Chapter 84
Chapter 84
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 84
Chapter Title: A County Ahead of Its Time (2)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Public education in modern Korea aims to nurture democratic values and civic competencies through schooling, serving as both a form of support and welfare.
However, in reality, it originated in Prussia after their defeat by Napoleon, as the foundational groundwork to transform the entire populace into soldiers.
Indeed, the German philosopher Fichte made this claim about the purpose of education:
"By forbidding children from speaking without raising their hands, we acclimate them to following orders and commands. And we instill in them the knowledge of a state more powerful than their parents, along with opinions aligned with that state's king."
I have no intention of raising every child to be a soldier, but at the very least, I plan to introduce elementary education to foster a shared sense of belonging and basic knowledge among all residents of the County of Kroitel.
To that end, I set out to persuade the Archbishop of Kroitel—the representative of the clergy in my territory, who make up the largest share of intellectuals in this era—to employ them as teachers.
Of course, due to various circumstances, His Excellency the Archbishop is currently at the cathedral in Blueport, where I am staying.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Although constructing a grand cathedral takes considerable time, the Blueport cathedral where the Archbishop is seated was not particularly large.
By Korean measurements, it was probably less than 100 pyeong.
Yet the interior was lavish, as befitted a cathedral housing an archbishop.
The windows above the nave featured stained glass in red, blue, and yellow, creating a fantastical atmosphere, while silver candelabras lined the walls.
The pulpit from which the Archbishop led Mass was crafted from ebony, and the lectern from white marble.
Even the floor at the back of the nave was laid with marble, albeit slightly lower quality.
"In terms of the interior, it's more ornate than the cathedral in Nant..."
As I muttered that, the Archbishop emerged from behind the lectern, dressed in deep purple episcopal robes, and greeted me.
"That is because I am the Archbishop. Of course, it was sheer luck that I—a former bishop of Nant—obtained this position after Your Excellency subjugated Count Schwein and was reassigned as the Abbess of Pomelia Abbey."
He spoke with a self-mocking laugh laced in his voice, but the emotions evident on his face were quite different.
Frustration, lamentation, resignation, a touch of joy at becoming Archbishop—complex and subtle feelings all mixed together. But if I had to sum up his current emotions in a single phrase...
It would be a burning desire to reclaim his rights and authority.
"Your Excellency seems quite dissatisfied with your current situation. Even as Archbishop, you have come to a parish church that should ordinarily be tended by a mere priest, simply to follow me."
At those words, the Archbishop made a visible effort to conceal his discontent and replied.
"Not at all. Without His Holiness the Pope's grace, I might never have become a bishop at all... And now I am the Archbishop of Kroitel, the wealthiest diocese in the Elrain Empire. How could I possibly complain?"
"Is that so... In that case, I have a favor to ask—one I very much hope you will grant."
"Please speak, Your Excellency."
"The thing is, I wish to provide basic education to the children and adults in the rural villages through the priests and nuns in our towns and hamlets."
In this era, 'serfs' are little more than creatures who wield pitchforks, hoes, and sickles to harvest crops and produce offspring.
So, for me to spout such nonsense about educating those beings—something no noble would ever dream of...
It must sound utterly incomprehensible to an Archbishop born and bred as a noble.
Sure enough, he raised his voice in protest, glaring at me as if pointing an accusing finger.
"What on earth are you saying? Priests are sent to spread the teachings of Deus to every remote corner of the countryside—not to squander the noble servants of God educating lowly serfs! This is utterly preposterous!!"
"Calm yourself."
"How can I possibly calm down?"
To soothe the Archbishop before me, I spoke in a tone laced with menace.
"Your Excellency, calm yourself. I have given this much thought."
"But Your Excellency... Using the servants of God merely to educate filthy serfs is..."
"I assure you, I have considered everything. And strictly speaking, did not Deus Himself teach the Gospel directly to humble fishermen like Pedro when He walked the earth?"
Confronted with my authority as Count and arguments rooted in scripture, the Archbishop could offer no rebuttal.
"Thus, priests and nuns can teach those children how to conduct themselves as proper servants of Deus. Imagine how wonderful it would be if those children learned from the heart to obey the holy Church, its clergy, and legitimate authority."
As I suggested, if priests and nuns properly educated the children, those blank slates would absorb knowledge and ideas suited to leaders like sponges.
From the lord's perspective, that would yield even more loyal serfs and soldiers.
And from the clergy's perspective...
"Then the rural serfs—nay, even the townsfolk and nobles decades from now—will obey the Church's authority more willingly and voluntarily. Gone will be the days when petty nobles from small domains quietly disdain priests and monks."
