hotels, now transformed into residential areas.
These residential areas became new reform zones for the monks from the Holy Alliance to display their skills.
Soon, one shop after another, like grocery stores and tool shops, were quickly established.
On the street named "Black Laurel Garden," newspaper boys from orphanages jumped and waved their newspapers.
"Good news, Dawn Federation’s first consumption tax has been collected!"
"News, Schüttler oligarch family announces betting three thousand gold pounds on spring machine cars being no match for carriages!"
"News, Major news, Joan, Chairman, will appear at the Holy Alliance Expo!"
"Hey, kid." A hand suddenly reached out from a carriage parked next to the bank and called out, "Give me a paper."
The newspaper boy walked over and the person took the newspaper and withdrew into the carriage.
Underneath the high brim was oligarch Mossley.
But compared to before, his attire had become much more downtrodden.
The oak carriage had been replaced with cedar, fine cowhide leather swapped for donkey hide, even the four tall black horses had turned into mottled ponies.
Reading the news in the newspaper, Mossley sighed.
His oligarch family was implicated in a treason case, and his family also faced disassembly from uncles and elders.
Though not a member of the Ten, it wasn’t easy—he narrowly escaped after much struggle.
But compared to before, both movable and immovable assets had shrunk by tenfold.
Currently, Joan as Chairman, despite being the Shepherd Leader of the Dawn Federation, basically does not handle political affairs—she only commands the army.
In reality, the army is managed by the three giants: Michelle Nai, Socette Meyer, and Tola Kuske.
As for political affairs, they are handled by Bradak Ruway and Piatus Riedel, two permanent deputy Shepherd Leaders.
In other words, Joan is a virtual ruler with nine thousand veto votes.
But this does not mean that Joan has no power except for the nine thousand veto votes.
During Joan’s "retirement," she left the Dawn Federation with three major policies.
First, to establish "One Nation’s Holy Sect" on Dawn Island.
Essentially, this is a demand for the Dawn Federation to emulate the Holy Alliance, conducting political transformation internally.
Second, three major reforms—reform agriculture, reform livelihood, reform industry.
On the foundation of the Dawn Federation, this means crossing the river by feeling Holy Alliance’s stones bit by bit.
Third, to narrow the wealth gap and establish a unified market system for circulation.
This implies taking action against oligarchs—effectively, the army has been dismantling large oligarch families for some time.
Dismantling was so easy because the family structure of oligarch families was inherently unstable.
These oligarch families were essentially trade networks composed of various local subsidiary branches.
No need for much effort, as long as there is good credit and military support, these subsidiary branches can dismantle the main family themselves.
Despite appearing significant, Mossley now is just a hollow shell; he urgently needs a chance to rise again.
He needs to connect with a heavyweight figure as a protective umbrella.
Otherwise, those distant uncles will swarm like sharks sensing blood, devouring his family wealth bit by bit.
"Expo of Nations, Joan will attend, which means Her Highness Jeanne will too..."
Joan being Jeanne is essentially not a secret among the upper middle class of the Dawn Federation.
Just that the Holy Alliance does not recognize it, hence the Dawn Federation’s official stance neither admits nor denies it.
Mossley took scissors and cut out the important content from the newspaper.
Sitting inside the carriage, he placed the notebook on his knee, opened it, and read each message from the clippings.
"Competition between manual and machine teams," "Spring machine cars outperform carriages," "Schüttler bets on carriages"...
Can the water wheel outperform horses? Despite thinking Schüttler is foolish, Mossley couldn’t help but agree with his view.
If water wheels could surpass horses, why aren’t there water wheel soldiers but only Knights?
Do you think you are smarter than ancestors and the El people?
If Mossley’s guess is correct, this Expo of Nations is surely an external product showcase by the Holy Alliance.
But this showcase is undoubtedly more of a gimmick than reality—more political than economic.
Rather than a product exhibition, it should be called a power positioning event.
Schüttler’s move is visibly pushing himself against the Holy Alliance—how foolish!
Others’ foolishness is his greatest advantage.
Currently, the strongest backer of Dawn Island is Jeanne; Jeanne’s strongest backer is the Saint’s Grandson.
If he could ally himself with Horn, he might not reclaim his family wealth, but he could at least halt those relatives suing him.
For a reliable protective umbrella, no matter how much the cost, it is worth it.
"Steward, prepare; tomorrow we’ll head to Thousand River Valley to join the Expo."
