CHAPTER 468: CHAPTER 446 FRICK GRAMMAR SCHOOL

When Horn and Catherine entered this meeting room, the long table was already full, and several cardinals were present.

Horn first introduced Catherine’s identity and her deeds, and the cardinals instinctively applauded in welcome.

However, while Madlan, the chief cardinal, clapped sincerely, the others viewed Catherine with a scrutinizing attitude.

These cardinals all came from the era of the Gulag, and were naturally distrustful of Catherine, who had just arrived and ascended to a high position.

"Madlan, read the current situation report." Horn knew that this matter couldn’t be resolved immediately and would take time, so he directly asked Madlan to read the report.

"Dividing by villages, the Pope’s Palace currently controls six villages.

In Langsande County, there are four: Daze Village, Kush Territory, Ibe Village, and Jinhe Town.

In Lower Reif County, there are two: Dog Fox Village and Zhuanghe Town (where Rapids City is located).

Additionally, Xiaochi City is still requesting our stationed troops, and their Doke Town is currently considered an ally."

In the Empire’s territory, place names are given in two ways. The first is named after ancient geographical features, such as Dog Fox Village, where all the foxes and dogs have been hunted, yet it remains Dog Fox Village.

The second is named after long-standing noble territories, such that the old names are forgotten, like Kush Territory and Doke Town.

Horn stroked his chin; the Salvation Army succeeded in its rebellion by overthrowing Duke Kush, and it might be time to rename the core territory still bearing the Kush name.

Let’s have those idle senators handle it.

"Regarding the population, our main core territories consist of three parts: Daze Village, Kush Territory, and Ibe Village, with a combined population of about 340,000.

Further south, Jinhe Town has approximately 280,000 people, but this number comes from that old grandmother of the Alco Clan, so it’s not very reliable.

As for Dog Fox Village and Zhuanghe Town, the "Holy Country’s Land Measurement System" reform hasn’t been carried out there yet, so the exact population can’t be determined. On paper, it amounts to 250,000 people.

Based on these figures, Langsande County has about 620,000 people, half of Lower Reif County has 250,000, and we nominally control a population of 870,000, but only have real control over about 340,000 people."

This number seems substantial, yet compared to the Empire, it’s relatively small. It’s thanks to outrageous organization and the sacred firearm that they’ve managed to win one battle after another to reach the present moment.

Any potential loss in battle would be catastrophic for the entire Pope Country.

Recalling southern Jinhe Town, Horn, after Madlan finished this part, tapped the table: "How’s that old woman doing with the Black Mountain Treaty?"

Madlan extended a hand, and a monk beside him handed over a stack of documents. Flipping through them, he said, "Regarding taxes, although we requested a reduction to thirty-five percent, they complied and even reduced it to thirty percent... er, two percent for the Kush people, with the remaining covered by Leia immigrants."

"Have the noble offspring arrived at Joan of Arc Castle?" Jeanne followed up.

"Not yet, they are still gathering near Black Mountain Castle." Upon reaching this point, Madlan’s expression slightly shifted, "These noble offspring will be attending Frick Grammar School on Autumn Dusk Island later this month."

The Frick School plan was an educational proposal by Madlan, and any school bearing the Frick name was funded by the Senate and tuition-free for local students.

But the slots are limited, and it’s a small-scale pilot program by Horn for mandatory education.

The Pope Country currently has a Frick Primary School each in Joan of Arc Castle and Autumn Dusk Island, where nuns previously trapped in the monastery now serve as teachers.

Most students are ordinary civilian children who couldn’t afford proper literacy education but longed to study.

Meanwhile, the Frick Grammar School on Autumn Dusk Island, also funded by the Pope Country, is a school for teenagers aged 12 to 16, akin to the Minister Academy or Knight School of this era.

However, they do not learn horsemanship or swordsmanship; instead, they study natural theology, law, mathematics, classical literature, etc. Higher grades offer special officer classes.

These officer classes are for reserve officers who can join the army starting as Battle Commander sentinels and then be promoted to Brigade Commander and eventually Brigade Commander.

Even if they don’t enter the officer classes or receive recommendations, they can still seek opportunities with the Salvation Army Government.

With a background at Frick Grammar School, finding positions as a document monk, joining the Night Watcher, or the Defensive Army becomes significantly convenient.

The school adopts a recommendation system, with Horn granting nomination slots to senators, Legion Commanders, some friendly merchants, some Hundred Households Captains, and heads of guilds.

The first batch of Frick Grammar School students will enroll only 400, with Horn providing 200 nomination slots, 50 slots for the orphans of the Child Soldiers, and 50 slots for the two Frick Primary Schools.

The remaining 100 slots are given to small Kush noble offspring from Jinhe Town, naturally with an annual tuition fee of 4 gold pounds, approximately covering the cost for other students.

"Let me be clear." Jeanne put on a serious expression, "Upon stepping onto our land, those noble kids no longer hold noble status; at most, they’re the children of small landlords."

"Of course, they were living like small landlords as it was," Busak agreed but then turned the conversation, "I guarantee there won’t be any situation of ’noble kids’ bullying others, but we also won’t bully ’noble kids’ ourselves."

"I hope so." Jeanne was never satisfied with the Black Mountain Treaty, feeling it was a huge compromise due to circumstances, and grumpily returned to her place.

Horn didn’t say much and signaled Madlan to continue.

The treaty was indeed hastily signed, given the imminent war, and until Horn could manage the 340,000 people, the Kush Nobility could only be set aside.

Horn had met many of these Kush Nobility, and from the Kush nobles he knew, there were surprisingly few aristocratic bad habits.

Due to external pressure, Ibe’s Kush Knights have habits similar to those of the five counties in the mountains; they even must stand with their tenants!

The reduction of territories and judicial unfairness forced Kush Knights to participate in labor and consider the opinions of civilians.

The high bride prices demanded by foreign immigrant nobles for marriage with local Kush Knights forced internal marriages within the Kush people and even with tenants.

In a manor, Kush Knights serve more like the head of a large family, as all the farmers in the manor are relatives.

Being noble means having privileges.

When a Kush noble kills a farmer and gets picked on by foreign knights and the church, unable to avoid punishment or facing high compensation, Kush nobles and farmers are like sheep before the church.

Only the former must also bear a duty called war.

The church attempts to kill the Kush nobles gently, like cutting meat with a dull knife, allowing Horn to reap an unexpected benefit: his Kush people experience deep fears. Extreme oppression has produced extreme unity and identity among the Kush Knights.

Especially after pureblooded old Kush people witnessed Horn defeating the Church Army at Black Mountain Castle, many oppressive foreign nobles were executed by Horn or the old grandmother.

Former foreign knights scrambled to change their surnames to Kush, elevating Kush blood to supreme status.

This change enormously shocked the Kush Knights, prompting many to spend money delivering hostages as donors willingly.

This generation of Kush Knights may not change habits, but the second or third generation could revert to nobility behavior.

Horn needs to integrate these relatively enlightened folks and eradicate the noble system before their enlightenment born of fear dissipates, capturing these dependable forces.

"Let’s skip the economy for now; I want to hear about the army," Horn looked up and said to Madlan.