"Just as Your Excellency says. In fact, at seminary, children raised from youth by priests and nuns adapt far more quickly."
"And Your Excellency."
I paused there for a moment before continuing.
"If I may be so bold—quite frank, in fact—may I speak plainly?"
"Please do."
"From what I gathered through merchants about your former post, you were an auxiliary bishop attached to the Papal Secretariat... Yet the former head of the Secretariat, who held you in high regard, was impeached on absurd grounds by the Third Council Chairman and left without office. And that's how you ended up here."
Hearing that, the Archbishop's eyes widened, his pupils trembling as he spoke.
"So what? What are you getting at?"
"And you'll lose even this position around the time I leave Blueport. The Papal Court is already planning to install the second son of some major Elrain noble in your place. They chose you precisely because your grassroots support is weak."
I didn't say this aloud, but in a fractured empire, they wouldn't dispatch a true heavyweight Archbishop to a suddenly rising powerhouse like me from the start.
However, the current Papal Court, starved for funds due to overspending by celibate clergy on my exported sugar...
Essentially, they're saying, "We'll send an Archbishop to boost your prestige, so send money first—then we'll send a proper one."
And though they appointed him intending to use him as a puppet, a man of his stature—an Archbishop, no less—isn't fool enough to miss that.
That said, in the worst case, the Papal excommunication tribunal could storm in, threaten with anathemas, and strip the place bare to the foundations... So I can't afford to toy with him.
Blackmail alone might corner him enough to bite back, so now I began to coax the Archbishop, whom I'd sufficiently backed into a corner.
"However, if we implement the education plan I proposed using priests and nuns... You could at least double the number of clergy under your command."
"Dou... double? Is that true?"
They could handle village duties by teaching education in the morning and preparing for Mass and rituals in the afternoon.
But ideally, doubling their numbers—one handling children in the morning and adults at night—would be more efficient.
And with more priests per village, if even one rose to prominence in a theological academy or seminary, they'd naturally support me and the Archbishop.
"Why would I lie to Your Excellency?"
His expression brightened further at my words, but I pretended not to notice and pressed on.
"Very well. And as it happens, my army needs chaplains for administrative support and to hold Mass. They're looking to recruit... Could you assist?"
"Chaplains for the army too... That would require gathering an enormous number of priests. And soldiers facing mortal peril would donate generously."
Back in Korea, a cleric saying such things about donations to overcome fear of death would spark outrage.
But here, with only me and the Archbishop present—and given the era—it's fine.
"In typical wars, soldiers blow 60% of their pay on whores and pleasures... If you hold daily Mass for them, you could skim off about 20%. Naturally, you'd need to pay hazard bonuses to field chaplains on top of their salaries. They need funds for missionary work and research, after all."
"And if even one in a hundred rises to the center, it'd be a huge boon for me."
"Even without that, field chaplains and those teaching children will wield greater influence over serfs' lives. Demonstrate that control for about three years, and the Papal headquarters will take another look at Your Excellency."
With that, I handed him the pre-prepared contract and said.
"Cooperate on these terms, and I'll even include funding to send to headquarters. That way, won't Your Excellency—who looks favorably on me—someday ascend to Cardinal?"
"Heh, I'll review it. If anything's lacking, I can add clauses to assist."
That's what he said, but trusting that would make me the fool.
The Archbishop leisurely perused the document for a good while, then suddenly lingered on one clause, scrutinizing it intensely.
With a grave expression, he looked at me and asked.
"No, even so—how can you place Bibles crudely translated into Franch just for serfs? Theologically speaking..."
I replied shamelessly.
"Since we're teaching them anyway, even if we forbid using them for Mass or official documents, shouldn't they at least grasp the meaning? Think of it like explaining stained glass to convey scripture. And from what I've heard, His Holiness hasn't forbidden it..."
"Very well. But I absolutely cannot tolerate them using formal translations in public documents!"
I piled on a bit more, adding words prepared for potential mischief with the Romaniacs later if needed.
"And since serfs will need to see them too, I'd like at least four Bibles per village... Is that acceptable?"
The Archbishop replied with a weary look.
"His Holiness hasn't prohibited it, so it's fine. However, as Archbishop, to persuade His Holiness and the Cardinals..."
"Who am I? Count Kroitel, called the Empire's richest man. If needed, I'll provide gold coins by the thousand. Just cooperate actively with my endeavors."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Thus, I finalized preparations for compulsory education and completed the plan for training camps to build up my forces.
The very first line under the critical section on personnel and organization read as follows:
⚔ ARMY COMPOSITION ⚔ [Knights: 500 | Men-at-Arms Cavalry: 4,000 | Infantry: 25,000]