dognovel Chapter 500: Clergy also need to take the civil service exam
Chapter 500: Clergy also need to take the civil service exam
The cemetery on the outskirts of Helmingen is as silent as iron, and the gray-white granite tombstones glow coldly in the setting autumn sun.
They are arranged in neat squares, just like the strict military appearance on the battlefield in the past, and each tombstone is engraved with the name of the fallen soldiers.
The wind swept across the cemetery, picking up a few fallen leaves and rustling the low bushes.
Next to a newly dug pit in the cemetery, a soldier was walking with steady steps.
He stood tall and straight, the metal parts of his armor shone matte in the sun, and the soles of his boots rolled over the withered yellow grass leaves, making slight crackling sounds.
His hands respectfully held an urn tightly wrapped in the black, white and red tricolor flag.
His steps were neither hurried nor slow, and each step seemed to be precisely measured, and he finally stopped in front of the grave.
He slowly knelt down on one knee, and the metal knee pad made a slight muffled sound when it touched the cold soil.
His movements were extremely gentle, as if he was holding a faint flame, for fear of disturbing the peace of the sleeper.
He gently placed the urn into the pit with precise and restrained movements, then stood up and stared quietly at the tombstone with the name on it.
The bugler stood aside, he took a deep breath, and the bugle sounded suddenly, a long one at first, and then it stretched into a sad melody.
The other soldiers walked towards the pit in silence, each picked up a shovel, and filled the pit with one shovel each.
As the last shovel of soil fell, the outline of the soil layer was no longer clear. The soldiers put down their shovels, stood in a line, and saluted the new grave in unison again.
The bugler raised the bugle and blew the last low melody. The sound gradually dissipated in the wind, as if carrying some kind of unexpressed farewell.
John stood not far away, watching all this in silence.
He had originally come only to inspect the progress of the construction of the Martyrs' Cemetery. After discovering that a silent burial ceremony was being held here, he did not step forward to disturb them. Instead, he stood there quietly, his eyes following the soldiers' movements inch by inch.
It was not until the last ceremony of the funeral was completed that the soldiers suddenly noticed John not far away. The sunlight shone through the sparse clouds, casting a dazzling light on the crown of the man's helmet.
"Your Majesty..."
A soldier suddenly opened his eyes wide and the shovel in his hand fell to the ground with a clang.
The crisp sound was like a lit fuse, instantly exploding among the soldiers.
"Yes, Your Majesty..."
"Really, Your Majesty..."
Several veterans dropped their shovels first and slammed their knees against the ground, making a heavy thud. Other soldiers also put down their tools and knelt on one knee in the same manner.
The entire cemetery fell silent in an instant, leaving only the rustling of the wind through the grass and the muffled sound of military boots kneeling on the ground.
John's eyes calmly swept over the soldiers kneeling on the ground, but he did not speak immediately.
He stood there like a cast iron statue, his eyes fixed on the tombstones in the distance.
"Have the remains of the fallen soldiers been buried?"
The older soldier stepped forward and answered:
"Not yet. Some are still investigating the soldier's name. We will find out as soon as possible, and hold the funeral as soon as the identity is confirmed."
John nodded slightly:
"Well... I must pay attention to this matter..."
He spoke slowly and steadily, each syllable clear and powerful. The soldiers noticed that his eyes never left the tombstones, as if he was measuring every inch of the land.
"All martyrs must be buried in peace... After the martyrs' cemetery is built..."
The last few words were pronounced with particular clarity:
"Every year I pay tribute to these soldiers who sacrificed their lives for the country."
The soldiers' eyes gradually changed. They knew that the king would keep his word and fulfilled all his promises last time.
Now, even the smallest remains are given the same guarantee.
The veteran wiped away the tears from his eyes, and the others straightened their backs.
After inspecting the Martyrs' Cemetery, John went straight to the city of St. John.
At this time, the city of St. John was still in the post-war reconstruction stage. Ruins could be seen everywhere, and craftsmen were busy repairing the damage caused by the war.
At the same time, new buildings are rising from the ground in the city.
"Once St. John's City is fully restored, people from countries like Midland, the Dharma Hall, and Yoda will come here to make a pilgrimage."
"In order to accommodate these guests coming from afar, a number of hotels need to be built."
Pros said proudly:
"Especially in places where you can see St. John's Cathedral from the window, travelers need to pay extra to stay there."
"My purpose for coming here is that next spring, I will be holding the first clergy examination in the Kingdom of Helderland. The examination will be held in St. John's City."
John stood on the marble square of St. John's City, looking firmly at the newly built church spire in the distance, and said:
"Moreover, the clergy in the country will be under your management in the future and will receive salaries directly from the government. This will at least solve their food and clothing problems."
In John's territory, since the King of France had ordered that tithes were not required to be paid, the clergy could not exploit the residents under the pretext of collecting tithes as they did in other places.
They could not do business, and without the income from tithes, the priests had to preach to the residents while working in the fields and growing vegetables to support themselves. Those who were more capable would also work part-time as teachers, doctors, veterinarians, etc.
With the salary, the priests can devote more energy to their work.
"Ok, no problem."
Pros agreed immediately. He had never been in charge of so many people before, and he was a little excited when he thought about it.
John put away his serious expression, relaxed a little, and asked casually:
"Oh, by the way, I heard you wrote a book?"
Pros was stunned, then smiled:
"I just heard that writing a book can make money, so I just wrote one."
"I read it, it's pretty well written, realistic and interesting."
John nodded, a hint of appreciation in his tone.
Pros chuckled:
"Of course, I adapted it based on my personal experience."
At the same time, on a rugged dirt road in the Yoda Empire, an open carriage was moving slowly forward.
Min Caier in the carriage was holding a book and reading with a frown on his face.
The driver sat in the front and glanced back at him from time to time, seeming puzzled by the passenger's concentration.
Min Caier's fingers gently ran across the pages of the book, and his eyes gradually became profound.
Suddenly, he closed the book, leaned back on the cushions of the carriage, and lowered his head in deep thought.
“So this is what a real clergyman is.”
He muttered to himself, his brows relaxed, and a glimmer of understanding flashed in his eyes.
The carriage continued to move forward, raising a cloud of dust, but Min Caier didn't care about the dust clinging to his robe because his thoughts drifted farther away.
"How can I save my compatriots..."