Gwen sat at the head of the conference table, leaning against the back of the high chair. He smiled as he watched the expressions of the nobles in the Southern Territory change.
Everyone's reaction was clear to him, and no one's reaction was out of his expectations.
Confusion, astonishment, silence, resistance, slight contemplation, and a few overflowing anger.
The nobles themselves were of no use. Their rule had collapsed. After losing their land and army, the nobles who left the castle were useless. Keeping them in prison would only consume food, and sending them to work would not create much wealth. Moreover, Gawain did not think that simple labor and education would be able to change these stubborn and slow-witted people. Therefore, he did not care about their attitudes and their wishes.
But the "additional value" of these nobles aside from themselves was useful.
To establish a new order from the rigid and backward old order, the most likely and biggest problem for the pioneers was the stubbornness and counterattack of the old order.
Although it was difficult to change the customs of the people at the bottom, in this social background close to the Middle Ages, the people were numb and had no freedom. At most, they would be slow to respond to orders because of their numbness and ignorance, but they would never refuse the orders of the lord. Therefore, although it was difficult to change customs and promote education, it was more of a matter of time and cost. In contrast, the "system" left behind by the old nobles was the biggest challenge.
The "scholars" and "retainers" that were born from the aristocratic system, the extralegal mercenaries (legal Extraordinaire bandits) that were hired by the old nobles, or simply formed by the illegitimate and adopted children of the old nobles, and the exiled Knight and Knight who abandoned their oaths after the collapse of the old nobles. These groups were destined to be affected or had already been affected in the process of the change of the old order. These groups were the biggest obstacles in the process of social transformation. These people's unwillingness to cooperate was enough to cause huge trouble for the new government office, not to mention that some of them had even become violent factors that directly threatened the security of the territory.
Gwen knew that he was lucky. Compared to many pioneers who tried to establish a new order, his biggest advantage was that he was not only the founder of the new order, but he also represented the highest authority of the old order. As one of the founders of the Ansu Kingdom, he had enough "legal justice" to set the rules for the operation of society. Even if someone questioned it, he did not have to care at all.
Now that he knew this, he had to make the best use of his "legal justice". He had to deprive and transfer the old nobles of their rights in a way that was consistent with the legal principles. He had to use the "legal principles" of the old nobles to complete the smooth transition of the system, so as to minimize the counterattack of the old order, or rather, reduce the excuse for their counterattack.
Gwen could despise the rules and order of the old aristocratic system, but since the people of this era recognized them, he could also make use of these rules and order without any pressure, as long as they were of sufficient value.
"Ladies and gentlemen, these documents are not that difficult to understand, right?" Gwen estimated the time. When he saw that there were nobles who could not help but want to speak, he broke the silence. "If you understand them, sign them."
"Duke … Duke." A slightly plump middle-aged man finally could not help but stand up first. "The contents of these documents … Are you serious?"
"Of course." Gwen nodded. "What else?"
Then he slowly stood up, swept his eyes across everyone's face, and said slowly, "… Except for keeping the castle, all land and attached property on the land will belong to the duchy; abolish all the old privileges, including taxation, legislation, and recruitment, and all power will belong to the Government Office; unify the laws and abolish all the old private laws … I have written all these clearly."
"My Lord, we are willing to swear allegiance to you, but these things … Are these things still negotiable?" Another noble boldly stood up. "This is almost a complete subversion of the order. Even if it is for your authority, you should think more about it …"
At least they had learned to be reverent and humble, but they obviously did not understand the situation.
"I think you are mistaken about one thing." Gwen's face was almost expressionless. He just quietly stated the facts. "What is written in these documents is actually already implemented. As early as the day the war ended, you have already lost your land and property. The things you want to keep are no longer in your hands. So today I am not here to discuss with you, I am here to officially inform you."
The nobles in the hall of the Southern Territory were in an uproar. Dozens of days in prison could not completely wear away the thoughts in their hearts. So when these thoughts collapsed, even if there were guards around the hall, even if the ruler of the Southern Territory was sitting in front of them, they could not help but began to whisper.
However, Gwen just watched quietly, waiting for these people to quiet down.
When they finally quieted down, Gwen continued. "Sometimes, it is more important to recognize the reality than to strive for those things that can never be obtained. Sign this document, and at least you can still live a decent life. Your 'noble' title will still be retained. You can also rely on the annuity to maintain food and clothing, and even maintain a more prosperous life. If you can open your eyes and look at the people under your rule who do not have enough to eat and who are hungry and cold, 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 with? "
On both sides of the long table, everyone's face became tangled and embarrassed. Some people frowned and thought, some people wanted to say something but stopped. Finally, someone could not help it. A middle-aged man with a sallow face and sunken eyes stood up. "Please forgive me for not being able to accept it. Your Grace, 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 can't destroy our traditions and laws like this! "
As he spoke, the middle-aged man looked to his side. He was clearly very agitated. "Everyone, we have already experienced the most difficult days. We have nothing to lose. Glory is the only thing we have left. I … I would rather take it into the coffin …"
Gwen looked at the middle-aged man's outburst, and looked at the reactions of the nobles on both sides of the long table. This was also within his expectations. Nobles had a special way of thinking. They could cover their heads and flee when the cannon fire fell, they could give up the castle and the people without hesitation when the sword was about to strike. But sometimes, when it came to the so-called 'glorious bloodline and family name', these spineless fellows would stick out their chests. This kind of schizophrenic behavior was difficult for outsiders to understand, but it fit the background of this era.
"Wayne? Viscount Snape. I hope I didn't call you wrongly. "
Gwen suddenly spoke and interrupted the middle-aged man's impassioned speech. The nobles who were already in a commotion immediately quietened down. They all looked towards Gwen, and the latter waved his hand to the side. An official from the government office immediately left the room. After a while, the official from the government office returned with a small metal safe in his hands.
Gwen opened the safe and took out an ancient document. This document was written on an enchanted parchment. Even if it was a copy, it had a few hundred years of history. If not for the protection of magic, it would have been weathered to the point where it could not be read.
Gwen opened the document and said casually, "Mr Viscount, doesn't this look familiar? I believe that you all have similar things in your homes, kept in the deepest part of your castle, to prove the legitimacy of your titles and fiefs, to prove the ancientness and legitimacy of your family name. Like this one.
"Wayne? Snape, Family of Snape, Viscount, Noble of the Southern Border, in Ansu 476, branch of the Spencer Family, and received the surname; Family of Spencer, Count, Noble of the Plains of the Holy Spirit, originated from the ancestor Maximilian. Maximilian Spencer? Spencer, Suzerain of Knight, Count, Gwen? Cecil, Knight of Knight, was conferred in the first year of Ansu in the Month of Harvest. His original fief was on the west side of Grey Mountain in the Southern Border. Later, due to the influence of the Mana Tide, his fief was moved to the south of the Holy Spirit Plains … "
"Here's another document," Gawain said as he took out an older and more fragile parchment document from the storage box. The document was so old that the protective magic on it was about to lose its effectiveness. The old parchment had been severely weathered and corroded. "Maximilian? What's the matter?" Gawain asked as he took out an older and more fragile parchment document. Spencer's conferring document — of course, it's a copy. "
Gwen raised his head and looked quietly into the eyes of the middle-aged noble.
"Wayne? Mr Snape, guess whose signature is at the end of this document? "
No one could have predicted such an unbelievable situation. Even though Gwen had been resurrected for such a long time, Wayne Snape was not a nobleman. The nobleman from Snape did not associate the document that was hidden deep in his family's castle and would only be taken out for a look when the heir received his title with the "living person" in front of him. This had nothing to do with intelligence, it was a limitation in the direction of his thinking, so he could only stutter, "Duke … Duke …"
"Wayne? Mr Snape, you asked for tradition and law, so I will give you tradition and law. Maximilian Spencer? Spencer is a clever and ambitious young man, and I am sorry to see that one of his heirs is unable to bear his glory and feats. It is the duty of a master to protect the honor of his followers, and for that I am compelled to usurp your noble title. "
Wayne? Snape's eyes widened, and he opened his mouth like a fish that was suffocating on land. Under this direct attack on his weakness, he heard Gawain's voice in a daze. Cecil's last sentence, "… Mr Snape, you can leave now."
The hall became dead silent. Gwen looked at the result with satisfaction. The most effective solution was always the right one. Using the biggest weakness of the nobles to attack them was far more effective than any reasoning or debate.
To them, being stripped of their noble title was more terrifying than death.
Of course, the reason why he could do this was because he had the overwhelming power to force these people to sit at the negotiating table. Otherwise, even if he had the enfeoffment documents of every noble in the country in his hands, his words would not have been useful.
"Everyone, actually I do not wish to do this." After keeping the documents, Gwen raised his voice slightly and said, "I would prefer to get everyone to sign smoothly in a harmonious atmosphere. So I have to emphasize here. Everyone's title and surname, after a few generations, will eventually fall under Charlie Moen's name. Under the name of Moen and the Duke of the Four Territories, and as the only surviving Duke of the Four Territories, I can take away each and every one of your noble titles. Even if I didn't sign your ancestor's document, I am still a witness to the crowning ceremony seven hundred years ago. I can question whether each and every one of you have the right to inherit your family name — "
Gwen did not finish his sentence, but his meaning was very clear.
He could question whether everyone's titles were legal. If anyone wanted to object … unless Charlie Moen was the only one who could. Moen and the other three founding Dukes climbed out of their coffins.
Didn't the nobles of the Southern Territory want tradition and law?
This was Ansu's tradition and law.
"It's about time. Ladies and gentlemen, the pen for signing is in front of you."
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